April 11, 2024 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

Countingdowntoour90thAnniversary

Black families disproportionately affected by Child Protection Services

can Family Preservation Act, a bill that aims to prevent out-ofhome placement and promote family reunification.

Houston first saw how harmful CPS practices could be to families through the court process, where she would be present during the moment of separation between a child and their parents. These traumatic moments were often

the result of a parent simply struggling financially, such as a mother not having food in the refrigerator the day CPS stopped by.

Seeing that the state was often a worse guardian than the parents, Houston took a full-time position as a cultural specialist with Dakota County. There, she served in the Guardian ad Litem pro-

gram advocating for children through the courts. “There, I saw how the county and the courts work together to perpetuate disparities,” she said. “Those prima facie cases, the judge just rubber-stamped whatever the counties bring in.”

Houston has utilized her roles in several organizations,

■ See CHILD PROTECTION on page 5

Kelis Houston testifies in front of the Senate legislative task force on child protection alongside Senate President Bobby Joe Champion. Screengrab from live stream video

Family members denied visitation question Lino Lakes policies

As Ramadan ends, Muslims don celebratory attire

By Binta Kanteh Contributing Writer

he day is near, and its excitement is palpable. After 30 days of fasting from dawn to sunset and intentional commitment to spiritual and character improvement, Muslims worldwide will close the month of Ramadan with the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr.

Following the brief morning prayer, many people will go to brunch or return home for a nap. From there, Muslims will likely spend the day with others in celebration with lots of laughter and food.

But before all the festivities begin, even before the morning prayer, Muslims wake up eager on a particular day, ready to sport an outfit or two they’ll be wearing.

Eid Day is a geography, history, and culture masterclass through clothing.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension, there are around 150,000 Muslims in Minnesota. From that population, a large cohort are of the Black Diaspora.

From my earliest memories of Eid through the present day, I have never failed to be in awe and fascination with the vast backgrounds of Muslims within the Black diaspora. Much of that admiration is experienced through what our eyes can see and the adornment we can touch, all in the colorful and magnificently structured garments.

Leading up to Eid Al-Fitr this year, I interviewed a few people who shared their experience dressing their best for Eid

and why it is essential for them to do so. Their perspectives might highlight some context behind the Eid day styles you’ll come across at the mosques, restaurants, malls, and your social media timelines.

“This is an opportunity for us to show people where we came from,” Mariamu Jagana asserted. “You’ll be surprised about how many different cultures are out there and how different ways people dress up.”

A Gambian Minnesotan, Jagana prides herself on consistently dressing to the nines for every Eid. For her, the occasion carries serious weight and is a time to reflect on the blessing of being alive to observe another holiday.

“There are people who have died [since the last Eid] that would’ve wanted to spend another Eid with their families.

■ See RAMADAN on page 5

By Al Brown Assignment Editor

hat should have been a routine visit by a three-year-old longing to see his father turned into, according to the family of Lino Lakes inmate Marquis Rollins, an unsettling experience in December of 2023. Rollins’ mother, Sharon

Brooks, says her daughter-inlaw told her that her grandson was whining and crying and that it was hard to get him to stop. “He’s three years old. Sometimes they get agitated or want to have their way.” Brooks continued, “And the guard, Officer Motyl, gave a final warning standing over my son (Rollins), demanding that he

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Race-based testing can harm Black patients

Delaying kidney transplants is one deadly effect

By Stacy M. Brown

ive years ago, Arlette Ebanks experienced severe kidney pain that she believed suggested a critical need for a transplant. Her doctors disagreed, but the 52-year-old Northeast, D.C. resident and mother of two who worked for the Department of Transportation for more than half of her life until her deteriorating health landed her on permanent disability, had grown ever more anxious as healthcare providers attempted various measures of maintenance.

Recently, physicians at George Washington University Hospital told Ebanks that she should have been on the transplant list, and understandably, Ebanks wondered why previous doctors hadn’t done so.

Now, Ebanks knows why: “All this time, all this stress and worry, was all because I’m Black,” Ebanks stated in an interview with the Washington Informer.

At issue is a once widely used test that overestimated how well Black people’s kidneys were functioning, making them look healthier than they were. An automated formula calculated results for Black and non-Black patients that were far different from those of others, delaying organ failure diagnosis and, ultimately, proper evaluation for a kidney transplant.

The disparity only exacerbated existing inequities, with Black patients being more susceptible to needing a new kidney but less likely to receive one. “On the one hand,” Ebanks remarked, “I have not only been put on the waiting list but moved up to where I am now

more confident that I will get a new kidney. On the other hand, it’s infuriating that we keep seeing how racism in medicine, bias in health care, is causing unnecessary pain and suffering among African Americans.”

The U.S. organ transplant network has ordered hospitals and care facilities to use only race-neutral test results when adding new patients to the kidney transplant waiting list. The National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology also told laboratories to transition to race-neutral equations when calculating kidney function. The policy shift has led to significant adjustments. Between January 2023 and mid-March 2024, over 14,300 Black candidates had their wait times recalibrated, resulting in more than 2,800 successful transplants, including Ebanks.

Dr. Nwamaka Eneanya, an assistant professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, emphasized the detrimental impact of race-based equations on clinical decisions, particularly in assessing renal function.

Dr. Eneanya, a vocal advocate for removing race from medical equations, highlighted the lack of biological differences between races and the inherent flaws in using race-based multipliers. She told her university’s newspaper that, despite mounting evidence, many clinicians continue to rely on these outdated practices, perpetuating harm to Black patients.

“Human genome studies have shown no inherent biological differences between

Historica l Capsule

Photos by Chris Juhn

See LINO LAKES on

Sharon Brooks ( C ) and others protest Lino Lakes visitor policies on March 21. Photo by Chris Juhn

Imam Makram El-Amin and his family pose for a photo inside the Masjid Al-Nur Mosque. Courtesy of Imam Makram El-Amin

Jamillia Bryant and her friends pose for a photo to showcase their henna, which is used to adorn oneself for Eid. Courtesy of Jamillia Bryant

Blacks often get kidney failure diagnosis later than white patients. Courtesy of Freepiks

■ See ECLIPSE on page 5

By Chris Juhn

It was an epic day for eclipse enthusiasts who gathered in strategic locations along its trajectory. The eclipse extended from the Pacific Coast of Mexico through Texas, crossing 14 additional states in the U.S. before reaching Canada.

Enjoy photo highlights from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Metro Tenant Omnibus Bill would increase renters’ power

By Carolyn Szczepanski

In 2016, Ubah Shire received a Section 8 voucher to cover a portion of her rent, which changed her life. Having immigrated from Somalia when she was just 16 years old, she completed two years of college—the first in her family to do so. But when she had to move out of her apartment because of an emergency, finding another apartment that accepted her voucher was virtually impossible.

For months she searched online, made phone calls, and drove around looking for a vacancy, but she could not find a single landlord who would accept her voucher. Finally, she was forced to email her caseworker, thanking her for the support but explaining that the voucher was useless.

“I had no choice but to give up my hopes of finishing school for social work and instead get two jobs to be able to afford an apartment that didn’t accept Section 8 — just to avoid becoming homeless with my children,” she says.

Now a tenant organizer herself, Shire is part of a coalition called Equity in Place that is working to change outdated state laws that, advocates say, allow landlords and developers to undermine organizing efforts, unjustly evict tenants, and discriminate against Minnesotans because of where they come from or how they pay their rent.

At the Minnesota state

capitol last month, the Equity in Place coalition called for legislators to pass policies this session that will balance the scales for tenants’ rights and bring Minnesota in line with the rest of the nation.

“In 2023, state lawmakers passed critical protections for tenants — but more needs to be done,” Juan Luis RiveraReyes, coalition organizer at The Alliance, which convenes the Equity in Place coalition, said at the press conference.

“This session, legislators must prioritize policies that give renters the fundamental right to choose where they live, stay where they are, and come together as neighbors to make sure their housing is safe, dignified and reliable.”

In recent years, residential leases have become longer and more complex, shifting more and more rights and

demonstrably just cause, provide security for tenants while ensuring responsible property management,” she said. “This balanced approach strengthens communities and promotes long-term prosperity.”

Advocates also amplified the Housing Stability Act, which would bar landlords from discriminating against tenants who utilize rental assistance vouchers, like Section 8, and for changes to Minnesota Landlord-Tenant Law to reduce the power imbalance between tenants and landlords.

“Having an affirmative tenant right to organize would support multi-cultural organizing and relationships that make our lives and communities stronger.”

protections to the landlords who profit rather than the tenants who pay. An analysis by HOME Line of a standard 52-page lease found that fully 52% of the clauses are in the interests of landlords while only 6% are in the interests of tenants.

At the press conference, Jean Flores, a Native American grandmother and renter in an affordable housing community in Spring Lake Park, emphasized the need for a Tenant Right to Organize law to ensure renters don’t face intentional barriers to or retaliation for mobilizing together around their common interests and rights.

“Many of my neighbors and friends are immigrants from the East African community who moved to Minnesota to escape civil war,” Flores said.

“As a tenant leader, I know this community is especially afraid of retaliation, as they see what happens to their neighbors who are actively organizing, and they are afraid of losing their new life in Minnesota. Having an affirmative tenant right to organize would support multi-cultural organizing and relationships that make our lives and communities stronger.”

Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega, who sponsored the bill in the House, agreed. “A strong community is built on the foundation of empowered individuals,” she said. “Just as a healthy democracy thrives on collective participation, a thriving tenant population has the right to organize and advocate for their well-being. This right to organize is not a privilege, but a cornerstone of a just and equitable living environment.”

Despite having faced retaliatory fees from her landlord for testifying in support of renters’ rights in the past, Marian Butler, a tenant leader with African Career, Education and Resource Inc., addressed the need for another crucial piece of legislation: Just Cause protections. Right now, landlords in Minnesota can choose not to renew a lease — effectively pushing a tenant out of their home — even if that renter has done nothing wrong. “It’s critically important that there be a legal process that landlords must follow, and that process needs to be fair, just and equitable,” she said.

Representative Esther Agabje, vice chair of the Minnesota House Housing Committee, authored a bill to do just that. “Clear guidelines for tenancy termination, based on

In partnership with COPAL, they also highlighted the need for a law allowing immigrants to use their Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for an apartment rather than being required to provide a Social Security number. As of early April, many of these provisions have been incorporated into a Tenant Omnibus Bill that still must be heard and voted on in both the House and the Senate.

“For years, we’ve heard repeatedly that we just need to build more homes to address the housing crisis,” said RiveraReyes. “But we will never solve the housing crisis without increasing the power of renters, who are on the frontlines daily. It’s time for lawmakers to ensure tenants across the state have the agency and ability to be part of the solution.”

Carolyn Szczepanski welcomes reader response to Carolyn@alliancetc.org.

Sister Spokesman was in full bloom

Through questions and answers, attendees also learned about soil prep and general spring bulb planting advice.

By Laura Poehlman Contributing Writer

Spring came into full view last Saturday, April 6, during Sister Spokesman’s “Seed, Plant and Harvest, Let’s Grow Girl!” event. The venue was held at Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, located one floor above the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG), and the suite was adorned with a vibrant showcase of potted flowers on each table, courtesy of Bachman’s.

The initial 50 attendees were greeted with a delightful prize bag filled with gardening essentials for the event and home planting, complete with a Sister Spokesman branded apron.

Things got off to a fun start with the ever-popular purse game, and then attendees lunched as the local small business vendors introduced themselves and their wares.

Kim Geraci, a seasoned gardener with over 20 years of experience, then took the stage to share insights on starting and maintaining a garden. Inspired by her mother, Geraci emphasized the importance of planning, planting, and designing gardens. She suggested public garden/conservatory visits to provide visual examples of garden color schemes, layout, flow, height, etc.

As Geraci spoke, those in attendance planted Forget Me Knots, Zinnias, Cosmos, Spearmint, Basil, Cilantro, Collard, and Mustard greens. Through questions and answers, attendees also learned about soil prep and general spring bulb planting advice.

Apps like Plant Snap were promoted, which identifies plants and their care, and the audience offered a few others. To conclude, Geraci announced a surprise: one lucky person at each table would take home the potted flower centerpiece if they had a coin hidden under their chair.

Sage, a Minnesota artist who joined Sister Spokesman to begin her “Roots” tour, led the entertainment for the day. She showcased two songs, starting with a beautiful rendition of Mary J. Blige’s “I Can See In Color.”

Later, after the presentation and some prize giveaways, she performed an original piece titled “Don’t Let Them Go.” The audience thoroughly enjoyed her performance, and you can discover more about her on Instagram under @ sagetheartistofficial.

The last prize of the day was given to the sister who invited the most friends and family. The winner was Pastor Rozenia Hood Fuller, who filled her table with guests. The prize was a gorgeous planted basket of flowers that looked and smelled beautiful. Congratulations, Rozenia!

Sister Spokesman’s next event is “Tea, Treats and Tops” on May 4, 2024, which is set to be a Ladies’ High Tea to learn more about the history of the Black Press in Minnesota and the 90 years of impact of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder legacy.

The event runs from 12-3 pm at Northpoint Health Wellness Center at 1256 Penn Ave. N., Suite 5100 Minneapolis, MN 55411(above the MAAHMG). Visit @SisterSpokesman on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Attendees planting seeds

Rep. Esther Agabje speaks on the importance of tenant protection policies. Photo by Equity in Place

Presenter Kim Geraci, Tracey Williams-Dillard, and artist Sage

Tracey Williams-Dillard, Beverly Propes and Victoria Davis

Sisters line dancing

Betty with Unique Fashion

By Tony Kiene Staff Writer

Sabathani Community Center hosts annual health fair

On Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sabathani Community Center will host its Spring Health Fair at its home on 310 East 38th Street. Part of Sabathani’s Better Together initiative, the fair is a free community event designed to promote overall health and wellness among the residents of South Minneapolis.

“We are looking to position ourselves as a comprehensive health hub,” explains Rebekah Floyd, Sabathani’s new community health navigator, “to be the place where people know that they can access essential information as well as the tools and resources to improve their well-being.”

Floyd, a native of South Minneapolis, remembers the many days she spent in the building where she now works when she was a student at the old Bryant Junior High School.

“It’s as if I’ve come full-circle,” reveals Floyd, who has devoted nearly a decade of her career to the field of public health. “I’m sort of back where I started and in position to make a positive and lasting impact in the neighborhood I grew up in.”

One of the most critical goals related to Sabathani’s efforts is to both address and remedy the negative health outcomes that disparately affect the African American community and other populations of color.

Among the numerous exhibitors that will be in attendance are the American Red Cross, I Am Me LLC, the Min-

nesota Department of Health Asthma Program, Hue-MAN Partnership, SNAP-Ed, UnitedHealthcare, NAMI Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Meals on Wheels, The Sage Program, YMCA of the North, the HOPE Network, UCare, the Minnesota Urology Foundation, and Wellshare International.

All the services at the Sabathani Spring Health Fair are provided free of charge and include such things as: A1C screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes; blood pressure measurements; dental and eye examinations; HIV testing; PSA screening for prostate cancer; balance testing; and assessing potential exposure to lead in children under the age of six. Likewise, healthcare professionals will be onsite to support those who may receive a troubling diagnosis and help them

to chart next steps. “We won’t test someone for an illness and then set them off on their own,” assures Floyd. “There will be nurses on hand, and many other experienced professionals there to provide support and assistance as needed.”

In addition to the many services listed above, the fair will also give residents the opportunity to get their Covid-19 vaccine, review their current medications with licensed pharmacists, and receive professional assistance with Medicare/Medicaid enrollment. Again, all at no cost.

Participants will have the option to learn more about CPR training and how to properly administer Narcan. This occasion will also give the organization the opportunity to showcase two of its newest community-based health initiatives: the Diabetes Prevention Program and Cooking Matters.

“The risk of diabetes is significantly higher for African Americans,” Floyd says. “According to the National Institutes of Health, Black people experience approximately 66 more cases of diabetes per 1,000 individuals as do white

April 17, 2024. A partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension’s SNAP-Ed, Cooking Matters is a six-week class that will teach participants all aspects of how to prepare healthy meals in the home.

“Not only will residents have access to a multitude of free health screenings, but they’ll also connect with Sabathani and others in their community.”

Americans. And this remains one of the greatest health crises in our community.”

Complementing diabetes prevention and other chronic disease management programs at Sabathani is Cooking Matters, a program that will launch its initial cohort on

“One of the primary objectives is to get people to eat more fruits and vegetables. But it is so much more than that,” Floyd notes. “A lot of families have a limited budget, and this program will give them the confidence to create affordable, nutritious

meals that also taste good. Plus, they’ll learn how to shop strategically, plan and budget, better understand food labels, and creatively use herbs and spices, not to mention learning knife skills.”

After cooking these meals in class, participants will be provided the groceries needed to duplicate each meal back at home for their families. Those attending the health fair can register for both of these programs and others.

What’s more, the Sabathani Spring Health Fair will offer fun for all ages, including dance classes, prize drawings, gift cards, and other incentives along with a collection of activities for kids.

If people need any other motivation to attend, Floyd says, “Just show up.” Not only will residents have access to a multitude of free health screenings, but they’ll also connect with Sabathani and others in their community.

“There is no reason to be afraid,” she continues. “And if you choose to take part in one of our programs, you’ll get to do so with others. This is not meant to be hard. It’s meant to be fun. And you won’t have to sit at home trying to figure out how to improve your health all by yourself. You’ll meet others going through some of the same things as you.”

For more information about Sabathani’s Spring Health Fair and to register in advance, visit sabathani.org/spring-health-fair

Tony Kiene welcomes reader responses to tkiene@spokesman-recorder.com.

Earth

of the Earth

from living moss! Sphagnum moss is easy to find in many stores/online and stays alive with just water, but it’s not the lovely green color we all expect, so you’ll want additional moss for the outside covering. Using wool yarn in white and blue keeps everything natural and adds the “ocean” effect to your Earth model. Have kids hang these balls in windows around the house, and spritz them with water every day.

Recycled Garden Craft

Earth Day is the perfect time to learn about plants, their role in our ecosystem, and how they grow. For a fun, related craft that uses recycled paper, make a “garden” to display in your home. Cut strips from various paper products and lay them out on the table, then have each kid design their own flower. Make green stems, and display! You can even add an element of math to the project by having kids measure their stems.

Paper Bag Painting

This paper bag painting project is a perfect craft that can highlight the benefits of recycling and loving the Earth. Talk with your kids about why we reuse materials like paper bags, then let them paint whatever image they associate with nature. You can easily hang these up using the attached handles, too! Older kids might even consider adding some writing around the border to describe what they

appreciate about our planet and how they’ll contribute to its health.

DIY Recycling Bins

One of the most popular lessons on Earth Day is about recycling—why we do it, how it works, and what we can do to help. Get your kids involved in a home recycling program by making a simple recycling box.

Even the littlest hands can help draw pictures to decorate the outside, while the older kids can brainstorm ideas for

different size/shape boxes for each recycling item (if you live somewhere that needs items separated).

Self-Watering Planter

Making a self-watering planter from a recycled bottle is an excellent way to teach your kids about how plants grow and the perfect Earth Day craft. Choose seeds that grow quickly and efficiently (flowers and vegetables both work!) and use good-quality potting soil. Your kids will en-

joy watching the seed sprout and grow, and they can help be responsible for keeping the bottom container full of water. Keep your plant in this bottle garden or transplant it to the backyard when it’s at least four inches tall.

Earth Day Pledge Globe If you’ve been talking with your kids about Earth Day, its meaning, and how to help protect the environment, this craft is the perfect capstone project for all that new knowl-

edge. Start by making a paper mache Earth using a balloon, newspaper strips, and blue and green paint. Kids will love getting their hands sticky for this project, so make sure to work in an area that’s easily cleaned!

Since this is a two-day project (the globe needs to dry), use the downtime to brainstorm how you’ll take care of the Earth this year as a family. Print out your ideas, then glue them to the finished globe. Hang it in your house for a reminder of your commitment to the environment this year. Grab your craft bin and some recycled materials, and head outside to make these fun Earth Day crafts!

Health professionals at last year’s fair Courtesy photo

Business

Bremer Bank promotes Colette Campbell to chief people and culture officer

Sponsored Content

By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer

In a move designed to strengthen its position as a leader in talent acquisition and diversity, equity and inclusion, Bremer Bank has announced the promotion of Colette Campbell to the position of chief people and culture officer.

“This promotion continues to elevate Bremer’s work of DEI in larger ways,” Campbell said. “We want this work to be integrated into the work of who we are because it is part of our mission of cultivating thriving communities.”

This is not Campbell’s first promotion with the St Paulbased bank. She joined Bremer seven years ago as director of talent acquisition and diversity, then advanced to the role of chief talent acquisition and diversity officer.

In this expanded C-suite role, Campbell will oversee human resources teams in addition to the DEI and talent acquisition teams she has been leading since joining the bank in 2017.

“Bremer has been the beneficiary of Colette’s tremendous leadership,” said Jeanne Crain, president and CEO of Bremer Bank. Colette has demonstrated a consistent track record of advancing individual and team-focused opportunities, strengthening both our organization and the communities we serve.”

Campbell’s leadership efforts have focused on building external partnerships, recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce, and establishing a supplier diversity program.

She helped build Bremer’s teams to fulfill the bank’s promises to invest in diverse, historically underserved communities.

That included the opening of a new Bremer branch in the Hi-Lake shopping center near

bell and her team also created Bremer’s first diversity council. “We are taking steps that are somewhat bold and different and learning from that, but we operate with the small town bank feel,” she said.

“Banking is about relationship management, learning to listen to people, having empathy, and helping them see goals and achieve them.”

Campbell plans to continue her high profile in the community. She said that she is particularly eager to make appearances representing Bremer Bank that can recruit and motivate people of color to consider pivoting to business careers.

“Banking is about relationship management, learning to listen to people, having empathy and helping them see goals and achieve them,” she said. Campbell is particularly ex-

cited about connecting with youth. She pointed to her recent visit to a Roseville middle school where she met with low-income students of color participating in a program to prepare and propel promising youth who will be the first in their families to attend college.

“Growing up in this body, not necessarily having teachers who look like me, there were not a lot of times when people expanded where I thought I could go,” she said. “Part of my celebration is to encourage and inspire others.”

Sheletta Brundidge welcomes reader responses at sbrundidge@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Transform your finances with a 30-day savings challenge

Saving money is a fundamental skill essential to your financial well-being and security. A 30-day savings challenge is the perfect way to kick-start your savings journey and gain vital money-saving skills. This month-long guide provides actionable strategies to help you achieve your savings goals while building a solid foundation for better money management.

Gamify your 30-day savings challenge

Consider gamifying your challenge before starting to add an element of fun and motivation to the process with these options:

Savings Bingo. Create or find a bingo card with different savings milestones for each day. Mark off the squares as you achieve each goal, and reward yourself as you complete rows.

Money Jar with Rewards. Designate a “reward jar” and add a small amount of money each day you successfully meet your savings goal. Use the collected money to treat yourself to something special at the end of the challenge.

Virtual Challenges on Apps. Use savings virtual challenges or apps that allow you to set and track your goals. Many of

these apps come with badges, rewards, and progress tracking, turning the savings process into a virtual game.

30 days of savings challenges

Day 1: Set clear goals. Whether it’s an emergency fund, debt repayment, or a specific purchase, a clear goal will guide your 30-day journey.

Day 2: Create a budget. Develop a detailed budget outlining your income and expenses and identify areas for potential savings.

Day 3: Assess subscriptions. Review and cancel unnecessary subscriptions and memberships.

Day 4: Meal plan for the month. Take the day to plan your meals for the entire month using as many of the ingredients you already have in your kitchen as possible.

Day 5: Track daily expenses. Find a system for keeping a log of every expense throughout the month to create awareness and help you make more conscious decisions.

Day 6: Explore free activities. Find local free events or activities to enjoy.

Day 7: Set up automatic transfers. Automate a portion of your income to be transferred directly into your savings account.

tion expenses.

Day 18: Meal prep for the week. Prepare meals for the upcoming week to reduce the temptation to eat out.

Day 19: DIY products. Make your own household or beauty products using simple, ecofriendly ingredients.

Day 20: Identify a side hustle. Explore opportunities for a side hustle or freelance work.

Day 21: Research investment options. Investigate potential investment opportunities to diversify your savings for long-term financial growth.

Day 22: Review credit card statements. Scrutinize your credit card statements to identify areas where you can cut back.

Practice mindfulness when it comes to spending by pausing to consider whether a purchase aligns with your goals before making it.

Day 28: Plan for future expenses. Anticipate upcoming expenses and incorporate them into your budget.

Day 29: Celebrate progress. Acknowledge, celebrate, and reward yourself for your progress during the 30-day challenge.

Day 9: No-spend day. Challenge yourself to a day with zero spending.

Day 10: Sell unwanted items. Identify items you no longer need and sell them online or at a garage sale.

Day 11: DIY Day. Try a do-ityourself project instead of purchasing a service.

Day 12: Opt for generic brands. Choose generic brands over name brands when shopping for groceries or everyday items.

Day 8: Negotiate bills. Contact service providers to work out better deals on bills, like your internet and cell phone.

Open House

Tuesday, April 16

Don't miss out on an exciting event filled with games, prizes, and much more. Plus, during this event, you can apply to the college for free!

Let us know you're coming and learn more at saintpaul.edu/OpenHouse

Day 14: Unplug electronics. Save on electricity by unplugging devices when not in use.

Day 15: Debt reduction strategy day. Take a proactive step by creating a debt reduction plan that evaluates your outstanding debts and explores consolidation options and a goal date for paying them off.

Day 16: Research moneysaving apps. Explore apps that offer discounts, cash back, or coupons.

Day 17: Evaluate transportation costs. Consider carpooling, biking, or taking public transportation to lower transporta-

Day 13: Review insurance policies. Seek quotes and consider switching insurance policies to confirm you’re not overpaying for coverage.

Day 23: Emergency fund boost. Allocate part of your savings toward growing or enhancing your emergency fund.

Day 24: Negotiate a raise or promotion. If applicable, prepare and initiate a conversation with your employer about a raise or promotion.

Day 25: Explore free learning resources. Use online platforms to acquire new skills or knowledge for free.

Day 26: Financial literacy deep dive. Dedicate today to your financial literacy by reading a personal finance book, listening to a podcast, or subscribing to a financial newsletter.

Day 27: Money mindfulness.

Day 30: Review and set new goals. Evaluate your overall savings achievement, including what worked well and what challenges you faced. Set new financial goals for the future and consider continuing the challenge for another 30 days. A 30-day savings challenge is a transformative journey that boosts your savings and enhances your financial literacy. Stick to the habits developed during this challenge, and watch your financial well-being flourish.

MSR + JPMorgan Chase have partnered to bring you the Finance FYI series. JPMorgan Chase is committed to helping close the racial wealth gap and driving economic inclusion for Black, Hispanic, and Latino communities. Join us every Monday for tips, advice, and vital information to improve your financial literacy. For more Finance FYI, visit spokesmanrecorder.com.

Hiawatha Ave. in Minneapolis, a neighborhood disrupted by the unrest after George

Floyd’s murder, and the major expansion of the bank’s St Paul-Midway branch. Camp-

Collette Campbell Photo courtesy of Bremer Bank

Photo by towfiqu via 123RF

CHILD PROTECTION

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including the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, where she currently co-chairs the child protection committee, to build momentum towards an overhaul of the system, which she believed ripped families apart based on the conjecture of a government employee.

In a recent testimony to the Minnesota Senate legislative task force on child protection, Houston said that 26% of the children in foster care were Black, although they make up 10% of the state population. She also said that Black children are three times more likely to be reported, with families experiencing two to seven times higher rates of removal compared to white children.

Houston referenced several factors that led to these disparities during her testimony, one of which was removal bias, which resulted in Black families being less likely to receive in-

LINO LAKES

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make the child stop in five minutes, or else the visit was over.”

The daughter-in-law explained that she couldn’t get the toddler to calm down in the allotted time and began trying to gather the children, comfort her husband, and regroup herself during the upheaval. Brooks added, “I’m told that Marquis was also trying to do the same for his wife and children and may have delayed standing up when instructed by Officer Motyl.”

In response to the question of when the family learned of Rollins’ new visitation restrictions, his wife said she was never informed of any procedure that would limit visits for her husband. Rollins was not

RAMADAN

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You deserve to celebrate. What are you doing if you are not showing up and showing out? I love how we come together; we are all one,” she said.

Ismael Kamara, a Minnesotan whose cultural roots stem from Guinea and Sierra Leone, shared a similar appreciation for the significance of how we adorn ourselves for Eid and the sense of community style cultivates.

“As a kid, I was never thrilled to wake up early, but I was thrilled to experience Eid,” he said.“As an adult now, I’m putting the pieces together. It’s very moving. It shows how

HEALTHCARE

Continued from page 1

races,” Dr. Eneanya stated. “Those studies reporting that Black people had greater muscle mass were flawed, but no one questioned them.”

As the director of health equity, anti-racism, and community engagement at Penn Medicine, Dr. Eneanya spearheads internal initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division. Additionally, she is actively involved in community outreach programs to address racial disparities in kidney disease awareness and screening.

“Not everyone approaches medicine with a health equity lens,” she asserted. “Many clinicians are not aware of exist-

home services that prevent removal. She also stated that the state was more likely to permit white children to remain with their families and remove Black children from theirs.

Another factor Houston presented was that poverty was often labeled as neglect. Because Black children are more likely to live in poverty compared to white children, their families are more likely to engage with public resources such as public transportation, housing, and clinics, which increases their chances of engaging with CPS.

These disparities have led Children’s Rights, a children’s advocacy group, and the Minneapolis NAACP to file a lawsuit last month against the State of Minnesota alleging that its child protection agencies have discriminated against Black families.

The lawsuit requests an immediate investigation into the state’s child welfare system and its use of federal funds. The suit references explicitly Hennepin and Ramsey coun-

informed of an infraction that limited his visitation privilege for six months.

“In fact,” explained Brooks, I was informed that my son’s visits were restricted on January 29 when I drove up there to visit. There was nothing officially written on this matter for weeks. And the only way my son was notified was through me.”

ties as having caused harmful impacts on Black families.

Black residents making up 13% of the population in Hennepin County, Black families experience 60% of the removals, and 55%experience termination of parental rights, according to Houston.

“We closed over 90% of our cases without a

child removal by using safety plans and family at the investigative stage.”

In 2020, Houston was invited to pilot the African American Family Preservation Act in Hennepin County, where she worked directly with families to reduce their chances of separation. Village Arms, Houston’s agency, administered the pilot with the County. Whenever a case concern-

for behavior issues in the visiting room. “I’m told that there were also 11 violations against my son that involved his minor children within a single month. This seems discretionary and arbitrarily selective, targeting my son and his children.”

“He’s three years old. Sometimes they get agitated or want to have their way.”

However, Brooks believes there is more to this situation. More specifically, she says that Officer Motyl has also targeted the six- and oneyear-olds on other occasions

much religion and culture can bring people together.”

The energy and intention that drive Eid day style aren’t only prompted by Muslims’ high spirits. The encouragement to dress for celebrations like Eid is also exemplified in the Hadiths (authentic narrations) of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

“The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)* was known to have a special garment he would wear for the two Eid [holidays] and on every Friday. He would wear the best of his clothes on Eid,” Kaltun Karani stated. Karani, who is of Somali origin and a mental health therapist, teacher, and writer in Minnesota, explained the connection between how many Muslims choose to dress

ing disparities — how Black patients do not get referred to nephrology as early as white patients and do not have sufficient access to transplant [procedures].

“Not everyone approaches medicine with a health equity lens. Many clinicians are not aware of existing disparities.”

“In medicine, the tendency is to say, ‘This is what a study showed, so this is what we should do,’ focusing on biomarkers and statistical tests without examining issues of ethics or health equity.”

Dr. Eneanya noted that the revelation of racial bias within the kidney transplantation system underscores the pressing

ing a Black family came in, a family liaison would go out with a county investigator. In the process, they would identify the children’s relatives, determine what support services they needed, and organize a consultation meeting.

Four provisions guided the pilot program. One was to reduce the number of Black children removed from the home. The second was to ensure family and community involvement. Thirdly, they worked to divert families from terminating parental rights at the end of their case. Fourthly, they aimed to reduce maltreatment findings. “We served over 200 families throughout those three years. We closed over 90% of our cases without a child removal using safety plans and family at the investigative stage. We were able to keep a vast majority of those cases from moving to ongoing child protection,” Houston said.

Despite showcasing how successfully the bill can be implemented, it has faced some

opposition in the legislature. In a House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee meeting on March 21, Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL) raised concerns about the bill’s language. “I just really need to caution us that the constitutionality piece of this is real,” she stated. “I’m happy to join in the effort to discuss that. I just think we need to blend and work on it but have that honest piece of conversation.”

Frustrated, Houston pushed back against Keller’s claim against the bill. “I want to address that because this body has done a lot for the Native American community, but it has done nothing for the African American community,” she stated during her time in the meeting. Keller and others have claimed that the bill violates the 14th Amendment by creating unequal protection for Black families over other groups, but Houston stated the bill aims to stop the harm happening to African Americans.

Thomas Berry, a colleague of Houston’s on the Minneapolis NAACP, echoed her sentiment and stated that the bill’s language had been changed to bring more people into its fold of protection. “This bill does not cause disparities for other groups. In fact, it says ‘other disproportionate groups.’

“They asked for that to be put in the language, and it was added. All it is saying is, ‘Hey, take into consideration the family, culture, all of these things that matter to all of us,’” Berry stated.

The name of the bill was recently changed to the Layla Jackson Law after an eighteenmonth-old child who was killed by her foster father just four months after she was placed in his care. Houston underlined how Jackson’s death occurred after County officials failed to intervene after multiple reports of concern posed by the child’s family.

Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to amohamed@ spokesman-recorder.com.

According to the mother, the restrictions highlight a flaw in the prison’s visitor policy, which she claims is also applied inconsistently and lacks transparency. “To separate families because of the behavior of a visiting minor is outrageous and uncalled for,” she stated, expressing her

up for Eid and examples of how one should show up in society through clothing, as referenced in the Islamic texts.

“The text says to wear the best of your clothes. To wear the best doesn’t necessarily mean new,” she said. Karani shared her hopes of what the broader nonMuslim population in Minnesota can take away from the Eid celebrations: “I hope it shows the humanity of Muslims and how committed they are to their faith.”

Shortly before one of his daily virtual Ramadan evening sermons, Makram El-Amin, resident Imam of Masjid An-Nur in Minneapolis, emphasized the importance of dressing well in Islamic texts, especially at the mosque, and added, “[Eid] is dif-

need for reformative measures to ensure equitable healthcare access for all individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity.

“I sit on a joint American Society of Nephrology-National Kidney Foundation task force that is revising formal eGFR reporting guidelines to exclude racial bias,” Dr. Eneanya stated.

“Many physicians nationwide, including some at Penn, have stopped using the race multiplier already. And while the eGFR is a frontline test for kidney function, there are other tests that don’t incorporate race. When there is any doubt about the accuracy of an eGFR score, other confirmatory tests that do not use race should be performed.” Stacy

spondent.

disbelief and frustration over the situation. She also voiced concerns about how such policies might affect other families, potentially exacerbating the challenge they face while their loved ones are incarcerated. Brooks also spoke to Officer Motyl and informed him of how disrespectful she felt he had been to her, her son, and the children. “He informed me that the decision had been made.”

She also contacted the MN Ombuds of Corrections office, which, within five days, decided to agree with the MN DOC’s decision. Brooks then contacted the Assistant Warden of MCF-Lino Lakes, who said there was nothing she could do since her boss, Warden Shannon Reinmann, had made the final decision.

Commissioner Paul Schnell issued the following written

ferent. This is the time to show up and show out a little.”

Imam El-Amin’s jubilance,

“On Eid Day, the best of our cultures should be displayed.”

when discussing incorporating culture in worship shined. “Whatever our cultural tradition is, the best of our cultures should be displayed on Eid day.”

Asked what he hopes Eid day

ECLIPSE

Continued from page 1

statement: “The characterization that visiting privileges were revoked based on the actions of a child is patently inaccurate. Discussing the details of specific incidents in the media is inappropriate. The Department of Correction’s policies and procedures exist to maintain a safe environment for all who live, visit, and work in our facilities.’’

On March 21, Brooks held a press conference outside Lino Lakes. She was joined by the City of God Kingdom Ministry Church and community advocate groups JIIVE, IWOC, Peace of Hope, and Rollin’s five-year-old nephew, Julius.

The incident at Lino Lakes Correctional sparks broader discussion about the balance between maintaining order within prisons and upholding

style shows the broader community, he stated, “When you witness someone living out moments of joy right in front of you, it’s hard not to partake in that. There is no bigger invitation to our tradition than how we show up in space. We’re here purposefully and want to share it with the world.”

Jamillia Bryant, whose family history in the United States spans several generations, says that she incorporates her culture into how she expresses herself in the Islamic context in a comfortable way. She learned from her elders, such as her mom, aunts, and cousins, how to go about her style.

Growing up, the hectic air of Eid morning in a big house-

the rights of inmates and their families to maintain contact, once thought to be a crucial aspect of rehabilitation. According to the MN-DOC website, Rollins will be released in June 2025.

There are several things Brooks would like to see happen, including (1) Immediate reinstatement of visiting privileges for Mr. Rollins, (2) A public apology to Rollins for the wrong done to him by MNDOC’s undocumented procedure limiting his visits, (3) Amend Policy 302.100 where it would allow fairness to prisoners who have visitors age seven years or younger, and (4) Hire her for the open position of MN DOC Policy Specialist.

Al Brown welcomes reader responses to abrown@spokesman-recorder.com.

hold was an undertaking, but it marked the beginning of an important day. “When I had a dress that made me feel good, I was celebratory for myself and my family,” she said. As a current design student, Bryant expressed that on Eid “I’m so hungry to see everything. I love it all.”

*(pbuh) means Peace Be Upon Him, a salutation that Muslims add to the Prophet Muhammad’s name whenever said.

Eid Al-Fitr is expected to occur on Wednesday, April 10, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Binta Kanteh welcomes reader responses to bkanteh13@ gmail.com.

Sirisha Bandla, aeronautical engineer

Darren Fischer (l) and Glenda Broadway of South Bend, Indiana

Kristian Stricklen (r) and her son Jacob Stricklen of Indianapolis

Arts & Culture

Minneapolis St. Paul Film Society announces large slate of films for upcoming festival

By Farah Habad Contributing Writer

The largest annual celebration of international films in the region returns for its 43rd year as the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) debuts over 200 films from around the world at theaters across the Twin Cities.

Founded in 1962, MSP Film Society focuses on shining a light on stories and storytellers from historically underrepresented and underserved communities. According to their website, the organization seeks to use film as “a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration.”

Boasting an annual audience of over 85,000 people, they are able to help many independent filmmakers reach a wide spectrum of viewers to build bridges towards understanding one another better. Abdi Mohamed, a filmmaker and board member of the MSP Film Society, noted, “The Minneapolis St. Paul International

Film Festival is already widely recognized, but I believe we’re on a trajectory to firmly stake our place even further so that filmmakers will seek to have their films as a part of our festival similar to some of the other notable film festivals.”

The film festival highlights new filmmakers from around the world while also spotlighting the work of local filmmakers, according to Craig L. Rice, senior programmer and board member emeritus for MSP Film Society.

“The population in Minnesota is growing more globally, and that’s kind of our idea, to represent the cultures that live here in the state,” he said. “I look for ‘Minnesota’ voices.

We look, specifically, for films that represent the cultures here—the Hmong films, the Somali films, the Liberian films—and we have a whole film festival in the fall dedicated to Latino films.”

This year, the MSPIFF will feature many films from across the African Diasporic community. Providing an emphasis

on work originating from and about African communities was a key priority for filmmaker Abdi Mohamed.

“The population in Minnesota is growing more globally and that’s kind of our idea, to represent the cultures that live here in the state.”

“I’m particularly excited about a lot of the films made by African filmmakers featured in our festival,” Mohamed stated. “The continent has had a surge of wonderful films in recent years, and I’m proud that our festival has served as a platform to screen these films which show us the nuances of African life.”

Organizers of the film festival were blown away by the volume of engagement this year. “More and more people are making films,” Rice said. “Our submissions were about twice what they were last year. Folks are seeing films as more of a way to communicate. Documentary films output has increased because it’s become citizen reporting.” The film festival opens with a screening of “Sing Sing,” a true story about a group of

men finding healing by joining the Sing Sing Prison Theatre Group. The film stars Tony and Academy Award nominee and notable wearer of suits Coleman Domingo alongside producer Clarence Maclin, whose real life story the film takes inspiration from. “Bufis” directed by Mahad Ahmed and Vincenzo Cavallo makes its U.S. premiere at the festival on April 12 and 13 at the Main Theatre. “Bufis” is based on a true story about young Somali refugees living in Nairobi, Kenya’s Eastleigh neighborhood with dreams of obtaining a green card and living a better life.

MSPIFF kicks off April 11 with a screening of “Sing Sing” 7:15 p.m. at the Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St. Minneapolis and will be followed by an opening reception at the AMill Artist Lofts sponsored by KNOCK Inc. The opening reception will feature music from DJ Jacques as well as beverages from program sponsors.

Tickets for the opening screening and reception are $60. Unless otherwise noted, single showing tickets are available for $10 for MSP Film Society members, $12 for non-members, and $8 for students. All-Access passes are available for $400 for members, $600 for nonmembers, and $75 for students. For more information or any questions contact info@mspfilm.org.

Habad welcomes reader comments to fhabad@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Other notable films premiering at the MSPIFF include “Luther: Never Too Much,” a documentary directed by Dawn Porter chronicling the life of one of the most gifted and magnanimous vocalists in R&B’s storied history, and “Once Again (For the Very First Time),” a gripping and dynamic cinematic masterclass directed by Boaz Yakin starring Alvin Ailey dancer Jeroboam Bozeman and the dynamic awardwinning poet Mecca “Meccamorphosis” Verdell.

Obi Original and the Black Atlantics’ Green Room residency

By Angel Akurienne Contributing Writer

Embodying the spirit of Fela Kuti, Obi Original and The Black Atlantics opened their first night of a month-long residency at Green Room on April 2.

Obi Original and The Black Atlantics introduce a music style with a rich political history: Afro-rock. Think of the sounds reminiscent of Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, and other diasporic thought leaders of the ‘70s.

ist, Jovon, featured on each song. Obi Original led with charisma and eccentricity on the lead guitar. Quoting Fela Kuti, he stated, “99% of what you’ve learned about Africa is wrong.” His mission, he stated, was to inspire a “reeducation of Africa to the States.” Fela Kuti is regarded as the King of Afrobeat, a Nigerianbirthed melting pot genre of highlife, jazz, funk, calypso, and traditional Yoruba music. His political influence is the primary driver of his work. In the 1970s, Kuti opened the

Though this is their first residency, Obi Original and The Black Atlantics are no strangers to performing—especially in the Twin Cities. Obi is part of the Afrobeats record label Ozone Creations, which comprises six genre-bending artists: Barkarii, Sumer, Mack OC, Breezy2Fresh, and Chinwe N’du. These artists and many other incredibly talented musicians make up The Black Atlantics. Crowded on the intimate stage was a buffet of traditionally African instruments such as talking drums, shekeres and congas. The standout was the saxophon-

Kalakuta Republic, a commune, recording studio, nightclub (Afrika Shrine), and hotel. The Republic was later raided and burnt down by 1,000 Nigerian soldiers after Kuti released “Zombie,” an album that critiqued the Nigerian military. Afrobeat has gained popularity in the States thanks to Wizkid, Burnaboy, and even Minnesota’s own Libianca, with her award-winning hit “People.” Last summer, she toured the world as an opener for Alicia Keys, and Mr. Obi Original slapped the bass alongside her. Obi’s Nigerian background is at the forefront of his artist-

ry. He plans to honor his people and those who’ve come before him. He cites Kuti, Davido, and Bob Marley as his main inspirations. The stage design, by Creative Director Angel Adaeze, reimagines the New Afrika Shrine (previously Kuti’s Afrika Shrine) with scattered protest posters quoting Africa’s thought leaders, as well as projections of Kuti and Marley’s iconic performances, thereby “creating a shrine in itself to the pan-African legends,” according to Adaeze.

The Green Room residency runs every Tuesday in April with a different, diverse slate of openers. Mayyadda stunned with her acoustic

“Though this is their first residency, Obi Original and The Black Atlantics are no strangers to performingespecially in the Twin Cities.”

Farah

Obi Original takes the stage along with The Black Atlantics on the opening night of their residency at the Green Room.

Obi Original and The Black Atlantics on stage at the Green Room on April 2 Photo by Brock Wegner

MSPIFF Programmer and Filmmaker Craig Rice introduces a film at last year’s festival. Photo courtesy of the MSP Film Society

Opinion

Black-owned media are key to a 2024 Biden-Harris campaign victory

By Charles Cantu and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

President Joe Biden wouldn’t have won the 2020 presidential election without the Black vote. In this “Groundhog Day” redo four years later, if President Biden wants to defeat Donald Trump again, he needs the Black vote more than ever. The GOP knows this and has been courting Black men in particular, with Trump suggesting in a bizarre and racist remark that Black men will root for him because they identify with his legal troubles. The 2024 national elections will be the most consequential elections in American history. The Black Press and the Black Vote will be determinative factors in the outcome of the elections this year.

“Insider Intelligence” predicts that campaigns will spend more than $12 billion on advertising during this election cycle, a new record. Dollar for dollar, the biggest ROI the Biden campaign can get is by advertising in Black-owned and -operated newspapers and media.

Specifically, this means the Black Press—the more than 200 Black-owned newspapers and their respective websites. There are also more than 1,000 other kinds of Black-owned media that include websites, podcasts, CTV channels, and radio stations.

It’s not just the BidenHarris campaign. Democrats down the ticket and around the country will see immense advertising amplification by advertising in Black-owned media. In other words, advertising in Black-owned media

isn’t just another insertion order, because the Black Press is a different kind of media.

Over decades—in some cases since the 1800s—Blackowned newspapers have built deep trust with their readers. Their coverage or endorsement can positively influence voter opinions, building credibility for Democratic candidates and the issues they champion. By advertising in the Black Press, Democrats can directly impact how Black voters perceive their policies and candidates.

Here are a few of the unique qualities and advantages of advertising in Blackowned media.

The ad buy itself demonstrates that the candidate is doing more than paying lip service to Black issues.

Targeted Reach: Black-owned newspapers and websites have a dedicated readership within the African American community. By advertising there, Democrats will directly engage with a crucial voting bloc.

Increased visibility beyond urban centers: Advertising in the Black Press provides deeper visibility beyond the mainstream media. It allows the Democrats to reach Black voters who might not otherwise encounter their campaign messages.

Moreover, national polls may not capture the diversity of Black communities among urban, suburban, and rural areas. Black-owned newspapers reach readers in small towns, big cit-

Stand up against the Marxist takeover of our schools

If our schools are in trouble, then so are our children

First of all, thank you to educators from years gone by to the present, who love our children and have labored for their best outcomes. Without them I would have no hope today.

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com

ies, and beyond. Advertising in these platforms is part of a comprehensive outreach strategy for reaching Black Americans.

Community connections: These publications serve as vital sources of information for Black communities. Advertising in the Black Press demonstrates a commitment to understanding and addressing the unique concerns of Black communities. The ad buy itself demonstrates that the candidate is doing more than paying lip service to Black issues.

From polling to policy: The Black Press plays a critical role in shaping public opinion within diverse Black communities. Advertising in Black-owned media will allow Democratic candidates to highlight specific policies that affect Black Americans, such as criminal justice reform, economic empowerment and debt reform, overseas wars, and access to affordable, quality health care.

Historical context: Blackowned newspapers have a rich history of advocating for civil rights and social justice. Advertising within these platforms reinforces Democratic commitment to equality and progress for all Americans.

Solidarity: Advertising in the Black Press sends a powerful message of unity. It shows that Democrats value Black voices and are committed to uplifting marginalized communities.

Local leading to national impact: The cliché that all politics is local happens to be true. Many Black-owned newspapers focus on local news and issues that then gain national attention. By advertising with the Black Press, Democrats will connect with voters at a grassroots level, emphasizing their commitment to community development.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation: Russia has already started intense election interference in the U.S. and other democracies facing 2024 elections, including websites masquerading as local news outlets. Black-owned newspapers are established and reputable within their communities. By advertising in the Black Press, Democrats can support high-quality journalism that counters conspiracy theories that circulate elsewhere.

Getting out the Black Vote: Recently, the DNC announced a historic Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) campaign in Nevada and South Carolina. These are paid ad campaigns. Directing media investment for such campaigns in the Black Press can increase turnout for this key voting bloc.

Knowing that pastors, churches, moms and dads have been praying regularly for school students and staff is good news. Let us take a laser light on education today. School districts in Minnesota are in grave danger. In the last year, policies decided by a governor-appointed board, the Professional Education Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), have set revised teacher licensing standards for new and renewing teachers, which include a mandate to teach Marxist activism.

This PELSB mandate is now being taught in Minnesota colleges and universities, so when they are required to sign for a license in 2025 they will be ready to teach our children socialism integrated in all areas of study and thought. For more information check the website Child Protection

League and search PELSB. School boards and administrators are not the culprits, yet they are complicit in allowing this injustice. Unions are another factor. In 2008, Minnesota had 50 education lobbyists while corporations had one or less on average. The strength of their organizing is evident financially, academically, and autocratically.

School boards and administrators are not the culprits, yet they are complicit in allowing this injustice.

Highlighting our needs, we must keep our eyes on the Minnesota legislature. They are advancing an agenda at lightning speed. Start contacting state officials heading up education and human rights act committees; watch their live broadcasts of committees, house and senate proceedings on the state website https:// www.leg.mn.gov/.

Let’s pray and encourage school administrators and school boards to speak to other school districts about standing up against this takeover of our schools. If enough of them work together other districts will rally with them. It only takes a few brave people to start a new American Revolution. For the sake of our children the battle is worth it. Ordinary citizens, we must speak now! Administrators are not standing alone with no recourse but need our truth to protect and save our local schools and for us together to save our children! They need parents, taxpayers, voters, and faith leaders to stand with them now!

We saw how the comprehensive sex education curriculum works. Now it is a grooming process to sexualize children. Schools need to show the public any CASEL-style SEL programming they are using on our children and why. It is up to each one of us to fix this agenda quickly. Home schooling is a very serious option!

Let them eat flakes: inflation, nutrition and reality

By Julianne Malveaux

Remember the parable of the blind men and the elephant? As each approached an elephant and tried to describe it, they came up with wildly disparate answers. One thought it a snake, another a tree, another a trunk. Because they were blind, they could not see the big picture; they described the part of the elephant they could touch.

Inflation is something like that. People describe it based on the way it hits them, and it hits each family differently. Those with incomes below the median salary of $56,420 per year are hit hardest and most likely counting their pennies. Those with higher incomes shrug off some of the ways inflation hurts. But make no mistake, it hurts.

Grocery prices are up by 25% in the past four years, so you are now spending $125 for food you paid $100 for four years ago. To be sure, inflation is waning. Groceries increased by 2.6 percent between January 2023 and January 2024, compared to 10 percent the year before. The Federal Reserve has been grappling with ways to lower inflation, but they need help fixing supply chain issues and corporate greed.

Still, inflation reminds us how disparate our lives are. Some chafe at inflation, while others shrug it off. Then, a corporate CEO, Gary Pilnick, who earns at least $4.9 million a year as CEO of Kellogg, offered a novel solution for families fighting inflation. Let them eat cereal, he says.

Really? Cereal, he says, is nutritious and delicious. And it’s also relatively cheap. A bowl of cereal and milk is not an adequate replacement for a protein, vegetable, and starch (say chicken, mashed potatoes,

ing in the Black Press can help sway opinion and mobilize voters in critical regions.

and green beans), nor is it quite as rib-sticking. But Pilnick arrogantly and glibly dared offer a Marie Antoinette-like solution to family meal planning.

Let them eat flakes.

A 13-serving box of Kellogg’s Sugar Frosted Flakes costs $18.70, or about $1.45 a serving. Six ounces of milk costs about 40 cents. So a bowl of cereal costs $1.85, maybe more depending on the kind of milk you use (low-fat,

His rather glib response to many working families’ daily challenges was out of line, out of order, and highly self-serving.

almond, skim). In contrast, a chicken leg, mashed potatoes, and green beans will run you about $2.50 a serving, and it has more protein than the cereal dinner, which may have as few as two grams of protein.

I am trying to figure out what Pilnick was thinking or if he has any children. His rather glib response to many working families’ daily challenges was out of line, out of order, and highly self-serving.

Sure, some families occasionally do breakfast for dinner and even have fun with it. But offering flakes is no solution for families who are fighting inflation. Pilnick has seen appropriate flack for his careless remarks, but those remarks reflect how divided our nation is. Some say, “Let them eat flakes,” while others may not even be able to afford the flakes the $4.9 million-dollar-earning CEO so glibly offers.

Cereal prices have risen 27% in the last four years, faster than other grocery

on Black-owned media comes nowhere close to that percentage.

prices. Flakes are not a nutritious substitute for a balanced meal; some are so laden with sugar that they are a health risk. Frosted flakes, for example, have 13 grams of sugar per serving. Healthy? Hardly.

The COVID pandemic sparked inflation-related challenges, and those challenges, while decreasing, continue. Wages have not risen as quickly as inflation, and those on the bottom are encountering significant difficulties. Hunger is a national problem that requires income supplements for people experiencing poverty, like the child tax credit.

It certainly doesn’t need the glib myopia of an intellectually challenged CEO who perhaps thought he was being cute. His solution, let them eat flakes, is no solution for the already nutritionally threatened folk on the bottom, especially those with children.

Gary Pilnick earns more than $94,000 a week. He could donate some of that to a food bank. Letting them eat flakes is no solution to our nation’s hunger situation. Fortyfour million of us, including one in five children, experience hunger. While we brag about our international prowess, the reality is that 12 countries—Finland, Ireland, Norway, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Canada, the UK, Portugal, Switzerland, and Austria—do better at providing citizens with nutritious meals.

Instead of offering flakes, Pilnick should offer policy solutions. Or he should just shut up.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a member of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC), an economist, author and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University at Los Angeles. Juliannemalveaux.com.

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com.

Battleground states: Black voters are influential in key battleground states. Advertis-

In the most recent Census, Black Americans represented 12.4% of the U.S. population.

The amount of money that advertisers of all sorts spend

However, Democratic candidates shouldn’t advertise in the Black Press just because it’s the right thing to do. It’s also the smart thing to do.

Patricia Moulton, Rush City MN

By Joseph Soares

How going back to the SAT could set back college student diversity

As of early 2024, just four schools have announced the return of mandatory testing: Brown, Dartmouth, Yale and MIT. Meanwhile, many other schools are sticking with testoptional admissions.

These schools include Boston University, Columbia University, Cornell University, the University of Michigan, the University of Missouri system, the University of Utah, Vanderbilt University and William & Mary.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2019, there were approximately 1,050 testoptional schools out of approximately 2,300 bachelor’s degree-granting institutions, not counting the four-year forprofit schools.

The four schools that have gone back to standardized tests had initially dropped their requirement because of the pandemic. The College Board put its test administrations on pause during the pandemic because testing sites could not host them.

Now, administrators at Yale and Dartmouth say that some students from low-income

families were harmed by not submitting test scores. Their argument is that by submitting test scores, it would have enabled colleges to find youths of promise from low-income families. The assumption is that students from an underresourced high school, without an abundance of extracurricular opportunities or AP courses, will perhaps have a strong test score that will signal their potential.

I don’t believe the facts support the claims being made by the four universities that decided to reinstate the SAT.

After going test-optional, the Ivy League and MIT had more

racial and economic diversity than ever before.

Taking 2018 as a prepandemic benchmark, when test requirements were more common, and 2022 as a year of test-optional admissions by these schools, we can see the largest increase in the Ivy League’s history in underrepresented Black and Hispanic students came while being test-optional. In 2018, there were 72,654 undergraduates in the Ivies plus MIT; in 2022, there were 74,258 undergraduates, an aggregate increase of 1,604 students.

Black and Hispanic students accounted for 79% of the total

growth. The number of Black and Hispanic undergraduates went up at those nine schools by a total of 1,261, according to my analysis of figures from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

The number of Pell Grant students, who are widely treated as a proxy for students from low-income families, went up at six schools, remained the same at one, and declined slightly at two, my unpublished analysis found. This suggests that the numbers of students from low-income families also increased overall, although not on the same scale as increases in Black and Hispanic students.

Furthermore, test-optional policies did not prevent students from submitting test scores. If a student believed their test score was a plus, they could have submitted it.

Dartmouth has issued a study that explains why it decided to resurrect a test score requirement. It reported that being test-optional produced a “35% increase in applications,” and that 31% of all enrolled students at Dartmouth were admitted without a test score.

Of those applicants evalu-

Teach For America speaker to address MN racial equity gaps

The event at the Guthrie is open to the public

By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer

Teach For America Twin Cities is once again bringing a nationally known speaker to Minneapolis for its 2024 Teach for America DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) keynote.

Renowned leader and organizer Brittany Packnett Cunningham will take the stage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis at 7 p.m. on the evening of April 25, headlining an event entitled, “Co-creating a More Just Minnesota.”

income schools. Since arriving in Minnesota 15 years ago, Teach for America Twin Cities has built a network of 1,000 alumni; the majority still work in education as teachers, school staff, administrators and policy-makers.

she’s learned that we can apply in Minnesota to make progress with our racial equity gaps.”

“Minnesota, we’re not the best. We have the lowest high school graduation rates for kids of color in the nation.”

Teach

In Minnesota TFA corps members commit to working to close Minnesota’s achievement gap among students of color. In her career as an activist, Cunningham frequently addresses such racial disparities. “Brittany has been on the front lines of activism and direct service,” said Charlie Braman, managing director of Teach For America Twin Cities. “She is able to share lessons

Cunningham has been an educator, author, award-winning podcaster, network news analyst, and leader for social change, from public education to criminal justice. She was a member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and the Ferguson Commission and held a top role at Teach for America.

“She has the practical, lived experience, the anecdotes and the data to analyze how we got to where we are in Minnesota,” Braman said. “She can identify best practices that we can leverage locally to work to close those gaps.”

Prior to Cunningham’s talk, the audience at the Guthrie will watch a film commissioned by Teach For America Twin Cities. Local filmmaker Benji Perez

ated without reference to a test score, they afterward were able to get scores for 19% of them. They found higher admission rates for disadvantaged students whose unknown SAT scores were actually under 1400 than those with scores above 1400.

When highly selective schools— some refer to these as “highly rejective” schools—went test-optional, diversity went up on their campuses.

The school saw this as a bad policy because it believes that higher-scoring disadvantaged students will have higher GPAs and brighter careers than lower-scoring ones. It drew the conclusion that requiring all to submit a test score was better for quality admissions than allowing students to decide on their own whether to submit their scores.

When highly selective schools—some refer to these as “highly rejective” schools— went test optional, diversity

high school graduation rates for kids of color in the nation. Our literacy rates are abysmal. Only about 50% are reading at grade level.

“We need that mind shift that we can do a lot better as a state—in fact most states are doing better than we are—and

Gonzalez created a documentary that asked local leaders to reflect on and reveal the stubborn racial divide in Minnesota across sectors, in housing, health, and wealth as well as in educational outcomes.

“Minnesota, we’re not the best,” Josh Crosson, executive director of Ed Allies, stated in the film. “We have the lowest

then we need to create solutions from that mindset.”

“We’re a healthy state,” added Markus Flynn, executive director of Black Men Teach. “We own our own homes, we have a strong education system, we have opportunities for people to advance socioeconomically.

“But there’s an important

went up on their campuses.

My research suggests that the resumption of standardized tests will diminish the number of applications from Black and Hispanic students and from low-income families.

Black and Hispanic students face “disparate headwinds” in taking a test where race is the strongest single variable that predicts test scores. Students of color are more likely than others to not include test scores in their college applications.

The case for restoring testoptional admissions in the name of equity and diversity has been made by a coalition of Black, Hispanic and lowincome students at Dartmouth. They pointed out that a test score requirement weighs strongly against Black, Hispanic and students from low-income families. They called on college administrators to restore testoptional admissions.

Joseph Soares is a professor of sociology at Wake Forest University.

This story was republished with permission from The Conversation.

caveat. None of that is true if you’re Black. We know that education is the quality of life indicator that has the most residual benefit that can lift up the other areas.”

Tickets for “Co-creating a More Just Minnesota” are $5, a price intentionally chosen to make the event accessible to all members of the community, according to Braman. VIP Tickets are available at a higher price ($25 and $50) for a postlecture catered reception with Cunningham.

“Our VIP meet-and-greets always bring together leaders of Twin Cities groups with an equity focus. Great collaborations and coalitions have sprung from this in the past, when teams from these community-based organizations have a chance [to] connect and network,” Braman said.

Tickets for “Co-creating a More Just Minnesota” with Brittany Packnett Cunningham on April 25 can be found at the Guthrie Theater.

Sheletta Brundidge welcomes reader responses to sbrundidge@ spokesman-recorder.com.

for America recruits and trains a national corps of educators who teach for two years in underserved, low-

After going test-optional, the Ivy League and MIT had more racial and economic diversity than ever before. Photo by Keira Burton

Brittany Packnett Cunningham will take the stage at the Guthrie Theater on April 25 as the keynote speaker of the Co-creating a More Just Minnesota event. Courtesy photos

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Reed is among the 12 Black WBB head coaches on the ABIS list, and there are 26 Blacks on the assistant/associate head coach list. There are 16 Black head coaches and 23 Black assistant/associate head coaches on the MBB watchlist.

Tangela Smith, however, is not on any of the lists. The former Iowa star and 13year WNBA veteran joined the Northwestern women’s coaching staff in 2018. Her primary responsibilities include post player development and overall team skill development. She previously coached at Western Michigan for four seasons.

“I think it’s good to see Black and brown faces in our positions,” said Smith, who is among the few Black associate HCs in the Big Ten. The associate head coach is usually the next in line after the head coach, and sometimes the coachin-waiting.

A 12th overall pick by Sacramento in 1998, Smith played for five WNBA clubs, including two league champions. When she retired in 2012, Smith made the W’s top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks, FG attempts and made. She played on three overseas team championships as well.

She told us after a game earlier this season, “I took two years [off] after I retired. I didn’t have any aspirations” of coaching, Smith admitted. But she’s glad that Northwestern Coach Joe McKeown hired her: “I’m from Chicago. He wanted to bring me back home.”

It is “super important” that Blacks are in all coaching positions, especially Black females, and especially for Black youths to see, concluded Smith. “I don’t know if they have dreams and aspirations…but if there’s something that they want to do in the future, I feel like this is great because they see it right up front.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

The Chicago native played for C. Vivian Stringer at Iowa, where she was 1998 Big Ten Player of the Year and twotime all-conference, with two regular season titles and the 1997 Big Ten tournament title. Smith left Iowa with a degree in sports, health, leisure, and physical studies as well as the school’s all-time leader in blocks, third in rebounds, and seventh in scoring. She later got a masters in sports management at Western Michigan.

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St. Paul Johnson’s boys basketball Head Coach Colin Moore was named Class 3A Section 4 Coach of the Year. Moore, who took over after Hall of Fame Coach Vern Simmon’s retirement in 2020, led the Governors to a second place finish in the City Conference and the section semifinals. They were led by Dhamani Tucker, Jalani Mays, Colin Moore Jr., Kenny Turner, Daejohn Thomas and Guarino Kamp

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments at mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

SOE

areas(s)

core

which employed; make appropriate use of instructional resources and technologies. Implement the goals and objectives of the school and/or program for which employed. Follow the prescribed course of study, except as authorized in the curriculum outlines or by the principals or other official rules and regulations. Evaluate student performance according to system used by school; promote student achievement; maintain required student records; make related reports to the principal as prescribed or authorized by the superintendent. Maintain contact and communications with parents of students and work with them in the development of each student. Perform classroom management duties; enforce District rules governing the conduct of students; take appropriate disciplinary action with students who do not follow District rules. Enforce District guidelines in regard to health and hygienic conditions and practices in the classroom as they may affect the physical and mental health of students. Coordinating the Latino club, Leader of the Family and Community Engagement, and Community manager in charge of the schools social media public relations. B.A or B.SC required. Email resume to manyit@lincolnihs.org led them to the City Conference championship. Led by Makyia Kenney, Niajiona Shaw, Ahmani Crump, Say Say Hinton, Mariah Miller and Alice Wagner-Hensted the Cougars captured their 11th consecutive conference title and Twin Cities championship appearance. England, who was selected St. Paul City Conference Player of the Year, led her team to the Class 3A Section 3 finals.

Continued from page 10

he pointed out. “They’re sponsoring a career fair that we’re putting together for the Minneapolis Public Schools [on April 23] at Orchestra Hall for kids of color and immigrants. We’ll probably have over 500 Minneapolis students.”

Added Hodson, “We obviously are trying to win every year on the field, but community efforts never slump. We can’t always control the way things are gonna happen out in the field, but we can control how we show up in the community.”

Yet the Twins still seem

to struggle attracting more Black fans to games. Only three U.S.-born Black players are on this year’s roster—pitcher Jay Jackson, outfielder Byron Buxton and infielder Royce Lewis. “Our goal is to make Target Field a welcoming place for everyone of all backgrounds to feel they can come here,” said Hodson.

Baker pointed out that “offering different opportunities besides just baseball” might help bring in more Blacks. “I think it should be about community. I think it’s got to be more inclusive.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

TUMBLING

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put my name on the [head coaching] application and everything happens,” continued the coach.

Along with her coaching responsibilities, Boyd also is an administrator in Caldwell’s athletic communications department.

She said she’s dedicated to recruiting and signing athletes for Caldwell. Her recruiting focus is “definitely

regional—Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania—where usually I’ve found the most success. But I also look nationally as well.” Her team is off and tumbling, excited about what the present and future holds for them and their coach. “There’s a lot of good energy all around, seeing what we can build up,” Boyd concluded.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Sports

Coaching carousel keeps Black coaches one-and-done

this year’s

Fours: South Caro-

Dawn Staley and Kevin Keatts of North Carolina State.

Staley last week was named AP

Coach of the Year, and Houston’s Kelvin Sampson won NABC Division I Coach of the Year. Norfolk State’s Robert Jones (men’s) and Tomekia Reed of

But these honorees shouldn’t ignore the fact that annually Black coaches are too often oneand-done as college head coaches. The annual college coaching carousel of firings and hirings that starts almost immediately after the season is completed often stops long enough for White coaches to get hired and rehired, but too often just goes round and round for Black coaches.

“I think it’s good to see Black and brown faces in our positions.”

The latest USC Race and Equity Center report by Dr. Shaun Harper noted that although Black women were 21% of the 355 NCAA Division I head women’s basketball coaches in 2023, White male coaches outnumbered them by five percentage points.

This off-season there are 42 schools with men’s col-

lege basketball head coaching openings, and at least 15 WBB coaching openings.

At last check, 14 Black men’s coaches got fired and five hired; two Black women’s coaches were fired, one resigned, three were hired and one promoted from interim to HC. Only in a couple of instances where a Black coach was fired was another Black hired to replace them (Kenny Brooks for Kyra Elzy at Kentucky, and Mark Montgomery for Mike Davis at Detroit Mercy).

Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) released for the third straight year its men’s and women’s basketball watchlists of Black men and women in current head, associate, and assistant coaches jobs. As its press release stated, the ABIS Watchlists “serve as a crucial resource …amplifying the contributions of Black coaches as the hiring cycle unfolds.”

■

college basketball coach.

Leap of faith leads to youngest tumbling head coach

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

crobatics is a combination of dance, contortion, and rhythmic gymnastics. Tumbling uses dance elements, but not as frequently, and is practiced on mats and trampolines. It is separate from men’s and women’s gymnastics.

In all three NCAA divisions there 48 total schools that sponsor varsity acrobatics and tumbling programs nationwide, the majority in Division II (33)— six in Division I and nine in Division III. There are less than 80 Black females in acrobatics and tumbling, and three of the four Black head coaches are females.

“I know how to lead a program. I know how to lead girls.”

the youngest HC in the sport.

“[It is] a fast-paced type of sport,”

Boyd recently told the MSR. The Atlanta native got into gymnastics at an early age, and competed in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics program as a Level 10 gymnast, the highest level possible.

“I started gymnastics when I was three years old. I did it all the way up until I graduated from high school. My senior

year I had a pretty bad injury and had surgery,” explained Boyd, who got into acrobatics and tumbling while in college at Presbyterian (S.C.) College, where she competed for four years and made the Academic Honor Roll.

Boyd was a member of Presbyterian’s inaugural team in 2019-20.

Caldwell University was founded in 1939 and has approximately 2,000 students, nearly 29% of whom live on campus; Blacks make up 15 percent of the student population. It is a Division II school, and acrobatics and tumbling is among the school’s newest programs among the 14 sports at Caldwell.

Boyd was named as the second Caldwell acrobatics and tumbling head coach in May 2023. There are three Blacks on her 20-player roster in only its second year of competition.

“We are a fairly new program,” she pointed out. On applying for the Caldwell HC job, “I took a leap of faith [being] fresh out of college,” recalled Boyd, who is in her early 20s. “I was like, I’ll probably graduate, take a few years before I get into the coaching world as far as head coaching goes. Maybe I could be a grad assistant. But the job posting happened.

“I know how to lead a program. I know how to lead girls. So, I just took the leap of faith,

■ See TUMBLING on page 9

City schools accomplished plenty

inneapolis South boys basketball

Head Coach Joe Hyser led them to their first state tournament since 1992. The Tigers, led by Poet Davis, James Underwood, Jumarion Weh, Jamari Stewart-Scott, Kavaughn Fields, Eugene Brown and Maurice Hargrow finished runner-up in the consolation bracket. South finished second in the Minneapolis City Conference. Hyser was named Class 3A Section 3 Coach of the Year.

Minneapolis Roosevelt girls basketball

Minneapolis Washburn boys basketball Head Coach Myles Shepherd led them to the Minneapolis City Conference and Twin Cities boys basketball championships. The Millers, led by Kyle Jorgensen, Blake Bergren, Donnevan Okwor, Cooper Carlson, and Charlie Gustafson, led the Millers to an undefeated conference record and top 10 metro ranking in Class 4A. It was their best season since Sheppard led them to the Class 3A state runner up finish in 2012 as a player. Shepherd was named Class 4A Section 6 Coach of the Year.

St. Paul Central boys basketball

Led by Head Coach Scott Howell, who himself starred at the school in football and baseball before graduating in 1984, the Minutemen captured the City Conference championship. They were led by Allan Lankfard Jr., Vontae Lewis, Elijah Moseman, Finnegan Bloedel, James Kennedy, Kaiden Thiers and Etienne Reyes. Howell was named St. Paul City Conference Coach of the Year. Lankfard, a junior, won St. Paul City Conference Player of the Year honors.

St. Paul Como Park girls basketball Head Coach Olanda England

■ See PREP on page 9

Head Coach Tyisha Wright, who starred for the Teddies as a point guard before graduation in 2010, led the Southside team to a second consecutive conference and Twin Cities title, including Class 3A state tournament appearance. Led by Olivia Wren, Jaida Walker, Cady Davis, Tamara Behl and Jayla Bennett, they reached the consolation bracket in the tournament. Wright was named Class 3A Section 3 Coach of the Year.

New offerings available to fans at Twins ballpark

he Minnesota Twins since their downtown ballpark opened in 2010 have promoted it as a place for everyone. Almost immediately after its opening, the MSR routinely sought the validity of their promotion as the team pushed its food offerings during home games.

In its 15th season, which opened the 2024 regular season last weekend, the stadium has several new food offerings available for fans throughout the ballpark, including two local Black-owned vendors.

Kamal Mohamad opened Parcelle in Northeast Minneapolis a couple of years ago. He has two offerings—a C.R.E.A.M. Smoothie and a BluePrint Smoothie. It is his first time as a vendor at the Twins ballpark, Mohamad told the MSR during the April 1 media tour.

“This is primarily for marketing,” he gave as his reason for wanting to be at Twins games.

“We just want people to try the product, and that gives them a reason to come to the store.

I think this gives us access to fans and customers from across the Twin Cities, and for them to try it and go, ‘Oh, wow.”

John Chester is back for his third season at the ballpark. His BBQ Mac N’ Cheese makes its debut this season

along with his own barbecue available for purchase.

“It’s been a great opportunity to help promote our business, that we have a brick and mortar in St. Louis Park,” said Chester, who started his East Coast eatery a few years ago. “It’s helped bring a lot of business to our location from here at the stadium,” the owner pointed out.

Also new this year is the Twins X Thrivent At Bat for Impact program. Started by the team and Thrivent, a financial services organization, this is a multi-year partnership that created a $200,000 annual fund to select local nonprofits. Twins Business Communications Director Matt Hodson told the MSR last week that the new fund is “fan-directed.” Minne-

“Our goal is to make Target Field a welcoming place for everyone of all backgrounds to feel they can come here.”

wo Black head coaches led teams to

Final

lina’s

Jackson State (women’s) respectively won HBCU National Coach of the Year honors, and Grambling Men’s Coach Donte Jackson was named Ben Jobe Coach of the Year as the country’s best NCAA D-I “minority”

Maurice Hargrow (12) and Eugene Brown (21) helped Minneapolis South to their first state tournament appearance since 1992.

Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Tangela Smith Photo by Charles Hallman

Tomekia Reed Courtesy of X

Amirah Boyd won her first meet as Caldwell (NJ) University acrobatics and tumbling head coach in February. She is

Amirah Boyd Courtesy of Caldwell University Athletics

John Baker

John Chester