News for the week of March 17, 2014. Insight News is the community journal for news, business and the arts serving the Minneapolis / St. Paul African American community
PAGE 2 Business Arrived! Career paths are not always easy to see PAGE 3 Lifestyle The complexity of simplicity Education Students targeted for extra help in Minneapolis Spring Break Academy PAGE 4 Community Rents rising in Frogtown as light rail opening day approaches PAGE 9 Radio without boundaries: Dean pursues multicultural frontiers Demanding equality It can be tough trying to be all things to all people. But since 1978 community radio station KFAI (90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 FM in St. Paul and online at www. kfai.org) has been trying to do just that. Offering programming that ranges from “Democracy Now!,” a far left leaning syndicated talk show to “Conversations With Al McFarlane,” a weekly program focusing on issues of concern to the Twin Cities’ African-American community, to “Soul Tools Radio,” a hip- hop/soul music show hosted by local music icon, Toki Wright to “The Pop Shop” with Liberty Finch and DJ Izzy who spin “power pop, bubblegum, psychedelic, garage, rock and more,” KFAI is trying to offer something for everyone. That is not always an easy task. WASHINGTON (NNPA) – If President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative expands educational and work opportunities for young Black and Hispanic males, but fails to address the burdens of structural racism that threaten their lives, the program might not succeed, some community activists believe. “Let’s say they do all the right things, let’s say they excel in the classroom, let’s say they are involved in community activities, but then they go out on the street and they are harassed by police, profiled and arrested,” said Walter Fields, executive editor of the NorthStar News a news website that caters to African American. “Or they go to college and they get a degree, then they go out on the labor market and they are discriminated against. How do we control that, after you have told these young men that they have to rise above it and be better, then they run into a system that is designed to cut them down?” President Obama launched the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in the East Room of the White House, joined by key players in business, philanthropy and public policy. Philanthropic foundations and private corporations have (TriceEdneyWire.com) - Benjamin Todd Jealous, the former NAACP president, who has weaved a career through politics, the Black press and civil rights, has now announced his next course of action in pursuit of racial equality and economic justice in America. Jealous and the Oakland, Calif.-based Kapor Center for Social Impact, located in the billionaire- Silicon Valley By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent By Hazel Trice Edney Willie Dean Former NAACP President Ben Jealous, seen here leading a protest, is now fighting for racial justice in a new way. NNPA Barack Obama announces focus on Black and latino boys. JEALOUS TURN TO 4 KEEPER TURN TO 9 DEAN TURN TO 2 Collaboration illuminates our artistic genius Black male initiative must address structural racism Bill Cameron Threads Dance Project JAHSE Sweet Honey in the Rock Threads Dance Project will perform this Friday and Saturday (March 21 and March 22) with Grammy Nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock at the Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis. The show also includes a reprise of “Humanity & Elysian Fields Avenue” – a dance about the physical and emotional tragedies of Hurricane Katrina. “To collaborate with this nationally acclaimed music group is sure to be an inspirational, truly memorable performance,” said Karen L. Charles, artistic director for Threads. “Threads Dance Project seeks to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect us in the hope of improving humanity through its work. This mission runs parallel to Sweet Honey in the Rock’s desire to invite people to think about who we are and how we treat each other. I have always been drawn to Sweet Honey’s music because they say in music what I try to say with movement.” SHOW TURN TO 9 THREADS DANCE PROJECT SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK MORE ON PAGE 5 O O GE Dreams Come True: MC Sti-Lo Reel’s “MLK” Legacy Vol. 41 No. 12 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com March 17 - March 23, 2014
Transcript
PAGE 2
BusinessArrived! Career paths are not always easy to see
PAGE 3
LifestyleThe complexity of simplicity
EducationStudents targeted for extra help in Minneapolis Spring Break Academy
PAGE 4
CommunityRents rising in Frogtown as light rail opening day approaches
PAGE 9
Radio without boundaries: Dean pursues multicultural frontiers
Demanding equality
It can be tough trying to be all things to all people. But since 1978 community radio station KFAI (90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 FM in St. Paul and online at www.kfai.org) has been trying to do just that. Offering programming that ranges from “Democracy Now!,” a far left leaning syndicated talk show to “Conversations With Al McFarlane,” a weekly program focusing on issues of concern to the Twin Cities’ African-American community, to “Soul Tools Radio,” a hip-hop/soul music show hosted by local music icon, Toki Wright to “The Pop Shop” with Liberty Finch and DJ Izzy who spin “power pop, bubblegum, psychedelic, garage, rock and more,” KFAI is trying to offer something for everyone. That is not always an easy task.
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – If President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative expands educational and work opportunities for young Black and Hispanic males, but fails to address the burdens of structural racism that threaten their lives, the program might not succeed, some
community activists believe. “Let’s say they do all the right things, let’s say they excel in the classroom, let’s say they are involved in community activities, but then they go out on the street and they are harassed by police, profi led and arrested,” said Walter Fields, executive editor of the NorthStar News a news website that caters to African American. “Or they go to college and they get a degree, then they go out on the labor market and they are discriminated against. How do
we control that, after you have told these young men that they have to rise above it and be better, then they run into a system that is designed to cut them down?” President Obama launched the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in the East Room of the White House, joined by key players in business, philanthropy and public policy. Philanthropic foundations and private corporations have
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Benjamin Todd Jealous, the former NAACP president, who has weaved a career through politics, the Black press and civil rights, has now announced his
next course of action in pursuit of racial equality and economic justice in America. Jealous and the Oakland, Calif.-based Kapor Center for Social Impact, located in the billionaire- Silicon Valley
By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer
By Freddie AllenNNPA Washington Correspondent
By Hazel Trice Edney
Willie Dean
Former NAACP President Ben Jealous, seen here leading a protest, is now fi ghting for racial justice in a new way.
NNPABarack Obama announces focus on Black and latino boys.
JEALOUS TURN TO 4 KEEPER TURN TO 9 DEAN TURN TO 2
Collaboration illuminates our artistic genius
Black male initiative must address structural racism
Bill Cameron Threads Dance
Project
JAHSE Sweet Honey in the Rock
Threads Dance Project will perform this Friday and Saturday (March 21 and March 22) with Grammy Nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock at the Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis. The show also includes a reprise of “Humanity & Elysian Fields Avenue” – a dance about the physical and emotional
tragedies of Hurricane Katrina. “To collaborate with this nationally acclaimed music group is sure to be an inspirational, truly memorable performance,” said Karen L. Charles, artistic director for Threads. “Threads Dance Project seeks to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect us in the hope of improving
humanity through its work. This mission runs parallel to Sweet Honey in the Rock’s desire to invite people to think about who we are and how we treat each other. I have always been drawn to Sweet Honey’s music because they say in music what I try to say with movement.”
SHOW TURN TO 9
THREADS
DANCE
PROJECT
SWEET
HONEY IN
THE ROCK
MORE ON PAGE 5O O GE
Dreams Come True: MC Sti-Lo Reel’s “MLK” Legacy
Vol. 41 No. 12 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comMarch 17 - March 23, 2014
Page 2 • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com
BUSINESSArrived! Career paths are not always easy to see
Comprehensive campaign pursues multiple goals
“It was a dark and stormy night.” Many stories start out with a line like that. Unoriginal, and, if you choose to read on, you might hope for a more interesting, satisfying ending. I thought of the line while driving across Wisconsin for a kids’ dance competition. We started the road trip on a bright
and cloudless afternoon. A stop at Target slowed us down, as did a midday traffi c jam downtown. Snow, ice and a closed highway loomed ahead and pretty soon our bright and clear day had become a dangerously snowstormy night. We wrapped up the four hour drive… eight hours later. Relieved, I texted a friend to say, “Made it.” Does your career path look a little like my road trip? They often do. Starting out, the future looks bright and clear. You stop to pick up a few supplies: some education or training, an internship, a vehicle, a family. You’re slowed down by these things, but still on track toward
where you want to end up. Then the clouds roll in: things become more complicated. Maybe there’s a layoff or you get some bad directions and take a wrong turn. Someone cuts you off. Snow covers the road and you wonder if you’re going to end up in a ditch like all those unlucky others. Maybe there’s a road closed sign up ahead, and you have to fi nd a new route altogether. Don’t let poor conditions get in your way. If you can keep the destination in mind: a satisfying, more interesting life to look back on, then you’ll see that the detours and the fl ashing lights are just part of the dark and stormy road trip.
And who knows what incredible opportunities are waiting for you on the back roads? One of our delays involved watching a string of seven deer run cross the country road we were detoured onto. Incredibly cool. It might take time, but one day you will be able to look back on where you’ve been, on your interesting, satisfying career, and you will be able to say, “I made it!” Julie Desmond is IT and Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. www.georgekonik.com and on twitter @MNCareerPlanner
Do you need to raise money for your nonprofi t? If you answer “yes”, you are in good company. Fundraising is critical for most nonprofi ts and it takes time to build relationships that generate the revenue needed to operate. Organizing your fundraising into a campaign
with specifi c fi nancial goals and timelines is one way to focus on revenue and invite others to join you in fundraising. The most common campaign is the annual campaign. This is a campaign to raise funds for annual programs and operations. Funding may come from foundation or corporate grants, individuals and families, events, and/or government sources. Gifts may be large or small. Another type of campaign is the capital campaign. This is a campaign to raise funds for assets such as buildings, equipment, furnishings or an endowment. The fi nancial goal is typically such that it
cannot be paid for with an increase in annual funds. It is a milestone occurrence within the life of the nonprofi t that requires major investment. A major gifts campaign refers to a campaign to raise funds through large gifts. Unlike the other campaigns, funds may be used for multiple purposes as the name refers to the types of gifts a nonprofi t seeks to secure. A comprehensive campaign is a campaign that coordinates multiple campaigns into one. A major benefi t of conducting a comprehensive campaign is that it focuses an organization’s energies into one campaign with multiple goals
and revenue sources. It reduces confusion amongst prospective donors, allows them to make a one-time decision on how to support your diverse needs, and reduces duplication of efforts on the part of the nonprofi t. For example, if you are raising funds for annual needs and simultaneously raising funds for a building you may fi nd that an annual solicitation was made of an individual with the capacity and interest to give to your capital campaign. If the two campaigns are not coordinated you may receive a meaningful annual gift, but lose the opportunity to ask for a gift that combines annual and
capital giving. Returning to donors multiple times within a year is not always possible, and the donor may have thought the fi rst solicitation represented your needs for the year. A comprehensive campaign also allows donors who give small gifts to feel a part of a major campaign. The value of their annual giving is made clear through campaign marketing messages and they are encouraged to be a part of the larger campaign as well. With a larger fi nancial goal a comprehensive campaign can create buzz and excitement that re-engages lapsed annual donors, or encourages annual
donors to increase their giving. A comprehensive campaign is not “business as usual” and that excitement can attract new donors and fundraising volunteers. Next week: comprehensive campaign challenges. Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw
Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofi ts, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your campaign visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.
“It can be a double-edged sword,” said Dr. Willie Dean, the new executive director of KFAI. “On the one hand the diversity is fantastic; we
have public affairs programs, music genres that span blues and rhythm and blues, country, pop, Latin, Caribbean, zydeco, etc., while on the other hand someone who loves a particular genre might be turned off by the fact that they can only get it for a couple hours of the day. So, it’s a marketing challenge and
it’s a fundraising challenge. Our challenge is to reach out to the community and let them know when their particular public affairs program or music genre is playing and provide a top quality product to them. Our programming is not Top 40, it’s determined by our programmers and by our
listeners.” For a station with such complex programming – 89 programs weekly produced by more than 500 volunteers – one might envision a frantic paced environment and chaos abound. One would be very wrong. The atmosphere is as calm and tranquil as it is in the sleepy coffee shop housed below in the same building at the corners of Cedar and Riverside Avenues, just east of the University of Minnesota. And the new executive director is just as calm and tranquil. Dean has settled in quite nicely at the 900-watt radio station. Considering Dean, who came to the station about eight months ago from Arlington, Tx., had no prior experience in radio, that is saying a lot. “I had no idea about going into radio,” said Dean. “I had been in nonprofi t with the Y(MCA) for 35 years so I thought that would be a natural (fi t) fundraising, working with the board and working with the community. It was a good match for the board and a good match for me, so here I am.” Prior to applying for the executive director position at KFAI – a position Dean’s son, who had been an intern at the station years prior, encouraged him to apply for – Dean was the president and CEO of the YMCA of Arlington. Dean has held executive roles with the YMCA in Cleveland, Omaha, St. Louis and the national offi ces in Minneapolis and Chicago. At the Y, Dean managed an annual budget of more than $7.7 million annually. KFAI’s 2014 budget is approximately $1,398,487. Dean said a priority at the station is to increase its fundraising efforts. During the upcoming April spring pledge drive, according to Dean, KFAI hopes to raise $91,000 between April 2 and April 11. “At some point in our future we’ll be asking our listeners to help us with an endowment campaign so we can ensure that KFAI will be around for future generations. We’d like for our listeners and supporters to include us in their estate planning and in their wills.” For the 63-year-old Dean, the move to the Twin Cities was fruitful in more ways than one. Though a motivation to move to the area was to be closer to his three sons, Dean found another benefi t in meeting Dr. Deirdre Annice Golden, a psychologist with NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, to whom he is now engaged. “The return to the Twin Cities has been a blessing to me in more ways than one,” said Dean. “Life is good.”
DeanFrom 1
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insightnews.com Insight News • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Page 3
LIFESTYLEThe complexity of simplicity
Being happy
Relationships are complicated. They are based on multiple variables that are constantly changing. You must also factor in the prospective, perception and priorities that each person brings to the relationship. With all of these moving parts, relationships can be a mathematical and emotional nightmare. Unfortunately, this is the challenge that is facing the modern day relationship. There is hope, but it will require you to be different. If your relationship is to be successful, you must learn to simplify the complexity. First, to simplify your relationship, you must identify a common denominator. A denominator is a shared trait or something held in common with the numerator (the top part of
the equation being considered). Your feelings must be at the top of your relationship equation. If your relationship is based more on the way a person looks (external) than the way they treat you and how they make you feel (internal), it will be a fraction of what it should be. In math, when the denominator is equal to the numerator, the relationship is one. The common denominator must bring you emotional wholeness. The way they make you feel is the
fi rst common denominator in any relationship. Second, to simplify your relationship, you must solve for a single variable. There are seven dimensions of the human person – spiritual, moral, mental/ intellectual, physical, social, economic and political. These dimensions should be approached from most important to least important. To put more value on the physical than the spiritual, or economics before morals is a
mistake. If a person is dishonest with others, that person will be dishonest with you, but if that person is faithful in spiritual things, he or she will be faithful in physical things. Character precedes conduct, and the spiritual and moral integrities are more of an indication of relationship success than money and looks. The spiritual health of a person is the most important variable in any successful relationship. Finally, to simplify your relationship, you must balance the equation. This is a chemistry concept. Balancing a chemical equation refers to establishing the mathematical relationship between the quantity of reactants (starting material) and products (fi nish products). Every successful relationship
must have good chemistry. The relationship between two people should produce something greater than what each person possessed individually. One plus one equals three. If any person in the relationship is diminished, the relationship is out of balance and an adverse chemical reaction will eventually follow. Relationships that blow up in the faces of the participants were out of balance from the beginning. Complex relationships can be simplifi ed, but you must be the one that begins the process. The best place to begin this process is inwardly. You must fi rst be your own numerator and denominator. Work on your spirit, morals and values. Any one that is a fraction of themselves can never bring wholeness to any
relationship. Take some time to determine what your common denominator is. This will balance your internal equations and bring wholeness to your personal life. From this platform of wholeness you can evaluate your relationship equation. You are who you attract, brokenness attracts brokenness, and wholeness attracts wholeness. When it is all said and done, who you are will determine who you end up with.
Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. To get copies of his books, for questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.
Do you ever look at people and wonder why they seem to be happy all the time? Do you wonder if they have a secret to happiness that they haven’t shared with anyone else? In the past I’ve wondered the same things. I can remember having friends that always seemed to have it together. No matter what was going on around them, they always seem to be happy. Well what I’ve learned about being happy is that happiness is truly a state of mind. My happiness is different from your happiness and yours is different from the next person. But one thing for sure, we all would love to live a life where we wake up every day with an attitude of expectancy. We would like to believe that great things will happen for us and life will be a happy one. But not everyone is able to live like this. Think about those people who want to be happier but
they have someone in their ear that keeps reminding them of the person that they used to be. They like to remind them of the goals they didn’t complete and they criticize them for everything they do. Do you have a person in your life like this? If you do, let them go. Again I say, not everyone deserves a front seat in your life. If a person is not able to be happy for you and understand that you want to fi nd and do things that make you happy, then you should move on from them. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be happy. Happiness starts with loving yourself. You will never be happy until you learn to love yourself right where you are. Take a look at all of the great things you’ve done with your life thus far. Look at your accomplishments and what they’ve meant to you. That alone should be the start of your happiness. Don’t concentrate on your mistakes or your failures. Everyone makes mistakes and yours are no more disastrous than the next person’s. Forgive yourself and move on. If you focus on the things you’ve done wrong then you won’t know what being truly happy feels like. You must believe that you can have a happy life and that is
exactly what you deserve. We become what we believe about ourselves. If you see yourself as a happier person, then that is who you will become. And as always remember, stay focused, stay determined and keep striving for greatness.
Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www.thequeensproject.com or email at [email protected].
MotivationalMoments
By Penny Jones-Richardson
ManTalk
By Timothy Houston
Spiritual and moral integrities are more of an indication of relationship success than
money and looks.
Photo by Willie DeanHarriet B. Solomon, at St. Peter’s AME Church, on the occasion of her 80th birthday.
Pictured l. to r. - Al McFarlane, Harriet B. Solomon and Rev. Nazim B. Fakir.
Celebrating Harriet B. Solomon’s 80th birthday
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Page 4 • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com
EDUCATIONStudents targeted for extra help in Minneapolis Spring Break Academy
State assesses physical education
As part of its recently announced short-term intervention strategies, the district will offer a special Spring Break Academy. Host schools for these academies will be selected from among the thirteen sites that have been chosen as “lab schools” for the short-term intervention plan. Spring Break Academy is not for everyone. Students who are allowed / invited / urged to attend are those who are color-coded as “yellow” according to their test scores. Students are color-coded as red (failing), yellow (“on the bubble” or close to profi ciency), green (profi cient),
or blue (exceeding expectations), according to a teacher familiar with the system. A district memo describing the Spring Break Academy confi rms this account, with a question and answer in the FAQ section:“Can we invite hard-working red zone students who would really benefi t or is this a district-generated list? (Can the list be added to?) The focus will start on the students scoring in the yellow and then move into the students scoring in the red. (to clarify for principal understanding - only students that qualify for ALC and summer school plus the students that are in the bubble that have been identifi ed for the intervention of the short term strategies.)
The district memo on the Spring Break Academy said that a list of eligible students would be sent to schools by February 19.
The district also identifi es which students receive special interventions in the 13 schools targeted for high-impact, short-
term interventions during the spring semester of 2014. The teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, citing fear of retribution by the district for talking to a reporter, said the names on the list that she saw included “green zone” students who may have had an “off year” on their MCA tests. To the teacher, this meant that students who had a dip in their scores will be coached, through the short-term interventions, in order to be sure that their scores go back up into the profi ciency category. Students with scores in the yellow zone, who partially meet the standards, are also receiving extra support because, as the teacher described it, these students are often seen as offering the most “bang for your buck.”
It’s been four years since passage of the law requiring all Minnesota schools to include physical education, and lawmakers now want to know how it’s working. According to State Rep. Kim Norton, the standards have been implemented by all districts, so today they’ll introduce a bill asking for a report on the status. “We’re going to ask the Department of Education to take a look at that and fi nd out, what’s the state of physical
education in our school districts, assessing the school districts’ implementation of the standards and what’s offered, and what isn’t,” she said. The CDC recommends that elementary school children receive 150 minutes of phys. ed. per week, and that increases to 225 minutes per week in middle school and high school. In addition to fi nding out how much physical activity time kids are getting, Norton said, the report would also look at how schools are measuring and assessing pupils’ fi tness, key to both learning and health. “Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years,” she
noted. “It’s just really a concern when you know that children of today are going to have a lower life expectancy than their parents did. This is the fi rst time
we’ve seen that.” The report on physical education in schools is one of several priorities this
session from what’s called the Childhood Obesity Legislative Working Group. Another key piece of legislation they’re pursuing is called “Safe Routes to School,” said State Rep. and long time phys. ed. teacher Bob Dettmer. “We’re trying to encourage communities, when they do road work, that they put in sidewalks, provide safe routes that students can walk, ride bicycles to school where they aren’t crossing busy streets, things like that. “ Dettmer said the group is also supporting a bill to expand access to free school lunches and a measure that would institute a sports-related childhood obesity pilot program. More information is at www.house.leg.state.mn.us and at education.state.mn.us.
US ARMYMembers of the Childhood Obesity Legislative Working Group
will gather in St. Paul to outline their priorities for the 2014 session.
announced this week that he has joined the Center as its fi rst venture partner. The center’s co-founders and co-chairs Mitchell Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein are bringing Jealous on to fi nd tech-savvy entrepreneurs and inventors with ideas for using technology for social impact, mainly to fi ll racial and economic gaps in America. Jealous will help fi nd the entrepreneurs, help them shape their tech visions; plus establish the selection criteria for possible seed money. He will also help lead the center’s effort to make investments in non-profi t organizations that are about closing social gaps and will join the board of the Kapor Center-funded Level Playing Field Institute, a non-profi t organization dedicated to ending racial barriers in science, technology, engineering and math. “I’ve always been interested in technology. I’ve always been interested in [deepening] the social impact. And I’ve always been very curious about ways to use technology to advance the social impact,” Jealous said in an interview this week. “When Mitch and Frieda came forth and offered me the opportunity to join the Kapor Center for Social Impact and start trying new things every day...while still
staying focused on achieving my life’s mission of and leveling the playing fi eld and closing gaps to access and opportunity in our community and the country as a whole, I leapt at it because it had been a long time since I’d tried something new that had the potential to level the playing fi eld for hundreds of thousands and millions of people.” Jealous says one of his fi rst stops will be a learning tour of Silicon Valley, the South Bay portion of San Francisco, which leads the nation in cutting edge technology. The Kapor Center has a program for underrepresented college students to get paid internships in Silicon Valley companies. Jealous, who dates his keen interest in technology back to a fourth and fi fth grade computer science program, served as president/CEO of the NAACP for fi ve years until his resignation late last year. There, his leadership in technology grew NAACP’s mobile messaging base from 5,000 activists to 423,000 and from 175,000 email activists to 1.3 million. Jealous’ technological skills also harken back to when he started as executive director of the 200-member National Newspaper Publishers Association in 2000 with a vision of bringing the Black Press on line with websites and a full-service news service for its members. Before his departure almost half of NNPA’s newspapers were on line and the
wire service continues to thrive. Jealous’ record of using technology to fi ght for racial justice is what established the mutual attraction between him and the Kapor Center. “Ben has spent his career working to end racial and economic gaps in society, from the criminal justice system to education to health care,” said co-founder Freada Kapor Klein in a statement. “We are tremendously pleased that he will bring his vast experience, strategy and energy to the tech sector as the next frontier in his life’s work for justice and inclusion.” Jealous’ civil rights career is just as important as his tech interest said co-founder Mitchell Kapor, one of the fi rst Silicon Valley billionaires. “As an entrepreneur and an investor, I’ve built my career on seeing the possibilities of good ideas and the right team, and then bringing that vision to life. By bringing Ben to the Kapor team, we are making a bet that someone who has succeeded in changing the broader world in so many ways will do the same in our world.” When Jealous left the NAACP last year, he said he would spend more time with his growing family and would also work to start a political action committee (PAC) for transformative Democratic and Republican candidates. He said this week that he will continue to do it all. “I will reserve a portion of my time continuing my work in politics. This will be 80 percent of my time and 20 percent will be continuing to build the PAC,” he said. “It’ll be separate and ongoing work.” As for his family, Jealous says he will remain bi-coastal, primarily living in Maryland with his family even as he travels for the Kapor Center. The Center has already made major strides in its quest for social justice. Jealous ticked off a list of ideas, aps and inventions as examples that have already received funding. They include technology that lowers the astronomical cost of telephone calls from inmates to their families; a blue tooth hearing aid that costs only $75 instead of the normal $3,000-$5,000; technology that helps parents and children with bi-lingual education; a way to send money home to another country without paying a 30 percent remittance fee; and a way to make college education available for the cost of a Pell grant. “So, that’s what we’re talking about here...Very similar to my work at the NAACP. We’re working on multiple gaps simultaneously,” Jealous said. “It’s impossible not to be excited.”
JealousFrom 1
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Graduation rates for Black students at all high schools are higher than the state average of 79%. Nearly all Saint Paul Public Schools have narrowed the graduation gap between Black and White students.
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DID YOU KNOW?
As he swerves with d e t e r m i n a t i o n through the streets of south
Minneapolis Sti-Lo Reel remains cool at all times. His voice never rises to a yell even aft er being tailed by a heavy-handed driver in a hurry to nowhere. “I got my name in middle school. When I fi rst started rapping I had a whack name. I was ‘Little Man’ because I was short [laughs],” said Sti-Lo Reel. Th e name changed when a female classmate was stroking his ego when she said, “Your sti-lo (style) is so real. You don’t get rattled about anything.” Witnessing Sti-Lo’s stage show and recordings give you a bit of a diff erent story. Th e North Minneapolis raised MC teeters back and forth between coolness and a ferocious verbal attack. Reel is reminiscent of a street preacher breaking down the truth to devoted followers in a language that they understand. It’s understandable why his new project “MLK (Mortify, Live, Kill)” is a fi tting name. Growing up with 12 brothers and sisters, Reel was always taught by his father to be a leader and not a follower. Recently released on Martin Luther King Day, “MLK” stands up to this concept. Sti-Lo takes a militant approach on the rapid-fi re track “Us vs. Th em” (featuring up and coming singer Lyriq Lashay) where he states “no meek in my world.” On other
tracks such as “Calhoun Days” he tells tales of
cruising the lake over smooth King Ralio production with MCs Cooly & AR Wildwolf. Th e 13-track album was recently
released by Pledge Empire Records, a company built by Virginia natives Prince Carlton and Ced Linus. Sti-Lo met the duo playing basketball
for Mankato Bethany Lutheran College. Aft er a
short drive I sat down with him to get more information on the album and the thought process behind his work. TW: What has your experience been like as a rapper coming from North Minneapolis? Reel: It broadens your ability to talk about things such as what you’ve seen growing up and what you’ve been into. I’ve seen the struggle.
We Got Jokes at the Capri Theater feat. Willie Lynch, Jr. and Kevin CraftFriday, March 217:30 p.m.
For the past few months Pierre Douglas has been slowly growing the comedy audience in the Twin Cities and Aesthetically Speaking has taken notice. What started as a hodgepodge of area comedians who were long on desire, but short on stage presence and timing, has grown into a regular rotation of national touring urban comics. In the latest installment of We Got Jokes, Douglas, who is both a promoter and comedian, is bringing in the comic mind of Willie Lynch, Jr. to the Capri Th eater, 2027 W. Broadway Ave. Lynch is quickly gaining
a reputation as one to watch for his biting style of political and sociological comedy. A graduate of Fisk University, Lynch was named the 2012 winner of the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition – the premiere event for up-and-coming urban comedians. Tickets for the March 21 show are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available at www.vitalculture.com.
Thee Urbane Life* and The Cool & Co. present School Daze – the Adult Spring Break at Darby’s Saturday, March 299 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Who said spring break is just for the kids? Sure, Minneapolis may
not be Cancun, Padre Island or some other exotic location, but with the temperatures fi nally rising here, 50 degrees feels like 95 easily. Th ee Urbane Life and Th e Cool & Co. – two lifestyle brands catering to Twin Cities urban professionals – are again teaming up for School Daze – the Adult Spring Break at Darby’s, 315 N. 5th Ave., downtown Minneapolis. With the help of DJs Willie Shu (It List DJ of the Year, 2013) and J Shep, Th ee Urbane and Th e Cool are going to off er their audiences an evening of unadulterated fun that will remind folks of those high energy college parties in the school gymnasium. Th ee Urbane and Th e Cool teamed up at Darby’s back in November for Jack Friday and if that event was any indication of what happens
when the two collaborate, this will be the “can’t miss” party of the month. Admission is $10 and there are $4 Jack Daniel’s and Southern Comfort drinks all night. An added bonus is there is free parking next to Darby’s in the covered parking garage. Marsha Ambrosius Live at the Fine LineSunday, March 308 p.m.
Editor’s note: I love Marsha Ambrosius. First, let’s state that Floetry needs to reunite. Now with that said, a Marsha Ambrosius show is not one to be missed. The Grammy nominated English-born singer and songwriter has one of the most beautiful voices you’ll ever hear –
period. This woman can sing an eviction notice and make it sound beautiful. Marsha is one of those artists who should be given far more radio play than she has received, but that’s a whole other story. You would think the person who wrote “Butterflies” for Michael Jackson would be given her props, but if she ever reunites with The Floacists … I’m not saying it’s as big as an Outkast reunion but I’d camp out for a ticket. Doors to the Fine Line, 318 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis, open at 8 p.m. Admission is just $18 in advance or $20 at the door (truly the deal of the century). Advance tickets can be purchased at www.ticketfl y.com. *Th ee Urbane Life is co-owned by Insight News/Aesthetically Speaking editor and reporter, Harry Colbert, Jr.
Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features hip venues, events, outings and more that we feel are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is It worthy, email [email protected].
By Toki Wright
REEL TURN TO 7
MC Sti-Lo Reel’s “MLK” Legacy
DreamsComeCome
Aesthetically
ItPhoto courtesy of the artistMC Sti-Lo Reel
Dreams
Page 6 • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Aesthetically Speaking insightnews.com/aesthetics
Groundbreaking AXIS Dance Company performs one night only at the Ordway on March 21
“Touching Stones, Turning Tables, and Crying in the Rain”
AXIS Dance Company, one of the world’s most acclaimed and innovative ensembles, will perform one night only on Friday, March 21 at 7:30 pm at the Ordway, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. Under the artistic direction of Judith Smith, the company of seven dancers – with and without disabilities – challenges the possibilities of movement, expanding and enriching the art form itself. Th e performance will include “What if Would You” by Victoria Marks, “Full of Words” by British choreographer Marc Brew and a new work by Amy Seiwert. Hailed by famed choreographer Bill T. Jones as the company that “showed me what dance could be,” AXIS is a crown jewel of the contemporary dance and disability culture. Founded in 1987, the dance company has paved the way for a powerful contemporary dance form called physically integrated dance. In 1997,
artistic director Smith led the company to new heights by expanding from in-house choreographers to various commissions from outside the company. Since then, the company’s performances have won numerous awards and the company has toured extensively performing nationwide, as well as in Russia, Europe, Siberia and in over 120 cities. AXIS also dramatically expanded its education and outreach programs creating Dance Access for Adults and Dance Access/KIDS! “AXIS gives a powerful performance that opens eyes, defi es perceptions and transcends contemporary dance,” said Ordway artistic director of World Music and Dance, Dayna Martinez. “Th e company challenges the stereotypes of dance and what the body can do as well as the intricacies between the dancers in a way that mesmerizes you.” Among the many honors
AXIS has received include seven Isadora Duncan Dance Awards with equal number of nominations. Most recently, the company was featured on an episode of FOX Television’s series, “So You Th ink You Can Dance!” and fi lmed an episode for AOL’s “You’ve Got” Campaign. AXIS was one of fi ve named Best Dance Companies in San Francisco by CBS San Francisco (2011) and one of the Bay Area’s top 10 high-impact arts nonprofi ts by Philanthropedia (2010). Tickets to the March 21 show are available at the Ordway box offi ce by calling (651) 224.4222 or online at www.ordway.org. Tickets range from $23 to $48. Th e show begins at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-show beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Marque Jensen, north Minneapolis resident, blogger and author has released his fi rst book, “Touching Stones, Turning Tables and Crying in the Rain: Stories from a Journey to Beloved Community.” Jensen is holding a book release party April 4 at the Cross Connections Center, 1823 Emerson Ave., North Minneapolis from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. According to the author, the book is not a memoir,
but is intended to answer two questions – how did a white farm boy from Iowa, become an urban guy, committed to justice, who is oft en mistaken for being Latino or bi-racial, and how can one, regardless of racial/cultural background, help bring Beloved Communities into life by living beyond the constraints of race and privilege? Th e concept of “Beloved Community” was popularized by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the end product
in the fi ght for Civil Rights. King believed the goal of the struggle was not ending segregation, obtaining justice, or even punishing racists. The title, “Touching Stones, Turning Tables, and Crying in the Rain” is from experiences the author had, but also represents practices that Jensen said should be normal with people seeking to live in Beloved Community. “Touching Stones” refers to a visit to the Civil Rights Memorial
in Montgomery, Ala., and reflects on the importance to learn about injustices of the past and create memorials to serve as reminders to keep the past in perspective as people seek to live lives of justice into the future. “Turning Tables” refers to the time Jesus was angry about injustice and greed in the temple and he overturned tables and drove out the abusive spiritual leaders and merchants. Jensen said this represents the need to
feel “righteous anger” and awillingness to confront anddisturb abusive systems.“Crying in the Rain” refersto a real late night drive fromMexico, but it symbolizes theneed to be personally andemotionally committed toothers. “It is about true empathy– feeling with – rather thansimplistic compassion –feeling for,” said Jensen. Jensen, can be contacted viaemail at [email protected].
Alice Sheppard (who uses a wheelchair). performs with Sonsherée Giles.
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insightnews.com/aesthetics Aesthetically Speaking • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Page 7
El-Kati on the myth of race
Noted professor and civil rights icon, Mahmoud El-Kati will be discussing his book “The Myth of Race, the Reality of Racism,” during an upcoming event. The event takes place on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at SubText, 165 Western Ave. N. in Saint Paul. This event is
free and open to the public and books will be available for purchase and signing. El-Kati, a lecturer, writer and commentator on the African-American experience, specializes in African-American history and advocates institution building within cultural communities. He
is an advocate of building humanity through the understanding of culture, history and community. El-Kati currently lives in the Rondo neighborhood, St. Paul’s historic Black community. El-Kati, is a professor emeritus of history at Macalester College in St. Paul. Macalester has established the Mahmoud El-Kati Distinguished Lectureship in American Studies in recognition of his scholarly and community work. This endowment is used to bring distinguished scholars to Macalester for an extended engagement that includes public presentations, classroom appearances and conversations with students, faculty and the local
community. As a writer, El-Kati has written articles, essays and reviews that deal with a variety of issues including the myth of “race,” Ebonics, gangs and Black youth, education, sports, and other issues. His works have appeared in several newspapers and publications including the New York Times, Insight News and The Nigerian Times. As a published author, El-Kati has written such books as “Politically Considered: 50th Commemoration of the Supreme Court Decision of 1954” and “The Hiptionary: A Survey of African American Speech Patterns with Critical Commentary and A Digest of Key Words and Phrases” and “Haiti: The Hidden Truth.” El-Kati is a frequent
commentator through a variety of mass media outlets locally and nationally. He is a regular columnist for Insight News, and a consistent commentator for radio stations KFAI and KMOJ. El-Kati hosts a weekly public affairs radio show called “Reflections and Connections” on KMOJ and
also moderates a monthly viewing and discussion on various Black classic films at the Fourth Fridays at the Movies held at Golden Thyme Café, 921 Selby Ave. in St. Paul. For more information call SubText at (651) 493-3871 or www.subtextbooks.com.
I’ve seen what people have to do to survive in that type of environment. Moving to the suburbs broadens that even more. It gives you the ability to see a diff erent perspective. You go from seeing your cousins carry guns and sell drugs to seeing a brighter side of life. TW: What are some observations about the Twin Cities music scene and how people like you fi t in? Reel: I actually wanted to tap into this, real talk. I’ve been a lot of places. Minnesota has one of the dopest independent rap environments – so many talented artists here. People like me that have the drive and ambition that want to make something happen; I just think there’s too much isolation and tearing each other down. We don’t have a lot of camaraderie. I wish we were better in that aspect of building each other up instead of tearing each other down. TW: How would you like to be known artistically? Reel: As an MC, artist, poet. I think rappers are one-dimensional. I think about the Steve Harvey quote, “every time that mic is in your hand you have some responsibility.” Th at’s how I look at music. TW: What’s your motivation? Reel: My kids. People that have supported me since forever like my son’s mom ever since she’s known me. Also negativity. I’m all for criticism but when you criticize and don’t have a valid point for your criticism it frustrates me. [I’ll ask someone] why they think a song is whack. Th ey’ll say, “y’all wasn’t talking about nothing,” when the song is talking about a lot. So what’s nothing? Nothing you want to hear? TW: What separates you from other artists? Reel: Th e courage to go where other people won’t go on a record. A lot of people are afraid to talk about God. I think people are so focused on being cool. People listen to Rick Ross and Jay-Z and they want people to see them in that aura instead of just paving your own way, or instead of just feeling you’ve got to write. You don’t have to write about cool stuff all the time because life ain’t always cool. TW: What’s your ultimate goal? Reel: I don’t want to be signed to a major label. I don’t care if Roc-A-Fella or MMG signs me. I want to be independent. I want to create my own revenue to the point where I don’t have to go into a corporate offi ce and have someone tell me what they don’t want me to say on my record.
With the amount of hard work and determination Sti-Lo Reel has shown he’s well on his way
to his goal. You can catch Sti-Lo Reel performing live April 30 at Honey, 205 E. Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis. For more information follow www.facebook.com/StiLoReel. You can also download MLK at ww.sti-loreel.bandcamp.com.
ReelFrom 5
Prof. Mahmoud El-Kati
Page 8 • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Aesthetically Speaking insightnews.com/aesthetics
From Chef Derik Moran, find daily specials, salads, sandwiches and more, and never forget dessert by Pastry Chef Katie Elsing. Prices starting at $8
11:30 - 2 Monday through Friday
View our complete menu at dakotacooks.com
Come have lunch at the Dakota
BMA Multicultural Channel 937 on Xfinity/Comcast service is Minnesota’s exclusive 24 hour urban video, music, arts and news channel.
Tune in for:Minneapolis Sounds Video Show Monday,Tuesday “Titans of Soul,” “Women Who Rock” Wednesday, Thursday “Old School Video Show,” 100 Black Music America Hits Friday, KMOJ TV Show Saturday,Conversations with Al McFarlane,Backstage at The Dakota, Gospel Vision Sunday.
Experience the Cities Best Looking Sounds on Xfinity/Comcast BMA Channel 937
Watch What We Play.find us online: www.BlackMusicAmerica.com follow us on social networks:
Just like the weather, activities in the Twin Cities are heating up. Aesthetically Speaking photogs were out and about at a couple of spots this past week and captured a few faces in the crowd.
1) DJ Willie Shu and Ryan Scott represent the Nupes (Kappa Alpha Psi) at Ginger Hop where Shu spins on Thursday nights.
2) Smart Girls Aurora Se and Christina Marie Kargbo were vibing out at Ginger Hop listening to Willie Shu.
3) KMOJ’s William “BakeShow” Baker and Flyzilla’s Jermaine Cork hanging out at Tryg’s.
4) Bre Maddox and Tavia Maddox show off the pearly whites at Tryg’s this past Saturday for the Bachelor Boy/Flyzilla/Shine On party.
Snapshots1
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insightnews.com Insight News • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Page 9
COMMUNITYRents rising in Frogtown as light rail opening day approaches
The Green Line’s opening is four months away, but the train has already brought rent increases for Frogtown renters. Organizations working closely with Frogtown have been worried about rent increases for years, and recent data from HousingLink shows that these fears may be justifi ed. According to HousingLink’s third quarter analysis, median rent listings for the “shadow market” in Frogtown — duplexes, condos, single-family housing, and townhomes — have risen remarkably in the last year. In 2011, the median rent was $807. In 2012 it rose to $850, and by 2013, the median rent had jumped to $995. Rent listings for multi-unit apartment buildings have remained unchanged. The rent increase for duplexes, condos, single-family housing, and townhomes is particularly signifi cant for Frogtown. According to the Minnesota Housing Preservation Project (MHPP)’s Before the Train report, 43 percent of the housing in the Midway East area (which roughly corresponds to Frogtown) is single family or duplex housing. That is by far the highest percentage of single-family or duplex housing in any area along the Central Corridor. The Midway Central area has 22 percent, Midway West has 13 percent, and all other Central Corridor neighborhoods have 5 percent or less. “We’ve heard a lot about [rent increases] anecdotally,” said Frogtown Neighborhood Association director Caty Royce. “But these numbers are huge. There’s a sense of urgency.”
Royce fears gentrifi cation. This fear was echoed by the Minnesota Housing Preservation Project (MHPP), which released its report, Before the Train, as a means of monitoring future gentrifi cation. The report has elaborate data on Central Corridor housing in 2011, to allow for comparison when the line opens in June. According to Before the Train, gentrifi cation is a common phenomenon in neighborhoods with newly built transportation. “Nationally, the experience is when transit lines go into lower income neighborhoods… rent increases are very common,” said Jack Cann, Senior Staff Attorney for MHPP. To keep the vibrancy and diversity of the Frogtown community, the Frogtown Neighborhood Association is already brainstorming possible ways to curb gentrifi cation. “[Our goal is] to make sure
[Frogtown] looks just like it does today,” said Royce. “The people who live here… call it home, and they have a right to call it home.” One possible solution is anti-displacement vouchers. The vouchers would help subsidize costs for renters, while letting homeowners reap the benefi ts of increasing prices. “We don’t want to lose neighbors,” said Royce. “[Measures] need to be put in place to maintain the wonderful diversity we have in Frogtown.” Laura Baenen, Communications Director for the Green Line, says that the Metropolitan Council is aware of the problem, and is committed to serving the residents of Frogtown—and keeping them in the area.“We don’t want to build a line to have customers go away,” said Baenen. “The whole point of this line was to serve a transit dependent population and to get
them to jobs.” Though Royce and her colleagues believe that the coming Green Line is the cause of rent increases, Nancy Homans, Policy Director for Mayor Coleman, says that they shouldn’t jump to conclusions. “I think it’s hard to establish that the cause of these rent increases is entirely due to the light rail,” said Homans. “I think that any kind of investment will increase the values of the properties around it.”According to Homans, the City’s major plan to curb gentrifi cation is The Big Picture Project, a plan to work together with non-profi ts to create affordable housing. “We’re imagining rents will go up,” said Homans. “[The Big Picture Project] is our effort around producing and maintaining affordability along the Central Corridor.” Cann believes that the City of Saint Paul has not
made a suffi cient effort to thwart gentrifi cation. Cann says Saint Paul was presented with opportunities to provide affordable housing to residents along the Green Line, but passed them by. Now, Cann says, most of the housing on the Green Line will not be affordable to lower income residents. “I think the city has largely ignored this issue,” said Cann. Cann believes that change will be gradual. “I certainty think that gentrifi cation is a long term threat to all the neighborhoods along the green line, but it’s
UNANSWERED QUESTIONSThe data shows increasing rents for single-family or duplex housing in Frogtown. It also shows that Frogtown has a lot more single-family or duplex housing than other areas. But it doesn’t show what percentage of single-family or duplex housing is owner-occupied and what percentage is rental housing. Another question is what proportion of the apartment buildings are senior housing or other housing that was built as affordable housing with limits on the rents charged. Frogtown boundaries are also a problem for analyzing data. Each report and each agency uses different boundaries in analysis. The Before the Train report, for example, uses boundaries that are close to — but not the same as — the city’s neighborhood boundaries.
pledged $200 million dollars over the next fi ve years in an effort to “to make sure that every young man of color who is willing to work hard and lift himself up has an opportunity to get ahead and reach his full potential,” the president said. Obama said that he was inspired to create the initiative following the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed, Black teen who was pursued, shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a volunteer neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla. Martin’s shooting and Zimmerman’s ultimate acquittal of murder, sparked nationwide protests and an investigation by the Justice Department. Since then, a similar case has been in the news. Michael Dunn, a White computer programmer, shot to death Jordan Davis, another Black teenager in Florida in the parking lot of a Jacksonville, Fla., convenience store following an argument over what Dunn described as “thug music” playing in the teen’s SUV. Like George Zimmerman before him, Dunn was found not guilty of a fi rst-degree murder
charge in the death of Davis. Unlike Zimmerman, Dunn was convicted of three counts of attempted murder. Jawanza Kunjufu, a prominent educated who has written extensively about Black males, said that he’s in total support of what the president is doing with his initiative, worries that fi nancial support pledged so far will be enough to prevent more parents from mourning the loss of their young sons due to gun violence. “I don’t know if money could have eliminated what happened to Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis,” said Kunjufu. While some openly express doubts about the president’s new plan, many others applauded President Obama for raising the visibility of the startling racial disparities that exist in education, the labor market and the criminal justice system that cripple a generation that must shoulder the future economic prosperity of a country that has largely forgotten them. By the time they reach fourth grade, 86 percent of Black boys are reading below grade level compared to 58 percent of White boys who read below profi ciency levels. Even though the national graduation rate for Black males increased from 42 percent to 52 percent from 2001 -2010, according to a report on public
education and Black males by the Schott Foundation, “It would take nearly 50 years for Black males to secure the same high school graduation rates as their White male peers.” According to a 2011 report by the Children’s Defense Fund, “A Black child is only half as likely as a White child to be placed in a gifted and talented class. A Black child is more than one and a half times as likely as a White child to be placed in a class for students with emotional disturbances.” An overwhelming majority of Black students enrolled in special education programs are males and at the other end of spectrum, White females are least likely to land in special education programs, said Kunjufu. Differences in learning styles between male and female students and an inability of teachers to relate to Black male students contribute to the stigmatization of the group targeted by the president’s new initiative. According to a 2011 study by The National Center for Education Information (NCEI), a private, non-partisan research group in Washington, D.C. 84 percent of public school teachers are White and 7 percent are Black. Black males account for 10 percent of Black teachers and less than 2 percent of all teachers, White females account
for 85 percent of White teachers and more than 70 percent of all teachers. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), “when out-of-school suspension rates were examined by race, one in fi ve black males and more than one in 10 black females were suspended in 2009-2010—higher than any other race.” CRDC data also showed that Black students account for 18 percent of national student enrollment and 42 percent of students referred to law enforcement and 35 percent of arrests, compared to White students who account for more than half of all students, 25 percent of law enforcement referrals and 21 percent of arrests. Kunjufu said that getting more Black male teachers into our nation’s classrooms has to be a part any strategy that seeks to provide better educational opportunities and outcomes for young Black males. “It’s very important for students to see teachers that look like them,” said Kunjufu. “The question becomes, are school districts and superintendents willing to go the extra mile to recruit African American male teachers?” Like others who have
waited for a targeted program like this from the White House, Ron Daniels, president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, a group that works for social, political, economic and reform that impacts the Black community, said that the “My Brother’s Keeper” programs have to be multi-faceted. “It’s not just about mentoring. Mentoring by itself won’t end these problems,” said Daniels. “There will be some who will be able to change their behavior and to escape and to be successful, but to look for [solutions] alone absent structural issues is to virtually take a Booker T. Washington approach: clean up, brush up, paint up have good values look decent and everything will be fi ne.” Daniels added: “Well, everything won’t be fi ne. It’ll take more than that.” The Black community shouldn’t expect the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to solve those structural issues alone. Daniels said that Attorney General Eric Holder’s aggressive push to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, to reform mandatory sentencing guidelines, and to reduce the disparities in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine has to work in tandem with the “My Brother’s Keeper.” Young Blacks continue to be
over-represented in a criminal justice system that cost the United States economy $57 billion to $65 billion per year in lost output of goods and services related to depressed wages and underemployment of ex-offenders. Even as the president urged business and civic leaders, members of the faith community and foundations to support this new initiative he often returned to a “no excuses” message directed squarely at the young Black and Hispanic males as he tip-toed lightly around the structural racism that will likely slow their at success and better lives. It’s a message that has generated eye rolling from Black thought leaders throughout his presidency. “What the president is saying, in a very coded way is that, ‘Yeah, we know racism exists, but you have to rise above it,’” said Fields. “I don’t know how you rise above it. We’ve never risen above it. We’ve managed it, but we’ve never truly risen above it.” Fields continued: “The diffi culty in offering this critique is that there is so little done for this population that you hate to criticize anything that is done [them]. But when it comes from the most powerful elected offi cial in the world, we have to hold him to a higher standard.”
KeeperFrom 1
Performances take place March 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528
Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. For ticket information, visit www.thecowlescenter.org or call (612) 206-3600. The Mission of Threads Dance Project is to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect one another by celebrating the human spirit through dance.
Threads Dance Project is in its third season. The company was founded by Charles after her father passed away, leaving her just enough money to realize her 10-year dream of becoming a choreographer and director of her own company. Charles studied as a fellowship recipient
at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She served as founder and principal instructor of Discovering Dance (Atlanta), and was an instructor in the Atlanta Public School System for 10 years. Sweet Honey in the Rock is a Grammy-nominated a cappella
ensemble, celebrating four decades of creating an adventurous and diverse mix of blues, African, jazz, gospel and R&B music. Last year Sweet Honey released its 23rd CD, “Sweet Honey in the Rock ... A Tribute, Live! Jazz at Lincoln Center,” which paid homage to the music of iconic jazz diva’s
Abbey Lincoln, Miriam Makeba, Odetta and Nina Simone. They also performed at the unveiling of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial statue and at the U.S. memorial service for Nelson Mandela at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
ShowFrom 1
West Falls Estates
Rent based on 30% Of adjusted income Call Patricia Brown At 218-283-4967
TDD 800-627-3529
RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Authority has rental units available in Cass County, MN. Please call 218-335-8280. Must meet certain qualifi cations.
Townhomes Available
Fieldcrest inMoorhead, MN
Rent based on 30%of income
2 & 3 bdroms open
MetroPlainsManagement
701-232-1887
www.metroplainsmanagement.comRENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Author-ity has rental units available in Cass County, MN. Please call 218-335-8280. Must meet certain qualifi cations.
Vacancies Cokato Apts, Cokato, MN (a seniors complex 62 or over or handicapped) has vacancies on 2nd Floor for one BR apts. Waiting list open. Contact Don at 320-286-2758. E-Mail [email protected]
APARTMENT OPENINGSDelton Manor is accepting applications for future 1, 2, & 3 Bedrm apartment openings. Delton Manor has 3 two-bedrm handicapped accessible units located in the building. Delton Manor promotes equal housing opportunities for all perspective residents regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, handicap, marital status, familial status, nation-al origin or source of income. For applications and qualifi cations, contact NANCY at 218-759-2523. AN EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
Seasonal Parks & Forestry Maintenance Workers
City of Plymouth-Seasonal Parks & Forestry Main-tenance Workers. Assists in the construction, main-tenance, and repair of parks, playgrounds, and re-lated facilities. Season is April-October. Evening & weekend work required. For more information, or to apply, please visit www.plymouthmn.gov. Position will be open until filled.
Salon for Lease/RentBeautiful Salon for lease or rent.
Call Eddie at 612-616-6444.
Page 10 • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com
ST. PETER’S AME CHURCH HOSTS MNSURE PRESENTATIONSt. Peter’s AME Church, located at 401 E. 41st St. in south Minneapolis, recently offered a forum to provide information to community residents about the Affordable Care Act, and MNsure, the State of Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace. The event was sponsored
by St. Peter’s AME Church in conjunction with the Stairstep Foundation, a community-based organization that focuses on the challenges that confront society at large and African Americans in particular. The Rev. Nazim B. Fakir, Pastor of St. Peter’s AME Church, said the availability of affordable healthcare is
a major milestone for our community. “I have taken advantage of this opportunity and have secured health and dental coverage for myself and my family at very affordable rates. There is no reason anyone in our community should go uninsured.” The Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson,
President and CEO of the Stairstep Foundation, said that U.S. presidents had tried unsuccessfully for 100 years to provide universal healthcare. Babington-Johnson lauded President Barack Obama for his tenacity in ensuring Americans have access to affordable healthcare.
Photos by Willie DeanTop photo (l to r): Rev. Nazim B. Fakir and Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson
Bottom photo: (l to. r): Pete Rhodes, Al McFarlane, Dr. Deirdre A. Golden, Rev. Nazim B. Fakir, TaMica Tody, and Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson.
insightnews.com Insight News • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Page 11
Page 12 • March 17 - March 23, 2014March 17 - March 23, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com
Choose well
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Find out more at UCareChoices.org, and look for us on the MNsure health insurance marketplace. Choose well. Choose UCare Choices.
