Insight News for 3.30.09. Insight News, the community journal for news, business and the arts serving the Minneapolis / St. Paul African American community. INSIDE: "Self-actualization - Moving beyond potential", "NNPA award winners exhort Black Press to hold friends and enemies", "John Hope Franklin democratized American history", "The 50 Million Pound Challenge announces one millionth member"...
During the 2008-09 school year, WE WIN Institute has been working with an incredible group of girls at Cooper High School in Robbinsdale. The Afterschool mentoring program is called, Rites of Passage, Sisters of the Ankh, “Women of Distinction.” Junior and senior students mentor freshmen girls. The gender specific program has mentors assisting mentees with their academics. They also work together to learn about African and African American history and culture. For Women’s History Month, the girls have been studying the contributions of powerful women of African descent. They have learned about the contributions of Queen Nzingha from Angola. They learned that she fought for the freedom of her country against the Portuguese for over 40 years. She was a fierce warrior queen, who put the interest WASHINGTON (NNPA) – A historic delegation of 50 Black publishers and their guests, who recently met at the White House to present a Black Press Week award to President Barack Obama and his family, received equal praise from the First Family for the work of the Black Press of America. The delegation, representing the 200-member National Newspaper Publishers Association, honored America’s first Black President as the NNPA Newsmaker of the Year by awarding him with a book of front pages of Black newspaper from his historic November 4, 2008 election. “The reason that I’ve been able, and Michelle has been able, to do what we’re doing is because of the extraordinary support and I think Michelle Obama was talking about all of us when she described her husband, the President: "Every day when I see his calm, his composure, his commitment to his staff, his ability to connect to so many communities in this time of crisis, I am more confident than ever that I would not want anybody else in this house in this seat at this moment in time than my husband, President Obama." I say all of us in the sense that the President is demonstrating that the true fighting spirit is calm and engaging, a pathway that recognizes and elevates human dignity. So what is the message? Be bold. Take responsibility for the present, respecting the truths of the past. Use your power in the marketplace of ideas and action. Trust your own sense of decency and challenge indecency in any quarter: in the family, the neighborhood, City Hall, the State House or the PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MINNEAPOLIS MN PERMIT NO. 32468 March 30- April 5, 2009 • MN Metro Vol. 34 No. 13 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com Roy Lewis President Barack Obama chats with former Nixon White House staffer Bob Brown and Insight News Editor, Al McFarlane, at left. Black Publishers met with Michelle and Barack Obama March 20th in the White House. North Minneapolis can be counted on to deliver upset and surprise in the political season that is ramping up for November elections. While Near Northside voters expect intense challenges and neighborhood drama, the activists contagiousness appears to be taking root in the far North end of the city as well. Though he did not win the endorsement of the 4th Ward DFL Convention, by all estimates, Troy Parker's strong challenge to City Council President Barb Johnson, still may qualify as an upset. Parker came within 20 votes of the incumbent, who squeaked across the endorsement threshold of 60% of delegates present on the 10th ballot, 6 WARD 4 TURN TO Barbara Johnson McCoy Tyner Quartet Thursday Apr 30, 2009 7:30PM at Orchestra Hall www.aaalmn.org Dr. Josie Robinson Johnson 6 PAGE John Hope Franklin democratized American history 2 PAGE NNPA award winners exhort Black Press to hold friends and enemies 8 PAGE The 50 Million Pound Challenge announces one- millionth member 11 PAGE Summer Enrichment Fair at the Blake School in Minneapolis 9 PAGE The time for spring cleaning is upon us Obamas give and receive honors during White House Black Press Week celebration 10 JOHNSON TURN TO But Johnson prevails Parker posts impressive 4th Ward challenge Self-actualization -Moving beyond potential WASHINGTON, DC —- On the heels of the public launch of the Madison Avenue Project, and a recent study that exposed pervasive racial bias in America’s advertising industry, the NAACP has sent a letter to Procter & Gamble Co. Chairman of the Board/CEO A.G. Lafley asking the big budget advertiser require their advertising agencies to use diverse teams in creative and account management positions. In addition to Procter & Gamble, which spent $5.2 billion on advertising in 2007, the NAACP has also issued letters to AT&T, Verizon Communications, General Motors Corp., Time Warner, Ford Motor Company, GlaxoSmith Kline, Johnson & Johnson, Walt Disney Co., Unilever, Sprint Nextel Corp., General Electric Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Chrysler, Sony Corp., L’Oreal, Sears Holding Company, Kraft Foods, Bank of America, Nissan Motor Co., Macy’s, Anheuser Busch InBev, Honda Motor Co., Viacom and Berkshire, as the 25 highest budget advertisers in 2007. Together, these 25 firms spent $52.6 billion on advertising in 2007. The letter, from NAACP Interim General Counsel Angela Ciccolo, requests that Procter & Gamble, and each company, identify a senior executive to serve as a point of contact on the issue of racial bias in the advertising industry and to meet promptly with the NAACP. It states, “The initial emphasis in the Madison Avenue Project is the Big Four holding companies that dominate the industry — Omnicon, WPP, Interpublic and Publicis…[We] seek your support as the NAACP works to fight discrimination in the advertising industry.” Drawing upon the Madison Avenue Project study, “Research Perspectives on Race and Employment in the Advertising Industry,” which found dramatic levels of racial discrimination throughout the industry against African American professionals within pay, hiring, promotions, assignments, and other areas, the NAACP letter states: “African Americans have worked in advertising since the modern American advertising industry emerged more than 100 years ago. Yet, as employment discrimination has sharply diminished across the American labor market over recent decades, systemic barriers to equal opportunity in this $31 billion a year industry have remained largely intact. Racial discrimination is 38 percent worse in the advertising industry than in the overall U.S. labor market, and that ‘discrimination divide’ between advertising and NAACP challenges advertising industry to end business bias 3 ADS TURN TO By Al McFarlane Editor-in-Chief [email protected]By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Editor-in-Chief By Al McFarlane Editor-in-Chief [email protected]3 PRESS TURN TO NUL asks for specific actions The National Urban League is calling on President Barack Obama to specifically address Black unemployment, foreclosures, education and health care. According to the annual "State of Black America" issued last week, the Urban League charged that Blacks are twice as likely to be unemployed, three times as likely to live in poverty and more than six times as likely to be incarcerated. Obama has said that by improving education, employment and health care for all Americans, Blacks people will benefit too. "We have to be more specific," counters Marc Morial, president and CEO National Urban League." "Our index shows African American status is about 71 percent that of white Americans," in indicators across the board. Morial vowed the organization would not rest until there is no gap between Blacks and Whites in quality of life indexes. The 288-page report presents 31 specific recommendations including: • Ensure that the stimulus 6 STATE TURN TO Carole Geary President Barack Obama address publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association at the White House. 2 OBAMA TURN TO Dr. Josie Johnson On frontline in the fight for civil and human rights Troy Parker
Transcript
During the 2008-09 school year, WEWIN Institute has been working withan incredible group of girls at CooperHigh School in Robbinsdale. TheAfterschool mentoring program iscalled, Rites of Passage, Sisters ofthe Ankh, “Women of Distinction.”Junior and senior students mentorfreshmen girls. The gender specificprogram has mentors assistingmentees with their academics. Theyalso work together to learn aboutAfrican and African Americanhistory and culture.
For Women’s History Month,the girls have been studying thecontributions of powerful women ofAfrican descent. They have learned
about the contributions of QueenNzingha from Angola. They learnedthat she fought for the freedom of hercountry against the Portuguese forover 40 years. She was a fiercewarrior queen, who put the interest
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Ahistoric delegation of 50 Blackpublishers and their guests, whorecently met at the White House topresent a Black Press Week awardto President Barack Obama and hisfamily, received equal praise fromthe First Family for the work of theBlack Press of America.
The delegation, representingthe 200-member NationalNewspaper Publishers Association,honored America’s first BlackPresident as the NNPA Newsmakerof the Year by awarding him with abook of front pages of Blacknewspaper from his historicNovember 4, 2008 election.
“The reason that I’ve beenable, and Michelle has been able,to do what we’re doing is becauseof the extraordinary support and
I think Michelle Obama wastalking about all of us when shedescribed her husband, thePresident: "Every day when I see
his calm, his composure, hiscommitment to his staff, hisability to connect to so manycommunities in this time ofcrisis, I am more confident thanever that I would not wantanybody else in this house in thisseat at this moment in time thanmy husband, President Obama."
I say all of us in the sense thatthe President is demonstratingthat the true fighting spirit iscalm and engaging, a pathwaythat recognizes and elevateshuman dignity.
So what is the message?Be bold. Take responsibility
for the present, respecting the
truths of the past. Use yourpower in the marketplace of ideasand action. Trust your own senseof decency and challengeindecency in any quarter: in thefamily, the neighborhood, CityHall, the State House or the
Roy LewisPresident Barack Obama chats with former Nixon White House staffer Bob Brown and Insight News Editor, Al McFarlane, at left.
Black Publishers met with Michelle and Barack Obama March 20th in the White House.
North Minneapolis can be counted onto deliver upset and surprise in thepolitical season that is ramping up forNovember elections. While NearNorthside voters expect intensechallenges and neighborhood drama,the activists contagiousness appearsto be taking root in the far North end
of the city as well.Though he did not win theendorsement of the 4th Ward DFLConvention, by all estimates, TroyParker's strong challenge to CityCouncil President Barb Johnson, stillmay qualify as an upset.Parker came within 20 votes of theincumbent, who squeaked across theendorsement threshold of 60% ofdelegates present on the 10th ballot,
6WARD 4 TURN TO
Barbara Johnson
McCoy Tyner QuartetThursday Apr 30, 2009 7:30PM at Orchestra Hall
www.aaalmn.orgDr. Josie Robinson Johnson
6PAGE
John Hope Franklindemocratized Americanhistory
2PAGE
NNPA awardwinners exhort BlackPress to hold friendsand enemies
8PAGE
The 50 MillionPound Challengeannounces one-millionth member
11PAGE
SummerEnrichment Fair atthe Blake School inMinneapolis
But Johnson prevailsParker posts impressive4th Ward challenge
Self-actualization -Moving beyond potential
WASHINGTON, DC —- On theheels of the public launch of theMadison Avenue Project, and arecent study that exposedpervasive racial bias inAmerica’s advertising industry,the NAACP has sent a letter toProcter & Gamble Co. Chairmanof the Board/CEO A.G. Lafleyasking the big budget advertiserrequire their advertising agenciesto use diverse teams in creativeand account managementpositions. In addition to Procter& Gamble, which spent $5.2billion on advertising in 2007,the NAACP has also issuedletters to AT&T, VerizonCommunications, GeneralMotors Corp., Time Warner,Ford Motor Company,GlaxoSmith Kline, Johnson &Johnson, Walt Disney Co.,Unilever, Sprint Nextel Corp.,General Electric Co., ToyotaMotor Corp., Chrysler, SonyCorp., L’Oreal, Sears HoldingCompany, Kraft Foods, Bank of
America, Nissan Motor Co.,Macy’s, Anheuser Busch InBev,Honda Motor Co., Viacom andBerkshire, as the 25 highestbudget advertisers in 2007.Together, these 25 firms spent$52.6 billion on advertising in2007.
The letter, from NAACPInterim General Counsel AngelaCiccolo, requests that Procter &Gamble, and each company,identify a senior executive toserve as a point of contact on theissue of racial bias in theadvertising industry and to meetpromptly with the NAACP. Itstates, “The initial emphasis inthe Madison Avenue Project isthe Big Four holding companiesthat dominate the industry —Omnicon, WPP, Interpublic andPublicis…[We] seek yoursupport as the NAACP works tofight discrimination in theadvertising industry.”
Drawing upon the MadisonAvenue Project study, “Research
Perspectives on Race andEmployment in the AdvertisingIndustry,” which found dramaticlevels of racial discriminationthroughout the industry againstAfrican American professionalswithin pay, hiring, promotions,assignments, and other areas, theNAACP letter states:
“African Americans haveworked in advertising since themodern American advertisingindustry emerged more than 100years ago. Yet, as employmentdiscrimination has sharplydiminished across the Americanlabor market over recentdecades, systemic barriers toequal opportunity in this $31billion a year industry haveremained largely intact. Racialdiscrimination is 38 percentworse in the advertising industrythan in the overall U.S. labormarket, and that ‘discriminationdivide’ between advertising and
NAACP challenges advertisingindustry to end business bias
NUL asks forspecific actionsThe National Urban League iscalling on President BarackObama to specifically addressBlack unemployment,foreclosures, education and healthcare.
According to the annual "Stateof Black America" issued lastweek, the Urban League chargedthat Blacks are twice as likely tobe unemployed, three times aslikely to live in poverty and morethan six times as likely to beincarcerated.
Obama has said that byimproving education, employmentand health care for all Americans,Blacks people will benefit too."We have to be more specific,"counters Marc Morial, presidentand CEO National UrbanLeague."
"Our index shows AfricanAmerican status is about 71percent that of white Americans,"in indicators across the board.Morial vowed the organizationwould not rest until there is no gapbetween Blacks and Whites inquality of life indexes.
The 288-page report presents31 specific recommendationsincluding:• Ensure that the stimulus
6STATE TURN TO
Carole GearyPresident Barack Obama address publishers of the National
Newspaper Publishers Association at the White House.
2OBAMA TURN TO
Dr. Josie JohnsonOn frontlinein the fight for civil andhuman rights
Troy Parker
White House. Invest the best of yourself in
the work of perfectingdemocracy in our nation and theworld.
Most publishers came to theWhite House by motor coachfrom ceremonies at HowardUniversity School of Journalismand Mass Communicationswhere legendary newspaperindustry leaders had beenenshrined, remembered for theirservice to our people and ournation.
I greeted my colleagues whenthey arrived. Having arrivedearly, I met and became instantfriends with Bob Brown, who inthe 15-minute wait before wewere joined by the larger groupand escorted to our meeting withthe President and First Lady,gave me PhD level instruction inthe affairs of the White Houseand the wielding of power byBlack men within those hallowedhalls.
Bob Brown said he worked in
the White House for four plusyears in the NixonAdministration. He workedalongside the likes of H.R.Haldeman and John Erlichman,the guardians of the Nixonjuggernaut.
Brown shared personal andintriguing recollections of eventsand conversations he participatedin that helped shape Blackbusiness development andopportunity under Nixon's BlackCapitalism initiatives, and thatfurther desegregatedcommunities that still maintainedde facto segregation, denyingservice to U.S. military personneloutside military bases, despitethat fact that such discriminationwas already illegal.
Brown said he got wind of acommercial strip outside a majormilitary installation that hadcertain nightclubs and publicaccommodation facilities thatwould not allow entrance toBlack servicemen. Here wereservicemen willing and ready todie for our country, still beingdenied the use of publicaccommodations.
He said he made a surprisevisit to the installation, notified
the commanding officers of hispresence then proceeded to lead adelegation of top military brassto the commercial strip. Hepointed out a nightclub that hewanted to enter. The basecommander tried to redirect hisattention to anotherestablishment, that was known asthe place Black servicemen wereallowed. Brown said he insisted,only to be told by themanagement of the facility thatthe nightclub was for "whitesonly."
"I've seen enough," Brownsaid he told the commander. Thenhe promised the commander andthe town that if every vestige ofdiscrimination were notdismantled within 24 hours, therewould be a Presidential Orderbanning all military personnelfrom the strip. It would havemeant sudden death for thosebusinesses, he said.
By the next night, all thebusinesses adopted a new policyeliminating any restrictionsbased on race andnationality….in other words,following the law the land, hesaid.
Brown's stories were
instructive. I am sure that as Ireflect on his rich eyewitnessrecollections of power at work,even greater clarity will emerge.
Hearing those stories, andbeing in the White House, forme, intensified the exhilarationof seeing President BarackObama and Michelle Obamaconnect with us, as they areconnecting with the Americanpeople and, actually, the world,with a sense of courage,conviction, clarity and intent.
The President and the FirstLady invited us to present themwith our National NewspaperPublishers AssociationFoundation's News MakerFamily of the Year Award in theLincoln Room.
They welcomed us, andthanked us from a Presidentialpodium planted beneath theportrait visage of PresidentAbraham Lincoln.
The scene demanded solemnreflection.
"The reason that I've beenable and Michelle has been ableto do what we're doing is becauseof the extraordinary support andthoughtfulness with whichyou've covered our campaigns
and our activities and so I amvery thankful to you," PresidentObama said.
"You are welcome in thishouse, The People's House, andwe are looking forward tocontinuing to spread, not just ourstories, but the stories of struggleand hope and hardships that somany people are going throughright now, making those storiesreal and putting a face to thenumbers and statistics becausethat's how we end up being ableto inspire the country as a wholeto make the kind of forwardprogress that we need."
"This is such a specialaward," Michelle Obama said."When you're in the middle ofthe news making, you don'trealize how much news youmade until it's over. But, this isvery special coming from thisorganization, this membership,because you've followed usthrough this journey. And tohonor us as a family is whatmakes it special because yourecognize that we have beengoing through this as a family, asa community and all of you knowthe ins and outs that come alongwith this."
Page 2 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
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WASHINGTON (NNPA) – TheNational Newspaper PublishersAssociation Foundation, giving fourtop awards during its annualNewsmaker of the Year AwardsGala, was told by those samehonorees that its contributions tojustice in America is yet untold.
“We have not adequatelyevaluated the stature of the BlackPress and what it has meant to thiscountry,” said civil rights dean theRev. Joseph Lowery, who washonored as the Black Press ofAmerica’s Lifetime AchievementAward recipient in the March 19gala.
He recalled how “immediately
following the 1963 March onWashington, the white press’ initialreport was that we had about 50,000people. But Black radio and otherBlack media personalitieschallenged that and talked about ahalf million people. And then thewhite Press then came back with250,000 people,” he recounted. “But,had it not been for Black media, I’mcertain they never would havereported the truth. We have yet touncover all the ways that we havebeen served all the ways that wehave been positively impacted by theBlack Press.”
Lowery was introduced byHarry Alford, president of theNational Black Chamber ofCommerce, as a “giant” amonggiants, who during the pains of JimCrow and segregation, “didn’t kneel
to Pharaoh; they didn’t bend over toCaesar, they made the world changefor the better.” Furthermore, becauseof the election of President BarackObama as a result of the work ofthose like Lowery, “Today, African-Americans are the envy of theworld,” he said.
Lowery received a standingovation as he made his way to thepodium. His 87-year-old frameappeared strong despite a briefillness that caused him to pass outafter a sermon at Ebenezer BaptistChurch March 15.
Like Lowery, the Rev. AlSharpton and Xernona Clayton, alsoresponded to their NorthStarCommunity Service Awards withpraise and encouragement for theBlack Press.
“I am honored beyond words to
receive this award because of who itcomes from,” said Sharpton. “If ithad not been for your work and yournewspapers, so many of the thingsthat we fought and so many of thebattles that were won would not havehappened.”
The threat is now beyond theCivil Rights movement as someclaim America is now in a “postracial” society after the election ofPresident Barack Obama, Sharptonpointed out.
“If they can make us buy intothis whole rhetoric of ‘post-racialAmerica’, they will say we no longerneed Civil Rights, they will say weno longer need the Black Press.”
Sharpton, initially a New York-based Black activist, whose
Black Press must hold friends and enemies accountable
INSIGHT NEWS
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Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday byMcFarlane Media Interests.
Postmaster: Send addresschanges to McFarlaneMedia Interests, MarcusGarvey House 1815 BryantAvenue North, Minneapolis,Minnesota, 55411.
Roy LewisNNPA Publishers heading for White House gates.
Roy LewisAl McFarlane (far right) and Black Press owners at the White House security gates.
Carole GearyFirst Lady Michelle Obama addresses NNPA publishers before
President Obama speaks.
Roy LewisU.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, (D-SC), Xernona Clayton,
Rev. Joseph Lowery at pre-gala reception
By Hazel Trice EdneyNNPA Editor-in-Chief
3AWARDS TURN TO
popularity and influence is nowentrenched across America, listedissues that are reflective of a lack ofracial growth.
“The reason we need BlackPress in 2009 is the same reason weneeded it in 1889,” he said. “TonightBlacks are still doubly unemployedto whites in America, tonight we stillhave health disparities, tonight oneof the reasons we’re dealing witheducational inequities is because theachievement gaps between Blacksand whites today is the same as itwas during 1954 when we hadBrown v. Board of Education. If wedo not have the vehicles to talk aboutthat, it will not address itself.”
Clayton, founder, president and
CEO of the Trumpet Awards, saidher respect for the Black Press isentrenched in the every day runningof her business and personal life.
“Every time I go into the airportor I go into the news store, I ask forthe Black paper of that community,”she told the audience. “And I do itbecause I kind of know they don’thave it, but I have to do it for me ... Iwant to let them know that I’mexpecting to see the Black paper. Ihave enormous respect,indescribable respect for the BlackPress,” said Clayton. She added thatshe once fired a public relationsperson who eliminated the BlackPress from top coverage of theTrumpet Awards.
The petite Clayton is apowerhouse among Civil Rightsleaders. In his introduction of her,Los Angeles Sentinel PublisherDanny Bakewell said she had
distinguished herself in so manyways that when he first met her, heexpected her to “come flying in orwalking on water or doingsomething that has been described tome about this little five-foot womanwho has uncharacteristically donethings that most people wouldn’teven dream of, let alone do.”
Among those things, he said,was her successfull campaign toreverse deep segregation withinhospitals in Atlanta and onceconvincing a grand dragon todenounce the Ku Klux Klan. But, her life has been spent givenaccolades to others. Bakewelldescribed the Trumpet awards as“one of the most magnificent andone of the most acclaimed awardspresentations in this country, really inthe world.”
The audience of publishers,Civil Rights stalwarts and other
friends of the Black Press cheeredand applauded each award winner.They also included a special“Political Leadership” award to U. S.Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), nowmajority whip of the U. S. House ofRepresentatives; he’s the highestranking African American inCongress.
Political issues on the horizonare crucial to be addressed by theBlack Press, said NAACP PresidentBenjamin Todd Jealous, who alsoattended the dinner.
“There are some big fightscoming up in this town,” saidJealous. He listed the Employee FreeChoice Act pertaining to theadvantages of Unions to Blackpeople; the No Child Left Behind,legislation and whether it willdemand higher “standards withoutmoney” as just a couple of battlesbefore Congress that will need Black
Press input. He also listed the Anti-Racial Profiling Act and the LawEnforcement Integrity Act as neededlegislations against the epidemic ofcontroversial police shootings ofBlack people around the nation.
In obvious reference to BlackPress support of Clyburn and NNPA
Newsmaker award winner PresidentBarack Obama, Jealous warned theBlack Press to not lose sight of thefourth estate’s (media’s) job to holdgovernment accountable.
He said, “These are times to bevigilant, to be supportive of friends,but also to hold them to account.”
WASHINGTON, DC - Twentyyears ago, the Exxon Valdez ranaground in Prince William Sound,blackening the Alaskan coast withnearly 11 million gallons of oil,killing wildlife and covering clearPacific waters with sludge. Lastweek, Congressional leadersidentified the new threats toAmerica's northern waters, sending aletter to President Obama asking himto protect America's Arctic regionagainst the looming threat of globalwarming and ill-planned industrialactivity. For the last eight years, theBush administration pursued areckless energy strategy in America'sarctic that sought to rush oil and gasleasing while disregarding climate
science and protections for iconicspecies like the polar bear.
US Reps. Betty McCollum(MN-4), Edward J. Markey (MA-7)and Jay Inslee (WA-1) last weekwere joined by dozens of theircolleagues calling upon the presidentand his administration to take severalactions to protect the Arctic, which isendangered by global warming andoil and gas exploration. The lettercommends the Interior Departmentfor its plans to prepare acomprehensive offshore energystrategy, and issues the followingrecommendations:• Support the strongest level ofprotection for the coastal plain of theArctic National Wildlife Refuge and
protect vital habitats of TeshekpukLake, both in Alaska.• Establish an interagency task forceto develop a science-basedcomprehensive conservation andenergy plan for the Arctic.• Suspend the expansion of allindustrial activities in the region untilsuch a plan may be completed.
"Our country must adopt acomprehensive energy policy that isbased on sound science and meetsthe needs of America's economy andour ever fragile environment -including the Arctic. PresidentObama is committed to protectingour environment and I will beworking closely with hisadministration to enact responsible
policies to promote investments inclean energy, while preserving ourenvironment and natural treasuresfor generations to come," saidMcCollum.
"Two decades have passed sincethe Valdez ran aground, and we arestill cleaning up that mess," saidMarkey, who chairs key energy andclimate panels in the House and thisJanuary re-introduced the Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act(H.R. 39) to designate the coastalplain of the Arctic National WildlifeRefuge as wilderness withpermanent protections. "Twentyyears from now, we can't look backand think 'what should we have doneto save the Arctic?' The time to create
a comprehensive plan to fight globalwarming and create sane energypolicies is now, for the future of theArctic and for us all."
"The Arctic is melting, and it'snot doing so on Al Gore's timeline --Mother Nature is calling the shotshere," said Inslee. "We should pauseto ensure we're making informeddecisions on the use of this landbefore expanding industrial activityin the area. These lands belong to allAmericans, and we should makesure they're used for the benefit ofthe people -- instead of theenrichment of business andindustry."
The lawmakers' letter notes theincreasing threats of global warming
on the Arctic region, saying that "noplace on Earth is being more rapidlyor radically impacted by climatechange." The impacts on the Arctic-sea ice loss, risk to wildlife-arepotentially exacerbated bydevelopment of oil and gas, both bythe pollution the fuels cause, and bythe potential danger from accidentslike oil spills.
The full text of the letter, and alist of the 67 total signers, can befound by going tohttp://globalwarming.house.gov/tools/3q08materials/files/0128.pdf.
http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Page 3
AwardsFrom 2
Roy LewisDenise Rolark Barnes
thoughtfulness with which you’vecovered our campaigns and ouractivities and so I am very thankfulto you,” President Obama told thepublishers during the ceremony in
the State Dining Room March 20.“You are welcome in this house,the people’s house, and we arelooking forward to continuing tospread, not just our stories, but thestories of struggle and hope andhardships that so many people aregoing through right now. Makingthose stories real and putting a faceto the numbers and statistics is how
we end up being able to inspire thecountry as a whole to make thekind of forward progress that weneed.”
It was a light-heartedatmosphere for the president andFirst Lady Michelle Obama,dealing with dire issues, as well asfor the publishers whose daily livesare focused on the long-held
mission of equal justice for AfricanAmerican people. In remarksinterrupted several times withcheers and applause, Obama andFirst Lady Michelle appearedgenuinely touched by themagazine-styled book awarded tothem, by NNPA Foundation ChairDorothy R. Leavell, publisher ofthe Chicago and Gary Crusader
newspapers. NNPA’s Newsmakerof the Year is the highest annualhonor bestowed during Black PressWeek, the March, 16, 1827,birthday of the Black Press, now inits 182nd year.
“We are so happy to be hereand to also congratulate you … andto let you know that we’ve got yourback,” said Leavell as the room
erupted with cheers and applausefrom the publishers. Leavell thengave the President and First Ladythe 80-paged document titled, TheBlack Press Committed to theCause.
On the back of the book ofBlack Press front pages are thewords of Richard Hatcher’s song,“Feelin’ Good“ as a reflection of
PressFrom 1
other U.S. industries is morethan twice as large today as itwas 30 years ago.”
The letter further cites specificfindings including:
•Black college graduatesworking in advertising earn $.80
for every dollar earned by theirequally qualified whitecounterparts; based on nationaldemographic data, 9.6 percent ofadvertising managers andprofessionals would be expectedto be African Americans. Theactual percentage in 2008 was5.3 percent, representing adifference of 7,200 executive-level jobs;
•About 16 percent of largeadvertising firms employ no
Black managers or professionals;
•Black managers andprofessionals in the industry areonly one-tenth as likely as theirwhite counterparts to earn$100,000 a year;
•Blacks are only 62 percent aslikely as their white counterpartsto work in the powerful“creative” and “client contact”functions in advertisingagencies.
“The behavior documentedin the [report] is likely illegal,and we are sure that [specificcompany] would not wish to beassociated in any way with suchbehavior. ... The report, forexample, shows that theadvertising industry has racialemployment problems more thanone-third larger than the nation’soverall labor market. Further, thereport indicates that theadvertising industry is steadilyfalling even further behind peer
industries,” the letter states.The Madison Avenue Project
is led by the NAACP andattorney Cyrus Mehri, of Mehri& Skalet, PLLC, who has wonseveral multi-million dollardiscrimination settlementsagainst such corporations as TheCoca-Cola Company, MorganStanley and Texaco Inc.; with thecooperation of Sanford Moore, aformer advertising executive,current New York City talk radioco-host, and longtime advocate
for racial parity in advertising.The study, entitled “ResearchPerspectives on Race andEmployment in the AdvertisingIndustry,” was conducted by aleading research firm, Bendickand Egan Economic Consultants.
The full text of the letter and otherinformation can be found at: www.madisonavenueproject.com.
AdsFrom 1
Roy LewisRev. Al Sharpton
Markey, Inslee, McCollum & dozens of members urge Obama to defend Arctic from threats
(NNPA) - Mrs. Amara Weaver is adedicated mother andgrandmother living in Milwaukee,WI. She worked hard all her lifeand bought a home for her family. About 10 years ago, the housenext door turned into a drughouse; a source of violence andinstability in her neighborhood.Mrs. Weaver took action. She
decided to buy the home for herson and rid the community of asource of tragedy. Like most of us,Mrs. Weaver trusted her brokerwho assured her that because ofher good credit and her homeownership, she would get a “gooddeal” for the new house. Theinterest rate for her own home was6.25 percent.
But after she signed thepapers, she realized – too late -she had been tricked.
Her punishment for trying toclean up her community was an 11percent undeserved interest rate,$350 more a month than sheshould have paid. Mrs. Weaver islike hundreds of thousands ofpeople, disproportionately AfricanAmerican, who had decent credit,owned their homes and weretricked into a predatory loan.
The scourge of subprimelending in our communities hasbeen called in one study, thegreatest loss of wealth from theBlack community. We all knowwhat that looks like: boarded uphomes, shattered families andshuttered communities asforeclosures sweep through thecountry.
The Center for ResponsibleLending reported in 2006 thatloans to African Americans were60 percent more likely to containa pre-payment penalty. Onadjustable rate mortgages, Blackswere 15 percent more likely to geta higher rate. Even upper incomeAfrican Americans are more thantwice as likely to receive highercost loans as their lower incomewhite counterparts. In Boston in2005 73 percent of African
Americans making between$92,000 and $152,000 were givensub-prime loans.
Studies show that overall,Blacks received sub-prime loans54 percent of the time; comparedto 23 percent for similarly situatedWhites.
It is time for these lenders tobe held accountable. This monthwe filed two separate federallawsuits against Wells Fargo andHSBC - two of the country’slargest lenders - allegingsystematic, institutionalizedracism in sub-prime homemortgage lending. That filingfollows our historic action against12 other lenders in July 2007.African American homeownerswho received sub-prime mortgageloans from lenders named in thesuit were more than 30 percent
more likely to be issued a higherrate loan than Caucasianborrowers with the samequalifications.
The goal is to fix the problem.The remedies we demand includemeasures for increasedaccountability, transparency in thelending process, training andinternal controls at financialinstitutions, greater oversight ofmortgage brokers and widespreadcommunity-based financialliteracy training so no one can fallvictim to such tactics.
We are happy to announce thatsome of the banks have agreed togo into mediation with us. Andthe rest, who attempted to get thissuit dismissed, were rebuffed by afederal judge who denied thebanks’ request to drop the suit. There is nothing more precious to
a family than working hard,buying a house and being securein their home—knowing they canpass that home down to theirchildren. It is an integral part ofthe American dream that is beingstolen by unscrupulous brokersand banks.
As Dr. King exhorted us, “Ourlives begin to end the day webecome silent about things thatmatter.”
Our lawsuit is a powerfulvoice that breaks the silence overracist and predatory lending. Itreflects the chorus of hundreds ofthousands of victims who arejoining us to shout no more.
Benjamin Todd Jealous ispresident and CEO of the NAACP.
NNPA SpecialCommentary
By Ben Jealous
(NNPA) - The February 5announcement by PresidentBarack Obama of the WhiteHouse Office of Faith BasedInitiative and NeighborhoodPartnerships offers potentialhope for real change, especiallyfor the Black Church.Despite President Obama’sincredible national and globalpopularity, Black Church leadersmay do well to ask a criticalquestion. Will President Obama’sFaith Based Office seek tosilence outspoken Black Church
leaders through the enticement ofsocial service grants? Or, will thePresident fund high qualityservice programs of even thoseBlack clergy leaders who may attimes disagree publicly withpolicy positions of hisAdministration.
A few clues into the scope ofchanges in President Obama’sFaith Based Initiative havealready been revealed. A firstarea of change is in thebroadening of the mission toinclude four key policy areas: (1)Reducing poverty as part of theeconomic recovery; (2) Reducingthe need for abortion; (3)Supporting fathers who stand bytheir families; (4) Encouragingand fostering interfaith dialoguearound the world.
Another major change is thatfaith groups are beingencouraged to engage both inproviding critical social servicesand in helping to shape policies
as true partners of theAdministration.
The change in the name ofthe office to the White HouseOffice of Faith Based andNeighborhood Partnershipsreflects this focus. It is the samespirit of partnership that we haveseen when President Obamaappointed three Republicans tohis cabinet and when heconducted several meetings withRepublican congressionalleaders in seeking to pass theStimulus Package.
There are two otherimportant signs that the ObamaFaith-Based Office will reflectreal “change that we can believein.”
First, the executive orderexpands the scope of the office toestablish an Interfaith Councilcomprised of up to 25 faith andsecular leaders with 15 havingbeen announced. Of the fourAfrican American Council
members on the Council, bothAME Bishop Vashti Mckenzieand Civil Rights Movement iconthe Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., arewell known for their progressivepolitics.
The African AmericanChurch community can beconfident just knowing that noamount of grant funds for socialservice program will silencethese two prophetic voices.
A second important signal ofthe kind of White House FaithBased office will emerge is in theappointment of the new director,the Rev. Joshua Dubois, a 26-year-old former Pentecostalpastor who headed religiousaffairs during the Obamacampaign.
Dubois, who represents anew generation of clergy leaders,has a reputation of fairness andintegrity. He has repeatedlyaffirmed his commitment toreach out to both faith and
secular leaders in addressingserious human needs now facingAmerican communities. Despite the positive changes inthe Obama White House Officeof Faith Based andNeighborhood Partnership fromthe office in the past, onequestion still remains.
What about the ability ofBlack Church leaders to use faithas a criteria for hiring employeesin serving broken communities inneed of both spiritual andphysical transformation?President Obama, a strongsupporter of the separation ofChurch and State, sidesteppedpotential political and legalbattles on this issue by agreeingto refer problem casesconcerning religious hiring to theWhite House Counsel.
Finally, how should the BlackChurch judge the overall successof the White House Office ofFaith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships? Success should bebased on such factors as genuineefforts to provide technicalassistance that equips the BlackChurch to effectively receive andmanage social service grants. It should be based, as well, oninclusion of additional AfricanAmerican females and youngerclergy leaders on the InterfaithCouncil. But ultimately, successwill be based on whetherprogressive African- Americanclergy leaders feel the freedom torespectfully and publicly voicetheir concerns aboutAdministration policies even asthey secure and manage federalgrants that address pressinghuman needs. This is change wecan believe in.
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner ispresident of Skinner LeadershipInstitute and contributor to theBlack Women’s Roundtable.
COMMENTARY
Does it silence or support the Black church?
It is time for these lenders to be held accountable
I have access to hundreds of foreclosed properties in Minneapolis-St.Paul and surrounding suburbs. Let me help you take advantage of this real estate market.
Page 4 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
NNPA SpecialCommentary
Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner
The growing global economiccrisis has exacerbated theHIV/AIDS epidemic across theglobe, in Minnesota and in ourcommunities. That’s why inseeking solutions to oureconomic crisis, we must alsofocus on ways to fight thespread of HIV/AIDS. In theState Legislature, there areseveral ways we can help winthis fight in Minnesota.
Last year, we learned that anestimated 56,000 Americans
become infected with the HIVvirus every year. This number isalarming because it represents a40% higher figure that hadpreviously been estimated.More troubling is the fact thatpeople of color, AfricanAmericans in particular,continue to make up adisproportionate share of thosewho become infected. Thoughwe only represent 30% of theU.S. population, people of colorrepresent 65% of new AIDSdiagnoses and over 60% of newHIV infections. In Minnesota, anew case of HIV infection isreported every day and thatdoesn’t count the estimated2,500 Minnesotans believed tobe unknowingly living withHIV. 40% of all new infectionscome from people living inMinneapolis.
Many of the reasons whyAfrican Americans are
disproportionally affected byHIV and AIDS stem from a lackof quality health care. That’swhy we must continue workingto reform our broken healthcare system. African Americansare nine times more likely to diethan Caucasians fromHIV/AIDS because they oftenlack adequate health care andare diagnosed much later. Thisinequity is simplyunacceptable. Access to qualityhealth care should not be aprivilege, it should be a right. Iam co-author to the MinnesotaHealth Plan, which wouldprovide affordable, qualityhealth care to everyMinnesotan. Due to the severebudget deficit, this legislationwill not be up for a vote thisyear. Nevertheless, we need tokeep pressing fortransformational health carereform.
Another leading factor tothe spread of HIV/AIDS is thelack of information andeducational materials readilyavailable to Minnesotans. Everytime someone is infected withHIV/AIDS they are contractinga preventable disease. We needto pursue a broad strategy in ourcommunities that emphasizeseducation, prevention andawareness.
I have introduced HF 681 inthe Minnesota House ofRepresentatives, a bill thatwould establish a statewideHIV/AIDS AwarenessCampaign to educate the publicabout HIV transmission andprevention. As part of my bill,the campaign would directspecific, community-basedmessages to culturally specificcommunities along withbroadly directed messages tothe Minnesota populations as a
whole. In doing so, we cantarget specific messagestrategies in specific areas ofthe state to enhance theeffectiveness of the campaign.
The campaign wouldinclude a toll-free resource lineand website to provide valuableinformation to Minnesotans.For those who don’t have healthcare insurance, this can be animportant resource forinformation about HIV/AIDSprevention as well as alertpeople of serious signs thatwould signal the need to receivetesting or medical care.
President Barack Obama hassaid that “combating AIDSdemands combating thedisparities in our society —ifwe leave people without hopeor help, we will not turn thecorner against this epidemic.”Here in Minnesota I am hopefulthat together we can continue
the fight against the HIV/AIDSin a strategic, common senseway that improves ourcommunities and saves lives.
In working to address theimportant legislative issues thissession, I’d ask my constituentsin District 61B to take the timeto fill out my online legislativesurvey athttp://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/survey/61B.asp.
I also want to encourageeveryone to mark Saturday,April 25th, 10:00 a.m. – Noonon your calendar. I will be co-hosting a Gun ViolencePrevention Town Hall meetingat the Sharon Sayles BeltonCenter, Minneapolis UrbanLeague, 411 38th Avenue Southand would appreciate yourinvolvement.
We must also focus on ways to fight the spread of HIV/AIDSGuest
Commentary
By State Rep. Jeff Hayden (61B)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.SRep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)welcomed President Obama’srecent decision to extendDeferred Enforced Departure(DED) status by 12 months toLiberians residing legally in theUnited States. There areapproximately 3,600 Liberiansin the United States on atemporary status includingmore than 1,000 Minnesotans.
“I am grateful that PresidentObama has granted our Liberianneighbors extended DEDstatus,” Ellison said. “This wasthe right thing to do to keepfamilies together and itembraces the fundamentalfoundation of an immigrantnation.”
Liberians have lived and
worked in Minnesota since1991 when their country waswracked by civil war whichfirst made them eligible fortemporary protected status.Liberians have been grantedTemporary Protected Status(TPS) or Deferred EnforcedDeparture (DED) underPresident Clinton and PresidentBush. The Liberians arecurrently under DED status,which was set to expire onMarch 31, 2009.
This past December,Congressman Ellison sent aletter to then President-ElectObama along with 31 otherMembers of the House callingon the new Administration toextend DED status for allLiberians residing in the United
States. In 110th Congress,Ellison authored legislationwith Congressman PatrickKennedy (D-RI) to allowLiberian Americans who werebrought here under TPS toapply for citizenship.
Ellison reintroduces UniversalDefault Prohibition ActEllison also reintroducedimportant legislation to curb aharmful practice employed bycredit card companies calleduniversal default.
Under universal defaultprovisions, credit cardcompanies can raise the rate ona credit card to the default ratebased on a late payment onanother credit card, loan ormortgage. Consequently, other
credit card companies can raisetheir interest rates on a cardholder even if he or she hasnever made a late payment on
their particular credit card.“For years now, we have
heard endless stories of theharmful and deceptive practicesof some credit card companies,”Ellison said. “These practicesinclude exorbitant interestrates, and hidden fees. One ofthe worst practices is universaldefault.
Under this procedure, ifyou’re late or miss a paymenton one card, you’re counted aslate on all of them. That is
highly predatory and needs toend,” Ellison stated.
Although some privatelenders have already voluntarilyended this practice,Congressional action isnecessary in order to level theplaying field for all credit cardcompanies and prevent thereturn of the practice.
In the 110th Congress, thisbill was incorporated into theCredit Cardholders’ Bill ofRights Act of 2008 (H.R. 5244),which overwhelmingly passedthe House 312-112.
“We hope to have itincluded in the comprehensivecredit card reform package thatthe Financial ServicesCommittee will mark up in thecoming weeks,” the 5th DistrictCongressman stated.
“The Universal DefaultProhibition Act of 2009 (H.R.1637) is an important piece ofthe economic fairness puzzleand one of many reforms Iintend to introduce in a muchbroader push toward consumerjustice,” Ellison concluded.
how musical themes flowedthroughout the campaign.
‘’We want to honor you…Wehope you will enjoy looking atthem,” Leavell said.
“Well, that’s beautiful,” thePresident responded, flippingthrough the book as he asked FirstLady Michelle to speak first.
“This is such a special award,”she began. “When you’re in themiddle of the news making, youdon’t realize how much news youmade until it’s over. But, this isvery special coming from thisorganization, this membershipbecause you’ve followed usthrough this journey. And to honorus as a family is what makes itspecial because you recognize thatwe have been going through this asa family, as a community and all ofyou know the ins and outs thatcome along with this.”
This is the third Newsmakeraward for President Obama. In2005, he received it as a junior U.S. Senator and rising star in BlackAmerica. He received it again lastyear as a leading presidentialcandidate, poised to make history.Because he could not attend theannual gala due to Senate votes lastyear, he promised to receive theaward at the White House if hewon the election. Both his win andthe award are now a part of historicrecord.
Returning the honor, MichelleObama stressed that the historicrecord of the plight of AfricanAmericans have been kept allalong in Black newspapers acrossAmerica.
“You know our story. Ourimages, our journey our path arenot foreign to you. And we arereminded of that when we read ourstory in your stories. It feelsdifferent. I often say I finallyrecognize myself when I read yourpapers,” she said to applause. “On behalf of the Obama family,the girls and Grandma (her mother,Marian Robinson, who lives withthe family), we thank you somuch.”
NNPA has approximately 215members, but the White Houselimited the delegation to only 50due to available space. Beforegreeting and shaking hands witheach member of the delegation, thePresident drew laughter andapplause during remarks in whichhe reflected on his three-time winof the award.
“I just want to thank all of youfor this extraordinary honor ofbeing a newsmaker three times. Iwill try to be a little more low-keyfor the next four years. I don’t wantto be like a seven-time (loudlaughter) ... because other peoplewill feel left out,” he said.
Obama said the award was“especially gratifying” because thewhole family was being honoredthis time, including theirdaughters, Sasha, seven, andMalia, 10. He praised his wife forher part in helping the historic
election to come to fruition.“I could not have done this
without Michelle, who is thefoundation stump of our familyand who each and every day makesme realize how lucky I am to bemarried to her,” he said.
He added that the childrenbring light moments to his life thattake the edge off of the daily grindof tough issues.
“After you’ve had a bad day,there’s nothing like coming hometo Malia and Sasha and themtelling you all kinds of strangethings and you laugh and thismakes you appreciate why we dowhat we do,” he said. “It’s for thenext generation and we couldn’thave done this without my mother-in-law. She keeps Michelle calm.And there’s that old saying, ‘WhenMama’s happy, everybody’shappy,’ he said as the publisherschimed in with the popular quote.“And so we try to keep Mamahappy,” he said.
The First Lady’s happiness isnot only personal, but for thenation. She said: “Every day whenI see his calm, his composure, hiscommitment to his staff, his abilityto connect to so many communitiesin this time of crisis, I am moreconfident than ever that I wouldnot want anybody else in thishouse in this seat at this moment intime than my husband, President
Ellison applauds White House Liberian extension http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Page 5
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“I AM GRATEFUL THAT PRESIDENTOBAMA HAS GRANTED OUR LIBERIANNEIGHBORS EXTENDED DED STATUS,”
some seven hours into the Saturday,March 21, 2009 4th Ward DFLconvention.
The endorsement did not happenin the five ballots as provided for inthe Rules of the convention and theconvention should have concludedwithout endorsing a candidate,Parker said. Because of what hecalled "the unfair treatment andslander of my character, I havedecided to continue on in thecampaign and to fight for mycommunity and Ward."
Parker said he was proud of hisendorsement by the Association ofCommunity Organizations forReform Now Political ActionCommittee, (ACORN PAC) because
it meant ACORN PAC activistsunderstand that he is "committed tothe residents and will work to combatthe foreclosure crisis that we arefacing."
ACORN PAC's support,however, generated contentiouswrangling over literature allegingJohnson had received "majorcampaign contributions from banks,mortgage lenders and housingdevelopers". The one sheet paperposed the question: "What did theselobbyists and Wall Street banks get inreturn for their money?"
The flyer alleged that in "2003 -Council Member Johnson opposedan Anti-Predatory LendingOrdinance that would have putrestrictions on banks and lenders,leaving thousands of Northsidehomebuyers at risk of being steeredinto high-cost, sub-prime mortgagesthat are now dragging down our
economy and neighborhoods withforeclosures".
It charged that in "2008 -Council Member Johnson, votedagainst a resolution calling for a 3month foreclosure moratorium,which could have helped hundreds ofher constituents stay in their homeswhile renegotiating their mortgages".
Parker charges that ConventionChair, Rick Stafford gave BarbJohnson the opportunity to respond tothe literature. He said Johnson calledthe allegations "lies" noting thatreceiving campaign contributionsfrom corporations is illegal.
"She denied receiving anymonies from any of the banks thatwere listed. She accused me and myvolunteers of going to any length towin the endorsement," Parker said.
"I began to walk up to themicrophone to respond. RickStafford made his position obviousby signaling me to sit down. Heimmediately "froze" (no delegates ofleave or enter during voting) the floorand took another vote while delegatesbegan to question my character underthe belief that I circulated theliterature," he said.
"While I was not responsible forthe literature or the claims, I didhowever, fact check the literatureafter the convention using the sourceslisted on the materials that had beencirculated. I found that EllenMcInnis (Registered Lobbyist # 8608and Association # 0664) for WellsFargo & Company, James Demay(Registered Lobbyist # 4113 andAssociation # 5081) for CitigroupManagement Corp., TCF VoluntaryPolitical Contribution Plan, whichdoes not seem to have registered withthe State of Minnesota that year as aPolitical Action Committee, DonGerberding (Master Development)were campaign contributors," Parkersaid.
Upon questioning, Parker wentto lengths to tell Insight News thatsuch contributions are perfectly legalcontributions of individuals, notcompanies or groups. "But whocontributors work for is worthlooking at," he said.
The Minneapolis City CouncilMinutes of January 18th, 2008 page48, indicate Johnson did vote againsta "Resolution Calling For a VoluntaryMoratorium on Foreclosures bySubprime Mortgage Lenders"Resolution2008R-023, Parker said.
package's green job creationincludes poor urban communities.•Increase funding for job training
and placement for disadvantagedworkers.•Guarantee full-day schooling forall 3- and 4-year-olds.•Expand the school day to accountfor working parents and familieswithout nearby relatives to helpwith after-school care.
•Fund mortgage counseling andeducation programs forminorities.•Implement universal health careand a "comprehensive" system toprovide blacks with healtheducation, prevention andintervention.
Wain talked with Juan De MarcosGonzales, leader of the Afro-CubanAll Stars following their phenomenalperformance at the MinneapolisOrchestra Hall. Wain told de MarcosGonzales about their musicproviding him a bridge to ancestralrealms and a soundscape for hisexploration of separate realities.
Wain was describing his journeyto other worlds while he lay in amedically-induced coma at MayoClinic Hospital in Rochester, MN.He was there for a routine check upon the successful recent kidneytransplant he had undergone.
But the examination revealedcancer in the liver had becomeaggressive requiring immediatereplacement. They moved him to thetop of the waiting list and within aday, he was in surgery for a livertransplant. His body rejected theliver, however. Doctors kept him in acoma while they waited for a newliver.
A second organ was consideredand passed on. By Saturday, he hadbeen “under” four days already. Hehad 48-hours to live without afunctioning liver.
Ray and I drove down to visit.The room was full of machines andmonitors, tubes and
bandages...emergency gear of alltypes. Like in the movies. But thiswas serious. It was no joke.
We were comforted by themassive amount of technology, andthe huge amount of medical learningand science, and the excellent careand compassion of expert healthworkers, all organized to support andsustain life. But something wasmissing.
There were beeps and buzzes.Bells and public addressannouncements. The occasionalsiren wailed faintly in distancesbeyond the hospital walls. The soundof the room was the ambientsignature of the business of life...anddeath.
Wain McFarlane’s life is music.Wain is music. I asked if it would beok to get a boom box or cd playerand play music for Wain. They saidyes and ordered a boom box from thehospital library. I had Afro-CubanAll Stars cd “Distinto, Differente” inmy car. I got it and dropped it in thecd player and plugged in the box ona ledge just above Wain’s head.Nurses said Wain might be aware ofwhat was going on in the room, butthey were not sure. He could hear,but he could not speak, due to thesedation. And they were not sureexactly how much he would actuallyhear or comprehend or remember.
So I talked to Wain. I rubbed hisforehead. Then I walked to the otherend of the bed and I rubbed his feet.I said “This is a gift, Wain. So have
no fear. You are being given theopportunity to examine this worldand others from distinct and differentpoints of view. So, Go! See!Remember all that you can! You willbe able to cross vast amounts ofspace and time in blink of an eye.You can fly and stop at will,suspended in any space you choose.Let this music guide you and connectyou to our Ancestors.”
Wain arose three days laterspeaking Spanish, Portuguese andother languages he did not know. Hehad visited what appeared to beconstruction sites. He said, on closerexamination, he recognized that hewas watching people building theGreat Pyramid. He visited the Andesand Southern Mexico andexperienced ancient Toltec culture.Beings from that world followedhim back to this world. As he driftedtoward ordinary consciousness hecould still perceive energy bodiesthat had tracked him, two to defendhim, one to destroy him.
Wain shared this story with JuanDe Marcos Gonzales and with ourmutual friend Victor Valens, anotherTwin Cities-based Cuban, who visitsCuba regularly. De MarcosGonzales, eyebrow raised and gazefixed on Wain’s words, smileddeeply, understandingly. He wasexperiencing the storystereophonically...from Wain eye toeye directly in front of him, from meon one side, telling my part of thestory in English and in Spanish, and
from Victor, reinterpreting what hehad heard from me and from Wain,purely in Spanish.
There was one song, Wain said,about being a Jamaican but living inCuba. Yes, de Marcos said, it paidhomage to a great Cuban singer NinoRivera, who, like many, went toCuba to find work and to live.
And there was another song onthat album that no doubt affectedyou, he said to Wain. “Warariansa” isa song from my father’s religion, hesaid, an African religion that retainedits expression in Afro-Cuba. Hisfather was the Pope of that religion,he said. The music’s mission is toprotect and grow the culture bylooking back to the ancestors andplaying a pathway to the future.
In preparing this observation Ifound the following liner notes aboutthe Afro-Cuban All Stars:“A multi-generational big band, withmembers ranging in age from 13 to81, the Afro-Cuban All Starsincorporate the full spectrum ofLatin dance music, includingmambo, cha cha, salsa, rumba, sonmontuno, timba, guajira, danzón,abakuá, and bolero. During a late-’90s interview, Gonzalez explained,‘We have to use all the heritage ofCuban music to create a sound of thefuture.’ Gonzalez, who holds adoctorate in hydraulic engineeringand Russian and has worked as aconsulate at the Agronomic ScienceInstitute in Havana, formed the Afro-Cuban All Stars shortly after the
disbanding of Sierra Maestra, thegroup with whom he had attractedglobal attention since 1978.Musicians in the Afro-Cuban AllStars, including pianist RubenGonzalez and trumpet player YankoPisaco, represent the cream ofCuba’s instrumentalists.”
One of the people in theaudience, who is a Cuban now livingin Twin Cities, and who got specialrecognition from De MarcosGonzales was Gloria Rivera. Afterthe reception backstage followingthe concert, Gloria, Wain, Victor andI sat for coffee at a late nite bistro
across the street from Orchestra Hall.Gloria, who sings with Wain fromtime to time, told me in Spanish, thather father was the object ofcelebration in the Afro-Cuban AllStars song “Tributo al Nino Rivera.”
Wain had felt the meaning of thesong in his coma. He remembered.And he asked De Marcos Gonzalesabout that song in particular.
Gloria Rivera, the daughter ofthe song, was in his life already,unbeknownst to him. This nightconnected and extended the gift oflife.
Master artists reflect on healing power of Afro-Cuban musicPage 6 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
Sesame Street , is producing, inassociation with DavidLetterman’s production companyWorldwide Pants Incorporatedand Lookalike Productions, a newPBS primetime special, ComingHome: Military Families CopeWith Change, featuring QueenLatifah, John Mayer, Elmo andRosita. This half-hour HD specialtells stories of service memberswho return home with injuries,visible and invisible, and exploresthe heroic struggles their familiesface in discovering a new way offinding a “new normal.” Thespecial will air on PBS<http://www.pbs.org/> on April 1,2009 at 8PM (check local listings)
in conjunction with April as the“Month of the Military Child.”
“Sesame Street” and its logo aretrademarks of Sesame Workshop.All rights reserved. Photo byRichard Termine.
Sesame Streethelps militaryfamilies cope
StateFrom 1
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond andNAACP President and CEOBenjamin Todd Jealous noting thedeath of historian and activist JohnHope Franklin, said, "America haslost a real treasure with the death ofJohn Hope Franklin. He was apioneer in democratizing Americanhistory, giving Black Americans aproper place in the development ofthe United States. His magnificentwork, From Slavery to Freedom,insures people of color will not beforgotten when the American story istold. He was more than America'smost prominent historian - his civicactivism set a high standard foracademics, marching in Selma,serving on numerous commissionsand advising presidents.
Speaker of the US House ofRepresentatives Nancy Pelosi calledFranklin one of our nation's mostdistinguished scholars. She said:"His academic and civiccontributions helped integrate the
African American narrative intoAmerican history - reflecting one ofour nation's most cherished goals ofcreating a stronger and more unitedAmerica.
"Professor Franklin chaired thehistory departments at BrooklynCollege and the University ofChicago, before becoming James B.Duke Professor of History at DukeUniversity," she said. "The JohnHope Franklin Center forInterdisciplinary and InternationalStudies and the Franklin HumanitiesInstitute at Duke remain aspermanent monuments to hiscontributions in academia and publicpolicy.
"John Hope Franklinsuccessfully bridged the gapbetween theory and practice. Thatwas never more evident than hisscholarly work on President BillClinton's Task Force on Race - forwhich he received the PresidentialMedal of Freedom, his invaluable
work on the history of AfricanAmericans, and his seminal researchused in the landmark case, Brown v.Board of Education," she said.
John Hope Franklin was the1995 recipient of the NAACPSpingarn Medal, the Association'shighest honor, given fordistinguished merit and achievementamong Americans of Africandescent.
media.commercialappeal.comJohn Hope Franklin
John Hope Franklin democratized American history
Queen Latifah and John Mayer
Ward 4From 1
IN: Have you been with theproduction since the beginning?SJ: I’ve been with it since thebeginning of the tour show. Ioriginated Harpo on the road. It’sbeen two years. Felicia and I havebeen working together for over twoyears now. It’s a blessing. I’velearned. I’ve grown. We’ve beateach other up. [Laughs] It’s been acool thing. FF: Yeah, it’s been all right.[Laughs]
IN: So how did you guys findyourself blessed to be apart of TheColor Purple?SJ: You know I’m from Georgia, soI get the story. When I heard theywere doing a film of The ColorPurple, I was like, “Hmm, I wouldlove to play Harpo.’’When I saw thefilm, it was a different visual look. Iread the book a little differentvisually, but the spirit- I’veconnected with the spirit and it’senergy and who he is. I was hopingthat that’s the thing that could shinethrough, so they could see that, so Icould get this gig and I did. 2 years,and going on 2 and half years laterit’s still moving.
IN: How much longer do you thinkyou are going to do this?SJ: Yeah, I don’t really want to say,but I’m contracted through out theend of this year, and through thebeginning of January and we’ll seewhere we are at that time.
IN: I know you have a music careeryou’re working on.SJ: Yes, and it’s kind of hard to dothat being on the road. I at least havea CD I want to finish, that’s all. I justhave a CD I’ve got to finish of myown purpose of setting a goal andaccomplishing that goal. When I getback to LA, we have a little time offafter St. Paul, and I’m going to do alittle work on it. Put some of thesesongs down that I’ve written and seewhat happens.
IN: A lot of African Americanproductions aren’t received withsuch open arms and acclaim fromcritics across the board like TheColor Purple is, what does it meanto either one of you to be apart ofsuch an important piece of ourhistory?FF: It’s a very important thing tome. I’ve worked twenty-somethingyears in this business. Every time Ilook into the house it’s white people.I don’t mean that as a derogatorything, but as an African Americangrowing up in an African Americanenvironment, wanting to be apart oftheatre and never seeing AfricanAmericans in theatre in abundance,it can be a downer. I’ve doneCarousel, Hello Dolly, Guys andDolls and things of that nature, butto be apart of an all AfricanAmerican cast, not only that is amusical, but one that definitely hasmessages of great importance to thecommunities, to individuals, tomales as well as females, it’s a storyof hope and resilience it’s a storythat teaches people that they can riseabove of their obstacles whateverthey are, it gives you hope. It givesyou a sense of ‘I can do better’. IfCelie can survive some of thesethings that are going on with her,than certainly I can. The best part ofthe show for me at night is thecurtain call. The curtain call allowsyou to break the fourth wall and thenbecome an observer of the peoplewho’ve been observing you. Now Iget a chance to see what gratitudethey feel from the two and half hourjourney that they’ve just been on.Whenever I see African Americansin the audience it’s a thrill for me.When I tell you that pretty muchwhen you work in theater it’s a seaof white people you’re looking at,that’s how those percentages workfor the most part. This is not likeanything else, it’s not like taking apart of something that’s been donebefore. This is something thatpeople didn’t think would happen.You’re going to turn Color Purpleinto a musical? Yeah right, that’s anoxy moron. But, to be able to makeit happen, and make it good, hasbeen great.SJ: I agree with her. It’s a blessingfirst of all, but also a responsibility. Ithink even from the maleperspective, we have to realize, thatwhen you saw the film that theredemption value wasn’t as alive inthe film, they just kind of brushedover it. In the stage play, right now,you actually see that redemptionthere where they no better. Once yougo through the process becausenobodies perfect, we learn, we getthe lesson and we do better.Knowing better, you’re allowed todo better. That redemption valuemeaning; wanting to be forgiven, sothat you can take it to the next level
and improve your life and makethose in your life happy. That’simportant to us. There is a sense ofhope and redemption. Hope andinspiration in doing better.Redeeming ourselves as a man. Alotof times people think it’s a manbashing show, and that’s not thecase. It shows that men aresignificant in this story as well as weare in life. We’re apart of theprocess. FF: There is a very important lessonfrom the lineage of the men fromOld Mister to Mister to Harpo.There’s such an important lineagelesson there. You don’t have to bestuck like Old Mister was in his daywhen it was acceptable to treatwomen a certain way. That’s whathe taught his son to do, who wasgoing to keep the party going andthat’s when they ran into theobstacle of Harpo, who decided thathe was going to break the cycle. SJ: That’s interesting, because Iwouldn’t say obstacle, I would say“the light of Harpo” becauseintuitively when I read the book itnever felt right to him. Intuitively,when I was reading it, it wouldnever feel right for him to treatwomen that way or behave in thatway. This is what he sees, this iswhat he’s see has historically beendone so this is what he thinks he’ssupposed to do, but that’s not thecase. I think he learns this when hegets to that place where he’s notlooking for validation from otherpeople, but from within himself, tostep up to the cause and say “Youknow what, I can be my own manand make my own decisions, I knowbetter, so I’m going to do better andso I’m going to be an example, andbe a quote on quote renaissance manand make a change and differentchoice to treat people differently, totreat my wife and family differently.Break that cycle of abuse and feelingas though I have to talk down towomen in order to feel good or feelright.”FF: It’s also empowering to womento be able to have that voice.
IN: How do you think yourcharacter compares to mennowadays and how they treat their
women?SJ: Well, I think Harpo, is as AliceWalker calls him in her interviews,she calls him “the new man,” whichis the quote on quote Renaissanceman. I think a lot of men arestepping up to the plate and realizingthat they don’t have to be abusive orcondescending or talk down towomen because it doesn’t proveanything. I think a lot of men aregetting to that place where we feelcomfortable in our skin where we dobetter and can treat women likequeens. For Felicia I do certainthings because I see the joy that itbrings her. I don’t even know how iteven originated with me going intoher dressing room going in her trunkand taking out certain things. I justlike to fix it up for her, real simple.She has some little leopard prints,and leopard clothes that she packs inher trunk, and next thing I know oneday I was in there and she was doingsomething, so I kind of just laid itout for her and made it real nice andneat. I’m like a neat freak anyway.FF: Yes he is. SJ: So when she comes in, youknow, it’s all set up. FF: Last night I came in, and it wasalready set up. SJ: It’s easy. It’s nothing difficult.It’s those simple things that makepeople smile and make them happy
that are very important. I think if weas men accept that and learn to dothat it can put a smile on someone’sface. Just simple things can create adifferent energy in the relationship. FF: Yes, and Harpo and Sophia area couple that has to have aconnection. A believableconnection. That’s why it works forus, because we care about each otheroff stage as well as on stage. Thethings that we do off stage wetranslate on stage.
IN: Do you find it hard to keep thechemistry on stage going night afternight?SJ: No. I don’t. I know she’s crazyand I am too, so we need each other.[Laughs] We love each other, werespect each other, and we take careof each other on the road. It’s been awonderful journey. FF: Well he takes care of me morethan I take care of him.
IN: That’s kind of the roles you bothplay in the play also, so that onlymakes sense. [Laughs]SJ: [Laughs] She gives me a hardtime sometimes. FF: I give him a hard time all thetime. [Laughs]SJ: But, I can handle it. [Laughs]
AESTHETICS
9PURPLE TURN TO
Hearts embrace musical messages
http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Page 7
By Alaina L. LewisPart 2 of 2
StudioTobechiStu James and Felicia P. Fields
One in six Americans had nohealth insurance even beforethe U.S. economy fell intocrisis. Now with unemploymentsoaring, the number ofuninsured Americans isexploding because along withtheir jobs, Americans are losingemployer-provided medicalinsurance.
No wonder medical billsremain the No. 1 cause ofpersonal bankruptcy in theUnited States, despite thealarming increase in homeforeclosures.
U.S. President BarackObama this month launched aneffort to reform the U.S.healthcare system, with the goal
of providing affordablehealthcare to all Americans.But change won’t come quickly,if at all.
So how to cope? If you haveno or inadequate healthinsurance, yet need surgery orother expensive hospital care,must you simply live with alife-threatening or very painful
health problem untilWashington reforms thesystem?
Some Americans have hitupon an immediate solution.They travel to other countrieswhere the cost of hospital anddental care is 30-90 percentless.
The United States has thehighest healthcare costs in theworld. So by going elsewhere,Americans can save a personalfortune when major medicaland dental care is needed.
“Done right, you can findtreatment at facilities that areon par with the finest hospitalsand dental clinics in the UnitedStates, staffed by doctors anddentists who speak Englishfluently and trained at top U.S.medical centers,” said RobinElsham, managing director ofPatients With Passports Corp., aTwin Cities company thatarranges medical care abroadfor Americans.
Last year an estimated750,000 Americans traveledabroad for healthcare, mostly tocountries in Latin America(Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama)or in Asia (Singapore, Thailandor India).
“If you don’t have healthinsurance, heart bypass surgerycosts $125,000 in a U.S.hospital. The same surgerycosts $19,000 in Singapore —and just $8,500 in India,” saidElsham. “Dental implants,which cost $2,400 a tooth here,cost 30 to 50 percent less inLatin America.”
Traveling abroad fortreatment is certainly notalways an option. The most
suitable procedures requiresingle episodes of care, over ashort time, and have lowcomplication rates.
Joint replacement surgery— both hip and knee — is themost common surgeryperformed on American medicalvalue travelers, according tothe Medical Travel Associationin Florida. Other common
treatments include cardiac care(angiography, angioplasty andinserting cardiac stents,pacemakers and defibrillators),spinal surgery, and many typesof general surgery (ACL repair,hernia repair, hysterectomies,gall bladder removal.)
Also common areprocedures that U.S. insurerswon’t pay for (weight-losssurgery, infertility or assistedconception treatment, cosmeticsurgery,) and dental work(implants, crowns, root canals,dentures).
Some Americans go abroadfor treatments which are notFDA-approved here. Stem celltherapies are commerciallyavailable in some countries, totreat conditions such asamyotrophic lateral sclerosis(Lou Gehrig’s disease), spinalparalysis and cancer. The
medical value and scientificlegitimacy of these treatmentsis often controversial.
An industry exists to helpAmericans who want to goabroad for medical care, and todo so safely and easily.Medical concierge companieslike Patients With Passportsmake all arrangements. Theygather a patient’s medical
records, send them to theforeign hospital or dental clinic,oversee the planning andscheduling of treatment, andmake airline, hotel and othertravel arrangements. Bilinguallocal guides are often providedto personally look afterAmerican patients throughouttheir entire time abroad.
“For anyone without healthinsurance, or with veryinadequate insurance, travelingabroad might be their only wayto get hospital care at a pricethat doesn’t bankrupt them,”said Jonathan Edelheit,president of the Medical TravelAssociation. “For people withno health insurance, this optioncan spell the difference betweengetting essential hospital care,and getting no treatment at all.”
In just under two years, The 50Million Pound Challenge hasrallied more than a millionAmericans to come together to‘Give up the pounds, not thefight.’ In doing so, thoseindividuals have improved theirlives and health and loggedmore than 3.8 million poundslost at 50millionpounds.com.
“The number one healthcrisis facing all Americans isbeing overweight,” saidphysician and Challengefounder Dr. Ian Smith. “Weightloss is an epidemic that touches
all races and ethnicities and TheChallenge is devoted to eachand every American who isstruggling with weight loss.”
The Challenge offersconsumers a free, easy to useonline solution that truly works.All resources and tools,including a 30-daycustomizable diet plan, onlinejournal, personal weight andactivity trackers and Challengeteams make fitness easier andmore fun, and are free thanks tosponsor State Farm®.
Online community support
is key. In fact, a study in theFebruary 2009 issue of the NewEngland Journal of Medicinefound that group support andcommunity is a key factor in asuccessful weight-loss plan.Among the study of severalweight-loss programs,attendance at group sessionswas positively associated withweight loss. In a separate study,66% of adults (ages 35-44)agree that an online weight-losscommunity could provide justas much or more support toindividuals trying to lose
weight. Challenge statistics alsoshow that registrants who havejoined one of more than 26,000teams on the site are losing anaverage of 23% more weightthan those who have not teamedup.
Following on the heels ofthe one-millionth registrantmilestone and to help addressthe growing attention cities arepaying to the health of theircitizens due to correlated healthcare costs, Dr. Ian Smith hasannounced he is working withthe mayors of several cities
across the country to stage The50 Million Pound ChallengeAnnual Walks. On May 16,2009, people across the countrywill join together in theirindividual communities to takepart in the walks and take thesymbolic steps signifying theirjourney to a healthier lifestyle.
For more details on The 50Million Pound Challenge, visit50millionpounds.com.
HEALTHThe 50 Million Pound Challenge announces one-millionth member
Page 8 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
radiofacts.comDr. Ian Smith
Three-time Wimbledon and four-time US Open Champion JohnMcEnroe has teamed up withGlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK)to create a public-educationinitiative entitled the “50 Over50 Prostate Health Challenge.”
Fifty percent of men over 50years of age have an enlargingprostate; if left untreated it canlead to worsening urinarysymptoms and even prostate-related surgery.
“I just celebrated my 50thbirthday, and while I’m still asactive as ever, I know there arecertain health issues I need to
stay on top of, including myprostate health,” said McEnroe.“Now I’m asking other men totake the ‘50 Over 50 ProstateHealth Challenge.’ It’s all abouttalking to your doctor andgetting serious about yourprostate health.”
As a part of the campaign, aninteractive web site,www.50over50challenge.com,has been created where men canstart the “Prostate HealthChallenge.” The challenge is totake three easy steps to getserious about prostate health: abrief online prostate health
assessment; seeing a doctor for aprostate-health exam; andknowing your PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) level. PSAlevel, obtained from a simpleblood test, is a protein markerthat can rise when a prostatecondition is present.
McEnroe will also befeatured in public educationvideo messages that will appearthroughout the year on networktelevision, internet sites and at50over50challenge.com. Thefirst video vignette will air onApril 4 in between the first andsecond games of the men’s
college basketball semi final onCBS. There will also be nationalprint messages in March andApril running in suchpublications as USA Today,Sports Illustrated, Time andNewsweek. \
”Prostate health can beawkward to talk about, so we’vecreated a series of hopefullymemorable, vignettes to help getmen talking. I am hoping myinvolvement will be motivationaland encourage men to take theChallenge and take control oftheir prostate health,” addedMcEnroe.
John McEnroe’s new public-education initiative:Take the ‘50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge’
sportsblog.projo.com/mcenroe0815.jpgJohn McEnroe
To save 30-90%, Americans are heading abroad for hospital, dental care
“IF YOU DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE,HEART BYPASS SURGERY COSTS $125,000
IN A U.S. HOSPITAL. THE SAME SURGERYCOSTS $19,000 IN SINGAPORE — AND
JUST $8,500 IN INDIA,”
IN: Do people find your portrayal ofthe relationship in the play to be tooracy? Do people ever give you anynegative feedback?SJ: No, never any negativefeedback.FF: Just my family. They talk a lot.They’re always saying, “Come onyall, please.”SJ: Have you seen the show?IN: Oh yeah, I saw it last night.You’re quite affectionate. But sinceyou’re a married couple in the play,I think people will understand that. SJ: There are certain momentswhere they would be affectionate toeach other, but I try not to always beall on her. [Laughs]
IN: Well, she’s an amazing woman,so I could see how you’d want to be.SJ:Ain’t she though. Just look at hereyes. She puts on this little blue stuffon her eyes during the Juke Jointscene, and it’s always so funnybecause we’ll be up on each otherdancing and I’ll ask her when themics are down, ‘Where my eyes at?’She’ll flutter her eyes at me. I love it.That’s what keeps its fresh. I evennotice when her hair is different orout of place. A husband wants hiswife to look good. She can’t comeall up in here looking crazy.[Laughs] It’s about trust. We have anatural trust with each other.Chemistry has that foundation ofhaving trust and feeling safe aroundthat person. That’s very important.
IN: How do you think people aredealing with the fact that it followsthe book more than it does themovie?FF: It was written that way. SJ: I don’t think they expect it. Ithink they come in expecting, “Godis trying to tell yousomething.”[Singing] but they havethe film to see that. We are stayingtrue to the book. I think them notknowing, coming and trying toexpect that and then they don’t get it,but still walk out and feel that breathof fresh air.
IN: I didn’t expect it myself, but I
certainly welcomed this version. SJ: But, were you disappointed?
IN: I was happy because I thinkthere was an important message inthe book that should have beenfollowed through to the film.SJ: The book was a bit edgieranyway.
IN: It was, wasn’t it. I think whenthe film came out in it’s day, theydidn’t want to show it. SJ: They weren’t ready for it.
IN: I think with the generationwe’re in now, people have acceptedit more, and can appreciate it for it’sart and the beauty within it’smessage. SJ: Isn’t that interesting. I feel likeMs. Shug was a lady before her timeanyway. To be singing about “that”in a Juke Joint during those days. Tostand out way ahead of your time,you know what I mean? When Iread that in the book I was like,“Whoa, she’s talking about that andin those days?”
IN: Felicia, how does it feel to havethe opportunity to step into a rolethat Oprah Winfrey made famous?Do you feel a responsibility to thecast and the audience to be more likeOprah, or are you able to maintainyour own voice in this production?FF: Well, first of all, the charactershave to be different. Hers is a movieand mine is a musical. She doesn’tsing. What happens is that, peopletend to compare you or tend to comein with an expectation that I’ll bejust like Oprah. When you get intothe show, and you see how the showis going you’ll see that there’s nocomparison. We’re doing twodifferent kinds of things. She canstop and retake, we’re doing livetheatre and singing. Everyday it’s afresh take on everything that goeson. So, it’s impossible to compareus. A lot of times people say, “Oh,God you did so good you showedOprah,” but in essence like I said,there is no comparison. When wewere in Chicago, we were inrehearsal, and Oprah came in whileI was jumping around being sillyand she saw me and was like, “Waita minute, that fool is going to bedoing my part.” But when she came
up and heard me sing, Hell No, shejumped out of her chair andscreamed, “Yes!” I knew then that Ihad confirmation that she was goingto be very supportive. She’s a greatwoman.
IN: What has been the mostmemorable experience that youhave had on the tour so far?SJ: There’s so many, but for memeeting Oprah on the opening nightin Chicago was quite amazing andthen the next week or so being ableto go to her TV Show. For me it wasbeing able to interact with her.Seeing her on opening night, herenergy, and seeing her on stage, Iwas like, “Wow, this woman has somuch light.” She’s real personable.She gave me some aspirations.When I get older I want to be themale Oprah [Laughs]. Make thatmoney. [Laughs] She’s uplifting.She’s always figuring out ways howto give back. That’s so important.Connecting with her, meeting her,has definitely been an impact forme.
IN: Are there any last words youwant to share with the readers ofInsight News which is the #1 BlackNewspaper for the people in theTwin Cities?
FF: This is a piece that you canmerge your soul with. It’s a piecethat gives you the freedom to exceptand embrace impossible situationsand situations that came to bepossible. Just know, that whoeveryou are, if you’re a timid person or astrong person you’ll find yourself.SJ: Life is a journey not adestination. I say that because, if Ican do this coming from corporateAmerica, with a degree fromMorehouse in Finance, but it wasmy passion to step out and make thishappen. Being apart of this was adream for me. I say to the brothers,don’t be afraid to come out andsupport this project. It’s inspirationand hope and redemption for us aswell.
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Psst! Psst! The word on the streetis that spring has actually come, butkeep it quiet. If winter hears aboutit, she may come back. Since theweather does appear to be breaking,it’s time for… You guessed it-Spring Cleaning! So you knowwhat to do; take five minutes tograb three boxes to assist in thepurging process and let’s get towork!
Stow Away…First, gather all of your winter gear-like heavy sweaters, boots, coats,blankets, winter sports gear, andany Christmas lights that might behanging around your house- andclean it, or wipe it down. Next finda home for every item. Try to usewhat you already have for storage;old suitcases, duffle bags, or largeplastic bins with covers. Find out-of-the-way storage spots. Locate acorner in your basement or garage;just make sure it is not in the way.
Throw Away…Now I know this can be the hardestpart of spring cleaning. Yet, it isnecessary to take an honest look atwhat really needs to go. If it’sbroken, has missing parts, hasstains that won’t come out, and it’snot fit to be donated- toss it. Thetruth is that once you get rid of junkand rubbish, your mind will feelclearer. Let go of all the excusesthat keep you bound to your junk,including feeling guilty because itwas gift from your favorite aunt.
Give Away…Go through all of the closets in yourhome. Pull out the things you havenot worn in a year and place themin the box marked “Donations”Clothes that are too small (or toobig) should no longer take up spacein drawers and closets. Repeat thisprocess in your children’s rooms,and don’t forget the toys and booksthat they have also outgrown. Thiswill make it easier for you and yourkiddos to keep bedrooms clean.Before you change your mind, takeyour donations to your local thriftshop. A few organizations likeDisabled American Veterans andthe Lupus Foundation haveneighborhood pick-ups available insome areas... Another option,www.freecycle.com provides anonline opportunity to advertiseyour items for free.
Sell on EBay…For valuable furnishings, antiques,designer clothes, purses, etc, thatare no longer in use, considerselling them and pocketing thecash. Besides www.ebay.com,another favorite iswww.craigslist.com. EBay chargesa small percent of the purchaseprice, but Craigslist offers freeservices and listings by location,making it easier to sell/buy andarrange local pick-up for largeitems. I have used both sites(buying and selling coats, shoes,toys, and appliances), and highlyrecommend them. If you are notsure if your item will sell, first startby visiting the sites and check outthe current inventory and prices forsimilar things.
There is a time, place, and aseason for everything and spring isthe perfect season to celebratecreation’s renewal process. Takethe time to get your place in orderand make it more conducive to theproductive life that I know you (andI) are striving to have. In honor ofspring, make a commitment to afresh start by reducing oreliminating clutter in yoursurroundings. Enjoy!
Marcia Humphrey is an interiordecorator and home stager whospecializes in achieving high styleat a low cost. A native of Michigan,she and her husband, Lonnie, havethree children.
Spring is the perfect season to celebrate creation’s renewal process
http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Page 9
PurpleFrom 7
StudioTobechiStu James and Felicia P. Fields
of her people in front of all else.They learned about the mighty
Ida B. Wells, who fought against themassive lynching of AfricanAmerican men in the south. With hermighty pen, she exposed theatrocities against Black people.Because of her powerful editorials,she was run out of Memphis, TN; butthey couldn’t silence her voice. Shemoved to Chicago, IL andestablished one of the first Blacknewspapers.
Students also studied one of
Minnesota’s own, the remarkable Dr.Josie Robinson Johnson. Theylearned how she grew up in Texasand even as a teenager she was in theforefront fighting for civil rightsalong side her father; by fighting apoll tax that was used to preventAfrican Americans from voting.Johnson earned a B.A. in Sociologyat Fisk University in Nashville, TN,and an M.A. and Ed.D at theUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst.
In the1960s, Johnson lobbied forthe passage of bills concerning issuessuch as fair housing andemployment opportunities. In 1964,she traveled from Minneapolis toMississippi with a mixed race groupof women who took part in the
struggle for freedom. After visitingan open-air freedom school whereAfrican Americans were organizing,she learned the school had beenbombed later that same day. Johnsonbecame a community organizer forProject ENABLE, a pioneeringeffort in developing parenting skillsand strengthening family life. As amember of the Minneapolis UrbanLeague, she served as its directorfrom 1967 - 1968.
Johnson worked with electedofficials throughout the years. In1968, she was an aide to the Mayorof Minneapolis during a time whenAfrican Americans fought openly forfreedom and justice; sometimes itlead to violence.
Johnson became the executiveassistant to the lieutenant governor ofColorado from 1975 to 1978. In1980, she served as deputy campaignmanager for the Jimmy Carterpresidential campaign in Tennessee,who then became president of theUnited States.
From 1971-1973, Johnsonserved on the University’s Board ofRegents. The University ofMinnesota offered her a seniorfellowship in 1987. Johnson directedits All-University Forum asDiversity Director from 1990-1992.
That same year she becameresponsible for Minority Affairs andDiversity at the University as theAssociate Vice President forAcademic Affairs. The University ofMinnesota established the annual
Josie Robinson Johnson HumanRights and Social Justice Award inher honor.
Students at Cooper were soimpressed to learn about this livinglegend, Dr. Josie Johnson, that they
dedicated a poem in her honor anddrew a picture to acknowledge thegreatness of this magnificent AfricanAmerican she-roe who is an exampleof Black Excellence.
Page 10 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
COMMUNITY
WE WIN InstituteFrom left: Adijah Long, Stephanie Anthunes, Anthonette Sims,
Latrea Martin and Brianna Barber (sitting)
Stephanie Anthunes Dr. Josie Johnson
Thank You Josie Robinson JohnsonBy Adijah Long
Josie Robinson JohnsonBorn in 1930.She gives us hope.Hope for EducationEqual Rights Black Excellence
Josie Robinson JohnsonHas inspired us to be StrongTo Love what's Black
She is GreatFull of ExperienceWisdom and Influence
Josie Robinson Johnson'sPresenceIn the Black CommunityHas showed our youngBrothers and SistersThat Failure Does Not ExistThat we can Conquer AnythingIf we put our Minds to it
As Maya Angelou said,"Still I Rise"
Josie Robinson JohnsonHas proven Herself WorthyStill, she Rises!Above all SegregationBlack HumiliationAnd Most ImportantlyShe has Risen to see a Black PresidentIn Her HonorWe SayThank youYou are a Phenomenal WomanPhenomenally Made!
February 7 was the first of threepublic meetings for the WestBroadway CommunityDevelopment Expo. About 140people turned out for the event,and there was a lot ofexcitement for the manyprojects on display which will
contribute to building animproved West Broadway inNorth Minneapolis. One of thehighlighted projects was aproposed brand new publicplaza at Hawthorn CrossingsShopping Center. The idea is tocarve out a distinctive, eye-
catching, and unique publicspace along West Broadway inthe shopping center parking lotthat will be programmed with aregularly-scheduled communitymarket along with hosting othercommunity events.
The second of three
opportunities to participate indesigning this new public spaceis on Tuesday night, March 31,when the project will be ondisplay at the PlymouthChristian Youth Center schoolat 2210 Oliver Ave North. Theevent is 6:30- 8:30 pm with a
half hour presentation at 7 pm..The design team has movedahead with the design of theplaza, and will present anumber of scenarios forcommunity consideration.
A third and final publicmeeting will happen on
Tuesday, May 19 to give inputon a single proposed design forthe site.
For more information,contact Thomas Leighton,Principal Planner, City ofMinneapolis at 612-673-3853.
Public meetings to design a new community market and event space at Hawthorn Crossings
JohnsonFrom 1
In an effort to accentuate programsand classes that increaseproficiency and credit recovery,Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS)has approved changes to the 2009summer school schedule. Theschedule also increases time forstudents to take advantage ofsummer enrichment opportunitiesoffered through SPPS, the City andother providers.
At the March 17 Board ofEducation meeting, school officialsapproved a revised summer schoolschedule with fewer school daysand more education time built intoeach day. The new schedule willhave students in summer school forsix hours per day over three weeks.In the past, the summer schoolschedule included four hours perday over five weeks.
Changes to the summer schoolcalendar increase enrichmentopportunities for students and aremore consist with a regular schoolday. “Students will receive thesame amount of academicinstruction as in years past but theirdays will be similar to the regularschool year with more enrichmentopportunities,” said Valeria Silva,SPPS Chief Academic Officer.Highlights of the revised scheduleinclude:
Students at the secondary levelcompleting credit recovery couldreceive three credits through astandards focused curriculum,whereas in previous years studentscould only receive two credits.
There is an additional three-week high school session atGordon Parks High School where
students can earn an additionalthree credits. If a high schoolstudent is enrolled in both summersessions, they could earn up to sixcredits.
The condensed schedulereduces scheduling conflicts forfamilies seeking summerenrichment opportunities for theirchildren.
The 2009 summer schoolschedule runs from June 22 throughJuly 14 at 41 sites including 28elementary, six middle, and sevenhigh schools. There will be noschool on July 3. An additional highschool session is scheduled fromJuly 20 through August 7 at GordonParks High School.
Special education students withdocumented needs for ExtendedSchool Year on their Individual
Education Plans (IEPs), arescheduled for summer school atseven sites from June 22 throughJuly 24 (no school on July 3), forfour hours per day. Based on needsdocumented on a students’ IEP,additional services are also beingprovided at the general educationsummer school sites. The OnTrackprogram, for middle schoolstudents, is four hours per day fromJune 22 through July 17 (no schoolJuly 3) at Harding Senior HighSchool.
Letters will be mailed home theweek of April 20 for any studentneeding to attend summer school.Additional information is availableat SPPS schools or online,www.spps.org/SummerSchoolInfo.html.
Over the summer break, manylow-income students fall behind.Admission Possible high schooljuniors recently attended asummer enrichment fair to helpprevent this problem. OnSaturday, March 7, nearly 200Admission Possible studentsattended the Summer EnrichmentFair at the Blake School inMinneapolis. This is the secondyear Admission Possible hasjoined with LearningWorks atBlake and Minnesota MinorityEducation Partnership in hostingthe event. The fair offeredAdmission Possible studentsaccess to summer programs thatwill keep them learningthroughout the summer.
“It’s important for all studentsand critical for low-incomestudents to continue learningthroughout the summer,” said JimMcCorkell, founder and CEO ofAdmission Possible, “Summerenrichment programs give low-income students the chance togain more knowledge aboutfuture careers, more knowledgeabout themselves and ultimatelybetter access to the types of
experiences colleges look for.”According to a paper
authored by the HamiltonProject, a research and policyinstitute out of the BrookingsInstitution in Washington, D.C.,low-income students areespecially susceptible to theeffects of the “faucet theory.”When the faucet of learning is on
during the school year,achievement rises for allstudents; over the summer, thefaucet is turned off for lower-income students, but left on forstudents in higher incomehouseholds, who often continueto participate in some form ofactivity, either at home or in anorganized activity away form
home.Representatives from 19
summer enrichment programsactively recruited students at thefair. The programs ranged frombusiness, law and educationsectors. Students heard fromAdmission Possible student,Brenda Xiong, a senior atHarding High School in St. Pauland LearningWorks participant,Tin Tran, a senior at Blaine HighSchool. Brenda spoke about heropportunities with St. Kate’s FirstStep Summer Institute, while Tinelaborated on serving as a teacherto younger students in thesummer LearningWorksprogram. Both reported thatinvesting in an intensive summerprogram was well worth theeffort.
Admission Possible’s two-year curriculum includes therequirement that juniors apply toat least one summer enrichmentopportunity to remain in theprogram. Many students enjoyedthe fair and found at least oneprogram they plan to apply for.
LearningWorks at Blakeworks with middle school
students who will need to findanother high quality summerenrichment opportunity whenthey reach high school. “Thereare many terrific summerenrichment opportunities forstudents in the Twin Cities andacross the state,” saidLearningWorks ExecutiveDirector, Scott Flemming, “butthere are not many events likethis that offer students a chanceto meet representatives from
these programs and find out first-hand what they have to offer.”
“The opportunities at the fairwill be good for resumes andcollege applications,” saidAdmission Possible student,Jonathon ‘J.T.’ Weedor, a juniorat Cooper High School inRobbinsdale. “The fair helped melearn about careers I might beinterested in.”
EDUCATIONSummer Enrichment Fair at the Blake School in Minneapolis
http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Page 11
Admission Possible Admission Possible student, Wa Yang, of Harding High School,
speaks with a representative at a fair.
SPPS approves 2009 summer school changes
Page 12 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
What the government's stimulus bill means to you
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The 2009 economic stimulus billPresident Barack Obama signed intolaw on February 17, 2009, is awhopper, not only in cost ($787billion) and length (1,070 pages), butalso in terms of the vast number ofspending and tax-relief programs ittouches - everything from multi-billion dollar infrastructureinvestments to business tax cuts tosmall increases in unemploymentbenefits.
Some provisions will take yearsto trickle down; others take effectalmost immediately. Here arehighlights of a few programs that
could impact you directly:Payroll tax credit. Workers will
receive $400 tax credits for both2009 and 2010 ($800 for marriedcouples, filing jointly). Unlike lastyear's tax rebates that weredistributed in lump sums, thesecredits will probably appear asreduced tax withholding onpaychecks, starting around June.
Credits gradually phase out forindividuals with annual adjustedgross income (AGI) over $75,000($150,000 for married couples).Self-employed people can claimtheir credit when filing 2009 taxreturns; but in the meantime they canreduce remaining 2009 estimated taxpayments accordingly.
Tax credit for retirees. Those
receiving Social Security, railroadretirement benefits, veteran's benefitsand government retiree benefits willget one-time $250 payments,beginning in May.
Unemployment relief.Unemployment insurance benefitsincrease by $25 a week andeligibility is extended to 46 weeks.The first $2,400 in 2009 benefits isnot subject to federal income tax.Also, food stamp payments to low-income families are increasing by13.6 percent.
Health insurance. For those laidoff between September 1, 2008, andDecember 31, 2009, who retain theirformer employer's health insuranceplan through COBRA, thegovernment will pay 65 percent of
the cost for up to nine months. Don'tworry if you didn't elect COBRAbefore the bill passed; your formeremployer must notify you of youreligibility and you'll then have up to60 days to enroll for coverage thatwill take effect as of March 1, 2009.
Home purchases. First-timehomebuyers qualify for a tax creditof up to $8,000 on homes purchasedbetween January 1, 2009, andDecember 1, 2009 (note: notDecember 31), gradually phasing outfor those with AGI over $75,000($150,000/married). Unlike lastyear's homebuyer credit, this onedoesn't have to be repaid over 15years, although you will forfeit thecredit and have to pay it back if yousell your home within three years.
New car buyers. If you buy anew (not used) car, light truck, RV ormotorcycle between February 17,2009, and December 31, 2009, youcan deduct state and local sales andexcise taxes on up to the first$49,500 of purchase price. This"above-the-line" deduction(meaning you can take it even if youdon't itemize deductions) graduallyphases out for AGI over $125,000($250,000/married).
Child tax credit. The incomethreshold to qualify for claiming thechild tax credit on federal incometaxes is being lowered in 2009 and2010 from $8,500 to $3,000. Thiswill allow more lower-incomefamilies to claim the credit, which isworth up to $1,000 per child.
Energy-efficient homeimprovements. The tax credit formaking certain energy-efficientimprovements to existing homes(such as central air conditioning,furnaces, windows, water heaters)increases from 10 percent to 30percent for 2009 and 2010, up to amaximum of $1,500.
It's probably a good idea toconsult with your tax preparer or afinancial advisor to make sure you'retaking full advantage of these newtax breaks.
Jason Alderman directs Visa'sfinancial education programs. Toparticipate in a free, online FinancialLiteracy and Education Summit go towww.practicalmoneyskills.com/summit2009.
Roundy's "Doing Our Part" reusable bag program expanded
Minneapolis libraries change to Hennepin County library's 952- area code
Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.launched "Doing Our Part," anew reusable bag program atPick 'n Save, Copps, Rainbowand Metro Market storesthroughout Wisconsin andMinnesota. Through "DoingOur Part," customers willreceive a 5-cent credit for eachRoundy's reusable bag brought
in during their shopping trip andused to pack their groceries. Theprogram has been expanded toinclude more reusable bags
Under the new program,customers shopping with thefollowing reusable bags areeligible for a 5 cent credit perbag used to pack their groceries:
• All Roundy's Reusable Bags • Similarly constructedreusable bags from otherretailers or entities • Canvas Bags • Market Baskets
The 5-cent credit does notapply to paper or plastic retailbags.
"We take our cues from ourcustomers," said RobertMariano, Roundy's chairmanand CEO. "Many of them whohave long made a practice ofshopping with reusable bagsasked if those bags could beincluded in our new program.We considered their requestsand decided to update our
program." Roundy's long standing
recycling program remains inplace. Customers still can bringback their paper or plastic bags,drop them in the recycling binsat any Pick 'n Save, Copps,Rainbow or Metro Market andwe, in turn, will make sure thosebags are recycled.
Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.is a leading grocer in theMidwest with nearly $4 billionin sales and 20,000 employees.For more information aboutRoundy's, visit the companywebsite at www.roundys.com.
As part of the ongoingconsolidation of the MinneapolisPublic and Hennepin Countylibrary systems, phone numbersfor Minneapolis libraries willchange to Hennepin CountyLibrary's 952-847-#### numbersthis year.
On March 30, RooseveltLibrary's phone number will bethe first to be changed.
Roosevelt's new main phonenumber will be 952-847-2700.Customers who dial the old phonenumber will automatically beforwarded to the new number.
The order of the changeoverwill be smallest library to largest.After Roosevelt, the order will be:Southeast, Webber Park,Northeast, Nokomis, LindenHills, Pierre Bottineau, Washburn,
Sumner, Walker, East Lake,Hosmer, Franklin, NorthRegional, and Central. New phonenumbers will be announced asthey become active.
The merger of the two librarysystems has providedopportunities to reduce overalloperating costs and increaseefficiencies by eliminatingduplicate technology systems,
such as the two websites, whichconverged into one on Jan. 1,2009. Work on merging the twopublic catalogs continues and isscheduled to be completed laterthis year. With one phone system,customers will be able to call onenumber and be transferredanywhere in the 41-librarysystem. Customers can expect tohear standardized voice
messaging at the libraries andstaff will be able to communicatemore easily with each other.
There will be otherimprovements to libraries inMinneapolis as the networkconsolidation continues,including: black-and-white publicprinters will be replaced withcolor printers, as is standard inmost Hennepin County libraries,
and Roosevelt and Webber Parklibraries will receive self checkoutmachines. Pierre BottineauLibrary's self checkout machinewill be replaced.
For more information:www.hclib.org.
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Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant LiquidsImprovements Phase 1, Shakopee, MinnesotaOwner: Metropolitan Council EnvironmentalServices. Bids are due in our office no laterthan: April 22, 2009, 2:00 p.m. If you areinterested in bidding this project or needassistance in preparing your bids, pleasecontact our office: Madsen-JohnsonCorporation, General Contractors, PO Box486, Hudson, WI 54016
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By Jason Alderman
SPORTS
As the basketball season comesto a close, so does the slowmarch to the end of the schoolyear. The end of the school yearmeans the beginning of youradult life if you are a high schoolsenior. Knowing how absolutelyun-adult that most sensiblehuman beings are, and should be,at the age of 18, colleges anduniversities just might be the
greatest invention in the historyof mankind. The next greatestinvention was collegiate sportsfor dummies like me to get thelast remnants of “I’m going to bea professional football player”out of my system. Fortunately Isaw more people in college whowanted to be nuclear scientists,lawyers, and teachers rather thanprofessional athletes. Manytimes it takes the collegeenvironment to help convert the
average jock into a person whocan comprehend the math andreality that says making it inprofessional sports is about aslikely as giving birth tooctuplets. Fortunately at thesame time that you get kicked in
the teeth with that reality, youalso get to transform into youradult body and enjoy the highintensity competition ofcollegiate sports.
Participating in high schoolsports was a blast, but collegiatesports introduces you to thenotion that sports, and “make-you-wanna-cry” hard workactually go together. For thelittle prima-donna track star thatI was, it was a great wake-up call
to have my teammates laugh atme because of how out of shapeI was. Between that and takingclasses which actually seemed tomake me smarter (high schoolclasses do, but like most kids Ididn’t pay attention), college putme on a much faster track tosuccess…not to mention simplymaking me a better person.
I mention all of this becausethis area of the country strikesme as a goldmine for kids whoare halfway good at sports,wanna keep playing sports for afew more years, and don’t wantto be 18 with a 40 hour per weekjob. College isn’t for everyone,but I’m glad I had a five-yearbreak between high schoolgraduation and a real job. Thatscript worked out real well.
The college scene inSouthern California was about asconfusing, competitive, andimpersonal as 5 o’clock traffic indowntown Minneapolis. Thus,the good-naturedcommunications I had withschools in the Midwest made mewant to seek these more invitingpastures.
There seems to be as manycolleges in Minnesota as thereare lakes. For young athletesthere are so many talented sportsprograms, and genuinely helpfulathletic departments at thoseschools, that the path to collegein Minnesota can be about assmooth as it comes.
Minnesota has a history ofbeing a place where higher
education is celebrated andhighly encouraged. For thatreason it is pretty muchunacceptable for a young personin Minnesota to not takeadvantage of the many goldmines that sit before them. Foryoung athletes it is even moreunacceptable because the minutethat you contact a college coachand tell them you are a decentathlete and are interested in theirschool, is the same minute thatyou will have someone at thatschool who will find somescholarships, grants, waivers,loans, or rich uncles to pay foryou to play at their school. Can’tfind a school in Minnesota? Thesame wealth of genuinely coolschools is available in every statethat Minnesota touches, and thatis perfect for kids who want toleave home, but be close enoughto come home and eat when youget sick of dorm food.Considering the general lack ofinterest, for most people, at thethought of living in places likeIowa or South Dakota, you canguess how many strings they willpull to get a child of color to stepfoot on their college campuses.
With President Obama inoffice, there should be arenaissance in our communitiesthat stresses higher educationlike never before. The processseems scary to some, but forthose kids with a little wiggle totheir dribble on the court, orshake to their bake on the field,you have a special leg up ingetting there. Look up theschool, look up the coach, pickup the phone. It’s as simple asthat.
From now until the end of theschool year this column willfocus heavily on stories aboutyoung athletes going to college.We will speak with athletes andcoaches from both the highschool side, as well as thecollegiate side. Please make sureto pass the articles on to all agesof youth…even just in passingon our neighborhood streetcorners.
http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Page 13
The North High Girls Basketballteam brought to their school andcommunity far more than the ClassAAA second place trophy. No teamin the state’s history has courted astarting lineup of three eighth gradersplus two on the roster. The dedicationand commitment of the entire teamand coaching added to theiroutstanding efforts and broughtvictory over Grand Rapids in the firstround, 61-33. This game wasfollowed by a high-intensity gamewhich yielded a win over NewPrague, 44-43 –the game wasdecided with 00.7 seconds remainingon a Trojans missed free throw. Ahard surge by St. Michael-Albertvillein the final moments of the gameagainst the Lady Polars gave them a63-50 edge and earned them the statethe title and North High secondplace.
With hope and expectation,North High School Athletic DirectorJess Buszta promised the studentbody at a rally four more years ofoutstanding achievement. CoachFaith Patterson, noting the swell ofreporters after each tournamentgame, was faced with a commonquestion about the uniqueness of thisteam in her history at North. She saidthat in every dimension of their timetogether, both on and off the court,that the team functioned like a familymore than any other with a swell ofsupport shown by parents and manyfans from the community throughoutthe tournament.
North High School principalEllen Stewart was compelled to addanother unmatched fact intournament history which could onlybe claimed by Faith and JohnPatterson. Under their leadership, thePolars are the only team to havemade nine trips to the Girls StateHigh School Basketball Tournamentplay.
THERE SEEMS TO BE AS MANY COLLEGESIN MINNESOTA AS THERE ARE LAKES
Nolan CramerFront left: Chelsey McGee. Back: L to R Allina Starr, Tyseanna
Johnson, Sade Chatman, Talayiah Rich
Nolan CramerThe North High 2009 Lady Polars Basketball team
North High Girls basketballBy Nolan Cramer
Page 14 • March 30 - April 5, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com
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