Insight News ::: 3.21.11

INSIGHT NEWS March 21 - March 27, 2011 • MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 12 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Reading and Math Corps looking for tutors for 2011 - 2012

Harvest Preparatory 3rd grade class pictured clockwise: Jasmine Davis, teacher - Ms.Jihan Burdah, Mariah Watley, Mrs. Jean Sanders, Alonzia Shedd, Francis Paygar, Rasheeda Sistrunck (back of head) and Tierrinie Favors.

Suluki Fardan

Community mobilizes to support student success

By Ivan B. Phifer, Staff Writer The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are the state tests that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards. The MCAs are required by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The reading and mathematics tests are used to determine whether schools and districts have made

adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward all students being proficient in 2014.

Science tests are required by ESEA but are not included in AYP calculations.

According to the recent MCA scores for the year of 2010, African Americans test the lowest in reading, math and science, despite the 2.4% increase in math and 0.4% increase in reading.

Eric Mahmoud, President and CoFounder of Seed Academy/Harvest Preparatory School, in collaboration with Harvest Prep parent Louis King, is

working with KMOJ’s Kevin Quarles, Urban Mass Media’s Pete Rhodes, and Insight News’ Al McFarlane, to collectively spread the word about the MCA test. They want to make sure children in our community are prepared and ready to succeed at Harvest Prep and other schools as well.

Seed Academy/Harvest Preparatory School is the only accredited fulltime, African-centered pre-school and elementary school in the state of Minnesota. It was founded in 1985 by

Ella Mahmoud, wife of Eric Mahmoud.

Starting as a daycare for infants and toddlers, it grew into a full-day , licensed pre-school program for children ages 33 months to 5 years. Seed Academy now serves approximately 150 children on two campuses.

Since its inception in 1992, Harvest Preparatory enrollment has increased from 24 to over 325 K–6 students.

PREP TURN TO 8

Responding to an increasing need to help Minnesota children with reading and math, two AmeriCorps programs are recruiting more than 900 tutors across the state – their largest effort ever. One out of every four Minnesota third graders does not read at grade level, and more than 40 percent of the state’s eighth graders do not meet math proficiency standards.

In response, Minnesota Reading Corps, one of the largest AmeriCorps programs in the country, is about to get even larger as it works to recruit more than 800 tutors for the 2011-2012 school year, up from 670 this year. Minnesota Math Corps, now in its third year, is set to double in size, from 50 to 100.

Minnesota Reading Corps, a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader by the end of 3rd grade, places AmeriCorps tutors in preschool and elementary schools to implement researchedbased early-literacy instruction efforts to help struggling readers.

Full-time and part-time positions will be available in locations around the state, including elementary schools, Head Start programs, community preschools, and ECFE classrooms. Since 2003, the program has worked with more than 25,000 children.

TUTORS TURN TO 6

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien

Reporting from earthquake epicenter state of affairs in the crippled region.

Kam Williams: Hey Soledad, thanks so much for the time.

Soledad O’Brien: No problem, Kam.

Soledad O’Brien

By Kam Williams CNN’s Soledad O’Brien has staked her career on reporting breaking news from domestic disasters like Hurricane Katrina as well as on location at international hotspots ranging from the sites of the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict to the terrorist attacks in London to the tsunami in Thailand. She has also hosted a number of critically-acclaimed documentaries for the news network, including “Black in

Junghun Park / CNN

America,” “Latino in America,” “Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination,” “Pictures Don’t Lie,” and the upcoming “Muslims in America,” to name a few.

Peripatetic Soledad is currently, where else, but in Japan, where she is covering the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown which have devastated the country. She was gracious enough to grant me an exclusive interview from the midst of the disaster, checking in by cell to share her eyewitness perspective of the

Beating the odds, again

Minneapolis GED student defies the odds

PAGE 4

KW: I told my readers I’d be interviewing you, so let me get right to their questions.

Tracy Ertl asks: Do you worry about being exposed to nuclear radiation? I know that isn’t a sophisticated question, but there isn’t a person out there watching your coverage who is not wondering what I just asked.

SO: No, I don’t worry. We’re careful. We don’t stand downwind. We haven’t been hanging out near the reactors in question, etcetera, etcetera.

And there is a great deal of constant concern at very high levels about where every single person on our team is at any moment. So, we don’t go anywhere blindly without a lot of thought or without taking the proper precautions. Right now, I’m up in the North, way out of the range. Safety’s always in the back of your mind whenever you’re reporting from a potentially-dangerous location which is pretty much

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Aesthetics

Karen Charles launches Threads Dance Project

PAGE 5

Sueann Carwell next Sunday returns home to Minneapolis for a rare performance and special CD release party at the Dakota Jazz Club. Her voice has enthralled audiences and seasoned performers, ever since she started winning local talent shows in Minneapolis at the age of 15.

A rare talent, she has the voice to carry any genre of music—funk, R&B, pop, jazz, to blues, her voice carries the listener

to the highs and lows of life with a depth and richness that is unparalleled.

She will be joined onstage by P-Funk members Steve Boyd, Michael Hampton, Frankie “Kash” Waddy, Lige Curry, and Danny Bedrosian. Backing Vocalist will include Chantel Winn, and Sueann’s brother, Carl Carwell, another

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Photographer: Ricky Clay, Photo editing and CD artwork: Dan Migger, Noiseland Industries

Lifestyle

Thou shalt not lie: Learning life’s lessons

PAGE 8

Sports

The Heat will likely re-ignite

PAGE 12

Page 2 • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Insight News

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Redistricting advisory group defines political power In 2010, Minneapolis voters authorized the creation of new boundaries for the city’s thirteen wards and the Park Board’s six districts to a Redistricting Group made up of the Charter Commission and an appointed Advisory Group.

The Charter Commission is now soliciting applications for the Advisory Group.

The application deadline to join the Redistricting Advisory Group is March 25, 2011.

Redistricting happens every ten years, following

the U.S. Census, and for interested residents there is a new opportunity to play an important role in the redistricting process that’s about to start.

Redistricting is an important process, because

having districts with equal populations helps ensure there is fair representation no matter where you live.

The Charter Commission seeks applicants who will bring diversity to the Redistricting Group, are active citizens,

have knowledge of the many communities within the city, and will serve on a nonpartisan basis.

However, while Advisory Group members are expected to participate in a nonpartisan manner, current or past involvement in political

party activities does not disqualify an applicant from service.

The job description and application form are posted on the Charter Commission’s website at www.ci.minneapolis. mn.us/charter-commission.

Study calls civil rights commission ineffective

Fund, says, “The commission of the 21st century can’t be the commission we had 50 years

ago.”

And, Mary Frances Berry, a former chair of the commission, says the advisory

panel is not worth preserving in its current form. “It is sort of useless, to tell you the truth.

What is it good for?” asks Berry, a history professor at the University of Pennsylvania. “I

don’t see any change occurring until the statute is changed.”

WASHINGTON-America’s Wire released a story last week discussing the ineffectiveness of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, with some critics contending that the once influential commission needs significant structural changes to regain its past glory.

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Kenneth J. Cooper reports that the commission has been largely ineffective in addressing civil rights issues, even with the recent addition of three Democratic members.

Appointees of former President George W. Bush serve as the panel’s chairman and staff director and Bush or Republican congressional leaders chose a majority of its members.

With critics pressing for adjustments, Wade Henderson, president and chief executive officer of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference

Japan From 2 every story we’re covering here. But if I were really worried about it, I’d get on a plane and go home.

KW: Well according to attorney Bernadette Beekman, some journalists have been called back because of aftershocks and the escalating danger of radiation.

SO: Called back by CNN? I haven’t heard about anybody being called back by this network. That doesn’t make sense, honestly.

Anyone who’s covered an earthquake knows that you’re going to have aftershocks. Although I still find them absolutely terrifying, you know you’re going to experience them if you visit an area that’s just experienced some substantial seismic activity. But in every disaster I’ve covered, CNN has quite frankly always been great. They’ll say, “Listen, anybody who wants to go, can go,” if there’s a sense that a story might be emotionallydevastating, physicallygrueling, very challenging or just plain scary. There are certain stories I won’t cover, like wars. That’s where I draw a line. But no one I know has been called back.

KW: Wesley Derbyshire asks: What are the mid to longterm estimates on the range of danger from the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station? How far has the immediate evacuation zone been extended?

SO: We have a team of experts who are in the business of calculating that, not just for our on-air coverage, but also for all the journalists. No one is taking this lightly and there are some feverish email exchanges going back-andforth among us. My strategy is to avoid the affected area. I’m not near it.

KW: Steve Gertz asks: Are Japanese people allowed by their society to cry and mourn openly in the way that we are in Western culture?

Are there mental health professionals available to treat post-traumatic stress and other mental health issues?

SO: Absolutely! I’ve seen places set up for victims at evacuation centers where they’re dealing with the first wave of help which is usually food, water and a place to sleep. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if there are also going to be mental health facilities, because they’re set up similarly to many other organized disaster situations

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Insight News • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Page 3

BUSINESS INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlane Bobby Rankin Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

District exceeds business goals The Minneapolis Public Schools Minority, Women and Diverse Business Participation Oversight Committee (MWDB-POC) on March 10 announced the participation of women and diverse business partners for the new MPS Educational Service Center (ESC) surpassed the 25 percent goal by 20 percent, raising participation to nearly half of all business partners.

Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) proposal evaluations and contract awards are ongoing. Currently, minorityand women-owned businesses account for 45 percent of business partners and approximately $7.1 million of the $15.8 million dollars procured.

Minority workers account for 45 percent of the workforce, surpassing the goal by 20 percent; women workers

account for five percent of the workforce, achieving the contract goal.

“We are extremely pleased to meet and surpass the participation goals of diverse businesses and workers in the development of the Educational Service Center on West Broadway in north Minneapolis,” said James Burroughs, director of the MPS Office of Equity and Diversity.

“Our hope is that this project will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and stability for the community in our new neighborhood.”

Mortenson/Legacy and Thor, the development and construction firms for the new ESC, are proven leaders in the field of workforce diversity with experience in engaging community organizations and

minority- and women-owned business associations in order to increase opportunities. Mortenson provides monthly reports to MPS on the performance of a community participation program in maximizing the use of WMBEs and employing women and minority workers in the construction of the ESC. The Minneapolis Board of Education in October 2010 established the MWDB-POC for the construction of the new ESC as part of a policy implemented in fall 2010 to promote businesses owned and operated by minorities, women and diverse communities in school district procurement and contracts for goods and services.

The policy is a proactive effort of MPS to partner with and foster economic development in Minneapolis.

The committee is composed of five voting members and two Minneapolis school board members. Committee members include Velma Korbel, Director, City of Minneapolis, Civil Rights Department; Luz Maria Frias, Director, City of St. Paul, Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Department; Craig Taylor, Director, Office of Business and Community Economic Development, University of Minnesota; Ron Hick, designee of the Office of Councilmember Don Samuels; and Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr., Shiloh Temple International Ministries. Board of Education members Alberto Monserrate and Rebecca Gagnon are non-voting members of the committee.

The MWDB-POC provides external review to ensure that

File photo

James C. Burroughs II

project goals for minority women and diverse business participation are met during the construction of the ESC. The committee will meet four times per year until the project is completed. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for June 2011.

Job routine can bring rewards Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com This is going to be the most boring article in the paper today. And worth it.

Dali has been complaining lately. She says she is easily distracted, catching herself

gazing out the window, taking longer smoke breaks and fighting back the yawns all afternoon. Dali likes her job – is glad to have it – but some days it’s hard to see past the daily grind to know where her hard work will take her.

Most jobs involve some level of routine. Accountants know the routines of monthend; major league pitchers know practice makes perfect.

If Dali is feeling a little ennui in her job, it might be that she is reasonably good at it, and the

work no longer demands a high level of attention.

The key to keeping your days interesting and yourself awake is to track and measure your activity.

How many invoices have you reconciled?

How many pitches have you thrown? How many pizzas have you delivered today?

I’m a big fan of scoreboards.

For Dali, we created a scoreboard that tracked her daily numbers, just as they are right now. Then we imagined the upside of

expanding on the routine she has already created for herself.

Think: better, smarter, faster.

Can she discipline herself to reach hourly goals which become daily achievements?

If the routine is good and the scoreboard is good, achieving more is simply a matter of staying where she is, having the discipline to do one more round before she takes that break, or adding one more activity before she even thinks about the spring weather outside.

Boredom can be a reward.

It allows you to step up your activity level and challenge yourself to become more engaged in your work. The routine is intact, but now your attention is focused and your aim is to stretch yourself, to reach bigger goals and to attain the rewards that are waiting for you.

Julie Desmond is a recruiter with Specialized Recruiting Group in Edina, MN. Write to Julie@insightnews.com.

IRS offers tax help at Minneapolis office The IRS office in Minneapolis located at 250 Marquette Avenue will be open on Saturday, March 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help taxpayers who may not be able to visit an IRS office during weekday business hours.

On Saturday, March 26, the IRS will provide free assistance to taxpayers who need help getting information required to file their tax returns as well as help with account questions, such as a tax balance due or audit issues. In addition, help preparing tax forms will be available for people with incomes of $49,000 or less and on a first-come, firstserved basis.

“Taxpayers needing assistance preparing their tax returns should bring all relevant documents with them,” said Sue Hales, IRS Spokeswoman.

Documents needed include: Valid driver’s license or photo identification (self & spouse, if applicable)

Social Security cards for all persons listed on the return Dates of birth for all persons listed on the return All income statements: Forms W-2, 1099, Social Security, Unemployment, or other benefits

statements, self-employment records and any documents showing taxes withheld Dependent child care information: payee’s name, address and SSN or TIN Proof of account at financial

institution for direct debit or deposit (e.g. cancelled / voided check or bank statement) Prior year tax return (if available) Any other pertinent documents or papers

The IRS is offering assistance on Saturday, March 26 at more than 90 locations nationwide, including Minneapolis.

A complete list of Open House locations is available on the IRS Web site at www.IRS.gov.

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Page 4 • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Insight News

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EDUCATION Minneapolis GED student defies the odds Someone once shared this anonymous saying with me; “A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn.” Marie Bounds, Minneapolis GED student, reminds me often that she did not fail to make the turn. Marie first enrolled in the Minneapolis Northside Adult Basic Education program in November 2010. She has attended class almost every day since.

Marie is a high school dropout. When asked why she dropped out, she ponders for a moment and then explains, “You know, I didn’t receive any support from my family. I was busy babysitting for cousins and helping in other ways during the day. No one bothered to come to events at school. I became discouraged. I simply lost the will to try.” Twenty-eight years later, the pain of not graduating is still visible on Marie’s face.

At eighteen, Marie started

Courtesy of Norhtside Adult Basic Education

Marie Bounds

drinking. She thought she was just drinking to have fun and be sociable. Drinking was a way of life in her family and she didn’t think her drinking was a problem. Married at twentythree to a man she describes as a functional alcoholic, she finds it ironic that he gave her the ultimatum: stop drinking or give up the marriage. To save the marriage, she checked herself into a 5-day treatment program.

“Treatment just didn’t work for me. The problem wasn’t with the treatment program, I simply wasn’t ready. I was deep in denial.” Marie was an alcoholic for over 28 years.

One year ago, Marie took a day off from drinking. Her nine-year old daughter looked her straight in the eyes and said, “Mom, I like you so much better this way.” Her gaze never left her mother’s eyes.

Overwhelmed with shame and grief, in that very moment Marie decided not to

have a drink again. Over a year sober, Marie says she’s slowly rebuilding her life and working toward becoming the parent she never had. Soon thereafter she enrolled in a program called Connecting Parents to Educational Opportunities (CPEO), a new parent program in the Minneapolis School District that helps parents become equal partners in their child’s education. When she graduated from this program, she wanted to keep the momentum going.

This past November, Marie enrolled in the Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Basic Education program located in North High School in North Minneapolis. While she is intent on getting her GED, she recognizes the importance of setting other goals as well. She’s thinking about community college, a career and training program, building a better life for her daughter and

herself and staying sober—one day at a time. These are new hopes and dreams for Marie.

She credits, among others, her teachers at the Northside Adult Basic Education program for customizing a program that meets her unique education needs. This week Marie graduated from her Power Reading class, an intensive adult reading initiative aimed to help students just like Marie. Though the road to making up for lost time at school feels long to her some days, she knows the effort is well worth it. As she reminds me; “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

(Winston Churchill) If you are an adult and thinking about returning to school, call 612-668-1863 (Northside Adult Basic Education) or 612-6683800 (Southside Adult Basic Education) to learn how to register for free day and evening classes.

Muhammad selected for educational exchange in China Aamina Muhammad, a senior studying dance at the Arts High School at Perpich Center in Golden Valley, has been selected to go to Luoyang, China for a unique two-week educational and cultural exchange.

Aamina, 18, daughter of Fatima Muhammad, will be part of a group of eight students and two teachers who will represent the Perpich Center for Arts Education.

The students will attend high school and will live in a residential dorm at Luoyang #1 Senior High School and will spend weekends in home stays with local Chinese host families.

“This will be a great experience,” Aamina said. “I am looking forward to experiencing an ancient culture in China.

I expect that the people there will have great curiosity about

my multi- cultural background, and I am excited about sharing my American experience with them.” The students depart on March 24th.

Aamina her dance lessons at age three, and has devoted thousands of hours developing as an extraordinary dancer and choreographer. Perpich Center Dance Instructor Mary Harding calls Aamina “the complete package” because of her strengths as an artist, academic achiever and committed community volunteer.

“She is mature, creative and hardworking,” Harding said.

“She is a valued member of the dance program and is sought after for her leadership skills.

She brought many strengths with her from her home school, Minneapolis North High School and the FAIR School. Last year, teachers at her middle school

requested that Aamina help lead a racism discussion there.”

Strong in academics, Aamina splits her time between classes at the Arts High School at MCTC, where she is a PSEO student, involvement in student government at the Arts High School, and volunteers as a kindergarten tutor and at the YMCA through the Youth Advisory Council.

Aamina has earned numerous awards and honors, including being the National Youth Leaders Conference Scholar, and the recipient of the Best Buy@15 Scholarship and the US Bank Scholarship.

Next year, Aamina will attend Columbia College in Chicago, where she will major in public relations and fashion studies. Her career goal is to be a fashion publicist.

Photos courtesy Peripich Center for the Arts

Left: Aamina Muhammad Top: Perpich delegation that is China-bound

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AESTHETICS Karen Charles launches Threads Dance Project Remember how it feels to experience love for the first time, or be disillusioned by the violence we experience daily. Now an ensemble of 14 dancers uses contemporary ballet to explore the human emotions of love, despair and hope. Threads Dance Project’s inaugural performance ‘…But the greatest of these is love’ will premiere at The Lab Theater in Minneapolis’ Warehouse District for two performances April 1–2, 2011 at 8 pm.

Music ranging from Donny Hathaway to Vitamin String Quartet is used to illuminate the beauty and tragedy of the human condition; reminding audiences that despite differences in appearance and experience, there are common threads that bind us all.

Go and celebrate the joy of knowing that with every new day a new opportunity comes to love and live a better life.

“I am delighted to bring this original production to the stage” said Threads Dance Project founder Karen Charles. “It is a powerful and timely look at the commonality we all share

in our day-to-day lives. Joy, sorrow, love and loss bind us all, no matter our politics, race, religion, gender or sexuality or lot in life, we’re all in this together.”

A whole new audience experience is also promised in the form of Audiences Talking About Dance (ATAD).

“ATAD brings a whole new dimension to the audience experience,” explained Charles.

“Choreographers rarely receive constructive feedback from their audiences.

The applause is typically our only barometer. The ATAD survey will be a fun and informative addition to our inaugural performance.”

Tickets for the April 1–2 performances of “…But the greatest of these is love” may be purchased online at www. thelabtheter.org. The Lab Theater is located at 700 North First Street in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, 612-333-7977.

Threads Dance Project Ensemble

Photos by Erik Saulitis

Page 6 • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Insight News

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HEALTH Breakthrough Hepatitis C cure; HIV advances

By Healthy Living News

better utilize what’s inside the HIV antiviral toolbox.

Boston—Chilly Boston temperatures and a freshly fallen snow couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of attendees at this year’s Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). The meeting revealed important data on HIV prevention and treatment. There was also a significant breakthrough in curing another viral infection, hepatitis C. In addition, there was promising early data on an experimental gene therapy procedure that could lead to new ways of controlling, and perhaps someday, even curing HIV infection. Yet in a meeting that provided something useful and promising for everyone, it also left unanswered questions.

Antiviral Tools: Breakthroughs and New Approaches One way to use what’s inside that toolbox, is during primary infection (just after becoming HIV infected). Studies have shown that a relatively short course of antivirals during primary infection can lower the long-term viral load set-point, slowing down disease progression toward AIDS. Marlous Grijsen presented data showing that lowering the set point with a 24 week course of antivirals can also delay the need to go on them by two years. At a press conference Marty Markowitz and conference John Coffin commented on Grijsen’s data. To take advantage of this early treatment benefit they emphasized the importance of test and treat during primary infection and that it needs to be put into wider practice. Doing so could postpone going on HIV drugs and the later drug toxicities and side effects, as well as the overall cost of treatment.

Whatever the course of treatment, it looks as if there is no added advantage in suppressing HIV with five drugs instead of three. A disappointed Marty Markowitz had hoped to prove that low-level HIV replication could be stopped using more drugs against different viral targets. But although those on the five drug regimen became undetectable sooner, there was no overall added reduction in viral load or differences in t-cells. The bright side? There will be no shift toward a standardized five drug regimen which will also keep side effects and drug costs down. Although the results probably won’t sway skeptics and conspiracy theorists who believe the HIV epidemic is a massively contrived plot to profit drug companies.

One clear highlight at this year’s CROI was the breakthrough on treating HIV/HCV coinfection. The new protease inhibitor telaprevir (TVR) is the first of several that will treat hepatitis C (HCV). When used in combination with standard treatment, the drug can actually cure HCV in about 70% of HIV/ HVC co-infected individuals.

A previously released study showed a 75% cure rate in just HCV infected individuals. Many in both studies were chronically infected by HCV yet were still able to be cured. At a press conference excited researchers

Prevention: A Well Stocked Toolbox Until recently the tools in the HIV prevention toolbox have included condoms, clean needles and viral suppressive HIV drugs.

But looking back, last year may be viewed as a turning point.

Significant advances in HIV prevention were seen in vaccine research and new pills and gels for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.

Furthermore, data published late in 2011 confirmed that after three years, the now famous Berlin Patient was in fact cured of HIV. This year there were no vaccine breakthroughs at CROI, but a new phase of perfecting and planning the use of other prevention tools and advances, has begun. The hope is that doing so can at last put an end to the HIV pandemic.

Presentations at CROI that the drug Truvada can prevent HIV infection (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or oral PrEP) confirmed that to some degree it works, at least in a clinical trial setting. How to make it work in a real world setting is now the challenge at hand. Already the CDC has produced preliminary guidelines on oral PrEP as studies like the open-label, non-placebo controlled study run their course.

Those studies will take several years, however. In the meantime, public health experts are debating using oral PrEP outside a clinical trial setting now. It’s possible that even before the next set of trials end the FDA will change Truvada’s labeling to include oral PrEP, at least so members of at risk communities can get the drug prescribed. Yet there were concerns and questions at CROI

stock.xchng(personalfx)

about it being used before its best known how to.

One concern is developing drug resistance in those who take PrEP just after they have unknowingly become HIV infected. PrEP study data showed this still a possibility, especially when so many infected with HIV are on a Truvada regimen. One CROI study, presented by Ume Abbas of the Cleveland Clinic, examined the resistance risks verse the benefits of oral PrEP. It used a mathematical model of large scale distribution of oral PREP to uninfected South Africans along with distribution of an HIV Truvada antiviral regimen for infected ones. The model showed that doing both at once would prevent 838,860 new infections over 10 years and result in only 3300 cases of drug resistance. By comparison, either an antiviral or oral PrEP distribution alone would have far less success.

Other researchers at CROI noted a paper recently published in PNAS demonstrating widespread use of oral PrEP would actually lead to less all-around HIV drug resistance. That computer model showed, in short, the following: Access to oral PrEP = fewer HIV infections = fewer on antivirals = less antiviral resistance.

Still, there is the issue of healthy, uninfected people taking HIV drugs. According to several CROI presentations on oral PrEP, one side effect of regularly taking Truvada was slight bone density loss. Truvada has some mild

kidney related toxicities as well.

And what about the cost? At $36 a day, how many people can afford to take Truvada every day? What’s more, will they even need to? The new CDC guidelines mention that intermittent oral PrEP and “disco dosing” are not yet recommended as they have not been studied in clinical trials. Intermittent oral PrEP trials are underway though.

The public relations obstacles for oral PrEP were also discussed at a PrEP strategy meeting at Boston’s Fenway Health Center.

One participant wondered whether people who are already distrusting of drug companies will blithely take oral PrEP, especially when HIV drugs like Truvada are widely, and justifiably, thought of as having side effects.

Data was also presented on Community Viral Load (CVL).

CVL is a measure of HIV viral load from either a location, a demographic group, or patients of a specific clinic. Previous studies have shown that a high Community Viral Load means that community has higher rates of HIV transmissions.

Data from several U.S. cities showed that when those in high CVL communities are tested and then treated, rates of HIV infections decrease, that “those that get measured, get managed,” according to CVL researcher Moupalis Das. For CVL testand-treat to work, however, more people in these communities need to realize they are at risk and get tested. The CDC’s George

Gillet revealed some hurdles in making that happen. His study examined two hotbeds of the epidemic, Black and Latino men seeking sex with men.

The study revealed participants sought partners within their own ethnicity or race, mistakenly believing doing so lessened the risk of exposure to HIV. The study also revealed that as members of high risk groups the men did not receive HIV testing through their regular care providers.

Yet despite all the stumbling blocks and unanswered questions at CROI, there was optimism.

Optimism that was also fueled by presentations on male circumcision and prevention gels, including one that stops anal transmission. Pile on recent advances in vaccines and the prevention tool box begins to look pretty well stocked. At the moment, however, none of these new or even old prevention tools provide 100% protection against HIV (some provide even less than 50% protection). Yet using them all together could result in impressive advances in stopping the HIV pandemic. As Robert Grant of the Gladstone Institute put it, “there are many new opportunities available, so now is the moment to invest in them.” Thus discussion was rife with calls for a race to the moon commitment to end the pandemic that made CROI seem like a NASA meeting. And there was also good news on the growing size, quality, and new ways to

actually sanctioned the use of the C word (“cure”) by journalists.

FDA approval of TVR is expected sometime this spring. Other HCV protease inhibitors and later, HCV polymerase inhibitors, will begin to come out regularly after TVR’s approval. That means even greater improvements in HCV treatment are not far off.

And speaking of cures, with the recent data confirming that the Berlin Patient is cured of HIV, the quest to wipe it out in everyone else infected seems to have become, along with an HIV vaccine, a holy grail of HIV research. Presentations at CROI in particular showed the grail may be a little closer at hand. Paula Cannon’s team will use HIV infected lymphoma patients to repeat the success of the Berlin Patient. That requires an immune system wipe-out, or ablation procedure, and bone marrow transplant that can have high mortality. So, instead, Jay Lalezari of Quest is attempting a “Berlin Patient Lite” gene therapy approach. Lalezari’s study hopes to instill and mimic the natural protection HIV long term nonprogressors have against the virus.

His partial immune makeover involves taking out a subject’s t-cells and altering them to stop expressing the cell receptor CCR5 that HIV uses to enter the cells.

The cells are then re-infused back into subjects. Then hopefully the new cells will dominate as the older HIV vulnerable cells die or are killed by HIV. When the old cells are gone, HIV, in theory, will not be able to replicate and overtime it will just fade away.

The early data on the six study subjects who received the altered cells showed that five have already had increases in t-cell counts of around 200. It remains to be seen if these cells are both functional and impervious to HIV. And as the study subjects remain on HIV meds it will be a while to see if the altered cells control or eliminate HIV. At a press conference the extremely cautious researchers downplayed the significance of the clinical data.

It should also be noted that some types of HIV use other receptors like CCR4 to enter t-cells. Other researchers at CROI did present data on altering cells so that they don’t express these receptors. But despite all these hopeful efforts and the confirmation of the cured Berlin patient, a cure for everyone with HIV is still a ways off.

Healthy Living: Easy tips to help you de-stress (StatePoint) Stress is on the rise nationwide, and experts say it’s endangering our physical and emotional health.

Approximately three-quarters of Americans say they experience chronic stress at unhealthy levels, putting them at risk for heart disease, diabetes and depression, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2010 “Stress in America” survey.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to

take time to de-stress through such techniques as exercise, meditation and proper nutrition.

Meditate To Unwind Scheduling time during your week to unwind will help you access your self-confidence and make better life choices.

“Many experts believe in the healing powers of meditation. It allows us to de-stress from our hectic, overscheduled lives,” says Ryuho Okawa, author of the new

book “The Next Great Awakening: A Spiritual Renaissance” and founder of the Happy Science spiritual movement, which has 12 million members in 70 countries.

“The real purpose of meditation is not just relaxing, but closing your physical eyes, and going into a state where you open your spiritual eyes.”

One form of mediation practiced and taught by Okawa focuses on teaching people how to enjoy solitude and silence. Once

ABUSED, NEGLECTED, AND MAYBE AWAY FROM HOME…

you stop the constant chattering in your busy mind, you can tap into a sense of peace and gain confidence in being alone. In the process you become more self-sufficient, since you will no longer be looking to others for confirmation of who you are.

Another method is called “Reflective Meditation,” where you look back at the events that took place in the past week, month, year, or your whole life.

Through self-reflection, you calm your mind and enter a state of deep relaxation. This meditation allows you to change your perspective from negative to positive and become happier and healthier.

Take Care of Yourself It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself when balancing work and family obligations.

Make sure to eat healthfully, instead of grabbing fast food or snacks on the run. Get proper nutrients from vegetables, fruits, protein and grains. When tension spikes, a balanced diet will help you stay calm.

Walk, run, dance or participate

Tutors Be a Child’s Voice in Court!

We need people who care about children caught in our child protection system. Consider becoming a volunteer child advocate for kids. Help children remain in safe & stable families. Free training & support are provided.

Minneapolis and St. Paul Trainings Begin in April PLEASE CALL FOR AN INFORMATION PACKET Dakota County (651) 554-6231

Hennepin County (612) 348-6824

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VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAMS

From 1 Minnesota Math Corps recruits and trains AmeriCorps tutors to provide extra support to students in 4th through 8th grade who are struggling with math. Tutors receive extensive training and are equipped with effective research-based math instruction methods. Math Corps has expanded each year since 2008 and expects to place 100 tutors in various schools for the 2011-2012 school year.

Applications for both programs are now being accepted for positions throughout the state, and are available at www.

MinnesotaReadingCorps.

Courtesy of StatePoint

in a favorite sport to work out tension. Physical activity can clear your mind and release endorphins that make you feel better.

Get proper sleep. Too little sleep can make you more stressed and too much can make you sluggish. It’s a balancing act.

Engage With The World Don’t spend all your time alone, indoors, stressing about life.

Enjoy natural sunlight and the great outdoors. Or spend more org and www.

MinnesotaMathCorps.org.

“I love seeing the pride the children show when they accomplish a goal. They work hard and it’s great to see them recognize and appreciate the pay-off,” says Laura Popowski, a Minnesota Reading Corps tutor at Northome School Elementary in Northome.

“Minnesota Reading Corps is a great opportunity to work with students in order to make a profound impact on their future.”

Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps tutors commit to 11 months of service that begins in August.

In addition to receiving valuable hands-on experience, tutors earn an education award

time with people who love you for yourself and who have upbeat outlooks about life. These people lift your spirits, help you have fun and even may help solve problems in your life.

“De-stressing is about more than just calming down our hectic lives,” emphasizes Okawa. “It’s about self-acceptance as well as unconditional love for others, because we are all struggling to better our lives.”

of up to $5,550 to pay for college or to pay back federal student loans, a modest living allowance and other benefits, including the option to transfer the award to a child or grandchild if the tutor is 55 or older.

“I believe that it’s critical for kids to be proficient in math. More importantly, I wanted to work one-on-one with middle school students so that I may be a role model and a guide to them,” says Hue Lieu, a Minnesota Math Corps tutor at Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet School in St. Paul. “I thoroughly enjoy the moment when the students’ faces light up because they know they have finally overcome a huge obstacle in their math journey.”

insightnews.com

Insight News • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Page 7

COMMENTARY The new Jim Crow: Drug convictions prevailing myth that “there is, of course, a colorblind explanation for all this: crime rates. Our prison population has exploded from about 300,000 to more than two million in a few short decades, it is said, because of rampant crime. We’re told that the reason so many Black and brown men find themselves

their time.

Alexander acknowledges that many people find this argument hard to believe in the “age of colorblindness.”

Many Americans wanted to see President Obama’s historic election as the final hopeful sign our nation has moved ‘past race’, and many believe

“Jarvious Cotton cannot vote.

Like his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and greatgreat-grandfather, he has been denied the right to participate in our electoral democracy...

Cotton’s great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather was beaten to death by the Ku Klux Klan for attempting to vote. His grandfather was prevented from voting by Klan intimidation. His father was barred from voting by poll taxes and literacy tests.

Today, Jarvious Cotton cannot vote because he, like many Black men in the United States, has been labeled a felon and is currently on parole.”

“Cotton’s story illustrates, in many respects, the old adage ‘The more things change, the more they remain the same’...

In the era of colorblindness, it is no longer socially permissible to use race, explicitly, as a justification for discrimination,

exclusion, and social contempt.

So we don’t. Rather than rely on race, we use our criminal justice system to label people of color ‘criminals’ and then engage in all the practices we supposedly left behind... Once you’re labeled a felon, the old forms of discrimination— employment discrimination, housing discrimination, denial of the right to vote, denial of educational opportunity, denial of food stamps and other public benefits, and exclusion from jury service—are suddenly legal. As a criminal, you have scarcely more rights, and arguably less respect, than a Black man living in Alabama at the height of Jim Crow. We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.”

So begins the introduction to legal scholar and former litigator Michelle Alexander’s extraordinary book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.

The New Jim Crow has been praised for documenting in compelling detail how the current historic levels of incarceration in the United States have disproportionately targeted communities of color and function as a means of controlling people of color, just as slavery and Jim Crow did in

the millions of other Black Americans who are imprisoned and disenfranchised are in that condition only because of individual bad choices. When we are confronted with the facts that our nation’s incarceration rates have quintupled during the last several decades and the United States has the largest prison population and imprisons the highest numbers of its minority population in the world, Alexander says many Americans simply accept the

behind bars and ushered into a permanent, second-class status is because they happen to be the bad guys.” But, as The New Jim Crow argues, the data show this is simply not true.

While incarceration may be rooted for some in poor individual choices, the glaring racial disparities in searches, arrests, convictions, and sentencing for the same crimes suggest our nation doesn’t treat everyone’s poor choices equally.

What has skyrocketed over the

Japan

care about you.” That message is what’s most important.

no power or water. So, all the residents are going to shelters.

From 2

KW: Harriet Pakula Teweles asks: Is there a possibility that Americans are becoming “tragedy weary,” and that it will be hard for you as a reporter on the ground to rekindle our willingness to contribute and help out yet another nation in truly earth-shattering, dire straits?

SO: No, I really don’t sense that. My job is to find important stories and to flesh them out in a way to make them relatable and bigger than the individuals I may be talking to. And if I do my job well, viewers won’t feel “tragedy weary.” You want to see tragedy weary? Come live here for a couple days. I’ll show you tragedy weary. The people I’ve been spending time with are completely tragedy weary. Why? Because when they wake up in the morning, they have to look for a place to go to the bathroom, then go fill buckets with water and scrounge for food to eat just to get through another day.

exist anymore. However, there are some cities where there are evacuation centers, so people won’t have to leave. They’ll be able to rebuild or have other options. But I do know that they’ve started shipping in family tents and structures for use as shelters in areas that were really hard-hit.

Child Watch

By Marian Wright Edelman

I’ve covered, where they make sure that people’s needs are being addressed, clearly including mental health issues.

But Steve’s other question about culture and society is interesting, because you do not see a lot of open weeping. I do believe that it’s a cultural thing here to be relatively quiet and to keep to yourself. In some other societies, you find people running up to the camera to share their stories, almost eager to feel like they’re speaking out to the world. I’ve already had some excellent opportunities to interview people since arriving, but Japan’s is a much more reserved culture, for sure.

KW: Both Steve and Bernadette want to know what you think they can do on an individual basis to aid the Japanese people most effectively?

People who live near the nuclear reactors have had to abandon everything. In so many instances in recent years, the world immediately reacts by a humanitarian response to a natural disaster, yet the goods or funds collected do not reach the intended beneficiaries due to politics or mismanagement.

SO: I’ve always been a big believer in finding a local charity that you like, read about, or that people you know have recommended, and help them, whether it’s the American Red Cross or somebody else. Just give what you can. The amount doesn’t matter. It’s about making the gesture of reaching out to your fellow human beings to let them know that we’re here to support them. That’s what a donation is. It’s a way of saying “We’re rooting for you and we

Sueann From 1 accomplished musician who was a former member of Earth, Wind, & Fire.

Carwell will be performing songs from her new blues album—Blues in My Sunshine—an inspiring, charismatic, authentic roots collaboration with renowned musician Jesse Johnson, the brilliant guitarist known for his involvement in history making music projects such as The Time.

Carwell has taken her stirring life experiences to create an album full of breathtaking soul, wonderful blues, and heartfelt gospel.

The tickets are $20 and the performance is on Sunday, March 27, at 7pm, at the Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis. For information and ticket order, call 612-332-1010. For more information on Sueann Carwell, www.sueanncarwell.com, or join the Sueann Carwell/Artist Fan Page on Facebook.com

KW: Rudy Lewis says that this disaster reminds him of New Orleans and Haiti. Will they be setting up tent cities as in Haiti? Or will they be shipping people to other parts of Japan for resettlement?

SO: That’s a really good question, Rudy. I’m sure there are plenty of people already relocated. But the scope of the damage varies. For instance, some towns are just gone.

In that case, the inhabitants who survived have to move because the village doesn’t

“What has skyrocketed over the years are not our nation’s crime rates—which have actually fallen below the international norm—but the number of drug convictions in the U.S.”

KW: Alan Gray asks: What did you learn about the Japanese or Japan that you didn’t know before?

SO: That’s an excellent question. Something that I’ve seen frequently is survivors stopping rescuers from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces who are searching for bodies to say “Thank you for doing good work,” or “Thank you for helping us.” It is a very polite society. Everybody thanks them for just being there.

Another thing I’ve witnessed is people who’ve lost everything and who are trying to hold themselves together come up to us and say, “We don’t know what to do next,” and ask us if we know anything. Sometimes, we in the media become a fount of information, so people become willing to talk to us because they want some help.

KW: Alan also asks: Are the Japanese opening their homes to people in need?

SO: That’s another really good question, Alan. Yes, I’ve been told about some folks who have taken in many homeless family and friends. But I haven’t seen it yet, because the places I’ve visited are so devastated.

Any homes still standing are inhabitable because there’s

KW: Judyth Piazza asks: What is the culture like during a disaster? Is it people helping people?

People helping themselves? People forming groups? Or people waiting for the government?

SO: All of the above, depending on the disaster. Human beings are different. Some rise to the challenge and become the heroes, and others fall and become the looters and the criminals.

KW:

Reverend

Florine

years are not our nation’s crime rates—which have actually fallen below the international norm—but the number of drug convictions in the U.S. as a result of our declared ‘War on Drugs’. Many people assume next that, of course, Black criminals are being incarcerated for drug crimes at record rates because they are the ones committing them.

In some states, Blacks comprise 80%90% of all drug offenders sent to prison. But, The New Jim Crow painstakingly outlines how media and political strategies manufactured the popular images of the War on Drugs as an assault on scary, violent Black male drug dealers, when in fact “[s]tudies show that people of all colors use and sell illegal drugs at remarkably similar rates. If there are significant differences in the surveys to be found, they frequently suggest that whites, particularly white youth, are more likely to engage in drug crime than people of color.” Meanwhile, as The New Jim Crow clearly shows, the dramatic increases in mandatory sentence lengths even for nonviolent offenses and the far-reaching consequences that come with being classified as a felon even after a sentence is completed have made Thompson says: I’m sure that it takes a huge amount of courage to be in Japan right now. Who or what is your source of faith and courage, Soledad. And what emotions do you feel walking through the wreckage there in Japan?

SO: I think the emotions are always the same. It’s a real sense of sadness and palpable loss. The scope of it is always overwhelming to me. And I’m always awed by the power of a natural disaster, say, to deposit a large boat on top of a building.

I’ve covered numerous tsunamis, yet I’m always stunned by something like that, no matter

incarceration today a historically punitive form of social control and social death—at exactly the same time as record numbers of African Americans are being confined.

This is how mass incarceration functions as the new Jim Crow, with predictably destructive results for Black communities and families.

For those of us concerned about our nation’s Cradle to Prison Pipeline® crisis, this latest danger threatens to overwhelm and destroy millions of our children’s futures. By identifying it and giving it a name, Michelle Alexander has placed a critical spotlight on a reality our nation can’t afford to deny. We ignore her careful research and stay silent about mass incarceration’s devastating effects at our own and our nation’s peril.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www. childrensdefense.org. how many times I’ve seen it before. For me, my motivation is to tell the people’s story well, and to be part of a team that’s parachuting in to do just that.

With the first few disasters I covered, I found myself asking, “Where is God?” “How does God allow small children to be swept out of their parents arms in the middle of a tsunami?” And thanks to shooting the special “Almighty Debt,” I had a chance to spend a lot a time with some pastors who really helped me a lot with sorting

JAPAN TURN TO 8

Page 8 • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE Thou shalt not lie: Learning life’s hard lessons Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com One of my three little blessings told a lie. In fact, my child told a series of lies over a couple of days before confessing, under threat of further negative consequences (I won’t go into further details; just use your imagine, then multiply by two).

It all started when the child took something without permission (a bunch of candy-she was authorized to take a few pieces).

Although that was bad enough, when we asked the child about it, there was complete (convincing) denial (imagine that!).

My husband and I saw the lying as an even greater offense than the first. We tried to get our young lawbreaker to understand an important lesson: if you develop a reputation as a thief and liar, then no one will trust you, nor will they believe what you say-even when you decide to tell the truth. While we recognize that all kids and adults lie to varying degrees, we want to help our young ones to learn the value of truthfulness and integrity, and practice living by those standards.

We explained it like this; a peaceful life follows the upright, but “high drama” follows liars and schemers (my added twist on a bible verse in Proverbs). We want the lesson to stick for all the children, as they watch their sibling being sentenced to the Daddy and Mama Correctional/

Japan From 7 that out. Now, I see it less as a question of faith, and more as just my job.

KW: Reverend Thompson also would like to know whether you had any reservations about leaving your family for such an unstable danger zone.

SO: You always have reservations.

I have reservations about leaving my family in general whenever I get on a plane to go anywhere.

That’s just the nature of the business. I think we take very calculated risks.

Another

stock.xchng(hisks)

Rehabilitation Program.

Through (usually) loving discipline, our goal is to help our entire family learn and do what’s right, humbly admit when they are wrong, willingly make amends, and always remember that they are valuable to God and to us. If you have a challenging situation with your kids, grandkids, (or with yourself), maybe our approach might inspire you with ideas of how to address and root out negative habits today in order to prevent larger issues later.

Confession—our wrongdoer had to confess to us. In addition,

tsunami could come through, and if you’re not prepared for it, you could be in trouble.

So, we prepare as much as is feasible, given the possibility of things going awry. But yeah, sometimes I find myself really missing my family. That’s the way it works.

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls: How does the devastation in Japan differ from the disaster in Banda Aceh, New Orleans or Haiti?

SO: It varies. What’s different here is that there’s a lot of debris scattered across rice paddies, which are big open spaces. You didn’t see that in Haiti or New Orleans. But I’ve also seen a lot of damage that

our child had to write a letter of apology, stating why the actions were wrong and unacceptable.

Next, our offending child was taken to the bank to withdraw money to replace the candy-plus some extra money for (biblical) restitution. The letter and items were later presented in-person to the friend and the friend’s mom.

Accountability—our kid was then required to call seven family members, inform them of the situation, and ask for prayer.

In addition, to the needed prayer, every family member encouraged our child and assured our young one of

reminded me of Katrina, like the pancaking of buildings.

And of Haiti and Thailand where everything was literally just flattened out. Rubble… rubble… rubble… everywhere.

Once a storm or a tsunami is powerful enough, it just shreds everything in its path. The damage looks very similar.

KW: Teresa Emerson: asks if there any Blacks in Japan, whether in interracial marriages to Japanese or working as business people, and how they’ve been affected?

SO: I’m sure the answer is yes, but I haven’t seen any.

Remember, I’m not in a big city, but in these small fishing villages.

continued love and acceptance.

Reflection—my husband and I have had many conversations with our child about this matter.

They include discussions on lessons learned, good decisionmaking, self-control and prayer.

Our entire family has discussed the impact our individual actions can have on the entire family.

In our American culture, lying almost seems stylish. Often, liars are celebrated for “beating the system.” The truth is, at some point, the things that are done in darkness, will come to light. The female singing

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What message do you want the public to take away from your book The Next Big Story: My Journey through the Land of Possibilities?

SO: In a way, I think we’re in the next big story, and I think that story is the story of the opportunity for some human beings to decide how they’re going to live their lives. Are you going to be a looter or a lifeline? Are you going to be the person who takes 20 people into your house? Or are you the person who breaks into stores.

It’s really up to you. That’s what I’m here to witness and to tell stories about.

KW: Debrah Mitchell asks:

Prep From 1 “About four years ago, we began to look at the performance of our boys versus our girls, and found that our boys were not doing well academically,” Mahmoud said.

This triggered the foundation of Boys Academy, which later changed to BEST (Boys in Engineering, Science and Technology), one of five programs at the Harvest Preparatory building, 1315 Olson Memorial Highway, in North Minneapolis.

BEST focuses on technical skills and

Suluki Fardan

Eric Mahmoud

science. It provides a mentoring program and teaches role modeling.

Harvest Preparatory has a relentless focus on standards.

“We look at Minnesota standards, and national standards to determine what a 3rd grader

I want to offer a personal challenge to you as well. Go online and find the lyrics to Lies, or better yet, buy the song, and support the En Vogue divas.

Read the lyrics to yourself, your

kids, and your nephews, and discuss some of the messages of the song. You may be surprised to learn that the song contains many biblical scriptural references.

For our family, the bible is our training manual and the truth on which we build our lives. Our own frailties and shortcomings, as individuals, keep us humbly seeking God’s grace, as parents, while extending grace to our three (mostly) wonderful blessings!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Prov.22:6.

Enjoy!

How did you like becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority last month?

SO: The Deltas are the most giftgiving-est bunch of people I ever met in my whole life. I shoulda been a Delta 20 years ago, Debrah. [Chuckles]

monolithic people? Do you feel any pressure to present a representative sample of the subgroup on the program?

SO: I’d like to answer that at length, but oh, my gosh! I have to go do a live shot right this instant.

KW: Kent State journalism major Joey Pompignano, wants to know about your upcoming documentary, “Muslims in America,” and the challenge of doing a special report about an entire race, religion or ethnicity. He asks: Because there’s so much diversity within the underserved groups, how do you aim to portray a particular subgroup without making them seem like a

KW: I understand. Thanks for the time, Soledad. Take care, be safe, and maybe we can do a separate interview about “Muslims in America” after you get back.

SO: I’d love to. It’s an excellent documentary. I think everyone will find it absolutely riveting whether they’re Muslim or not.

But, sorry, I gotta run. Bye, Kam.

needs to know, and the best way to teach those standards,” Mahmoud said.

“We then evaluate what is the best way to assess what we have taught, and do they actually know it.”

Harvest Prep has five 3rd grade teachers and classes. To assess progress, students take a quiz each week. Every six weeks, students get a comprehensive exam.

At a recent survey of schools

serving North Minneapolis, Harvest Preparatory ranked number one among 14 schools for 62% of students reading at grade level and second best in math at 62%. Overall, Harvest Prep ranked highest compared to schools in other urban and suburban districts.

“We want to provide the same level of rigor as the MCA.

group, En Vogue, was right on the money, with their song, Lies.

In the lyrics, I hear a challenge and warning for all of us.

I’ll live my life a different way Refuse to let myself become a victim Getting caught up in a vicious web of lies, they can hurt you And destroy you, you watch out for lies, just a devil in disguise…

PREP TURN TO 9

insightnews.com

Insight News • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Page 9

Authentic engagement guides North High planning Building Creative Capital

By Bernadeia H. Johnson MPS Superintendent I am incredibly proud and deeply enthused by the partnership that has been cultivated between the community and the district in our first steps to realizing a new North High School. I continue to hear from those in the community that we all have engaged in a transparent process that has resulted in authentic community engagement and a strong partnership that has

brought our best thinking to the forefront. Everything from selecting the interview questions for the consultants to organizing the community Q and A session with the consultants was done in collaboration. I am humbled by my experiences in this process and truly believe that we may be turning a new leaf by building trust and a stronger relationship with community members on the North side.

Last week, community members and I had an opportunity to dig deep into the interview process with the three consulting firms that were selected as finalists for the new North design. All three firms had impressive resumes and unique perspectives and experiences to offer us in this journey to create a new North. After much

Suluki Fardan

Spanish teacher Fatima Showkatian with students.

Prep From 8 Reading, math, science and social studies are the main subjects we focus on,” Mahmoud said. “The framework is: model, lead, test.

This means, if I’m going to teach children to add fractions with unlike denominators, I’m going to walk them through the process,” he said.

“The second part is guided practice, which involves not only modeling the lesson, but getting feedback from students to actually solve the problem.

Lastly, we allow the students to do it on their own,” Mahmoud said. An exit slip, or a mini quiz on the objective, is provided with one or two problems to see if the lesson is mastered, he said.

They also have a before-

school program, an after-school program and Saturday school.

“What we have to do as a school and educational institution, is give the children as many opportunities to get the concept as possible,” Mahmoud said.

This is the reason for Seed Academy’s 8-hour school day and 200-day school year, starting at the end of August and ending July 1st.

“Geometry is part of what 3rd graders need to know,” Mahmoud said. “We go over geometrical figures; vertices of a polygon, areas, and perimeters, for a basic focus to make sure the students understand,” he said.

Teachings and lessons at that age are imperative, as MCA scores tend to drop in higher grades. Mahmoud attributes this to a number of factors, including psychological reasons, a fivepart achievement gap, and time

consideration and in-depth discussion on the consulting firms, the interview team partook in a decision making process and came to a consensus in selecting the Institute for Student Achievement (ISA), the consultant that we believe best fits the needs of the North Minneapolis community.

ISA’s strong track record of community engagement, intent to hire a community member as an advisor to the design process, as well as the community’s vote of confidence at a public presentation session in February were key components of their selection. Final approval is subject to a contract agreement with ISA. The Institute for Student Achievement is a nonprofit school turnaround organization

based out of New York that partners with districts and communities to transform underperforming high schools into new academically rigorous and personalized schools.

ISA works closely with the districts and communities to create school designs that are genuinely reflective of the needs of the community. ISA has partnered with nearly 80 schools serving 20,000 students in five states, including schools in Atlanta, Detroit and New York.

An independent study conducted by the Academy for Educational Development found that ISA students have higher attendance, course accumulation, grade promotion and graduation rates than comparison students. ISA students are 49% less likely to drop out of high school than

comparison students and by 12th grade, 93% of ISA students passed each of the required high stakes exams.

At the Board of Education meeting Tuesday, board members approved my recommendation to extend the deadline from March 31 to April 30, 2011 to recruit 125 ninth graders in order for the school to have a freshman class next fall. The extension will provide an additional four weeks for recruiting efforts to continue and increase the probability of enrolling more 9th grade students for the fall of 2011.

Additionally, the extension will allow ISA to have further input into the process and give administration additional time to study the consultant’s recommendations regarding the

advantages and disadvantages to accepting a small 9th grade in the fall of 2011.The Institute for Student Achievement has stated its commitment to the current North students and will support the district to provide strong academic support to students while the new design process is in motion.

Now, more than ever, we need for individuals to stay engaged in the process of designing the school. We are in the beginning stages of establishing a high quality high school in the North community worthy of the North High School tradition and historic reputation. Thank you for your continued support of the academic ambitions our schools and communities have for Minneapolis youth.

appropriated for learned skills.

“From kindergarten to grade 3, you are learning to read, while from grade 4 on you are reading to learn,” he said. “The challenge is competing with children with wider background knowledge. The upper to middle class have the ability to travel, go to libraries and museums, giving them background knowledge over their counterparts,” Mahmoud said.

“You see children get older, and not keep up educationally.

The children that are better off are getting educational experiences outside of school.

As you get older, people have less patience with you, so you get less support when you need more support,” he said.

Fortunately, Mahmoud is one of those who have patience with the students.

“What we are trying to do is make sure we are closing the gap with those students that have not made it to those standards yet,” he explained.

He also makes it clear that the achievement gap includes more than just test scores.

According to Mahmoud, there are five gaps that make up the achievement gap: (1) the preparation gap - even before they start school in kindergarten, they are already behind; (2) the time gap - they start behind and need more time to catch up; (3) the belief gap - I could have the

best teacher, allocate more time, but if I do not believe I’m able to achieve this level of academic achievement, it is a barrier; (4) the teaching gap and; and lastly,

the leadership gap.

“We need to create a banner effect and show what is possible.

We have to show schools and individuals are doing it. There

are some African American students able to do it under the same circumstances,” he said.

“Once they see that, they can see what is possible.

Page 10 • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Insight News

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Vintage Black films at Golden Thyme A showing of vintage Black films, pre-1960’s, along with relevant documentaries. Community members engaged in lively, safe and challenging discussions. A guaranteed experience of higher learning. Fresh food and drink, offered at a reasonable cost. You can partake of all these things and more at once, beginning on Friday, March 25, at Golden Thyme Coffee Café, a Black owned business on 921 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104.

Social time starts at 6:30pm, and the movie show at 7:00pm. Lissa Jones of Solidarity will serve as host, and Dominic Taylor, Associate Artistic Director at Penumbra Theatre will lead a discussion when the movie ends. 2011 marks the fourth year of ‘Fourth Fridays at the Movies’ all made possible with the sponsorship of Golden Thyme Coffee Café. Owners Michael and Stephanie Wright have a heart for community.

Daily they strive to provide a haven for community members to thrive in their cultural heritage. Every fourth Friday, they extend their hours, and open their doors, to an intergenerational, multiracial crowd seeking education

in the history and evolution of AfricanAmerican cultural heritage in relation to filmmaking, while enjoying fellowship with community members.

The Wright’s commitment has proven successful over the years, and this was especially emphasized in the month of February 2011, when Golden Thyme Coffee Cafe sponsored the 1st Annual Black History Month Film Festival. Every Friday night, the dedicated movie screening room was overflowing with a crowd of new and longtime customers, leaving late stragglers with standing room only.

Content of films selected for the fourth season offers the audience a twist, in order to support the educational mission of Fourth Fridays at the Movies. There will be a mix of vintage films and certain important and timely documentaries from the past and present, relevant to economic and political questions and concerns of today. For example, audience members will be treated to a viewing of the documentary, The Jackie Robinson Story, starring Robinson and a documentary on Paul Robeson entitled, Paul Robeson:

Classifieds / Calendar Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, andrew@insightnews. com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Andrew Notsch. Free or low cost events preferred.

Minnesota’s Waiting Children Free Information Session -Mar 22 Downey Side…families for youth, invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children. Next information session will be Tue., Feb. 22, from 6:30-8pm at Downey Side Minnesota, 450 N. Syndicate St., Suite 90, St. Paul, MN 55104. Pre-registration required. To register, email stpaulmn@downeyside. org or call 651-228-0117.

Art at Highland - Mar 26 A juried one-day indoor spring art fair sponsored by Highland/Macalester/ Groveland Community Education in cooperation with Artists’ Circle, a nonprofit educational advocate for fine crafts which promotes the exhibition and sale of work by quality artists. Sat. Mar. 26, 10am–5pm. Highland Park Senior High School 1015 S. Snelling Ave, St. Paul.

Recovery Day on the Hill - Mar 31 Minnesotans in recovery, along with family and friends, co-workers, employers and professionals, will take a couple hours out of their day to gather in the Rotunda to put a face on recovery, show Minnesota that recovery is possible and that people recover from addiction every day!

Thur. Mar 31 11am-1pm. @ The State Capitol Rotunda.

A Life of Hope - Mar 31 Free workshop for parents of children with disabilities and for professionals.

TEEN JOB FAIR SATURDAY, APRIL 2 NOON – 3 p.m.

HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY - CENTRAL 300 NICOLLET MALL TELEMARKETING POSITION Insight News is seeking applicants for a part-time Classified Sales Telemarketing Representative.

This position is perfect for a college student or someone looking for part time employment.

Hours are Mon-Thursday, 10 – 2 PM, not to exceed 20 hours per week.

Position Duties: • Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe Insight News and www.insightnews. com, in order to secure classified advertising.

• Contact businesses by telephone in order to solicit sales.

• Adjust sales scripts to better target the needs and interests of specific individuals.

• Answer telephone calls from potential customers who have been solicited through advertisements.

• Telephone or write letters to respond to correspondence from customers or to follow up initial sales contacts.

• Maintain records of contacts, accounts, and orders.

This position requires a high school diploma, previous telemarketing experience and the ability to produce results.

Please submit resume with three references to batalara@insightnews.com NO WALK-INS and no PHONE CALLS, please.

PHONE: 612.588.1313

Join State Rep. Rena Moran with Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner of Education; Mona Dohman, Commissioner of Public Safety; State Rep. Carlos Mariani, Former Chair of Ed. Policy; and State Sen. John Harrington for a community chat on Tuesday, March 22, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Rice Street Library, 1011 Rice Street.

Moran

Cassellius

Dohman

Thur., Mar. 31 from 6:30-9pm, at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, Minn. Advance registration is requested. To register for the workshop, call PACER at 952-8389000. In Greater Minnesota, call 800537-2237 (toll free) or visit PACER. org.

Piano Magic - Apr 1 The last of the Minnesota Sinfonia’s Winter Concert Series, conducted by Jay Fishman, on Fri., Apr. 1, at 7pm in the Metropolitan State University auditorium, 700 E. 7th St., Saint Paul.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The 7th Annual Community Garden Spring Resource Fair - Apr 2 This fun, educational event gives community gardeners a chance to connect with each other and learn about everything from growing more veggies to the 2012 Farm Bill. @ Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St, Mpls. Sat., Apr. 2 9am-4pm. More info, complete schedule, and pre-registration online at www.gardeningmatters.org Love Leadership - Apr 4 John Hope Bryant, author of the book Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World and founder of the international antipoverty organization, Operation Hope, will speak at 5:30pm Mon., Apr. 4, in the auditorium of the O’Shaughnessy

Mariani

soxblog.projo.com

Jackie Robinson

one to make intelligent contrast and comparisons. Golden Thyme Coffee Café hosts the event because it is designed to be an educational experience along with adding entertainment and cultural value. There will always be a need for the use of history in the present. The films are used as a tool to

FAX: 612.588.2031

Connecting Capitol with Community

Events Improving Communication within the Black Family - Mar. 21 FREE African American Parenting Workshops & Support Group. Mon. Mar 21, 7:30-8:45PM @ Sunray Library 2105 Wilson Ave. St. Paul, MN 55119.

For more information please contact Shatona Groves @ 612-568-6326 or visit www.theblackparentgroup.com.

Portraits of the Artist.. Members of the community group Solidarity will serve as hosts, introducing the film and moderating dialogue when the film ends. Additionally, professional and community artists will be invited to give historical background of the film, and answer audience questions.

History of African Americans in vintage films, from silent to sound, captures an amazing collection of images, messages and symbols.

Additionally, the viewer is exposed to the longevity of African Americans in the filmmaking industry, including the pioneering work of African American actors, screen writers, producers, and directors, before the advances made after World War II. The movies that they made cover a range of human thought and action, from tender love stories and religious life to conflicts emerging from jealousy, envy, immorality as well as expressions of simple moral principles, inherited from rural and religious beliefs.

From viewing such old movies one gains insights into the deeper meaning of Black culture. Such exposure leads

Harrington

Educational Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas.

Learn to Lead: Leadership Communication 2011 - Apr 5 Ready to influence and motivate others, create a great résumé, learn the keys to public speaking, and stand out because of the new talents you’re going to gain with this workshop? Starting Apr. 5, the University of Minnesota wants to help you become a strong communicator and an outstanding leader on Tue. and Thu. nights, to boost your appeal to employers, colleges, and more. For a description, see www.bced.umn.edu/ l2l and to register at www.bced.umn. edu/L2L-Registration Neighborhood HealthSource 6th Annual Gala - Apr 7 Celebrate affordable community health at a historic Minneapolis venue! Join us for an evening of excellent food and cocktails, live music and comedy, silent and live auctions and much, much more! Thur., Apr. 7 at the historic Nicollet Island Pavilion. 40 Power St. Mpls, MN 55401.

Annual Twin Cities Sustainable Communities Conference - Apr 9 500 community volunteers will gather to share fun project ideas and hands on resources. Central Lutheran Church, 333 12th St. S. Mpls. FREE Please RESVP online: www.afs.nonprofitoffice.

Paul Robeson

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inform, educate the uneducated, create a new understanding of culture, and inspire the imagination to new heights of thinking.

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

com/2011ConferenceRegistration or call 612-331-1099 or email Sean www. afors.org MN Made - Apr. 9 Try your hand at seed art or get the basic knitting lesson you’ve always wanted at this free all-day showcase of Minnesotan creativity at the Walker Art Center on Saturday, April 9, 11 am-5 pm. Inspired by the exhibition The Spectacular of Vernacular, MN Made celebrates artists and makers of all kinds who feed off the particularities of local culture and unique places. Copresented by the Walker and mnartists. org. @ Walker Art Center 1750 Hennepin Ave. Mpls Friends of the Walker Library Spring Book Sale - Apr 9 The sale will feature hundreds of adult and children’s literature in hardcover and paperback. Most books are priced at $1 or less. Sat., Apr. 9 10am–4pm Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.

Prayer Conference 2011 - Apr 9 In every season of our lives we have Jesus our High Priest and King reigning over us. So Know God , Be Strong, Do Exploits. Sat. Apr. 9 at 9am - Day Session and 6pm Evening Service.

Located at Grace Lutheran Church 1730 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55106. For more information call 651335-3154.

Ways of Peace II: Nonviolence in the Islamic Traditions - Apr 9 A daylong conference designed to address misperceptions and increase understanding about Islam and Muslims, will be held from 9:30am6:30pm, Sat., Apr. 9, in the auditorium of O’Shaughnessy Educational Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas. Open to the public. $15 ($10 for students) and lunch is available for an additional $10 in advance. Details and registration: http://www.fnvw.org or (651) 9170383.

Greta Oglesby Solos at the Capri Theater Legends Concert - Apr 9&10 Oglesby returns in a rare solo concert that will be half gospel, half Broadway.

“I love a little bit of pressure,” says Oglesby. The concerts are at 7pm Sat., Apr.9 and 3pm Sun., Apr. 10. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at thecapritheater.org Global Food, Fashion and Awards Celebration - Apr. 10 This event is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate diversity initiatives across the Metropolitan State University community. Sun., Apr. 10, 12–3pm at the Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St. Mpls.

Beast on the Moon - Apr 14

By Richard Kalinoski, will be performed Apr. 14,15,16&22 at 7pm, plus matinees Apr. 16&23 at 1pm.

Performances are at the Stagedoor Theater, located in the Whitney Fine Arts Center on the Mpls Campus of Metropolitan State University and Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC), off Loring Park at 1424 Yale Place. The parking ramp is at 15th Street and Hennepin Avenue.

Eritream Fashion and Cultural Dance Event - Apr 16 Join us for a fun day of Eritrean Fashion show, dance presentation, music, food, traditional coffee, and fabulous art, crafts and clothing up for a silent auction. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Eritrean Community Center of Minnesota. Sat. Apr 16 4:308pm. Tickets includes shows, food and drinks: $20 each. Limited number of tickets, reserve your spot early! 1935 University Ave. W. St. Paul, MN. Step-Parenting/Issues Within the Blended Family - Apr. 18 FREE African American Parenting Workshops & Support Group. Mon. Apr 18, 7:30-8:45PM @ Sunray Library

2105 Wilson Ave. St. Paul, MN 55119.

For more information please contact Shatona Groves @ 612-568-6326 or visit www.theblackparentgroup.com.

Pre Adoption Free Information Session for Minnesota’s Waiting Children - Apr 19 Downey Side, families for youth, invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children. Downey Side’s next information session will be Tue., Apr. 19, 6:30-8pm at Downey Side Minnesota, 450 North Syndicate Street, Suite 90, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Pre-registration required. To register, email stpaulmn@downeyside.org or call 651-228-0117.

Jamaican Activists to discuss human rights issues in Jamaica - Apr 19 Dr. Carolyn Gomes, UN Prize in Human Rights recipient, along with Susan Goffe, prominent activist, will talk about issues facing the island and their experience defending human rights in Jamaica at 5:30pm Tue., Apr. 19 in John B. Davis Auditorium at Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave. Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale Apr. 30 & May 7 By composting organic waste (vegetable scraps and yard waste) and capturing rainwater from the roof, you can reduce the need for expensive fertilizers, reduce your water bill, help keep waterways clean, and reduce waste. The Recycling Association of Minnesota will have its sale in Saint Paul on April 30 and May 1 (pre-registration required). The City of Roseville, in partnership with several other cities in Ramsey County, will have its sale on May 7. For more information, go to www.recycleminnesota.org and www. cityofroseville.com/rainbarrelsale.

Volunteers needed to study flora and fauna - May-July Have you ever experienced the living wonder of a wetland? Have you wanted to wade in, get your hands wet, and discover the plants and animals that live there? If so, Hennepin County and its cities have a unique volunteer opportunity – the Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP). For more information or to become a volunteer, call Mary Karius at 612596-9129 or visit the program website at www.mnwhep.org 4th Annual Fakoly Drum & Dance Project - May 4-8 Master drummer Fode Bangoura will be hosting his 4th Annual Fakoly Drum & Dance Project! 5 days of daily drum and dance classes taught

by Master Drummers and Dancers from West Africa. The workshop will culminate in a Guest Artist performance Saturday evening May 7th at The Southern Theater. Visit www.duniyadrumanddance.org for full details & Registration.

Understanding and Appreciation of Chinese Culture - May 18-22 The public is invited to experience Chinese music, dance, art, history, calligraphy, games, and tea starting on Wed. May 18 with the Grand Opening Ceremony at 6pm and continuing through Sun. May 22 at 9pm. @ Lift Kids Global Village, 153 E. 10th Street, St. Paul. Registration: www. liftkids.org Minneapolis Fearless Caregiver Conference - May 19 Families learn to be a fearless caregiver for their loved ones at upcoming conference. Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and Today’s Caregiver magazine are offering a limited number of paid scholarships to family caregivers for this day-long event that includes lunch, exhibits and trainings.

Family caregivers should register at FearlessCaregiver.com. Thur. May 19 at the Ramada Mall of America 2300 E. American Boulevard, Bloomington, MN 55425 8:30am-2:30pm.

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Insight News • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Page 11

Disgraced vet gets shot at redemption apocalyptic sci-fi Film Review

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com Between an apocalyptic plotline and a $100+ million budget, it’s no wonder that Battle:LA is being touted as the first summer blockbuster of 2011. Forget the fact that it’s still winter, from the breathtaking panoramas to the bombastic pyrotechnics to the eye-popping FX to the mob scenes of mass hysteria, this film is filled with fixings which just scream 4th of July weekend.

And provided you’re prematurely in the mood for such unseasonablyoverblown fare, Battle:LA won’t disappoint. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel), this high-impact, action flick revolves around the daring exploits of a rag-tag team of Marines representing the last hope for humanity in the wake of an alien invasion which is decimating the planet.

As the film opens, we are introduced to Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) as he’s called on the carpet for his soldiers having suffered heavy casualties in Iraq. The humiliated platoon leader grudgingly agrees to retire, but not before first helping to whip

Sony Pictures

their replacements into fighting shape.

The new unit is a motley crew of readily-recognizable archetypes. There’s Nantz, the proverbial, battle-hardened veteran who now has to report to an untested Lieutenant (Ramon Rodriguez). We also have a raw recruit (Noel Fisher) so young he had to get his parents’ permission to enlist; a corporal (Jim Parrack) suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder since his last tour of duty; a soldier (Ne-Yo) set to marry his sweetheart; another (Taylor Handley) who knows about Nantz’s checkered past; and the brother (Cory Hardict) of a G.I.

who died overseas under the disgraced Sergeant’s command.

You get the idea.

This freshly-forged band of brothers is about to ship out when a mysterious meteor shower morphs into a lethal legion of hostile extraterrestrial armed to the teeth and bent on world domination. With the entire globe suddenly under siege, instead of being deployed to the Middle East, our intrepid heroes are sent to the City of Los Angeles. While staging a last stand there, they join forces with Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez), a feisty Air Force Sergeant on a reconnaissance detail.

Despite the film’s futuristic pretensions, Battle:LA is basically an old-fashioned war flick which unabashedly employs every cliché associated with the shopworn genre. For instance, the fate of apprehensive Lieutenant Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez) is sealed, cinematically, the moment he sits down to write an ominous letter to his pregnant wife back home. Yet, the squad leader’s untimely demise does dovetail ever so conveniently with his replacement’s need for a shot at redemption. Like a kid operating a computer game joystick, Nantz proceeds to spearhead a strategic search

and destroy mission for the aliens’ command and control center.

The frenetic action consists of wave after wave of mindless mayhem intermittently interrupted by sentimental reminders that God is on our side and by simplistic sloganeering such as “Marines don’t quit!” and “Let’s go show ‘em how Marines fight!” With no message deeper to impart, some might suggest that the film amounts to little more than a two-hour PSA for the U.S. military.

On the other hand, the less cynical are just as likely to rally behind the defenders

of Mom and apple pie, and to cheer their every kill with approving howls of “Hoo-rah!”

(Marine shorthand for “Heard, understood, recognized and acknowledged.”) After all, you don’t have to be tigerblooded Charlie Sheen to know what really matters most in a showdown with any worthy adversary.

Duh? Winning!

Very Good (2.5 stars) Rated PG-13 for profanity, scenes of destruction and sustained, intense violence.

Running time: 116 minutes Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Holocaust survivor builds African legacy

Chris Mburu

Hilde Back

Photos: Patti Lee

Chris Mburu, human rights lawyer with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, will speak at William Mitchell College of Law, 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, on Sunday, April 3, at 1:00 pm. He will chronicle his journey from a small village in Kenya to Harvard Law School and a career in human rights, funded by an anonymous donor named Hilde Back, a German Jewish survivor of the Holocaust.

The powerful story of Hilde Back’s small acts to support Chris through primary school, high school, and then college is documented in the award-winning documentary A Small Act, which will be screened that same afternoon. An official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, A Small Act explores the realworld power of simple acts of

kindness.

Director Jennifer Arnold, who will also be at the event, tells Mburu’s story of growing up an impoverished child in Kenya and receiving a life-changing gift that was the catalyst for his success today. That gift, a $15 donation from Hilde Back, paid for Mburu’s primary school fees. With Back’s ongoing and anonymous donations, Mburu not only finished primary school, but went on to graduate from the University of Nairobi and eventually Harvard Law School.

Mburu later returned to his village with his generous benefactor and began the Hilde Back Education Foundation.

A Small Act chronicles Mburu and Back’s relationship and the challenges of receiving an education in a developing nation.

The film follows three top students at Mukubu primary school, who are competing for one of the foundation’s scholarships.

A Small Act started a nationwide tour last fall and has received rave reviews across the country. The Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert listed the film on as one of “the best documentaries of 2010.”

The event is free, open to the public, and no reservations are necessary.

World Without Genocide is headquartered at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN and promotes education and action to protect innocent people, prevent genocide, prosecute perpetrators, and remember those whose lives and cultures have been destroyed by genocide.

Natasha Thretheway Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey talks about her family’s experience on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and how it led to her 2010 Photo courtesy of the author

Natasha Thretheway

book Beyond Katrina (University of Georgia Press), which weaves together memoir, poetry, letters, and photographs on Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 pm at the Coffman Union Theater, 300 Washington Ave. S.E., Mpls..

Trethewey is the author of the poetry collections Native Guard (Houghton Mifflin), which won the 2007 Pulitzer, Bellocq’s Ophelia (Graywolf), and Domestic Work (Graywolf), which won the inaugural Cave Canem

Poetry Prize for a first book by an African American author. She is Professor of English, holding the Phillis Wheatley Distinguished Chair in Poetry, at Emory University. https://events.umn. edu/012173

Page 12 • March 21 - March 27, 2011 • Insight News

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SPORTS

The Heat will likely re-ignite Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com The Miami Heat’s chickens seem to be coming home to roost. But actually the truth of the matter is that the NBA is a league of “runs” or streaks. Most of the games involve a consistent flow of comebacks in scoring by both teams. Whichever team has the biggest run on points, which the other team doesn’t match in their runs of points, will generally be the team that wins. If you break it down like that, then the rhythm of the NBA game simply matches the basic fluctuations of a person shooting the basketball and making a hoop; sometimes you get the hot hand (and sometimes

the defense is just no good).

Basketball is a great game that way. It’s easy to figure out the ultimate problem if you’re not winning, because the ultimate problem is that the other team is putting the ball in the basket more than your team.

So with that in mind, the question is: Why can’t the Miami Heat sustain winning, especially against good teams, when they have superstars LeBron James, Dewayne Wade, and Chris Bosh?

Though the Heat is struggling a bit of late, I still feel as though they will go on another hot streak as the season tapers down. Sometimes a new element (element meaning a player, team, new rule, coach, etc…) is introduced in sports, and it takes teams by surprise.

Football fans will notice that the ‘Wildcat’ formation in football has dwindled in popularity, when some thought it would become the new standard of the league. No, it just took teams a while to adjust.

It took the Heat a little time

phombo.com

to adjust to themselves during the beginning weeks of the season, and everyone thought it was doomsday for them. The Heat found their groove; started whoopin’ up on every middle-ofthe-road team across the league; and of course all the fans and media started thinking they might be on their way to the NBA Finals.

Now, even the middle-of-the-road

teams have adjusted to the Heat’s attack.

In this game of chess, with all the adjustments, the Heat are limited to only one more adjustment that they are being forced to make. That adjustment will require that LeBron “King” James, play the role of the prince.

Yeah I said it. When James made the decision to go to Miami, he

exposed what route he would rather take to success (pause on that). The route to success that the Heat will be forced to take, is that the ball will gravitate towards Dewayne Wade, the same way that James did in coming from Cleveland. With Chris Bosh complaining about his shot attempts as well, it will have to be James that plays the middle man, and uplift his two fellow superstars in their respective roles; Wade’s role being ‘That Dude’.

I suggest that this will be the Heat’s final possible adjustment, because their real problem is the 800lb gorilla that is NOT in the room—meaning that the rest of the team is not very good if you’re trying to win a championship. The fans should have had a confused look on their faces when the Heat had their preseason pep rally, celebrating the arrival of Bosh and James to join Wade. “Where’s the rest of the team?!!” is what they should

have been shouting. “How are we going to win with just three players?!!”

It is impressive seeing the statistical lines that the ‘3 Amigos’ (James, Wade, Bosh) are able to produce on a nightly basis, but Timberwolves fans know all too well that awe inspiring statistics don’t necessarily equal awe inspiring wins—but Kevin Love breaking records is fun to watch anyway.

The Miami Heat is still in the upper crust of the Eastern Conference, when it comes to the win column. Though the Heat’s recent losing streak has exposed their two biggest problems, I still think that they are 50/50 to make the Finals out of the Eastern Conference. That ain’t bad for a three player team in a five player sport.

The ups and downs of the NBA are fun to watch, but usually in sports the end result is very predictable… in hindsight.

All I know is this: King James is a hard name to live up to.

Whatever happened to the love of the game?

With the NFL spiraling toward a lockout and million-dollar NBA teammates squabbling amongst themselves, Johnson is concerned with what the pros are teaching the rest of us about sports and sportsmanship.

“Some people just love to play, and they’d like to see if they can play at a competitive level and maybe even improve their game,” said Johnson, organizer of the CBL, or Community Basketball Leagues (www.cblhoopsusa. com). “It seems like all the pro leagues, and even the colleges, like to focus on is hype, and good talent actually gets pushed away.

In their hunt for the next Kobe or the next LeBron, they lose track of guys whose natural ability, teamwork and unselfishness would make them great additions.

cblhoopusa.com

Scott Shultz

These are men and women who just love to play for the sake of the game, and it’s a shame that after college, only two percent of them ever get to play in the pros. It’s wrong that many of these talented athletes are prevented from

making this game a part of their life after high school or college.

Their competitive spirits and their talents need a place to shine.”

That’s why Jamar Johnson founded the CBL, which currently has leagues in cities throughout the United States for players ranging literally from toddlers to adults. His view is that these leagues, which cater to both the former collegiate athlete as well as the weekend warrior, can serve as a way for people to continue their involvement in sports and may even serve as a springboard for those who may have missed opportunities earlier in life.

“We’ve actually had a few former high school players get picked up as scholarship athletes on the college level after having been viewed by the scouts who

regularly attend games,” Johnson said. “That’s not to say that people should join because they think they’re going to get their big break with us. They should play because they love the game, but understand that you never know who’s watching. Does that mean they’ll be ‘discovered’?

No, but if they don’t play, they may never know if their futures could have included playing for a school or even a semi-pro or pro league.”

Johnson said he sees more sportsmanship and teamwork in his leagues than most people see in the pros today, and it’s because of the CBL’s focus on friendly competition and the community at large.

“Our players aren’t worried about big salaries or their stats,”

he said. “They play out of love of the game, and their communities.

We use the league to help raise funds for local charities and community-based organizations, so when our players play, they aren’t just playing for themselves. They are playing for the betterment of their own communities, as well, and that’s unique these days. As pro leagues become more about the money and the fame than about the sport, when owners and players take turns at proving who is greedier and when ticket prices are so high that the average fan can’t even afford to see a pro game in person anymore, it’s good to see athletes compete in a league that is more focused on the game than on the money.”

Johnson is a native Elkhart,

IN and former standout on Concord High School’s 1988 and 1990 state runner-up basketball teams. He was also an Indiana High School All-State basketball player in 1990. Johnson went on to lead the University of Nebraska Men’s basketball program to its first ever Big 12 conference tournament championship in 1994 and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources and Family Science. From May 1995 to May 1997, Johnson served as an Administrative Graduate Assistant Coach for the University of Nebraska Men’s basketball program. In 1996, Johnson also had a brief stint in the professional Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Omaha Racers.