Insight News ::: 8.23.10

Celebrating the MORE ON PAGE 9 123rd Anniversary of Marcus Garvey’s Birthday

INSIGHT NEWS August 23 - August 29, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 34 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

CitySongs: UROC program nurtures art, culture Eighteen years ago, a professor in the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work had an idea. What if you could bring kids together to sing in a choir and, at the same time, give them the chance to develop competence, confidence, and individual potential?

The idea became a program launched as an after-school music and youth development organization in St. Paul called CitySongs. In 2009, it became a part of the university’s new Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center (UROC) and moved its work to North Minneapolis.

A new Northside community partner, Plymouth Christian Youth Center (PCYC), agreed to provide the youth development programming while Cheryl Reeves, its music director, continued to direct the choir and provide administrative leadership.

The past year has served as a pilot in the new location, with eight choir members who, although small in number, nevertheless performed with verve and talent at several community events, at two concerts at the Capri Theater, and at UROC’s open house in May. Reeves is eager to recruit

new kids to the choir and the program. “We got our feet wet during the past year and the kids did a terrific job,” Reeves said. “But we’re excited about bringing in more children and building the program to a higher level with many more participants.”

To that end, Reeves is recruiting in the North Minneapolis schools, churches, community organizations, and anywhere people are interested in hearing about the opportunities that CitySongs can offer.

“Unlike many other performance programs, we don’t audition participants,” Reeves explained. “We also don’t charge any fees for participation. Through our 18 years of experience we’ve learned that any child who is willing to work hard and attend the program regularly can learn to sing well enough to make a positive contribution.”

CitySongs is for children in grades four through eight.

It fosters healthy development by helping urban youth identify and reach their potential through diverse music participation and activities.

It challenges youth to master music and performance skills, to make aesthetic contributions

Michaela Rinkel

CitySongs to their communities, to take leadership roles, and to set and achieve their goals. In turn, these children provide live performances to inspire, strengthen, and vitalize their community.

Karen Goodenough, director

of community programs for PCYC, provides the additional programming and support beyond the choir activities and supervises interns from the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College. The interns

work with the choir members when the children aren’t rehearsing “When the university came to us to discuss a partnership, we looked around and saw there were no youth choirs on the Northside,” Goodenough

said. “We had our theater institute, the ability to do music recording, and a performance space with the Capri Theater. It seemed like it could be a very

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Jamaica’s genius: Passion and drive

By Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford The Editors Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in the late 1400s first visited Montego Bay, Jamaica, calling it “Golfo de Buen Tiempo”, or fair weather gulf.

The name Montego Bay came from the Spanish word manteca, or lard, because the port was used to ship lard, leather and beef during Spanish occupation. Montego Bay remained a Spanish colony until the mid 1600s, when Oliver Cromwell claimed it for the British, who used it as a sugar port well into the 20th Century.

Fierce resistance to slavery and domination by the escaped enslaved Africans, the Maroons, and, derring-do high-seas bravado of pirates who menaced and mastered sea-borne shipping industries helped create a national character that celebrates independence and self-reliance, agricultural excellence, entrepreneurial initiative, and a wellspring of joy-driven faith and hope that brighter days are within reach.

These traits fueled Montego Bay’s emergence as a tourist haven of choice.

Wealthy and ordinary people alike flocked in droves to the famous Doctor’s Cave bathing beach. That attraction has been the inspiration of exponential growth in Jamaica’s burgeoning tourism industry.

Nowadays, Montego Bay’s appeal never seems to wane. Today when visitors come in search of sunshine and outdoor adventure, Jamaica’s unsurpassed Caribbean hospitality keeps them returning again and again.

And when you visit The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort at Rose Hall, Jamaica, what you come away with is an appreciation of the unique, indomitable star quality that is the hallmark of Jamaicans’ richly sonorous voice, their proud, confident walk, and their engaging genuine friendliness.

Time and time again, during our recent visit, we were reminded why we love Jamaica so much. To a person, we encountered energetic, focused, purpose-driven men and women whose attitudes and actions reflected their belief in and commitment to the mission

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Education:

Tips for building your college resume

PAGE 4

Shirley Sherrod

Photos: Al McFarlane

Tiffanie Swaby at Ritz Carlton Golf Course and Spa Resort

Tea Party, Fox News hoodwink America

By Shirley Sherrod Commentary

Transportation entrepreneur Denzil Haye (his friends call him Denzil Washington), Green Apples sales staff --Kerry-Ann, Sandra, Sherene and, store owner, Prem Samtani. Green Apples Gift Shop & Liquor Store is located across the street from the Ritz-Carlton at the new Whitter Village Centre. The store is a favorite place for Americans to find good deals on duty-free liquors and spirits, authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffees, and an excellent array of gift items, art and handicrafts, Jamaican made-clothing for men, women and children, Cuban cigars and more. Green Apples ships internationally. Call 876-953-3092 for additional information. To reach Denzil Haye for island transportation: 876-792-6201.

Aesthetics:

Guthrie production seeks Black community response

PAGE 5

www.cltnetwork.org

Back in March, I delivered a speech to an NAACP Freedom Fund banquet in my home state of Georgia. I drew on my personal life story to urge poor people, white and black, to pull together and overcome racial divisions. We have to understand that our struggle is against poverty and against those who are blocking our path out of poverty.

Unless we figure this out, I warned, our communities won’t thrive and our children won’t prosper.

As you know, a Tea Party blogger named Andrew Breitbart released an intentionally deceptive, heavily edited clip from that speech to make it look

Plan Your Career: Two kinds of managers

PAGE 7

as if I was delivering exactly the opposite message. Then Fox News blasted that false message across America’s airwaves, creating a firestorm that led to my ouster as the USDA State Director here in Georgia.

Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, GA, for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous.

As he has done in public, Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal. I told him what I want to tell you.

That’s behind us, and the last thing I want to see happen is for my situation to weaken support for the NAACP. Too many

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Sports Report:

Tiger Woods falls down but gets back up

PAGE 11

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The Montego Bay beach front at Ritz Carlton Resort at Rose Hall presents spectacular Caribbean views.

Jamaica From 1 at hand: building a people, and building a nation.

Jamaicans demonstrate their genius and their drive momentby moment, it seems, with the attention they pay to what makes Jamaica work.

We hadn’t been to Jamaica for a couple of years, and, quite frankly, we were floored by all the development, growth, and opportunity. Both arriving and departing Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, we noted the facility, its amenities, and service are on par with MSP, ATL or any other world-class airport operations.

We smiled at each other as we cruised down amplywide median divided four-lane highways on our way to our hotel resort. “We remember when..,” we both thought.

We visited a warehouse store, Mega Mart, to look for some food items to bring back to Minnesota, and maybe purchase an extra small travel bag. We tooled our plastic shopping cart

up and down well stocked isles, stopping for samples along the way. “What? It’s Saturday. Is this Sam’s Club or Costco?”

No, it is Jamaica. A Jamaica committed to the proposition that if it can be done anywhere, it can be done here. If anybody else has done it, whatever it is, Jamaicans can do it too, only better!

I mean, how else could you account for Jamaica’s worldrenown Bobsled Team? How else can explain the universal appeal of Reggae music and Rastafarian culture?

A friend, who was also visiting Jamaica, but on the other end of the Island, noted the same penchant for business and development, but remarked he was still somewhat taken aback by the amount of poverty.

Not to worry, we think, and we know. Because for Jamaicans, the nation’s true wealth is the spirit of the people, and that is an asset that transcends and shatters barriers and lack. It is the essential quality and capacity that properly recognizes the temporal nature of any difficulty and both defines and seizes the opportunity that difficulties seek to obscure.

Tony Mira is general manager

Photos: Al McFarlane

Chef Keisha Barnes reveals the secrets to authentic Caribbean cuisine at the Ritz-Carlton’s Reggae Jerk Center, which features succulent jerk pork and jerk chicken accompanied by native breadfruit, bammy, roast yam and potatoes. of The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort. “I am delighted to be in Jamaica at a hotel renowned for delivering the highest levels of service on the island,” he said in a statement announcing his appointment to the post earlier this year. “I plan to continue the success of this beautiful property and I look forward to working with all of its exceptional ladies and gentlemen.”

Mira, in the hospitality

industry for over 32 years, attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. He worked as general manager at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport in Missouri, the Oakbrook Hotel Chicago, IL, and The Stouffer Hotel, Battle Creek, MI. He joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel

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Every room with an excellent view

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EDUCATION

Tips for building your college resume

By Julian Butler One of the biggest parts of getting into college is having a good

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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 Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporters Shanice Brown Ivan B. Phifer Christopher Toliver Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie 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.

resume to back you up. A problem for many college-bound students is that they apply to college with almost identical resumes. While it is true that colleges do have certain requirements, like good grades and proof that you have been challenging yourself by taking AP and IB courses and good SAT and ACT scores, there is more to it than that to get into the college of your choice.

Education As far as education goes for college, it is good to maintain an A average. The earliest starting point should be your freshman year in high school, but your sophomore year works, too. Having a good SAT and ACT score is also very helpful to get into the college of your choice. Check the website of the college you want to attend for recommended SAT and ACT scores, as well as which test the college prefers. For example, Johns Hopkins University in Maryland has a middle 50 percent SAT range for its freshman class

of 670-770 for mathematics, 630730 for critical reading and 650730 for writing. The average high school GPA for its freshman class is 3.68.

Leadership It is imperative to show colleges that you are a good leader. Any type of leadership that you have ever had, whether it is president of a club, team captain, showing leadership at work, leading the band, or anything that involves leadership would be good for you to put in your resume.

Summer Activities How you spend your summer is very important to colleges.

They want to know that you weren’t just sitting on the couch watching T.V. These activities also give you a chance to get really creative with what you do and that is what colleges love.

For example, my friend Genet has spent her summers making and selling handmade jewelry at local arts events. This is something

shho

she should add to her resume because it shows that she is a hard worker, creative, and good at marketing. Another friend of mine, Julia, is a camp counselor for a summer camp. This shows great leadership in that she is able to organize activities for young kids. The writing that I am doing

for Insight News right now is great to put in my college resume because it shows that I can write as a journalist and meet deadlines.

Volunteering is always good to put on your college resume. A friend of mine, Bert, volunteers every Thursday at a local refugee center. Your local Good Will,

library, pet shelter and many other nonprofit agencies take youth as a volunteers.

There are websites to help youth with jobs and volunteer ideas as well as agencies that provide scholarships for volunteering.

These websites include: StepUp program sponsored by the city of Minneapolis (http://www. ci.minneapolis.mn.us/CPED/ StepUp_home.asp) and Globe Aware (http://www.globeaware. org/about-us) which helps students with global volunteering activities; Summer Activities, leadership activities, and keeping good grades are key for having a good resume for college and even your future jobs. Some colleges look at more things than others like types of study and what you mostly focus on. Like if I wanted to go to Johns Hopkins I might want to go to more medical camps than music camps. Once again check the website of your college of choice to plan it out yourself.

Caribbean students analyze Cuban Revolution impact Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (August 16, 2010) The media was out in full force at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, to cover the August 13th Awards Ceremony of the biennial Eric Williams ‘School Bags’ Essay Competition, whose topic this year was “The Cuban Revolution, 1959-2009: Discuss its successes and failures. What relevance do these have for today’s student?”

The event was hosted by UWI’s Campus Principal, Clement Sankat, and Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, the Hon. Sharon Saunders.

Organized by The Eric Williams Memorial Collection

(EWMC), the contest is open to all final-year Sixth Formers in 178 schools, 17 Caribbean countries.

This year’s Competition, inaugurated in 2007, witnessed a 40% increase in participation, and several countries such as Guyana and Barbados – not previously represented – sent in entries.

First prize winner, among several essays received from her country, is Yunique Shannakay Francis of Holy Childhood School, Jamaica. Topping the Trinidad and Tobago compositions are: second place, Sharifa Ammon, Bishop Anstey’s School (POS); and third, Andrew Ali of Hillview College. Submissions were also received from Grenada, Guyana and Barbados.

The judges were: Dr. Franklin Knight, Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Professor of History, The Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Colin Palmer, Dodge Professor of History, Princeton University; and Dr. Rita Pemberton, Head, UWI St. Augustine Department of History.

The reviewers were pleased with the depth of understanding displayed by the awardees whose submissions were of an exceptionally high quality - well researched, well written and persuasively argued. They were particularly interested in determining whether the students could provide a balanced assessment of a highly controversial event in the Caribbean’s history. They need not have worried. As Yunique

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Aneel Karim, The University of the West Indies, Marketing

Left to right: Andrew M. Ali, Hillview College, Trinidad and Tobago, 3rd-place winner; Yunique Francis, Holy Childhood School, Jamaica, 1st-place winner; and Sharifa Ammon, Bishop Anstey’s School, Trinidad and Tobago, 2nd-place winner.

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AESTHETICS Guthrie production seeks Black community response

By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer It is a tragic storyline: white women falsely accusing Black men of rape. Historic records document actual circumstances spanning generations, from the days of frequent lynch mobs to present day mass media.

However, the case of The Scottsboro Boys gained national attention and sparked the Civil Rights Movement. It was March, 1931, in Scottsboro, AL when nine African American youths were engaged in a fight with white youths on a freight train.

The African American males were pulled off the train, and local authorities persuaded two white females riding the train to claim the men raped them. As word spread with the false accusations, streets filled with an angry lynch mob of local residents, only appeased by the promise of a quick trial, conviction to imprisonment and execution.

For nearly fifty years the nine boys lives would never be the same as they were convicted and confined behind prison bars, and confined by the prison of injustice mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically.

Their story is told by a cast of 11 African American males, one Caucasian male, and one African American female, in a minstrel show format in The Scottsboro Boys by John Kander and the late Fred Ebb, writers of Chicago and Cabaret, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at Guthrie Theater, now through September 25, 2010. The Broadway-bound production that was featured OffBroadway at the Vineyard Theatre before its Guthrie Theater debut

is directed by five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman, who directed The Producers, and features a book by David Thompson. The history of the story is jarring. The connotation of a minstrel show is painful. Yet, the combination of two challenging constructs prompts a courageous conversation on racial ideology for people of all ethnicities.

Colman Domingo, an award winning 19-year veteran actor with experience on Broadway, (most recently starring in Chicago), film and television, plays six different characters as Mr. Bones, one of two endmen in the play. Domingo recalls his introduction to the story in an African American Studies course as a sophomore at Temple University. “I was really blown away more than anything…… as an African American man, all those fears that my parents had for me growing up, my stepfather grew up in the south and my mother grew up in Philadelphia, but they always had these fears for me when I would go to other neighborhoods. They feared for my safety and I didn’t understand why because I thought I was living in a very modern age --but they had their fears for me growing up and they were not unjustified.

When I learned more about the Scottsboro case I was like now I know exactly what they were talking about,” said Domingo.

The same fears are played on as the audience is simultaneously entertained through song and dance, all the while reliving a tragedy through the devices of a minstrel show. Minstrel shows, a big part of American entertainment for 100 years during the 19th and 20th centuries, are comedic, theatrical performances done in song and dance, with characters in

Paul Kolnik

The cast of The Scottsboro Boys, music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson. Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, with set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James and lighting design by Ken Billington. black face relaying stereotypical messages. Characters include an interlocutor who serves as the emcee of the production, sings a few songs, and is the object of jokes told by the endmen. Endmen are two characters who played the tambourine and bones, and were called Tambo and Bones.

They wore black face with big painted lips, dressed in plantation clothes, and told jokes about the interlocutor. In this production African American males portray white men as the endmen.

For Domingo, the production correlates to a lot of present day social injustices. “It looks at a lot of damaging images about African Americans and also the story is so painful. It’s also a story that is not so unfamiliar to what happens today in the judicial system, in the jail system, etc, and how Black men are often misrepresented or

Anticipating Takers

By Alaina Lewis Contributing Writer The moment audiences laid eyes on the trailer last year for Takers, a Will Packer-produced film, we knew “urgency” would be the new diet, and “anticipation” would have to be the only ease for the palette.

For instant fans of the flick, it’s incredibly hard to have patience, especially if pressing the breaks, means waiting on the latest genius endeavor from one of the industry’s most talented producers who also brought us features such as Stomp The Yard and This Christmas.

But finally, now that the wait is over and August 27 marks a new day and a new era in black entertainment, as we’re introduced to one of the most anticipated films of the summer.

Idris Elba, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Hayden Christiansen, Paul Walker, Chris Brown, Matt Dillon, Michael Ealy… dare I go on?

Suited and pressed; set to devour any screen time with

Will Packer a generous dose of chivalry meets chaos. These men, aren’t just any average Joe’s, they are the Takers. And what they’ve come for is more than just the vein of your cinematic attention span. Rather, they’ve come to impart a new layer in motion picture entertainment; a big budget crime, action, thriller.

Takers, is a film about a

Photo courtesy Will Packer

group of professional criminals, bank robbers to be exact, who under the advisement of their newly paroled partner Ghost, played by Tip “T.I.” Harris, decide to go out with one last large job: A bank job to end all bank jobs. However, they run into a bit of trouble when

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underrepresented. When we are talking about racism, in 1931 in the south, oddly enough I can relate to it in 2010. And so in doing the research it really brought up issues of what is happening today in America especially now in this age of Obama and how people are treating him as President of the United States.

And how bigotry and racism is still running so rampant and it is not even disguised, I think. It really shocked me into this uber awareness of what’s happening in my present day in our lives right now when people can just stand up and yell at the president ‘you lie’ with so much disrespect,” said Coleman.

People from all walks of life have experienced the production

and interpreted an awareness that made them face their own reality.

Domingo often witnesses a range of responses to the work he and his fellow cast mates present nearly every night.

“Someone in the same breath can be laughing, right next to them someone is completely shocked and horrified, and someone next to them is crying. So I think this piece will challenge you to hear it in a different way or to see something different.”

Domingo was introduced to the production by an artistic director who encouraged him to check it out. He received the script, read the title, “The Scottsboro Boys: A Minstrel Show”, and considered the known integrity of the writers

and director, and thought there must be something cool about the piece. As he proceeded to read the script he knew immediately that he had to be a part of the production. “I thought it was really special, I thought it was really fresh, different and original and it was so in alignment with me as a creative artist. It’s not just about entertainment, it’s about social change,” he said.

In order for social change to take effect through this production, Domingo is seeking the help of the African- American community to meet him and his fellow cast mates halfway. As they perform the material from a place of honesty, they want the community to encourage their creativity and work regarding such a large social issue that has transcended generations.

Domingo said, “It’s my personal plea to make sure the African American community supports this musical and comes out. Come out like they would come out for a Tyler Perry movie. Eleven Black men on stage together and we are not playing gang bangers and thugs. It’s that special thing that comes along once in a lifetime and I really want us to recognize that this is our story. This is our entertainment. We are taking back the way we tell the story. It is owning the form of minstrelsy as well as owning who we are.

And with that ownership we have got to come out and support it. We have got to come out and make this story fly and sing, to let people know that we want to hear more stories like this.”

For tickets to The Scottsboro Boys visit www.guthrietheater. org or call (612) 377-2224.

Page 6 • August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Insight News

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HEALTH Anthony Hamilton speaks up for children in court break when he collaborated with the Nappy Roots on “Po’ Folks.”

That performance earned the singer his first GRAMMY nomination for best rap/sung collaboration and a new label, legendary music producer Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def imprint. A year later, Hamilton’s platinum debut “Coming From Where I’m From” was released, followed by the gold-certified “Ain’t Nobody Worryin’” (2005).

Hamilton’s most recent album, “The Point of It All,” was released in December 2008 on So So Def Recordings/Jive Records. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/ Hip Hop Album Chart and at #11 on Billboard’s 200 Chart.

“The Point of It All” sold 133,000 copies in its first week of release, the highest sales week of Hamilton’s career.

Anthony Hamilton The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association announced that GRAMMY Award-winning R&B recording artist Anthony Hamilton will serve as a national spokesman for the organization.

Through the use of a :30 PSA, Hamilton will work diligently to recruit African American male volunteers for the national nonprofit organization.

He will also represent CASA at national child welfare conferences and events around the country to raise awareness of the growing number of African American children in the foster care system.

David Soukup, a Seattle Superior Court Judge, developed the CASA concept in 1977, after becoming concerned about making decisions on behalf of abused and neglected children without enough information.

He conceived the idea of appointing community volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court.

Today, there are more than 70,000 CASA volunteers who advocate for more than 230,000 children in the foster care system.

These caring adults serve as fact-finders for judges by thoroughly researching the background of assigned cases and ensuring that they are brought to a swift and appropriate conclusion. In the United States, more than 152,000 African American children are in the child welfare system, with boys representing more than half of the children in foster care; yet there are only 8,400 African American CASA volunteers.

“We are honored and excited that Anthony Hamilton will serve as one of our national spokesmen,” stated Michael Piraino, chief executive

Photo by Jonathan Mannion

officer of the National CASA Association.

“His passion and dedication for children will go a long way to help us recruit much needed African American male volunteers.”

Hamilton will work alongside Judge Glenda Hatchett, who has been a national spokeswoman for CASA for the past seven years, to raise awareness of the organization and to recruit volunteers.

“Our boys need positive role models,” noted Hamilton.

“Becoming a part of CASA will provide me with an opportunity to reach out to those men who can become everyday heroes to these children, and help change their life of hurt, into one of hope.”

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Hamilton first discovered his musical talents at the age of 10 while singing in his church choir. In 2002, Hamilton received his career-molding

The critically acclaimed, goldcertified album also received three GRAMMY nominations, earning Hamilton a career total of 10 GRAMMY nominations.

Not just a fan favorite, Hamilton is also the go-to singer for other recording artists whether the medium is country, hip-hop, R&B/soul, pop or gospel. He has sung with a veritable list of who’s who in the music industry, including Al Green, Josh Turner, Keyshia Cole, John Rich (Big & Rich), Carlos Santana, and Mint Condition.

A multi-talented artist, Hamilton’s brand extends way beyond the music industry.

In 2007, he made a cameo appearance in the blockbuster, Oscar-nominated film “American Gangster” starring Denzel Washington, where he performed the soundtrack’s

lead song, the Diane Warrenpenned “Do You Feel Me.” The film debuted at #1 and Hamilton’s emotion-packed lyrical performance served as a pinnacle point in the timeless film. That same year, Hamilton caught the attention of the Jordan brand and became the second non-athlete in history to be endorsed by the corporation and was enlisted as one of the all-star performers on “We Are The World: 25 Years for Haiti.”

Over the course of Hamilton’s illustrious career, he has been nominated and won numerous awards, including the 2004 Vibe Music Awards for best collaboration and the Vibe Next Award; the 2006 BET J Cool Like Dat Award; and the 2009 GRAMMY Award for best traditional R&B vocal performance for “You Got the Love I Need” with Al Green.

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Insight News • August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Page 7

BUSINESS Hands-on, hands-off: Two kinds of managers

By Julie Desmond Contributing Writer My friend Jim Johnson heads up a successful staffing agency in Minneapolis. Over the past two years, he had to let three managers go. “The economy?”

I ask, nodding like I know what I am talking about. “Not at all,” he replies. “Business is good, and they were good managers. They just weren’t the kind of managers we needed.”

Jim is perceptive. There are only two kinds of managers, and their categories are not Dumb and Dumber. Whether you are a manager now, aspiring to manage or being managed, you may know the types: Hands Off and Hands On. Knowing which manager you are or are reporting to will help you navigate through business’ ups and downs effectively.

Essay From 4 Francis queried: “What are the implications of the Revolution for students like me? Because of its internationalist nature, several Jamaicans, who could not have realized their dreams without them, have received scholarships to study medicine in Cuba, returning home to provide care to disadvantaged Jamaicans at public hospitals.” Sharifa Ammon’s take on the subject was equally clear: “Lessons in perseverance, resilience, self-sufficiency and solidarity can also be learned.” And, in addressing some of the failures of the 50-year-old Revolution, Andrew Ali paid special attention to what he characterized as Cuba’s political oppression of its people and its diplomatic ‘pariah’ status.

Patrons of the Essay Competition are: A & B Book Distributors; Banwari Tours; Calaloux Publications; Caribbean Airlines, Ltd.; CARICOM;

Hands Off managers are reporting superheroes.

They work by the numbers, create goals based on activity levels and measure effectiveness on time clocks and spreadsheets. Hands Off managers are found down the hall, in a private office, behind a closed door. They schedule meetings in advance and, if you need a day off, a Hands Off manager will be quick to grant it, if you have time coming to you.

If your management style is Hands Off, you will be most effective when your team is well trained and experienced. You might have a natural leader in your department who lets you know about trouble brewing, but most days are business-asusual. You see a manager’s role as parent, not friend, so to speak, and keep some distance between yourself and the company happy hour.

If your manager is Hands Off, be grateful. You know exactly what is expected of you and you can work independently, as long as you make your deadlines, attend meetings and achieve your goals. Don’t bring personal problems to a Hands Off manager; he or she has challenges of his/her own. Align yourself with your teammates and you will be able to help each other succeed.

Hands On managers, conversely, are in the middle of everything. They have a desk in the cube next door, and wheel over in a chair when they hear snippets of interesting conversation.

Hands On managers ride the ebb and flow of busy-ness in an organization. They keep an erratic schedule and expect you to ride along. Meetings happen on the fly, as needed. If you want a day off, no problem, as long as things are quiet around here.

Digicel, Trinidad & Tobago, Ltd.; Encyclopedia of the Caribbean - Professor John Garrigus; High Commission, Jamaica; IOKTS Productions; Journal of African American History; Kelly Services Customs Brokerage, Ltd.; LIAT (1974), Ltd.; Majority Press; Markus Wiener Publishers; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; The Miami Herald Newspaper; The University of the West Indies; Trinidad Hilton Hotel; UNESCO: British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago; Yorke Structures, Ltd. Prizes include: a four-day trip for two to Trinidad and Tobago with airfare, hotel accommodations and two meals daily; a laptop computer; various tours; US $1,500 in educational vouchers; courtesy calls on the President of Trinidad and Tobago and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; a set of Eric Williams’ books; and a framed certificate. The winning essay will be published in the Miami Herald’s online edition, and CARICOM’s and UWI’s (three campus) newsletters.

Scholar-statesman Eric Williams led the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for a quarter century until his death in 1981. Paying special attention to learning, “to educate is to emancipate”, on August 30, 1962, the eve of his country’s Independence from Britain, he exhorted: “You, the children, yours is the great responsibility to educate your parents…you carry the future of [the Nation] in your school bags.”

He would have been immensely proud of the intellectual calibre displayed in this Competition that bears his name, which bodes exceedingly well for the region’s future.

The Eric Williams Memorial Collection at The University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago comprises the Research Library, Archives and Museum of Eric Williams. It was inaugurated by former US Secretary of State Colin Powell in 1998, and named to UNECSO’s prestigious Memory of the World Register in 1999.

If your management style is Hands On, you have an entrepreneurial spirit and adapt quickly to changes in customer demands.

You know every process in your department and recognize the individuals best suited to each role. You are a key player; you lead from the front, and expect your team to follow your example.

If your manager is Hands On, be grateful. You will have the boss’ ear on all things business and personal, and your successes – and failures – will be noticed.

If you miss a goal, your manager will understand, because he or she knows firsthand the effort you put in to get there. Learn all you can from a Hands On manager; he or she will appreciate your interest

and will help you succeed.

Julie Desmond has fifteen years’ experience in recruiting and talent management. She currently leads job search and career planning workshops throughout the Twin Cities. Send your job search and career planning questions to julie@insightnews.com.

Page 8 • August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE Back to school

Read, write, respect: Essential wisdom not sold in stores Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com “Have you started/finished your school shopping yet?” Most likely you have either asked or been asked that question by now. With the start of school around the corner for most kids, it’s an obvious question.

School supply lists are now posted everywhere-at schools, on their websites, and at local stores. Retailers are featuring special sales and coupons for everything from underwear to winter coats. Yet, there is one essential back-to-school supply that isn’t sold in stores.

It’s wisdom. New notebooks, pencils, and school clothes mean nothing if we send our

Sherrod From 1 people confronted by racism and poverty count on the NAACP to be there for them, especially those in rural areas who often have nowhere else to turn.

People ask me, “Shirley, how are you getting through all of this?” I tell them that, if they knew what I have lived through, they’d understand that these current challenges aren’t about

WRITE a note of introduction to the teacher. It’s another wise move if you want to start the year off on the right note. You and/or your child could pen a brief note to tell the teacher that you are anticipating a positive and productive school year of working together. Maybe you could politely include any relevant information about your child (i.e., his favorite subject is science and he loves science experiments).

kids off to school without challenging them to do their best; listen to and respect the school staff, put forth their best effort, and avoid trouble (and trouble-makers). Let’s get the school year off to a good start by reviewing a few aspects of wisdom. After all, it’s the most important tool for school and for life.

READ books that make you wise. In addition to assigned homework, help your child develop a love of reading.

Consider having a nightly family reading time and select various books written by or about wise individuals. Begin with just ten minutes per evening and see what happens. Our family finds lots of wisdom during our nightly Bible reading of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs was written by the wisest man that ever lived-Solomon. The Bible says that the newly appointed king, Solomon, was instructed by God to name the to throw me off course.

When I was 17-years-old, my father was murdered by a white man in Baker County, GA. There were three witnesses, but the grand jury refused to indict the person responsible. I knew I had to do something in answer to my father’s death.

That very night, I made a commitment that I would stay in the South and fight for change.

I have lived true to that commitment for 45 years. I didn’t yield when, just months

intentions, and listen more than you talk. That way you will be better able to discern the facts of a situation. Advocate for your child, but also remember that it’s possible your little Johnny is actually misbehaving.

Each school year brings new opportunity for a fresh start and new beginning. Help make this year your child’s best year yet! Help to build his confidence by telling him that you believe in his ability to do well. Begin now by speaking optimistically about this year’s goals and expectations.

In addition, equip your future leaders with important elements of wisdom; seeking and applying knowledge in a way that demonstrates respect for self and others. Enjoy!

thing he wanted most. God promised that he would grant whatever request Solomon made. Solomon made a simple yet profound request.

He wanted to be filled with wisdom so that he could lead God’s people properly. Apparently, God was impressed. He told the young king that since he did not ask for riches, honor, that, in

addition to wisdom, he’d have riches, honor, and fame unlike any other king-past, present or future. Solomon went on to write about wisdom. His collections of Proverbs, which are divided into thirty-one chapters, make it easy to read a chapter a day and increase your family’s wisdom

RESPECT for others is necessary. Always demonstrate respect for your child’s teacher and your child will follow your lead. Resist the urge to talk bad about the teacher when you are upset about a matter.

Even if you have a teacher who is particularly challenging, show your child how to professionally and respectfully address concerns. Arrange a meeting with the teacher, then the principal, if necessary, to resolve issues. Assume pure

after my father was killed, they came in the middle of the night to burn a cross in front of our house with my mother, four sisters, and the baby brother my father never got to see still inside.

And I’m surely not going to yield because some Tea Party agitator sat at his computer and turned everything I said upside down and inside out.

I learned a lot of lessons from my parents growing up, but one of the most important ones is what my mother taught her children after our father was

killed. She told us we mustn’t try to live with hate in our hearts.

My mother led by example.

Just 11 years after that crossburning incident, she became the first Black elected official in Baker County, and she’s still serving, still working to bring people together.

You and I have to keep working as well. Change has to start with us. I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I have received over these last few weeks. It means so much to me and my family.

But you and I have to make

sure that people all across the country who wage a daily struggle against poverty and racism have support networks as well. And that’s why your personal involvement in sustaining the NAACP is so critical.

The NAACP confronts the virulent racism that my family and so many other families have had to endure. But it is also leading the way in breaking down the structural barriers that block so many people’s paths out of poverty.

In our struggle between the

“haves” and the “have-nots,” they want to keep the poor divided - and we have to insist, by our words and our actions, that there is no difference between us.

As we move forward together, I urge you to remember this: Life is a grindstone. But whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.

Thank you for all you are doing to challenge poverty and racism. I look forward to working and struggling right by your side.

CitySongs

provide van transportation for CitySongs participants who need it, through a grant from the Greater Twin Cities United Way. “We hope to build more partnerships to support CitySongs,” Goodenough said. “It could be an enriching activity offered at several sites.

I also hope we can bring in additional expertise from the U

to build the program—people from youth studies and the music program, for example.”

In the meantime, Reeves is looking for children who enjoy singing and for parents who would like a diverse, active, and supportive after-school program for their children. She also would love to hear from potential volunteers who can

help with the program, and from donors who would be willing to provide CitySongs with financial support.

Reeves may be reached at creeves@umn.edu or (612) 624-4556 or (612) 643-2040.

More information is available at www.citysongs.umn.edu.

Geri-Jean Blanchard

From 1 good fit.”

Goodenough said transportation can be an issue for some children who want to participate but can’t get to the location. This coming school year, PCYC will be able to

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Page 9

Marcus Garvey laid foundation for African capitalism

By William Reed Aug 17, 2010, marks the 123rd anniversary of the birth of Marcus Garvey. The legend of Garvey is based on his leadership toward Blacks’ pride and selfdetermination. When Garvey died in 1940, European countries dominated the world. But, it was his teachings that spurred uprisings and rising expectations of among colonies. Though Garvey had passed, it was his ideology that was the basis of the 5th Pan-African Congress agenda in 1945 in Manchester, England. That event was attended

by Black legends such as Kwame Nkrumah, W.E.B. DuBois and Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta and, through the influence of Garvey, marked the first time Africans from Africa, the Caribbean and the United States, got together to design programs for the future independence of Africa.

Through his public speeches and newspaper the Negro World, Marcus Garvey became one of the most significant Black leaders of the 20th century. Born in 1887 and raised in Jamaica, Garvey travelled in Central and South America and England.

In 1914 while still in Jamaica, Garvey started the Universal

Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and began speaking out in favor of worldwide Black unity and an end to colonialism. Garvey moved to the United States in 1916 and directed the largest mass-based movement among African Americans in history. During his time in America, Garvey’s visions became the procedural and conceptual models toward African American capitalism.

He helped start the Black Star Line, which was both a business venture and a part of his “back to Africa” plan that African Americans should return to Africa and set up their own new country there.

Post-racial Blacks shy away from Garvey. He’s always been a controversial figure: back in the day, he favored fiery rhetoric and elaborate uniforms and was considered “dangerous” by establishment-oriented politicians. He was jailed in 1925 after being convicted of mail fraud (related to the sale of Black Star Line stock), but his sentence was reduced and he was deported to Jamaica two years later. Garvey eventually returned to London, England, where he died in 1940. His body was sent to Jamaica in 1964, where he is revered as one the country’s

Marcus Garvey

Eldon Spence, an accomplished guitar player and singer, serenades breakfast guests at the Ritz-Carlton in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He says he always wanted to be an artist and his favorite subjects in school were art and painting, batik leather work and screen painting. He joined a group of artists led by Wilfred Black. By observing them, he developed his own style and thus, rightly describes himself as self-taught. RBC Dominion Securities commissioned Spence to create a unique piece of art to represent the 2009 Executive Council.

Jamaica From 2 Company in 2006 as general manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn.

“I look forward to becoming a part of The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall family and working with the ladies and gentlemen in maintaining our standard of service excellence in being Jamaica’s only AAA Five Diamond property, ” Mira said.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort offers 5,000 picture-perfect acres of Montego Bay luxury and features 427 guest rooms and suites, each with a private balcony or terrace. The property boasts the 18-hole championship White Witch Golf Course. It has five exceptional dining establishments and over 25,000 square feet of meeting and

Packer From 5 their mission is intercepted by a hard-nosed detective played

by Matt Dillon, who stands between their success and failure of completing the task.

Packer who’s continually proving himself to be one to keep an eye on, sat down with Insight Newspaper to promote this incredible feature, and share more reason’s why we’re going to be instantly taken away by his new feature film Takers.

Insight News: How do you go from an Electrical Engineer to a filmmaker?

Will Packer: I got a scholarship to attend an electrical engineering program at Florida A&M University. I was always really proficient in math and science, so it was a degree that made sense to me. My Dad was an engineer, but it wasn’t something that drove me. I wasn’t passionate about it. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, I just didn’t know exactly what type of entrepreneur I wanted to be, so while I figured that out, I kept the scholarship and followed my parents’ wishes.

I made it through the electrical engineering program, and completed the degree, and graduated magna cum laude.

Along the way, a funny thing happened. I hooked up with my college roommate, fraternity brother, and best friend, Rob Hardy, and he and I formed Rainforest Films while

function space. Luxury shopping is nearby at The Shoppes at Rose Hall.

Ritz-Carlton guest rooms feature 37 and 42 inch high-definition, LCD flatpanel television with complimentary premium channels and complimentary high speed internet access. Each room has a fully-stocked refreshment cabinet and, for your valuables, an in-room safe. The resort hotel provides 24-hour room service, and exceptional daily housekeeping service. The marble bathrooms with separate shower and bathtub simply mean one more place to relax and unwind in elegant comfort.

Ritz-Carlton pampers guests with its 8,000 square foot Spa, Fitness Center and Beauty Salon. The resort’s Boutique and Gift Shop stocks anything you forgot to bring, and toiletries you will want to take home to keep the memory of paradise found vibrantly fresh in your mind.

we were in college because he wanted to be a movie director.

I helped him make a small independent called Chocolate City, while we were at FAM U. I helped him put together the financing, I helped him find the actors, and I helped him get distribution. It wasn’t until later when I realized that this is exactly what a producer does. After the success of that film, we were kind of off and running. I realized then that I had found my entrepreneurial endeavor, and that was film.

That’s what got me into it, and since then, I’ve grown as a creative producer, who looks and develops projects and screenplays and the like.

IN: Did you find it hard to break into the industry, or was it easy after Chocolate City to step into your position and get where you are today?

WP: It’s definitely not easy. It’s difficult to make any movie, I don’t care if it’s a $1 million dollar indie, or a $50 million larger budget studio movie. It’s tough to get a movie made. I think that Chocolate City was definitely a launching pad for me and for my partner to get going. Along the way, there definitely have been additional challenges because once you do it, the challenge is to do it here, to do it better, and to do it bigger.

Takers represents that. It represents my latest foray into a theatrically-released film, putting it out there to be judged by others, and for people to see my work, and my hard earned, hard cut efforts. I hope it will be well received, because

U.S. Library of Congress

the props of economic life. The mantra was “Without commerce and industry a people perish”.

Garvey’s economic impact in America included hundreds of profit-generating UNIA businesses; and his never again duplicated campaign that persuaded Black investors to purchase stock in an international shipping line to carry passengers and freight between America, Africa and the West Indies. The Black Star, incorporated in 1919, was capitalized exclusively by African Americans. The name Black Star Line was a riff on the White Star Line, the British shipping company whose most famous vessel was the Titanic.

Ownership gave Garveyites pride and hope for prosperous returns.

The BSL acquired three steam ships, but by 1922, they were lost and the corporation collapsed.

The BSL is noteworthy as the first large-scale business venture financed and managed by African Americans.

The “Back to Africa” man actually never set foot there, but many modern-day Liberians are Garveyite descendants.

William Reed is available for speaking engagements via BaileyGroup.org

Photos: Al McFarlane

Energy, enthusiasm, excellence: Michelle Allen, Uroy Williams, Manager, and Kimone Dobson at the Ritz-Carlton.

Ritz-Carlton’s on-property walking and jogging trail, its outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, its two lighted tennis courts, and its non-motorized water sports program, mean you can keep as busy as you would like as you enjoy island sea and sun, soaking up Jamaican culture and hospitality.

Family friendly, the resort’s The Ritz Kids program and babysitting services offer supervised physical and creative activities designed especially for children ages 5-12. With full or half-day options, seven days a week, Ritz Kids programming includes beach games and water sports, creative arts and crafts, educational entertainment, environmental outdoor adventures and nature programs. Kids can enjoy swimming, sand castle building, water balloons, frisbee games, volleyball, junior tennis, board games and

this is my latest attempt to do bigger and better things.

IN: You’ve gone from making more urban-based films to this one, in the sense that it’s a more high scale action thriller, and has both white and Black actors and actresses in it. Why Takers?

WP: I loved the script. The content was really, really good.

I read it, and thought this could be cool. I thought it would be cool if it has a diversity of characters. You don’t usually see a film like this, with as many African American faces in it as we have. I thought when I read the script, that it would be really really cool to put this crew together. They’re cool, young and hip. When you add Idris Elba, opposite a Paul Walker, and a T.I. and Chris Brown and with a Hayden Christiansen, Michael Ealy and Zoe SaldanaI thought that would be a really interesting mix that audiences would respond to.

I also thought that women would respond to this as well.

Action movies typically are the domain of male moviegoers, especially young males. That’s how Hollywood kind of looks at these things because that is a genre that young males typically support the heaviest.

But I thought that if you put an attractive group of guys in the movie, we could potentially unlock a whole other demo.

IN: What was the most difficult thing for you when it came to pushing this film and securing funding?

WP: Every film has its own unique challenges, and this was no different. It was a film that

heroes.

Initially Garvey was a student and admirer of Booker T. Washington and his approach toward business and self-reliance; encouraging former slaves “to work hard, demonstrate good morals and strong character” and not worry about politics as a tool for advancement. Garvey evolved Washington’s approach through use of collective decisionmaking and group profit-sharing techniques - the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). It was eye-opening for Blacks across America when, in 1919 Garvey purchased an auditorium in Harlem and named it Liberty Hall. From that platform Garvey and the UNIA established 700 branches in thirty-eight states. “If you want liberty you must strike the blow.

If you must be free, you must become so through your own effort.” In his wake, groups such as Father Divine’s Universal Peace Mission Movement in the 1930s, and the Nation of Islam of the 1950s and 60s, drew members and philosophy from Garvey. Garvey’s theory of racial separation was a stratagem to ensure Black self-reliance based on the philosophy and that commerce and industry are

videos, and croquet.

Babysitters are certified in infant, child and adult CPR and basic first aid.

The Ritz-Carlton is also home to an astonishing collection of Jamaican art. Its gallery provides discerning travelers access to a level and quality of creativity that documents and celebrates the Caribbean experience. Ritz-Carlton exhibits unique pieces throughout the property. Guests can immerse themselves in Jamaica’s celebrated culture through innovative artwork that reflects the rich heritage and diverse population of the island.

The collection embraces the beauty and natural warmth of the region with a display of lively colors and sophisticated fixtures through various mediums of expression. Intended to enhance the lifestyle experience for travelers, the collection affords visitors the opportunity

was very ambitious. It’s a large action film. It’s not a budget on the level of say an A-Team or a Spiderman, or an Expendables, so I didn’t have the same level of budget those guys had, but I had the same vision or a similar vision that this was going to be a big film. That was a challenge.

Anytime you’re working with a cast of this size, you’re going to have challenges with regard to scheduling, availability, and making sure you have material that supports all the various characters. You have those challenges. And then in the distribution and marketing process, we’ve had to move our release date a couple of times for various reasons, and that can be a challenge. At the end of the day, I truly believe that things happen the way they’re supposed to, and everything happens for a reason whether we know what that is or not.

I’m happy that the film that I made got done, and that it’s being released when it’s being released because I think audiences are really going to respond to it.

IN: When you were reading the script, did you know right away who was going to play each character? Did you have an idea before you even had the casting call, who was going to fit those molds and make those characters come to life?

WP: Absolutely. When you read a script, certain characters and certain actors come to mind and this one was no different. I think Idris Elba was one of the first calls I made, and T.I. was probably the second. Those

to embrace Jamaica’s rich culture through the eyes of Jamaican artists.

“Not only does showcasing art developed by Jamaican artists create a sense of place by enhancing the property’s architectural and interior décor, but it gives the hotel an opportunity to support and give back to the area’s art community,” said Bernd Kuhlen, Mira’s predecessor as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton. “As part of the company’s Community Footprints program, an initiative where RitzCarlton Hotels collaborate with local organizations to assist and support social and environmental responsibility, the hotel will donate 5% of the proceeds for each painting sold to a local charity, such as the Blossoms Gardens Orphanage or the S.O.S. Children’s Village,” Kuhlen said.

are guys that I knew and their characters have very pivotal roles in this project. The rest of the cast, are guys I really wanted to work with. I really wanted to work with Michael Ealy because he’s one of the best that are doing it out there today, and I think that he is not as hailed as he should be or will be. Zoe Saldana, I love her. I brokered Chris Brown on three other movies and he brings a level of physicality to his roles that nobody can, quite like him.

I didn’t know Matt Dillon, or Hayden Christiansen or Paul Walker before this movie, but they’re people whose work I was very, very familiar with.

Then we have people like Steve Harris, and Glen Turman in the film who have smaller roles, but these are guys that whatever they do, they do it right. Even in our supporting roles we had some truly strong character actors.

IN: What do you think audiences are going to takeaway from this film that they haven’t taken away from your other films in the past?

WP: Hopefully, audiences will walk out of the theater feeling like whatever expectations they had were met, or exceeded. I hope they will walk out feeling like they were entertained and that they had a true entertaining experience. I think that they will. I certainly hope so. I hope that they won’t feel like Will Packer wasted an hour and a half of their lives. [Laughs].

IN: What’s next after Takers?

WP: After this, the next film that will be released is Stomp

the Yard: Homecoming which will be out this fall. I’m also working on a biopic, a true story about a woman named Kemba Smith, who was sentenced to over 24 years in prison because her boyfriend was on the FBI’s most wanted list. After six years in prison, Bill Clinton pardoned her. I’m also working on an adaptation of Steve Harvey’s best selling novel, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.” We’ve got that, and some other stuff we’re working on, but we want to continue making quality products.

IN: What advice do you have for young writers, and young producers on how to break into the industry?

WP: I always like to tell people that you control your own destiny. I really believe that. You define your own success. Everybody’s path to success is different, but you define what that is, so don’t let someone else define it for you. To young people that have a dream of getting in this industry and being successful: make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and don’t stop because someone else has told you “no.” I’ve been told “no,” so many times. I’ve forgotten the “nos” because they don’t really matter. Once I got that one “yes,” that matters.

I was able to move forward and that’s what really counts in this business. I tell people who have a dream, don’t ever get it up, it’s your dream. Why would you let someone else tell you, when your dream is over?

Page 10 •August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Insight News

insightnews.com

COMMUNITY

Security guru Ken Bower give tips on bicycle commuting safety “Sharing the road with bicyclists is very important, especially when commuting on busy city streets,” writes security guru Ken Bower, Vice President and General Manager for AlliedBarton Security Services, the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel “Today, bicycling has become popular as an environmentally friendly and cost effective transportation alternative as well as a fun and healthy recreational activity. Novice and experienced cyclists need to make safety a top priority. Ken Bower offers Insight News the following tips on Bicycle Safety: 1.

Cyclists must obey traffic laws - Do you think that riding on the sidewalk is safer than riding in the street? Cycling on the sidewalk means having to dodge pedestrians, pets, garbage cans, parking meters and signs. Bicycles are considered vehicles and cyclists should obey the same traffic laws as motorists.

Travel on the right side of the road with traffic, and do not ride on the sidewalk. Obey all stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings.

Use proper hand signals before making any lane changes or turns.

2.

Choose a route that is safe for cyclists - When considering your route, don’t think like a motorist. Think like a cyclist.

Pick the most pleasant route.

Consult Google Earth or Bikely.

repair, and check your brakes, tires and gears often. Have a bike expert teach you the basics so that you can continue routine maintenance.

Your bicycle should be equipped with reflectors and lights. The most common repair you will encounter as a bike commuter will be a flat tire.

You should also monitor brake wear.

Many bicycle shops, community colleges, adult education programs or bicycle organizations offer workshops or classes in bike repair.

Check for classes in your area.

Replace your chain every 2,000 miles or so. Clean and oil your chain frequently, especially after riding in the rain, and replace it regularly.

4.

Parking your bike securely - Where do you leave your bike once you get to where you are going? More than half of the one million bikes stolen every year weren’t locked. Find a solid object, a street sign or post and secure your bike onto it with a good lock (or

Photos courtesy of AlliedBarton Security Services

com to research your trip. Ask your local department of transportation if they have a bike route map. Talk to a professional at your local bike shop or bike club to find out what routes are the safest. Additionally, many cities have implemented bike lanes specific for bicycle

commuters. Be aware of other users on bike paths, such as folks with strollers or dogs. Announce that you are passing on the left when overtaking someone on the bike path.

3.

Maintenance and repair make for a safer commute - Make sure all parts are in good

CL LA A SSIFI SSIF I EDS E DS PHONE: 612.588.1313

FAX: 612.588.2031

EMAIL: sales@insightnews.com

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.

2.

Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy.

3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants.

4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports.

5.

Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood development. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred.

EMPLOYMENT

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The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration.

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Ken Bower more than one, to further discourage theft). Make sure that the pole has something on top that will prevent your bike from being slid over it.

The safest object to lock your bike onto is a bike rack. You could also ask your manager or supervisor for a storage area where they’ll let you leave your bike for the day

if you are commuting to work.

5.

Safety equipment - Safety equipment begins with the helmet. Wearing an approved helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by up to 85-percent in the event of an accident. Modern helmets protect better and are well ventilated.

6.

Try to avoid riding your bike at night - However, if you must commute in the dark, you will need effective lighting and reflective equipment. Most states require some kind of front illumination, and it is safer to have a headlight and rear flashers. There are a variety of inexpensive flashers available.

Additionally, your clothing should be bright and have reflective strips.

It is also important to carry small repair and first aid kits with you. For the minor repairs you might expect with everyday bike commuting carry a patch kit, a spare inner tube, an air pump and a multitool.

Dr. Dorie McKnight brings the message of recoverry and healing to the stage “Love Covers”, a stage play

by Dr. Dorie McKnight at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, 410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403 on Saturday, August 28th at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and August 29th at 7:00 pm. A special guest appearance from Ambassador Dr. N. Cindy Trimm.

The show will feature talent such as: recording artist and actress Tonia Hughes Kendrick, who has worked with

Penumbra (Black Nativity) and the Guthrie; Bernice Gregory, an internationally known gospel singer; Marion Robinson, a music director and founder of Kingdom Reality Group; and Sheila Raye Charles, the daughter of the legendary Ray Charles, who travels the world sharing the music of her father.

Sheila also is reaching out to incarcerated men and women to help rehabilitate them during their road to recovery.

Dr. Dorie McKnight

Tickets are available at www. theplaylovecovers.eventbrite. com or you may call (952) 2397939.

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Insight News • August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Page 11

SPORTS Tiger Woods falls down, but gets back up days of his career on the golf course, and his troubles were even on a golf course that he has dominated like no other over the years. This was the one weekend that a bunch of wanna-be golfers (like me) could dream of possibly beating Tiger Woods in the game that he has mastered like no other (I repeat, dream). He looked beaten. But he wore it well.

Woods even had to jokingly make the point to a questioning journalist that, “I could still beat you.” His ability to joke about it, while still maintaining that “eye on the prize” says everything about whether Tiger can make it back to the top.

And lest everyone forgets, he is still ranked as the #1 golfer in the World; another example

Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com …Oh! Never mind. Brett Favre is back! Let’s talk about that instead! …Actually, let’s just wait until after the Vikings’ first game versus the reigning Superbowl Champion New Orleans Saints (shout out to the “Wardies” from the New Orleans neighborhoods). All I know is that the Vikings better put some type of concrete or force field around Favre’s ankle, because all year they will be lining up against some well-paid, ridiculously sized people to zero in on that ankle, but never fear, The Tarvaris Jackson Fan Club is still here.

Enough of that Barnum & Bailey & Favre Circus, we’ll give Tiger Woods his last shout out before this year’s golf season closes. Contrary to the many stories that suggest the demise of the worlds’ most famous adulterer, Tiger Woods, we have instead, the usual story that has been going on since the beginning of time has been unfolding instead: the story of redemption.

It’s amazing how folks get caught up in the moment of things and run to the hilltops shouting the news as if it were an “end of story” type of deal.

Since writing more the last few years, I’ve gotten to the greater understanding of seeing things and immediately thinking, “yeah, whatever, what’s next?”

Now anyone who watched Tiger Woods for any reasonable period of time would probably have deciphered that the young fella – you’re not old until you’re in the 50s (and at that time you still don’t have to claim it)-- is quite driven to

Tiger Woods succeed. Nothing succeeds like success, and Tiger Woods could probably buy a mid-sized house just to stash his trophies…and his safe. Actually, if you throw the safe in, then you probably need to upsize that mid-sized house to another mansion, in order to hold all that money.

Being recognized as the worlds’ first billionaire athlete (in terms of his brand value), Tiger Woods has plenty of success to lean upon. And that is a great thing for him because he’ll be really lucky if his wife doesn’t take a crane-sized chainsaw to the middle of that proverbial mansion housing his billiondollar safe.

“They” say the bigger they are the harder they fall, but I

don’t think Tigers situation should really be viewed any differently than the many people going through marital catastrophe all across the seven continents. Tiger has been bothered, by the many helicopters and paparazzi that have pounced on this trial in his life, but nobody, including myself, really wants to hear that complaint, because for the most part all of that stuff was there before…and he’s got enough money to dig a tunnel to get wherever he needs to go. So once you wipe those high publicity differences away, what you have is a very common situation for many folks. What you also have is what I said before, which is a person extremely driven to

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succeed. What do you think is going to happen with that combination?

It has been very interesting to watch Tiger Woods throughout this year because it has been a study in the process of measured recovery.

If Tiger worked a regular job, I would think that he would be an excellent engineer of sorts.

It’s almost as if you can see the conference room where he and his assistants hammer out bullet-point lists of how to bring his golfing career back to prominence.

What you also see are the moments where life puts Tiger’s recovery business plan on hold. A few weeks ago Tiger had one of the absolute worst

of the success Tiger has banked up.

Whether Tiger keeps his marriage and the safe house/ mansion, or whether his wife Elin takes a chainsaw and gets “HALF!” you can see him working to fix it all. You can see him trying. We fall down, but we get up. American culture tears folks down, then celebrates if they overcome – if they do overcome. The only question is if you’re dealing with an “overcomer” or “giver up’er”. The funny thing that nobody has addressed is how happy he or she will be for him when he wins again. Negativity sells a little too well…make that a lot too well. Hope they cover the overcoming like they did the beatdown.

Page 12 • August 23 - August 29, 2010 • Insight News

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