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Insight News August 29 - September 4, 2016

Vol. 43 No. 35• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

BLACK JOURNALISM COLOSSUS

Curry embodied Black Press legacy and future

By Al McFarlane, Chairman, National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation, Editor-In-Chief, Insight News George Curry, former editor-inchief of National Newspaper Publishers Association Wire Service, embodied the legacy and the future of the Black Press of America. He was oldschool in that he was a gum-shoe reporter, sticking to the trail of facts, chasing down every lead, then double-checking the facts, and double checking them again before launching his burning truth missives.

Pioneering journalist; George Curry dead at 69

And he was new school in that he recognized the critical importance of bringing the basic tenants of classic journalism – the facts, the facts, the facts, please – into a future teaming with savants who see themselves as journalists, but have no clue about the ethical and mental training required to genuinely be journalists.

In the tradition of news gathering and reporting, Curry represented the best of journalism, when the profession of newspapering, white newspapering to be specific, was a willing partner and pillar of a system of white supremacist thought that guided race policy and race relations, domestically, and globally.

One of the driving forces for equality in journalism and truth in telling the Black experience, George Curry, passed away Saturday (Aug. 20) at the age of 69.

Curry known as a fiery, tell it like it is, journalist was best known in his role as editor-inchief of Emerge magazine – a role he held from 1993 to 2000.

LEGACY TURN TO 4

CURRY TURN TO 4

George Curry

Stop silencing the messenger and the over-policing of African-Americans and other people of color.

Commentary

By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture and Education Editor This commentary is part three of a four part series on racism

Peacefully protesting the injustices by the police towards Black suspects (who have not been convicted of a crime) and seeking equal treatment under the law is the right of every American citizen.

MESSENGER TURN TO 6

William Smith via change.org

Corey Jacobs (center)

Corey Jacobs deserves clemency from President Barack Obama Photo courtesy of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change

By Brittany K. Barnett-Byrd, Esq.

Supporters of the $15 minimum wage initiative gathered inside Minneapolis City Hall earlier this summer, demanding the question be put on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Judge orders $15 minimum wage on Minneapolis November ballot Ruling in favor of petitioners, Judge Susan Robiner has ordered that a $15 minimum wage charter amendment will be on the Nov. 8 ballot in Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis City Council blocked the $15

proposal on the advice of City Attorney Susan Segal, after supporters submitted well above the number of signatures required for the measure to appear on the ballot.

The ruling comes as a new poll shows 68 percent

of likely Minneapolis voters support a $15 per hour charter amendment.

“Judge Robiner’s ruling is a step toward putting the $15 an hour decision back into the hands of those workers most affected by poverty wages, in particular

As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother, I know from personal experience that when one person goes to prison, the whole family goes to prison.

Mass incarceration has

increasing opportunity for women and people of color who disproportionately fill lowwage jobs,” said Tyler Vasseur, a Jimmy John’s worker and one of the plaintiffs in the case.

WAGE TURN TO 4

devastated families and communities across America.

There is a real problem here and a need to help those affected.

The United States makes up nearly 5 percent of the world’s population and almost 25 percent of the world’s prison population. Today, there are 2.3 million people incarcerated and more than 70 million have criminal records in this country.

JACOBS TURN TO 6

Jeronimo Yanez

Health

Lifestyle

Community

Officer who killed Philando Castile pulled from duty

Fit4Fun Day Sept. 17

Akwaaba first in Black-owned B&Bs

6th annual United Way Action Day

PAGE 5

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Page 2 • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Insight News

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Insight News • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Page 3

AARP Minnesota and Pollen honor 50 Minnesotans over 50 AARP Minnesota and Pollen unveiled the first ever Minnesota 50 over 50 list.

The 50 individuals are being honored as accomplished community leaders who are defying stereotypes about aging. A number of residents from Minneapolis, St. Paul and the greater Minnesota regions have been selected as leaders on the 50 over 50 list.

“This list confirms the amazing contribution being made by Minnesotans over the age of 50. These outstanding individuals are leading and inspiring communities of all kinds, colors and sizes.

It is a remarkable list that only begins to tell the tale of what older Minnesotans are accomplishing,” said Seth Boffeli, interim director of AARP Minnesota.

“Ageism is real. 50 over 50 not only recognizes the accomplishments and possibilities that come with

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips

Bill Cottman

KFAI

age, but by celebrating these leaders we dismantle wrong and hurtful stereotypes about aging,” said Jamie Millard, executive director of Pollen.

The final 50 honorees were selected from a pool of 350 nominations that were submitted earlier in the year.

Candidates were nominated in five different categories; nonprofit, arts and culture, community building, business

City of St. Paul

Paul Williams

and disruptor. A 10 member selection panel worked with AARP and Pollen to determine the final honorees.

Among the honorees is Bill Cottman of North Minneapolis.

Seventy-two-year old Cottman hosts “Mostly Jazz” Saturday mornings on KFAI. He is also a noted photographer.

Marvin Roger Anderson, 76, of St. Paul was honored for his service to the Rondo

Sketchings done by artist James O’Brien are of five leaders included on the 50 over 50 list: (top l-r) Bee Yang, Marvin Roger Anderson and Kausar Hussain, (bottom l-r) Dr. Douglas Wendland and Marcia Ballinger.

Neighborhood.

Anderson is the co-founder of Rondo Avenue, Inc. and the man behind Rondo Days, He’s now leading a new effort to design and construct the Rondo Commemorative Plaza, a community space for contemplation, education and

inspiration. At the corner of Fisk Street and Old Rondo Avenue, the plaza will feature interactive displays and kiosks that tell the history of how neighbors worked together to rebuild their community.

Arlene El-Amin of Minneapolis, 70, runs Masjid

An Nur mosque in North Minneapolis and is the only African-American woman running an area mosque. She also serves on the national board of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

Also honored was Paul Williams, 53, Minneapolis, who worked at the St. Paul Foundation creating a culturally-specific endowment serving Minnesota’s NativeAmerican, Pan-African, Latino and Asian communities. St. Paul’s former deputy mayor, he is now the CEO of Project for Pride in Living, a nonprofit that helps low-income people become self-reliant, helping people find both employment and affordable housing.

Carolyn Holbrook, 71, of St. Paul believes in the healing power of the arts. She founded SASE: The Write Place in 1993 to support writers of racial and cultural minorities.

She also designed the writersin-the-schools program for the Givens Foundation for African American Literature.

Fifteen years ago, Margaret Lovejoy, now age 73, cashed in her retirement accounts to create The Family Place, a St. Paul day center for families without permanent housing for which she has since raised more than $6 million. The center provides meals and a learning environment for people of all ages to enhance their living situation. The center also features the nation’s only Montessori program for children in transition, a leadership program for youth, as well as a 16-week life skills course for parents.

Sam Grant, 53, has been on the faculty of Metropolitan State University, since 1990.

He also leads Everybody In, serves as faculty director for Higher Education Consortium of Urban Affairs’ environmental sustainability program, and facilitates work on intercultural understandings of racial and cultural healing as a private consultant. His reach extends beyond Minnesota thanks to his global work facilitating deep democracy and developing eco-villages in Africa.

Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb 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.

Melanie Adams

Melanie Adams joins Minnesota Historical Society leadership team After a national search, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) has appointed Melanie Adams head of guest experiences and educational services.

In the position, Adams will provide executive leadership for the management of visitor experiences and educational services at MNHS, including the development and delivery of engaging and relevant exhibits and educational programming across the organization.

“We are excited about the future of MNHS,” said Steve Elliott, MNHS director and CEO. “(Adams) will help us build on our mission to serve all Minnesotans and continue to connect Minnesotans with their past and present, their communities and the world.”

Adams has been managing director of community education and events at the Missouri Historical Society since 2005, where she was responsible for more than 700 social, cultural and educational programs and increased annual student visitation from 7,000 to 30,000 students. Prior to that, she was principal with Kaleidoscopes LLC, executive director for Teach for AmericaSt. Louis, and served on the Special Administrative Board of the Missouri School Board Association. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

She will join MNHS effective Oct. 10.

Page 4 • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Insight News

Curry From 1 Most credit Curry and Emerge with President Bill Clinton’s 2000 pardon of Kemba Smith, a young African-American woman convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison under federal mandatory minimum guidelines. Written by Reginald Stuart and approved by Curry in 1996, the 17-page Emerge article revealed that the extent of Smith’s role in her abusive boyfriend’s drug operation was making a couple of phone calls and handing off money to an associate of her then boyfriend. The exposé told how a naïve Hampton University student was unwittingly and unwillingly lured into the world of drugs and it unearthed the absurdity of mandatory minimum sentencing.

“Had it not been for George Curry and his purpose I easily could have had to serve my entire prison sentence,” said

Legacy From 1 Curry forged the best of journalism’s bedrock principles – the facts, the facts, and the facts, please – into weapons of change, challenging prevailing assumptions about privilege, superiority and so called objectivity. He shattered the myth the we have often treated as bigger than truth or fact, that

Wage From 1 “This is a great victory for the Minneapolis $15 campaign, the movement to raise wages across the country, and democracy,” said Laura Huizar, staff attorney

Smith during a phone interview with Insight News. “Mr. Curry was like a father to me; he and Mr. Stuart.”

Smith said she and Curry stayed in close contact following her release, having seen him last in late summer of 2015 at the home of Stuart. She said she was devastated to hear of Curry’s death.

“I was outside at my parents’ home and my mom came out and I could tell by the look on her face something bad had happened. I asked what was wrong and she said ‘George Curry.’ It really hit me hard. I always talk about how much Emerge meant to me. I will forever have George in my spirit.”

Smith said her gaining her freedom shows the power and importance of the Black media.

“When I pitch the story of Kemba Smith to George Curry he originally agreed to 1,500 words. When I gave the story to him it was 10,000 words,” said Stuart during an interview on “Conversations with Al

insightnews.com Publishers Association (NNPA) News Service and was a regular columnist, whose writings appeared in more than 200 publications, including almost weekly appearances in Insight News. In 2003 Curry was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Journalist Roland Martin, host of “News One Now” and close friend to Curry, called Curry a visionary.

“It takes a man with vision to address the issues of our concerns,” said Martin. “These stories were not the kind seen in other mass media. George understood you have to have guts, have faith and not be afraid to (anger) folks.”

It was Curry, who was at the time a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and president of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, who created the NABJ chapter’s journalism workshop that would train such journalists as Russ Mitchell (CBS’s Evening News, The

Early Show) and Insight News’ managing editor, Harry Colbert, and later became the model for the NABJ national body.

“George understood that you had to prepare the next generation of journalists,” said Martin. “He understood that for us to move forward you have to train up.”

“There are hundreds of journalists who can trace their roots back to Curry thanks to his founding of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists Minority Journalism Workshop. I know because I am one of them,” said Colbert.

“George Curry was one of the most poignant voices of our time and his loss immensely saddens us here at Insight News.”

Curry was a graduate of Knoxville College (Tenn.), a historically Black institution.

He also received training at Harvard University and Yale University.

Curry’s death was unexpected; as it appeared he suffered a sudden heart attack.

Reginald Stuart

Kemba Smith

McFarlane” on KFAI Radio.

“George said don’t worry, I’ll read it and I’ll cut it. Then I got a call from George and he said I’ve got a problem with the story … I can’t cut it. When he got done with it, it ended up being 12,000 words and he ran the whole thing. It was a very bold move to take. He ran the whole month (of Emerge’s editorial space) on one unknown person.

But he believed in the issue of

unfair mandatory minimums.”

In Curry’s tell it like he saw it style; Emerge also featured articles with provocative cover illustrations of Justice Clarence Thomas – one with a rag on his head and another depicting Thomas as “The Lawn Jockey for the Far Right.”

Immensely respected by his peers, Curry later went on to become the editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper

white equals right.

Consistent and fearless, Curry trusted the power of his mind, the truth of our experience and the quality of his training.

He recognized our demand of ourselves and our responsibility to humanity called for relentless examination of ideas and actions that shaped our lives individually and collectively.

Curry was the quintessential “soldier without a sword” slaying draconian ideas and dismantling institutional arrangements

with his pen. One of the finest examples of Curry’s ability to destroy stultifying complacency was his work as editor-in-chief of Emerge, the hard hitting news monthly brought to market in the 1990s. Emerge brought to the world’s consciousness a new assessment of the devastating impact of drug sentencing polices on our community, and on Black women in particular.

The focus he created shifted the narrative, led to the presidential commutation of a harsh, unfair

sentence imposed on Kemba Smith, and created today’s challenges to the disparate treatment of our people in the criminal justice system (see Page 1 story).

Curry stepped full force into the age of digital journalism, launching his own independent news wire upon leaving the wire service he managed for National Newspaper Publishers Association. He was seeking crowd-funding to relaunch Emerge as a digital platform.

In the interim, he continued to provide cutting-edge reporting and commentary to Black newspapers under his George Curry Media banner.

Curry’s impact on the future of Black journalism will emerge for generations to come through the works of students he taught and mentored in places like Howard University’s School of Communications, and the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists (GSLABL)

Minority Journalism Workshop, which he founded and served as director. That program was later adopted by the National Association of Black Journalists. New leaders in the Black Press, including Insight managing editor, Colbert, who was as student of the GSLABJ program, and later its lead radio instructor, will continue to blaze ever-widening trails delivering digital, technologyrich journalism to the service of justice and our people.

with the National Employment Law Project, a national research and advocacy organization that helped lead the legal fight.

“The Minnesota constitution gives Minneapolis residents a right to decide what issues are sufficiently important to protect in their city’s charter, and voters will now have an opportunity to

significantly improve the lives and futures of thousands of hard-working families in the city when they vote this November.”

In her decision, Robiner wrote, “To reject this proposal based on its content somehow being improper, which the city urges, amounts to passing judgment on the quality of

the proposal which is not the province of the court.” “(Minneapolis) City Council attempted to give big business cover by voting against putting $15 on the ballot. But today’s decision strikes a blow against the influence of downtown business interests,” said Ginger Jentzen, executive director

of 15 Now Minnesota. “Now we’re going to wage a massive campaign, and call on all $15 per hour supporters and working people in Minneapolis to build this grassroots movement to win in November.”

“I’m very happy to get this news, that we have our right to have a say in what we get paid,”

said Rosheeda Credit, a NOC member and one of the plaintiffs.

“The whole time the city said there was a law we couldn’t put it on the ballot, but the judge said they weren’t giving her a real legal reason not to. Now we have a chance to vote on it, and I’m going to spread the word.”

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Page 5

Officer who killed Philando Castile pulled from duty

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor The officer who shot and killed Philando Castile has been placed on administrative leave … again.

Jeronimo Yanez, the St. Anthony police officer who killed Castile on July 6 had been placed on leave immediately following the killing of Castile, but was allowed to return to desk duty in mid-August. News that Yanez was back to work sparked protest outside of the St. Anthony Police headquarters and the department decided to return the officer to leave status citing community concerns and public feedback.

“It was a slap in the face in the first place that he was allowed back in uniform,” said Clarence Castile, uncle to Philando Castile.

“But with the community support he was sent back home.”

Much of the community has been in an uproar since the immediate aftermath of the shooting was broadcast on Facebook by Philando Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds. In the now infamous video, Philando Castile can be seen bleeding from a gunshot wound as he is still strapped in his seatbelt. Reynolds said Yanez told them they were pulled over because of a broken taillight, but police audio suggest Yanez pulled over Philando Castile because of his “wide set nose,” saying he fit the description

Christian Dobratz

Philando Castile/Facebook

Jeronimo Yanez

Philando Castile

of a robbery suspect. Philando Castile was legally armed at the time of the stop and, according to Reynolds, when he alerted Yanez to his firearm and attempted to retrieve his carry permit he was immediately shot.

Clarence Castile said the St. Anthony Police Department was out of bounds for allowing Yanez to return to work.

“He’s (Yanez) still under investigation. He hasn’t been exonerated of this crime,” said Clarence Castile. “He had no business being back in uniform.

For them it was like back to business as usual. It was horrible.

It was a disgrace.”

The investigation into the July 6 killing is being handled by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and once completed will be handed over to the office of Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. Choi has hired outside attorney Don Lewis

to head the Ramsey County investigation. Though Lewis is African-American, many have expressed concern because of his connection to law enforcement.

Lewis, a former assistant United States Attorney for Minnesota, was called as the independent prosecutor in the Minneapolis police misconduct matter in the arrest and beating of community activist, Al Flowers. No charges were brought against the officers in that case.

Clarence Castile said the fact that the investigation is still ongoing is not a cause for concern.

“We too want a thorough investigation as to why Philando was shot and to why he was pulled over in the first place,” said Clarence Castile.

Calls to the St. Anthony Police Department were directed to St. Anthony City Manager Mark Casey, who was not available for comment at time of press.

Five guidelines for managing nonprofit funds FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Part two of a two part series: An interview with Leland Faust What would you do if you were responsible for reviewing financial management policies for your nonprofit?

What would you do if asked to vote on a change of investment firms? What questions would you ask?

These are issues nonprofits grapple with all the time. Some of us have experience in the realm of investment selection and fund management. Most of us do not.

One person who is experienced as both a nonprofit board member and an investment advisor is Leland Faust. Faust has been nationally recognized four times by Barron’s as one of the country’s top 100 independent advisors. He is also the author of the forthcoming book “A Capitalist’s Lament: How Wall Street Is Fleecing You and Ruining America.”

We asked Faust to share the five most important things nonprofit boards and CEOs should be aware of as it relates to management of funds in general, and investment of endowment or reserve fund in particular. Here’s what he shared with us.

“There are, of course, many important factors in managing endowment funds. First and foremost, the manager must be a

Leland Faust fiduciary,” said Faust. “That is, the manager must be required by law to put the client’s interest ahead of its own. This is really the golden rule: client first, no excuses.”

He also warned against paying layer upon layer of fees.

“Are you paying a consultant, and an investment advisor, and a fund of fund manager, and a private equity manager? If you are, you can easily be paying 4 percent annual fees plus as much as 25 percent of profits,” said Faust. “If a conservative and uncomplicated investment program would yield 5 percent, a complicated structure subject to all these fees would have to earn over 11 percent to have the same performance. Over time that’s essentially impossible if the investments are all equally risky.”

Faust also warned against investing in hedge funds, options, or derivatives, and short sales.

“Nonprofits should invest for the long term and not participate in gambling disguised as investing,” suggested Faust.

He said investing with the previous few years’ top-performing managers usually results in poorer performance going forward, saying study after study has shown that

on average the recent winners are more likely to be the losers later.

The advisor said if anyone claims they have proprietary information or skills that no one else does, “Head for the doors.”

We asked Faust what he has learned through his work as a nonprofit board member. Here are his words of wisdom.

“Board members should be wary of slick presentations. Also, don’t hire those who claim to know all the answers and predict the future. Strange but true, the more certain the prediction, the more likely there will be error,” said Faust. “A celebrity advisor guarantees nothing, and the fact that a firm is large, wellestablished and respected is no guarantee either.”

Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of “Prerequisites for Fundraising Success,” available on Amazon.com.

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Page 6 • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Insight News

Messenger From 1 Black Lives Matter cannot be held responsible for the actions of individuals who may use the cover of protests for their own agenda. And it is wrong for law enforcement and the media to create connections where none exist between peaceful protests and civil disobedience and the criminal act of violence against police. When any citizen (Black or white) takes justice into his or her own hands, it is vigilantism pure and simple and violates our rule of law. However, we also must hold police accountable when there is an obvious pattern of mistreatment (that may not be perceived as illegal) but certainly is clear indication of unconscious bias and an unequal enforcement of the law when applied to Black and Brown people.

America needs a healing.

America needs a healing, to

Jacobs From 1 This state of mass incarceration comes with a price tag of nearly $80 billion annually.

While the numbers are astonishing, to truly understand the issue, we must look beyond the numbers and see heartbeats.

17061112. This number was assigned to my client Corey Jacobs 16 years ago when he began serving time in federal prison for nonviolent drug convictions. Corey had no prior felony convictions.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ website, Corey’s release date is not a series of numbers. It is letters … four of them. Life. With no parole in the federal system, Corey has been fundamentally condemned to die in prison.

Corey’s case was recently highlighted by former Atty. Gen. Eric Holder in an opinion piece featured in the New York Times about the need for criminal justice reform. More than two decades ago, Corey, now 46, made a bad decision to become a drug dealer with a small group of college friends in Virginia.

He was convicted based primarily on the testimony of co-conspirators who testified in exchange for reduced sentences.

insightnews.com

The “justice gap” What is our current sociocultural context for the Black Lives Matter protests and for the unjustified violence directed at police? The conditions are staring us in the face every day, if we choose to see them.

We are familiar with the “achievement gap” concept, which describes the difference between the educational achievement of white students and Black and Brown students.

This gap is attributed to unequal educational systems and resources, whereby whites have greater access to higher quality of teaching, educational resources and educational opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

How is it created? White parents are better positioned to hire tutors, send their children to private schools and take advantage of science camps, computer camps, sports camps and the like because these

programs are generally found in their communities or they have access to networks of people who can inform them of such resources. The same is not true for Black and Brown parents and students. The result is a gap in educational achievement and degree attainment.

Along similar lines, I want to introduce the concept of a “justice gap” between whites and Black

and Brown, focusing on young men. The achievement gap is an illustration of how some people are privileged and others are not just disadvantaged, but actually brutalized in a systemic way.

In the eyes of America’s law enforcement, white youth are presumed to be innocent whereas Black/Brown youth are automatically presumed guilty.

White youth who perpetrate

violent crimes are more likely to have a “mental health” as a defense, whereas such defenses are virtually non-existent for Black and Brown youth. We see evidence of police coercing Black and Brown youth into confessing (even if the confession is false) so they close the case.

We have numerous cases of false incarceration, with no repercussions for those who responsible.

White parents have access to legal knowledge and resources because of their networks or their wealth, whereas Black and Brown parents are reliant upon public defenders, some of whom hold innate biases that make them less likely to vigorously defend their Black and Brown clients. In sentencing, white judges tend to incarcerate Black and Brown youth for offenses for which white youth are given suspended sentences, house arrest or community services.

This reality is the context within which we must

Due to federal laws, Corey was held accountable for all “reasonably foreseeable” quantities of drugs attributed to the several people involved in the conspiracy.

Corey was by no stretch of the imagination a drug kingpin and absolutely no dimension of his conduct was violent.

Despite facing the grim reality of dying in prison, Corey has worked diligently to prove that he is deserving of a second chance at life. He has devoted himself to extensive rehabilitative programming, completed three self-improvement residential programs, and received more than 100 learning certificates that have enhanced his education and personal development.

Extraordinarily, Corey earned more than half of these certificates in the past five years.

Corey is the only defendant left on his case still behind bars after a co-defendant, who was also serving life without parole, received an unquestionably deserving grant of clemency from President Obama not long ago.

Notably, Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr., who sentenced Corey to life in prison under mandatory sentencing laws, believes that Corey deserves clemency like his co-defendant. In a letter supporting Jacobs’ pending clemency petition, Morgan confirmed that he is

“certain” that he “would not have imposed a life sentence on (Corey) had the laws at the time not virtually mandated it.”

There is no doubt that a prison sentence was warranted in this case. But he doesn’t deserve to come out of prison in a body bag.

Life in prison without the possibility of parole is, short of execution, the harshest punishment available in America. It screams that a person is beyond hope, beyond redemption. It suffocates mass potential as it buries people alive. And, in Corey’s case, it is grotesquely out of proportion to the conduct it seeks to punish.

Recently, I went to visit Corey in prison to discuss his pending clemency petition. I sat in the bleak, cold concrete interior of the attorney-client visiting room unsure of what to expect. I was quite impressed with his remorse, acceptance of responsibility, intelligence and dedication to bettering himself. His optimism epitomizes the resiliency of the human spirit.

I learned he is an avid meditator.

He mentioned in passing how he once read nature could enhance the meditation experience but he had not seen a tree in years. The prison yard outside is surrounded by daunting, grey brick buildings.

The rest of the conversation was a blur because I could not move past

the fact that he had not seen a tree … a tree.

I left the prison in awe of Corey’s positive energy despite his situation. But what alternative is there to hope, when your reality is unbearable? If you lose hope, you have lost it all.

Unfortunately, Corey is not alone. The United States locks up too many people for far too long.

Thousands of men and women continue to labor in prison under the dark cloud of a sentence that would be substantially lower if handed down under current laws.

No question, drugs harm society.

But allowing nonviolent drug offenders to die in prison is not only morally wrong and inhumane – it is absolutely offensive to the values of this country.

Our criminal justice system is in dire need of reform. It is tangled in overcrowded prison cells, draconian sentences, shameful sentencing disparities, burdensome incarceration costs, and heartbroken children and families.

For many nonviolent drug offenders their only hope for freedom is for Congress to change the laws or clemency from President Obama.

A rainbow of mercy crossed Capitol Hill last year yielding unprecedented bipartisan agreement in Congress that our

criminal justice system is in need of serious reform. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 is a crucial bill pending in the Senate that would pull back mass incarceration and save tax payers billions of dollars. We must urge Congress to pass this overdue, life changing legislation.

President Obama has is committed to reinvigorating the clemency process through his administration’s groundbreaking initiative to prioritize clemency applications for individuals like Corey.

Just this month, President Obama granted clemency to 214 people. The White House reports that this act of mercy brings the President’s clemency total to more than the last nine presidents combined. I am in hopes that the President will continue to show dedication to this critical initiative and regularly grant clemency to large groups of deserving people through the end of his term.

For years while working as a corporate attorney, I devoted hours to pro bono representation for clients in prison under outdated sentencing regimes and have handled several successful clemency petitions. This time last year, my client Sharanda Jones was serving her 17th year of a life without parole sentence as a firsttime nonviolent drug offender.

reclaim our humanity.

In this system whites are treated as individuals and Black and Brown people are viewed with group suspicion and bias.

understand the assaults on police, without condoning such violence. Police stand as the most visible symbols of an unjust justice system that starts from the minute a crime is committed. In this system whites are treated as individuals and Black and Brown people are viewed with group suspicion and bias.

America needs a healing.

America needs a healing, to reclaim our humanity.

Clemency from President Obama on Dec. 18, 2015 literally saved her life.

There is no rational argument for why nonviolent drug offenders should die in prison. It is an utter waste of human life and a true indictment of our ailing criminal justice system. The time is now for the people who hold the levers of power to believe in humanity and simply do the right thing.

I never imagined that visiting a United States penitentiary would change the trajectory of my life and legal career. The state of consciousness I felt after meeting with Corey empowered me. I no longer wanted to be just a lawyer.

I wanted to use this platform to promote the greater good. Because of thousands of cases like Corey’s, two months ago I unhesitatingly resigned from my corporate law job to be an advocate for criminal justice reform.

There is nothing more urgent than freedom.

Irma McClaurin is an award winning columnist, who 2015 received the Black Press of America’s Emory O. Jackson Column Writing Award from the NNPA. She is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News, a consultant, an activist anthropologist, writer, motivational speaker and founder of the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive at University of Massachusetts Amherst. More about the author can be found at www.irmamcclaurin.com.

Brittany K. Barnett-Byrd is the ClemencyNOW campaign manager at Cut50, a national bipartisan initiative to cut America’s prison population in half. She is also founder of Girls Embracing Mothers, a Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls with mothers in prison.

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Page 7

HEALTH Fit4Fun Day Sept. 17 Enjoy a day of fitness and fun at the Fifth Annual Fit4Fun at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, 1313 Penn Ave. N, Minneapolis.

This free family event is packed with activities that will help individuals move, and learn while connecting with community. More than a fitness event, this year’s theme is food justice, highlighting the ways food impacts well-being through interactive educational stations.

Organizers say people practicing food justice leads

to a strong local food system, self-reliant communities and a healthy environment. Food justice is built on three pillars – food availability, food access and food use.

The event takes place on Sept. 17 with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. and a run and walk (one mile or three mile) happening at 10:15 a.m. and a bike ride at 10:30 a.m. A kids’ run begins at 11:30 a.m.

Cooking demonstrations will take place and there will be health screenings for blood

pressure, dental screenings, body mass index, diabetes risk assessments and more. Fitness

activities include Zumba, jump rope, hop scotch, hula hooping and hip-hop aerobics.

Phil Hernandez

Mayo Clinic expands emergency telemedicine practice ROCHESTER, Minn.

— Mayo Clinic is expanding in the telemedicine arena through its newly announced strategy of a converged emergency telemedicine practice.

Emergency telemedicine provides acute medical assessments through video communications to people who need immediate emergency care.

A Mayo Clinic medical specialist located at a distance from the patient connects via technology with local care teams to assess, diagnose and treat patients.

“By combining the breadth and depth of Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise with a

standardized technology across the enterprise, we will be able to create a comprehensive, integrated, multispecialty emergency telemedicine program.

Through this program, we can provide specialty consults and guidance for medical and surgical emergencies in adults and children,” said Dr. Bart Demaerschalk, a Mayo Clinic neurologist and the medical director of synchronous (telemedicine) services for the Mayo Clinic Center for Connected Care.

Mayo Clinic already provides care to more than 5,000 people per year. The convergence now

enables Mayo Clinic to assist more patients across more sites.

“This is an exciting milestone for connected care at Mayo Clinic,” said Dr. Christopher Colby, chair of the Pediatrics Neonatal Medicine Division and telehealth director for pediatrics at Mayo Clinic. “We will now offer a technology platform specifically designed to deliver emergent telemedicine consultation.

Perhaps equally as important is that this will bring expertise from the Mayo Clinic enterprise together to develop world-class telemedicine across many service lines.”

The first phase of this

convergence will begin in late summer and continue through the first part of 2017.

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A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-906-5432, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, 7 days a week. TTY: 711.

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Page 8 • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE Akwaaba first in Black-owned B&Bs

By Patrice Gaines Urban News Service For Monique Greenwood, the decision to be an entrepreneur came down to legacy building.

“I could leave my daughter a portfolio of real estate and a business to run, but I couldn’t leave her a job at Essence,” said Greenwood, who was then editor-in-chief of that popular magazine.

She chose to go into the bed and breakfast business because she loved staying at inns and thought she had the perfect personality for it.

“You have to have a heart of service and genuinely like people,” said Greenwood.

These days she might be called a queen of B&Bs, especially among AfricanAmerican inn owners. She’s been in this business since 1996 and owns five luxury properties with her husband, Glenn Pogue, operating as Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns.

“While numerous inns have multiple buildings, to have five separate entities is not common,” said Kris Ullmer, executive director of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International. There are just “a small percentage of innkeepers with that level of longevity.”

Greenwood has built a unique model according to fellow inn owner Daniel Edwards of Morehead Manor in Durham, N.C. “She has a brand she promotes. You will have a different experience at each of her properties,” said Edwards.

Greenwood’s inns offer upscale accommodations in

Exterior view of The Mansion at Noble Lane in Bethany, Pennsylvania

Monique Greenwood, founder of Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns historic properties with what she calls “old-fashioned hospitality and modern-day conveniences.”

Guests are called by their names and there are amenities such as fresh-squeezed lemonade served on the front porch.

Edwards said when he and his wife opened their business in 1997 many white inns depended on a travel guide to attract lodgers.

“They put a picture of the property and a bio of the innkeepers,” said Edwards.

“But as African-Americans, we couldn’t do that, or we would be

shooting ourselves in the foot.”

In short, white travelers were unlikely to check into Blackowned B&Bs. In one sense, Blacks had a network of B&Bs during segregation. Unable to stay at white-owned hotels, Black travelers used “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” published from 1936 to 1966, to find Black owned-and-operated lodging.

Sandra Butler-Truesdale, once a cosmetologist for the bands of James Brown and Ray Charles remembers how

unforgiving the road was for Black musicians.

“Entertainers and people who traveled a lot stayed with relatives and friends, and there were certain guest houses,” said Butler-Truesdale. “Some musicians had buses and they did one-night stands and slept on their buses, heading to other engagements. Sometimes buses stopped at gas stations where people could change and wash themselves.”

When Greenwood opened her first inn in Brooklyn, guests were generally family, friends

and neighbors. About 95 percent of their guests were Black then, versus 40 percent today.

“We still have these clients in Brooklyn, but many more guests are coming from all over the world simply for vacation,” said Greenwood.

Early on, she and her family occupied the top floor of the Brooklyn establishment.

“The business made enough money for us to live in a beautiful mansion, rent and expense free, so we began building up a nest egg from our day-job income to be able to buy more property.”

Today, Greenwood has 13 employees. She said last year Akwaaba’s sales surpassed the million-dollar mark, with much of the profit being reinvested back into the company. She and her husband own other commercial properties, which they have used as collateral to invest in buying and renovating inns.

“What has been most important is maintaining stellar personal credit, and doing that often requires being a pro at delayed gratification,” said

Greenwood.

Her ownership of The Mansion at Noble Lane symbolizes how much America has changed. The 25,000 square-foot, 14-room Gilded Age inn in Bethany, Penn. was the estate of the founders of the F.W. Woolworth Company.

Mary Grate Pyos of Burke, Va., who had stayed at Akwaaba in Washington, D.C., attended the opening of The Mansion.

“What’s so exciting about that inn is — as an AfricanAmerican, who not so long ago was unable to sit at the Woolworth counter and get a cup of water — I now get to witness a Black woman owning the Woolworth estate,” said Pyos. “I wanted to cheer her on.”

Greenwood, an astute businesswoman with a love for Afrocentrism, said she chose the name Akwaaba because it means “welcome” in the Ghanaian language of Twi. “It represents a connection to the Motherland and because it starts with A – generally making us first on most (directory) lists,” said the savvy Greenwood.

The root cause of why relationships fail Man Talk

By Timothy Houston It has been said that money problems and infidelity are the top two causes of divorce and failed relationships, but I believe that it is the inability to communicate about these problems that is the root cause of these issues.

When it comes to male/ female relationships, effective communication has become even more complicated.

When a message is sent, it is filtered through ears, eyes, mind and heart of the receiver, but the true meaning is often lost in translation. Effective communication is achieved when

a message is clearly transmitted by the sender and clearly understood by the receiver. If the inability to communicate effectively about emotionallycharged issues is at the root of most failed relationships, then learning how to communicate effectively is a key ingredient in keeping relationships from failing.

First, to keep effective communication intact, avoid the appearance of an interrogation.

Part of the challenge of effective communicating is determining the reason for the message. Share your experience first. Men often view a barrage of back-to-back questions as an interrogation and not as communication.

When you share your examples, experiences, perspective first, it allows the other person to get a better understanding of the reason for the conversation.

Sharing your thoughts first also sets the tone, attitude, and disposition of the sender and the

expectation of the receiver.

Also, to help with effective communication, share at the level of detail that you would like to receive. This is an important part of the reason of sharing first. If you want a blow-by-blow response, sharing first allows you to give blowby-blow examples. To ask for details without being willing to share details is not effective communication. Conversation is a process of giving and taking.

It requires openly and willingly sharing at the level of detail that you would like to receive.

Secondly, to keep effective communication intact, confirm the message. This is the “what I heard you say” part of communicating. Emotions often get in the way of clear communications.

When a message is shared, it is filtered by the thoughts, experiences and preconceived ideas of the receiver. What the sender says and what the receiver hears

can often be lost in translation.

Confirming the message allows the sender the opportunity to clear up any miscommunication or misunderstanding. This is even more critical when the discussion involves emotionally charged issues such as infidelity and financial problems.

To help improve emotionally charged discussions, give your undivided attention. Remove any and all distractions. Real communication requires undivided attention. Turn off the cell phone, television and video games or any other action that require your attention. You cannot communicate effectively when you are engaged in other activities. Some conversations should not be held until the right environment exists. This is the responsibility of both the sender and the receiver.

Choosing the right time to have the conversation improves the likelihood of effective communication.

Finally, to keep effective communication intact, talk more, text less. Texting is a poor form of communication.

The messages are usually abbreviated and do not include punctuations. They also are riddled with acronyms that may be known only to the sender. If the message has the potential to be emotionally charged, pick up the phone and call the other person. If all possible, have these discussions face-to-face.

Face-to-face meetings are the most effective, and they should be used whenever as the first option.

Also remember to use body language that supports the message. This is even more important when communicating over the phone. A smile can be heard through the telephone. When communicating in person, 55 percent of the message is nonverbal so be mindful of the message your body language is

sending.

The good news is that relationships can survive financial issues and infidelity.

The ones that do did it using effective communication as one of the tools to bridge the divide. Remember to keep the other person in the forefront of your mind during emotionallycharged discussion. Winning the argument at the expense of losing the other person is not good. Share openly and honestly and expect the same in return. Following these simple guidelines can help lead to the effective communication needed to keep your relationship from failing.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. To get copies of his books, for questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

Children exposed to gun violence Child Focus

By Gloria Freeman The Second Amendment to the Constitution allows the freedom to bear arms in the United States.

The steadfast way in which a vast number of Americans advocate to protect this right is unrivaled in our republic. Just the mere thought that the right to bear arms could be stricken from our land sends a myriad of well-meaning folks into a tailspin, while spurring money contributions to explode, all paid to the order of gun ownership advocacy groups.

While the right to bear arms is now a fait accompli in our nation, I wonder what rights children have to free themselves from the trauma that is often inflicted on them as victims of the gun violence that plagues our neighborhoods, cities and communities.

What would happen if our

children had advocates that fought as hard for them as gun ownership advocates fight for the right to bear arms?

Last weekend in Chicago alone, 54 persons were the victims of gun violence. Here in the Twin Cities, we know infants and toddlers have recently been caught in the lethal crosshair of gunfire while innocently riding in car seat or at home, asleep in the bed.

When a child is slain by a gun, we understand that child to be an obvious victim of gun violence. However, we often forget that the surviving siblings of children who are killed, or children who have family members who are murdered, are as much the victims of trauma, which can have long-lasting, horrific effects on gun violence survivors.

Subsequently, a question begging for an answer is, what rights do our children have to be protected from the trauma associated with folks who abuse the right to bear arms, and it’s devastating aftermath,

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insightnews.com

Insight News • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Page 9

COMMUNITY 6th annual United Way Action Day Thousands of volunteers descended upon Target Field on a recent Thursday evening for the 6th annual United Way Action Day and assembled 9,000 backpacks.

Event organizers say attendees had a fun-filled and inspirational evening of music, community stories, and most of all, left knowing they’re part of “#huMNkind.”

Greater Twin Cites United Way and the Minnesota Twins co-hosted the event that featured DJ D.Mil spinning sounds on Twins Plaza as volunteers filled backpacks with school supplies that were distributed to 18 United Way partner agencies that serve kids and families.

Action Day emcee, actor/ comedian Shed G, energetically led the audience through the inspirational stories presented by community members and the concert by local musicians.

The audience danced to the music by concert headliners

Ashley DuBose Ashley DuBose of Season 5 of NBC’s “The Voice,” Minneapolis-based singer/ songwriter Ryan Liestman, and Ryan Bynum and the Best of Band, who was joined on

Ryan Bynum stage by legendary musicians Jellybean Johnson and Sonny T as they closed the show with a tribute to Prince.

A pair of Twins fan appreciation weekend tickets –

Ryan Liestman

when the Twins take on Kansas City Sept. 23 – Sept. 25 – went to the first 2,500 volunteers through the gates at Action Day. How does this event

connect to United Way’s work?

Greater Twin Cities United Way president and CEO, Sarah Caruso, said it starts with investing in humankind.

“United Way helps people

and communities realize their full potential. We achieve this when everyone participates,” said Caruso. “We’re grateful that our community pulled together to assemble these 9,000 school supply kits for kids who range in age from prekindergarten to high school.

These supplies will help ensure all kids in our hometown are prepared for success when they start the new school year. We saw the power of collective kindness at Action Day.” Once backpacks and school supply kits were assembled, crews loaded hundreds of boxes on to trucks and delivered the kits to 18 United Way agency partners.

For every use of #huMNkind on social media, event sponsors Land O’Lakes, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy are donating up to $5,000.

See Action Day highlights, photos, and the complete list of recipient agencies at www. gtcuw.org.

New generation of African immigrants in Minnesota Opinion

By Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips, Associate Editor, Nigeria and West Africa Receiving immigrants from nations around the world has been a vital component of U.S. social development.

But in recent years, the socio-economic landscape of America has begun witnessing significant change among migrant population due to major immigration policy change.

In 1990, the U.S. government created the Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DVL), to provide for a new class of immigrants known as “Diversity Immigrants.” The lottery visa program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to diversify immigrant population coming into the U.S. by selecting applicants mostly from countries with historically low rate of migrants into America. To be considered for the DVL program, applicants must have completed at least a high school education

Children From 8 in the U.S.?

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), “From infancy through adolescence, the body’s biology develops.

Normal biological function is partly determined by environment. When a child grows up afraid or under constant or extreme stress, the immune system and body’s stress response system may

New students intake, University of Minnesota Medical School, White Coat Ceremony for the class of 2020.

New medical School student Lanre Adekola (white coat) and family.

or have at least two years of work experience in an occupation that requires training. In addition, applicants must also satisfy general immigrant requirements, such as having a means of support, no criminal history and be in good health.

Currently, a number of African nations have generated an oversupply of educated and skilled workers who have very limited opportunity and infrastructure to use those skills.

Consequently, it becomes much easier for African elites and

skilled workers to export their talent and education to America where they will be valued and reasonably compensated. In addition, they will to a greater degree be exposed to innovation, technology and creative development in the United States.

According to 2010 American Census Data and a review by the American Immigration Council, African foreign-born population in the U.S. doubled in size between 2000 and 2010.

While nearly half of African immigrants are naturalized U.S.

citizens, seven-in-10 speak only English. The foreign born share of Minnesota’s population rose from 2.6 percent in 1990 to 5.3 percent 2000 and 7.4 percent in 2013.

The American Immigrant Council reports that immigrants and their children represent growing shares of Minnesota’s diverse immigrant population and adds hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy.

They have also become an integral part of Minnesota’s economy as work force members

and taxpayers.

In Minnesota, 33.2 percent of foreign born persons who were naturalized citizens in 2011 had a bachelor’s or higher degree compared to 29.4 percent of noncitizens. At the same time, only 20.6 percent of naturalized citizens lacked a high-school diploma compared to 33 percent of non-citizens.

In recent years, a growing number of the children of African immigrants who have been in Minnesota for decades, as well as those whose parents

are benefactor of the Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DVL) seem to have joined hands in adding socio-economic value to Minnesota by richly contributing to the state’s progress through their labor, loyalty and commitment to selfimprovement.

The millennium generation of African immigrant population and their children are achieving a rapid social integration and becoming economically, socially and politically effective in their new environment.

not develop normally. Later on, when the child or adult is exposed to even ordinary levels of stress, these systems may automatically respond as if the individual is under extreme stress.”

Children who are exposed to gun violence often can’t help but to feel afraid at every turn.

Is it any wonder why we have so many children who feel unsafe and uncared for in our midst?

The NCTSN rounds up its report by stating, “Having learned that the world is a

dangerous place where even loved ones can’t be trusted to protect you, children are often vigilant and guarded in their interactions with others and are more likely to perceive situations as stressful or dangerous.”

When these feelings of fear and instability are triggered in child victims of trauma, left untreated, a vicious cycle of chronic and recurrent medical and psychological effects can occur, along with the potential for re-victimization and even greater harm.

We constantly hear about

the right of U.S. citizens to bear arms. But, who is fighting for the rights of the most vulnerable among us who are often victims of gun violence run amok?

When many of us were growing up, our caregivers often told us that when we violated a right we had, that right was often amended or taken away.

Why doesn’t this same thinking occur when dealing with our right to bear arms?

Why do the same gun ownership rights prevail when it is clear that we are unable to handle such rights without negatively infringing on the rights of

others?

I understand the sacred nature of the Second Amendment and how the right to bear arms has been enshrined in American culture.

But, what about the rights of our babies to not be exposed to a world that is constantly sullied with unnecessary family and community trauma?

During the last few years, the recognition of how trauma plays a role in our lives has been growing exponentially. We now recognize that mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and neighbors of gun violence victims can

experience the same level of trauma as the person who is actually shot.

For our babies’ sake, the conversation in America needs to be equally about the rights of those who are adversely affected by people who abuse the right to bear arms, not just the rights of those who want to freely be able to lock and load.

Classifieds

Phone: 612.588.1313

RENTAL PROPERTIES INH Properties manages Section 8, Section 42 and Rural Development projects in the following MN cities: Anoka – Bridge Square, 763-421-6772 Big Lake – Autumn Winds, 320-258-6000 Brainerd – Mississippi Terrace, 218-829-0274 Cold Spring – Cottage Court, 320-685-3888 Coon Rapids- Coon Creek, 763-767-7755 Eden Valley – Hillside, 320-453-5968 Fergus Falls – Kaddatz, 218-205-0644 Glenwood – Glenview, 320-634-3188 Hawley – Northside Terrace, 218-483-4524 Hutchinson – Clinton House, 320-587-5458 Isle – Isle View, 320-676-8624 Isle – Mille Lacs Manor, 320-676-8624 Mankato – Dublin Road, 507-345-3351 Minneapolis - Holmes Park, 612-378-8817 Morris – Crystal Lake, 320-589-3662 Onamia – Oakwood, 320-532-4321 Onamia – Onamia Shores, 320-532-4321 Pierz – Kamnic Lane, 320-468-2581 Rice – Benton Place, 320-630-1201 St Michael -Countryside Cottages, 763-497-4901 St Paul – Parkway Gardens, 651-771-0267 Virginia – Alice Nettell, 218-741-3650

Minnesota Council of Churches

Shields Plaza Apartments, North Branch is now accepting applications for wait list. Senior 62+, subsidized must meet income requirements. Call for appointment 651-674-7497.

JOB OPENINGS The public-private partnership between the Loppet Foundation and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is being solidified with agreements to further the MPRB’s Master Plan for Theodore Wirth Regional Park by establishing a new Adventure and Welcome Center in the park.

The Loppet Foundation is hiring for the following job openings: • • • • •

Email: info@insightnews.com

ACCOUNTING CLERK, 20 hours/week. General accounting, AP, AR, financial reporting. Open until filled. Appl at http://www.mnchurches.org/about/employment.html.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR WAIT LIST

Residents must meet income guidelines.

Rent based on income at some locations.

INH Properties is an equal opportunity housing company

Fax: 612.588.2031

Gloria Freeman is president and CEO of Olu’s Center, an intergenerational childcare and senior day program, and can be reached at gfreeman@ olushome.com.

Adventure Center Director Adventure Center Maintenance Foreperson Marketing & Communications Manager Sponsorship Sales Manager Middle School Team Coaches

For the full job postings go to: www.loppet.org/jobs

Volunteer Opportunities Harvest Network of Schools Community service is calling, no need for stalling!

The Harvest Network of Schools, a group of highperforming charter schools in north Minneapolis that includes Harvest Preparatory (K-4, coed), Best Academy (K-8, single gender), and Mastery School (K-4, single gender), is currently recruiting volunteers to work with our 3rd and 4th grade students. We have three opportunities available; Breakfast Buddies, Academic Intervention, and Classroom Support. Breakfast Buddies help with homework and reading to scholars. This option is available Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m.

-8:15 a.m. Academic Intervention volunteers help with students needing additional support in math and reading, available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Classroom Support volunteers help teachers as needed, tasks will vary.

This opportunity is needed any time throughout the day 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are requesting volunteers commit to 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of six weeks. HNS will provide training, onsite support from volunteer manager, and recognition at the end of the year. Applicants must complete an application and criminal background check. If interested please contact Marquita Butler at mbutler@seed-harvest.org or 612-876-4033.

Page 10 • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com Barbara Morrison

Cast of “Bars and Measures”

Mac Irv

Monday, Aug. 29 COMMUNITY Million Father March Lucy Craft Laney Community School 3333 Penn Ave. N., Minneapolis 8 a.m.

Aug. 29 Sept. 4

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking.

Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com

The Black Star Project out of Illinois started Million Father March 12 years ago in an attempt to launch the school year for the children with their fathers, and other significant role models, escorting them to school their first day.

Tuesday, Aug. 30 PLAY “Bars and Measures” Jungle Theater 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

7:30 p.m. $35-$48 Chicago poet, playwright and professor, Idris Goodwin presents “Bars and Measures,” a new play about a pair of musician brothers whose playing style is opposite their personalities. While one brother, a jailed Muslim, is committed to improvisational rhythms, the other is focused on the mastery of tightly structured formats. “Bars and Measures” runs through Oct. 9.

Wednesday, Aug. 31 HIP-HOP/R&B/ PERFORMANCE The Mox & J. Project “Who We Are” Record Release Show Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 8:30 p.m. $5

By Photographic Artist Alvan Washington

‘Honoring the SelfTaught Photographic Artist’ to be exhibited at Gordon Parks Gallery

Crucial Conflict

Hip-hop and R&B duo, The Mox & J. Project, celebrate the release of their new CD with an album release show at Honey.

Thursday, Sept. 1 JAZZ/BLUES Barbara Morrison and Houston Person Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 8 p.m.

One of the hardest working and busiest jazz and blues entertainers in the business, Barbara Morrison has an impressive discography of recordings that includes three Grammy nominations.

The show has a two night run at the Dakota.

Friday, Sept. 2

ARTIST SHOWING “A Letter from the South” Citywide Artists 1506 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

The work of Atlanta based artist Horace Imhotep is steeped in the often dark historical truths of American history, while heavily influenced by his familial bonds and ancestral roots. “A Letter from the South,” is the tying together of a centuries long narrative, reflected in the ongoing struggles of today.

HIP-HOP/FESTIVAL SJ2 Music and Camping Festival Embassy Bar & Lounge 9092 Hwy. 61, Sturgeon Lake 9 p.m.

18-plus $50 – $100 Sept. 2 through Sept. 5 this second annual hip-hop and rock festival takes place with Twista, Do or Die, ¡Mayday!, Crucial Conflict and more.

the non-profit In-Progress, is dedicated to providing professional mentorship and exhibition opportunities to artists that have developed their skills outside of traditional learning settings.

For this exhibition, six artists will present a diverse body of digitally produced images under the guidance of Minneapolis based photographer and guest curator, Xavier Tavera.

Participants include Alvan

HIP-HOP/DANCE Grooves Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m.

21-plus This special dance night features DJ Snuggles, Travis Gorman, Frank Castle and special guests.

Sunday, Sept. 4 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE Mac Irv’s “MisFit: 55411”Album Release Party Dream Ultra Lounge 26 N 5th St, Minneapolis 10 p.m. $20 advance, $40 VIP Minneapolis artist Mac Irv presents the full album release of the new project “MisFit: 55411” at Dream.

By Photographic Artist Lor Cha

By Photographic Artist Melissa Vang

Metropolitan State University Gordon Parks Gallery presents “Nexus: Honoring the Self-Taught Photographic Artist.”

This group exhibition features the work of Hmong, Laotian, AfricanAmerican and Caucasian artists involved in Nexus, a professional development program for self-taught community-based artists living in St. Paul. The program, administered by

Saturday, Sept. 3

Washington, Lor Cha, Melissa Vang, Negussie Netsant, Dowls Nikol and Mary Richardson.

“Self-taught artists are often self-directed and have the ability to find solutions to obstacles they encounter and continue doing art,” said Tavera, regarding the exhibition.

The exhibit opens with a reception from 5p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 15. The exhibit will be shown through

Oct. 21. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.– 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The gallery is located at university’s St. Paul campus in the Library and Learning Center, 645 E. Seventh Street.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Erica Rasmussen, gallery director, at (651) 9995942 or e-mail her at erica. rasmussen@metrostate.edu.

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Page 11

World premiere of ‘Queen’ comes to the Heart of the Beast The story of a grandmother dealing with the loss of a grandchild comes to life through puppets in “Queen,� on stage Sept. 23 – Oct. 2 (Friday through Sunday only), at Heart of the Beast’s Avalon Theatre, 1500 E. Lake St., Minneapolis.

In “Queen� a grandmother suffers the loss of a grandchild and navigates grief through retrieved memories. The piece involves contemporary accounts of flight and exile, with special attention paid to the witnesses and reports of her grandchild’s death and memories of the grandmother’s past. “Queen� is the result of a year of collaborative work between Erik Ehn and Junauda Petrus. In 2015, Ehn was writing a play about a grandmother journeying through unimaginable grief,

one grandmother and the exhausting terrain of her sadness. The loss of her grandson has ruptured in her psyche a lifetime of loss that she has to hold in order to make sense of this newest, unimaginable transition. “I was particularly fixated on this idea of Grandma as a little girl, sensuous and lacking discipline, selfconsciousness or fear – that person who existed before life’s complexities were revealed and dispatched,� explained Petrus. “I sought to delve into the universe of the crone soul and reclaim all of the women Courtesy of In the Heart of the Beast

Queen and Petrus published a poem/ manifesto, “Could you please give the police departments to the grandmothers?,� a fantasy of

that are ensconced within her and give them back to her, empowered and whole.�

A team of puppeteers bring to life Ehn and Petrus’s words. Nationally recognized actress Laurie Carlos returns to the Twin Cities to narrate the story about a woman who lost everything, and found everything.

Tickets for “Queen� are $15 and can be purchased by calling (612) 721-2535 or online at www.hobt.org.

The show is recommended for ages16 and above.

Friday’s Sept. 23 show is a “pay what you can� event.

fierce, wild elder Black women taking over the precincts to love and heal the communities in which they live. Director Alison

Heimsted introduced the two, sparking the co-written script.

The story is situated in the complex magic of

Guthrie Theater to present ‘The Trump Card’ as part of new ninth floor initiative The life of Donald Trump comes to the Guthrie in the form of a one man comedy satire.

The Guthrie Theater announced it will present acclaimed monologist Mike Daisey in “The Trump Card,� directed by Isaac Butler, on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dowling Studio of the Guthrie, 818 South 2nd St., Minneapolis. In the monologue Daisey explores the theatrics of Trump and how he rose to his current standing in the presidential race. Each performance will be followed by a discussion with the audience, inviting community members to explore their own beliefs, personally and politically.

“Mike Daisey is one of the most electrifying voices in theater today. I’m thrilled to welcome him to the Guthrie for the first time, and I can’t think of a more relevant performance to present,� said Guthrie artistic director Joseph Haj. “The evening promises to be a provocative look at the system and society that has placed Trump so prominently in our world. I look forward to lively community discussion following this acclaimed performance.�

In “The Trump Card�

Daisey takes on the reality television star turned politician who captured a nation’s attention through bullying, charm, one-syllable explosions and occasionally

telling the brutal truth. Daisey tells Trump’s story from his earliest days, tracking him as he makes himself into a new American archetype – the very first rich man famous exclusively for being rich. Instead of dismissing Trump as a simple con artist and huckster, Daisey breaks down what makes Trump tick; and in doing so illuminates the state of the American Dream and how he says it’s been sold out.

This engagement of “The Trump Card� at the Guthrie is the start of a 10-city tour across the country this fall, which will land in New York right before the election this November.

As part of the Guthrie’s initiative planned for its

ninth floor, the theater is committed to offering a series called Happenings, which are periodic community gatherings in response to local and national current events, creating a forum where community members can grapple with today›s most significant topics and questions. In addition to live performances, Happenings will include conversations, town hall meetings, salons, celebrations and readings on the Guthrie’s ninth floor.

Tickets are free and may be reserved through the Guthrie Box Office at (612) 377-2224 and online at www. guthrietheater.org. Due to limited capacity, there is a two ticket limit per person.

B ES BE STTOOF22001111 F

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West Broadway

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH

11am – 5pm

N Morgan Ave

N Newton Ave

Dance. Play. Explore!

KMOJ stage at Broadway and Penn Minneapolis Public Schools Stage at the Davis Center (Broadway and Girard)

West Broadway between Lyndale & Penn Ave N (parking at Cub Foods and the Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center)

KBEM Radio at the West Broadway Farmers Market (Broadway and Aldrich)

Join us in North Minneapolis!

Kid Zone from Knox to Newton featuring New Horizon Academy, the West Broadway YMCA, Flag Ship Recreation

westbroadway.org/open-streets openstreets@westbroadway.org

Wellness Zone from Emerson to Aldrich featuring Broadway Family Medicine, NorthPoint Clinic, Nura Holistic Massage & Bodywork

Food by Soul 2 Go, Gastrotruck, Xstream Cuisine, Breaking Bread Cafe, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery and many more Check out the annual Battle of the Badges: Minneapolis Fire and Police Department BBQ JVVR VɈ H[ 5VY[O *VTTVUZ 7HYR [OL Ă„YZ[ HUU\HS :OYPTW *YHI HUK *YH^Ă„ZO )VPS H[ [O :[YLL[ :HSVVU HUK [OL Ă„YZ[ ever Boom Island Beer Garden Stage sponsored by Broadway Liquor Outlet at the new Freedom Square (across from the Capri Theater) 12-9.

Page 12 • August 29 - September 4, 2016 • Insight News

insightnews.com

‘Southside with You’ revisits Barack and Michelle very first date

By Kam Williams Who would ever think of making a movie just about Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date?

Richard Tanne would, that’s who; and he makes an impressive directorial debut with this inspirational biopic chronicling a very eventful day in the lives of the future president and first lady.

The story unfolds in Chicago during the summer of 1989 when Michelle (Tika Sumpter) was already employed as an attorney and living back home with her parents (played by Vanessa Bell Calloway and Phillip Edward Van Lear). Barack (Parker Sawyers) had just finished his first year at Harvard University Law School and had landed an internship as her assistant at her prestigious, white-shoe firm.

Apparently, he was so instantly smitten with Michelle that he could barely contain himself, so, she had to politely remind him of the office’s strict rule against fraternizing among associates.

Nevertheless, when she refused to consider a romantic rendezvous, he pitched her on the idea of attending a business meeting with him.

Once Michelle grudgingly agrees, Barack arrives late, yet is too cocky to be embarrassed about either his tardiness or the gaping hole in the floor of his rusty jalopy. What the skeptical object of his affection doesn’t know is that he has added a picnic, a museum and a movie to their planned itinerary.

Again, Michelle balks, but consents only after reminding her self-assured suitor that, “This is not a date.”

Nevertheless, the smoothtalking chain smoker presses on with his own agenda, with

Miramax

Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers star in “Southside with You” the Art Institute of Chicago being their first port-ofcall. And while perusing paintings by the legendary Ernie Barnes, Barack began broaching personal subjects.

The two continued to get to know each other over sandwiches in the park, with the discussion touching on everything from family to

faith to Blackness to the meaning of life. So, Michelle had a decent measure of the man by the time they headed to the Southside Chicago recreation center where Barack had once worked as a community organizer.

The icing on the cake proves to be an inspirational speech that’s nothing short of

presidential, which he delivers there to the discouraged residents of the crumbling neighborhood. Michelle’s floodgates finally open, undoubtedly helped along by one woman’s (Deanna Reed Foster) approval of her as the first sister she’s ever seen Barack with. Next thing you know, the two lovebirds head

to the theater to see Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” before capping off the evening with a little canoodling while sharing an ice cream cone.

“Southside with You” is a syrupy soap opera readily recommended for ardent Obama admirers. The predictable love story has a tendency to telegraph its

punches, since its familiar plotline sticks to what’s already public knowledge.

Overall, this plausible account of the blossoming of love between Barack and Michelle serves up a pleasant, if sanitized, version of their romantic launch en route to an historic rendezvous with destiny.

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