Insight News ::: 9.5.11

CALL FOR WRITERS Do you have an interest in letting people know what’s going on in the community?

Do you have a passion for reporting on a variety of topics and issues? If you do, then Insight News is looking for you. Insight News is seeking dedicated, deadline oriented assignment writers. Interested persons should send writing samples to patricia@insightnews.com. No walk-ins, please.

INSIGHT NEWS September 5 - September 11, 2011 • MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 36 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Making history Jeff Hayden poised to take senate seat

State Representative Jeff Hayden (MN-61B)

File photo

The DFL Party of Senate District 61 in South Minneapolis last month endorsed State Representative Jeff Hayden to replace Sen. Linda Berglin, who retired from office to take a job with Hennepin County. Hayden represents 61B in Minnesota’s House of Representatives. He won the seat in 2008.

Hayden is poised to become the first African American to serve in the Minnesota Senate elected by voters in the Minneapolis city District. He will join Senator John Harrington, who was elected to the Senate from St. Paul’s 65th District last Fall.

“Today, I was honored to be endorsed by the DFL as its candidate for State Senate in the SD61 special election, Hayden said. The next

step in the process is the Sept 13th Primary Election.

Hayden encouraged voters to join him “on the phones and hitting the doors. Get involved at www. jeffreyhayden.org,” Hayden said in a Facebook post.

Rallying under the banner of “Uniting People + Improving Lives” Hayden praised outgoing Senator Berglin as “lioness of the Minnesota State Senate.” He said Berglin has represented Senate District 61 for nearly 40 years and has set the bar extremely high.

Hayden promised he will continue to work for the Minnesota Health Plan, to ensure government does its part in ensuring and improving quality of life for all Minnesotans.

As a sitting Representative, Hayden was the overwhelming favorite in the field six candidates vying for the endorsement.

Endorsements followed from the DFL Central Committee and from Stonewall DFL, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally caucus of the Minnesota Democratic-FarmerLabor Party.

In seeking endorsement, Hayden committed himself once again to fighting for the Minnesota Health Plan.

Hayden has been a fantastic Representative for 61B, and will be an excellent Senator for all of SD61, said Jeff Rosenberg, a blogger at mnpublius.com

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Walter Griffin

Pictured above are Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Advisory Council and Minneapolis Park Board Commissioners and two poem writers, Naima Richmond a school mate of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Shirley Smith, a participant in the Youthline program in the park who also wrote a poem about Dr. King. L-R: Jane Miller, Art Sertoff, Betty Tisel, Lynn Daniels, Willie Mae Demmings, Verlena Matey-Keke, Adrienne Merrill Ratliff, Sandra Richardson, Virginia Richardson, Shirley Smith, Naima Richmond, Mary Merrill Anderson, Commissioner Bob Fine, Doris Christopher, Ed Christopher, Commissioner John Erwin, Commissioner Brad Bourn, Commissioner Scott Vreeland and Commissioner Liz Wielinski.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. legacy The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Advisory Council, and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board hosted public officials and

community residents at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S. on August 28th to celebrate the unveiling of the MLK

Memorial in Washington, DC and the South Minneapolis launch of initiatives to uplift Dr. King’s legacy.

The event featured the

rededication of Freedom Form #2, a sculpture donated

by New York artist Daniel LaRue Johnson that was originally dedicated to honor

Dr. King in the park in 1970.

Sculptor Johnson attended the rededication thanks to the generosity of Roderic Southall of Obsidian Arts and Roxanne

Givens, Executive Director of the African American Museum and Cultural Center.

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Area youth deliver service, solutions kids earn a paycheck, but they also learned the power of teamwork and the importance of taking pride in the area where they live.

“While nothing of this magnitude has ever happened in north Minneapolis, we have turned this tragedy into something positive by putting these kids to work to support themselves and their families,” said Louis King, president and CEO of Summit Academy OIC and member of the NCRT core leadership team.

“This summer jobs program was designed specifically to infuse economic opportunities into the community and provide financial support for low-income families.

Not only are these kids doing good deeds and taking pride in their work, but they are earning money that they will spend back in the community.”

By The Northside Community Response Team For the past several weeks, 150 young Minneapolis residents have taken to the streets with the task of making the north Minneapolis community whole again by providing support to individuals impacted by the May 22 tornado.

Kids, age 14-21, completed a variety of projects – from removing debris and assisting with Camp Noah, to working with the Camden Garden Club and staffing sites that provide support to community members still in need – all as part of a summer jobs program, developed by the Northside Community Response Team (NCRT). Not only did the

Ramadan Reflections Part 2

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The summer jobs program was the creation of the NCRT – a group formed immediately following the tornado that is working to ensure that the people of the area receive a continuity of care and that the community is physically and economically rebuilt in a culturally respectful manner.

The NCRT is lead by individuals from a variety of organizations including Summit Academy OIC, Minneapolis Urban League, Urban Homeworks, Pillsbury United Communities and Sanctuary CDC. The summer jobs program was facilitated by EMERGE Community Development in partnership with the Minneapolis Park District, Teen Teamworks.

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Education

Dr. Jackson highlights the benefits of positive teaching

PAGE 4

Travis Lee

Family Day unites community Plymouth Avenue was transformed into an urban festival and marketplace during the 2011 Family Day on Saturday, August 27. Over 2000 community members

enjoyed a full day of mainstage entertainment, information and health resources, food and merchandise vendors, and activities for the entire family.

To bring Family Day

We Win Institute

Celebrating Excellence

PAGE 5

“Back on the Block,” the Minneapolis Urban League partnered with Plymouth & Penn Corridor

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Lifestyle

Equality does not mean attacking male self worth

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Ramadan reflections part 2

By Muhamed Ibrahim muhamed@insightnews.com (August 22, 2011) - It seems Ramadan has flown by us. We are now in the last 10 days. I know some of us are hoping of these days to go by quickly so Ramadan can end. I use to be one of those people myself.

This is interesting because it’s narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that if we knew how blessed this month was,

we would wish that Ramadan lasted the whole year!

The last ten days of Ramadan are considered some of the holiest days in all of Islam. In these last days of Ramadan, is a night called Laylatul Qadr (the night of Power or the night of Decree).

It was during this night that the holy Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) In fact, one chapter of the Koran is dedicated to this glorious night The Holy Koran says:

(1)Verily, We have sent it (this Koran).

(2)And What will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?

(3)The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months.

(4)Therein descend the angels and the Ruh (Gabriel)

by Allah’s Permission with all decrees: (5)(All that night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.

—Surah 97 (Al-Qadr), Verse

1-5 Any act of worship done on Laylatul Qadr is better than 1000 months (83 years and 4 months) of worship. The exact night of Laylatul Qadr is unknown, but according to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) it is on the one of the odd nights of the last ten days.

During the last ten days of Ramadan, one immediately notices increased religious devotion. Muslim’s frequent the masjid even more so during these days. Most Muslims do what is called I’tikaf (spiritual retreat in a masjid). Masjids are open 24 hours during the last ten days. Muslims will

Suluki Fardan

Worshippers at Masjid An-Nur mosque in North Minneapolis

stay through the night at masjid remembering Allah by praying, reading and studying the Koran often leaving the Masjid at the break of dawn. Muslims strive to seek the reward of Laylatul Qadr: Allah’s Mercy.

Alhamdulillah, I have been blessed with the opportunity to make I’tikaf this Ramadan.

Since school is not in session yet, I do not have to worry about waking up early. I would first go to the Masjid at around 9:30pm. We would pray the fifth and final prayer of the day, Isha’a, at around 10:15pm.

Then we would begin the Taraweh (extra congregational prayer). Taraweh ends at around 11:30PM. After Taraweh, people usually stay at the masjid and sleep for a bit, talk with friends and family or read Koran. At around 2:15AM, the Tahajjud (night prayer) begins and is finished around 3:30AM. Then we eat Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) which is provided by the masjid. At around 4:30AM, we stop eating and pray the first prayer of the day which is known as Fajr. After Fajr, we usually head back to our homes to get some well-deserved sleep. I usually wake up at around 2:30pm after nights like these.

Comparing this Ramadan to last Ramadan, it seems the global Muslim community

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Page 4 • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Insight News

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EDUCATION

Creating a culture of yes Building Creative Capital

By Bernadeia H. Johnson MPS Superintendent As we begin the 2011-2012 school year, I am excited to see our students

engaged in learning and achieving high results. Minneapolis Public Schools teachers and staff members are prepared to promote student success and accelerate student achievement. We have been working to strengthen our organization internally and externally with a specific goal in mind: “Creating a culture of yes.”

We are MPS and we are committed to our mission: We exist to ensure that all students

learn. We are also committed to our vision: Every child college ready.

A culture of yes in our classrooms will propel our students toward their goals. YES, you can achieve your dreams.

YES, you are smart and successful.

YES, you are special and have a unique ability to add to this world.

YES, we value you and recognize your achievements. YES, we will support you by providing you with the tools and skills you need to flourish.

We are MPS and we have a passion for the work we do. It is my goal to ensure that passion is met with an equal amount of well-tuned practice – practice in our craft of teaching and learning,

practice in our work of operating a large urban school district, practice in our approach to leading others.

Passion without practice cannot transform our vision into a reality.

My continuing priority this school year is to implement core strategies that will put a good teacher in every classroom, a strong principal in every school and a high quality school in every neighborhood. The key to that priority is promoting a healthy and productive work culture. We must ensure that our services to our students and families closely align with our mission.

My desire is to create a deep sense of urgency, ownership and shared responsibility among all staff for the academic success

and well-being of students in the Minneapolis Public Schools students. I envision a highperforming team where results matter more than process and where each one of us is held accountable for those results. I am committed to creating a culture of yes in our schools and in our school district as a whole. This must begin with the way we lead, listen and engage our families and community stakeholders.

I am also committed to enhancing the experience of internal and external MPS stakeholders. We want to prioritize customer service as a value of Minneapolis Public Schools and to demonstrate that value by making sure all MPS stakeholders

feel welcomed, respected and assisted. My goal is that everyone who enters our schools and administrative offices will see and feel the difference.

Our students, families and stakeholders deserve no less from us. We are ready to take ownership of the culture of our schools and offices, the learning in our classrooms and the success of our school district. We are MPS. We are open-minded, welcoming, conscientious, attentive, fun, interactive, collaborative, progressive and accountable. We are ready to say yes to every child.

We are MPS and we want to provide the best service to each family every day. Let’s make this school year a great year.

Dr. Marcus Jackson highlights the benefits of positive reinforcement For decades, educational researchers have documented the benefits of teacher praise and attention in response to working with students who possess learning and behavior problems.

Despite the documented benefits, many educators continue to under-utilize this simple method for achieving improved student performance and behavior. The result of such compelled Dr. Marcus Jackson, a principal to write a children’s book about the topic.

Dr. Marcus Jackson is an expert when it comes to motivating and inspiring kids. He is a former teacher, coach, assistant principal, and coordinator for at risk youth.

Dr. Jackson states that he never imagined himself to be a children’s book author, but during his 15 year career, he has witnessed the power of teacher praise. Despite being written for children, the idea of praising and encouraging

students is a concept that teachers, school administrators and parents can all appreciate. According

to Dr. Jackson, “A teacher’s words can hinder or accelerate a student’s performance and that’s

what I sought to convey in this book.” Jackson states that he was ultimately motivated to write the book after an encounter with a student, who after being told by his teacher that he was intelligent, transitioned from being a “low performer” to being an honor student. “In addition to the theme of teacher praise, I believe that this book sheds a positive light on the teaching industry and in this day and age where many teachers are being investigated for cheating scandals, I believe this book offers a positive image of the profession” states Jackson. The 24 page book is a must read and a reminder that a teacher’s words possess the power to foster student achievement.

Because My Teacher Said I Can is available for purchase through Author House Publishing at authorhouse.com. The title is also available online at www.amazon.com and www. booksamillion.com.

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HEALTH

Moving from pain to power Murua (Swahili for ‘Respect’)

By Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. I remember when I was around eleven years old growing up in the segregated rural town in the south. The white folks lived on one side of the tracks and the Black folks—well, we lived on the other.

We seemed to walk everywhere –mostly because there were no cabs or busses—but also because we kids had more freedom if we did not rely on our parents to take us places. The distance from our house “in the country” to “the flats” (which is where the Black folks lived), was about four miles. One day, my brother, sister and I asked

if we could go visit our friends in the flats. My mother quickly gave us permission but having heard at the church (Mt. Zion) that the local bootlegger had opened up a “honky tonk” with a Jukebox, she warned us not to go there. Well, we went to see our friends as promised. We even called when we got to their house. After a few games of spades and after all of the Kool-aid was gone, we decided to go walking through the neighborhood. Suddenly, we heard this amazing boom echoing the James Brown song “I feel good,” we all rushed to door of the “honky tonk,” started doing dances like the “booga-loo” and the “watusi” and shouting the lyrics of the songs.

That jukebox sure was surely something. It seemed that we were there only a few minutes when my mother suddenly drove up in her Chevrolet. She was wearing her wig on crookedly and one pink fluffy house-shoe (the other one was in her hand)! She shouted our

names in order of birth (including our middle names-which always meant trouble). We came running out of that place to a reception of shouts and “Lord Hav’ Mercy’s.”

It was SO embarrassing.

I thought life as a kid could get no worse.

Unlike that incident, most of my childhood experiences of shame were suffered privately. People could not tell what was happening in our homes back then because we were taught not to “air our dirty laundry” and we were warned, “No matter what you do - never tell white folks your business.”

Within the last few months, I have seen it repeatedly confirmed that bad things do not just happen to bad people or Black people for that matter. Within the last couple of weeks, our community has endured numerous violent, unnecessary deaths. It seems as if we have seen children and adults with the best of potentials being the victims and perpetrators of violent crimes. Some of these problems are the result of our inability as a community to deal with the hurt, grief, and shame around sociocultural injustices and issues of economic, intellectual, and political powerlessness. On the other hand, some other sources of our problems are related to personal problems such as dysfunctional families, poor parenting, intimate partner violence, child abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

A dysfunctional family is one in which conflict, disrespect, abuse and misbehavior occurs continually and regularly.

Dysfunctional families are not limited to poor people or those of us who do not have college degrees; they have no social, financial, or intellectual bounds. There are rules within a dysfunctional family that must be obeyed such as the following: • Don’t talk about problems –stay in denial, keep secrets and don’t let people know our business • Don’t express feelings openly or honestly • Communication should always

be indirect- act out, sulk or talk through another family member • You must set unrealistic expectations about what the people who depend on you will do for you • Don’t be selfish, or ever think of the other person first • Maintain double standards- “Do as I say, not as I do” • Don’t have fun • Don’t rock the boat, keep the status quo • Don’t talk about sex or other sexually related topics like homosexuality, abortion, rape,

interpersonal conflicts develop.

The problem is even more noticeable if both partners come from backgrounds characterized by dysfunctional family patterns.

Many dysfunctional family systems tend to keep the dysfunctional patterns of behaviors going by passing them down from one generation to the next. Either the parent will directly perpetuate the abuse or he/she will enable another abuser to engage in the abuse (i.e. one parent lets the other curse the children out, gamble rent

“A dysfunctional family is one in which conflict, disrespect, abuse and misbehavior occurs continually and regularly.” incest, HIV, or STDs • Don’t challenge your parent’s religious beliefs or any of these family rules Therefore, a key component to surviving a dysfunctional family is learning to accommodate these dysfunctional rules. The problem is that children who grow up in dysfunctional families learn that such an experience is “normal.” So, children exhibiting unhealthy relationship patterns (let us say lying) in order to survive in dysfunctional families turn into adults who continue the dysfunctional patterns when those behaviors no longer serve them. Consequently, when they are no longer in the crazy-making, scary, dysfunctional settings of their home environments, adult children of dysfunctional families continue to use the dysfunctional coping strategies in their relationships with healthy people.

Because emotionally healthy people do not generally lie to each other or routinely engage in the dysfunctional family rules,

money away, use drugs, beat the children or knowingly engage in sexual abuse). For example, in the recent movie, Precious, the mother knowingly witnessed her daughter being sexually abused by the girl’s father, yet accused the daughter of “taking her man.”

I cannot tell you how often I have had adult clients (both male and female) confess that their parents traded them in to pimps or drug dealers as sexual collateral.

I cringe to think of how often I hear stories of young people who have been left at home for hours or days without adult supervision, or those who report that they have run away or left home for days-without their parents even looking for them! In addition, I shutter to think of the many times that sistahs met brothas over the internet, dated them for two weeks and moved them into their homes to help “take care” of the family—when they barely knew the guys! Finally, we make these fatal errors when we as parents leave our children with partners, church members,

grandparents, or others (who from our own childhood or past experiences) we know to be unsafe people! But most incredulously, are the stories of parents who would beat their children with electric cords, pipes, brooms, or stick hot spoons, forks, knifes on their children’s backs, feet, tongues, or private parts in order to “punish” them because they “deserve it” for something that they did wrong.

So, you see, dysfunctional families can range from a perpetual state of exposure to emotional abuse to the most severe forms of physical, ritualistic abuse. The bottom line is that dysfunctional family systems hurt kids and kill their spirits. They lead to more dysfunction if the transgenerational patterns are not corrected, halted, and broken.

Dysfunctional family members are often characterized by a lack of feelings, sensitivity, empathy, concern, or understanding for each other. Other characteristics include denial of problems, inadequate or missing boundaries, unequal or unfair treatment, jealously, controlling behaviors and a pervasive lack of safety. These families are also characterized by abnormal sexual behavior such as incest, adultery, or promiscuity.

People in dysfunctional families often report feeling isolated and alone. They describe that there are rigid roles for each family member such as: (1) The Hero -a child who can do no wrong, and is the person that parents often brag about or refer to when others are disappointing; (2) The Caretaker- this is the child who most often takes responsibility for the emotional well-being of the family and who assumes the parental role; (3) The Scapegoat or Rebel: the problem child who is blamed for most of the family’s problems; (4) The Lost Child- the child who is quiet, whose needs are usually ignored or hidden from

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NCRT From 1 “Our young people have performed admirably and showed what the community can do when we all put our minds and a little elbow grease into it,” said Mike Wynne, executive director of EMERGE Community Development. “We couldn’t be more proud of the kids and the work that they did to bring us one step further in the rebuilding process.”

The young people in the program, many from the area impacted by the storm, were assigned to crews at 12 sites in the neighborhood doing a variety of tasks including: EMERGE-based crews removed debris and litter to beautify the area.

Insight News • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Page 7 Garden projects were completed through Project Sweetie Pie, a program that teaches kids about planting and harvesting healthy food and in conjunction with the Camden Garden Club.

Support was provided at various churches to assist families impacted by the storm that continue to need food, household items and more.

NEON (Northside Economic Opportunity Network) offered social entrepreneur training where kids created a magazine to document the impact of the tornado.

Assistance was provided at Camp Noah, a week-long day camp for children grade 6 and younger to help them deal with their fears following the tornado.

While the summer jobs program officially ended August

EMERGE Group

Courtesy of NCRT

26, there are plans to form a “Super Crew” of young people who are beyond high school age to teach them skill-based work that will be facilitated by EMERGE in partnership with Urban Homeworks and Summit

Academy OIC. “There is a lot of rebuilding that needs to be done and there is a lot of money changing hands,” King said. “We want to make sure that the dollars spent remain in the community

because in the end, the more people earn, the less they need.”

The summer jobs program was financed with funding from Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Foundation, General Mills and pledges made

by a variety of organizations that totaled $375,000. Each person involved with the program was assigned 28 hours of work per week and earned $7.25 per hour for their efforts.

Health

addiction (because you are not sure what “normal” is). There is also a tendency to be rigid, perfectionist, and hold unrealistic expectations of yourself and others. Also, you may have a persistent unwillingness to change-- having a fear of making mistakes in decision-making.

You may also notice that you feel powerless and ineffective, like whatever you do does not make a difference. Additionally, you may have exaggerated feelings of shame, worthlessness, and low self-esteem. When it comes to getting close to people, you may either avoid conflict at any price or act cold, belligerently and aggressively to keep others at a distance. In addition, people who experience dysfunctional family systems constantly worry about abandonment by others consequently; they have a tendency to be over-controlling and impatient. Finally, if you have been a product of a dysfunctional family system, you may notice that there is a failure on your part to properly take care of yourself

because of your absorption in the needs and concerns of other people.

The good news is there is help for you if you choose to courageously seek it. It is a long journey, which includes learning to let go of people and behaviors that no longer serve you. Many people have written books on the topics of identifying and healing family/relationship dysfunction (Claudia Black, Co-dependent No More; John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame that Binds You; Robert Hill, The Strengths of Black Families; Harriet McAdoo, Black Families; Nancy Boyd Franklin, Black Families in Therapy; Verna Cornelia Price, The Power of People: Four Kinds of People Who Can Change Your Life) that can be picked up at our local libraries. In addition, you may wish to seek counseling or join a support group such as the one that we have at Brakins Consulting for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families.

BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who serves as the President of Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services, and Executive Director of the African American Child Wellness Institute. She has over 30 years of experience in the field psychology specializing in violence recovery and multicultural mental health and is recognized as a Board Certified Diplomat/Fellow, in African Centered/Black Psychology by the Association of Black Psychologists. Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya warns that this column should in no way be construed as constituting a therapeutic relationship through counseling or advice.

To forward a comment about this article or to make an appointment, please contact Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya by emailing her at: bravadaakinsanya@ hotmail.com or by telephone at 763-522-0100 or 612-302-3140.

comprehensive representation of community services available right in North Minneapolis.

As the community continues to try to heal from the devastating May 22 tornado and a week of violence targeting our youth, Family Day reminded participants of the strength and beauty which undergird core values of faith, cooperative economics, purpose, and excellence that properly

define our community.

The event included a historic 14 mile Family Day Bike ride lead by the Major Taylor Bicycle Club. Almost three dozen veteran and novice bicycle riders participated in the ride from NorthPoint through Wirth Park trails into Golden Valley and Plymouth.

Minneapolis Urban League said community collaborations

that made Family Day possible included Southwest Airlines, Comcast, UCare MN, Toro, Liberty Carton, Skyline Graphics, Hospitality House, Northside Achievement Zone, Untiedt Farm Growers at Farmer’s Market, Geico, American Heart Association, Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and Minneapolis Telecommunications Network (MTN).

From 6 the family dynamics or chaos; (5) The Mascot- this is the child who uses jokes to divert attention away from the tension in the family; (6) The Mastermind – this child is seen as an opportunist who takes advantage of other family members’ faults and insecurities in order to get what she/her wants— often in order to manipulate the adults in charge.

Needless to say, if you are exposed to these dysfunctional family roles and rules, you may experience difficulties learning to accurately identify and express your feelings or forming and maintaining close, intimate relationships.

In addition, if you who grow up under these conditions, you may have a higher than normal likelihood of marrying a person from another dysfunctional family or a person with an active alcoholism or

Family From 1 anchors: NorthPoint Health & Wellness, Estes Funeral Home, University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Center (UROC) and Insight News.

This collaboration ensured a

Page 8 • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Equality does not mean attacking male self worth

By RaShya M. Cunningham After reading a piece in Insight News (MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 28, pg 10) last month that discussed global stress levels of women and requested additional help from men, I thought it was an appropriate time to elaborate on what that help might look like. I have written a piece that elaborates on some of the ways shifts in behavior and thinking can contribute to a reduction of stress levels amongst women, Black women in particular.

Many writers have devoted their talents to the pressures facing Black women today.

They explain the various duties she’s expected to fulfill and how

those duties often compete with one another, necessitating an internal conflict. Many scholars believe that the internal conflict often manifests itself externally within the quality of her romantic relationships.

From prioritizing her identity so that race takes precedence over gender to being a mom, wife, daughter, professional, soror, and church mother, Black women face mounting pressure in the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, many men dismiss these writings as baseless “male bashing” or “encouraging women to emasculate men” instead of as informative about the current state of Black women.

In the wake of these writings, including last month’s piece

by Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, “Ladies, it’s not just you!

Globally, we’re all stressed!” (where she accurately noted “And yes, we want just a tad bit of help from the fellas’ time to time”) I thought it would be appropriate to explore the fellas’ role a little more and comment on what their help may look like.

Much to-do has been made about the role that Black men play in the (un-) balancing act of Black women. Black women everywhere, from all walks of life, are calling on Black men to abandon traditional gender roles in hopes of a more balanced family life that leaves her less stressed. The follow-up question of Black men is then often “well what do you want us to do exactly to help fix your problem?” and while this is highly circumstance specific, there are a few general shifts in behavior and thinking that Black men must take regarding

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this matter if we are to progress as a community. Below I list some of the most pressing things in an effort to provide some clarity.

1) Break the gender role mold, it’s hard but necessary.

Increases in the educational

levels and earning potential of women have caused the dynamics of relationships to democratize.

This democratization has helped to encourage a shift away from traditional gender roles.

Men must begin to alter their approach to the relationship so that it is more heavily dependent on who each person is as an individual and not on what has been historically associated with gender. Is she better with the money? Then perhaps she should make the financial decisions for the home. Is he better with child rearing? Then perhaps he should play a more prominent role in parental affairs. Instead of women being limited to the domestic arena (which has never really been the case for Black women who have historically always had to work) and leaving the “business” of the home to the husband, women are more capable and more expecting of an equal role in all aspects of the home. This includes a man who is willing to be more active in the domestic responsibilities.

The more amenable men are to these societal changes, the easier transitioning will be for our entire community.

2) Women’s issues are not her problem they are the family’s problem. As a

family unit, no one person is more important than any other.

The strength of the entire unit depends on the strength of each member. If the entirety of any one member’s problems is put on them alone to deal with, it weakens the whole family unit.

Accordingly, women struggles are easier to bear when spread across the family instead of being shouldered completely by her. It is essentially impossible to share in a burden that men cannot recognize or do not believe is real. She cannot come home and express her frustration about her boss that makes inappropriate sexual advances if he does not believe in sexual harassment in the work place. She cannot tell him that colleagues talk over her in board meetings and she believes it is because she is the only woman (of color) if he believes that her job is “men’s work” or that “a woman is to be seen and not heard.”

She cannot collapse on her bed after working twelve hours on a death penalty case if her mate has defined her worth as his wife by her ability to be domestic and her willingness to obey. She cannot make him better by challenging him when he is wrong if he views any opposition from her as an attempt at emasculation. Lastly, she cannot strive to reach her full professional potential if he has expressed an issue with her earning more or being more successful professionally.

These things are essential to personal fulfillment. Feeling secure, having friendship, and being respected are all generally accepted by psychologists as fundamental human needs and where are they more critical than in the home?

3) Learn about feminism, particularly how it’s been nuanced by race. Many of these root issues and their consequences have been discussed at length by some of the most brilliant feminist scholars in the world. Kimberle Crenshaw, Patricia Hill, and bell hooks (all lower case on purpose) have been part of the forefront of Black feminist thought for quite some time now. Catherine Mackinnon, Judith Butler, & Carole Pateman have all helped shape public debate in America regarding feminism.

Ideas surrounding the matrix of domination, sexual harassment in the workplace, and the assumption that Black women’s liberation from sexual and racial marginalization is implicit in the efforts pushed

by Black men and white women give this debate context and will assist in a genuine understanding to facilitate healthy and productive discussion between husband and wife.

4) This isn’t a zero-sum gain. Understand that her quest for equality is not an effort attack her mate’s worth or position in the home. Black men have frequently dismissed any notion of male privilege in an effort to emphasize racial disparities. The racial struggle for equality, however, was largely characterized by masculinity. Black women, in turn, have been expected to prioritize the components of their identity where race takes precedence over gender. This causes a suppression of the femininity of Black women or Black feminist urges and that’s frustrating. This frustration affects our mental health, interaction with our male counterparts, and our ability to maximize effectiveness in and outside the home.

Male privilege in the Black community is exacerbated by refusal to acknowledge its existence and refusal to assist in the fight against sexism.

5) Be a partner not a dictator. The relationship is a team and (despite tales to the opposite) women do not want to be dominated.

Strength is attractive but that’s something different than living with a tyrant. Jean Jacques Rousseau, a great political philosopher, once said that taking away someone’s liberty is anti-human. Many believe that bondage, in any form, is the anti-thesis of being human.

Seeking to conquer a woman, on any level including her thoughts, actions, or speech, is a form of restraint that many men would be unwilling to submit to.

MEN TURN TO 9

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Men From 8 This kind of approach likely worsens the internal conflict and frustration she’ s already experiencing. It is extremely difficult to feel like a partner if she’s being treated as a subordinate, especially when it’s for his ego purposes.

6) Read the whole Bible verse. Many men justify authority in the home by using some distortion of divine order.

The Bible verse that calls for women to submit to men also requires a husband to submit to his wife.

7) Ask her about her professional goals, or goals outside of the home, then support her in those endeavors the way you expect to be supported. If he sees that she’s really active in

MLK From 1 Former Park Superintendent and Commissioner Mary Merrill Anderson emceed the inspiring afternoon event. She said, “We renamed the park in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr but we never really let the park be the place where all of his philosophy and his approach to life, all of the things that we honor in him are expressed in the environment in the park, the architecture in the park and the way that the program is delivered there.”

The Park Board unanimously approved Phase 1 recommendations of the task force Merrill led and funded the restoration and relocation of the Freedom Form #2 sculpture to its original site and the creation of the Rev. Dr.

Hayden From 1 Other declared DFL candidates will oppose Hayden in the September 13th primary include Elsa Batista and Kyle Wilson.

Insight News • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Page 9 Church then he can express his interest (in her not necessarily in church) by volunteering to go to church. If she’s working extensively with a non-profit on a benefit, then he can offer to work security to show that he supports her. If she’s writing an article then his willingness to proof read it for her reenforces the idea that they’re a unit. Conversely, involve her in “male stuff” to the degree both people feel comfortable. This can help deconstruct the meme that women have a “place” that they must stay in. If he is a basketball fan (and she can sit through a game without falling asleep or asking a million questions) then taking her to a game and enjoying her as a friend instead of treating her attendance as an obligation because she’s his partner can help create a more equal environment.

8) Be who you are, not

what you think women want.

It’s so important that we pause to consider the influence cultural and societal messages have on the beliefs that we hold dearest. It is naive to believe that in a society where what you’re worth is defined by what you have, promiscuity has become a testament to masculinity, and power is valued above humility that those things have not affected how we all perceive the value of our relationships with one another. Men taking the time to analyze this critically can provide insight about what he truly considers important and those things that he’s more willing to relinquish because they are superficial or artificial.

Popular culture has weighed in heavily about what (Black) men are supposed to be. This is often perpetuated by our own circles that are also heavily influenced by the societal

Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Council. The Council is charged with raising $1.6 million for Phase 2 recommendations which include an outdoor amphitheater, improved signage, peace gardens and historical interpretive markers.

“The Park Board unanimously voted to accept the recommendations of the community members and we applaud them for engaging in difficult conversations about race reflected in recommendations that honor Dr. King, that have broad community support and that improve the park for all residents. We support the efforts of the Dr. King Legacy Council to bring Dr. King’s vision of peace and equality to the park in spirit, practice and design,” said Park Board President John Erwin.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park was renamed from Nicollet Field in 1968 to

Dr. Martin Luther King Park to honor the civil rights leader who was assassinated earlier that year. Based on recommendations by the Advisory Task Force, the name of the park is now Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

The park offers a full menu of park and recreation programs and services. Amenities include a year-round staffed recreation center with gym, meeting rooms, kiln, kitchen, and lounge area, basketball court for pickup games or organized programs and a well used playground and wading pool. In addition to the winding pathways and picnic areas throughout the park, a regulation baseball field and two softball fields are also available for leagues and programs offered through the Park Board. More information on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Park can be found on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board website at www.minneapolisparks.org.

“Jeff Hayden does more than just speak to the cause of equality; he has been in the trenches fighting for equality both personally and professionally,” said Stonewall DFL Chair David DeGrio.

“As an ally in the Minnesota House, Jeff Hayden has worked tirelessly to defeat discriminatory legislation and

to enact laws ensuring basic legal fairness for all citizens of Minnesota. Outside of the legislative halls, Jeff continues to play an integral role in bringing together a diverse set of community leaders from various marginalized communities to defeat the 2012 Marriage Discrimination Amendment.”

messages. Reaching a point of balance and tranquility in romantic relationships, however, involves reconciling who we actually are, with who we believe we are, and with whom we’d like to be.

9) Lastly, don’t let your quest to balance the roles and authority in your home be an invitation to go to the extreme and reject all social norms. As I stated at the outset, this is HIGHLY circumstance specific. If some things work for you and your wife and happen to fall into traditional gender roles-don’t go fixing something that isn’t broken. Make a sincere effort, however, to ascertain

whether she’s really happy.

Women have spent decades masking our frustration and internal conflict for the sake of the family. This has often been at the expense of the family though because when we suffer, the family suffers.

Social norms have influenced us all on some level. I consider myself a feminist but still look forward to cooking, cleaning, and having a husband & kids.

I don’t see anything wrong with being a domestic wife or with my (future) husband bringing me flowers just because. More important than ideologies, however, will be his willingness to compromise, relinquish control, and support

my goals as if they were his own.

“RaShya Cunningham is a second-year law student at The University of Minnesota.

She is a native of Toledo, OH and received her B.A. in Political Science and MBA in Finance from the University of Toledo. She is an NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Earl Warren Scholar and the 2011 Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Minority Scholar. She believes that civil rights are human rights, anything is possible with the right shoes, finance rules the world, and the law can change anything.”

ABUSED, NEGLECTED, AND MAYBE AWAY FROM HOME…

Be a Child’s Voice in Court!

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

Minneapolis Trainings begin in September and October St. Paul Training begins Mid September PLEASE CALL FOR AN INFORMATION PACKET Dakota County (651) 554-6231

Hennepin County (612) 348-6824

Ramsey County (651) 266-5270

VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAMS

Page 10 • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Insight News

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

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

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Practical advice for conference callers Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com The great thing about a conference call over an inperson meeting is that it provides the opportunity to do other things, right?

You can log into a conference call a minute or two late and still be present because those first few minutes are just small talk, anyway, right? Wrong. Small talk before any meeting, live or online, is critical warm-up time.

This is your chance to measure the mood of your co-workers and to nurture your professional network. Use small-talk-time to learn something new about one person on the call. For example, I learned on my call today that one of my co-workers is relocating. You just never know what might come up.

Once the meeting is called to order, use your mute button so you can get a few things done while listening to the call.

Not. Just as you would in a live meeting, it is imperative that you stay focused throughout the meeting. First, somebody felt it mattered to have you on the call; second, you might get called on for a fact or opinion.

On a lengthy call recently, only one person was on the phone, while the rest of us talked around the telephone on the table. Honestly, I kind of forgot she was on the line.

When someone called her by name to ask a question, I

panicked slightly – was she still there? Was she paying attention? Would she know someone needed an answer from her now? Of course to all of the above. Her response was quick and calm, as if she’d been right there all along, which of course she had been.

Staying tuned in on a conference call requires some extra effort. Use the spreadsheets or agenda provided to keep track of the conversation, especially if

some of your co-workers tend to digress.

The agonizing question, Where were we? can be avoided if people are paying attention. I use a highlighter on my computer to note our place in a conversation, even if it doesn’t pertain to me. I also take notes, even on items that, again, may not pertain to me.

Many jobs required attending standing meetings over the phone or in person.

Keeping a file containing your notes from one meeting to the

next will help you maintain the habit of note-taking.

Don’t dismiss a meeting as less important simply because no one knows what you’re wearing. Be good to your coworkers, yourself and your career by being there, 100 percent, for every meeting.

Julie Desmond is a contract recruiter for a Fortune 500 company in Minneapolis, MN. Write to Julie@insightnews. com.

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Insight News • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Page 11

COMMUNITY North Minneapolis Neighborhood blog...

By Ivan Phifer, Staff Writer Webber Park redesign The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will hold a community survey and a multi-day design kickoff event for Webber Park. The planning process will bring together the community and a professional design team to create a vision for the future of Webber Park. This vision will guide $4 million in improvements in 2012-2013. The Webber Park multiday design kick-off event is scheduled for September 29, 30 and October 1 at 4400 Dupont Ave N. The 6:30-8:30pm September 29 community meeting is for the design team and community to discuss demographics, program opportunities, natural resources, and community visions for the park. The 3-5pm September 30 design team will be working on concepts based on the September 29 meeting. Community members can watch progress and visit with the designers during the 3-5pm open studio.

From 9:30am-Noon, Saturday September 10, there will be a community open house to review.

For more information contact Jennifer Ringold at 612-230-6464, or ringold@ minneapolisparks.org.

Lowry Avenue Harvest Festival The Lowry Avenue Harvest Festival takes place 11-5p.m, Saturday, September 17, at the corners of Penn and Lowry in North Minneapolis.

The event features: music, a car show, arts and crafts, food, a kids’ zone with appearances by Pickles the Clown, JoJo the Balloon Guy, the Raptor Center, caricaturist, storytellers, and a magician. The festival also includes a farmers’ market and community information tables.

The Festival’s ”Biggest Vegetable Contest” awards prizes for the biggest tomato, green pepper, zucchini and pumpkin, as well as the weirdest shaped

vegetable. A pie recipe-baking contest will select a winner’s pie to be featured at the Lowry Café. A percentage of sales will be donated to the charity of the winner’s choice. Donations will also be accepted for the local food shelf. For more information contact the Webber Camden Neighborhood Organization at 612-521-2100.

Northside Transportation Network A three day community workshop and open house will take place 9-7pm Thursday September 8, 9-5pm Friday September 9 and 9-5pm Saturday September 10 at Minneapolis Urban League’s Glover Sudduth Center 2100 Plymouth Av. Minneapolis will explore transportation options for the proposed Bottineau Corridor Light Rail Project, impacting residents, businesses and future of North Minneapolis.

Participants will have the opportunity to fill out a Community Survey, interact with planners, professionals and community leaders. For more information please contact Vanessa Freeman at 612-275-1621, vanessa@northsidetransit.org or Geoff Maas at 763-772-4287 gmaas@ mncenter.org We Want You Back The Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board and City of Minneapolis have joined forces again for the “We Want You Back” campaign.. On Saturday September 10, hundreds of volunteers will be walking throughout the city, distributing information, and talking with young people about re-enrolling in a program or school that fits best for them. Last year, 100 signed up on the spot to talk with Minneapolis school staff about getting on a path to finish their diploma, and 14 students have since graduated.

Volunteers are needed for the Sept. 10 Day of Action. For further

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

Events Respect for life movement – Sept. 8 Mobilizing 100 men, women, & teens to stop the violence in North Minneapolis.

Thursday, September 8th at 6 pm at Muhammad’s Study Group, 3859 Fremont Avenue North, Minneapolis.

Business Consultant Needed MEDA (a private non-profit business development organization) is seeking an experienced hard working business professional to join our dynamic team of consultants. Our integrated approach to business planning, marketing, financing and capacity building for small business, has helped entrepreneurs of color succeed for the past 40 years! We offer a great network and excellent benefits. Local travel, good humor a must. Bilingual a plus.

Submit resume and salary requirements to gjacobson@meda.net Visit www.meda.net for more.

information contact Jo Haberman, Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board at 612-673-2720 or visit the http://www. ycb.org/initiatives/we_want_you_back Student Consulting Project The University of Minnesota Office for Business and Community Economic Development presents the 2011 Community Health Initiative (CHI) Student Consulting Project. This program is designed to support community-based organizations that work to address public health issues impacting traditionally underserved communities by matching them with talented graduate students assigned to projects designed by the organization.

The goal of this initiative is twofold; to provide resources to support non-profits and small businesses in a way that builds capacity and improves overall performance and effectiveness; secondly it provides University of Minnesota professional students valuable applied learning experiences in the community, specifically working in communities that face public health disparities or other socio-economic issues.

These projects attempt to deal with a business need of the organization and may focus on areas including but not limited; to market research; marketing, feasibility studies, implementation planning, health administration, and outreach.

In considering applications, students are expected to work approximately 50-60 hours each on the project for the duration of the school semester (approximately 3 months).

One or more students are assigned to a project, depending on the scope and type of project requested. Applications are due Wednesday, September 14, 2011. Online applications, including additional details regarding project requirements are available here: http://www.ced.umn.edu/chi/CHI_

PHONE: 612.588.1313

For more information, contact Brother Antonio Muhammad at (612) 363-9396 or antonio.muhammad@facebook.com.

Pilgrim Baptist Church Annual Fall Revival Services - Sept. 11- Sept. 14 Pilgrim Baptist Church located at 732 West Central Ave. in St. Paul will be having their Annual Fall Revival Services Sun., Sept. 11 thru Wed., Sept. 14. The revival theme is “Love in the Kingdom of God”, 1 John 4:78. The revival speaker will be the illustrious Rev. Ian Bethel, Senior Pastor, New Beginnings Baptist Tabernacle and he will be the speaker of the hour for the following services: Sun., Sept. 11 - 9:45am service; Mon., Sept. 12 - 7:00pm service; Tue., Sept. 13 - 7:00pm service; Wed., Sept. 14 - 7:00pm service Reception to follow.

Outreach Director Minnesota DFL seeks qualified applicants for Outreach Director position. Must have a practical background in field or community organizing, experience developing relationships with historically underrepresented communities, and proven ability to use technology as an effective organizing tool. Position requires a commitment to engage and respect diverse constituency groups. EOE. For more info visit dfl.org/contact/internship-opportunities

Tree Stumps The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board began work Thursday, Aug. 11 to remove boulevard tree stumps left by the May 22 tornado on the North Side.

The stump removals mean the City of Minneapolis will soon be able to begin repairs to sidewalks damaged in the tornado. The Mayor and City Council approved sidewalk repairs without assessing any of the cost to property owners. This is similar to what the City did in 2009 when a tornado damaged neighborhoods in South Minneapolis.

Around 1,600 sidewalk panels were damaged when the tornado cut through North Minneapolis, according to a survey of the damage done by the City’s Public Works department. Also, around 600 feet of curb was damaged in the tornado and will need to be replaced.

Almost all of this damage was caused when the tornado toppled trees along sidewalks and curbs, causing the roots to push up the concrete. Once the tree stumps and roots are removed, the ground can be patched up and sidewalk work can begin.

Park and Recreation Board crews have spent the last several weeks working with Gopher State to locate utility lines around each of the 1,529 “tipped” stumps on boulevards that have exposed roots, in order to make sure the removal can be done safely.

Gopher State Central Minnesota is a general contractor specializing in areas of commercial construction, pre-engineered metal buildings, and construction management. The work

FAX: 612.588.2031

Phira Rehn Collections - Now-Sept. 12 Artist Phira Rehn’s Embracing Cambodia: “The Yearning for Home” is a family collection of Cambodian paintings and temple figures. She shares her struggle to find understanding and place somewhere between two cultures. The exhibit is on display now through Sept. 12, 2011 at the University of Minnesota UROC Gallery, 2001 Plymouth Avenue North Minneapolis MN 55411.

Prostitution in & around the Central Neighborhood - Sept 8 We are diving right into the hard-to-face truths this year. Our first session will deal with prostitution in our neighborhood.

What are the facts, who is involved, who is it hurting? Is there work being done that we can Insurance Agent support? Sept. 8 7-8:30am Park Looking for people with a strong entreAvenue United preneurial mindset to Methodist Church own their own insur3400 Park Ave. ance agency. The average agent earns Mpls. over $120,000 a year, with some earning over $500,000. If you desire financial independence, call 651204-3131 to set up an appointment.

NonprofitApp2.html To learn more about the Community Health Initiative program, including more about student consulting projects, visit http://www.ced.umn.edu/chi/ index.html For further information contact Aron Khoury, Project Manager khou0012@umn.edu or 612-625-8460.

9/11 10th Anniversary Truth Event Sept. 11

will begin in the northernmost section of the tornado area and move south, and work to remove tipped stumps. This is expected to take about a month. The City expects to begin sidewalk work around Sept. 1, once enough stumps are removed to allow crews to work continuously on sidewalk and curb repairs.

The cost of sidewalk and curb repair work is approximately $300,000, and the City Council has approved a resolution seeking reimbursement of these costs from FEMA and the State of Minnesota.

Lind-Bohanan The 7th Annual Riverfest and Heritage Day event from 1-5pm, Saturday September 17, celebrates the history of the Mississippi River. The event will be held at Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, 4900 Mississippi Court North.

For more information, contact Brenda Yarfitz at 612 335-5891.

Victory Monthly meetings for the Victory Neighborhood Association take place on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The September meeting will be held at 7pm, September 28th at The Warren; An Artist Habitat, 4400 Osseo Road, for an annual meeting and board election. For more information on the Victory Neighborhood Association, contact Debbie Nelson at 612 528-9558 or visit www.victoryneighborhood.com Polar Pride The North High Polars celebrate 2011 homecoming with a game against the South High Tigers from 12-2pm, Saturday, September 17 at Minneapolis North High. For more information, contact Principal Peter Christenson at 612 668-1700 or Peter.Christensen@ mpls.k12.mn.us or Assistant Principal Carly Jarva at 612 668-1818 or Carly.

Jarva@mpls.k12.mn.us

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

Sunday, September 11, 2011, 1 - 4 PM. Speakers and live music. Free of charge.

More information at mn911truth.org.

Downey Side…families for youth Sept 13 Invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children.

Downey Side’s next information session will be Tue., Sept. 13, 6-7:30pm at Downey Side Minnesota, 450 N. Syndicate St., Suite 321 St. Paul. Pre-registration required. To register, email stpaulmn@ downeyside.org or call 651-603-5927.

Edison Class of 1961 - 50 Year Class Reunion - Sept 15-16 4 fun activities planned. Contact Gary Jones ASAP - 612.789.7000 Relative Remains - Sept 15-Oct 7 A solo show by Jody Williams, Minneapolis, featuring her diminutive and meticulously executed artist’s books. The exhibit opens on Sept. 16 and runs through Oct. 7. A reception is on Thur. Sept. 15, from 5–8pm. Gallery hours are Mon.–Thur. 11am–7pm; and Fri.–Sat. 11am–4pm. Located in the Library and Learning Center of

Metropolitan State University , 645 E. 7th St., Saint Paul.

The Invisible Children - Sep 16 Children with incarcerated parents are among the most vulnerable populations of children. Learn how to best support the healthy development of these children. Fri. Sept. 16 at College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph. Free for family members impacted by incarceration, $15 for all others. Register conta.cc/ pHCdDw Spirituality Breakfast Offers Support During National Recovery Month Sept. 16 Fri., Sept. 16, 7:30 a.m. at East Commons of the Christensen Center at Augsburg College, 720 22nd Ave S Mpls. The Recovery Month Spirituality Breakfast, sponsored by Minnesota Recovery Connection, Recovery Works, and the StepUp Program, is an opportunity to gather as a community to reflect upon the role spirituality can play in the journey toward long-term addiction recovery. Please visit www. augsburg.edu/about/map.html, for up-to-date construction and parking information.

Page 12 • September 5 - September 11, 2011 • Insight News

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