Insight News ::: 9.13.10

JAZZ CRUSADERS

Joe Sample & the Jazz Crusaders feat. Gerald Albright will be at Dakota Jazz Club September 16-17. Visit dakotacooks.com or call 612-332-1010 for tickets.

INSIGHT NEWS September 13 - September 19, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 37 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Shaw University installs Dr. Irma McClaurin as president

Tom Foley

Dr. Irma McClaurin, Ph.D

Dr. Irma McClaurin, who was founding Director of North Minneapolis’ University of Minnesota Urban Research Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC), Thursday was named Shaw University’s 15th President.

Shaw University, a landmark institution in Raleigh, NC, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest historically Black college in the South. Shaw University is a private, co-educational liberal arts University that awards degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The announcement was made by Attorney Willie E. Gary, Chairman of the Shaw University Board of Trustees at a press conference that was held at the University’s Spaulding Gymnasium.

Shaw University alumni, faculty, staff and students were in attendance and welcomed Dr. McClaurin to her new position with cheers and overwhelming applause as she addressed the student body and general public for the first time. In addition, North Carolina dignitaries and community leaders converged on Shaw’s campus for the historic announcement.

“It is with the utmost respect and admiration that I welcome Dr. McClaurin to the Shaw University family,” said Willie Gary. “I am confident that under the leadership of Dr. McClaurin, our esteemed university will continue to be a

beacon of light and opportunity for the thousands of young men and women who value education and hope to become productive citizens.”

“I am honored and privileged to have this opportunity to lead an institution of Shaw’s caliber, with its deep history and rich tradition of education and scholarship,” said McClaurin.

“My goal is to reignite a vision of research, teaching, scholarship, and community engagement that prepares students to become engaged, challenging, optimistic, and socially responsible citizens in a diverse and global world. With the support and collaboration of Shaw’s illustrious trustees and alumni, its hopeful student body, its committed faculty and staff, and the larger Raleigh community, I have no doubt we will be successful,” McClaurin said.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. McClaurin served as University of Minnesota’s Associate Vice President for System Academic Administration, where she led the construction and development of UROC. “We’re delighted to learn that Dr. Irma McClaurin has been named President of Shaw University,” said Dr. Robert J. Jones, Senior Vice President for System Administration at University of Minnesota, lead

MCCLAURIN TURN TO 9

Long after Tuskegee, Blacks still leary of clinical trials

By Pharoh Martin NNPA National Correspondent (NNPA) – The general distrust that African Americans have of clinical trial research goes back a long way. History tells them that it would be in their best interests to not participate, but the reality is that Black participation in clinical research is critical because AfricanAmericans disparately suffer from some of the highest disease rates and respond differently to many treatments.

Researchers like Dr. Claudia Baquet, associate professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and director of its National Bioethics Research Center, wants to not only foster public trust among African Americans for research, but also stress the importance of participating in such research.

“The reason that this is so important is that we know that the public has a lack of trust in research and also in academic institutions,” said Baquet, one of the few Black clinical researchers in the country. “We

Courtesy of NNPA

Participants in the University of Maryland Bioethics Research Center-NNPAF Bioethics Fellowship(Left to right): Linnie Frank Bailey, Black Voice News; Dr. Margo Hall, Bioethics Fellowship Program consultant; Elaine Hegwood Bowen, Chicago Crusader; Pharoh Martin, NNPAF; Dr. Claudia Baquet, director of the University of Maryland National Bioethics Research Center; Joan Allen, the Daily Challenge; Gordon Jackson, Dallas Weekly; Rhetta Peoples, the Florida Sun. Standing in back is James Alexander, National Cancer Institute public affairs specialist. know that African Americans and other under-served communities do not participate in medical research or clinical trials at the same rate of the

Education:

Metropolitan State appoints Dean of Students

PAGE 4

general population. We feel that the lack of diversity in clinical trial participation contributes to health disparities. Plus, it affects our ability to develop new ways

Aesthetics:

Eclipsed is not to be missed

PAGE 5

to prevent, diagnose or treat illness.”

The National Center of Minority Health Disparities, which is a part of the National

Institute of Health, provided Baquet a $2.5 million dollar grant to establish a national bioethics research center at the University of Maryland School

Gun show question stirs controversy PAGE 7

of Medicine in Baltimore and attempted to remove the stigma and mysteries associated with medical research within minority and under-served rural communities. The two-year grant is funded by the stimulus funding passed by the U. S. Congress last year.

Among the educational programs, Baquet established a partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation in order to encourage Black Press Reporters to explore the issue of clinical trials and report on the impact of the issue in 2010.

Six reporters participated in the exploration. That includes five from around they nation, who applied and were selected as fellows, who spent two days at the University of Maryland.

They were: Joan Allen of the Daily Challenge in New York; Linnie Frank Bailey of Black Voice News in Riverside, Calif.; Elaine Hegwood Bowen of the Chicago Crusader; Gordon Jackson of the Dallas Weekly; and Rhetta Peoples of the Florida Sun in Orlando.

NNPA National Correspondent Pharoh Martin,

TRIALS TURN TO 2

Sports Report:

Concussions, sports, and money: A bad cocktail

PAGE 11

Page 2 • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Insight News

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Nice Ride announces funding for North Minneapolis expansion Just a week after passing the 50,000 ride milestone, Nice Ride Minnesota has received funding commitments for expansion of the bike share system in North Minneapolis next Spring.

Nice Ride Minnesota is a non-profit organization operating the nation’s largest bike sharing system. Shortly after it launched on June 10 with 700 bikes locked in 65 self-service stations throughout downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus, Nice Ride’s Board of Directors voted to make North Minneapolis a priority for 2011 expansion.

Nice Ride has now received funding commitments from the

City of Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, Bike Walk Twin Cities, U.S. Bank, and Xcel Energy that will make that expansion happen.

Nice Ride will receive $228,500 in federal recovery funds for North Minneapolis expansion through the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative (made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

These funds are targeted to reduce obesity by giving people opportunities to increase physical activity.

The Department of Health grant will also help Nice Ride

Trials

Alabama, which recruited African-American men in Tuskegee who were promised treatment for syphilis,” Baquet said. “Even after penicillin was identified as a cure the treatment was withheld from them by the federal government. So there is still the persistent fear and concern about being treated like a Guinea Pig and not understanding that research has a role to play in improving the health of the community.”

Because of the historical concerns of events like the Tuskegee experiments and others, lecturers go through intense efforts to explain how federal regulations resulted from such scandals to protect individuals who participate in clinical trials so that similar incidents are not repeated.

Baquet said, “By promoting research literacy, it breaks down those barriers and the historical distrust that the literacy it breaks down those barriers and the historical distrust that the African-American community has had of research and of researchers.

From 1 the writer of this story, also participated.

The reporters studied how African-Americans could benefit from clinical trials and the fear that still prevail.

Baquet has also been setting up community educational programs on bio-ethics in Maryland called “mini-medical schools”.

The community attends a four-week medical school. They are taught some core research methods involving ethics, its history of scandals and tragedies, the federal regulations that came about to protect participants and the application of those protections such as the importance of informed consent, the knowledge level of a person participating in a clinical trial.

Students also receive lessons on health care problems that affect their communities such as HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes and the need for vaccines. The approach is multilevel; so in addition to educating the public researchers also educate community physicians and nurses. “There is still the persistent concern about research abuses and scandals that have happened in the past such as the Public Health Service’s study of untreated syphilis in Tuskegee,

Doctors find ways to stop African-American resistance to clinical trials One of history’s most glaring violation of medical ethics occurred in Tuskegee, AL. That was when federal researchers experimented on close to 400 impoverished African American

tailor its program to fit North Minneapolis communities. Nice Ride has retained Bill Smith of Biko Associates. Smith will convene a series of focus groups in North Minneapolis to gather ideas about the best locations to install bike share stations in North Minneapolis and how to make the program better.

Nice Ride will also receive $63,000 from Bike Walk Twin Cities, Xcel Energy, and U.S. Bank. Bike Walk Twin Cities invests federal funds to increase biking and walking in Minneapolis and surrounding communities.

The staff at Bike Walk Twin Cities issued a challenge grant, offering to buy an additional bike share station for North Minneapolis if private

corporations donated $20,000 to Nice Ride. U.S. Bank and Xcel Energy stepped up to meet that challenge and support the expansion of bike share in North Minneapolis.

Nice Ride President Mark Bixby is thrilled to see these funding commitments for expansion in North Minneapolis.

“We made North Minneapolis a priority for expansion, and it is great to see both government and private business stepping up to fund that expansion quickly,” he said.

Bixby also points out that this is just the start of Nice Ride’s expansion planning. Nice Ride invites everyone to a public meeting Wednesday, September 15, at 7:00 pm at the University

of Minnesota Urban Research and Community Outreach/ Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis. Nice Ride staff will present a brief summary of initial 3-month performance.

Antonio Rosell, Director, Community Design Group, will facilitate a discussion focusing on the potential to expand Nice Ride Minnesota to more communities.

The federal recovery funds will also help Nice Ride make its program more accessible for low-income communities.

To sign up for an annual subscription today, you need access to the internet, an e-mail account, and a credit card. However, we recognize

these can be barriers to lowincome residents throughout Minneapolis. Therefore, Nice Ride is exploring options to overcome these barriers and will offer a need-based price reduction program next spring.

Major support for Nice Ride Phase 1 was made possible by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Bike Walk Twin Cities, a program of Transit for Livable Communities. Their contributions paid for the 65 stations and 700 bikes now in service and showed America that bike sharing is a valuable transportation tool, making public transit more accessible and making cities better places to work, play, shop, and go to school.

National Archives

Blood being drawn from victim of Tuskegee syphilis study. sharecroppers who suffered from syphilis. The experiments started in 1932 and lasted for 40 years.

Early in the study,

researchers found that penicillin was an effective treatment for the disease; yet the U.S. Public Health Service purposely withheld the treatment from its

Black participants for decades.

The fallout from that controversial study not only led to a total reform of medical ethics as well as an avalanche of

new federal laws and regulations regarding protections for participants in clinical studies,

TRIALS TURN TO 9

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Insight News • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Page 3

BUSINESS Anger management: Keep your job by keeping control Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com The minute his fist went through the wall, Jeff was sorry. He knew it would cost him his job, but he just couldn’t

stop himself. Or could he?

Everyone gets irritated at work sometimes, but people who shout, slam doors, punch walls or threaten co-workers are out of control. Nobody wants to work with a madman (or madwoman, either).

If Jeff went online or picked up a couple of books to learn how to manage his temper, he would learn he is supposed to take a deep breath, count to ten, or just walk away.

Yeah, right. The last time Jeff

lost it at work, it felt to him like a balloon that suddenly popped. He didn’t plan ahead to punch a hole in the wall; it just happened. No way was he going to start deep breathing or counting to ten. Rage is more complicated than that. Trouble is if Jeff wants to keep picking up a paycheck, he has to figure out how to keep the balloon from bursting; he has to keep his anger under control.

People who beat anger demons say there are probably

three ways to do it. First, see it coming. Second, redirect that energy into something else.

And, third, if nothing else is working, walk away.

Could Jeff see it coming?

The problem that causes a blow-up is usually only the last in a series of situations that build up. The day he lost his temper at work, Jeff had a bad cold and overslept.

Rushing to get out the door, he forgot his phone and went back for it. His manager got on him about being late and gave him a warning without even asking what happened.

There were other problems, too: an irate customer, a coworker who called in sick, meaning Jeff had to take on extra work. Someone spilled something and forgot to clean it up and Jeff slipped. He was not hurt, but he was so mad by this time that he couldn’t take it anymore. It wasn’t the fall that he was mad about; it was the fall, on top of everything else.

Looking back, Jeff could see how the minor problems compounded to push him over the edge. Taking a deep breath does help, if Jeff does it after each minor incident. He could tell a friend, “It’s one of those days,” or just notice the bad

Ralpharama

start and let it go; he can let the pressure out a little at a time and stay calm a while longer.

Outlets help, too. Anger is a really physical emotion. If there’s a way to walk to work, do a few sit-ups in the morning or find a basketball game over the weekend, the body actually releases feel-good chemicals that can help keep emotions in balance.

Finally, if the pressure is too great, and the familiar feelings start boiling inside, it might be too late to avoid an explosion. Leaving, then, is a

good solution. No one ever got fired for walking away from a fight. Jeff could say, “I’ll be right back,” and then change scenes fast. Eventually, he will have to return and work it out, but changing position physically can help him keep it together emotionally.

Julie Desmond leads career planning and job search workshops in Minneapolis.

Have you ever lost it at work?

Send your story to julie@ insightnews.com.

Slash your phone bill

By Jason Alderman Sometimes I miss the days before cell phones, email and voicemail. Sure, they’ve simplified our lives in many ways – remember how frustrating it was trying to reach people before answering machines? On the downside, though, not only do we often feel compelled to be accessible 24-7, but it’s expensive. After factoring in Internet service and

cable or satellite TV, you might be paying thousands of dollars a year to keep your family wired and wireless.

Here are a few cost-saving tips that might help: Examine your home phone bill for services you may have signed up for but aren’t using, such as call waiting, call forwarding or caller ID. Dropping them could save $100 a year or more, depending on your plan.

If you have good cell phone reception at home, try using your cell for long-distance calls. But be sure to stay within your monthly minute allowance or your bill will skyrocket.

When in doubt, check your remaining minutes at your carrier’s website or by calling or texting their “remaining balance” code.

More and more folks are dropping their land lines altogether, relying solely on cell phones. Just be sure it’s always fully charged – beware of extended power failures.

And note that in an emergency, 911 operators may not be able to track your location if you’re unable to speak, as they can with a land line.

Another possible route is using a service that let you make free or low-cost calls (often, including international calls) using your Internet broadband connection. Some popular versions include Skype, Vonage and Google Voice.

You’ll need to buy certain equipment upfront to enable the connection and monthly and/or per-minute charges may apply.

In addition, many cable TV carriers offer competitively priced digital phone service via their broadband connection.

Be aware that with either of these types of broadband

phone service you risk losing coverage during power failures, so it’s wise to have a cell phone as backup.

You may be able to lower your overall communications bill by bundling home phone, cell phone, TV and Internet services together through one carrier. Plus, it’s convenient to pay only one monthly bill.

Just make sure you’re not being restricted on services you want or overpaying for those you don’t; and do the math on rates after the introductory period, if one applies.

A few more tips: Watch for offers made to new customers and ask to be given the same deal – or threaten to take your business elsewhere.

Using a prepaid phone card for long-distance calls from home may be cheaper per minute than coverage through your phone company.

Ask if your employer has a cell phone plan discount for employees.

Explore family calling/ texting plans in which you can share minutes among family members.

Add up your family’s monthly calling and texting charges and see if the carrier’s unlimited minutes plan is more affordable.

Comparing all these options may seem like a lot of work, but you could save hundreds of dollars a year by choosing the right plans. Plus, you may just realize that you’re wasting too much valuable time on the phone, watching television and surfing the Internet.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs.

To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney

Congregations unite to promote health Four St. Paul congregations are joining forces, for the second year, to raise awareness around the importance of health and wellness. The “Know Your Numbers” health fair will take place at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 451 Central Avenue W, St. Paul, on Saturday, Sept.

18, 10 am to 1 pm. The goal is to promote healthy lifestyles by empowering people through education and screenings, while creating increased awareness of community resources that are available to individuals and families.

This is an interdenominational activity involving: Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Pilgrim Baptist Church and Resurrection Temple. These four congregations are part of a larger health initiative under the auspices of the Stairstep Foundation called “There Is A

Balm”.

The 2008 edition of America’s Health Rankings identified Minnesota as the fourth healthiest state in the nation. Despite the overall health status of this state, populations of color (African Americans, Asians, Hispanics) and American Indians continue to experience poorer health and disproportionately higher rates of illness and death.

(Populations of Color Health Status Report, Spring, 2009) “In almost every indicator of disparate health outcomes African Americans are at greatest disadvantage. That the African American church lead in the fight to eliminate the gap is a matter of great hope and is entirely consistent with our history,” said Alfred Babington-Johnson, Founder, President & CEO of The Stairstep Initiative Companies.

Page 4 • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Insight News

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EDUCATION

MNIC learners get diploma and career The Minnesota Internship Center (MNIC) Charter High School reaches out to students who

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporters Shanice Brown Ivan B. Phifer Christopher Toliver Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor

have not fared well in traditional high schools and alternative settings. For these students, MNIC creates small learning communities that allow each student to build a learning plan within the reflecting his or her own personal/career interests.

The proposition is simple and compelling: Earn a high school diploma by preparing for a career.

MNIC serves youths 16 through 20 years of age. It is the only charter school in Minnesota certified by the state to offer Adult Basic Education.

Last year, students who started in the fall with MNIC and stayed through the year, averaged academic gains of nearly two years, according the Oliver White, team leader of MNIC’s Unity Campus in North Minneapolis. White talked about MNIC’s mission to expand student enrollment recently on “Conversations with Al McFarlane” which is broadcast each week KFAI-FM 90.3.

White said the MNIC can accommodate an additional 200 or so students above those currently enrolled at the beginning of the school year.

He said the school is uniquely successful in creating community and individual collaborations for its students. For instance, the Carlson School of Management provides assistance through a class partnership in which a group of Carlson graduate students volunteered to create a comprehensive staff recruitment program for MNIC. Hennepin County Training

Oliver White

and Employment funds Industrial Technology Training, in a partnership that involves four Minneapolis area machining companies.

Employment Action Center’s Bright Futures Program provides career counseling and training to MNIC learners.

The Minnesota Literacy Council supports a small adult diploma program at the East

Suluki Fardan

High School.

Sabathani Community Center collaborates to support MNIC’s theatrical production program and Catalyst Community Partners, a community development business based in North Minneapolis which owns the MNIC Unity House site, has engaged a number of local businesses to help support Unity campus programs.

White said MNIC promises students will earn an official high school diploma as a result of the program’s rigorous academic programs and test help. The training will prepare students for careers as nursing assistants and other health care professions, culinary arts, building trades, and the arts.

Paid internships are available for good students and all students get help in finding jobs and work study opportunity.

He said MNIC is free so tuition is not a barrier. In addition MNIC provides free transportation and meals at school. The school has awarded over 770 diplomas earned since 2003, according to its recruitment literature.

MNIC Minneapolis campuses are: Unity - 2507 Fremont Avenue North, East High - 300 Industrial Blvd (near Hwy 280 and Hennepin, Sabathani Center - 310 East 38th Street in South Minneapolis, and UTEC - 1313 5th St. SE in Dinkytown.

For further information call (612) 280-2330 or (612) 3287734 for Somali Language.

Stanton named MSU Dean of Students Cecilia Stanton, Crystal, was appointed dean of students by President Sue K. Hammersmith.

The appointment was effective August 4.

As dean of students, Stanton is responsible for overseeing services and programs to foster student success, including student life and leadership development (orientation, student organizations and governance), TRiO programs, multicultural student and retention services, international student services, veterans, women’s and GLBT services,

and handling student judicial and disciplinary matters.

Stanton has more than 10 years’ experience in student affairs and extensive experience in diversity training and development. She served as interim dean for seven months this year. She came to the university from the Art Institutes of Minnesota, where she was on the faculty.

Previously, she was director of faculty diversity and engagement for Capella University, assistant vice president for culture and leadership with Allianz of North

America, and assistant dean of students for Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. She also has a consulting business, Stanton Consulting.

Stanton holds a B.A. in psychology from Bloomfield College, an M.A. in sociology/ psychology from Lehigh University, an M.A. in industrial organizational psychology, and is a Ph.D. student in industrial organizational psychology at Capella University.

Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, provides high-quality, affordable academic and professional degree programs

Courtesy Metropolitan State University

Cecilia Stanton at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels. It is the only

state university in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

For over 80 years, Hallie Q. Brown has been the Lighthouse of the Community...

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.

...this is why we shine so bright.

The Hallie Q. Brown Early Learning Center is currently accepting applications for enrollment.

We are a licensed daycare and preschool program with a 4 Star Parent Aware rating. We feature licensed and trained staff, Project Early Kindergarten (PEK) curriculum and a sliding fee scale. We gladly accept Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Contact us today for a tour and more information.

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Insight News • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Page 5

AESTHETICS Gurira’s Eclipsed reveals resilience

By Peter Rachleff Professor of History, Macalester College

Tony Nelson

Pictured: Sha Cage, Hope Cervantes, Yeukai Mudzi

Our metro area ranks among the best nationally in opportunities to see live theater. Much of that theater is quite good. But, now and then, a play is staged which simply cannot be missed. For the year 2010, that play is Eclipsed, to be staged from September 17 to October 10, at the Playwrights’ Center on Minneapolis’ Franklin Avenue by Frank Theatre; the production is directed by Wendy Knox, and features a spectacular local cast.

Written by Danai Gurira, a young Zimbabwean-American of great heart and intellect, Eclipsed is the story of five Liberian women trapped in that country’s prolonged civil wars. Four of them are the unwilling “wives” of a guerrilla “commanding officer,” who use threads of solidarity and competition to weave themselves into a fragile community. The fifth is a “peace woman,” an educated, urban dweller who, like the others, has lost all her material possessions and, like the others, is unsure of her future.

Their dreams, visions, and even identities have been “eclipsed” by the violence which surrounds them, but not erased. We sit on the edge of our seats, waiting to see what will emerge, what these

young women can make emerge, as they explore their relationships with each other and the situation around them changes shape.

When Eclipsed premiered last fall at Washington, D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre, the Washington Post called it “a surprisingly vivacious portrait of helplessness, of the entirely human impulse to adapt, conveyed with a lovely authority, at times even a whimsicality.”

At the end of the 2009-2010 season, the Washington, D.C., theater community recognized Eclipsed with their Helen Hayes Award as the best new play of the year. It received similar praise in Los Angeles and New Haven, and, when it was staged in Johannesburg’s Windybrow Theater this past month, ShoutAfrica wrote: “Drawing on reserves of wit and compassion, these defiant survivors ask: when the fog of war lifts, could a different destiny emerge?” The South African production is soon to move to the famous Market Theatre, while the Twin Cities production will soon be matched by local productions in Boston and Chicago.

Eclipsed is spreading awareness of Gurira’s talents.

Born in Grinnell, Iowa, where her father taught chemistry, she and her family moved to Zimbabwe when that country was born out of the former “Southern Rhodesia.”

She was five. Gurira was educated in the new Zimbabwe and, upon her graduation from high school, she returned to the U.S. Midwest to attend Macalester College.

There, she studied Psychology

and Theater, became a leader among African and African American students, always seeking to build bridges between these on-campus communities, and sharpened her acting skills.

Not only did she appear on the Macalester mainstage, but she also created a solo piece which she performed on the Penumbra Stage as part of Laurie Carlos’ “Late Nite” series.

Upon her graduation, she headed to New York City, where she earned an MFA in Acting at NYU.

While there, she developed her interest in playwriting, and, in 2006 wrote and performed a two-woman piece, “In the Continuum,” which was a surprise hit in New York City, leading to productions in which she performed in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Harare, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.

For this play, which explores, with searing intensity and humor, Black women’s experiences

ECLIPSED TURN TO 7

Page 6 • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Insight News

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HEALTH NAMIWalks: Changing minds one step at a time NAMIWalks is changing minds one step at a time. NAMIWalks is a 5K walk to increase public awareness of mental illness, fight stigma, and raise funds for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMIWalks Minnesota will be held at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept.

25 at 1 p.m. Nearly 150 walk teams and more than 2,500 people from across the state are expected to participate. NAMI provides educational classes, support

groups and resource information, and advocates for better mental health services.

Mental illnesses affect persons of any age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic status. One in five adults and one in ten children live with a mental illness. “The Walk brings people together to raise awareness that mental illnesses are treatable medical conditions, and that there is help and hope for children and adults with mental

illness and their families,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota.

African Americans in the United States are less likely to receive diagnoses and treatments for their mental illnesses than Caucasian Americans.

Culture biases against mental health professionals and health care professionals in general prevent many from accessing care due to prior experiences with misdiagnoses, inadequate

treatment, and a lack of cultural understanding. They are often at a socioeconomic disadvantage as well in terms of accessing both medical and mental health care.

Yet African Americans are disproportionately more likely to experience social circumstances that increase their chances of developing a mental illness. They comprise 40% of the homeless population, nearly 50% of U.S. prisoners, and 45% of the children in public foster care. Of the African American children

exposed to violence, over 25% meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Across a recent 15year span, suicide rates increased 233% among African Americans aged 10 to 14 compared to 120% among Caucasian Americans in the same age group.

NAMIWalks helps break through the wall of silence around mental illness and supports NAMI’s advocacy for improved mental health services. Join in this inspiring event on September 25. Entertainment by the High &

Mighty band. For information, go to www.namihelps.org and click on the NAMIWalks logo, or call (651) 645-2948 ext. 115 to register for the walk, captain a team, volunteer, or give a donation.

CIGNA Behavioral Health proudly supports NAMIWalks as a premier sponsor, along with nearly 40 corporate and individual sponsors, including UCare, Medica, HealthPartners, Regions Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthEast, KARE 11, and others.

Teen pregnancy facts

By Melody Mendiola, MD Teen pregnancy and birth rates have been slowly declining since the early 1990s. These modest shifts have been particularly noticeable among African American teens. Nonetheless, African American girls are more likely than their white or Hispanic counterparts to become pregnant as a teen.

Today, one-third of African American teens will have sex by the age of 15. And, nearly six in ten African American girls will get pregnant at least once by age 20. The birth rate among African American teens (age 15-19) in Minnesota is 62.9 per 1,000, compared to 26.7 per 1,000 among white teenagers.

Experts agree that frank, frequent discussions with teens are critical in addressing the issue of teen pregnancies. Begin early to establish open communications.

Here are a few frequently asked questions to help shape your conversations.

What are the risks of teen pregnancy?

Teen pregnancy impacts the overall well being of the child and the family. Moreover, teen pregnancy is closely associated with many serious social issues, including welfare dependence, poverty, out-of-wedlock childbearing, education problems

and limited workforce readiness.

How serious is the issue?

Research on teen pregnancies confirms the seriousness of the issue: Two-thirds of teen mothers never finish high school and teen fathers are far less likely to complete high school compared to those who delay childbearing until at least age 21.

A recent study revealed that, at age 27, 72 percent of African American girls who first gave birth at age 15 or younger were living in poverty, as were 59 percent of those who first gave birth at ages 16 or 17, compared to 45 percent of those who first gave birth at ages 20-21.

Children of teen mothers are 50 percent more likely to repeat a grade, less likely to finish high school and have lower performance on standardized tests; they are twice as likely to be abused and neglected and 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves.

What about contraception?

The most effective method of pregnancy prevention is abstaining from sexual intercourse. The Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting (MOAPPP) says that many people practice abstinence for some period of time, even after they have had sex, and surveys show that most

teens in the U.S., including those who have had intercourse, think teens should wait to have sex until they’re older.

For those who choose to be sexually active, it’s important to use contraception each and every time. Sexually active couples who don’t use contraceptives during intercourse have nearly a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant over the course of a year. For those who are sexually active, the only protection against BOTH pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, are condoms. Not only does the consistent and correct use of condoms offer protection against pregnancy, it can also reduce the risk for many STDs including HIV. To be doubly safe, it is recommended to use condoms with another contraceptive method, such as oral contraceptives.

A variety of safe and effective methods for contraception are now available. To find the most appropriate method, please talk to your health care provider.

What can parents do?

Talk with your children early and often about sex, and be specific. Young people have lots of questions about sex, love, and relationships, and they often say that the source they’d most like

PREGNANCY TURN TO 7

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Insight News • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Page 7

Gun show question stirs controversy at State Fair

By Sharon Rolenc Public News Service-MN As the Minnesota State Fair wound to a close with Labor Day, debate on gun control measures started heating up again. At issue is a polling question asked of fair-goers about whether a background check should be required for people who purchase firearms at gun shows. Opponents of proposed legislation to close the gun show loophole say the question masks an agenda to take away their guns.

Heather Martens, executive director of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota, says opponents of the proposed law are just trying to promote misinformation about the issue. She says the public has already shown overwhelming support for background checks for all gun sales at gun shows, and points to recent scientific polls, including a poll of National Rifle Association (NRA) members.

Eclipsed From 5 with HIV/AIDS across the diaspora, Gurira was awarded the Village Voice’s coveted Obie Award in playwriting. Even as she continues to write (she is currently working on an historical trilogy about Zimbabwe), Guira also continues to act, receiving accolades for her work in the independent film The Visitor and as “Martha Pentecost” in the recent Broadway production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. The richness of all five characters in Eclipsed give evidence of Giora’s roots as an actor. Each one is a role that any actor would love to perform.

Gurira’s Midwestern ties give us a bridge to this play. So, too, does the presence of Liberians in our community. Indeed, our

Pregnancy

From 6 to go for answers is their parents.

Start the conversation and make sure that it is honest and open and respectful. Be courteous and respectful and avoid hurtful teasing or ridicule. Show that you expect courtesy and respect from them in return. And, don’t compare your teenager with other family members Research clearly shows that talking with your children about sex does not encourage them to become sexually active. In fact, seven in 10 teens agree that it would be much easier to postpone sexual activity and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have more open, honest conversations about these topics with their parents. Teens should talk about their questions and concerns with an adult they trust, whether it is a parent, a trusted friend, or a health care professional.

“So, if 69 percent of NRA members favor closing the gun show loophole, that’s an issue where there’s really not as much controversy as some might want us to believe,” said Martens.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, gun shows and flea markets provide “a large market for criminals to shop for firearms anonymously.”

Minneapolis State Rep. Jeff Hayden (DFL-61B) says he’s seen the consequences of these sales first-hand in his district. He moved back to the Twin Cities 15 years ago, after attending the funeral of his closest friend, who was shot and killed at a local nightclub.

“Minneapolis had changed in that gang violence was up, and guns seem to be at the center of it,” he said.

Hayden co-authored legislation to close the gun show loophole last session, and says it’s common sense to have a uniform

metro area is home to the largest U.S. community of Liberians, and their struggles to achieve stable immigration status, to create economic security for themselves and the members of their families who remain in Liberia, and to find their own place in our communities, have touched many of us deeply. With Jewish Community Action, the Advocates for Human Rights, the Immigrant Law Center, the Council on Black Minnesotans, and other community-based groups, Liberians helped to create the Coalition for Permanent Residency, which has sought to stabilize the situations of all immigrants on “temporary protected status” in our community. They have collaborated with playwrights and theater artists to create plays which examine the historical relationships between African Americans and Liberians. They

What local resources are available to me?

Henne-Teen was created by Hennepin County Medical Center to promote and advocate for teenfriendly and accessible services across Hennepin County Medical Center so that all teen patients feel comfortable seeking care in our organization. All of our primary care clinics and our OB/Gyn clinic offer family planning services and counseling. Teens can get honest, confidential information about pregnancy prevention and STD prevention in a caring and supportive environment. Planned Parenthood is another good resource for teens for family planning counseling.

For more information about Henne-Teen, or to learn more about resources for parents and teens at Hennepin County Medical Center, log on to our website at www.hcmc.org or call (612) 873-3000 to schedule an appointment at one of our primary clinics.

standard for firearms purchases.

“We have federal legislation that says people need to have a background check, and we want to make sure to extend that to everyone going to buy a gun,” said Hayden.

Opponents of gun show legislation say the law won’t stop criminals from finding illegal ways to obtain guns, but Hayden doesn’t buy the argument.

Said Hayden: “I think if we govern from that perspective, then

we wouldn’t have any laws on the books. We have laws that say people can’t drink and drive, but people still drink and drive. But we have a law that says, here’s the punishment and here’s the consequences if you do.”

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly 1.8 million firearm purchases were stopped by background checks since the Brady Law Background Check system was put in place in 1994. The two most common reasons for denial were a felony conviction, and a domestic violence misdemeanor conviction or restraining order.

The gun show question is one of several in a poll taken at the State Fair by the Minnesota House of Representatives about issues that may be addressed in the next legislative session, including funding for a stadium for the Vikings professional football team, lifting the moratorium on nuclear power plant construction, and limits on tuition hikes at state colleges and universities, among others.

Poll results are available at www.house.mn.The NRApoll is at: bit.ly/cG1M3V. ATF report is at: bit.ly/aooK9f. Bureau of Justice statistics at: bit.ly/bHSzSm.

have provided support for Congressman Keith Ellison’s projects for immigrant rights and racial justice, and they have become visible participants in key labor unions such as the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Service Employees International Union, and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. Eclipsed gives us an opportunity to engage some of the history that brought our Liberian co-workers and neighbors to our community.

Part of what also makes

Eclipsed a great play is the way it challenges its audiences to consider what we would do were we in those women’s places.

In an interview, Gurira said: “Who would you be in those circumstances where the choices are as awful as they are?” As we watch these five women wrestle with sexual assault, material privation, and humiliation, and weigh their options from adaptation to resistance, from picking up a gun to picking up a book, we realize that, in Gurira’s words, we are “in an environment

where the correct choice almost doesn’t exist.”

Do we put our emphasis on “almost” or on “correct” or on “environment”? As we appreciate the strengths these women manifest and the possibilities they create, we cannot help but think of our own lives. What of our hopes, visions, and identities have been “eclipsed,” and what might we yet make emerge? Come and be challenged by a great piece of theater.

Eclipsed will be staged from September 17 to October

10 by Frank Theatre at the Playwrights’ Center, 2301 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis.

Performances will be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. The Sunday afternoon performances will be followed by panel discussions. Eclipsed is directed

by Wendy Knox and features Sha Cage, Hope Cervantes, Nisreen Dawan, Signe Harriday, and Yeukai Mudzi. For tickets and other information, call (612) 724-3760 or visit www. franktheatre.org..

Flickr (glasgows)

Page 8 • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE Coupons, discount clubs, rewards… Oh my!

Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com I just finished tucking my Sally Beauty 20% Discount Coupon in my official coupon pouch. I usually go to Sally’s for hair products, so I joined their frequent shopper club. Although they “sell” you the membership for $5,

it’s essentially free because they give you a $5 certificate to use the following month. In addition, you receive monthly discount coupons and other perks.

I am feeling so proud of myself these days. See, I used to be one of those folks who clipped coupons every Sunday, but never had them on hand when I got to the checkout register. Those days are over! Now I am always ready to save money, even on impromptu shopping trips because I carry my handy coupon pouch in my purse at all times (bonus: it’s a repurposed clear, zippered pouch, so I can easily see inside to be

certain I have all my coupons). It has become as important as my wallet.

During these tough economic times, retailers are desperate to get shoppers in the door, and on their websites. I get so many more discount coupons these days, and I even regularly get a $10-dollar gift card (with no strings) from Kohl’s and occasionally from JCPenney. In addition, credit card companies are aggressively seeking customers with rewards programs that offer great benefits.

Are you taking full advantage of the savings at your favorite store and your credit card rewards programs? I hope so, because it’s a great way to save big on items that you already plan to purchase… (You did catch the “already plan to purchase” part, right?).

Did You Know that Discover Card has offers of up to 5% cash back on purchases? American Express and many others also have cash back programs. Of course, you must read the fine print, so visit the card’s website for full details. Also, consider visiting www.rewardscards.com.

This site may provide you with helpful information on the most useful credit cards to have based on your purchasing habits and interests.

Did You Know that you could find and print the same coupons from Sunday’s paper at www. smartsource.com or www. redplum.com? No need to search through the paper, plus you save a tree!

main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com

Did You Know that inside many of the credit card statements you receive, are discount coupons?

For instance, Macy’s just sent a coupon for a 20% discount. Resist the urge to think of it as a license to spend aimlessly.

Instead, thoughtfully consider your list of needed items (that list should also be kept inside your coupon pouch), and shop accordingly. If you are not in need of anything now, tuck it away in your coupon pouch, or share it with a friend.

While I am not encouraging you to run out and open credit card accounts in order to get coupons, I am suggesting that you review your credit card rewards

and perks programs and make sure that you are gaining the full benefit from them. If you travel often, you might consider closing your current visa and opening the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa.

Our family’s strategy is to avoid interest fees by paying our credit cards off each month. So that we don’t forget, I often write a check and pay for the items I just charged on the credit card before leaving the store. If using credit is too much of a temptation for you, by all means, stick with the cash-only system. Just remember to join the frequent shopper club at your favorite store-and don’t forget your coupons! Enjoy!

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

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Insight News • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Page 9

A game plan for healthy living: Prostate health hints

By Deanna R. Fowler, MPH Community Health Promotion Women Against Prostate Cancer For many men around the country, September is significant for one reason and one reason only…the start of new seasons of college and professional football. Roster depth analysis, fantasy football drafts, and the office betting pool all begin to take place this month. But as important as keeping up with football stats may be for so many Americans, few put the same amount of time and effort into keeping up with their own health stats.

September should also hold a place of importance in men’s calendars because it is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Every September, special attention is placed on one of the few diseases exclusively affecting men. Prostate cancer

Trials From 2 but that study and similar incidents shattered whatever trust the Black community had for such research.

“I can tell you as a researcher at a major university that sort of thing is highly unlikely and almost impossible to happen now,” said Dr. Elijah Saunders, professor of cardiology and medicine at University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“But to try to convince the Black public, especially many of the not very well educated part of the Black public, is still very difficult. That distrust is still out there and it still carries over.”

For many African Americans, clinical trials run deep as a stigma. Their fear is of being turned into human guinea pigs or being recast in another experiment similar to Tuskegee.

According to Saunders research colleague, Dr. Stephen Liggett, professor of medicine at University of Maryland School

checkups with their doctor.

Family history plays an important role in the development of the disease, with the risk doubling for men with fathers or brothers who have been diagnosed.

It is recommended that men receive a “baseline” prostate screening, testing for prostatespecific antigen (PSA) levels, and a digital rectal exam at age 40. They should discuss the possibility of yearly exams thereafter with their physicians.

Men with family history of prostate issues should discuss earlier screening initiation with their doctor.

has consistently ranked as the most common form of cancer within the United States over the last decade, beating out breast, lung, and colon cancers every year. And when paired with the male tendency to shy away from doctor’s appointments, this disease represents an issue of real concern in the world of men’s health. So in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the health of men everywhere, here are a few quick tips for staying competitive in the battle against prostate cancer.

Increase your ‘good’ fats, such as the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and keep ‘bad’ fats like those found in margarine to a minimum.

Vary your diet…try to include foods that have been seen to be beneficial, such as tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower, into your regular diet.

Keep smoking, alcohol intake, and unnecessary stress to a minimum.

Making a Winning Gameplan Maintain a healthy weight through good nutrition and an active lifestyle.

About Women Against Prostate Cancer www.womenagainst prostatecancer.org Women Against Prostate Cancer (WAPC) is a national organization working to unite the voices and provide support for the millions of women affected by prostate cancer, and their families. WAPC advocates prostate cancer education, public awareness, screenings, legislation, and treatment options.

White counterparts. Saunders, who is African-American and well-known in his Baltimore community, fortunately, does not have as hard of a time finding Black participants for his trials as other researchers.

He has developed a special way of recruiting participants from the African American community. He carried a blood pressure program to community churches and barber shops.

These church workers and barbers would be trained to screen local residents for high blood pressure and could refer them to doctors for treatment.

“It sounds simple but if Black people didn’t have that kind of screening readily available for them in the community they would never know that they had high-blood pressure,” said Saunders. Since the program started in 1985 thousands of people in Baltimore were referred, according to Saunders.

“High-blood pressure is so common and it’s killing so many Black people that every effort should be made to get them into clinical trials because the drugs is going to be used on them

whether or not they are in the trials and the more researchers know about the drugs before it gets to market the safer it would be and probably the more effective it will be,” said Saunders.

“So we want to encourage Black people and let them know that the chances of them being hurt or being used as guinea pigs is almost nil in this day and time.” Africans-Americans suffer from high-blood pressure at a significantly higher rate than other racial groups. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 44 percent of Black women suffer from hypertension compared to 28 percent of White women. The rates for Black and White men share a similar trend though not as great.

Clinical trials are now regulated and approved by a governing body called the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is empowered by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Participants in clinical trials should only volunteer for IRBapproved studies, Liggett said.

All sanctioned studies carry an IRB number that can be verified. Participants must see an informed consent document that must be read in-depth and understood before signed.

“Read the informed consent document completely,” Liggett advises. “If they have questions they should be able to have them readily answered by a physician before they sign the form.

Anything that deviates from that should send up a red flag.”

Federal guidelines stipulate that an informed consent form is written simply enough so that a person with a fourth or fifth grade education could read and understand it.

“The pendulum is just about where it need to be,” said Liggett. “You can go so far in one direction and you can never get anyone enrolled and it would be a bureaucratic problem from the beginning. But you don’t want it to be too loose and not give the patients the proper protections and informed content for a study. I think we are right where we need to be and that’s after many years of ethical discussions.”

McClaurin

of Minnesota leadership team, McClaurin served as a Program Officer for Education and Scholarship at the Ford Foundation with responsibilities for supporting the fields of Black Studies and Women’s Studies and overseeing a $10.5 million budget. In addition, she served as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Diplomacy Fellow working at USAID in the Office of Policy Development and Coordination as a gender specialist.

McClaurin describes herself as an activist anthropologist, higher education administrator, teacher, poet and writer. Her work for and commitment to the eradication of social inequality spans over 30 years. A graduate of Grinnell College with a BA in American Studies, she holds a Masters of Fine Arts in English and Creative Writing, and a Masters and PhD

in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is an accomplished scholar, author and poet and has received numerous accolades and awards for her stellar accomplishments.

Greetings and well wishes for McClaurin included those from Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, Interim President, Shaw University; Dr. Diane Suber, President, St. Augustine’s College; Dr. James West, Mayor Pro Tem, Raleigh, NC; Lawrence Wray, Assistant City Manager, Raleigh; John McGrath, Fire Chief, City of Raleigh; Sonia Barnes, District Representative, Congressman Bob Etheridge; Representative Earline Parmon, North Carolina Congressional Black Caucus; and Soberina Trawick, Senior Vice President and Relationship Officer, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, among others.

Know Your Opponent Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 American men, with more than 2 million American men currently living with the condition.

Men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Prostate cancer can be diagnosed in men as early as in

their 30’s.

The cancer is highly treatable in the early stages, with an almost perfect treatment rate, so early detection is very important.

Delayed detection and treatment can be deadly, with almost 90 American men dying

from the disease daily.

of Medicine, even though there have been great advances in the field bioethics and protections for participants of clinical trials the general mistrust of the African-American community has led to an under-representation of Black participants in medical research, which can have a substantial effect on findings.

“We know the risk of having certain diseases and their response to therapy is dependent upon a person’s genetic makeup,” said Liggett, who works in pharmacogenetics, the relationship between a person’s genetic makeup and their response to drugs. “The African-American community represents a unique genetic makeup that must be considered when one is designing a clinical trial. For example, we would need to know if a treatment for high blood pressure really works to save lives in those of African descent, of Asian descent, of European descent, etc.

Otherwise, what will happen, and this is unfortunate, if a trial gets approved but doesn’t have proper ethnic representation,

once it’s approved, it will be prescribed to everyone.”

Saunders has spent more than half of his 20 year career in research specifically working with African Americans. He said that there are some cases where drugs may not work the same way in Blacks as they do in Whites. The change can show up as a side effect, as a different response to the drug or may even work at all.

“I don’t want you to think that this is extremely common, but it’s common enough, especially in my area, I do studies and clinical trials in hypertension and high blood pressure,” Saunders said. One example that Saunders pointed out is his research involving ACE inhibitors, a popular drug to treat high blood pressure. His research team found that these drugs don’t work the same for Black as it does for Whites.

They had to use a higher dose in order for it to be effective and even found a side effect in the form of a persistent severe cough that was found more consistently in Blacks more than with their

prostatecancer.ca

Checking Your Stats African American men are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than Caucasian men, making it that much more important for this group to schedule regular

From 1 administrator for UROC. Jones, who hired McClaurin to create UROC, praised McClaurin for “strategic strengths that were invaluable in bringing the UROC building into being and in helping us implement our vision for UROC as a hub for engaged problem-solving partnerships between the university and the Northside community.”

“I’m sure McClaurin’s strategic leadership will serve Shaw University equally well,” said Jones. “I know that all of us at the University and our community partners wish Dr. McClaurin well as she assumes her exciting new responsibilities.”

Before joining the University

Know Your Number: Keep track of your PSA results for each screening, making sure to write the number down in a safe place each year.

Page 10 •September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Insight News

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We Win and Zion Baptist Church garden sprouting hope

By Linda Benford and Brandie Hill As you travel on Olson Highway (highway 55) in North Minneapolis, take a look at the south end of Zion Baptist Church. On the hill, you will see a beautiful garden that has flourished and produced many healthy fruits and vegetables despite the hot temperatures we had this summer.

The garden, located on 621 Elwood Avenue North, was tilled, cultivated, planted, and watered by the children of WE WIN Institute’s summer program.

WE WIN’s summer theme was, “Love, Hope, and Faith Renewed.” What better way to show love for yourself, hope for good results, and faith that the garden will produce great harvest because of the hard work and tender loving care.

The children planted an array of tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage, peppers, broccoli, kale, chard, herbs, and greens.

Zion Baptist Church has a strong commitment to the community and youth. For the last three years, the church has partnered with WE WIN to work with children on academics, an understanding of their culture and being of service to the community. The congregation embraced the project by allowing the tilling of the land for the garden and supplied the water. They did everything they

Jahleel Mack and Jahvaugn Echols could to assist the children in being successful.

Jeanette Lieberman of the North Side Healthy Eating Project played a huge part in the development of the garden. She was the “go to” person for all the questions that the children had. She donated numerous hours of her time to help in making the garden flourish.

She helped with the tilling, seedling, planting, garden supplies, and the maintenance of the garden. Jeanette worked side by side with the students in the garden to make sure their garden prospered. She talked to the children about the use of compost, identifying plants, cooking, and picking of the produce.

Beverly Propes, North Minneapolis health guru

CMLS Staff Attorney Positions – Minneapolis Office Central Minnesota Legal Services (CMLS) seeks two full-time attorneys for its Minneapolis office. Specializing in fam. law with some work in govt benes, other poverty law areas. Licensed in MN. Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law, housing law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary up to $49,436 D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Judy Hollie, CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or cmls@centralmnlegal. org. Appl. deadline: 10/11/10 or until filled. EOE.

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

Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments.

We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits.

Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com

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

Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.

Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

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

Licensing and Certifications: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance.

Minnesota Teachers’ License (preferred).

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required.

Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information.

• Tight deadlines.

• Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager.

• Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines.

• Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org

extraordinaire, worked with the children and talked about the importance of healthy eating and growing our own food.

She also assisted in obtaining garden supplies as well as helped with its care. Gardener Carrie Juntunen, of Harrison Neighborhood Environmental Committee, showed the children when the veggies were ready to pick and the proper way to do it.

WE WIN’s children showcased their first crop during North Point Health and Wellness Center’s “National Night Out” on August 3 with a display.

They exhibited their squash, cucumbers, peppers, and a homemade vegetable stew, made of all the vegetables from the garden. The visitors to the booth devoured the stew and took samples of vegetables home.

Events 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.

Faculty Show - Sept 9-Oct 4 – The Faculty Show transforms our gallery into a walk-through introduction to the talents of our instructors from September 9 through October 4. This event is free and open to the public. Reception: Thursday, September 23, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Minnetonka Center for the Arts 2240 North Shore Drive Orono, MN 55391 www.minnetonkaarts.org Council on Black Minnesotans Board Meeting - Sept 14 – 5 pm @ the COBM office located at 2233 University Avenue West, 4th Floor Conference Room, St. Paul. Please RSVP your attendance.

651-642-0811.

PACER Center workshop addresses early childhood special education services - Sept 16 – “Talk the Talk,” a free workshop for parents of children with disabilities from birth to age 7. It is on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2010, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, Mn. Advance registration is requested. To register, call 952-838-9000.

Eclipsed - Sept 17-Oct 10 – Eclipsed centers on the lives of five women who are thrown together by the recent civil war in Liberia. @ the Playwrights’s Center, 2301 E. Franklin Ave. Mpls, MN 55406. Tickets at www.franktheatre.org or 612-724-3760.

Grand Puba Performance - Sept 17 – Grand Puba of Brand Nubian to Perform Live @ Suburban World Theatre (Uptown) 3022 Hennepin Avenue Mpls, MN Fri. Sept. 17th. Also Performing: DJ Mixwell / Blade Brown (The African Prince); DJ Stage 1 / OSP & Callous; Big Wiz / Dot Ten; Mally / Truth Maze; Mujah Messiah. Call for times: 952270-6700.

Lutheran Social Service Holds Special Needs Adoption Training - Sept.

17&18 – “Special Needs” describes children who have experienced abuse or neglect and now live in foster homes.

This workshop is the first step in preparing families to adopt and parent those special children. Training is at The Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Ave., Mpls. (Centrum B), 9am-6pm Fri., Sept. 17 and 9am-3:30pm, Sat., Sept. 18.

Call Lynne Haggar at (612) 879-5230, or 1-888-205-3769, to register or visit www.minnesotaadoption.org to register online.

“Know Your Numbers” Health Fair Sept 18 – Promoting healthy lifestyles by empowering people through education and screenings, while creating increased awareness of community resources that are available to individuals and families.

At Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 451 Central Ave. W, St. Paul Sat., Sept. 18, 10am-1pm.

Traditional Congolese and Afro Fonk Dance Workshop - Sept 18, 19, 20 – Sat, Sept 18, 1-2:30pm; Sun, Sept 19; 1-2:30pm; Mon, Sept 20 6:30pm-8pm. @ Hennepin Center for the Arts Studio 2A - 528 Hennepin Ave - Mpls. Pre Reg Offer: $14/Class, $17/drop in. Pre Reg Offer ends Sept 12th. Visit www. duniyadrumanddance.org for more info and to pre-register.

Photos courtesy of WE WIN

The Youth Garden children back to front: Jahvaughn Echols, Akaiya Conway, Sienna Echols, Karrionna Drain, and Mark Miller The culmination of children’s hard work was showcased at WE WIN’s “Love, Hope, and Faith Summer Celebration” held at Zion Baptist Church on August 9. The community saw student portfolios, storytelling under the tutelage of master storyteller Nothando Zulu and African dance and drum with choreographer and Voice of Culture founder Kenna Sarge.

PHONE: 612.588.1313 Readings by Writers - Sept 21 – Readers will be: Nick Hayes and Jim Rogers. Readings last one hour. The writers will have books to sell and sign.

Tue., Sept. 21 at the historic University Club Saint Paul, 420 Summit Avenue St. Paul.

Craft & Bake Sale - Sept 25 – Funds raised will benefit Robbinsdale community organizations and the Senior Program. Sat. Sept. 25 9am-3pm at Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Ave. N. Rent a space to sell your “stuff.”

For more info call 763-531-1278 4th Annual Twin Cities VisionWalk Set to Raise Funds for Blindness Research - Sept 26 – The Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.

FightBlindness.org) will host its 4th Annual Twin Cities 5K VisionWalk in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sun., Sept.

26, 2010 at Lake Harriett Bandshell.

Registration begins at 9:00AM and the Walk will start at 10:30AM. Chocolate - The Exhibition - Oct 2 - Jan 2 – From rainforest treasure to luscious treat — immerse yourself in the story of chocolate. Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul MN 55102-1903.

Minneapolis Performing & Visual Arts College Fair - Oct 19 – Collegebound high school students interested in pursuing undergraduate studies in the areas of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, graphic design, and other related disciplines are encouraged to attend.

Tue., Oct. 19th 7-9pm. Twin Cities Coffman Memorial Union, U of M. 2nd Annual African American Family Scholarship Information Night - Oct 26 – 5-8:30pm at the North Community YMCA Youth & Teen Enrichment Center, located at 1711 West Broadway, Minneapolis, 55411.

A Taste of Golden Valley - Nov 10 – Join us for an evening filled with music, conversation, and great food from a variety of Golden Valley restaurants. A silent auction will feature theme baskets donated by local businesses. Wed. Nov. 10, 5:30-8pm. @ Metropolitan Ballroom 5418 Wayzata Blvd.

Frontiers in Racial Equity Conference - Nov 18 – The conference will gather educators, business people, elected officials, community members and policymakers who will learn about successful programs and models that have resulted in academic success for students of color. Thur. Nov. 18 9am5pm. Coffman Memorial Union, U of M, 300 Washington Ave. SE Mpls. $150 for MMEP members/$175 for nonmembers valid until Oct. 15, 2010.

After that prices raise to $200 and $250 respectively African Dance / Afro Modern Ongoing – African Dance: Every Wednesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Live drumming by Fode Bangoura & Dan Handeen. Afro Modern: Every Thursday 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Zenon Dance Company and School, 528 Hennepin Ave. #400 Mpls. Visit http://www. zenondance.org/news.asp?news_id=503 for details & registration.

Willard-Homewood Block Club Leaders (and Residents) Meetings – Ongoing – Every third Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm at Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, 1315 Penn Ave. N. (Human Services Building, not the clinic), Mpls., Room 108. See the block club page at www.willard-

The parents, community, and guests were all served garden salads, and a spicy vegetable dish that was made exclusively from WE WIN’s Youth Garden.

Children who participated in WE WIN’s Summer Program learned the importance of committing to a healthy eating lifestyle. They took pride in their garden and learned the joy of working the soil. They loved

FAX: 612.588.2031

even more the act of taking home a variety of fruits and vegetables to share with their families.

The garden produced so much food that children were able to take food home weekly. The staff and children of WE WIN Institute encourage community members to come and work with the children and share the experience of gardening with them.

EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

homewood.org.

Wanted: Community-minded book lovers - Ongoing – One in seven U.S. adults lack the literacy skills necessary to enjoy great books, help their children with homework, or understand medication labels. But you can change this by volunteering with the Minnesota Literacy Council. With only two or three hours a week, your love of reading can create a stronger community. Tutor an adult learner, assist in an adult classroom, or teach a basic English or GED class. We have locations throughout the Twin Cities area, flexible scheduling and training to help you get started. Contact Allison at volunteer@ themlc.org or 651-645-2277, Ext 219 or visit us on the web at www.themlc.org.

Get to Know Guild – Ongoing – Hear from individuals served, family members, and staff about the work Guild Incorporated is doing to help people move along their paths of recovery. To RSVP or for more information, call George Broostin at 651-925-8454. Visit www.guildincorporated.org/events.htm for more info.

Neighborhood Development Center business workshops – Ongoing – NDC is a non-profit that works to empower low-income Twin Cities communities through successful entrepreneurship.

Visit www.ndc-mn.org or call 651-2912480 for information. Workshops are free.

Credit Smart – Ongoing – FREE class explains how to manage credit. Tuesdays from 6–8 pm at the Minneapolis Urban League, Glover-Sudduth Center, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis. To RSVP call Theresa at 612-827-9268.

HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness workshops – Ongoing – To schedule a workshop, contact the Minneapolis Urban League at (612) 302-3100 and ask for our case management services program.

Senior Companions Make a Difference - Ongoing – Are you interested in visiting homebound or isolated elders in their homes and helping with transportation for appointments or errands? If so, the Senior Companion Program would like to match you with people in the community who need a little extra help to stay in their homes.

Senior Companion volunteers earn a taxfree stipend, mileage reimbursement, training and liability insurance while serving. Volunteers must be 55 or older and serve 15 hours a week. For more information, contact Ron Urbanski with the Senior Companion Program of Lutheran Social Service at 651-3109445 or at ron.urbanski@lssmn.org.

Sabathani Farmers Market - Ongoing – Every Wednesday, 3:30-6:30pm. @ Sabathani Community Center 310 E. 38th St. Mpls, MN 55409 Tel: 612-8275981 New Saturday African dance class with Whitney - Now-August – African Dance with Whitney. Sat. 1-2:30pm $12 Jawaahir Studios 1940 Hennepin Ave. Mpls.

Hazelden Offers Free Educational Opportunity - Ongoing – Concerned about someone’s alcohol or drug use?

Addressing Concerns Together (ACT), Hazelden’s new outreach program, can help. Join us for a free event to learn more about addiction, intervention, assessment, and treatment. Hazelden’s St. Paul campus, 680 Stewart Ave., St.

Paul. 2nd and 4th Mon. of each month at 6pm. This is an open event and there is no need to register. If you have questions, please contact Hazelden at 800-257-7800.

West African Drumming with Fode Bangoura - Ongoing – Learn traditional rhythms from Guinea West Africa. This is an open level class that will teach beginners basic technique and foundations of hand drumming while offering experienced drummers the opportunity to broaden their repertoire and learn challenging accompaniment.

Every Tuesday 5:30-7pm Patrick’s Cabaret 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S. $17 per class, $150 - 10 class card, $5 Drum rental - Must call or email ahead if renting a drum (651-338-5409).

Minnesota’s Waiting Children Free Information Sessions - Ongoing – Downey Side…families for youth invites community members to attend a FREE information session regarding adoption and Minnesota’s Waiting Children. Sessions are held every third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Downey Side’s St. Paul office located in the Bigelow Building at 450 No. Syndicate Street – Suite 380.

Midtown begins Tuesday farmers market - Ongoing – Starting on June 1, the Midtown Farmers Market will be open Tuesdays from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 2225 East Lake, the very same location as our Saturday (8:00 to 1:00) market. Experience Midtown’s new mix of vendors and wares—you’ll find your week’s worth of seasonal produce, a selection of arts and crafts, and delicious dinner or late afternoon snacks (gelato, pizza, hotdogs, doughnuts)!

Classic Black films at VOA Park Elder Center - Ongoing – First and third Mondays of each month, 11 am - 12:15 pm. These films are free of charge and the public is invited.

Popcorn, hotdogs and drinks are provided for a suggested donation of $1. VOA Park Elder Center, 1505 Park Ave. Mpls. 612-339-7581, parkcenter@ voamn.org Credit Smart- Ongoing – FREE Credit Education Classes. Every Tuesday, 6-8pm. Minneapolis Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls. www.mul.org Contact Theresa (612) 827- 9268.

Realizing the American Dream – Ongoing – Home Buyer Program. First Thurs. of every month, 6-8pm. $25.00 per Family Minneapolis Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls. www.mul.org Contact Theresa (612) 827- 9268.

Enthusiastic individuals needed to make a lasting difference in the life of an adult learner – Help someone in your community learn English, prepare for the GED or increase their basic math, reading and computer skills. Ongoing training and support is provided through the Minnesota Literacy Council. For more volunteer information, go to www. theMLC.org or contact Allison Runchey at 651-645-2277 ext 219, arunchey@ theMLC.org.

Volunteer: Coach to Success Mentoring Program – Volunteer to become a mentor with AAAC’s mentoring program. Make a positive impact on the life of a young student in the Osseo Area School District #279.

For more information, contact the African American Action Council, 6001 78th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN. 763-503-0159.

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Insight News • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Page 11

SPORTS Reggie Bush should surrender Heisman bill somehow was stuck to his shoe like a strip of toilet paper.

I would imagine Bush could have stumbled on a lot of finely milled toilet paper like that.

I certainly don’t recommend any collegiate player operating dishonestly, but until they start paying the young men and women that bring these universities billions of dollars, you won’t hear me participate or tattle-tail. As an innocent byestandard seeing someone with some form of toilet tissue stuck on his or her shoe, all I would say is, “You’ve got something on your shoe homie.”

It’s certainly not all Bush’s fault, because it was a systemic issue at USC during that time.

But if you knew what those

Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Seeing as the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans are bringing their football fanfare to the Twin Cities, I’ll show a certain measure of support for the Gophers by calling out my favorite team (USC, that is), for some drama that hey have going on.

The Trojans have an array of current NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sanctions that have been slapped on them for all the dirty business they had going on during their dynasty earlier this decade. Specifically, Reggie Bush and his family were pegged as having taken benefits from some raggedy sports management agency that is not even in business anymore. Just to refresh any rusty memories, Reggie Bush, now with the Superbowl Champion New Orleans Saints, was one of the most amazing college football players of all-time during his years at USC from 2003-2005.

The easiest comparison that came to my mind during those years of witnessing Bush’s greatness was to the highlights of former Chicago Bears great Gale Sayers. Sayers was the closest thing to poetry on a football field, and watching Bush seemed effortlessly on par with those highlights. I’m sure that those who witnessed Sayers in real time would have some greater elaboration to explain the difference between the two, but my tendency is to give a respectful bow to the original masters anyway.

It was probably only the fact

Reggie Bush with the Heisman Trophy that Sayers played football for a basketball powerhouse, the University of Kansas, that prevented him from earning a Heisman Trophy himself (awarded to the best college football player of each given year since 1935).

Now like many of the former sports greats from the middle of the 20th century, there is a certain air of dignity and moral greatness that oozes from the image of a Gale Sayers or Bill Russell (although we have Babe Ruth and Wilt Chamberlain). Likely, a lot of the moral image extends from the struggles of civil rights, which laid the groundwork for players such as Reggie Bush to be able to bask in the glory of

love from an entire society, and not come home to poop on the doorstep, or crosses burning in the front yard; regardless of the crowd’s unbridled cheers only hours before.

Reggie Bush could not only bask in the glory from a much more equal – but far from equal – society, but he could do it with Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, and about every other halfway cool person in Los Angeles… and the nerds, too. You see, Los Angeles doesn’t have a professional football team.

They only have the 16-time World Champion Los Angeles Lakers (pause for a moment while I do my Laker dance to the tune of Snoop’s “Doggy Dogg World”, and then Randy

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Newman’s “I Love L.A.”).

Sure, the Lakers are more than enough for a city to celebrate, but naturally humans always want more. So the USC Trojans are the Los Angeles version of a professional football team, and when you are the king of a successful USC Trojan Football team, you, in essence, are the King of L.A.; behind Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and probably even Kurt Rambis, and Lakers trainer Gary Vitti; but you can hang with Snoop, and who wouldn’t love Kurt Rambis more anyway.

I would imagine that Bush could sit in one of Snoop’s 1964 Impalas, and step out of the car feeling a little heavy, only to realize that a $1,000

athletes get for a per diem when traveling, and the waterfall of free shoes, clothing, and food they get legitimately through the school…well, you might think that middle-class young Reggie Bush was a fool for taking loads of money from a jack-legged sports management agency. So when the powers that be say that Bush must give back his Heisman Trophy, I say thumbs-up. Because if you can’t honestly cash-in on the level of favoritism Bush had in the center of L.A. and Hollywood, then you are being really, reeeally stupid. I also say shame on Bush’s family.

Greed’s gonna’ get’cha. Just ask BP.

Page 12 • September 13 - September 19, 2010 • Insight News

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