Insight ::: 2.24.20

WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News

February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020

Vol. 47 No. 8• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

THE FRENCH HEN SOUL-SATISFYING Cook Belvin Hill is serving up sunshine on Selby at the French Hen. Photography By Uche Iroegbu

Story By Abē Levine On Page 8

Page 2 • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Insight News

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WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020

Vol. 47 No. 8• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Comcast Executive Tony Williams says

Teach confidence, teach hope

By Al McFarlane Editor-in-Chief Part 1 of 2 Tony Williams is senior director of Governmental and External Affairs at Comcast.

In a recent interview at the Marcus Garvey House, I asked if he had a sense of confidence and hope that, despite challenges that persist, a victory, a win is in store for Black people in America.

I said I define a win for Black people as a win for humanity. Through that lens I view progress.

“I don’t think that you can do this work and not have that hope or that confidence.

But confidence is learned and often, our young kids don’t come by that naturally. We’re not taught that confidence in our community. So, it’s hard when you grow up in a community that doesn’t have investment or that has active disinvestment.

You can look at it and you can lean in and you can feel the weight on you. We have to learn how to have that confidence,” Williams responded.

His observation triggered a memory that revealed a look inside the question. I told Williams that my wife Bobbie and I used to exercise walk in downtown skyways during winters. At five in the morning we’d walk from the 4th Street parking ramp through all the downtown buildings to the Hyatt

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan

Flanagan gets national Native American Leadership Award

Tony Williams and Al McFarlane Regency. And then walk back, a 90-minute round trip. One morning we saw a little white kid, maybe three, four years old walking, just ditty-bopping by himself through the skyway.

Bobby and I said, “Look at that kid, where’s his parent?” Mom was about a block away with the other baby in a stroller. We came to the conclusion that this mom is raising this kid to think that the world belongs to him. No fear. No caution.

Even in an environment that certainly merited concern.

On the other hand, as Black parents, know that we’d never let our child out of our sight.

That kind of confidence that you learn at that

young age, William said, stays with you throughout the rest of your life.

“If you sit in any of these conversations that venture capitalists have, one thing that is amazing to watch is these guys come in and no matter what their idea is, it’s like shark tank.

These guys are so confident that they’re going to solve the world.

They’ve got the solution. You should invest in their company.

And that’s because they’ve learned that confidence. They’ve learned that confidence. They learned that hope,” he said.

“They know how to push that. By contrast, you watch minorities come in and even with the power of the

numbers, they’re almost asking for forgiveness for taking up investors’ time,” Williams said. “We have to shift that thinking and teach mastery of the soft skills that others take for granted. You have to teach confidence and hope. I spent a lot of time when I do talks and mentor young Black men about the need for to learn that skill. To teach that it is a skill.

And that it’s an important skill, particularly when you get into corporate America and into the business world.”

Williams was in town advancing Comcast’s leadership role in promoting

WILLIAMS 8

Insight photographer David Bradley dies

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com I’ll never forget the first time I met David Bradley.

For anyone who met David Bradley, they too likely remember the first time. David wasn’t one to tiptoe into a room.

When he was near his presence was known.

When I met David, I was assigned to write a story on Summit Academy OIC and its director, Louis King. David was given the photo assignment.

Often, when covering a story I was tasked with writing and taking photos, so it was a bit of a relief to know I could just concentrate on the interview without having to drop the pen and pick up my camera to snap a couple of quick photos.

Then I met David.

Before I could introduce myself, David greeted me.

“You the guy that’s writing the story,” asked David, seemingly already knowing the

answer.

I answered to the affirmative and David said he had been reading my articles and thought highly of them. While I appreciated the compliment, I was still taken aback by David.

He was loud and brash, but it was clear he meant no harm.

Without me asking, David offered up several life details. A retired postal worker originally from Chicago, David picked up photography as a hobby that would turn into his life’s passion. His attire announced he was a Vietnam veteran. I would later learn Vietnam was a place of horror and source of torment for David.

“Vietnam killed me long ago, but I’m just not buried yet,” David once told me.

During the interview with King, more than once David interrupted to offer his perspective; and I’ll admit, I was becoming annoyed.

Together, we trudged through the interview and went our separate ways. I didn’t see David for a while, but I saw his

Looking down a soccer field, you take stock of the obstacles between you and the goal.

There’s no one set way to progress, no certain path that will close the distance between

FLANAGAN 4

St. Paul receives AAA credit ratings with upgraded outlook St. Paul has received AAA credit ratings from S&P Global and Fitch ratings agencies, including stable outlooks as part of a city bond sale process.

“We work every day to combine sound financial management with critical investments that help residents and businesses succeed,” said St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.

“Our improved credit rating is important affirmation that this strategy Is serving our city well.”

As part of an annual bond sale process, the city engages S&P Global Ratings and Fitch ratings agencies to assess St. Paul’s financial

health. Key factors cited by the agencies that contributed to the City of St. Paul’s AAA credit ratings include St. Paul has a very strong economy, with access to a broad and diverse metropolitan statistical area and a local stabilizing institutional influence, St. Paul government has very strong management, with strong financial policies and practices, the city has adequate budgetary performance, with an operating surplus in the general fund in fiscal 2018, has very strong budgetary flexibility, with an available fund balance

ST. PAUL 4

iStockphoto/NNPA

A Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll survey released last week found that 22 percent of African American voters approve of Trump’s job performance.

Photographer David Bradley

BRADLEY 4

you and the goalkeeper. The object is never to let them stop your forward momentum.

Today, navigating an education isn’t dissimilar. And in a country of haves and havenots, some kids are looking at a field with far greater obstacles than their peers.

In the last 30 years, the number of Minnesotans born outside the United States

Native voices, and I won’t stop fighting until our people are seen, heard and valued at every level of government.”

“Lt. Gov. Flanagan is a tireless advocate for children, families, Indigenous people, and marginalized communities,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “She has made history in her work to strengthen government-to-government relations between the state and tribal nations, and elevate and support the robust urban Indian community in Minnesota. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than my partner in justice in the Governor’s office.”

During their first year in office, Walz and Flanagan worked with the legislature to pass a budget that invests in Native American communities.

This includes the creation of

David Bradley

Technology: A path for nonprofits Commentary

By Tony Sanneh, CEO Sanneh Foundation

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was awarded the Native American Leadership Award by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in Washington, D.C. The highest-ranking Native woman elected to executive office in the history of the United States, Flanagan was recognized for her work raising awareness of issues affecting Native communities, increasing civic engagement, improving lives in Indian Country, and transforming tribalstate relations in Minnesota.

“I’m honored to receive this distinguished award on behalf of all our people,” said Flanagan. “For generations, policy has been done to us and not with us. That is why I’ve dedicated my career to ensuring Indigenous people have a seat at the table. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to lift up

has more than tripled. This shift has been led by an influx of immigrant and refugee families, primarily in greater Minneapolis and St. Paul. Our cities’ growing diversity is a point of pride and an incredible shared strength.

But meeting the challenges of a transforming population means we have to pay special attention to those who are getting left behind.

I2H

Black History Month sparks focus on Black men’s prostate cancer rates

PAGE 5

When I retired from my career as a professional soccer player, I came back to my hometown of St. Paul and dedicated myself to engaging the low-income and minority kids that were getting lost in our public schools. We founded the Sanneh Foundation, which works in and around schools to improve student

SANNEH 7

Black voters are the cornerstone of the Democratic party, the most reliable voting block

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor During the State of the Union, President Donald Trump featured several AfricanAmericans from the gallery with long words of praise and detailed introductions.

The Republican party has always struggled with Black voters. But Trump’s political team believes that even a small percentage of that vote could mean victory.

Trump is increasingly highlighting his pitch to African-Americans as

BLACK VOTERS 4

News

‘The Rhythm Section’ finds itself off beat

PAGE 7

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Insight News • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Page 3

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Page 4 • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Letter to the editor

Leslie Davis: UHT rip-off

By Leslie Davis, president, Earth Protector The Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) deal is as crooked as it gets.

Along with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the Ackerberg Group, Frank Family, Pohlad Family, Park Board and others, they deny real participation in the UHT from the people of North Minneapolis who should have received first crack at developing the site to produce great products and jobs, and generate wealth for the future of the community.

First, the developers (United Properties and First Avenue Productions) had inside information about the property due to serving on the Minneapolis Parks Foundation Board, which is not to be confused with the Park and Recreation Board. The foundation gives money to the park board (millions) and gets inside information and influence. They used this information and influence to get a leg up on any competition for the UHT property.

The Upper Harbor Terminal partners and their enablers at the city and park and recreation board, claim they made it known to the Northside community (of mainly poverty level minorities) that the UHT was available for development to those who presented the appropriate qualifications to submit a proposal. To demonstrate their genuine interest in the community the developers recruited the now out of business Thor Construction, in order to “Blacken up” the downtown development team. Parallel to that they focused on getting the mostly minority city and state elected officials onboard, and then corralled a handful of influential minority community activists.

Promises of various sorts were made such as free tickets to events at a proposed liquor-bar-music-venue named after Prince, part-time jobs at the music venue, free fishing rods and a pier to fish from on the river, affordable housing under the plume of toxic emissions from the GAF shingle manufacturer right next door and the biggest payoff of all was a gift to the park board of 19 acres that the Park and Recreation Board confesses they don’t have the money to manage.

When I was asked to get involved, I discovered the partners were trying to move a concept plan through the Minneapolis City Council, so I wrote to the city council members, and other entities, explaining what was taking place in plain sight. I explained that this great industrially zoned site could be used for creating generational wealth for the community, and what was bad about the proposed concept plan.

I wrote that what a music venue (liquor bar) at the UHT would do is; release hundreds of publicly urinating drunks into the North and Northeast Minneapolis communities nightly. These drunks then scour the area for prostitutes. That’s what they do downtown every night and the police will confirm this fact. It would bring thousands of formaldehyde releasing cars and trucks into the area to pollute and jam the roads, pave over a vast amount of UHT land for a parking lot and create crappy part-time service jobs.

The UHT is an industrially zoned site that is not suitable for housing because of the emissions of formaldehyde and other volatile organic pollution, from the GAF shingle making plant right next door.

Shortly after my involvement the group approved the concept plan and appointed layers of committees and advisory groups to obfuscate what they were doing and stacked them with their cronies and crony friends. Then, on top of that, they appointed a special UHT Advisory Group to oversee those below.

As if that isn’t egregious enough, the developers’ puppet, Council Member Phillipe Cunningham, who has no business experience whatsoever, is proposing that the primary UHT Advisory Committee members get paid for their work, which is detrimental to the community as evidenced by the resignations of two significant members who could no longer bear the stench of the project.

Rather than pay the UHT Advisory Committee it should be disbanded, and the entire UHT matter go back to the drawing board and do what makes sense and money for the Northside.

This is a crooked inside deal that should not be supported by anyone.

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

African Heritage Day on the Hill The 2020 African Heritage Day on the Hill will take place on Wednesday (Feb. 26) from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul. The Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage will rally in the Capitol Rotunda and discuss furthering equity in our state. There will be remarks from Minnesota’s United Black Caucus members, Gov. Tim Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, state commissioners of African Heritage and Chris Taylor, the governor’s chief officer of inclusion.

Hawthorne Neighborhood hosts Northside Urban Coalition roundtable The Northside Urban Coalition (NSUC), a Drug Free Communities project of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council’s Health and Well-being initiative, will meet this Friday (Feb. 28) at the

Flanagan From 2 the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force,

Black Voters From 2 Democrats struggle to decide amongst a crowded field.

Political observers understand that Trump is unlikely to win more than 10 percent of the Black vote. But it is also understood that any percentage higher than average could be the margin of victory in a close race.

Despite Trump’s efforts, polls indicate a huge problem with Black voters.

A Washington Post-Ipsos poll last month of 1,088 Black adults found 83 percent

Bradley From 2 work.

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Intern Kelvin Kuria

Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Inell Rosario Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker 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,

Wow. The man knew what he was doing with that camera.

Or I should say those cameras.

He always had two or three dangling from his neck. I don’t know if I ever saw David without his cameras around his neck. Even when he’d come to the office just to drop off photos he’d be strapped, so to speak.

And we knew the moment he stepped in the door. With our offices on the second floor, David would enter announcing his presence … “This is David Bradley here to see Harry.” I’m sure the neighbors could hear him.

Before he could get to my office, he’d stop for a conversation with Batala McFarlane, Insight News’ publisher; or as David called her, “Scooter Mom,” a nickname he gave her following the birth of her son, Reginald McKeever III … aka “Scooter.”

Like I said, photography for me started less as a passion, but more out of necessity. Staffers at small papers do whatever needs to be done to tell the story, so if we didn’t have a photographer available, by default, I was it.

Point and click a couple of times and move on. I was a writer, who took pictures.

David didn’t see it that way. He kept saying he saw something in my photos, but I certainly didn’t. At the time I had a standard amateur photographer camera … you know, the autofocus with the fixed zoom lens and fixed flash.

Your basic Best Buy special.

David kept telling me to upgrade. He was always

North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis.

NSUC is focused on preventing youth substance use in North Minneapolis and educates them to build trust in

authority, live stress free and maintain a safe living and working environment.

The Northside Urban Coalition project will address opioids use, marijuana aware-

ness, underage smoking and underage drinking.

The session will focus on vaping and trauma. Dave Ellis of Ellis Consulting LLC will share input regarding trauma.

expanding the Department of Transportation’s Governmentto-Government Tribal-State Relations Training within the department and other state agencies, equalizing funding for students enrolled in Bureau of Indian Education schools,

and establishing the American Indian Early Intervention Program to help American Indian families living on reservations and urban areas access culturally appropriate early intervention services.

Walz also signed a historic

executive order to expand tribal-state relations in the state of Minnesota and affirm tribal rights to self-govern and self-determination; which was created in consultation with both state agencies and tribal governments.

of respondents said they believe Trump is a racist. The same percentage said they believe he has made racism a larger problem in America.

A Harvard CAPS/ Harris Poll survey found that 22 percent of AfricanAmerican voters approve of Trump’s job performance.

The relatively high percentage surprised some observers.

“Wake up, folks.

The #IowaCaucus was a debacle, followed by a strong #SOTU speech laying out Trump’s strategy to win – which includes going for Black voters. This was a warning shot from the Trump campaign to liberals, and we need to take this

very seriously in order to win,” wrote CNN commentator Van Jones on Feb. 4, after Trump delivered the State of the Union.

“Hey Black America, you see this crap? Trump has himself on a card with Fredrick Douglass. He didn’t know who that was last year right? Democrats get your sh*t together. FAST. Trump ain’t playin’! If he gets 12% or more of Black voters it’s over,” wrote attorney Sophia Nelson over a photo she posted on twitter of Donald Trump and Frederick Douglass proclaiming plans to “Make Black America Great Again.”

Because a few of the leading Democrats who may

win the nomination to take on Trump are having difficulty courting Black voters, Trump’s efforts are not going unnoticed.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigeig are having issues with Black voters as well.

talking about his cameras, field of depth, aperture, F-stops and sorts of things that at the time meant nothing to me and went way over my head.

“You need a real camera,” David kept saying.

“You’ve got the eye; you just need the equipment.”

In August of 2016 my father passed and David said, “I got something for you coming to the office.” I assumed it was flowers or something of that nature … the typical expression of sympathy, but when the Amazon package arrived, I was left speechless. David’s idea of flowers came in the form of a Nikon D3300 with a detachable 18-55mm lens.

I couldn’t comprehend the level of kindness bestowed upon me. The next day David came to the office bearing more gifts.

“This is all equipment I used, but I’m giving it to you,” David told me while emptying a box filled with a Tamron 18270 mm lens, a Tokina AT-X Pro macro lens used for super close range shots, three external flashes for studio photography, two flash umbrellas and a white studio backdrop. Later, after David got tired of seeing me put my equipment in my backpack, he gave me two different camera cases.

“Like I said, I see something in you with this photography,” he told me, when I quizzed him about his generosity. “And to reward me, all you have to do is take photography seriously.”

Not wanting to let my mentor down, I immersed myself in learning my new gear. I switched from autofocus to manual. I learned depth of field, aperture and F-stop and purchased a couple of other lenses, which I was eager to tell David all about.

He eventually

upgraded me to the Nikon D7100 – this time at a cost, but still a deeply discounted price – and he threw in another Tamron lens – a 70-200 mm with 1.8 aperture. It’s one of my favorite lenses for low-light shooting.

By this time David had moved away from Nikon and was in love with Sony mirrorless cameras. No longer carrying two and three cameras, that’s all you’d see him with.

And he was a wizard with it, the same as he was with the Nikons.

David’s eye showed in his portraits, but his true beauty showed in his concert photography. Maybe because it was combining his two loves … the love of photography and of music; in particular jazz. David was a huge fan of Miles Davis.

Owned all his records and knew most everything about the man. So, to see David’s capture an artist such as saxophonist Pharoah Sanders is to see art capturing art.

And his black and white photography was amazing.

I would always ask David to shoot in color because we pay extra for printing color pages and I didn’t want to use black and white if we’re paying for color, but David being David, he’d shoot in black and white anyway. He knew better than to listen to me. And if you visit his Facebook page, you’ll see he was right every time.

Insight News lost a beautifully gifted photographer.

I lost a friend.

For a man who had so much love to give, I guess it made sense that his heart would eventually give out. He was working it too hard.

On Feb. 16 David Bradley transitioned. Thankfully he didn’t take his photos with him. Those he left for us … a final gift.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast Burkefile. She is also a political strategist as principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@ gmail.com and on twitter at @ LVBurke.

St. Paul From 2 in fiscal 2018 of 17% of operating expenditures and has very strong liquidity, with total government available cash at 60.6% of total governmental fund expenditures.

This year, bonds went up for competitive sale on Feb. 12. Proceeds will be used to finance various capital projects and equipment purchases, refinance the city’s series 2012B bonds for debt service savings and fund the first phases of the Ford Site Redevelopment Project.

Further information on the sales including the credit rating reports and investor presentation materials are available at our investor relations website www. stpaulbonds.com.

I Phone 7 pre-owned $19.99 I Phone 6s plus $49.99 Buy one Samsung A10e and get 3 free phones Add line and $5 only for the phone 4 line $100 unlimited everything Free Stylo 5 when you switch to Boost Mobile 1112 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55411 612.345.4524

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Insight News • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Page 5

Insight 2 Health

Confronting the opioids epidemic in our communities (StatePoint) As America’s opioid epidemic continues to impact communities large and small, new trends are raising new challenges for doctors and policymakers.

While opioid-related overdose remains a top concern, the epidemic is now driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drugrelated overdoses, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the bulk of which were from illegal drugs.

Since its founding in 2014, the American Medical Association (AMA) Opioid Task Force has sought ways that practicing physicians could play a role in helping end the epidemic.

The task force’s recommendations include urging physicians

to enhance their education, as well as advocate for comprehensive care for patients in pain, and for those with a substance use disorder.

Perhaps thanks in part to these efforts, more than 700,000 physicians and other health care providers took courses related to opioids in 2018.

What’s more, between 2013 and 2018, the number of opioid prescriptions decreased by more than 80 million – a 33 percent decrease nationally – with every state individually decreasing opioid prescriptions over the past five years.

When it comes to helping patients with substance use disorder lead satisfying, productive lives, the science shows what works: medication prescribed by a physician or dispensed at special opioid treatment centers, combined with

behavioral counseling and other services.

Despite certain positive trends and clear science, of the 20.3 million people nationwide with a substance use disorder, 90 percent receive no treatment, according to federal officials.

“The opioid crisis today is a national tragedy that requires the same resolve we have mustered for other public health epidemics. Those with substance use disorders deserve no less,” said AMA president, Dr. Patrice Harris. “Most people agree we need access to treatments that include medication.

Unfortunately, that’s not readily available for many patients, and this epidemic will not be reversed until we deal with access issues and stigma associated with opioid misuse.”

The AMA stresses

that while doctors are leading in areas where they can have an influence, they cannot end the epidemic alone. To combat the issue at the state and national level, the organization has issued a national “roadmap” to policymakers focused on these specific actions.

It recommends patients and physicians should have conversations about safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications; and increase access to the opioid overdose reversal medication, naloxone, to patients at risk of overdose.

Insurance providers should remove barriers that prevent patients from obtaining affordable medication-assisted treatment combined with counseling. Policymakers and regulators should enforce laws that require mental health benefits to be on par with other health benefits, thereby

monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The American Medical Association recommends patients and physicians should have conversations about safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications. broadening access to treatment related to mental health and substance use disorders. And health insurance providers and pharmacy benefit managers should ensure patient access to affordable, non-opioid pain care.

To learn more about efforts to end the opioid epi-

demic, visit www.end-opioidepidemic.org.

“There are many reasons to be optimistic,” said Harris. “However, much work remains to be done so that patients can access needed pain treatment, while addressing and alleviating substance use disorders.

Black History Month sparks focus on Black men’s prostate cancer rates

By Men’s Health Network Men’s Health Network (MHN) is spotlighting a recent study highlighting the deeply concerning disparity between Black men’s prostate health and that of other men nationwide.

Specifically, African-American men have the highest prostate cancer morbidity and mortality rates than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. And, while these statistics are certainly alarming, there is some good news to share from this recent study.

The study, published in the American Cancer Society (ACS) Journal, confirmed what many already knew – that

screening and access to the medical system encourages better health outcomes for prostate cancer for African-American men. Men’s Health Network (MHN) would add to that the fact that improvements in screening also promote higher survivability rates. Together, these tools – screening and access – can go a long way towards combating cancer and fostering real advances in cancer care overall.

The ACS Journal study found that men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Veterans Administration (VA) health system did not “appear to present with more advanced disease or experience worse outcomes compared with NonWhite Hispanic men.” The ACS

Men’s Health Network

Taking action to get screened for prostate cancer is an important first step toward ensuring better overall survival rates.

Journal study indicated this finding is in contrast to national trends, suggesting that “access to care is an important determinant of racial equity.”

Given that February is Black History Month, with its focus on those African-Americans that have contributed so much to the world, it seems fitting to include a quote from Harry Belafonte who was treated for prostate cancer. Belafonte was quoted in Everyday Health as saying, “The prostate is something that attacks that central part of the male body that men are very preoccupied with.

Somehow, any disorder there means your life is over, you can’t be a man anymore, you are now something less,” however, he continued, “If you’re going

to have (prostate cancer), you’re going to have it. It’s what you do about it that makes the difference – how you conduct your life.”

Taking action to get screened for this cancer is an important first step toward ensuring better overall survival rates. And, access to health care is also a factor in recovery and survivability. Together – screening and access – are powerful tools to combat prostate cancer.

For more information about prostate cancer – and other issues affecting men’s health – visit the Prostate Health Guide at www.ProstateHealthGuide. com and celebrate Prostate Cancer Awareness Month www.

ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth.com in September.

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Page 6 • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Insight News

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Opioid Resource Network addresses opioid abuse among Latinx youth

By Carmen Robles Afrodescendientes “Comprehensive and culturally tailored interventions are needed to address the rise in drug overdose deaths in all populations.” – Center for Disease Control According to a weekly publication by Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) “Racial/Ethnic and Age Group Differences in Opioid and Synthetic Opioid–Involved Overdose Deaths Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years in Metropolitan Areas,” “Blacks experienced the largest percentage change in drug overdose death rates involving any opioid (100 percent, from 7.2 to 14.4) and for overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (332 percent, from 2.5 to 10.8). In medium/ small metro areas, for overdose

deaths involving any opioid, Blacks experienced the largest percentage (82 percent) and absolute increase (6.0; from 7.3 to 13.3.) Hispanics had the largest percentage increase in rates of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (262 percent, from 1.3 to 4.7).”

The good news is there is hope.

Just ask the Opioid Resource Network (ORN). As stated in its website, “The Opioid Resource Network core team/ partners comprised of the lead agency, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), and a coalition of 27 national healthcare organizations offers culturally relevant training and technical assistance by providing local experts across the country to help address prevention, treatment and recovery needs and facilitate access to evidencebased resources.”

Dr. Hector ColonRivera has offered his leadership.

ORN describes him as “a distinguished general, adolescent, and addiction psychiatrist of the Pennsylvania medical community, Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera has broad experience in community-based programs with an emphasis on those programs that help to increase access to assisted medical treatments for patients with substance use disorder.”

Colon-Rivera is no stranger to Minnesota.

Keynote presenter during Hispanic Heritage Month this past September, Colon-Rivera returns to facilitate a followup, eight-month report card symposium scheduled for May 5 … Cinco de Mayo.

“We can continue family conversations about the consequences and dangers of misusing prescription opioids by creating a culturally specific

message on preventing opioid use and other substance use disorders in multicultural, immigrant youth,” said ColonRivera.

Partnering with Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Colon-Rivera’s Cinco de Mayo’s five-day outreach tour Atencion a la Salud (Attention to Health) May 1 – May 5 will bring us full circle.

It all began at the 2019 St. Paul Cinco de Mayo parade where ALMAS youth group from Henry Sibley High School chanted their original, bilingual cheer urging the community to choose love over drugs “porque mas fuerte es el amor” (because love is stronger).

That event was followed by an informational conference on opioids focusing on the Latino/ Hispanic/LatinX community.

ALMAS youth group, who began the conversation with

Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera their chant, will host ColonRivera during the St. Paul Cinco

de Mayo Parade, May 2.

Trump pardoned his cellmate but Rufus Rochell remains in federal prison

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia To paraphrase the theme song from the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” this is the story of how Rufus Rochell’s life was turned upside down.

It’s not a rags-toriches Philadelphia-to-California story, like that of Will Smith’s fictional television character. Rochell’s story is the real-life account of how the crack epidemic of the 1980s is inextricably linked to today’s cry for criminal justice reform.

It’s also the story of how the rich and powerful receive special privileges, while the poor and powerless can only dare to dream.

Nearly 20 years into Rochell’s 40-year prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine at a federal prison facility in Coleman, Fla., Conrad Black, a famous billionaire and friend of Donald Trump, was sentenced to the same penitentiary.

Rochell arrived at the prison in 1988 in handcuffs.

Black, an ex-member of the House of Lords who ran a media empire, arrived in March 2008, escorted to the prison in a black SUV with tinted windows.

By prison standards, Rochell and Black made for odd cellmates, but an unlikely bond was established between

the two men and they eventually became close friends.

As a new inmate, Rochell was forced to “walk the gauntlet,” traversing through a line-up of his fellow prisoners. However, when welcoming Black, who’d been convicted of fraud and embezzlement, prison staff closed access to an entire floor.

Rochell spent much of his time in the prison’s law library, while Black tutored inmates to help them achieve a high school diploma.

Two years after his arrival, Black’s attorneys successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, which ordered the lower court to review its decision in Black’s case. Bail was granted, and Black went back to the high life.

“He deserved it,” Rochell told NNPA Newswire in a telephone call on Feb.10, from the federal prison at Coleman.

“Conrad Black is a good man, and I don’t have any resentment.”

The letter Rochell wrote on behalf of Black helped convince a judge to release him. Black eventually received a pardon from an old friend; America’s 45th president, Donald J. Trump.

“I do feel forgotten. I’m probably one of the oldest crack cocaine cases in America in which a person is still incarcerated,” Rochell said during the telephone interview. “But I’m very optimistic.

I saw what Kim Kardashian did for Alice Johnson, and I’ve

seen people talk about me.”

Amy Povah, president of the CAN-DO Foundation, which advocates for shorter sentences for non-violent drug offenders, put Johnson at the top of its list of federal prisoners who deserve a commutation or pardon from the president.

“It’s time for Rochell’s release,” said Povah, who has put together a clemency petition on Rochell’s behalf. “He should have been home under the First Step Act. The First Step Act passed into law over a year ago. It reduced sentences for people like Rufus who are still part of the ‘100-to-1,’ a harsh crack cocaine sentencing disparity that punished primarily African-Americans 100 times harsher than (the sentencing for the) powdered cocaine used primarily by white people.”

Due to a backlog in cases, the public defender representing Rochell has yet to file a motion on his behalf, Povah added.

“They have said he’s on the list, but we were first to contact the public defender’s office immediately after the bill passed,” she said.

When approached for comment, a representative at the federal public defender’s office said they were not at liberty to comment on cases. Meanwhile, Rochell still languishes in prison after 32 years. Both of his parents have died. He also lost a niece, and his only child was born shortly after his incarceration.

He has never spent time with his

daughter outside of prison walls.

“I’ll be 69-years-old this year and freedom would certainly be nice,” said Rochell.

Rochell maintains his status as a model prisoner. He has remained actively involved in a prison ministry, has led programs like Fathers Behind Bars, My Brothers 2 Keep Ministry and Stopping Family Violence.

Rochell has received numerous commendations and is the recipient of four NAACP Humanitarian Awards.

After Hurricane Katrina, Rochell started a campaign that raised money for victims of that horrific storm.

He also led a fundraising effort that netted $3,700 for a young boy’s prosthetic eye. Because his mother had no health insurance, the young boy wore an eye patch over his eye at school and endured tremendous bullying, which moved Rochell to action.

“Rufus has watched men walk out of Coleman, who served far less time, while he waits his turn. We submitted his paperwork as a clemency candidate and hope this will bring him home,” Povah said. “We have helped him every step of the way, with submitted letters on his behalf. The Warden wrote a letter to his Judge, we have written and coordinated with his unit team that is supportive, among other things.”

Rochell also has a standing job offer when he is released.

“I have a job offer at the museum in Plant City

Rita Khan named Mayo Clinic chief digital officer; will lead transformative digital strategy and create Center for Digital Health ROCHESTER, Minn.

– After an extensive nationwide search, Mayo Clinic has named Rita Khan chief digital officer, Mayo Clinic.

Khan will guide Mayo Clinic’s strategy as it prepares for transformative changes in the digital space.

As Mayo Clinic’s first chief digital officer, Khan will be responsible for digital strategy, establishing the Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health, and implementing a comprehensive business plan and digital standards that align with Mayo Clinic’s culture and values.

“Mayo Clinic is committed to leading the digital transformation of health care by creating world-class platforms that align with our patientsfirst culture and values,” said Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, Mayo Clinic’s president and CEO. “We must continually innovate and reimagine the delivery of health care, and we are delighted that Ms. Khan, with her diverse experience in consumer-focused digital innovation, will lead this effort.”

Khan, a product of North Minneapolis, most recently was senior vice president of consumer digital at UnitedHealthcare, where she directed enterpriselevel digital strategy. She led a team responsible for designing and building digital solutions for providers,

Rita Khan, chief digital officer, Mayo Clinic employers and members across UnitedHealthcare’s commercial, Medicare and Medicaid businesses.

With more than 20 years of experience in

retail and ecommerce, Khan previously was global vice president of Product at Digital River Inc., a provider of ecommerce, payments and marketing services. She also

was director of bestbuy.com and director of Best Buy’s direct to business channel. She began her career at Target Corp.

“I’m excited to align my deep background in retail, and most recently health care, to focus on consumer experience, product design and digital with an organization whose values I share – grounded in always putting the consumer first,” Khan said. “Mayo Clinic was founded on the belief that the needs of the patient comes first. I look forward to helping advance that commitment as we expand our digital solutions for the people we serve.”

Khan has a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

“Technology and data-driven innovation are making it possible for us to solve some of the most complex medical problems as well as expand our capabilities to provide high-quality health care with a human touch in the digital space,” said Jeffrey Bolton, Mayo Clinic’s chief administrative officer. “Ms. Khan has a record of innovation in designing digital solutions to improve health care and patient experience. We’re excited to have her join our leadership team as we work to transform how Mayo Clinic delivers patient-centered care in the digital era.”

Rufus Rochell famm.org

Rufus-Rochell (Fla.) as a curator of artifacts and unique art pieces,” said Rochelle. “I just need people to remember me. I want to make a big difference in my community. I need that second chance. I have a daughter, two grandchil-

dren, and I’ve got relatives who are waiting to help me. I know I will be a positive and productive citizen as well as an inspiration to others who might walk my path but won’t if I get one hour of their attention.”

Do you know what’s in your dietary supplements?

(StatePoint) Dietary supplements help people get the nutrients they need to thrive, and 77 percent of Americans take them, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

However, experts say that in order to make smart choices down the line, it is necessary to understand changes being made to product labels.

“The Food and Drug Administration has mandated that all dietary supplement products feature updated labeling by January 2021 to reflect the evolution of the American diet, as well as advancements in nutrition science,” said Brian Wommack, senior vice president of communications at CRN. “Larger manufacturers will comply by January 2020, and many other manufacturers will be introducing the new labels early, so it’s smart for everyone to get familiar with the updates now.”

Eighty-two percent of Americans agree that the information on the label helps them make purchasing decisions, and being label wise, according to Wommack, means being committed to reading product labels, having knowledge of what information is featured and why, and making smart, well-informed

purchasing decisions.

“While some of the changes to the label are more obvious than others, all of them are important to understand,” said Wommack.

To help you understand the transition, CRN has identified some of the noticeable aspects of the new Supplement Facts label. New Daily Values (DVs) will reflect the latest nutrition science and changes in American diets. Vitamins A, D, and E will change from amounts in International Units (IU), to the more common measures of milligrams (mg) and micrograms (mcg). Folic acid, an important nutrient before and during pregnancy, will be listed as folate and measured in micrograms of dietary folate equivalents (DFEs). If sugar is added to the product, you will see the amount and percent DV. To learn more about the coming changes, as well as for more tips and advice on reading supplement labels, visit www.

BeLabelWise.org or follow the conversation at #labelwise.

“We all have unique nutritional needs. So, talk with your healthcare practitioner to understand how these label changes might impact you,” said Wommack.

insightnews.com

Insight News • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Page 7

‘The Rhythm Section’ finds itself off beat

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire Film Critic They tried to conjure the spirits of “La Femme Nikita” and “Atomic Blonde.” They didn’t try hard enough.

Tangier, Marseilles, New York, Madrid … Blood is spilled and bodies are found in apartments, houses and buses on several continents in this revenge mystery/thriller. What’s all the commotion?

Two-hundred thirtynine passengers perish during a plane crash. An investigative journalist, Keith Proctor (Raza Jaffrey), tracks down a member of one of the families who died on flight NE027. Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively), a drug addict and a prostitute, is shocked to learn that the tragic incident was the result of a bomb. Proctor knows who’s responsible. He knows the players. Stephanie, “Why did you come for me?”

Proctor, “You’re another victim.

You’re just not dead yet.”

Before anyone can, say, “Where is my Glock 19?” the lady of the night is training with a mysterious ex-MI6 agent Boyd (Jude Law) to become familiar with the fine arts of espionage, weapons and assassination. Memories of her mom, dad and siblings haunt her. She’s seeks vengeance. Unfortunately, her skills and killer instincts don’t match up with her will. Is she even capable?

Novelist Mark Burnell turned his bestselling book into a screenplay. Not much is lost in the screen adaptation. Stephanie, as the unlikely protagonist, does just enough to pull you into her plight. You’ll want to see if she can step up and do the unconscionable to the deplorables.

Pity her transformation from hooker to slayer in a 30-day window doesn’t add up. It’s an unlikely transformation, implausible, improbable at best. If she had started out as a former spy,

Sanneh From 2 lives by providing programs that strengthen physical health and social and emotional development, and unite communities by advancing diversity, equity, and community well-being. Today, the programs we run organize soccer leagues and sports camps, provide inschool advocates in Twin Cities Public Schools, and support a local community center.

Using digital tools, we were able – over the course of five years – to grow the Sanneh Foundation from a one-program, local operation with a budget of $60,000 into a change-making six-program campaign with an annual budget of over $3.5 million. Internally, scaling has been easy using such tools a Google Non-Profits.

Recognizing the value of these technology platforms is

Sterling K. Brown in “The Rhythm Section.” soldier, markswoman, decathlete – something – you might believe she could turn herself into a fight machine. There is nothing on view that shows she can do the job. The film embraces her ineptness, making it part of her persona. But her bumbling executions wear thin fast. It’s a device that might have worked in the novel. On screen, she just looks feeble.

Guiding the actors and tech crew through the process is Reed Morano, the Emmywinning director of the very evocative Prime Video series “The Handsmaid’s Tale” and Starz’s show “Power.” She made a name for herself as a cinematographer with TV projects (Beyoncé “Lemonade”). Evidence of her visual flare is in the film’s

look and footage.

Shots of international cities and landscapes (cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, “12 Years A Slave”) look spectacular. The camera loves close-ups of characters, chest and up. Jittery, arty camerawork follows Stephanie as she runs down streets. Overall color choices, costumes, production design and set decoration are unquestionable and fit the locations and genre.

If this film wanted to be included in the same breath as top espionage movies (e.g.

“Bourne Identity,” “Carlos”) or impress action/thriller fans, it needed intriguing action scenes with dazzling choreography.

Fights, gun battles, car chases – those are the staples of these

crucial in today’s political and regulatory environment, perhaps most alarmingly represented by the announcement that attorneys general from across the U.S. are filing an investigation into several high-profile tech companies like Google and Facebook. While the outcome of this investigation is yet to be determined, it’s important that our elected officials take into account the value that these companies’ digital tools bring to advocacy organizations and the communities we serve.

The work we do is not easy. It’s why communicating about our successes, internally, is so important. When one of our fellows, Heidi, was able to open a dialogue with a dejected student, he told her that he had a passion for student government, and a calling to change the way school works, with more focus on discovery and less on repetition. To the benefit of our staff and the thousands of other students we work with, we have access to an open source of shared data and materials

accessible anywhere we go, and we were able to instantly share insights from Heidi’s experience across our team and target ways to engage similarly disaffected students.

As Minnesota looks out at the field of obstacles we’ll face in the coming years, we’re learning both from the victories in our work and the difficulties we encounter. Let’s not add to these obstacles by demonizing the very tools that community organizations like ours use day in and day out to better the lives of those around us. Community leaders must ensure we continue to expand and protect the array of digital tools that have enabled the Sanneh Foundation’s growth and encourage the technological innovation that propels us forward.

Sincerely, Tony Sanneh Founder Sanneh Foundation Tony@thesannehfoundation. org 651-690-4855

Northrop and Walker Art Center Present

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AIM’s Tamisha Guy in Drive. Photo © Steven Schreiber.

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types of films, and unless you get them right, or climb to new heights, they become liabilities.

Stephanie’s exploits are never amazing, uncanny. The exception may be the climax of the film, which upon afterthought is ironic and cathartic.

Blake Lively is a strong actress, however, she never rises to this occasion, or brings her menacing up to a level that would threaten anybody.

Anne Parillaud did in Luc Besson’s “La Femme Nikita.” She blazed a trail. The other actress who bitch-slapped the genre is Charlize Theron in “Atomic Blonde.” Her interpretation of Lorraine Broughton, an undercover MI6 agent, is classic. That

character is a badass killer who can take a bullet with the best of them, then gun you down. Since Lively never takes her role to that edge, the entire film suffers.

Raza Jaffrey fairs well as the brave journalist. Jude Law has been better in other films and does little to leave his mark on the rogue agent. There is a scary calmness to Tawfeek Barhom’s portrayal as the suspect Reza.

Sterling K. Brown, as an information go-between tied to terrorists and spy agencies, doesn’t make his character stand out.

This is the kind of role actors like Denzel Washington, with his acting bravura, would make unforgettable.

It should be noted that

the film’s basic theme of terrorist bombings has an anti-Arab overtone that is hard to shake.

Even if a lot of the most evil players are non-Muslim, still, something doesn’t feel right.

It’s said that the difference between modern dance and ballet is that one is all about the movement and the other is about position and image. Reed Morano is accustomed to shooting series that are all about the lasting visual impression. Thrillers tend to be more about actions and mindboggling incidents. If Morano can make that adjustment, with her strong sense of design and affinity for drama, her future films in this genre would be more fun to watch.

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Page 8 • February 24, 2020 - March 1, 2020 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Uche Iroegbu

(Left to right) Ben Spencer, server, Madeline Rivard, chef/owner, Megan Asmus, cook, Robin Rivard, owner, Ignacia Chimborazo, cook and Belvin Hill, cook, form a winning team at the French Hen on Selby in St. Paul.

Soul-satisfying: The French Hen

By Abē Levine Food Writer Don’t let the name fool you, the French Hen Café, 518 Selby Ave., St. Paul ([651] 222-6201) is plating up soul-satisfying meals without the pretenses of haute cuisine.

It’s home cooking, elevated. Though restaurants focused on Southern tradition such as Revival have received recent accolades, this gem in the heart

of St. Paul features playfully rich, Creole inspired recipes that have withstood the test of time.

When walking into the French Hen space, you’re bathed in light – a well-deserved respite from Minnesota’s annual war on vitamin D, a.k.a. winter.

To arrive, you’ll have to make your way through a natural oxygen bar; the entrance to the café is through Ergo Floral, a neighboring plant store that graces diners with a verdant kiss from Cathedral Hill. Though rejuvenating, the greens I was after

would be arriving on a plate and would be soon melting in my mouth like liquid smoke.

Chef Belvin Hill, known only at the restaurant as Benny, traces his culinary foundations to Mississippi and South Carolina via Chicago. Wearing red, yellow, and green I don’t have to ask where he’s from.

But I do… Hill’s dad is from Jamaica, and he highlights immigrant influences in his taste sensibilities. Manager Madeline Rivard, whose mom Robin owns the restaurant, points to diverse

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influences saying, “The menu is a mix of what I like to eat and … what all the other chefs have added.”

Hill is in charge of the collard greens and specials on the menu, which features breakfast from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Though he would not get into the politics of who makes the best greens in the cities, he did say emphatically, “There is a secret.” Indeed, the greens that come alongside blackened catfish on fried green tomato croquets, seem to announce themselves, “Can’t tell me nothin’,” they say- indicative of both their harmonizing flavors and the work put in to make them velvety soft. If you’re looking for lighter fare, you’ll have to look elsewhere, though a couple delicate slices of blood orange are presented as citrus palette cleansers.

Other foods cooked slow and low include pulled pork braised overnight and finished the next day with a soy sauce glaze. You’ll find it on their Banh Mi benedict piled high atop crunchy French bread supplied fresh from nearby Trung Nam French Bakery.

With the meat’s juices infusing the baguette, drawing spice from the Sriracha hollandaise, you get a luxurious-tangy mouthful softened by a plump and runny poached egg. I recommend nibbling at the nestled jalapeño

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the

2020 U.S. Census.

“I think there are a few things that are happening this year that are more important or more impactful to the Black community than the U.S. Census. It’s not the sexiest topic given the focus on impeachment and the November elections.

But when you talk about how the dollars flow from the federal government to our communities, to our schools, to our libraries or community centers, to our public institutions, how decisions are made about how do we have businesses invest and where do they put their money, where do developers support growth… these decisions are all based on the data that’s collected in the US Census,” Williams said.

“In our community there’s a lot of also disinformation. There are folks who are invested in making sure that there is confusion around the Census.

So it’s very, very important for our communities to understand what the Census is, understand how the data is going to be used and why they should participate

slices to cut through the butter and fat.

Hill says there’s something for everybody here, though later he would reverse his position.

“I don’t care if you’re a vegetarian or anything you got to eat some type of meat; ham, turkey, pork, beef, something.

You gotta eat something,” said Hill.

“What?” Rivard interjects, cracking up.

“It’s true, we don’t really cater that much to vegetarians. I mean there is an omelette on there,” Hill said referring to the menu.

The two are clearly part of a tight-knit team. Both say that leadership is non-hierarchical and that people step up for one another when needed.

Though the French Hen will be completing its seventh year in operation, the road ahead is far from straightforward. Rivard cites a 2 percent increase in local licensing and permit fees that increase pressure on St. Paul’s small businesses, particularly restaurants.

“We have no interest being a business if we can’t pay people living wages, if we can’t offer people time with their families. We’re struggling to do that with the price points we’re at,” Rivard replied when asked about the restaurant’s place in a gentrifying neighborhood. Though all

kitchen staff is paid at least $15 per hour, she has trepidations about the mandated increase for wait staff, fearing the toll it will take on the businesses narrow profit margins.

To survive the rising costs and to maintain the restaurant’s neighborhood character, Rivard and the team have sought to make their space amenable to community. In addition to announcing the establishment’s politics with a Black Lives Matter sign in the front window, the space has been used for meetings supporting local activism. Locals have also celebrating special occasions with the French Hen staff including weddings, anniversaries, and showers.

I spoke to one couple, Echo Kokesh and Linden Rael, who were marking their anniversary with biscuits and gravy, a mimosa, and a Hugo, an herbal early morning concoction of elderflower, mint, lime, and Prosecco. Supporting Rivard’s statement that customers can show up in their pajamas and not be looked at funny, Rael affirms that you can come as you are.

“It’s a safe place to be queer,” Kokesh said, “And of course, it’s beautiful.”

For a breakfast spot that transports Midwesterners further south, while making space at the table for all kinds, consider the Hen.

and who gets to participate.”

I asked why promoting the Census important for Comcast? For Williams, and the leadership at Comcast, it was a no-brainer.

“I was part of the original team that worked on building out and creating the Internet Essentials program.

Internet Essentials is the country’s largest non-state sponsored broadband adoption program. We’ve connected over eight million low income individuals to the internet. And we did that by ignoring all of the noise around the problem and talking to the people in the community about what really were the barriers to getting folks online,” said Williams.

Communities saw the number one barrier was relevance, which translated to digital literacy.

“You have to teach digital literacy. You have to help break down the confusion around what the internet is and what it means to be online,” Williams said. “We empowered people who are already in the community to connect to the community and that’s the same approach that we’re bringing to the Census. We’ve always been dedicated to closing the digital divide and when the

Census made the announcement that they were going to look at not just being online, but being online as the primary way that people take and participate in the Census, they said they anticipate almost 80 percent of all people who participate in the Census to do so online.

“It was common sense for us at Comcast to lean in and participate in the spirit of creating a public-private partnership.

We are in 39 States, we serve thousands of communities and in every one of those communities, we have employees. Right here in the Twin Cities, we have 2,200 employees who every day, go to work, drive, go home, participate, their kids go to school, their families and children use playgrounds and community centers. And so, you can’t talk about being healthy as a company without talking about our communities. It was second nature when our community started to talk to us about the importance of the Census to them, for us to lean in particularly given that connection to the digital divide and the role that the online Census would play.”

See full interview at www.insightnews.com. Watch the “Conversations With Al McFarlane” interview as https:// comca.st/2u9KWJu.