Insight News ::: 01.20.14

Are the Twin Cities losing Black professionals due to lacking social scene? MORE ON PPAGE

January 20 - January 26, 2014

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Vol. 41 No. 4 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Proposed tobacco settlement excludes Black media

By George E. Curry

NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON – The U.S. Justice Department and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund have reached an agreement with the four major tobacco companies that requires them to spend more than $30 million advertising with the three major television networks and run full-page ads in 35 White and Hispanic newspapers as well as purchasing space on their respective websites but not make a single purchase from a Black print or broadcast media company.

The 24-page proposed consent agreement,

TOBACCO TURN TO 4

© Can Stock Photo Inc.

Beyond conversations: What are next steps to bridge the disparity gaps?

By Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet When I look back at the stories I’ve worked on this year, there’s one theme that appears over and over. From black baby dolls

being hung from a noose at a high school, to protests over Miss Saigon, to a professor being reprimanded after teaching about institutional racism, race and racism keep coming up.

Maybe, just maybe, we as a society are ready to start having meaningful dialogue about

privilege and racism in a way that will actually bring about changes — from our educational system to transportation to housing and the criminal justice system.

Although simply talking about it will not necessarily bring about the needed changes, at least it’s a start.

Sometimes, I worry that I live in a liberal bubble between Facebook and the people I regularly interact with, who are constantly talking about race and privilege and gender and class, etc. Sometimes my social media world creates a place where I rarely encounter people I disagree

with, and when I do, I usually am inclined to either unfriend or hide them.

So I have a somewhat skewed sense of the national or even local dialogue about race, because I happen to know a lot of artist/ activist/academic types who tend to have such conversations

regularly. Still, I do feel like it is something that people are talking about in other spheres, especially coupled with conversations about rising inequality in this country.

My hope is that some of these conversations about race now

GAPS TURN TO 3

Gregory Lorjuste: President Obama’s scheduler also worked for Bill Clinton’s Harlem-based foundation

By Joyce Jones | BET

Louis King

Gary Cunningham

Summit Academy OIC awarded five grants totaling $1.65 million Thanks to national and local grants totaling $1.65 million, Summit Academy OIC will expand its healthcare training and further enhance its construction programs while working to decrease the employment gap that exists for communities of color in the Twin Cities.

The Minneapolis-based nonprofit, which provides educational and vocational training to individuals from economically depressed neighborhoods, plans to add evening classes, offer training at

satellite locations in St. Paul and beyond, and increase enrollment to ensure even more individuals are able to become educated, employed, contributing members of society.

The president of Summit Academy OIC Louis King said “We are immensely grateful for the support of these five foundations, which illustrates a broad commitment to improve the vitality of this region by developing a diverse workforce

SAOIC TURN TO 10

Not many young AfricanAmerican men can lay claim to having a bond with one — never mind two — U.S. presidents.

But Gregory Lorjuste, deputy director of scheduling for President Obama, is one of the fortunate few. Before working on Obama’s first White House bid, which ultimately led to his current gig, Lorjuste worked for former President Bill Clinton’s Harlem-based foundation.

The White House is a long way from the crime-riddled Flatbush neighborhood where Lorjuste was raised by two hardworking parents who’d emigrated to the U.S. from Haiti so their brood of nine children could achieve American dreams. Growing up, he said in an interview with BET.com, he and his siblings “experienced lots of things that no kids should experience,” including the loss by gunfire of a cousin and other people they cared for or looked up to.

Devoted teachers, who made learning fun; after-school

Official White House/ Pete Souza

Former President Bill Clinton, Gregory Lorjuste and President Barack Obama programs; and weekend mentors who took the children ice skating, fishing and on other adventures kept them out of trouble and focused on their schoolwork so they wouldn’t become unfortunate “products of their

environment.” Their dedication also inspired him to major in education at Rider University, a small liberal arts college in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

Unfortunately, by the time Lorjuste was graduating from

college in 2004, classroom instruction was more focused on preparing students to pass standardized tests. He decided

LORJUSTE TURN TO 4

Insight 2 Health

Lifestyle

Business

Community

5 secrets for quitting smoking

The continuous pursuit of joy and happiness

Headphone etiquette

Biking and blogging: Getting the word out

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Page 2 • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Insight News

5 SECRETS FOR

QUITTING SMOKING Special to the NNPA from the St. Louis American Most smokers say they want to quit and many will make a New Year’s Resolution to quit in 2014. If this is your year to quit, the American Lung Association (ALA) offers five tips to help you along the way: 1. Learn from past experiences.

Most smokers have tried to quit in the past and sometimes people get discouraged thinking about previous attempts. Those experiences were necessary steps on the road to future success. Think about what helped you during those tries and what you’ll do differently in your next quit attempt.

2. You don’t have to quit alone.

Telling friends that you’re trying to quit and enlisting their support will help ease the process. Expert help is available from the American Lung Association and other

groups. Friends who also smoke may even join you in trying to quit!

3. Medication can help, if you know what to do. The seven FDA-approved medications (like nicotine patches or gum) really do help smokers quit.

Most folks don’t use them correctly so be sure to follow the directions!

4. It’s never too late to quit. While it’s best to quit smoking as early as possible, quitting smoking at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life. You’ll also save money and avoid the hassle of going outside in the cold to smoke.

5. Every smoker can quit. The ALA said each person needs to find the right combination of techniques that will for them, and above all, they need to keep trying.

For more information, visit the ALA/WellPoint site, www.quitterinyou. org.

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Insight News • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Page 3

A better deal for kids in the budget? Democrats and Republicans say ‘yes’

By Ann Challet Special to the NNPA from New America Media June Jimenez of Silver Spring, Md. was pregnant when she was laid off from her job at a public affairs firm last year. She tried unsuccessfully for months to find a job and worried about losing her home.

“My mortgage is $1,500 a month and I only received $320 a week in unemployment,” she says.

Her health insurance policy at the time didn’t provide her with maternity coverage, and when she tried to purchase an individual plan, she discovered that she couldn’t because her pregnancy qualified as a preexisting condition. She qualified for Medicaid, which covered the cost of her pregnancy, including an emergency C-section.

But she found herself facing the possibility of having to choose among making her mortgage payments, paying for utilities, and buying food.

What sustained her, she says, was that by her sixth month of pregnancy she was able in enroll in WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). She used WIC to buy food for her and her daughter for the next nine months.

Today Jimenez is working again, and her daughter Karanda is now almost a year old. “Without a doubt, Medicaid and WIC saved us,” she says. “[Those programs] provided a crucial bridge for me.”

At a congressional briefing last week, children’s advocacy organization First Focus Campaign for Children, in conjunction with advocacy group MomsRising, presented the results of a nationwide poll that found bipartisan public support for protecting funding for children’s programs in the federal budget.

The survey of 800 voters, commissioned by First Focus and conducted by polling firm American Viewpoint, found that strong majorities of both Democrats and Republicans opposed cuts to programs like the ones that sustained Jimenez.

Voters were surveyed by landline and cell phone in the first week of December.

“Kids were affected significantly by the budget sequestration that took effect earlier this year,” says Ed Walz, vice president of communications at First Focus. Cutbacks, he says, have disproportionately impacted programs serving children.

While some federal programs such as Social Security are mandatory, children’s programs like WIC, Head Start (which provides early childhood services to low-income families, including education and child care), and K-12 education are funded through the appropriations process.

Head Start programs, for example, had to cut services for close to 60,000 children in the 2013-2014 school year.

According to the survey, three in four voters oppose cuts to K-12 education funding, including 87 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Republicans, and 71 percent of independent voters.

Voters specifically oppose cuts to early learning for young children by a ratio of nearly two-to- one (62 to 32 percent), including half of Republicans, more than three in four Democrats, and almost 60 percent of independents. Nearly two in three voters oppose cuts to Head Start.

Sheila Arias of Durham, N.C.

Gaps From 1 can translate into changes, and that can make our society better.

What that looks like, I’m not so sure, although I do have some ideas. I’d like to see issues of race and privilege addressed more fervently in the public schools.

I’d like it if the arts and cultural institutions here in Minnesota would work on expanding the diversity of both their artist base and their audiences. I’d like to see the disparities in employment, achievement, housing, health, etc between whites and people of color diminish.

While I don’t know how that’s going to happen, I know is that it is urgent.

In addition to writing for TC Daily Planet since 2008, Sheila Regan (sheila@tcdailyplanet. net) also writes for City Pages’ Dressing Room Blog and occasionally for mnartists and other publications. She also makes theater and sometimes teaches after school and summer classes in theater.

says that when she lost her job as an interpreter, she couldn’t afford to keep her daughter, Jaslene, who was two at the time, in daycare.

Arias went to the local Children’s Developmental Services Agency for help, and was told that Jaslene would probably qualify for Early Head Start.

The agency helped Arias apply, and three weeks later, her daughter was accepted into the program. Jaslene has

developmental disabilities, and Arias says that the teachers “offered her important structure and a regular daily routine” that, in addition to therapy, have helped with managing her special needs.

Jaslene will start kindergarten next year, and Arias says that Early Head Start is now helping her with her younger child, who is showing signs of a disorder that also affects his sister.

Democrats and Republicans

recently reached a budget deal that would restore some of the funding to programs that were affected by sequestration. First Focus reports that if sequestration relief were to be applied proportionally to children’s programs, about $3.6 billion federal dollars would be restored to these initiatives in 2014, including $1.8 billion for K-12 education and $370 million for Head Start.

The poll found that when

voters are asked to prioritize deficit reduction or protecting investments in children, 31 percent of respondents place a higher priority on investments in children and 41 percent rate the two options as equally important.

“Voters reject what they consider a false choice,” says Walz. “What this shows is that 72 percent of voters reject that the way to reduce the budget deficit is to cut children’s programs.”

“Congress has struggled to prove responsive to the concerns of the American people,” he says.

“What the current deal does, in a nutshell, is create an opportunity for Congress to undo some of the damage done in this budget year.”

(This article is part of ongoing coverage by New America Media on the Affordable Care Act, supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies.)

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Page 4 • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Insight News

insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE The continuous pursuit of joy and happiness Man Talk

By Timothy Houston Joy and happiness are two sides of the same coin.

You cannot truly have one without the other. Happiness is a temporal and conditional part of your emotional state. It is the measurement of what is going on now. For instance, if you lost your job, you would be unhappy, but if you found a better one, you would be happy again.

Joy is the permanent side of your emotional state. It is not based on what has happened, but on rather who has happened.

“The joy of the Lord is our strength” – Nehemiah 8:10.

Because God is eternal, He can only provide eternal joy. Your pursuit of joy and happiness is your sovereign right given to you by God. Here are a few steps to help you get there.

First, to continuously pursue joy and happiness, you must simplify your life. Clean out the clutter from your physical and emotional closets. Say goodbye to friends, clothing, collectibles, and conversations that do not add value to you. No more broken things in your life.

For my physical closet, I have a personal rule that if I have not used it in a year, then I must dispose of it during my spring cleaning. This should be applied to your emotional closet as well.

Get rid of old relationships and the emotional baggage that comes along with them. If you

You can think the best or you can think the worst.

do this, your new year will be full of new possibilities.

Next, to continuously pursue joy and happiness, you must think happy thoughts.

Your thoughts create your environment. They are the building blocks for your actions.

Your thoughts are the greatest defense against life’s adversity.

They feed off of your emotional state so you must be emotionally healthy. This requires you to get rid of anger, bitterness and wrath. This will make room for joy and happiness, peace on

earth, and good will towards men. The good of mankind is only made possible by the good of the individual.

Finally, to continuously pursue joy and happiness, you must make peace with God. This is a spiritual necessity.

The permanency of peace is predicated on a permanent relationship with God. The peace of God will bring peace with others. Without internal peace and joy, there can be no external contentment. Internal warfare being about external war, and war and warfare can never bring about happiness.

Making peace with God makes your heart happy, and the world is better when the hearts of men and women become better.

You are the principle in your pursuit of joy and happiness.

When negative things happen that are beyond your control,

remember, you still get to choose your response. You can think the best or you can think the worst.

Always think the best.

Simplifying your life, thinking happy thoughts, and making peace with God are key ingredients in this process.

Remember that happiness is temporal and joy is permanent so during the trying times, look inwardly for the joy of the Lord to carry you through. Peace with God brings about peace with all.

This is the truest pursuit of joy and happiness.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities.

For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

Celebrate the new year and the new you Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson During this wonderful month, in this new exciting year, I want you to think about all the possibilities that await you.

This month we will

Lorjuste From 1 to change direction and became an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, which enabled him to work on a variety of projects, from disaster preparedness to technical assistance for nonprofits serving the underserved.

“Even if I wasn’t in the classroom, I still wanted to be involved in working with kids in an urban community,” he said, adding that AmeriCorps gave him an opportunity to “dabble in so many key issues that affect our society.”

Lorjuste began dabbling in politics while campaigning for

Tobacco From 1 reached Friday, was heard by U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for final approval.

“We are shocked and deeply disappointed that the Justice Department, the TobaccoFree Action Fund and the tobacco industry would all agree to sign off an advertising plan that totally disrespects the Black community,” said Cloves C. Campbell, chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of nearly 200 Black newspapers. “The industry’s past efforts to target AfricanAmerican consumers have been thoroughly documented. It is sad that an industry that sought to exploit our community with a product that is harmful to our health now seeks to further devalue African-Americans by ignoring the Black media when it is being forced to atone what a federal judge determined was

celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday with a holiday, and it’s a great time to think about what you truly want out of life. I’m not talking about just your dreams and goals this time, but I am talking about reflecting on your life and asking yourself, “Is this truly where I am supposed to be?

Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing?” This is the year that you “step up” to the next chapter of your life.

Think about it this way. Are

you working a job that you love going to every day? Are you living a life that you believe you were meant to live? Are you completely satisfied with where you are right now in your life? If you answered no to any of these questions, then it may be time to reflect on your life.

Many times we go through life doing what has become comfortable to us. Going to a job you hate, or one that you know you are not going to move

any higher in could be because you are comfortable. But when you are working to move into your greatness, sometimes you may be uncomfortable for a while. Moving out of that comfort zone could change your life forever.

Next, take a look at the people you have in your life. Are you surrounding yourself with people who are doing positive things in their lives, or are your friends in your ear telling you that you should be satisfied

with what you have? In order to move into your greatness, you may have to move away from people what are stuck and want to keep you stuck. We all have those people in our lives that don’t seem to understand that we have a plan for our life and the plan includes moving and doing things that may be a little different from what you are use to doing. If you have negative people in your life maybe it’s time to reevaluate who you are and what you really want for

your life.

Use this month to celebrate the holiday by staying positive and also by celebrating the New Year and the new you.

And as always remember, stay focused, stay determined and keep striving for greatness.

New Jersey Sen. Jon Corzine’s first gubernatorial campaign in 2005. During that period, his boss also encouraged him to apply for then-Sen. Obama’s “Yes We Can Hope Fund” campaign training program.

“I was skeptical and thought I’m never going to get picked and I’m more of a nonprofit guy,w” Lorjuste recalled.

But he was wrong and was one of 10 candidates selected from around the nation to receive training from some of the nation’s top political operatives.

During the weeklong program, the trainees also had dinner with Obama, who spent more time asking questions and learning more about them and their passions than he did talking about himself.

The program’s mentors also continued to work with the trainees, checking in with them during a weekly conference call to offer job-seeking and other advice.

“It was through the Hope Fund training that I was able to land a job working for President Clinton’s foundation,” Lorjuste explained. “It opened so many doors and opportunities for us and everyone wanted to get a piece of the ‘Obama Kids,’ as they called us at the time.”

Soon Lorjuste found himself in an enviable pickle. He had just received a promotion in the Clinton Foundation’s scheduling department when New York Sen. Hillary Clinton announced her 2008 presidential bid. He also was asked to commit to the job

for a year, because a lot of people were leaving to join Clinton’s campaign.

Obama hadn’t yet made his announcement, so Lorjuste accepted the promotion. And though his heart was on the Obama campaign trail, he sat out the primary season, but joined his operation during the general election as scheduling director for Virginia, helping a Democratic presidential candidate win the state for the first time since 1964.

And when he later encountered Clinton at a campaign stop, the former president embraced Lorjuste and said he was missed.

As state scheduler, Lorjuste coordinated timetables, logistics and locations. He also helped with crowd building, setting

up event formats, working with different elected officials speaking at events and assisting with overall planning for Obama, Michelle Obama and Joe Biden.

After Obama won the election, Lorjuste was hired to work as a scheduler for the inauguration committee and on the eve of the historic day was offered a similar position at the White House. Today, he is one of three people who work on the day-to-day, minute-by-minute logistics for the president.

“It’s special because our department’s main priority is to organize events that allow the president to stay in touch with the American people and for them to hear directly from their commander-in-chief and his vision for moving the country

forward,” Lorjuste said. “It’s gratifying to be able to play a small part in shaping how people hear and interact with the president, the smile on their faces when he’s on the rope line or they’re invited to participate in a roundtable discussion.”

The most poignant moment for him, however, is an incident much closer to home. His mother, who had finally become a U.S. citizen, cast her very first ballot for Obama.

“She called me while waiting in line in the rain in Pennsylvania, but was so excited to vote for him. I was in Virginia working to get people to vote but to see how it impacts your family is so special,” Lorjuste said.

This story can be read at www.bet.com

a deliberate effort to deceive the American public.”

Peter S. Hamm, director of communications for the Tobacco-Free Kids Action, said on Monday that the media outlets were selected by Judge Kessler and disclosed in an order issued Aug. 17, 2006. Hamm said he did not know how she determined what media outlets would be utilized to carry the newspaper ads and television commercials.

A telephone call Monday requesting comment from the Justice Department was not returned.

The story of the agreement was first disclosed by Target Market News, published by Ken Smikle. The Chicago-based publication said an advertising source placed the value of the total buy at $30 million to $45 million.

The advertising campaign, which won’t go into effect until all appeals have been exhausted by the tobacco companies, was agreed to as part of a settlement that found tobacco companies mislead the public about the dangers of smoking. The four defendants are: Altria, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard

and Philip Morris USA. The U.S. Justice Department filed suit against the cigarette manufacturers on Sept. 22, 1999 charging that they had violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations Act (RICO). They were found guilty at the conclusion of a trial that lasted from Dec. 21, 2004 to June 9, 2005.

Judge Kessler wrote a stinging opinion saying, that the case “is about an industry, and in particular these Defendants, that survives, and profits, from selling a highly addictive product which causes diseases that lead to a staggering number of deaths per year, an immeasurable amount of human suffering and economic loss, and a profound burden on our national health care system.

Defendants have known these facts for at least 50 years or more. Despite that knowledge, they have consistently, repeatedly, and with enormous skill and sophistication, denied these facts to the public, to the Government, and to the public health community… In short, Defendants have marketed and sold their lethal products with zeal, with deception, with a

single-minded focus on their financial success, and without regard for the human tragedy or social costs that success exacted.”

The judge prohibited the companies from committing similar acts going forward and ordered them to make “corrective statements” about the lies they had told about the dangers of smoking.

Kessler’s ruling was unanimously upheld March 22, 2009 by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. On June 28, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to accept an appeal.

Carefully-crafted “corrective statements” that include the wording, placement and timing of TV commercials and the content, type and size of fonts to be used in newspaper ads were covered in the agreement reached Friday. The statements will acknowledge that the advertising is being done under court order and that companies had misled the public on the health effects of smoking, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine and the health effects of secondhand smoke.

The companies will also admit that they falsely sold and advertised low-tar and light cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes and designed cigarettes to enhance the delivery of nicotine.

Under the agreement, each company will decide whether to place commercials on CBS, ABC or NBC. “The TV spots will run a total of five times per week, subject to the availability of network time and upon approval of the network (s) on which the spots will air,” the agreement stipulates. “The five TV spots to be run each week will be run by each Defendant at its choice between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in the time zone in which the spot airs, between Monday and Thursday for one year.”

In the event the desired time slot is unavailable, the companies must continue to purchase spots until they have run the corrective statements at least 50 times and have aired a total of 260 spots.

For newspapers, the tobacco companies are required to purchase a full-page ad in the first section of the Sunday edition of each newspaper. Each ad will contain one of the five corrective statements in their entirety. The companies are also required to advertise on the newspapers’ web sites. Those same requirements will run in Spanish in Spanish-language newspapers.

The ads and commercials will state, “A Federal Court has ruled that Altria, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard, and Philip Morris USA deliberately deceived the American public and has ordered those companies to make these statements.

Here is the truth:” Texts, of the corrective statements will then be provided.

Under Judge Kessler’s 2006 order, ads will be placed in the following newspapers:

Atlanta Journal Constitution, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Charlotte Observer, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Florida Times Union, Fresno Bee, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Sun, New York Times, Orlando Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, St. Petersburg Times, Tallahassee Democrat, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, LA Eastern Group Publications, San Francisco La Oferta Review/El Vistaz-Combo, NAHP, Chicago Lawndale Group News and NAHP Houston – Que Onda!

It is ironic that the tobacco industry is bypassing Black media while complying with a federal order to disclose its deception when in the past it used the Black media to target African-American consumers.

“The tobacco industry has gone to great lengths to target the African-American community over the past 30 years,” the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids stated.

“Through market research and aggressive advertising, the industry has successfully penetrated this population. The industry’s ‘investment’ in the African-American community has had a destructive impact: African Americans suffer the greatest burden of tobaccorelated mortality of any ethnic or racial group in the United States.”

The anti-smoking group also explained, “…There is compelling evidence that tobacco companies not only advertise disproportionately in

Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www. thequeensproject.com or email at penny@thequeensproject.com.

TOBACCO TURN TO 11

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Scenes such as this, a recent holiday party catering to Black professionals are few and far between in the Twin Cities.

Are the Twin Cities losing Black professionals due to lacking social scene?

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Recently on a local sports talk radio station the hosts were lamenting on the poor play of the Timberwolves and began discussing what they called an overall lack of talent.

The radio pundits discussed the play of Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and others and basically came to the conclusion that the team needed to attract toplevel free agent talent to play in Minnesota if it was to be truly competitive in the NBA. Then one of the commentators remarked that he spoke with several players around the league and the

general consensus was that the Timberwolves could not attract top free agent talent because of the Twin Cites nightlife – or lack there of.

With 78 percent of the league’s players being African-American, it’s a safe bet to say that the players questioned were those with a bit extra melanin in their skin. And while the scene in downtown and Uptown Minneapolis is a bustling one on the weekends, the vast number of hot spots are teeming with 20-something and 30-something yuppies and the crowd, while welcoming, is far from diverse.

The Timberwolves may not be the only ones struggling

Many African-American professionals cite the lack of social activities geared towards a progressive Black audience as a major source of discontent with Twin Cities living. to recruit and retain top African-American talent to the area. Many AfricanAmerican professionals cite the lack of social activities geared towards a progressive

Black audience as a major source of discontent with Twin Cities living. Some cited it as a reason for ditching the Twin Cities for other major urban enclaves.

“Minnesota was always a short stay for me because I only moved for a job assignment so I knew I’d (only) be there two to three years,” said Leah Stone, who worked here for Proctor & Gamble and who now resides in Cincinnati. “However, I will say, when I was there (Twin Cities) I traveled out of town a lot because the social circles seemed so small and there wasn’t a lot of variety in what was going on.”

Stone said that although she was able to enjoy several concerts that came to town, the scene for Black professionals was pretty stagnant.

“I was only there two years and (I felt like) I met every

Black professional,” said Stone.

Stone is not alone in her desire to vacate the area for cultural reasons. April Preston, a native of St. Paul, recently packed up, leaving the Twin Cities for the East Coast to take up residence in Washington, D.C. Preston said while not the sole reason, the area’s lack of a consistent social scene for AfricanAmerican professionals played a role in her decision to relocate.

“After a year or two of going out I kind of got bored,” said Preston, who returned to St. Paul in 2005

NIGHTLIFE 7 TURN TO

Dakota offers free night of music for Foodie Night, Jan. 22 Singer Charmin Michelle and her band, Charmin & Shapira with Friends, will perform a free concert at the Dakota Jazz Club, Wednesday, Jan. 22 as a part of the Dakota’s Foodie Night series.

The charismatic chanteuse, Michelle, whose conversational style recalls Billie Holiday and other legendary ladies of jazz, while putting her own imprint on jazz standards, will perform as patrons get to sample various dining and bar creations of the chefs and bartenders of the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Born in Birmingham, Michelle moved to Minnesota as a child and has called it home ever since. Though

based in Minneapolis, Michelle is no stranger to life on the road and began touring internationally in 1986. The singer has performed at jazz festivals throughout Europe with pianists Mulgrew Miller and Kirk Lightsey, and saxophonists Harry Allen and Grant Stewart, among others.

On her most recent tour to Spain, Michelle recorded with the aforementioned Allen and Stewart, as well as saxophonist Scott Hamilton, guitarist Peter Bernstein, and Barcelonan musicians Ignasi Terraza and the Toni Sola Quartet. Her four acclaimed CDs “Your Eyes,” “Destination Moon,” “Hot” and “Pure Imagination” have received glowing reviews and

are available at performances, retailers, and online.

Foodie Nights are floating calendar dates at the Dakota made for food and music lovers. With special features

by Chef Derik Moran, sweet treats by pastry Chef Katie Elsing and select $10 bottles of wine, Dakota Foodie Nights showcase talented local artists with no cover charge.

The Jan. 22 Foodie Night will feature whiskey samplings from the Jack Daniel’s family brand, including Jack Daniel’s Honey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel and Gentleman Jack. For reservations, call 612-332-1010 or visit www. dakotacooks.com for more details.

JuliAnne Jonker

Charmin & Shapira

Page 6 • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Aesthetically Speaking

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2014 Golden Globes recap

By Kam Williams The Hollywood Foreign Press Association staged its 71st Annual Golden Globes in Beverly Hills on Sunday evening, with SNL alumna Tina Fey and Amy Poehler again sharing the hosting duties. The night’s big winner was “American Hustle” for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) as well as Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence for Best Lead and Supporting Actress, respectively.

Going into the event, “Hustle” and “12 Years a Slave” shared all the Oscar buzz by virtue of their having landed the most Golden Globe nominations (7 each). But “12 Years” has definitely now lost momentum, despite prevailing in the coveted Best Picture (Drama) category only.

As for the show, emcees Fey and Poehler again proved to be more celebrity-friendly than their relatively-irreverent predecessor, Ricky Gervais.

The pair’s tongue-in-cheek brand of humor ranged from Fey’s praise of August: Osage County as proof that “there are still great parts in Hollywood for Meryl Streeps over 60” to Poehler’s crediting “12 Years a Slave” for changing the way she feels about slavery.

They teased conspicuouslyabsent Woody Allen for winning the award “for the tiniest man with the biggest glasses,” since the similarlydiminutive and powerframed Martin Scorcese had previously accepted the lifetime achievement accolade.

Meanwhile, during the telecast, Woody’s son Ronan was busy tweeting a reminder that his sister Dylan had recently gone public for the first time about her having been molested by their father at the age of 7.

As far as profanity, a few foul-mouthed winners had to be bleeped, although in the case of Jacqueline Bisset the very busy NBC censors were too slow on the button and let the S-word slip out over the airwaves. They also belatedly edited Fey’s raunchy suggestion “Like a supermodel’s vagina, let’s all give a warm welcome to Leonardo DiCaprio,” although they apparently had no problem with her running joke about prosthetic penises.

But enough about this self-indulgent, alcohol-fueled preamble to the Academy Awards, it’s on to The Oscars!

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Columbia Pictures

Best Picture winners “12 Years a Slave” (above) and “American Hustle”

Complete List of 2014 Golden Globe Winners FILM Best Picture, Drama: “12 Years a Slave”

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy “American Hustle” Best Actor, Drama: Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club” Best Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine” Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity” Best Actor, Musical or Comedy: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street” Best Actress, Musical or Comedy: Amy Adams, “American Hustle” Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle” Best Foreign Language Film: “The Great Beauty” (Italy) Best Animated Film: “Frozen” Best Screenplay: Spike Jonze, “Her” Best Original Score: “All Is Lost” Best Original Song: “Ordinary Love” “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” TELEVISION Best Series, Drama: “Breaking Bad”

Best Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” Best Actress, Drama: Robin Wright, “House of Cards” Best Series, Musical or Comedy: “Brooklyn NineNine” Best Actress, Musical or Comedy: Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation” Best Actor, Musical or Comedy: Andy Samberg, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Best Miniseries or Movie: “Behind the Candelabra” Best Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Elisabeth Moss, “Top of the Lake”

Best Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Michael Douglas, “Behind the Candelabra” Best Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jacqueline Bisset, “Dancing on the Edge” Best Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan” CECIL B. DeMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Woody Allen

insightnews.com/aesthetics

Aesthetically Speaking • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Page 7

REVIEW

The Global Obama: Crossroads of Leadership in the 21st Century

By Kam Williams “Barack Obama [has] garnered higher approval ratings in most parts of the world than in the United States. What a paradox.

The first black president, loved by people around the world, yet struggling for approval for his policies at home—whether it be the healthcare initiative, the stimulus to bail out the economy, or his ‘leading from behind’ on foreign policies.

We wanted to explore the stark contrast between Obama’s popularity abroad and his suboptimal ratings at home…

Why the inverse correlation between the public image at home versus abroad?

You can’t be a prophet in your own land, Obama

suggested… Thus, the idea was hatched to publish The Global Obama… It is only appropriate that we try to grasp the total Obama…

Clearly, part of Obama’s worldwide appeal is due to his international biography…

Barack Hussein Obama’s rise from his early life as a multiracial and multicultural outsider in a broken family… to assuming the world’s most powerful executive position is as improbable as it is global in its trajectory and in its implications for the evolving 21st Century.

But whereas his life story has been the subject of several good biographies, his global position as a leader has not been assessed in a sustained manner.

Obama’s global leadership

Stomp & Sing

qualities and position and how he is being perceived and judged around the world are the central and intertwined topics of this book.”

-- Excerpted from the Preface (page xxi)

Nightlife

Experience the rhythmic spirit of the Gullah from the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia with guest artist Melanie DeMore and the VocalEssence Chorus.

From 5

Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 4 pm Orchestra Hall 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis

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as Crave (downtown) and 7 Sushi. “Crave was cool, but they wouldn’t play our music, so you had to bring your own crew to enjoy yourself.”

Nick Hooks, an event producer with The Cool & Co. and Playfessionals lays blame with the area’s top employers for not promoting social diversity.

“Retention (of AfricanAmerican professionals) here is horrible,” said Hooks.

“Corporations recruit these African-Americans from the South and move them out to the suburbs and all they know is their job. Promoters such as myself and others (who cater to Black professionals)

are really a part of these companies’ retention plan and they don’t even recognize it.”

Hooks said another issue is the lack of AfricanAmerican club owners in the area.

“As a Black promoter it’s the hardest thing to find venues to let us in,” said Hooks, who said many club owners cannot decipher the difference between younger, more rowdy AfricanAmerican club goers and the professional AfricanAmerican patron. “I went to one event center and the woman there said we don’t host those kind of events

Courtesy of Routledge Books

Barack Obama was so uniformly admired when he became president, that he won the Nobel Peace Prize during his first year in office, even before he had a chance to prove

WITNESS

himself on the world stage. And just last month, he received the warmest reception of any of the heads of state in attendance at the funeral of Nelson Mandela.

How has Obama managed to maintain his popularity overseas despite suffering from plunging approval ratings at home? The answer ostensibly lies in his being as much President of the Planet as the President of the United States.

While he has caught

considerable flak from Republicans for the supposedly “apologetic” speeches delivered to citizens on his tour of over 40 foreign countries and counting, truth be told, those visits have actually cultivated considerable political capital for the sage leader of the Free World. So, while his second term tanks domestically due to the dubious launch of Obamacare, our peripatetic pres is nevertheless likely to find continued approval abroad.

Exploring this surprising development is the raison d’etre of The Global Obama: Crossroads of Leadership in the 21st Century. Edited by Dinesh Sharma and Uwe P. Gielen, the enlightening opus is comprised of insightful essays on the subject by a diversity of academics, shrinks, journalists and social scientists, contributors coming from ports-of-call as far afield as Kuwait, England, Thailand, Germany, Dubai, France, Kenya, Japan, Korea, India, Canada, Malawi and, of course,

after completing college at Grambling State University in Louisiana. “It was the same thing – the same people.

(Minneapolis nightlife) is missing variety.”

Preston said she feels white professionals don’t have the same social struggles.

“My friends and I always joke that if we were white it’d be great because there is stuff for them everywhere,” said Preston, who said her inner circle would attend popular venues that cater to a yuppie clientele such

the U.S. The book simultaneously serves as a logical follow-up to Barack Obama in Hawai’i and Indonesia, a painstakinglyresearched biography of the President’s formative years published in 2011 by Sharma, a Professor of Global Cultural Studies at SUNY-Binghampton.

Here, the focus is on the charismatic role model’s image as perceived by folks on five continents.

A seminal exploration painting a complex portrait of the President as a compassionate humanitarian, militaristic expansionist and Teflon diplomat with incomparable strategic and oratory skills.

The Global Obama Crossroads of Leadership in the 21st Century Edited by Dinesh Sharma and Uwe P. Gielen Routledge Books Paperback, $59.95 364 pages ISBN: 978-1-84872-626-0

without even hearing me. We had a white female we work with go in with the same proposal and then she was all ears. There’s just a lack of understanding.”

Preston, who said she’s proud to claim her St. Paul roots, feels without change the area will continue to see an exodus of AfricanAmerican talent.

“I have a lot of sorority sisters who were at Target and they were out the door quick,” said Preston. “(Black professionals) are in these corporations (in the Twin Cities) to get it on their resumes and they’re out.”

You belong.

The health plan with you in mind.

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You’re part of a community that believes in better health for all.

Learn more at medica.com/PublicPrograms

Page 8 • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Aesthetically Speaking

insightnews.com/aesthetics 2

Snapshots 1

3

4

6

5

7

Come have lunch at the Dakota 11:30 - 2 Monday through Friday From Chef Derik Moran, find daily specials, salads, sandwiches and more, and never forget dessert by Pastry Chef Katie Elsing.

Prices starting at $8 View our complete menu at

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1) Blue-eyed soul icon Bobby Caldwell during the final show of a twoday engagement at the Dakota Jazz Club. Caldwell joked a highlight of his career was being awarded Billboard’s “Best Black Artist” in 1979.

One of the more fun events in the Twin Cities is the Monthly Turnt Up at Honey. Aesthetically Speaking caught a few familiar faces in the crowd.

2) Vernita Englund and Joleen McCoy pause for a pose.

3) Jamal Gibson enjoying a libation.

4) It List DJ Willie Shu spins in the fog inside Honey.

5) Desralynn Cole and Jareesa Tucker enjoying the vibe at Honey.

6) The Cool & Co.’s David Smith and Justin Shepard are all smiles.

7) Recently engaged Iesha McKinzie and Corey Collins getting Turnt Up.

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Page 9

BUSINESS

Headphone etiquette Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com A good playlist at work is a good thing. People tapping away at keyboards all day say that music makes the day go faster and keeps them focused. Companies

have known this for a long time.

Before Beats, we had Muzak, soft (yawn) music piped in over a speaker above the cubicles.

I once owned real estate in the form of a cubicle immediately under one of those speakers. Not for long.

And before Muzak, there were transistor radios and before that, I don’t know, wandering musicians?

Thankfully, we’ve moved on. Now anyone who wants to can march through a productive, focused day of work to the beat

of his own drummer. And therein lies the problem. What if your self-selected, personal concert actually disturbs someone else? Did you know? There is a new kind of etiquette in the workplace, and it has to do with headphones. Put really simply, if you want to avoid annoying your co-workers, remember to ASK. ASK your manager, “Is it okay if I use my headphones while I’m working?” Depending on your duties, you should know already whether the manager will say yes or no. For example,

if you work in a medical clinic, you may have to be alert to hear a phone or speak with a patient, so rocking out privately isn’t going to work in that setting.

But if your duties are repetitive, if you’re doing data entry or shredding documents, you’re probably okay. Either way, ask.

ASK your nearby coworkers, “Is my music too loud?” Even if you know it’s not, just ask. Sound carries in strange ways. Sometimes a nearby teammate will be able to hear just the bass, which can be worse

than actually listening to the full on track. If anyone else can hear your music, it’s too loud. Turn it down. Then ask again, “Is this okay?”

ASK yourself, “What do I do while I’m listening?”

People hardly notice their own habits sometimes. Do you tap your foot? Hum along? Rap a pen on the desk? For people around you, this can be a huge distraction. Self-awareness is a good thing. If you need to, alter your situation so you’re not bothering others. For example,

if you’re tapping your foot on a carpeted floor, no one is going to notice that. If you catch yourself humming along, turn the volume down slightly, so you can hear yourself. Music is good. Noisy is bad. Try not to be noisy.

Julie Desmond is IT & Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send your resume and career planning questions to Julie at jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

How to recruit fundraising volunteers INSIGHT NEWS

FUNdraising Good Times

www.insightnews.com

By Mel and Pearl Shaw 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 Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Editorial Intern Abeni Hill Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed

Successful fundraising requires qualified volunteer leadership.

Whether you are launching an annual campaign or a capital campaign you need a campaign

chair who is committed to your cause and willing to put in the time required to achieve your fundraising goal. The ideal chair makes your goal his goal. He is well respected, has a track record of leadership in local and regional fundraising campaigns, and the financial means to make a leadership-level gift. He is someone people cannot say “no” to, and he hates to fail. He allocates the necessary time to lead and manage the campaign, and provides pro-bono services.

He is comfortable making the

case and asking for gifts. He both attends and leads campaign meetings, bringing out the best in others, and encouraging all to give to their capacity.

If you are wondering where to find such an individual, we suggest looking at your existing relationships, starting with long-term donors and current major donors. Consider current and former board members and advisors. Reflect on the well-respected leaders in your community and create a list of those who might benefit from being involved with your campaign.

Remember: not all volunteerism is altruistic!

A commitment to your organization’s mission is critical, but self-interest could also be a driver.

Here are a few examples. A bank president may have lost a grandchild to domestic violence and wants to interrupt the cycle and save others from such grief.

An alumnus may want to enhance her profile in anticipation of a future run for state-wide office. A business leader from another part of the country may be relocating her business operations to your community and needs to build relationships and goodwill.

You may be surprised at what drives people’s intentions and who wants to support your fundraising.

As you recruit your chair, share your fundraising plan with him. Give him time to review your plan so he can determine if he has the time, connections, and willingness to make it work.

Ask him who he wants to support his efforts: Let him invite others to join his fundraising team. He may have a circle of colleagues he works with who can “make things happen.”

While it takes time to identify, solicit, and engage your top fundraising leadership, your efforts will yield results. An engaged and qualified chair can

do more for your campaign than an enthusiastic chair who lacks experience and connections.

Here are the top three things to remember in regard to fundraising leadership. First, leadership is critical to the success of any fundraising effort.

Second, fundraising must be volunteer-driven, with strong, experienced leadership. Third, people give to people.

Leadership is key to

fundraising readiness: we invite you to assess your fundraising readiness for free at www. saadandshaw.com Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are the authors of “Prerequisites for Fundraising Success.”

They position nonprofits for fundraising success. Visit them at www.saadandshaw.com.

Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Alysha Price Photography Michele Spaise Corey Collins 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.

The Embassy Suites Minneapolis North would love to help you plan your perfect day! We are here to cater to your needs and can customize menus for your event.

The Embassy Suites is a great location for: Wedding Receptions Rehearsal Dinners Fundraisers Family Celebrations Call : 763.560.2700 for availability or to schedule a tour

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Page 10 • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Insight News

insightnews.com

COMMUNITY Biking and blogging: Getting the word out

By Mary Turck, TC Daily Planet “For us on the North side, we are always pissed off at the media because they say crap about the north side,” said Debra Stone. “I never thought of myself as a journalist until I was accepted into this media skills class. I was hung up on the fact that a journalist gets a MA degree from Medill and Columbia and you have to have all of these credentials and get accepted into this small, elite little group.”

The fall cohort of Media Skills Fellows, funded by the

Bush Foundation, completed ten weeks of intensive learning on November 14, with the ripple effects already spreading out into various Twin Cities communities. The fellowship program focused on improving media skills with the specific goal of using these skills for better communication in/about/ on behalf of each participant’s community. This article is one of several articles introducing the fall cohort of Media Skills Fellows and what they learned and accomplished.

Stone is a member and a board member of the Major Taylor Bicycle Club of Minnesota, board member of

The Givens Foundation for African American Literature and founding member of Northside Arts Collective and the Northside Writing Group.

She said that during the Media Skills Fellowship, she learned that, “I don’t have to be submerged into this elite little group of people who don’t know anything about my community and say they are doing unbiased reporting.”

Instead, she is doing reporting and blogging about her community. During the ten-week fellowship, she told stories of women of color who bike in the Twin Cities and of a bicycle/film-making journey

Debra Stone

of exploration by students at St. Paul’s High School for the Recording Arts.

The self-described writer / actor / bicyclist is committed to “working with the theme of women of color/communities of color who ride bicycles for exercise and alternative transportation,” and to getting the word out through using Facebook and through the blog she started during the fellowship.

Reporting for this article supported in part by the Bush Foundation. © 2013 Mary Turck

Hundreds of Minnesota children in need of role models

By John Michaelson, Minnesota News Connection Those Minnesotans who have resolved to do what they can to make the world a better place in 2014 are being encouraged to consider becoming mentors to young people.

According to Gennea Falconer, director of Kinship of Greater Minneapolis, they currently have around 200 youths in ongoing mentor

SAOIC From 1 with employable skills for the future.”

“We have achieved great success in our construction program and put hundreds of people to work,” said King. “We are confident we can duplicate that success in the growing field of healthcare, which is experiencing increased demand due to our aging population.”

Summit Academy OIC provides 20-week training “with no out of pocket cost,” said King.

2013 year-end grants earmarked to expand healthcare and construction trainings include: • The Kresge Foundation - Troy, Mich. ($600,000 over 3 years) to support the expansion of the healthcare program including the addition of evening classes and also provide construction training in satellite locations.

Minnesotans who are looking to make a difference in the new year are being encouraged to consider becoming a mentor for an at-risk child.

dropouts and teen pregnancy.

Falconer said the positive outcomes are even more plentiful. She gave the example of a girl who was constantly getting in trouble at school, leading to regular calls to her mother.

“Within two months of Nina getting a mentor, those phone calls completely stopped, because what Nina really needed was an adult to focus on her and to be her person and to really listen to her stories and to help her problem-solve issues, to give her a different

perspective, and it radically changed Nina’s life.”

Kinship volunteers only need to make a oneyear commitment to the program, although the average relationship between a local mentor and child lasts about three years. Kinship is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Other mentoring programs can be found across the state.

Information on mentoring is at bit.ly/1czSgfZ.

We put more training for careers within in grasp for people who can’t go to school during the day or for 3 or 4 years.”

Vice president of programs and chief program officer for Northwest Area Foundation Gary Cunningham said “We are pleased to work with Summit Academy OIC to help reduce poverty, increase self-sufficiency and decrease the employment gap that exists for people of color in Minnesota.”

Private philanthropic and foundation investments make up more than half of Summit’s annual revenue.

McKnight Foundation program officer Sarah Hernandez said “Summit Academy OIC has a long history of helping unemployed and underemployed people improve their lives through training and job placement,” said.

“Aligned with McKnight’s efforts to foster vibrant communities with opportunities for all, we value their work and their belief that the

best social service program in the world is a job.”

King said the Black community of North Minneapolis suffers from the biggest disparity.

“67 percent(of African or AfricanAmericans) are on some type of county assistance in North Minneapolis.”

Demographic estimates show that, by 2040, people of color will represent nearly 45 percent of the Twin Cities’ population due to an aging population and an increase in the number of people of color in the area.

“The demographic shift coupled with disproportionally high unemployment rates that exist in communities of color will cause a major workforce shortage unless we make some serious changes,” King said. “We have an obligation to develop solutions that will decrease the gaps.

“Our course offerings are tied to a demographic shift,” said King. “Our growing healthcare and construction programs will

help meet the need now and into the future.”

Recently, Summit Academy OIC and its community partners were chosen by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) to serve as the Employment Assistance Firm (EAF) for the construction of the Minnesota Multi-Purpose Stadium. The group will identify qualified workers, and provide training and placement to ensure the project employs a highlyskilled diverse workforce. The MSFA has committed to meet the city-mandated goals of employing 32 percent minorities and six percent women on the construction of the stadium.

King said enrollment of women in the construction program has risen from 3 percent to 20 percent and job placement is above 90 percent.

For more information, visit www.saoic.org.

relationships, but ...

“We have almost that same amount of kids who are on the waiting list looking for mentors,” she said. “So we’re really hoping for January to be a great time to talk about the need, talk about what mentoring is, and hopefully invite some more adults to enter into mentoring relationships.”

January is National Mentoring Month. Studies show that having strong adult role models through mentoring reduces everything from drug and alcohol use to school • Northwest Area Foundation – St. Paul, Minn. ($500,000) to support the expansion of the healthcare program including the addition of evening classes and provide construction training in satellite locations as well as enhance the Northside Community Response Team’s (NCRT) efforts to reduce poverty and dependency on county assistance in North Minneapolis.

• The McKnight Foundation – Minneapolis, Minn. ($250,000) to support capacity building initiatives for increased enrollment and job placement related to the Minnesota MultiPurpose Stadium project.

• Wider Opportunities for Women, in Conjunction with Walmart’s Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative* – Washington, DC ($200,000 over 2 years) to support Summit’s Women Wear Hard Hats Too program and provide technical assistance to other

workforce development agencies across the country to launch their own women-in-construction programs modeled after Summit’s successful programming.

• Minneapolis Foundation – Minneapolis, Minn. ($100,000) to support increased capacity for enrollment and job placement, including the expansion of the healthcare program and the addition of evening classes.

In addition to its successful construction programs, Summit Academy OIC currently provides healthcare training for individuals to become Community Health Workers, Pharmacy Technicians and Certified Nursing Assistants.

Summit plans to double enrollment in its healthcare programs and increase overall annual enrollment to 1,000 by 2016. Summit placed nearly 300 graduates in healthcare and construction jobs in 2013.

“The most important thing is we are offering night classes now,” said King.

Photo Courtesy of GMCC

2 0 1 4 B L A C K H I S T O RY E V E N T S C A L E N D A R MLK Holiday Breakfast When: Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, 7:00 a.m.

Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, Ballroom A, 1301 Second Ave S Minneapolis, MN Admission Cost: $30.00 per person, see below for ticket information The General Mills Foundation and UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) are pleased to announce that Donna Brazile, political commentator, strategist, author and adjunct professor, will deliver the keynote speech at the 24th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. The Breakfast will bring together an estimated 2,000 supporters and is an opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of service and create an imperative to live out his legacy in our homes, communities and world.

This year’s breakfast theme is “Reimagine the Future.”

Tickets cost $30.00 per person. To order tickets visit http://www.mlkbreakfast.com/ Breakfast.aspx Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration When: Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Where: Powderhorn Community Center, 3400 15th Avenue S. Admission Cost: Entertainment, Family Activities and Lunch! The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, cosponsored by PPNA and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board each year, builds community and diverse participation by

creating a welcoming event that honors the civil rights movement and Dr. King’s leadership. This celebration engages a diverse spectrum of community members including families and youth. Activities teach kids about Dr. King, West African drumming, tolerance, friendship, and creating neighborhood hope.

Lunch is prepared by Youth Farm & Market and entertainment featuring Aztec dancers, a youth choir, West African drumming, and hiphop. Special youth activities include a civil rights internet scavenger hunt and West African drum lessons.

“Feeding the Dream” food drive is apart of this great event – so please join the park in providing those in need with non-perishable food items!

For more info: www. minneapolisparks.org The Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation at Augsburg College: Music for Martin When: Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, 1 p.m.

Where: Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis A celebration of song honoring of one of the United States’ visionary civil rights leaders. The 26th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation will be hosted by local artists and educators; T. Mychael Rambo and Brian Grandison.

Strength to Love: the personal transformation at the root of social justice When: Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Calvary Baptist Church, 2608 Blaisdell Avenue

South, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Admission cost: FREE; a freewill offering will take place to help support social justice initiatives within and around the Calvary community.

A Reflective Service of Celebration and Challenge Honoring the Prophetic Legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An evening of music, dance, spoken word and a keynote address by Reverend Dr. Jin S. Kim, Church of All Nations.

For more information: 612-872-7855, www. calvarychurchmpls.org Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration When: Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55409 The event will include a keynote presentation, live entertainment and a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. The MPRB will also present its “Living the Dream” award to an individual, community group, or business that has demonstrated dedication and distinguished service to the lives of Minneapolis residents and park users. The honoree must act consistently with the teachings and examples of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the award is intended to recognize those whose work embodies Dr. King’s message of Unity and commitment to community. To nominate an individual, community group or business please fill out a Nomination Form and return to Megan Gregory atmgregory@

Minneapolisparks.org.

The Celebration will also mark the 5th Annual “Feeding the Dream” food drive. The food drive will take place at recreation centers throughout the city. The community service project was initiated in the fall of 2009 and since then more than 7,000 pounds of donations have been collected.

Leading up to the celebration handmade knitted items will also be collected in support of the Love Light Project.

The Love-Light project supports local teenage victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Donated items will be sold during the celebration and 100 percent of the profits will be used to support adolescent victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

For more information, please visit www. minneapolisparks.org or call 612-230-6479.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert 2014 When: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: North Hennepin Community College, Fine Arts Center Theatre A special meet and greet reception will precede the concert – with Charity Bess, an NHCC alumna and 2013 Miss Minnesota International – at 7:00 p.m. in the Science Center Atrium.

The concert will feature songs of praise by the NHCC Chamber Singers, directed by Karla Miller; Sandy Hodges and Friends; and Voices of Inspiration from Macedonia Baptist Church, directed by Nerita Hughes.

This event is free and open to the public. Theatre seating is limited, so arriving early is recommended.

For more information, contact Sean Davis at 763-4880490 or visit www.nhcc.edu.

History HiJinx: Black History Month When: Feb. 1, 2014, Feb. 2, 2014, Feb. 8, 2014, Feb. 9, 2014, Feb. 15, 2014, Feb. 16, 2014, Feb. 22, 2014, Feb. 23, 2014 Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Where: Minnesota History Center, Admission Cost: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members.

Visit the History Center for free programming each weekend in February. Explore the Minnesota’s Greatest Generation exhibit and learn about Harold Brown, a WWII Tuskegee airman. Try on a parachute pack and make your own model aircraft.

The Ballad of Emmett Till by Ifa Bayeza directed by Talvin Wilks When: Feb. 6 – March 2, 2014 Where: Penumbra Theatre Company Admission Cost: Adult $40.00 and Student (with a valid school ID for college/ university) $15.00 His brutal death was the spark that ignited one of the most important social justice movements in the world, but Emmett Till remains a stranger to most Americans. The Ballad of Emmett Till introduces you to the boy and celebrates his life through the eyes of those

who loved him and knew him best. As his mother said, her son was “the sacrificial lamb of the Civil Rights Movement.”

When he died, the world woke up For ticket purchase, go to http://www.penumbratheatre. org/ or call (651) 224-3180.

Restoring Our Hidden Legacy- Panel Discussion When: Feb. 8, 2014, 10:30 a.m. - Noon Where: Shiloh Temple, 1201 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN Confirmed panelists include Dr. Mahmoud ElKati, professor emeritus, Macalester College; Professor Shannon Gibney, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, and V.J. Smith, national president of Mad Dads. The panel will be moderated by pastor and journalist Les Lester. Les has served as a reporter for the Chicago Defender newspaper and in radio news.

The theme of our Black History Month celebration is Restoration 2014.

African Americans in Ports and Waterways When: Feb. 13, 2014 at 11:30 a.m.

Admission Cost: Free The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Historical Society team up to present a program for Black History Month, focusing on African Americans in transportation. Join us as we navigate through the history of Black voyagers and sailors who explored the Great Lakes and Northern Territories.

insightnews.com

Insight News • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Page 11

EDUCATION Moon Soe: From refugee camp to college diploma A Burma native is one of four Karen people graduating fall semester from Metropolitan State University.

Soe joined three other Burmese natives in graduating from the university. They are part of a just a handful of ethnic Karens – an ethnic group that makes up about seven percent of the population of Burma – who have earned bachelor’s degrees in Minnesota, according to graduate, Moon Soe. Moreover, Soe was selected outstanding student in the university’s School of Urban Education.

“Metropolitan State is a very nontraditional school that is accepting of diversity,” said Soe, who lives in Saint Paul.

“I felt like I belonged there and that I knew how to find support

Tobacco From 4 communities with large AfricanAmerican populations, they also create advertising specifically targeted to these communities.

Cigarette ads highly prevalent in African-American communities and publications are often characterized by slogans, relevant and specific messages, or images that have a great appeal among those in the black community, or that depict African Americans in an appealing light. Contrary to how blacks are typically portrayed in the media, cigarette ads portray images of African Americans who are happy, confident, successful and wealthy, in love, attractive, strong and independent.”

The tobacco industry was among the first to make inroads into the Black community by contributing to Black causes and developing close personal relationships with Black leaders.

For example, A. Shaunise Washington, president of

and resources that I needed.”

Soe arrived in Saint Paul in 2008 at age 21 after spending many years in a refugee camp.

He and his family fled Burma after that country’s military attacked rural Karen villages.

“There was gunfire and

bombing, so we couldn’t live in the villages anymore,” said Soe. “Bombs would land three feet behind us as we were leaving. No one in my immediate family died in the fighting, but some relatives did. It was a very traumatic experience.”

He was only eight when he and his family crossed the Thai border. They moved to another refugee camp in northern Thailand, where they spent the next 13 years.

Soe works full-time as an educational assistant for the Washington Technology Magnet School in Saint Paul.

He tutors English-as-a-second language students, most of whom are refugees and immigrants, and works with their parents in monitoring the

executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, was Vice President for Government Affairs, Policy and Outreach for Altria.

Prior to joining Altria, she was Director of Washington Relations for Philip Morris.

In addition to serving on the CBC Foundation’s Corporate Advisory Council, Washington was chairwoman of the CBC Foundation Board of Directors from March 2012 to February 2013.

Jim Winston, Executive Director of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, told Target Market News: “The health of the African American community has suffered disproportionately from the advertising campaigns of the tobacco companies, and Black owned media has been demonstrated to be the best way to engage the African American community. Yet, now that the tobacco companies are being required to educate the public about the harm that tobacco products have caused, the companies and the DOJ have no plan to direct any educational advertising to our communities.”

Both Winston and Cloves Campbell said they plan to contact the Justice Department and ask it to direct tobacco

companies to owned print media in their buys. If that

Moon Soe

include Blackand broadcast public education fails, Campbell

children’s progress. Soe also advises the school’s Karen Club, an after-school program for Karen refugee students.

Apart from his job, Soe also helps his Karen neighbors with English translation.

In addition, he helps them secure social services, drives them to grocery stores and offers other assistance as needed. He said Minnesota boasts more Karen refugees than any other state, with perhaps 6,500 – 7,000 in the Twin Cities.

Soe graduated from Century College in 2011 with an associate of arts degree. By obtaining his bachelor’s degree at Metropolitan State, he became the first in his extended family of about 100 to graduate from college.

“My family is very proud of me,” said Soe. Soe’s plans include becoming a U.S. citizen – he has already passed the citizenship test – and working as an instructor teaching grades five through 12. Assuming that occurs, Soe said he will become the first collegeeducated Karen teacher in Minnesota and possibly even the United States.

At some point, Soe hopes to return to Burma, assuming it is safe.

“There are thousands of people there who don’t receive an education,” he said. “Many children learn under trees or in the jungle. I would like to go back and find resources for them and help them rebuild their lives.”

said, NNPA will take stronger action.

He said, “If our newspapers aren’t good enough to advertise

in, their products – including the non-tobacco ones – aren’t good enough for us to consume.”

Remembering Dr. King

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood.”

-Martin Luther King Jr. boldlybreck.com

one campus p-12 in Golden Valley

Page 12 • January 20 - January 26, 2014 • Insight News

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