Insight ::: 5.18.20

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Insight News

May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020

Vol. 47 No. 20• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

MESSAGE TO BLACK BUSINESSES

iStock.com/kali9

Take The PPP Money

By Derek T. Dingle Sr. VP/Chief Content Officer at Black Enterprise Magazine In his latest podcast, retired Harvard Business Professor Steve Rogers encourages black business owners to apply for funds through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection

Program, designed by the federal government to make forgivable loans available to small companies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to keep workers on payrolls.

As Rogers shares with listeners, that money is still available and entrepreneurs should aggressively pursue that money. The first tranche of $350 billion funding initiated on April 3, he maintains, went

to1.6 million businesses—many of which were large companies that met the requirement of having 500 employees or less. In the second tranche of capital— an additional $320 billion— in which firms submitted applications on April 27, some $30 billion was “carved out for financial institutions that are friendly to black business owners” that included 22 black-owned banks that have

assets of less than $50 billion and community development financial institutions, or CDFIs, which have assets of $10 billion or under.

Rogers argues that this financing is “the best loans ever offered to black entrepreneurs”—77% of whom finance their businesses with their own money versus roughly 30% for white counterparts.

Since black businesses employ

about 3 million people—a majority of then African American workers—he says it is critical for these firms to participate. He said in a recent presentation to the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association: “My concern is that we are not applying out of fear, myths, intimidation or misinformation.

We need that money!”

In the following

podcast, hosted by his daughter and fintech executive Ariel, Rogers makes the case that black firms should pursue that financing today or lose their best opportunity to weather the current crisis.

Reprinted with permission.

Black Enterprise feature points to $350 billion COVID-19 relief funds

Black businesses should seek fair share: $33 billion

By Derek T. Dingle Sr. VP/Chief Content Officer at Black Enterprise Magazine One of the best podcasts for black businesses seeking to access funds from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans for small companies to keep workers on payrolls in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been recently released by retired Harvard Business School professor Steven S. Rogers.

Hosted by his daughter, Ariel, a regional vice president for the fintech company nCino, the engaging, accessible program, “How Black Business Can Survive COVID-19,” was produced by the nationally renowned expert on entrepreneurial finance

who owned and managed two manufacturing firms and a retail operation. Rogers is deeply concerned that the African American business community “will be left out” of getting its fair share of billions in COVID-19 relief dollars.

It’s not too late for black-owned firms to apply for emergency small business loans. Many entrepreneurs missed out on the first round of financing when the $350 billion allocated for PPP under the CARES Act was depleted in less than two weeks after its April 3rd launch.

Moreover, major publicly traded restaurant companies like Shake Shake, Sweetgreen, and Ruth’s Hospitality Group, which operates the 100-restaurant Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain, used the program to secure $10 million loans for their subsidiaries—an act Rogers describes as “a display of

BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealthbuilding resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. despicability on their part … I hope that the negative publicity will also result in banks being a little more dedicated to the spirit of the program.” (Those companies had recently announced that they have given back PPP funds.)

“Black firms should have received 5% of the funding in the first tranche because 5% of black firms received SBA financing in 2019. Therefore, $17 billion should have gone to black companies at this point. I would not be surprised if black-

owned firms have only gained $1 billion,” Rogers says, citing that 1.6 million loans have been distributed to small businesses with an average financing of $300,000.

The House and Senate this week approved a $484

Retired Harvard Business School professor Steven Rogers billion supplemental relief package—$310 billion of which will be applied to replenish the SBA loan program.

Rogers maintains that House

Rogers 6

Page 2 • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Insight News

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$2 billion bonding bill headed for House Floor vote

By Jonathan Mohr More than 200 bills were heard this session by the House Capital Investment Division, and members had nearly finished their work when the full brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic hit in mid-March, casting doubt on the bonding bill’s prospects for passage.

But the division concluded its work Tuesday when the House Ways and Means Committee approved its bonding report 17-10 along party lines, even as uncertainty surrounding its fate continues.

The bill’s next stop is the House Floor. At morning media availability, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said action is likely on Saturday.

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Murphy (DFLHermantown), HF2529 – as changed by a deleteall amendment – would appropriate nearly $2.03 billion in general obligation bonds, and $495.9 million in additional appropriations, for a total of $2.52 billion.

That money would pay for work on several hundred projects around Minnesota, ranging from water infrastructure to road and bridge repair to deferred building maintenance. Murphy said the bill was a culmination of two years of hard work with her division holding 43 hearings and spending 17 days traveling for site visits to put the bill together.

“It’s a bill that addresses the basic infrastructure of our state,” Murphy said. “Whether it’s clean water or repairing roads and bridges … [Gov. Tim Walz] has talked all biennium about bringing Minnesota together and this really, truly does that.”

House Ways and Means Committee (Remote Hearing) 5/12/20 Murphy added that although there was no amount of money realistically available that would address the state’s need for asset preservation and deferred maintenance work, the bill would be a good start.

But several

Republicans raised concerns about HF2529 and echoed a position voiced May 2 by House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) that his party would focus on passing a bonding bill only after Gov. Tim Walz ceased using the emergency powers he is granted in response to the pandemic.

Daudt reiterated that position Tuesday morning, releasing a short statement that said: «Once the governor›s emergency powers conclude on Wednesday, we look forward to working together on our state›s response to COVID-19 and a bonding bill heavily focused on infrastructure.»

Because the bulk of the appropriations in HF2529 come from general obligation bonds, which require approval by a three-fifths majority (81 votes) in the House and Senate to be used for capital projects, the bill cannot pass without votes from House Republicans.

The DFL currently holds a 7559 seat advantage in the body.

Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) said the bill ignores the reality that the governor is using emergency powers in an arbitrary fashion, deciding that some businesses can open while others can’t, and the DFL has been unwilling to acknowledge the problem.

[MORE: Full list of the appropriations and projects] “Minnesotans are getting unnecessarily and economically harmed,” he said. “That’s why the House Republicans have made very clear that before we take care of government spending for capital investment, we need to reopen and provide structure for those private sector businesses.”

Garofalo went on to say the bill was written for the “pre-COVID-19 world” and places too much focus on new construction rather than rehabilitation and asset preservation, adding that it would also increase the state’s budget deficit at a time of diminished tax revenues and economic uncertainty.

Murphy responded by saying the bill addresses emergencies across the state in public safety, clean water and natural resources management.

“This a bill that will benefit our kids and the next generation,” Murphy said. “It is a bill for today and for tomorrow.”

These are the 10 largest funding areas in the bill: Transportation Improvements to the state’s transportation system would receive the largest appropriation, with nearly $453 million directed to a host of projects throughout the state. Local road improvement projects and local bridge improvement projects would each receive $53.2 million.

Specific projects that would receive large appropriations include $55 million to replace the Third Street/Kellogg Blvd. bridge in St. Paul and $52 million for rail grade separation improvements in Moorhead.

Higher

education Officials from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State system have repeatedly testified about the billions of dollars they need to catch up on the maintenance projects at their facilities that have been deferred due to funding shortfalls. The bill would take a step toward addressing that backlog by appropriating $425 million.

The Minnesota State system would receive $263.7 million, with $142.5 million designated to the general category of “Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement projects,” and the rest directed to more than a dozen specific projects. The University of Minnesota would receive $161.9 million, with $125 million for HEAPR and most of the remaining money, $29.2 million, to replace a building for the Institute of Child Development on the Minneapolis campus.

Water

infrastructure Some of the state’s aging wastewater treatment facilities and systems would receive a boost as the Public Facilities Authority, which provides financing and technical assistance to communities, would receive $327.2 million.

Nearly 30 cities and townships would receive grants, including Austin – $19 million for

House Photography file photo

Near the top of most everyone’s to-do list when the 2020 legislative session began was passing a bonding bill that would fund hundreds of capital projects around the state and create thousands of jobs. improvements to its wastewater facility; Bemidji – $12.3 million for its wastewater treatment plant; and Silver Creek Township - $12 million for wastewater improvements.

DEED

grants The Department of Employment and Economic Development would receive $203.4 million for dozens of grants that would go to local units of government and nonprofits for projects that range from an outdoor performance venue in Minneapolis ($20 million) to an amphitheater in New Ulm ($300,000).

Department of Natural Resources Asset preservation ($65 million) is the single largest appropriation for the DNR, which would receive $201.6 million. Another $20 million would go to flood hazard mitigation grants, the same amount that would be allocated to dam safety repair, reconstruction or removal projects. Several cities would also receive grants, including $11.4 million for riverbank restoration in Mankato.

Met

Council The Metropolitan Council would receive $128.4 million, with $55 million going to its Busway Capital Improvement Program, $10 million for regional parks and trails, and the bulk of the remaining money devoted to grants for cities and counties in the metro area.

DHS

The two biggest expenditures in the $75.8 million for the Department of Human Services are $15 million for asset preservation and $18.3 million to design, renovate, furnish and equip the next phase of improvements for the state’s sex offender program at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center.

Corrections Almost half of the $66.3 million appropriation the Department of Corrections would be targeted for asset preservation, while the department’s bus garage and a building renovation at the Faribault facility would each also receive more than $7 million.

Public

safety A new state emergency operations center, at a cost of $29.5 million, would account for more than half of the $54.8 million appropriation for the Department of Public Safety, followed by $10.4 million for the city of Virginia to build a regional training facility for fire, police and emergency services personnel.

PCA

The Pollution Control Agency would receive $53.6 million in general obligation bonds. But it would also receive $22.9 million in appropriation bonds, which will go to help clean Superfund sites in Esko, Duluth, Perham and Minneapolis.

Major

appropriations

in

the bill include: $452.9 million – Department of Transportation $327.2 million – Public Facilities Authority $263.7 million – Minnesota State $203.4 million – Department of Employment and Economic Development $201.6 million – Department of Natural Resources $161.9 million – University of Minnesota $128.4 million – Metropolitan Council $75.8 million – Department of Human Services $66.3 million – Department of Corrections $54.8 million – Department of Public Safety $53.6 million – Pollution Control Agency $48 million – Housing Finance Authority $44.9 million – Board of Water and Soil Resources $40 million – Rural Finance Authority $25.1 million – Department of Administration $25 million – Minnesota Zoo $21.9 million – Department of Military Affairs $17.7 million – Minnesota State Academies $14.6 million – Department of Veterans Affairs $8.4 million – Amateur Sports Commission $5.3 million – Historical Society $3.1 million – Perpich Center for Arts Education $3.01 million – Department of Education

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Insight News • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020

Vol. 47 No. 20• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Passion, commitment guide community response to COVID-19 threat

By Davion Moore, Staff Writer Bolo Diallo-Young, Steven Belton, and Mike Wynne discussed COVID-19’s impact on the Black community, and the lack of resources and trust towards healthcare industry. They were guests on Conversations with Al McFarlane Monday morning Public Policy Forum which is streaming daily to Facebook Live and YouTube.

The said Coronavirus pandemic is something affects us all and impacts our health both physically as well as mentally and has affected us economically. The epidemic has us down, but because of community based institutions and compassionate caregivers, we are not out, they said.

Diallo-Young is a healthcare practitioner who works as a hospitalist at Hennepin Healthcare. She has a degree as a nurse practitioner and worked as a trauma nurse and an R.N. Diallo-Young is also the founder and C.E.O. of Cellal Africa, a non-profit that recruits and supports medical professionals in bringing medical supplies to Senegal, West Africa where she is originally from.

Diallo-Young said that the current pandemic affects the whole world, and in the U.S., African Americans

Steven Belton

Bolo Diallo-Young

are the most affected. Due to underlying health conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, as well as a lack of healthcare access COVID-19 is hitting the Black community hard, she said.

There is also lack of trust towards the healthcare profession that make it harder for some Black people to get medical treatment necessary for their underlying conditions.

Diallo-Young said she sees how hard it is for African Americans to get access to healthcare and why it is hard for many to trust healthcare professionals. On the other

hand, she said it also difficult for healthcare professionals to help those who do not trust them.

Diallo-Young said she and her colleagues and Hennepin Healthcare genuinely desire to help those who need help. Hennepin Health serves a variety of people. “Whether they are a doctor, lawyer, or homeless, they receive the same care and are treated equally,” she said.

While COVID-19 is in the spotlight right now, as it should be, Diallo-Young said that other health issues are still being addressed. Noncoronavirus patients are given care of in a different area of

Hennepin Health Medical Center than COVID-19 cases, she said.

Diallo-Young reminded families and individuals of the importance of having a primary health care provider. Next, she said, listen to authorities and healthcare providers and follow guidelines such as wearing masks and staying home. People should also keep up with their follow up appointments and medications, and most importantly, take care of themselves. “We should try to stay healthy by getting adequate sleep, finding ways to decrease stress, eating healthy, and exercising. These things help

Mike Wynne keep us healthy and can benefit us as we continue to navigate the pandemic,” she said.

Steven Belton, native of Minneapolis, is the president and C.E.O. of the Urban League of Twin Cities, (ULTC)” COVID-19 is real,” Belton said. “It is not a hoax and is something that is impacting the Black community at a disproportional rate. The Urban League of Twin Cities continues to serve our communities as a digitally based resource. Under state orders the organization physically closed its doors, but still remains active in its efforts to provide essential

services to individuals, families and the community. For example, Belton said, ULTC last week hosted a virtual job fair have had to adapt to help people find jobs and navigate the unemployment system.

ULTC also launched a town hall forum called “Real Talk,” that discusses the mental health impacts of the current pandemic. The organization supports students who are missing classroom learning in school, graduations, and social events. “The pandemic is affecting them as much as it is adults, and as it continues, the youth need resources to cope with their losses’” he said. Belton said the Urban League continues to seek these resources young people need.

Mike Wynne is the C.E.O. of Emerge, and like Belton, a native of Minneapolis.

Wynne says that his organization is by and of the community. It is employs people devoted to their neighborhood, their neighbors, and finding ways to empower people economically. Like the Urban League, Emerge staffers are working remotely during the COVID-19 shut-down. Despite the shut-down, continues work towards sourcing jobs and internships within community organizations and businesses, preparing people to be ready when employment and the economic open up again.

Ahmaud Arbery, Shot and Killed

Jogging While Black

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Add jogging while Black to the ever-growing list of reasons African Americans continue to be shot down senselessly by armed White men, supposedly under the color of law.

Tw e n t y - f i v e - y e a rold Georgia resident Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed while jogging after a former police officer and his son chased him down because they “thought he looked like the suspect in a recent string of break-ins.”

The incident took place two months ago but has come to light after Civil Rights Attorney Lee Merritt and Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper, appeared on CNN this week to call for justice.

Cooper said police originally told her that her son was involved in a burglary.

They claimed that there was a confrontation between Arbery and the homeowner and a struggle over a gun.

The incident took place in Brunswick, a southeast coastal town in Glynn County that’s less than five hours from Atlanta.

So far, there have been no charges filed against the former officer, Gregory McMichael, and his son, Travis McMichael. CNN and other media have reached out to the McMichael’s for comment but were told they wouldn’t comment because of “an ongoing investigation.”

Reportedly, two district attorneys have recused themselves over possible conflicts of interest, one of whom wrote that Travis McMichael acted out of self-defense, and their actions fell within Georgia’s citizen arrest laws.

“The decision to rely on the citizen’s arrest statute is really a recent invention, prior to that they just simply said it was self-defense,” Merritt told CNN, adding that the men are trying to use the law to say they were trying to stop a crime.

“According to that law, you actually have to be observing the crime or be in the immediate knowledge of the crime,” Merritt said. “The only thing they have ever said is… that (Arbery) stopped by a house that was under construction and he looked through the window. We don’t know if that happened or not, but even if that did happen, that is not a felony that would invoke the citizen’s arrest statute that

would make this allowable.”

After the shooting, Gregory McMichael told police he saw the same man “the other night” and that he stuck his hand down his pants on that occasion, leading McMichael to believe he was armed, according to the police report.

After seeing Arbery jogging, McMichael then alerted his 34-year-old son, Travis, according to a Glynn County Police report.

“Travis, the guy is running down the street, let’s go,” McMichael said, according to the report.

The two grabbed a shotgun and a pistol and followed Arbery in their truck, police said. Travis McMichael, the driver, followed Arbery and then attempted to cut him off, the report continued.

Arbery turned around and began running in the opposite direction, the police report said.

They chased Arbery to a nearby intersection where they caught up to him. The men claimed they told Arbery to stop because they wanted to talk to him.

Travis McMichael then exited the truck with the shotgun, and his father claimed at that point Arbery “violently attacked” his son, and they struggled over the

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How COVID-19 may change a trip to the dentist’s office

PAGE 5

gun. Travis McMichael fired two shots, according to the police report, killing Arbery.

“What made a jogger look like a suspect besides his Black skin,” an outraged citizen named Gary Hughes wrote on Twitter.

“Why are these murderers not in jail awaiting trial for murder? If he looked suspicious, call the cops, don’t grab a shotgun and a pistol,” stated Hughes, who joined more than 1,000 individuals to either comment on or view a Twitter posting of the incident

by Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director of the National Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Arbery’s family deserves justice,” Clarke stated.

Merritt added that McMichael and his son only had the authority to follow Arbery and send law enforcement to the location. They had no authority to engage him.

The 911 calls show a dispatcher questioning McMichael as to what, if anything, Arbery was doing to break the law.

“They didn’t give any answer for that,” Merritt told CNN. “They said, ‘He’s a Black man running down our road.’”

Gov. Tim Walz

Governor signs bills extending COVID-19 response funding After receiving bipartisan support as it passed through the state legislature, Governor Walz Tuesday signed into law an extension of the Minnesota fund dedicated to our COVID-19 response, which was set to expire on May 11. The COVID-19 fund increases testing capacity, ensures there are adequate numbers of hospital beds for Minnesotans who need care, and purchases more personal protective equipment.

“The COVID-19 fund has saved lives,” said Governor Walz. “Its extension will allow Minnesota to continue providing resources Minnesotans need to weather this pandemic.”

The Governor also signed into law The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, which requires drug makers to provide a detailed rationale to the state for any large price increases on drugs; a law to improve voting accessibility, modernize election security, and secure the health and safety of election officials and voters; and a ban on harmful child marriages.

“These bills are the product of bipartisan collaboration and will improve Minnesotans’ lives,” said Governor Walz.

“Amid COVID-19, Minnesota

remains committed to helping Minnesotans afford the medication they need to survive, ensuring Minnesotans can safely cast their ballots, and protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”

Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.

Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose and mouth – with unwashed hands.

Stay home if you have cold- or flu-like symptoms, for 10 days after your illness onset and three days after your fever resolves without fever reducing medicine (whichever is longer), and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Up-to-date guidance from the Department of Health on recommended community mitigation strategies can be found at https://www. health.state.mn.us/diseases/ coronavirus/.

News

NAACP launches #WeAreDoneDying Campaign, empowering Black and Brown communities to take action against

PAGE 6

Page 4 • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Insight News

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Census Bureau to resume some 2020 Census field operations in select locations The U.S. Census Bureau will begin a phased restart of some 2020 Census field operations in select geographic areas.

All returning staff will receive safety training to observe social distancing protocols in the COVID-19 environment. For their safety and the safety of the public, the Census Bureau has ordered personal protective equipment (PPE) for all field staff, including those that work in a field office. These materials will be secured and provided to staff prior to restarting operations.

As part of the phased restart of operations, the Census Bureau will resume dropping off 2020 Census invitation packets at front doors of households in areas where the majority of

households do not receive mail at their home. This operation is also known as Update Leave. About 5 percent of households are counted in the Update Leave operation, where census workers will confirm or update a household’s physical location address and then leave a census questionnaire packet.

The Census Bureau began delivering census materials to these households on March 15; however, this operation was suspended on March 18 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Update Leave operation does not require interaction between households and a Census Bureau employee and follows the most current federal health and safety guidelines.

Households that receive the 2020 Census invitation packets are encouraged to respond promptly to the 2020 Census using the census ID included in the questionnaire packet.

People can respond online, by phone or by completing and returning the paper form by mail. Responding with the census ID or by completing and returning the paper questionnaire helps ensure the best count of their community.

Updates on the operations resuming by location are available at www.2020census.gov.

This webpage will be updated weekly as 2020 Census operations resume across the United States.

MNsure is the only place to get financial help to lower the cost of health insurance

Minnesotans with decrease in may qualify for MNsure help Starting May 11 MNsure began offering an ongoing special enrollment period for Minnesotans who experience a decrease in household income and become newly eligible for advanced premium tax credits (APTC). Those looking to enroll will need to have had health insurance that meets the standards in the Affordable Care Act, also known as minimum essential coverage (MEC), for one or more days in the 60 days immediately preceding their decrease in household income.

Minnesotans must act within 60 days after they experience a decrease in household income to be eligible.

“If you were enrolled in a health insurance plan outside of MNsure and your income has decreased, you may be eligible to enroll in a plan through MNsure and qualify for tax credits to help cover the cost of your health insurance,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “Don’t delay if you’re in that situation.

Give us a call, or visit MNsure. org today to see if you qualify for this enrollment opportunity.”

Eligible Minnesotans

programs is open year-round and provides comprehensive coverage. Members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe can also sign up at any time year-round on MNsure. org.

Help

will need to verify both the date of the decrease in their household income, and that they had minimum essential coverage for at least one day during the 60 days prior to their decrease in income before being able select a plan. Coverage start dates are based on the plan selection date.

Specific information regarding who qualifies, plans

available and verifications can be found on MNsure.org.

Who else can enroll now?

Minnesotans who have recently lost or will lose insurance through their employer may also qualify for a special enrollment period to enroll in a plan through MNsure. To enroll, individuals

must contact MNsure and pick a plan within 60 days of losing employer coverage. To avoid a gap in coverage, Minnesotans can contact MNsure up to 60 days in advance of their employer’s plan ending to begin the enrollment process.

This special enrollment period is available year-round to qualifying individuals.

Minnesotans who experience another qualifying life event (such as marriage, birth or adoption of a child, or a move) may also be eligible to shop for coverage.

Finally, low- or nocost coverage is available through Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare for those who qualify. Enrollment in these

is available: MNsure has a statewide network of expert assisters who can help Minnesotans apply and enroll over the phone, free of charge.

MNsure›s online help tools can be used to access frequently requested services.

The MNsure Contact Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, at 651539-2099 or 855-366-7873.

MNsure is Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs.

MNsure is the only place you can apply for financial help to lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium and out-ofpocket costs. Most Minnesotans who enroll through MNsure qualify for financial help.

Ensuring equitable support for Minnesota youth and families During this time of pandemic and severe unemployment, the federal government has

recognized the importance of expanding eligibility for unemployment benefits to

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include workers wouldn’t normally qualify for benefits.

Currently, Minnesota high school students are not eligible for benefits, unlike their peers in many states.

Minnesota should temporarily change its interpretation of this statute.

Its original intent was to discourage high school students from skipping inschool instructional hours for employment. With the transition to part-time distance learning, that concern is no longer valid.

Part-time employment has provided thousands of Minnesota high school students (many of them ages 18-21) and their families with critically needed income for living, housing, and/ or college expenses. Many high school students from lowerincome backgrounds either no longer live with parents or do not have parents who are eligible for benefits (because they are not in the workforce, undocumented, in prison or have died), and these youth have worked to help support them.

Currently, unemployed young people in Minnesota who would be otherwise eligible for benefits under the new CARES Act have a strong incentive to drop out of high school in order to qualify for benefits, potentially damaging their post-secondary education and long-term employment and life prospects. Meanwhile, youth who stay enrolled in school and their families will lose access to vital support during this crisis, potentially lowering college

stockvault

attainment and increasing food insecurity, housing instability and demands on already strained social services.

Options for Policy Change One option: The MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) should find a temporary regulatory solution during the current pandemic consistent with its implementation of the federal CARES Act. CARES expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits to workers who are “not otherwise eligible for

Not running again The following members have announced they will not seek re-election to the House in 2020: Rep. Hunter Cantrell

(DFL-Savage), Rep. Lyndon Carlson Sr. (DFL-Crystal), Rep. Jack Considine Jr. (DFLMankato), Rep. Dan Fabian

unemployment benefits under state or federal law.” (U.S. Department of Labor April 2, 2020 memo). Unlike Minnesota, CARES does not restrict eligibility for unemployment benefits based on student status or age. DEED could interpret CARES’ eligibility expansion to allow temporary expansion of benefits to high school students who meet CARES eligibility requirements during the period these benefits are funded by CARES. A second option: If the State of Minnesota determines that it does not have

the authority under CARES to interpret Minnesota Statutes 268.085, Subdivision 2 (3) to expand benefit eligibility,

(R-Roseau), Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont), Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan), Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFLNew Brighton), Rep. Ben Lien (DFL-Moorhead), Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Alice Mann (DFL-Lakeville),

Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls), Rep. Duane Sauke (DFLRochester), Rep. Bob Vogel (R-Elko New Market) and Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls).

Governor Walz should propose and the Legislature should approve a temporary suspension of the law to allow a temporary expansion of benefits to high school students who would otherwise meet CARES unemployment benefit eligibility requirements during the period that these benefits are funded by CARES.

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Insight News • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Page 5

Insight 2 Health

How COVID-19 may change a trip to the dentist’s office

“You shouldn’t go into an office until it’s your time to go in,” Bogan said. “There will be limited, if any, occupancy in waiting rooms. Offices will schedule more time between appointments, both to maintain safe space between patients and to have sufficient time to clean up between patients. Parents or other people accompanying patients likely will have to wait outside the office.”

The dentist said offices may reduce schedules so fewer patients are there at once, reducing the chance for contact.

“Another option is longer hours on certain nights, in part to accommodate patients who couldn’t be seen during

the shutdown – those who had to postpone non-essential appointments such as checkups, cleanings, and orthodontic adjustments,” said Bogan.

He said patients will have to have confidence his or her dentist takes steps to keep everyone safe.

“Along with having trust in your dentist’s ability to care for your needs, more than ever a patient has to trust in the cleanliness and safety of the dental environment,” Bogan said. “That’s what will help set an office apart, and anything less will result in a patient migration.”

stockvault

As the coronavirus pandemic swept the U.S., state governments mandated that dental offices open only for emergency procedures. But in the coming weeks, some dental practices may resume regular appointments in individual states where businesses considered “essential” are allowed to re-open.

When dentists do re-open for full business, the patient experience may seem the same in some ways, but in other ways the offices will reflect a “new normal,” said Dr. Kyle Bogan, a general dentist and speaker on workplace culture.

“Dentists are accustomed to

following stringent infection control precautions under normal circumstances to lower the risk of transmission of infectious diseases.

These precautions help keep both patients and dentists safe because it assumes all patients may have an infection, despite the reality that most won’t.

“But now I expect patients will be given temperature checks before an appointment and be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding coronavirus symptoms. All hygiene and safety standards will be enhanced, and the look of a typical dental office will be different.”

Bogan says those aren’t the only ways a dental visit may be different as a result of COVID-19. Others include more safeguards against blood and saliva. When dentists work on your teeth, they can produce aerosols – droplets or sprays of saliva or blood – in the air.

This happens routinely when the dentist uses a drill or when the teeth are scaled or polished.

With the coronavirus pandemic, there is an increased risk that the blood or saliva may carry the virus and either directly infect the dental staff, or land on surfaces that the staff or the next patient can touch, Bogan says.

“Equipment that

reduces patient spray will come into play for patient and employee safety,” he said.

“You’ll see preprocedural rinses with a hydrogen peroxide solution, which is effective at killing the virus and reducing viral load in the mouth. There will be more use of rubber dams, a shield that fits over top of the tooth and minimizes aerosols in the area. The highvolume suction used to suction up spray will be used at a higher level. And some dentists may be wearing face shields.”

Seeing several people in the waiting room reading magazines may be a thing of the past.

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Page 6 • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Insight News

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Steve Rogers podcast a step by step application guide Business From 1 Democrats “rightfully held up” the legislation to adopt new provisions that include financial institutions “that have a stronger history of being friends to black business owners.”

For instance, the new measure sets aside $60 billion for small and mid-sized communitybased lenders like some found

on Black Enterprise’s BE 100s Banks list; credit unions; and CDFIs (community financial development institutions).

Among the 2,500 or so entities within the CDFI category, he suggests that black entrepreneurs reach out to those organizations that target investment within black communities: the 35-member Alliance of African American CDFI CEOs and the seven-member Expanding Black Business Credit Initiative.

He also believes African

American entrepreneurs face a heavier burden in the filing process due to the fact that 95% of the roughly 2 million black-owned businesses are sole proprietorships.

“In the PPP program, the requirements for sole proprietorships are not the same as those for companies with employees. For companies with employees, the payroll calculations include health insurance payments as well as pension and 401(K)

contributions. Those items are not allowed for sole proprietors,” he explains.

He also cites that sole proprietors must submit a 2019 tax return with a completed Schedule C Form, or the profit and loss statement. Those applicants will determine the loan amount in which they qualify by dividing the profit or loss figure on line 31 of Schedule C by 12 to calculate the average monthly compensation figure and then multiply that figure by 2.5.

Rogers maintains that black entrepreneurs should not be intimidated by the application process. As such, he believes there must be a movement to encourage and assist black entrepreneurs in aggressively pursuing PPP loans. “This is an extraordinary action by our government to provide small business financing that are actually grants. We must get churches, civil rights organizations, fraternities, sororities, and groups like

the Harvard Business School African American Alumni to help entrepreneurs submit applications,” he says.

“It is not enough to announce the availability of the money.

We have to actually help people submit applications for this money. We have to micromanage the process.”

On the podcast, Rogers takes business owners through each step of the process.

Reprinted with permission.

Businesses should be prepared to create a new normal

By Marcus Owens, Executive Director African American Leadership Forum There are many feelings about what is ahead for the African American community in Minnesota during this time of uncertainty. We’re worried about the high rates of infection and death, like what our brothers and sisters have experienced in Chicago and Detroit. We are concerned there will be long-term impacts due to the economic fallout of following a “Stay at Home” orders, even after these orders expire.

We are worried about our children at home and how they will be affected by being out of school for such a long time.

There are a lot of unknowns that are creating stress for an already vulnerable community.

Relief efforts have missed our community, as legislation and funds have been created and benefitted those that are first in line and ready to apply.

Companies like Ruth Chris and the Los Angeles Lakers scooped up (and later gave back) millions of dollars that were needed by our local small and micro-businesses. We lacked the infrastructure and trust in systems to be prepared even to apply before the money dried up.

What’s keeping me and many in our community up at night is: what will be different after the shock is absorbed? We can’t go back to normal; it’s not possible for many reasons. First, we have all been inundated with a new vocabulary, such as “Social Distancing” and “Curbside Commerce” and reacquainted with the idea of hand hygiene and covering our coughs. What

Marcus Owens, Executive Director, African American Leadership Forum

When the fog of Stay at Home orders lifts, we need to be prepared to create a new normal. Our businesses should be planning how they will protect their workers and customers and push to ensure they aren’t held liable in lawsuits because of potential exposure to this invisible force of nature. Businesses should also begin to focus on preparation to weather the next crisis that will require them to shut down or adapt. will this all mean for the health of our labor force and small business owners? We must begin to focus less on what we aren’t getting and shift to what we can do now to get ahead of the curve of this massive wave of change.

When the fog of Stay at Home orders lift, we need to be prepared to create a new normal. Our businesses should be planning how they will protect their workers and customers and push to ensure they aren’t held liable in lawsuits because of potential exposure to this invisible force of nature.

Businesses should also begin to focus on preparation to weather the next crisis that will require them to shut down or adapt.

As a business owner,

how do you prepare? First, take the necessary first steps of outlining how your business operates and what changes need to be made because of new safety requirements that will exist to reopen. Items will be required, such as Personal Protective Equipment: gloves, face masks, disinfectant, etc., for yourself and any staff. You will need to develop cleaning and sanitation processes for front line workers and guest-facing environments.

If you are a barber or salon, you need to formalize procedures for taking in clients, so you limit the number of people in your shop at any given time. You may also consider requiring masks of your clients as well, to reduce the possible spreading of germs.

The campaign is a Call-to-Action and highlights the NAACP’s policy interests and supported legislation for African Americans and people of color, a large demographic that is often left out of recovery effort conversations.

Next, businesses should evaluate how prepared they were going into this crisis and what they will need to change.

Administrative processes such as your ability to take online/virtual orders of your product and services, get supplies on-demand, or even being registered as a legal entity (LLC, S Corp, C Corp).

Financial processes such as accounting systems, payroll systems, and relationship with a bank are key.

Communication and marketing systems so that you can communicate in real-time with your clients and keep them up-to-date on how and when they can engage with your business.

These are all critical steps every business should take to be able to be “first in line” to take advantage of and pivot during a time of crisis.

I do want to be clear though in that all this pain we feel in our community is not solely on us. The systems that we have failed to access during this pandemic is a result of an inequitable structure that continues to benefit those that have (knowledge, structure, resources) and leaves behind those that are continually trying to stay afloat. We do not have a responsive system that assumes the majority of people are truthful and aren’t trying to “game” the system, and so many unnecessary and resourcewasting steps are put into place that prevents many people from accessing needed resources.

What we want to have are systems that are responsive and trusting of the people they want to impact. If philanthropy wants to get resources into our communities, then build a relationship and trust the leaders of that community to receive

those resources. We don’t need handlers or surrogates to divvy out minimal resources.

Also, we don’t want to be lumped in an aggregate cluster when other communities are receiving funds meant for their specific community.

The government can learn this same lesson: we get it; you are responsible to the taxpayers on how resources are spent. But you can’t set up a one-size-fits-all program with too many hoops and potholes to jump through and in. Have a firm intent on who you want to impact, and work with the community to deliver on that intent.

Ultimately, we want to believe that we have a fighting chance to deal with any crisis that is not of our own doing.

We want to be able to “social distance” and “stay home, stay safe” without the compounded stress of whether I’ll have a job, business, home, etc. and how will I access the resources that are available and intended to support us. We want our systems to do what is best for the collective and keep the most “left out” top of mind.

We want a system in which our problems are not exacerbated by inequalities and inequities that ultimately take our livelihoods and our lives because of neglect.

I believe we can get there and this is that moment that has granted us the clarity to take action.

Marcus Owens is the Executive Director of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF). He is a social entrepreneur, systems shifter and community developer. A native of north Minneapolis, Owens received a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas.

photo/Stockphoto_NNPA

The NAACP has launched a campaign entitled #WeAreDoneDying, aimed at exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large.

NAACP launches #WeAreDoneDying Campaign, empowering Black and Brown communities to take action against The NAACP, the nation’s foremost social justice organization, has launched a campaign entitled #WeAreDoneDying, aimed at exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large. From COVID-19 to running while Black in America, the abuse faced by people of color, particularly African Americans is devastating.

The campaign is a Call-to-Action and highlights the

NAACP’s policy interests and supported legislation for African Americans and people of color, a large demographic that is often left out of recovery effort conversations. The integrated and interactive content will create actionable steps for people to feel empowered by demanding action from their state’s elected officials on issues such as healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic justice, and voting rights.

“With crumbling

economic infrastructure, our community members face tough choices as access to food, good jobs, and a quality education slips further away,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “These issues are compounded by the lack of strong leadership from the White House. In the absence of adequate guidance, Black lives are adversely affected. We will no longer stand idle as our people suffer discrimination, marginalization, and are offered

as disposable for poor decisions by this Administration.”

As the incidence of COVID-19 cases and deaths rise, the Black community is experiencing the worst outcomes. With more confirmed cases and deaths than any other country, African Americans are facing the brunt of this virus. The numbers continue to rise each day while states reopen non-essential businesses with little to no evidence that the country is ready.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the deep-seated racial disparity in America embedded in all aspects of life,” said Leon W. Russell, Chairman, NAACP Board of Directors. “The NAACP Empowerment Programs’ 111 years of advocacy and fighting for the rights of Black people positions us to lead the fight for our community’s interest during this time of uncertainty.”

Learn how you can join and get involved with the

campaign by visiting NAACP.org.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas here.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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Insight News • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Page 7

Content that makes the lockdown countdown seem shorter

By Noah Washington NNPA Newswire Contributor We are currently living in a very uncertain time.

The world is changing in front of our very weary eyes, but what follows serves as a reprieve from the mundane. Some notable series and streaming options that will make the seeming eternity of idle waiting a little less daunting. You’ll find viewing options from several genres.

So, there’s a good chance that at least one of these picks will be sure to satisfy your particular tastes in entertainment fare.

To kick off the list, we have “Canon Buster’s”.

The anime features Immortal Renegade Philly The Kid and his transforming pink Cadillac, who join a relentlessly upbeat friendship droid on her quest to find a missing prince.

The show stands out with its unique storytelling and instantly relatable characters.

The second on my list is “Sherman’s Showcase,” which chronicles the history of a popular fictional variety show.

The show, which was created

by Diallo Riddle and Bashir Shauladin, delivers the groove, party and everything else you loved about “Soul Train” in its heyday, via a wonderfully crafted variety show that is not only fun but a good bop to listen to when you are in the mood just to groove. The series features many celebrity cameos and appearances, including John Legend and Bresha Webb impersonating Mary J. Blige.

If you are a college student who is currently missing campus life right now, I am happy to say that the Spike Lee Joint, “School Daze,” has was recently added to the Netflix library. So, if you want to pledge to the Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity when classes resume, you now have something to watch that will give you a leg up on the process.

At historically Black Mission College, the activist-

To kick off the list, we have “Canon Buster’s.” The anime features Immortal Renegade Philly The Kid and his transforming pink Cadillac, who join a relentlessly upbeat friendship droid on her quest to find a missing prince. minded Dap (Larry Fishburne) immerses himself in a world of political rhetoric and social movements. One day he hopes to rally the students as a united front. At the other end of the spectrum, Julian (Giancarlo Esposito), the head of the biggest fraternity on campus, is more concerned with maintaining a strict social order. In the interim, Dap’s conflicted cousin, HalfPint (a hilarious performance

by Lee), spends most of his time pledging the fraternity.

A newly released favorite of mine is “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet,” which has found its way to AppleTV. The series is set in “a video game

development studio and explores the intricacies of the human condition through hilarious and innovative ways.” Have you ever wondered what goes into video game development?

How are the stories written?

What does a game developer’s workplace look like? Look no further my fellow gamers.

For those of you who prefer indie content, I recommend taking a look at “Chocolate Thunder.”

Made by Anacaona Pictures from the minds of Mahalia Latortue and Erik Francisco Medina, the series follows the story of Junior Grand-Pierre and is set in the late 1990s.

Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Valeisha Butterfield Jones named as Recording Academy’s first diversity and inclusion officer

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Valeisha Butterfield Jones, who co-founded the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WENN) and served as the National Youth Vote Director for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, has been named the Recording Academy’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer.

The Los Angelesbased Recording Academy consists of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other musical professionals, and it is most famous for the Grammy Awards.

Butterfield Jones confirmed the appointment on Instagram.

“The mission continues, and I’m deeply honored to join you on this journey,” Butterfield Jones wrote.

“We are thrilled to welcome Valeisha Butterfield

Jones into the Recording Academy family,” said Academy chair and interim president and CEO Harvey Mason in a statement. “Valeisha has been a force in driving systemic change and enhancing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups across entertainment, technology, and politics. We are so fortunate to have Valeisha’s leadership in this crucial area.”

Variety reported that Butterfield Jones would report directly to Mason beginning on May 11. According to the announcement, she will join the executive leadership team responsible for advancing the Recording Academy’s mission and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are core to business values and standards and demonstrated throughout the organization.

The daughter of Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) and North Carolina State Legislator Jean Farmer Butterfield, Butterfield Jones most recently served as the global head of Women and Black Community

Engagement for Google.

She also served in the Obama Administration as the deputy director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration, held the post of executive vice president of Rush Communications and was the national director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Alzheimer’s Association.

She maintains a seat on the national board of directors of ColorComm, MC Lyte’s Hip Hop Sisters Network, and iVote.

“The Recording Academy has an opportunity and responsibility to ensure that diversity and inclusion are embedded in its core values,” Butterfield Jones stated. “I’m deeply honored to join the Academy as we enter a new chapter of transformational growth, leadership, and change.

During this unprecedented time in world history, together, we will double-down on our focus to drive systemic change and equitable outcomes for underrepresented communities and creators.”

Junior is a nerdy Haitian-American teen who cultivates an online persona, Chocolate Thunder, that he uses to dole out free relationship advice to those in need.

Want to go to a galaxy far, far away? Well you most certainly can as the entire Skywalker Saga is on Disney Plus right now. If you are in a “Star Wars” mode though, but don’t want to pigeonhole yourself for hours at a time (even though you do have the time) you can watch an episode of “Star Wars: Rebels” or the ongoing series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”

Kenya Barris strikes gold again with his new tv show

“#BlackAF”. This time around though he does something truly crazy and casts himself in this mockumentary style masterpiece. It stars Barris in a fictionalized version of himself and how he handles being a father while simultaneously being a Hollywood mogul. “#blackAF” flips the script on what we’ve come to expect a family comedy series to be. Pulling back the curtain, the show uncovers the messy, unfiltered and often hilarious world of what it means to be a “new money” Black family trying to get it right in a modern world where right is no longer a fixed concept.”

There are still a number of on-going series that you can look forward to seeing, such as Issae Rae’s “Insecure.”

Or, you can finally get around to binging those shows that you never got around to viewing when they were originally aired, such as “Game of Thrones,” “The Boondocks” (which is set for a big return), or “Watchmen.”

There are plenty of things to watch or catch up on during this time. Please remember to stay safe and take all the precautions you need.

Page 8 • May 18, 2020 - May 24, 2020 • Insight News

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If I could do one thing, I’d have a daycare closer to work.

If you could do one thing for your community, what would it be? More daycare centers? More funding for Head Start? Completing the 2020 Census is a safe and easy way to inform how billions of dollars in funding flow into your community for hundreds of services. Respond online, by phone, or by mail.

Complete the census at:

2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.