Insight ::: 11.18.19

WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING

WINNER: 2019 GENERAL EXCELLENCE, 3RD PLACE, COLUMN WRITING, 2ND PLACE

Insight News

November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 46• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Race Relations

HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO E.G. BAILEY (LEFT) AND SHÁ CAGE DIRECT ROMANTIC COMEDY “THE VIKING AND THE GAZELLE” AT THE MIXED BLOOD THEATRE. B Fresh Photography STORY ON PAGE 2

Page 2 • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Insight News

insightnews.com

B Fresh Photography

B Fresh Photography

Suzanne Bengtson (left) and Dr. William Bengtson

E.G. Bailey (left) and Shá Cage

Race and relationships collide in comedy based on the true story of the playwrights’ relationship

‘The Viking and The Gazelle’ The Waterfront Productions is remounting a re-envisioned version of “The Viking and the Gazelle” at Mixed Blood Theatre, Nov. 29 – Dec. 15.

Written by Dr. William Bengtson and Suzanne Bengtson, and directed by Shá Cage and E.G. Bailey, this play delivers one of the most important messages of the holiday season – love and acceptance.

“The Viking and the Gazelle” is a romantic comedy

about the budding courtship of a Twin Cities couple with the role of race thrust upon their relationship. African-American Michelle was born and raised on Chicago’s Southside, while white Robert is from the Minneapolis suburb of Hopkins.

Sparks fly in the hearts of the new couple, yet a happy ending is no foregone conclusion. With a cast of seven characters, Michelle and Robert find love’s battlefield surprisingly fraught with the biases of society, including with

their trusted confidants; not to mention Robert’s deep dark secret.

The Bengtsons’ – co-writers and producers – interracial romantic relationship serves as loose inspiration for the play.

Another couple is bringing the play to life – codirectors, Cage and Bailey. Cage says the play tackles for many what is the elephant in the room.

“It’s a tough conversation to have, but we’re

tackling it head on,” said Cage.

“It’s a complicated conversation and it’s not going anywhere, so I just come to it real. The play has got some layers to it, it’s got a bottom to it but it’s really funny.”

“This play is not only issues we’re dealing with in our community, but how we’re dealing with things on a personal level,” said Bailey.

Cage said the play is not just black and white.

“When people think of

or hear ‘provocative interracial romantic comedy’ they think it’s the back-and-forth of that relationship but with this we delve into the relationships among sisters and how they navigate that space as well,” said Cage. “And we talk about the need for Black space and Brown space. That’s something that’s really real right now.”

The writers and directors say “The Viking and the Gazelle” is a play about having the courage to express

who we are in a world that expects conformity, and the tensions created by the clash of cultures within an interracial relationship; all wrapped within a romantic comedy.

The play takes place at Mixed Blood Theatre, 1517 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis.

Tickets are $35 and the play is recommended for audiences 16 years and up. More information is available at www. thewaterfrontproductions.com..

The Resurgence of Wild Turkeys in Minnesota

From none to many

By Deborah Locke DNR Information Officer The next time you see a wild turkey, offer a silent thank you to the state of Missouri. Yes, Missouri.

Also, consider a quiet thanks to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource (DNR) wildlife specialists who trapped, moved, and ultimately helped reintroduce the once overhunted birds to the state.

The success story started with a trade, said Lindsey Mesinger, a wildlife research biologist with the DNR. In the early 1970s, the DNR traded a flock of its homegrown ruffed grouse for 29 turkeys from Missouri. The Missouriborn birds were released in Houston County in southeastern Minnesota.

Not long after the Missouri swap, the wild turkey population “took off pretty quickly,” Mesinger said. By the late 1970s, Minnesota held its first turkey hunt. Today there are no restrictions on the number of turkey hunting permits that are issued; the wild turkey population numbers well more than 70,000. The birds live in nearly every part of the state, aided by Minnesota’s warmer winters.

They were also aided with transport in the early days by people like Bob Tangen, who is a retired assistant wildlife area

manager at Whitewater State Park. The original Missouri flock flourished quite well in Houston County, and to speed up that process of expansion, DNR staff trapped the birds with nets and moved them up to 50 miles to a new habitat.

In the winter months from 1976 to 1978, Tangen and Gary Nelson, a turkey biologist, captured 20 to 25 turkeys at a time with a rocket net. They located a turkey flock and put corn down to attract the birds.

The men waited nearby in a blind. For two or three days they corn fed the turkeys.

Then one day as the birds enjoyed their corn feast with all heads down, pecking away, a rocket launched which draped a large net over the flock.

Tangen and Nelson then threw blankets on the terrified birds, to calm them, and then pulled them from the net and placed the turkeys in crates. The birds were outfitted with a tiny beeping backpack with an antenna that tracked their movement.

Tangen said he grew pretty fond of turkeys over time but added that winter weather conditions could be “brutal” at times. Waiting for turkeys in a blind when it was 10 degrees below zero presented challenges.

“When you’re young, you can do that work,” he said.

Now when Tangen sees turkeys in the wild, he is reminded that the stories of their resurgence in Minnesota is a true

wildlife success story. For years wildlife specialists presumed the birds only thrived in oak forests where they fed on acorns. With the exception of northeastern Minnesota where winters are still severe, turkeys will go almost anywhere they can find food. Males can weigh up to 30 pounds, hens weigh about 10 to 12 pounds, Tangen said.

Since turkeys are the largest game bird in the U.S., it makes you wonder if hunting turkeys poses any challenge at all since the targets are huge and fly infrequently. Lindsey Mesinger hunts turkeys, and said that they have a few defenses like running fast. Their coloring acts like an effective defensive camouflage, and they tend to avoid people.

Wild turkey season occurs twice each year in the spring and fall. The 2019 wild turkey hunt season ended Oct. 27.

The birds roost in trees at night and display a style of social behavior when gathered as a group, Mesinger said. When she hunts in the morning hours before the sun rises, she enjoys the vocalization from treetops.

That the birds are back is a clear success story, Mesinger said, and shows good wildlife conservation and stewardship. Many partnering turkey advocates aided in their return, including members of the National Wild Turkey Federation who helped transport the flocks to new habitats.

Donald Jones

In the early 1970s, the DNR traded a flock of its homegrown ruffed grouse for 29 turkeys from Missouri.

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Page 3

Insight News WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING

November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019

WINNER: 2019 GENERAL EXCELLENCE, 3RD PLACE, COLUMN WRITING, 2ND PLACE

Vol. 46 No. 46• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

For Black Minnesotans

Homeownership crisis

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com “While Minnesota homeownership rate is higher than the national average, the disparity in homeownership between whites and people of color is the highest in the nation.

Three-quarters of the white population in Minnesota own their own homes, while less than a quarter of African Americans are homeowners.”

That is the opening paragraph from a 2014 Minnesota Department of Human Rights report, “Home Ownership and Wealth Disparities. Five years later as the disparity remains among the worst in the nation.

So, how bad are the numbers? Devastatingly bad.

According to the Urban Institute, as of 2018 the white homeownership rate in Minnesota was 74.8 percent.

For Blacks, an appalling 24.8 percent – a 50 percent difference.

And the disparity is not going unnoticed by both legislators, housing professionals and members of the community alike.

Two events – one in St. Paul and one in Minneapolis – sought to address the homeownership disparity in Minnesota; one focusing on possible legislative actions, the other on community-led initiatives. In St. Paul (Nov. 8) Sen. Tina Smith gathered with former St. Paul mayor and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity CEO Chris Coleman

and a host of others at the Minnesota Humanities Center to address the crisis of ownership.

The next day the Minnesota Homeownership Opportunity Alliance hosted a community forum to both address the divide and share success stories of those who were able to achieve the dream of home ownership despite the daunting numbers and despite their own personal challenges.

“Housing is about access, it’s about investment, it’s about saying you are a stakeholder,” said Steve Belton, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League at the Saturday forum.

“Housing conveys a sense of equity, importance and status.

Most importantly, it’s about a sanctuary of refuge.”

That sanctuary means everything for Akisha Everett.

Everett is two and a half years into homeownership, but her road was not paved. The now owner in the Hawthorne neighborhood of North Minneapolis said her initial dreams of ownership were doused by a loan officer at her bank.

“He did a soft pull (of my credit) and he told me I’d never get a home. He basically said, ‘I don’t even know why you’re here,’” said Everett.

“That discouraged me for about a year. But my thought around that is the keep moving when people tell you you’re not worthy. Who I am on paper is not who I am. That’s part of my circumstance, but that’s not the story of me.”

Everett began working on her credit, which

Chris Tolbert, Chair Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Melvin Carter St. Paul Mayor

Saint Paul approves housing investments Akisha Everett

Byron Perkins

Sen. Smith and Coleman

Trent Bowman

she was surprised to learn was not as bad as the banker had insinuated. She encouraged those in audience to not be afraid to open up about their credit scores and work with professionals to repair less than desirable marks.

“Knowledge is key,” said Everett, who worked with organizations such as PRG, a nonprofit providing home counseling and connecting people with affordable housing in Minnesota.

Another North Minneapolis homeowner, Byron Perkins, said he cherishes the simple joys of being a homeowner.

“Imagine waking up in the morning, putting your slippers on, getting a cup of coffee and looking out into your yard looking at the squirrels and hearing them chirp … boy, that’s nice,” said Perkins, who resides in the Webber-Camden neighborhood.

HOMEOWNERSHIP 4

The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) unanimously approved three resolutions addressing the broad continuum of St. Paul housing needs.

The resolutions include new program guidelines for a down payment assistance program and Rent Supplement Pilot, and annual distribution of LowIncome Housing Tax Credits.

“Ensuring all of us can access safe, stable and affordable housing is vital to the future of our city,” said St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. “These new programs expand our toolbox and help us keep this promise for everyone in our community.”

The down payment assistance program will provide homeownership opportunities to applicants at or below 60 percent area median income (AMI). The program aims to improve housing stability in neighborhoods vulnerable to displacement and gentrification pressures. Loans up to $40,000 will be offered for down payment and closing costs at 0 percent interest with a 30-year deferred term. Program launch is anticipated for Spring 2020.

The Rent Supplement Pilot will provide St. Paul families a $300 monthly rent

Lack of mental health acceptance, care cited

Teen suicide rates rise, reaching historic highs African-American teenagers in the United States historically have had lower suicide rates than their white counterparts – until now.

A new study analyzing suicide among American teens by a team led by researchers at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University have uncovered several troubling trends from 1991 to 2017, among Black high school students in particular.

Researchers discovered that between 1991 and 2017, there has been an increase in the number of African-American teens who said they had attempted suicide in the past year. Suicide rates for teenagers of other races and ethnicities either remained the same or decreased over that period.

The researchers did not cite a reason for the trend.

Bill Prasad, a licensed professional counselor with Contemporary Medicine Associates in Bellaire, Texas, cited what he believed are some reasons.

“Lack of accessibility to mental health care, the inability to pay for medications and healthcare coverage,

“Parents should take heed when they observe specific warning signs like changes in behavior, including difficulty concentrating, difficulty focusing on school or following routine activities, researching ways to kill oneself on the internet, increasing the use of alcohol or other drugs, and acting recklessly,” said Dr. Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist and the author of “The Self-Aware Parent.” the lack of acceptance of mental illness among some members of the Black community, and the availability

of

firearms,” Prasad said.

Prasad was not among the researchers involved in the study.

News

Da’Qwan Jones-Morris remembered

PAGE 5

Frank King, the so-called “Mental Health Comedian,” called the problem a “cultural phenomenon.”

“Young people in these groups are less likely to share their issues surrounding depression and thoughts of suicide with friends and family than youth in other racial and ethnic groups,” King said.

Among the answers is starting the conversation on depression and suicide in high-risk groups, he said.

“A partial answer is giving young people permission to give voice to their experiences and feelings, without recrimination, such as ‘If you were stronger in Christ this wouldn’t be happening,’ or ‘What do you have to be depressed about, we’ve given you everything. Your father and I started our life with nothing,’ and so forth,” King said.

Researchers in the NYU study noted that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens from all demographics. They found that only accidents kill more young people than suicide.

The study also revealed that, in 2017, approximately 2,200 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 died by suicide.

Researchers gathered

SUICIDE 7

National Archives

Black servicemen from WWII faced limited options and denial as they sought GI benefits after the war.

GI Bill opened doors to college for many vets, but politicians created a separate one for Blacks

By Joseph Thompson Assistant Professor of History, Mississippi State University Originally published at theconversation.com When President Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill into law on June 22, 1944, it laid the foundation for benefits that would help generations of veterans achieve social mobility.

supplement and ongoing supportive services for three years, in partnership with the St. Paul Public Schools. The pilot will serve households with incomes at or below 30 percent AMI, who pay 40 percent or more of their income for rent, are not receiving another housing subsidy, and have at least one Pre-K to 3rdgrade student enrolled in a participating school. Pilot launch is anticipated for early 2020.

Both programs are funded by the Housing Trust Fund, developed by Carter to produce, preserve, and protect housing affordability for St. Paul residents. The contributions of flexible city dollars along with federal and state financing tools are intended to address the current crisis of housing affordability in St. Paul and invest in a future city that works for all. Additional funding for the Rent Supplement Pilot has been provided by the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation.

“These programs highlight the creative thinking and use of the Housing Trust Fund as a valuable financial tool to help address our affordable housing crisis,” said Housing and Redevelopment

HOUSING 5

Formally known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the bill made unprecedented commitments to the nation’s veterans. For instance, it provided federal assistance to veterans in the form of housing and unemployment benefits. But of all the benefits offered through the GI Bill, funding for higher education and job training emerged as the most popular.

More than 2 million veterans flocked to college campuses throughout the country. But even as former service members entered college, not all of them accessed the bill’s benefits in the same way. That’s because white southern politicians designed the distribution of benefits under the GI Bill to uphold their segregationist beliefs.

So, while white veterans got into college with relative ease, Black service members faced limited options and outright denial in their pursuit for educational advancement. This resulted in uneven outcomes of the GI Bill’s impact.

As a scholar of race and culture in the U.S. South, I believe this history raises important questions about whether subsequent iterations of the GI Bill are benefiting all vets equally.

Tuition waived for service When he signed the bill into law, Roosevelt assured that it would give “servicemen and women the opportunity of resuming their education or technical training … not only without tuition charge … but with the right to receive a monthly living

GI BILL 7

Health

Nurse practitioners seek more diversity in profession

PAGE 6

Page 4 • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Insight News

Education

insightnews.com

Shaquille O’Neal partners with Miles College for campus venture

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia A new partnership between NBA great Dr. Shaquille O’Neal and Miles College (Alabama) will help bring a Papa John’s Pizzeria to every Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campus in the nation.

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities have paved the way for AfricanAmericans and people of other races to receive a quality education deservedly,” O’Neal said in a statement. “HBCUs have been pivotal in the development of young minds; influential in highlighting the history and culture of AfricanAmericans and effectively provided a means for academic success. It is in these great halls of these wonderful institutions that students saw their potential magnified and exemplified.”

In a statement, Miles College President Bobbie Knight said she was

excited about the new venture.

“Miles College is honored to partner with Shaquille O’Neal and welcome him to our historic and beautiful campus,” Knight said.

“Shaquille is a skilled investor, savvy entrepreneur, and marketing and branding genius.

This partnership tells the world that this is Miles College’s day, and this is Miles College’s time to show America that HBCUs can join icons like Shaquille and launch business ventures like Papa John’s on our campuses.”

Founded in 1898, Miles College is a liberal arts institution located in metropolitan Birmingham within the corporate limits of Fairfield, Ala. The institution’s founders saw educated leadership as the paramount need in the Black community.

O’Neal is a 15time NBA All-Star, who won four championships.

He became Papa John’s first African-American board member when he inked a multi-million deal earlier this year and he has ownership stakes in at least

A part owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, Shaquille O’Neal also owns a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts franchise in Atlanta. Previously, he owned 27 Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchises.

O’Neal also is the founder and owner of Big Chicken, a fast-casual fried chicken restaurant in Las Vegas, and Shaquille’s, a fine-dining eatery in Los Angeles. nine different locations. Plans also include a “Shaq” pizza with commercials featuring the towering basketball legend.

Before inking the deal with Papa John’s, O’Neal reportedly told the chain’s CEO, Steve Ritchie, that “the

only way I would want to be involved is if you got some diversity in your leadership.

Born in Newark in 1972, O’Neill holds a bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Louisiana State University. He earned an

MBA from the University of Phoenix, and an doctorate in Human Resources Development from Barry University.

As an investor, restaurant, and franchise owner, the retired basketball star and TNT broadcaster has established

a strong business track record.

A part owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, O’Neal also owns a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts franchise in Atlanta. Previously, he owned 27 Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchises. O’Neal also is the founder and owner of Big Chicken, a fast-casual fried chicken restaurant in Las Vegas, and Shaquille’s, a finedining eatery in Los Angeles.

“Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘If you want to move people, it has to be toward a vision that’s positive for them, that taps important values, that gets them something they desire and it has to be presented compellingly, so that they feel inspired to follow,’” O’Neal said. “Today, I ask you to catch the same vision that the noble founders of HBCUs held in carving out a venue to education, independence, and success. Join President Bobbie Knight of the great Miles College and me as we move toward a business initiative that will open avenues of opportunities for our HBCUs. Today is our day. This is our time.”

Educators of color needed for success of Black and Brown students Commentary by Ron Rice, Jr. Senior Director, Government Relations at the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools I have been a Black student, education policymaker, and now an advocate for providing the best educational opportunities for all our children.

One reality that I’ve had to face and embrace through each of these stages in my life and career is that the prevalence of leaders of color like me is a major contributor to educational success and whose lack thereof stifles that potential.

As a student of color, those examples helped me thrive; and today they inform my advocacy.

My organization, the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools released its

highly-anticipated report, “Identity and Charter School Leadership: Profiles of Leaders of Color Building an Effective Staff,” which examined the ways that school leaders of color’s experiences and perspectives influence how they build school culture, parent and community relationships, and effective staff. This needed report affirmed what I and many fellow school leaders of color have witnessed first-hand in schools from New Jersey (where I advised the state Department of Education) to Massachusetts, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, where school leaders of color were studied. The report’s finding is clear – our children of color thrive with diverse and experienced teachers who understand their challenges and have a personal, unwavering dedication to their success.

Most importantly,

Ron Rice, Jr. our report is instructive as well because it sheds light – through the profiles of three public charter school leaders of color

from Louisiana, North Carolina, and California – on the principles that can help match our best current and future teachers with

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

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

Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Inell Rosario Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis,

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

our nation’s students. Three principles resonated with my two decades in education policy.

First, fill our school leadership pipeline with talented educators of color who come from nontraditional backgrounds and fields of study. But how do we dispel the myth that there are not enough qualified and passionate people of color who can and want to fill this educational pipeline?

One way to do this comes from Eric Sanchez, co-founder of Henderson Collegiate – a network of three schools serving elementary, middle and high school in Henderson, North Carolina. Instead of only recruiting future educators from traditional education programs, Sanchez also recruits graduates from university programs focusing on social justice and ethnic studies. And this encouragement doesn’t end once the teachers reach the classroom – we must provide clear pathways for these teachers to pursue school leadership.

Second, school leaders and education policymakers of all colors must be committed to seeing and promoting diversity as an asset, not a deficit; an opportunity, not an obstacle.

Imagine how better prepared our children will be for the world of tomorrow if they have been taught the history behind their identity, the language behind their culture, and the geography behind their journey. While nearly all schools struggle with activating this principle for the benefit of our students, our report

Homeownership From 3 Perkins said he met with Trent Bowman, vice president of Community Development with Old National Bank, during a home-buying seminar and at the time Perkins credit was not at a level to purchase a home.

“But I told him give me two years and I’ll be ready,” said Perkins. “But this past April (before the two years) I called Trent and said I’m ready. He said, ‘What are you talking about?’ I told him I’m ready … my credit score is 726.

September of last year my credit scores were 580, 523 and 540.

But I set a goal to straighten out my credit and to purchase a home and now here I am.”

Bowman said helping people become homeowners is a life’s mission for him. He said achieving that goal comes with self-discipline.

“I had bad credit too.

I had a 560. I was the dumbdumb going to the Riverview (nightclub) and pulling out credit cards trying to pay my tab,” said Bowman. “It’s about

demonstrates that public charter schools are making substantial progress where traditional public schools haven’t.

Third, achievement and demonstrated success – not myths, preconceptions, and inherited political biases – must be the basis upon which we support the best educational opportunities for all our children. For example, by their design, public charter schools have the flexibility to create and finetune curricula, teaching methods, and optimal outcomes that traditional public schools do not. So, why would we ever consider putting obstacles in any educational paths that are showing real achievement?

Race and identity of both our educators and students is only one factor in the holistic successes we are all working towards. However, it’s also true that all schools across our country in every community have historically not valued students’ diversity and identity as assets to enrich the education they receive. Public charter schools are making real progress to expose this blind spot and make the needed course corrections to ensure the success we’ve seen for some students are the norm for all.

Ron Rice, Jr. is a former two term Newark city councilman, chief advisor to the New Jersey Department of Education, and is currently senior director, Government Relations at the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools.

changing your bad habits.”

Bowman was also on hand for the forum with Smith and Coleman. There, the senator said the state and the nation need to address longtime systematic inequities.

“Homeownership is a way for you to build wealth.

This is about a history of discrimination,” said Smith. “If you don’t have an opportunity to own a home you don’t have an opportunity to build wealth.”

Coleman pointed to one area where that opportunity was clearly denied.

“From 1934 to1968, 98 percent of FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans were written for white families,” said Coleman, who said he benefitted from a privilege not provided to most Black Americans. “My mom and dad grew up poor, but when my dad returned from World War II, he was able to get a loan and purchase a home. And when I was ready to buy, I went to the ‘Bank of Mom.’ A lot of people don’t have that opportunity.”

“What it comes down to is if you don’t have a safe, affordable place to live then nothing else works,” said Smith.

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Page 5

Da’Qwan Jones-Morris remembered Da’Qwan (Qwanny) JonesMorris, born in St. Paul on April 9, 2002 died suddenly due to a tragic accident on Nov. 6.

He was a senior at Henry Sibley High School and planned to attend a Minnesota college after graduation. The weekend prior to his death, his senior pictures captured beautifully his joyful spirit, playfulness, and vitality.

Jones-Morris was baptized at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and sang in the youth choir.

His interests included family,

football, basketball, fashion, eating, singing, gaming and volunteering. A talented athlete, Jones-Morris served as cocaptain of his high school football team.

Jones-Morris was an avid video gamer. Online gaming provided him with an opportunity to make new friends all across the country.

Eventually, he became so good that he found a way for the game to pay him.

Family was extremely important to him and he enjoyed spending quality time with

loved ones including his canine best friend, Hercules Jones.

Jones-Morris leaves behind his mother, Monica Jones, and father, Tremayne Lamont Morris, brothers Brandon Jones, Benjamin Carter, Jr., Juan Bennett, Adonis Tucker, Dohntae Vance, maternal grandmother Veronica Jones, paternal grandmother L’Tanga Morris and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services took place at Estes Funeral Home on Nov. 16. The Rev. Al Gallmon, Jr. officiated.

Housing From 3 Authority Chair Chris Tolbert.

Recommendations for 2020 Low Income Housing Tax Credits include more than $1 million in credits to be reserved or reallocated over two years for the development of 79 affordable units. The LowIncome Housing Tax Credits program offers a reduction in federal tax liability to owners and investors in low-income housing developments that comply with rent and tenant

income restrictions for a period of 30 years. Projects recommended include the North West University Dale construction at 625 University Ave., and Parkway Apartments, proposed at East 7th Street and Bush Avenue.

“There is no single strategy or program that can solve our housing crisis,” said Housing Director Kayla Schuchman.

“Our team is dedicated to creative, collaborative and thoughtful approaches that deepen and widen our investments across St. Paul.”

Da’Qwan Jones-Morris

SATURDAYS at the MUSEUMɨ Storytellers, Activities and Fun! Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery 1256 Penn Ave No, Minneapolis, MN 55411, 4th Floor

Saturday mornings from 10 - 11:30am Hear Stories Read or Great Storytelling!

Engage in coordinated activities and just have Fun!

Local Children’s Book Authors and Storytellers! Treats! www.maahmg.org

Contact us at: info@maahmg.org

Become a member!

All Are Welcome.

See us at

Free Admission.

____________________________________________________________________________ "The Children's Reading Circle is partially supported by The Givens Foundation for African American Literature through operating support funding from Target. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund."

______________________________________________________________________________________

The MAAHMG is a fully qualified 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Minnesota.

fresh • local • organic Your neighborhood source for local and organic foods and wellness products

2823 E. Franklin Ave. | Minneapolis & 317 E. 38th St. | Minneapolis w w w. s e w a rd. co o p

Page 6 • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Insight 2 Health Nurse practitioners seek more diversity in profession

By Dan Yount The Cincinnati Herald CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Black Nurse Practitioners, which represents about 30 female Black nurse practitioners in the Cincinnati area, is seeking an increase in their numbers to better serve local minority communities.

Felicia Beckham, MSN, FNP-BC, RN, said, “The gender/race composition of my profession of nurse practitioners is 93 percent female, but only 5.7 percent are Black. Due to the underrepresentation, minorities receive unequal treatment and we are unable to meet cultural needs/demands of our patients, families and communities.

“We have to create a stronger voice to help influence equity and inclusiveness within the healthcare system.’’

Thus, Cincinnati’s Black Nurse Practitioners has joined forces to build impactful relationships,

empower students and nurses, strengthen its presence in advanced and leadership roles, as well as minimizing healthcare disparities.

An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is defined as nurse educated at a master’s or post-master’s level in a specific role and patient population. There are four APRN roles, certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nursemidwife (CMN), clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and certified nurse practitioner (CNP).

According to Beckham, the APRN is qualified and trained to assess patient’s needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medication and formulate treatment plans. Nurse practitioners are licensed to take care of patients throughout their lifespan without the direct supervision of a doctor.

“We are essential to meeting the growing healthcare demand in the

Jessica Simone Photography

Meet the Black nurse practitioners of Cincinnati. In bottom row, from left, are Shannon Kemper, Kenisha Davis, Dayla Edwards, Dr. Lisa Wilson, Andrea Richard-Thomas, Felicia Beckham and Nicole Jackson. In middle row, from left, are Jami Gibson, Latoya Davis, Dr. Daniyel Roper, Robin Melton-Brown, Tameka Larkin, Carol Parker and Krishona Poignard. In top row, from left, are Nicole Mullins, Marci Fitzgerald and Dianna Harrington.

United States,’’ Beckham said.

Statistics indicate minority ethnicities are underrepresented within the CNP workforce. Gender breakdown

of APRNs are 89.5 percent female, 10.5 percent male.

Racial breakdown of APRNs are 85.7 percent white, 6.6 percent African-American, 5.8 percent Asian and 3.4 percent Latina.

“A diverse nurse practitioner workforce is vital to fulfilling the needs of communities in the most equitable way. To improve the healthcare trajectory

of vulnerable populations, understanding the components that impact a patient’s wellbeing is key,’’ Beckham said.

According to Dr. Ramona Benkert, associate professor, College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, African-American patients have experienced unequal and discriminatory treatment, which can result in a cultural mistrust of the provider. When a patient and practitioner’s race/ethnicity/ culture align, an environment is created to increase engagement, build trust and improve healthcare outcomes.

“As nurse practitioners of color, we have the opportunity break down barriers to provide inclusive, culturally competent health care services to everyone. As an organization, we can use our collective experiences and expertise to create a stronger voice to influence healthcare,’’ said Beckham.

Deadly and dangerous — Healthcare in America Commentary by Ray Curry Secretary-Treasurer, UAW “Laughter is the best medicine,” according to the Reader’s Digest version of America.

But, not when it’s the only medicine, responds the America that far too many have known and continue to know. Not when the United States alone is one of the world’s top 33 most developed countries that does not have a form of universal health care that covers all of its population.

I guess I am just not in on the joke when I see people either going without health care –something that ought to be a human right – or struggling to the breaking point to keep on top of huge medical bills when sickness or infirmary hit.

Funny how that just isn’t funny. Actually, it is a national tragedy.

A tragedy when African-Americans in disproportionate number lack insurance coverage. For too many folks in this country, you are free to laugh – just not till it hurts.

The

system is sick Here are some not-so-fun facts.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), which focuses on major health care issues facing the nation as well as the U.S. role in global health policies, as of yearend 2016, 27 million Americans in this country were without medical coverage. That number was significantly down from the

more than 44 million in 2013; just before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) kicked in. But in 2017, the current administration took office, and … voila!

After much purposeful meddling and dismantling, a year later we saw 700,000 people moving back into the uninsured column. These are the latest stats from the KFF, but the folks there know the score under the current administration. Ongoing efforts to alter historic gains in health insurance coverage via the ACA or to make receipt of Medicare contingent on work (another Republican initiative) they say, “may further erode coverage gains seen under the ACA.” That statement carries with it profound life and death implications, that have the potential to affect families from coast to coast, in neighborhoods and communities all over America. The KFF aren’t the only ones who know what that will mean for working Americans. I think we all know that assaults on the ACA are an assault on the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans.

Scared … just plain scared So, what does it mean to be without healthcare in America? It is truly frightening on so many levels.

How about facing each day without knowing if medical care is even available for your family? How about having to postpone necessary care and forego preventive care – such as childhood immunizations and routine check-ups? How about no regular doctor, limited or no access to prescriptions,

iStockphoto / NNPA

Non-elderly African Americans face endemic health disparities compared to their white counterparts, such as poorer overall health, and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and asthma. and only seeking medical attention when it’s bordering on too late and winding up in the hospital or worse?

And, how about the shameful fact that in today’s America, when a loved one falls ill or is in need of medical care, too often it’s the devastating financial burden that is the focus, rather than being able to concentrate on healing. This is not the America I know and love, and it is certainly not the America I want to know.

On a macro level, the fact that we don’t insure all of our people adds up this way. The U.S. spends two to three times as much per capita on health care as most industrialized nations.

Elsewhere, governments regulate and negotiate the price of drugs and medical services; elsewhere there is no need for a vast private

health-insurance bureaucracy.

And how do AfricanAmericans fair in all this?

While Barack Obama and the ACA have opened up some new roads, too often we continue down a dangerous path. Here are some even-less-than-fun facts.

Non-elderly African-Americans are younger, more likely to be poor, and less likely to have a fulltime worker in the family compared to non-elderly whites.

Non-elderly African-Americans face endemic health disparities compared to their white counterparts, such as poorer overall health, and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and asthma. Uninsured AfricanAmericans are more likely to fall into the coverage gap, earning too much for Medicaid but not enough for tax credits.

And, African-Americans are more concentrated in those

southern states that somehow see no need to expand Medicaid.

So, what’s to be done?

I am a union man, so I am going to talk from my gut.

The state of our health care here is not some Norman Rockwell painting nor is it some kid bravely waiting for the nurse to give him that booster shot during the monthly visit by the county health department’s mobile clinic.

We must do better ... right now I’m sorry to say it’s bad news for so many Americans and the ACA made it better, but things are starting to backslide.

I belong to the UAW. We first proposed comprehensive health coverage for all Americans back in the 1940s and we haven’t stopped as our bargaining and our policies have shown over the years. Not even slowed down.

Our goal is universal health care – coverage for everyone – and we have spoken loud and clear about the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs; against those who would deny coverage for those of us with pre-existing conditions; against those who would scuttle provisions like Section 1557 of the ACA which combats discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

All these reforms are under threat. So, we fight on.

We have recently signed on to a grassroots campaign to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Lower Drug Prices Now! is a coalition comprised of 53 state and national organizations that are committed to forcing bold prescription drug reforms that will stop Big Pharma pricegouging and put people ahead of profits. No more should working Americans have to make decisions between putting food on the table and filling their insulin prescription.

I truly believe, as my union brothers and sisters do, that with universal health care, working people can turn to employers for higher wages, for job security and retirement security because health care would be off the table.

I will end this way.

How about this?

Instead of some folksy panacea like laughter is the best medicine while we turn back the clock, we go with a healing prescription of democracy and access to affordable, quality health care for one and all.

Teen births in Hennepin County fall by 21 percent Significantly fewer teens are becoming parents in Hennepin County.

From 2017 to 2018, the teen birth rate fell by 21 percent. That one-year change among teens ages 1519 contributes to an overall decrease of more than 65 percent since 2009. In real numbers, 339 teens gave birth in 2018.

In 2009, that number was 982.

Many factors may have contributed to the change, but advocates with the county say they align with Hennepin County Public Health’s teen pregnancy prevention program, Better Together Hennepin. With help from a federal grant, as well as state and county funding, the pregnancy prevention initiative has developed and implemented a range of evidence-based programming options meant to help teens. They include programs to encourage teens to care and advocate for their own health and well-being,

with knowledge of a range of options, from abstinence to safer sex, assisting teens in becoming educated about their bodies and have access to sexual health information, advocating teens connect with a caring adult who can answer questions and provide guidance and encouraging teens to plan for and embark on their futures before becoming parents.

National studies suggest that fewer teens are having sex, and that more of them who are sexually active use contraceptives.

‘Preventing teen pregnancies is a very high priority for Hennepin County, and our work has been strikingly successful,” said Hennepin County Board Member Mike Opat. “We all know that teens are not ready to become parents.

This progress is the best kind of prevention work we do in county government.”

Programming made possible by

government, private partners Better Together Hennepin relies on our partners on the ground – schools, clinics and nonprofit organizations that are rooted in their communities – to deliver information and services to the teens. Since 2010, the program has benefited from about $18 million in federal grant monies, augmented by state and local funding, as well as investment from community partners. The program is working under a $1.5 million federal grant from the Office of Population Affairs.

The grant expires in June 2020.

“Much work remains to reduce disparities in teen births and to reach young people in the communities that are disproportionately affected because of structural racism and other forms of structural inequities,” said Emily ScribnerO’Pray, a planning analyst with the Better Together Hennepin program.

Emily Scribner- O’Pray, planning analyst with the Better Together Hennepin

Hennepin County Board Member Mike Opat

insightnews.com

Insight News • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Page 7

Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ brings world of Jamaica to Children’s Theatre Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) announced the cast for “Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds,” which runs Jan. 19 through March 1.

The production is based on a story by Cedella Marley with music and lyrics by Bob Marley is adapted for the stage by Michael Bobbitt and directed by Shá Cage. The cast includes Ellis Dossavi (Ziggy),

Suicide From 3 information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 198,540 high school students from 1991 to 2017. Among high school students of all demographics, 1 in 5 said they were thinking about suicide, and 1 in 10 said they had made a plan to end their lives.

CNN Health reported that the study is in line with earlier research that has shown AfricanAmerican boys, especially younger boys between the ages of 5 and 11, have experienced an increase in the rate of suicide

GI Bill From 3 allowance while pursuing their studies.” So long as they had served 90 consecutive days in the U.S. Armed Forces and had not received a dishonorable discharge, veterans could have their tuition waived for the institution of their choice and cover their living expenses as they pursued a college degree.

This unparalleled investment in veteran education led to a boom in college enrollment. Around 8 million of the nation’s 16 million veterans took advantage of federal funding for higher education or vocational training, 2 million of whom pursued a college degree within the first five years of the bill’s existence. Those ex-service members made

KateMarie Andrews (Nansi), Kory LaQuess Pullam (Duppy), Lynnea Monique Doublette (Cedella), Nathan Barlow (Dr. Bird), and Timotha Lanae (Tacoomah).

In the play, Ziggy is afraid to leave the house – too busy worrying about tropical storms, evil spirits and a sneaky, freaky, hair-grabbing Duppy.

But, with the help of some

feathered friends, Ziggy learns “every little thing is gonna be alright.”

“One of the joys of making theatre is that you get to bring an entire world to life on stage,” said CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius. “And with ‘Three Little Birds,’ we get to bring the world of Jamaica alive. Sometimes on a snowy day in Minnesota, there’s

nothing more exciting than the idea of a Jamaican world; with its beaches, its birds, animals, its color and life and its music. Bob Marley’s music is extraordinary because it has united the world around how to create joy, how do we be there for each other, and how to love and support one another.”

deaths. In Black children ages 5 to 12, the suicide rate was found to be two times higher compared with white children, according to CNN Health.

The study authors found “an increased risk in reported suicide attempts among African-American teens between 1991 and 2017, and boys saw an increase in injuries related to those attempts. That might mean that Black teens were using more lethal means when attempting suicide.”

They found a decline in attempts overall among teens who identified as white, Hispanic, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.

“As an AfricanAmerican woman, suicide is prominent in our community

for two reasons: we often do not know how to handle it amongst our families, and the pressures on our culture are rising,” said Sabriya Dobbins of Project Passport LLC, a company that encourages getaway retreats centered around three mental wellness areas: reflection, community and personal.

“Oftentimes when a black family member says they want to take their life, the family may resort to church, belittle their response and tell them to stop overreacting, or simply assume it is not a big deal. AfricanAmerican families are taught to be tough and to hold it together because it is already ‘us against the world.’ We are taught to put our heads down and work hard to get those degrees and move

up in our careers. This causes expectations to be too high, then depression and anxiety are heightened. Not only are Black youth trying to satisfy their families and be strong, but they are trying to fight their way through a world that is not always accepting. A world where they are dying in alarming numbers in senseless crimes.

It is a double edge sword.”

Parents should be on the lookout for risk factors, such as a recent or severe loss like death or divorce, said Dr. Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, author of “The Self-Aware Parent.” Walfish also counts as a regular expert child psychologist on CBS Television’s “The Doctors,” and she co-stars

TV’s, “Sexbox.”

“Parents should take heed when they observe specific warning signs like changes in behavior, including difficulty concentrating, difficulty focusing on school or following routine activities, researching ways to kill oneself on the internet, increasing the use of alcohol or other drugs, and acting recklessly,” Walfish said.

Included among other signs are changes in personality, appearing withdrawn, isolating to their room, irritability, extreme mood changes that are more than typical moodiness, exhibiting rage or talking about seeking revenge, Walfish added. Other alarms include changes in sleep patterns, insomnia, oversleeping, nightmares, talking about

dying, going away, or different types of self-harm, she said.

“Teaching problemsolving and conflict resolution skills, building a strong connection to family, friends, and community support are ways to help,” Walfish said.

“Restrict access to highly lethal means of suicide, such as firearms, and provide access to effective mental health care, including substance use treatment. Talk to your child.

Many people are fearful that talking to their children about suicide will increase their risk of suicide. This is a myth.”

For help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 2738255, (800) 432-8366 or visit www.teenlineonline.org.

up nearly half of the nation’s college students by 1947.

Colleges scrambled to accommodate all the new veterans. These veterans were often white men who were slightly older than the typical college age. They sometimes arrived with wives and families in tow and brought a martial discipline to their studies that, as scholars have noted, created a cultural clash with traditional civilian students who sometimes were more interested in the life of the party than the life of the mind.

Black colleges and universities – commonly known as HBCUs – welcomed Black veterans and their federal dollars, which led to the growth of a new Black middle class in the immediate postwar years.

Yet, the underfunding of HBCUs limited opportunities for these large numbers of B veterans.

Schools like the Tuskegee Institute and Alcorn State lacked government investment in their infrastructure and simply could not accommodate an influx of so many students, whereas well-funded white institutions were more equipped to take in students. Research has also revealed that a lack of formal secondary education for Black soldiers prior to their service inhibited their paths to colleges and universities.

As historians Kathleen J. Frydl, Ira Katznelson and others have argued, U.S. Rep. John Rankin of Mississippi

exacerbated disparities.

GI Bill, which recommitted the nation to providing for veterans’ education and extended those funds to reserve units and the National Guard.

Congress had discontinued the GI Bill after Vietnam. As historian Jennifer Mittelstadt shows, Montgomery’s bill subsidized education as a way to boost enlistment in the allvolunteer force that lagged in recruitment during the final years of the Cold War. Social programs like these have helped maintain enlistment quotas during recent conflicts in the Middle East, but today’s service members have found mixed success in converting the education subsidies from the Post-9/11 GI Bill into gains in civilian life.

This new GI Bill, passed in 2008, has paid around US$100 billion to more than 2 million recipients. Although the Student Veterans for America touts the nearly half

a million degrees awarded to veterans since 2009, politicians and watchdogs have fought for reforms to the bill to stop predatory, for-profit colleges from targeting veterans. Recent reports show that 20 percent of GI Bill disbursements go to for-profit schools. These institutions hold reputations for notoriously high dropout rates and disproportionately targeting students of color, a significant point given the growing racial and ethnic diversity of the military.

In August 2017, President Trump signed the Forever GI Bill, which committed $3 billion for 10 more years of education funding.

As active duty service members and veterans begin to take advantage of these provisions, history provides good reason to be vigilant for the way racism still impacts who receives the most from those benefits.

Limited opportunities for Black servicemen Black service members had a different kind of experience. The GI Bill’s race-neutral language had filled the 1 million African-American veterans with hope that they, too, could take advantage of federal assistance. Integrated universities and historically

Ellis Dossavi

Racism

these

racial

baked in Rankin, a staunch segregationist, chaired the committee that drafted the bill. From this position, he ensured that local Veterans Administrations controlled the distribution of funds. This meant that when Black southerners applied for their assistance, they faced the prejudices of white officials from their communities who often forced them into vocational schools instead of colleges or denied their benefits altogether.

Mississippi’s connection to the GI Bill goes beyond Rankin’s racist maneuvering.

From 1966 to 1997, G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery represented the state in Congress and dedicated himself to veterans’ issues.

In 1984, he pushed through his signature piece of federal legislation, the Montgomery

on

Lynnea Monique Doublette

WE

Timotha Lanae

Page 8 • November 18, 2019 - November 24, 2019 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Aesthetics

Dennis Spears

Greta Oglesby

Jennifer Witlock

Yolande Bruce

Penumbra’s ‘Black Nativity’ returns Penumbra Theatre announced the return of “Black Nativity” written by Langston Hughes and directed by Lou Bellamy.

The production begins on Thursday (Nov. 21) and runs through Dec. 22 at Penumbra, 270 North Kent St.,

St. Paul.

Penumbra’s homegrown Christmas musical returns with a joyful concert version of the Nativity story. Under the musical direction of Sanford Moore, “Go Tell It on The Mountain,” “O Come All Ye

Marc Cohn

“Walking in Memphis” Fame

Faithful,” “Hallelujah” and other favorites are brought to life with the vocal talents of Dennis Spears, Greta Oglesby, Yolande Bruce, the Kingdom Life Church Choir. PaviElle French will join the cast for a limited number of appearances.

“Black Nativity” is narrated by Penumbra Theatre company member Jennifer Whitlock.

This year, Penumbra Theatre welcomes choreographer Alanna MorrisVan Tassel to the artistic team.

The former Tu Dance artist and

“Black Nativity” performer ventured out on her own last year with Alanna Morris-Van Tassel Productions. She joins Bellamy (director) and Sanford Moore (musical director).

Tickets range in price from $15 for students/

youth to $40 for adults and are on sale through Penumbra Theatre’s box office at (651) 224-3180 and online at www. penumbratheatre.org.

The Hot Sardines

Brass & Sass Hotclub Stride

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

NOV 15-16

NOV 18

Donna the ƍƷÝńŕ

Nobuntu

NOV 19

NOV 21

Greats Gone 2 Soon!

American Roots Revue feat. Larry

NOV 22

NOV 23

Dance In The Street Album Release

feat. The Music of Luther Vandross, Rick James, Isaac Hayes & Barry White

African All-female A Capella

Long, Tonia Hughes, JD Steele, Waubanewquay Day and Robert Robinson

Spyro Gyra

Contemporary Jazz Icons

(Left to right), C Michael Menge, Pam Mazzone and Jada Pulley

NOV 24

A Night of Classic Rock

w/St. Paul Peterson & Classic American Rockers Southdale YMCA Fundraising Event

Bobby Rush Solo King of the Chitlin’ Circuit

NOV 26

NOV 27

Meckler Music House Presents: 90’s

The Lioness Unplugged

Re-up

Hits From Lauryn Hill, Blackstreet, TLC, Ginuwine & more

NOV 29 • 7PM

612.332.5299 dakotacooks.com

Rich Deep Hip Hop

NOV 29 • 10PM

1010 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN

HUGE Theater to host the inaugural Queer and Funny Improv Festival HUGE Theater will host the inaugural Queer and Funny Improv Festival Nov. 24.

The festival is dedicated to improv by and for people who are LGBTQ+. It will include performances, workshops, a panel and party. Though the festival centers queer people, it is open to people of all genders and orientations.

The mission of the Queer and Funny Improv Festival is to highlight the diversity of queer comedic voices, spread the joy of

improv as an art form and create a space where all can enjoy themselves while being their full selves. Where queerness is often made invisible, the founders, Pam Mazzone, C Michael Menge, and Jada Pulley, wanted to bring queerness front and center and celebrate it.

“Considering everything the queer community is facing these days, it is more important than ever for us come together, be visible, and to laugh.

Laughter is both healing and resistance,” said Pulley.

Workshops run from , 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and cost $40 (scholarships available).

There is a free panel discussion, “Out of the Closet, Onto the Stage” that takes place at 1 p.m., a free “Queer Improv Jam,” from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. open to queer-identified people only and a 8 p.m. show featuring Invisibi, Sober Queer History and The Other Jeannie Retelle. The show is $15. For more information and tickets visit queerandfunny.weebly. com.