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Insight News

October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023

Vol. 50 No. 41• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

SOUL PORTRAIT Spoken word poet Dralandra Larkins

Jerry Sedgewick

Dralandra Larkins

MORE ON PAGE

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Page 2 • October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023 • Insight News

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II Al McFarlane

Greg Cunningham

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr.

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Mahmoud El-Kati

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Pastor Runney Patterson, Sr.

Nick Muhammad

Saturday, October 28th, 2023 David McGee

Reverend Babington-Johnson

Pastor Jerry McAfee

Terry Austin

Korey Dean, Sr.

Jeffery Robinson

Marcus Owens

Cameron Perket

Pastor Andre Dukes

Bishop Larry Cook

Tre Adams

Diamond Levy

10am - 4pm

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Insight News • October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023 • Page 3

Insight News

INSIGHT NEWS IS AUDITED BY THE ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA TO PROVIDE OUR ADVER TISER PAR TNERS WITH THE HIGHES T LEVEL OF MEDIA ASSURANCE.

October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023

Vol. 50 No. 41• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Empowering Black men through fashion: Néandré Broussard’s mission to change stereotypes impeccable

By Lynn Pearcey Dallas Weekly News

Jerry Sedgewick

Jarrelle Barton

Photos and text by Jerry Sedgewick I was at the same location at West Broadway open streets as the master guzheng (Chinese zither) musician, Jarrelle Barton. He’s an extraordinary person, one who has overcome many odds to have learned the guzheng, taught himself Chinese, and is asked to be a Buddhist monk given his long history with Buddhism. He is just an all-around spiritual person. As he played, I photographed and filmed people

while they listened. As part of the photographic process, the subjects are asked to meet my eyes for an extended period of time. This process results in a photo that shows a soulful side to those being photographed, thus leading me to don these “soul” portraits.

I think you’ll find the portrait of Dralandra Larkins especially stunning, but expected, as she is a spoken word poet.

Jerry Sedgewick is a poet and scientist from St. Paul, MN. More at jerrysedgewick. com

Southern plantations were cruel in ways our present-day minds can’t begin to fathom or comprehend. For an enslaved person, destruction stood at each turn, which meant every step required precise calculations.

Any miscalculation could result in a stern reprimand or in some cases, death. When the time came to dole out punishment for actual or perceived transgressions, owners and overseers were left to the whims of their sadistic imaginations.

Those imaginations ran wild — especially when it came to enslaved black men.

Whips, clubs, knives, chains, and separation from loved ones were some of the most commonly used forms of penance. But herein lies the problem. Scars from whips, clubs, and knives healed, and the chains the enslaved black man wore were eventually unlocked. If you sold his family down south, he held fast to the prospect of escaping and one day reuniting with them. Though gruesome, each act paled compared to the least discussed and, without question, the most destructive tool the slaver had at his disposal: clothes. Clothes

Rayford Johnson of the Dallas Weekly

NéAndré Broussard

usurped all other forms of punishment, producing scars and placing the Black man in chains that could last a lifetime.

Each day an enslaver rose, he did so with two priorities: to make as much money as he could off the backs of the slaves and, most importantly, to keep the enslaved Black man from recognizing the power residing within him and the weaponization of clothes was one of his go-to strategies. Some plantation owners forced Black men to walk around practically nude, even in the harsh winter months. Others took matters to the furthest extreme, mandating that enslaved men wear long shirts that looked and fit like dresses. As he moved about the plantation, catcalls, strange looks, snickers, and insults

BROUSSARD 4

Jerry Sedgewick

Michael Chaney

Comcast support helps increase digital access Comcast last month announced the opening of four new Lift Zones in the Twin Cities to provide free WiFi access to families across the area.

Furthering the company’s deep and longstanding commitment to advancing equity and opportunity, our new Lift Zones at the International Institute, Every Third Saturday, Al Maa’uun, and GMCC will support digital access and adoption through tech training and career building. The new Lift Zone at International Institute will also receive 250 new laptops and two privacy pods, which will be used for virtual job interviews and telehealth appointments, as needed by clients.

Comcast’s Lift Zones program provides free WiFi, powered by Comcast Business, to enable students, seniors, families, and community members to get online and fully participate in the digital economy. With these four new locations, Comcast now offers over 115 Lift Zones throughout the Twin Cities.

Comcast’s investments in the four partner organizations will help increase college and career readiness, especially among underserved youth; connect workers to opportunities; provide upskilling for adult learners and those already in the workforce; and close the skills – particularly digital skills – gap.

Wikimedia Commons

Senator Laphonza Bulter

Kalyn Hove

Broderick Johnson “The tasks of starting a new life in a new country can be overwhelming for refugees and immigrants when they arrive. Digital literacy and lack of reliable internet access can get in the way of applying for work, participating in classes or accessing community services,” said Jane Graupman, Executive Director, International Institute of Minnesota. “Thanks to Comcast and this Lift Zone partnership, we can make this time a little easier for New Americans who contribute so much to our community.”

“Helping to close

the digital divide and address digital equity remain top priorities here in the Twin Cities,” said Makram El-Amin, Executive Director from Al Maa’uun. “Our city and our region have become even more dependent on broadband to learn, find work and healthcare services and so many other aspects of our daily life.

Comcast’s new Lift Zones will create endless opportunities for so many individuals, families, and seniors in our community.”

“We’re proud to partner with these four wonderful organizations

to launch new Lift Zones to advance digital equity and workforce readiness in our most vulnerable neighborhoods,” said Kalyn Hove, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast Midwest.

“Our continued partnership with our community partners will equip individuals, families and seniors with the tools, skills and resources they need to achieve their goals.”

“Helping our communities achieve digital equity is in our DNA at Comcast,” said Broderick

I2H

Tracking daily step counts can be a useful tool for weight management

PAGE 6

COMCAST 4

California Governor Gavin Newsom names Laphonza Butler to replace the late Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributo Laphonza Butler will fill the U.S. Senate seat of the late Dianne Feinstein. The groundbreaking Senator died on September 29.

Newsom’s decision was not on the political radar screen of most prognosticators.

With the selection of Butler, the decision of California’s Governor will not include any of the currently announced candidates for U.S. Senate

in 2024 in California. Those current candidates include veteran members of Congress Barbara Lee and Adam Schiff.

“As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault. Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington, D.C.,” wrote

BUTLER 5

Book Review

The Unexpected Destiny

PAGE 7

Page 4 • October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023 • Insight News

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Minnesota Black Authors Expo 2023

Dreaming in color: Telling our stories to save our lives Sharing Our Stories

By: W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor For all you wordsmiths, authors, and avid readers out there, the event of the year is back: the Minnesota Black Authors Expo, live and in-person for the first time since COVID. This year’s theme: “Dreaming in Color: Telling Our Stories to Save Our Lives.”

Hat tip to DeVonna Bentley-Pittman (the founder), Dorothy Nins (the current president of MBAE), and the staff, volunteers and supporters

Broussard From 3

abounded. It was the ultimate form of emasculation, practiced because owners knew if the Black man caught a glimpse of his regal nature, even in the tattered wardrobe of a slave, he ran the risk of awakening the king inside, and the life the enslaver had meticulously cultivated for himself would cease to exist. That’s the power of a Black man … in clothes.

When you meet NéAndré Broussard, you can’t help but realize you’re in the presence of a visionary.

Polished, well-mannered, composed, and hands down the

Comcast From 3

Johnson, EVP, Public Policy, and EVP, Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation. “We’re thrilled to partner with the International Institute, Every Third Saturday, Al Maa’uun, and GMCC on our next installation of Lift Zones in the Twin Cities and to work with partners who share our same goals of closing the digital divide.” Today’s announcement is part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to reach millions of people with the tools, resources, and skills needed to succeed in a

who make this event possible and provide the creative space.

As one who first heard of MBAE back in 2020, I have been honored to be a supporter and advocate for this fun, uplifting, and inspiring event. The following is MBAE’s mission statement: “What began seven years ago, as a shared vison between two Twin Cities women to empower other Black writers in the publishing journey, has become an active LLC with one of the largest gatherings of Black authors and book lovers in the Midwest. The mission of MBAE is to improve literacy and educational outcomes in areas with disproportionate educational disparities. We are committed to supporting authors of color by providing a space where their work can be

acknowledged, celebrated, and their incomes stimulated. One of

best-dressed brother in town, his mission is quite simple: to use clothing as a vehicle to uplift Black men all over the world.

“The media loves to paint the picture of Black men as downtrodden, crude thugs, and too often, we play up to that hurtful stereotype. It’s time to change the narrative of who we as Black men are and what we’re capable of being and how we dress is the perfect way to start that conversation and shift that mindset,” says Broussard, the Founder of Black Menswear, a content creation firm focusing on building an empowering community for Black men.

During a recent event hosted by Lubbock Smith at Dallas’s Black Dahlia to celebrate the launch of the Black Menswear Weekend, there stood Broussard, graciously

greeting, and shaking hands with all who passed his way.

The evening attracted some of the most forward-thinking and best dressed in town and while serving as the perfect appetizer for the Dallas flash mob that took place the following day.

While there, Broussard offered insights into why the Black Menswear brand is about much more than clothes. “This platform we’ve created allows me to speak directly to my Black brothers, inarguably the most misunderstood group of people in the world. My message to them is that there’s nothing wrong with looking your best because when you do, opportunities arrive. For example, another brother or sister might offer a compliment and that compliment, that simple compliment morphs into

the goals of MBAE is to bring together authors, educators,

students, and to encourage everyone to write, read, learn, and grow. Through the support of our sponsors, we provide sacred literary space for people of all ages to embrace the mission and have fun while doing it. MBAE is a clearinghouse for authors of color of every genre and age.”

Come and meet with 40+ local Black authors who will be signing and selling their work, as well as WCCO’s Shayla Michelle and our DJ for the day, Digie. There will be an artist’s stage, sponsored by Hennepin County Libraries. For the kids, we have a Kid’s Corner, with arts and crafts courtesy of Northern Suburban Center for the Arts.

Let’s not forget new, as well as established writers; there will be a Writers Bootcamp presented

by Aya Media and Publishing.

Trust and believe, you

will not go hungry, for there will be food vendors as well as other goodies.

Shout-out to the Loft Literacy Center, In Black Ink, Strive Publishing, TruStone, the Givens Foundation for African American Literature, and St. Paul Public Libraries as sponsors who are committed to the value of this mission and keeping it going.

All of this takes place on Saturday, October 21 at De La Salle High School from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. For further details, please contact Alyssa Miller at mnblackauthors@gmail. com or (612) 203-5336. That being said, come on out, enjoy, feel the energy, and support the creativity of our authors!

a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, business, networking. Before you know it, you’re talking about how you can help one another grow and advance. All this happens because the hard exteriors, the stereotypical Black man that the media focuses upon and the image they so expertly craft, leaves the room. In his place walks a determined brother with his head held high and his back straight, ready to conquer the world while looking good doing it!”

Flash mobs have become the signature event for Broussard and his Black Menswear brand.

These experiences are awe-inspiring, must-see attractions, and the Dallas offering didn’t disappoint. The hot Texas Sun brought temperatures close to

the century mark, but that Sun played a distant second to the unbridled heat produced by the mass of dapper Black men from all walks of life who gathered that day. Electricity, anticipation, and unhinged excitement filled the air as Black men, from as near as Fort Worth and as far away as the United Kingdom showed up in droves to show support for what can only be described as a movement. The galvanizing effect was evident in the aftermath as men who had never seen one another before that day left as brothers, committed to maintaining contact, building, and sharpening one another’s iron.

“Championing our Black men and revealing to them all they can be had to begin somewhere, and it just so happens we chose to build that

foundation of change on clothing and looking your best. I firmly believe that when you look good and dress well, you become better. That means you’re now a better father, a better son, and a better husband, and so forth.

If you’re an entrepreneur, your business will begin to flourish, and if you’re working a 9-to5, you’ll be motivated to work harder than you’ve ever done before, all because you’ve now unlocked the door that shifts your way of thinking and lights a path to the next level.”

NéAndré Broussard is a loving husband, father, and a successful businessman who just so happens to be the bestdressed brother in town. He’s on a mission to show that clothes can change lives, and he’s out to prove it … one Black man at a time.

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digital world. Comcast’s Lift Zones complement Internet Essentials, which since 2011, has helped connect more than 10 million low-income people to the Internet at home. In Minnesota, the program has connected more than 416,000 Minnesotans. Comcast also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides qualifying households with a $30 per month credit, or $75 per month on Tribal lands, toward their Internet and mobile services.

New and existing Xfinity Internet or Internet Essentials customers can learn more about the program and sign up by visiting: https://www. xfinity.com/learn/internetservice/acp/free-internet

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Butler From 3 Gov. Newsom in a statement released on the evening of October 1 announcing Butler’s appointment.

Butler will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate this week.

Butler has been serving as the President of EMILY’s List. The fundraising platform supports and funds women candidates

and amplifies issues that disproportionately impact women. EMILY’s List was founded in 1985 by Ellen Malcolm and founding members Barbara Boxer, Ann Richards, Anne Wexler, and Donna Shalala. From 1985 through 2008, EMILY’s List raised over $240 million for political candidates.

The move by Newsom could assist him if he should run for higher office in 2024 or 2028. Newsom has been rumored to be on a short list of Democratic candidates

who could run for President if, for some reason, Biden or Harris are not options.

But Newsom was recently asked about running for President and switched topics to the policies he believed the party should focus on.

Laphonza Butler will be yet another addition to the Congressional Black Caucus, which is now on the brink of having 60 members for the first time in history. Though the current membership of the Congressional Black Caucus is 58, one more Black member

,4 4%&%'(& !-4 &( % 3 - &%4 ,- # , 4 %4 4 24 ( 4 ( 4 4 *+ -- " %, %2 4 ,4 4 4 4 4 4 % 4 .# 4 4$ %- #4 #- 4 % 2 4 4$ ,, &%4& 4 4 ,4-&4'(&$&- 4- 4',2 &#& #4 % 4,' ( -. #4 # ( - &%4& 4 # ( %4& 4 ) %4 , %-4 % 4- (4 $ # ,4 24'(&/ % 4 .#-.( ##24,' ! 4$ %- #4 #- 4, (/ ,4 % 4 24 / #&' % 4 ,,4-&4 .#-.( , 4 &# ,- 40 ##% ,,4( ,&.( , 4( , ( 4 % 4'( - , 4 4,' # 3 4 %4'(&/ % 4, (/ ,4- -4 ( ,,4-( .$ 4 % 4 1'&,.( 4 -&4/ &# % 4., % 4 / % , 4,-( - ,40 - %4- 4 &%- 1-4& 4 %4 ) % %- ( 4 ##% ,,4 & # 4

is all but certain to enter Congress in Rhode Island after the resignation in May of Congressman David Cicilline.

Former Biden White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Director Gabe Amo won the Democratic nomination for Cicilline’s seat.

The election is on November 7.

Butler will be the only Black woman in the Senate. But Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester is expected to win the Senate seat vacated by Senator Tom Carper. Carper

announced he would not run for re-election in 2024 and Rochester announced shortly afterwards that she would run for Carper’s seat.

“Throughout her career, Laphonza Butler has been a strong voice for working families, LGBTQ rights, and a champion for increasing women’s representation in politics. I’m honored to welcome her to the United States Senate.

Governor Newsom’s swift action ensures that Californians maintain full representation

RAVI COLTRANE

in the Senate as we navigate a narrow Democratic majority.

I look forward to working together to deliver for the people of California,” wrote California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla in a statement.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the publisher of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered.

She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

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Page 6 • October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023 • Insight News

Insight 2 Health

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Tracking daily step counts can be a useful tool for weight management

By Bob Buresh Professor of Exercise Science, and Director of the Exercise Physiology Lab, Kennesaw State University Over the last decade, smartphones have become ubiquitous not just for sending texts and staying abreast of news, but also for monitoring daily activity levels.

Among the most common, and arguably the most meaningful, tracking method for daily physical activity is step counting.

Counting steps is far more than a fad: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dedicated a sizable portion of its most recent physical activity guidelines to documenting the relationship between daily step counts and several chronic diseases.

Unfortunately, the guidelines have little to say about how step counts might be used to aid in weight management, an outcome of critical importance given the high rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S. In the early 1980s, fewer than 14% of adults in the U.S. were classified as having obesity. Today, just over 40 years later, the prevalence of obesity is greater than 40% in the adult population, and current trends

Step counts have an inconsistent relationship with weight loss. suggest that almost half of adults in the U.S. will be obese by 2030.

I am a professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University, and our lab has been conducting studies examining relationships among step counts and a number of health outcomes.

612.377.2224 guthrietheater.org

While the evidence is clear that increasing numbers of adults are living in a chronic energy surplus that leads to weight gain, a key question is – why? What has changed so dramatically since 1980 that could explain why obesity rates have tripled?

Although the American diet is likely a key contributor, a wealth of research points to a reduction in physical activity as a major culprit behind the expanding waist lines – and step counts are an excellent indicator of physical activity.

Step counts may – or may not – lead to weight loss A number of recent studies have looked at whether increasing step counts can lead to weight loss over a certain period of time. One large-scale study called a meta-analysis concluded that increasing physical activity by way of step counts was effective for attaining modest weight loss. However, many if not most studies examining the effect of exercise on weight loss report modest outcomes, with results that are variable and often disappointing.

That may be in part because the step count targets used in many weight management studies are most often set in an arbitrary manner, such as targeting 10,000 steps per day. Or, if they’re individualized at all, they’re based on initial behavioral characteristics, like adding a given number of steps to what a person is already accumulating in a typical day. Rarely, if ever, are the step targets in research studies based on any physical

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attributes of the participants.

My team’s research has compiled weight, body fat percentages and average step counts for large numbers of adults between 19 and 40 years of age. From that data, we have identified a way to determine specific step count goals based on key physical attributes – namely, baseline body weight and composition, and the desired body composition.

When it comes to health, it is important to remember that body weight does not tell the whole story. In fact, body composition is much more predictive of health status than body weight. Someone who weighs more than another person may be in better health if they have more muscle mass and a lower percentage of body fat than the other person who weighs less but has a higher proportion of body fat.

Parsing the numbers We have used our data to develop a model that predicts average daily step counts per unit of fat mass from body fat percentage. We believe that this model can be used to determine how much people would need to walk to achieve a specific amount of weight and body fat reduction.

Take, for instance, a man who weighs 175 pounds (80 kilograms), of which 25% is fat. Our model suggests that he walks an average of 10,900 steps a day. Then consider another man who weighs 220 pounds (100 kilograms), of which 20% is fat. Although they have different amounts of lean mass, both men have about 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of fat.

So our model predicts that the heavier man walks an average of 15,300 steps a day. In other words, the heavier person has a lower percentage of body fat and walks more to maintain that leaner body composition.

A person’s body fat percentage is every bit as important as their weight. That’s because how much muscle you have affects how hungry you get, as well as how many calories you burn. Muscle mass requires energy to maintain, and this requirement leads to increased appetite, which means taking in more calories. In this example, the heavier man probably eats more than the lighter man in order to maintain his lean muscle mass, and he must walk more to maintain his lower body fat percentage.

If you want to lose body fat, and therefore weight, you basically have two choices: You can eat less, or you can move more. Eating less means you’ll be hungry a lot, and that’s uncomfortable, unpleasant and, for most people, not sustainable. Moving more, on the other hand, can allow you to eat until you’re full and keep body fat off – or even lose it.

Therefore, we wanted to know how much a person who eats until they’re full might have

to move to offset the calories they’re eating.

Step counts for weight loss Currently, our model applies to young adults, but we are now collecting data for middle-aged and older adults too. To use this model, you need to first have your body composition determined, a service that is being offered by increasing numbers of fitness centers and medical practices.

With our model, you must determine your body weight and fat weight in kilograms – to do this, simply divide your weight in pounds by 2.2.

With this information in hand, our model can provide a step count target that is specific to a person’s current body weight and body fat percentage, and their goal for fat loss and weight reduction.

For example, our model predicts that a woman weighing 155 pounds (70 kilograms) with 30% body fat currently accumulates an average of about 8,700 steps per day. If she wants to lose about 10 pounds and reach a body fat percentage around 25%, she could consult the model and discover that people who maintain that body composition accumulate an average of about 545 steps per kilogram of fat per day. Since she currently has about 46 pounds (21 kilograms) of fat, her goal would be to accumulate a total of 11,450 steps per day.

While that may seem at first glance to be a sizable increase in daily steps, most people can accumulate 1,000 steps in 10 minutes or less.

So even with a comfortable pace, this additional daily dose of walking would take fewer than 30 minutes. Furthermore, steps can be accumulated throughout the day, with longer or more frequent trips, or both, to restrooms, vending machines and the like.

While steps certainly can be accumulated in dedicated walking sessions, such as a 15-minute walk during lunch hour and another 15-minute walk in the evening, they can also be accumulated in shorter, more frequent bouts of activity.

Researchers have learned a great deal in the past 70 years about appetite and energy expenditure: Appetite imposes a drive for food based largely on our fat-free mass, no matter how active or inactive we are, and we must accumulate enough physical activity to counter the calories that we take in through our diet if we want to maintain an energy balance – or exceed our intake to lose weight.

Editor’s note: An incorrect equation representing the relationship between step counts relative to body composition has been removed from the chart of this article.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Insight News • October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023 • Page 7

The Unexpected

Destiny Sharing Our Stories

By: W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor AN UNEXPECTED DESTINY

By Cheryl Barton When it comes to romance novels, I love a series.

In my last review, I covered Cheryl Barton’s For You I Will, part of her Sister Act series.

Kasey’s story was compelling and uplifting, and it encouraged me to check out the stories about her sisters, Destiny and Nivea. That being said, I bring you The Unexpected Destiny.

Destiny Lockhart is the oldest of the Lockhart sisters. The director of corporate and marketing communications connected with the MercedesBenz Stadium in Atlanta, as the only African American woman to hold the position, she is a powerhouse in her career. Her love life and her personal life, however, have left her with a need to control, stemming from bad experiences in high school and a crushing prom night when she lost her virginity, a night she has kept secret even from her sisters Kasey and Nivea.

Lincoln Cole is a movie and TV show producer.

He and his brothers own a high-profile, highly successful Black-owned entertainment media mecca, and they have made a deal to do their next film project in Atlanta. In addition, the deal also includes shooting footage in the stadium, which puts him in direct contact with Destiny, the woman from his past. Yes, the sex was off the charts on prom night, but due to his immaturity in handling their post-sex conversation

and miscommunication all those years ago, Destiny wants to avoid him by any means necessary. And she had—until now.

Destiny also has a rival for Lincoln’s affections: Thalia Mendez, who dated Lincoln in high school and has been in an off-and-on, friendswith-benefits arrangement with him. A Mean Girl in high school who never grew out of it, Thalia is now an entitled diva actress who is featured in Lincoln’s latest movie project, and she wants to pick up where she and Lincoln left off to further her movie career and feather her nest with the accoutrements of a phyne, wealthy husband.

Will Destiny be able to shed the embarrassment and insecurities of her past with Lincoln? Will Lincoln show Destiny how he truly felt and feels about her? Will Thalia drive a wedge between them by using her Mean Girl tactics?

Barton brings it, and she brings it so well. It is vital to represent positive images of successful African Americans in media and business, as she illustrates in her description of both Lincoln’s company and her characters. She reminds us, as readers, of how childhood scars can follow us into adulthood if we allow them to. And of course, there is sisterhood. Many of my favorite scenes were between Destiny, her sisters, and her BFFs. Finally, there is the importance of communication, talking things out to get to the root of the matters. Once Lincoln and Destiny did that, love had room to grow and blossom.

The Ultimate Destiny is available through Amazon and Barton’s website, www. cherylbarton.net.

Thank you, Cheryl, for bringing another gem of Black Love to the table. Nivea, your story is next!

WE ARE

HIRING PART TIME

DISTRIBUTION ROUTE DRIVER

MURUA MOMs™: A SPECICAL PROGRAM FOR PREGNANT

AFRICAN AMERICAN MOMS WHO WANT A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES & THEIR BABIES 9 Are you a Pregnant African American mom who wants a better life for you and your unborn baby?

9 Do you feel “stressed out” about your life and your new baby’s health?

9 Do you want to gain new strategies to address the challenge of overcoming issues of chemical abuse, emotional problems, and unhealthy relationships?

Then, this group is for YOU! WHEN: This Free, Murua Mom’s Education and Support Group will be held on Saturdays beginning October 21st through December 9th 2023. Classes will begin promptly at 10:00– 12:00pm Noon. In-person and Virtual Participation Available. Light snacks will be provided. Childcare & Transportation support may also be available, if needed.

WHERE: UROC (UUniv. Research & Outreach Ctr) 9001 Plymouth Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411

One to two days per week. $15 per hour.

Valid driver's license required.

Call to apply 612-695-0417

HOW TO SIGN UP: Please contact Nurse Shirlynn LaChapelle, MHPP, directly @ 612382-0431 or Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya @ 612-839-1499 or Call Directly to the African American Child Wellness Institute (AACWI) at: 763-522-0100 Or Email Us At: Info@aacwi.org Murua Moms™©2008 Program Philosophy The goal of the Murua Moms program is to promote wellness and improve birth outcomes for pregnant African American women, especially those experiencing high stress conditions, chemical abuse, or mental health diagnoses. Program participants will gain hands-on guidance from licensed providers who will assist moms in learning skills that will promote wellness in themselves and their unborn babies using lectures, guest speakers, fun activities, and videos. Most importantly, mothers and dads will get intensive individual as well as group emotional support. Finally, the program also features a “Community-Wide Baby Shower” for moms and dads to get free items (e.g. car seats, clothing, diapers, cash gift cards, etc.) in preparation for their babies.

Murua Moms™ (Swahili for RESPECT) is a collaborative project sponsored by the University Research & Outreach Center, Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services, the African American Child Wellness Institute and funded by the Minneapolis Foundation - WCA Foundation Grant Program, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services Cultural Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Grant (CEMIG) Program.

Page 8 • October 9, 2023 - October 15, 2023 • Insight News

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