December 7, 2017 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391

THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934 December 7-13, 2017 Vol. 84 No. 18 www.spokesman-recorder.com

— See more Sounds of Blackness on pg. 6

Mass incarceration shows ‘a lack of imagination’

Sexual harassment isn’t just about White women or celebrities

Author sees growing resistance to our lock-‘em-up mentality

Professor James Forman, Jr.

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The issue of U.S. mass incarceration is “the unfinished business of the Civil Rights Movement,” says Yale Law Professor James Forman, Jr., the son of the late Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Black Panther Party leader James Forman. He is the author of Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America (2017).

A former Washington, D.C. public defender, Forman used his courtroom experiences as a backdrop to look at mass incarceration

years” in focusing on mass incarceration issues, Forman told the MSR before a book signing session at Westminster. “Churches and politicians are starting to question why we are locking up so many people.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Minnesota is 49th among U.S. states in imprisonment rates — 146 per 100,000 persons — but fourth in the country in highest Black-White disparity with 11 Blacks per 100,000 behind bars. The U.S. average is 5.1 per 100,000.

“The term ‘mass incarceration’ was created in 2000,” Forman told the audience. “We already knew that one of every three Blacks is under criminal justice supervision…[and] that Black women is the single largest [population] of our prison system. The United States passed Russia in the 1980s and earned the dishonor of being the world’s largest incarcerator.”

Forman pointed to the “first generation Photo by Charles Hallman of Black elected officials” of the 1970s and 1980s and several “constraints” they seemingly had to deal with as they tried to solve the growing mass incarceration problem in from a historical perspective as well as offer- response to citizens wanting a solution to ing suggestions for change. He discussed the the growing crime problem in their neigh-

“In this country we’ve come to see law enforcement as someone showing up carrying a gun and handcuffs.” book and took audience questions during his borhoods.

“Black people were elected to represent scheduled November 28 Westminster Town Hall Forum appearance in downtown Min- communities that have been deprived of resources to protect themselves,” he stated. neapolis.

“We’ve seen progress in the last couple of ■ See incarceration on page 8

Writer’s art-as-activism bears literary bounty

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer

ships, grants, readings in community gathering places, and a poetry library containing more than 5,000 titles. There have been programs in partnership with colleges and universities, public, private and charter schools, including a school for deaf children, social service agencies, and penal institutions.

Needless to say, Carolyn Holbrook’s striking out on her own proved valuably innovative, manifesting vital outreach.

In 2006, SASE merged with Intermedia Arts, which recently fell on hard financial times. While that organization’s future re-

I come from a long line of role models,” says Carolyn Holbrook, “women entrepreneurs. My grandmother developed and sold hair products, and my great grandmother turned her home into a boarding house for African American railroad porters [who] were not allowed in hotels.”

Accordingly, the accomplished lady of letters isn’t a writer simply for writing’s sake; she utilizes the arts as social activism. “[There are] so many ways of being activists. I need to do it in a way that works for me.”

Holbrook founded SASE: The Write Place as an alternative to The Loft Literary Center, where she had been programs director.

After five years there she decided in 1993 it wasn’t working out.

SASE, in fact, was established to afford writers of color true equal opportunity instead of token status at White organizations where the chief value was as funding magnets for liberal institutions financing cosmetic change in the name of cultural diversity. “[The Loft] was a really hard experience. It’s changed since then, but when an organization that’s primarily White wants to bring Carolyn Holbrook Photo by Dwight Hobbs in a person of color, usually it’s window dressing and they don’t really get the point that when we come, we mains uncertain, prospects seem good for SASE. bring ourselves and our culture.

“There are three programs that came with “So, they kept finding fault with what I was doing, but the folks in the community the merger. They’re still very viable, and difwould love it.” When she left the Loft, though, ferent people are considering managing each the priority wasn’t what was wrong there so one. Verve, which E. G. Bailey and I cofound-

“When an organization that’s primarily White wants to bring in a person of color, usually it’s window dressing.” much as it was what she wanted to be right ed…[is] the nation’s first-ever spoken word grant. What they’re calling Beyond the Pure, with SASE, which worked out quite well.

SASE programs have served writers and which initially was the SASE Jerome Grant. spoken word artists — beginning, interme■ See Writer on page 8 diate, advanced, professional — with mentor-

Black, Brown, low-wage — they’re all targets, and especially vulnerable

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer

S

exual harassment allegations in recent weeks have forced the resignations of two Minnesota State legislators, and a Minnesota U.S. Senator is facing an ethics investigation.

Paula Brantner, a senior advisor at Workplace Fairness, told Self.com that sexual harassment often can be defined in one of two ways: 1) Quid pro quo — a person with authority says they can ensure a decision regarding the person’s job if they meet a sexual demand: For example, a male supervisor says he will help the female employee get a promotion if they go out on a date.

2) Hostile work environment — this can be unwanted and can be either severe or pervasive, and could turn into sexual assault, says Brantner.

The National Woman’s Law Center says that sexual harassment doesn’t have to be sexual in nature, but just has to be related to a person’s sex in some way. Either gender can be sexually harassed.

Proving sexual harassment is hard, states Caroline Palmer, the Caroline Palmer public and legal affairs Photo by Charles Hallman manager for Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA). During a November 30 brown bag event at University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs, she discussed what constitutes sexual harassment, how to address it, and what can be done to ■ See Harassment on page 8

MN Zoo wants it known ‘We’re for everybody’

That includes its many job opportunities

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer

Michelle L. Benson, Minnesota Zoo senior director of marketing and communications, plans to improve the prestige of the venue’s accessibility, so it’s no longer just for haves, excluding have-nots.

She notes, “[The zoo has] a new president and executive director [of] about a year and a half, John Frawley. His goal is to ensure the state of Minnesota knows the zoo is for everybody.” Specifically, she underscores, beyond well-to-do Apple Valley and, for that matter, the metro and suburban Twin Cities.

“We don’t want price to be a barrier. We have a lot of programs if they can’t afford to pay, [including] Free to Explore for those who are on assistance. There are [corporations] that provide scholarship dollars. If somebody comes and says, ‘I can’t afford it, but I really want to go,’ they can fill out a form.

“There are ways,” she sums up. “We are free for Minnesotans who need it to be.”

Benson reflects as an aside, “One of my passions is to make sure Black and Brown or other underserved communities are empowered.” Another obstacle she’s surmounting, as much fun as enjoying rides, exhibits and, of course, exotic animals can be, for many the zoo’s location is simply too far out of the way.

“We have a transportation problem for people who don’t have a car; it’s a hike. We are working on [that]. For the sake of argument, if they can get to the Mall of America, we’ll [shuttle them] to the zoo and

Michelle L. Benson

Photo courtesy Michelle L. Benson

back. We’re looking at opportunities.”

Michelle Benson is not merely following a directive from higher up or just going along with a program. “I wouldn’t be at a place that does not welcome and is not authentically [engaging] my community and other communities.” That engagement entails, among other things, “getting people in the door to be educated about what we do [and] allowing others to take part in what we have. We have a very strong conservation message.”

She emphasizes that the overall priority is outreach. “Welcome to the Minnesota Zoo,” but not, Benson adds, to the exclusion of, for instance, Como Zoo. Quite the contrary: “I don’t look at any other attraction as competition [but] as an extension of what Minnesota has to offer.

“I don’t have a problem going to Como Zoo and doing a

partnership. Or going to Mall of America at Sealife [or] Crayola, all of that. Because it helps with the brand of what Minnesota is.”

Associates back home asked the Chicago native, “’Why would you move to Minnesota? There’s nothing there; not a lot going on.’ But you get here and there is. You just have to be connected. It’s all about exposure. If I can expose people to what we have to offer — the programs we offer — I want to do that.”

She is, in addition to being the lone African American female in a leadership position at the Minnesota Zoo, the highest placed African American, period. There are those who’d consider that some kind of badge of honor and enjoy nothing more than to pull the ladder up after them, relishing the I’m-the-only-one-here status.

■ See Zoo on page 8

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December 7-13, 2017

Longtime poverty crusader makes impassioned call for justice While an aide to Kennedy, Edelman witnessed the extreme horrors of poverty firsthand by accompanying the senator on trips to the small town of Cleveland in The ultimate goal, of course, is the end the Mississippi Delta, the neighborhoods of poverty itself. But as we pursue that goal, of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, and we must get rid of the laws and practicthe migrant farms of California’s Cenes that unjustly incarcerate and otherwise tral Valley. In 1996, Edelman notoriousdamage the lives of millions who can’t fight The Antily resigned his post as assistant secretary back. We must fight mass incarceration Poverty for planning and evaluation in the Clinand the criminalization of poverty in evSoldier ton administration in protest of the newery place they exist, and fight poverty, too. by ly signed welfare reform law, which he We must organize — in neighborhoods Dr. Clarence argued threatened the security and welland communities, in cities and states, and Hightower being of millions of Americans. nationally. And we must empower people Today, Edelman is professor of law to advocate for themselves as the most funand public policy at Georgetown Univerdamental tool for change. We need elected leaders, judges and lawyers, and journalists too, but we sity as well as faculty director of the school’s Center will get more done and get it done sooner if it is ground- on Poverty and Inequality. A few weeks ago, he reed in the people who demand action. — Peter Edelman turned to his hometown to discuss his recently released (and already critically acclaimed) ninth book, Next month the longtime antipoverty crusad- Not a Crime to Be Poor: The Criminalization of Poverty in er Peter Edelman will turn 80. Born and raised in America.

A follow-up to his 2012 best seller So Rich, So Poor: Minneapolis, Edelman has distinguished himself in a career spanning more than 50 years as an activ- Why It’s So Hard to End Poverty in America, Edelman’s ist, author, attorney, university administrator and ac- latest effort reveals how American institutions, big ademic. In the 1960s, he clerked for Supreme Court and small, have established and in some cases enJustice Arthur J. Goldberg and served as a legislative sconced policies and practices that persecute and effectively criminalize the poor and people of color in assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

The opposite of poverty is not wealth. It is justice. — Bryan Stevenson

this country.

Edelman cites a number of these nefarious laws and regulations in states such as Louisiana, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, South Dakota and Washington. In highlighting these, he demonstrates: • how the homeless are harassed and criminalized, • how prisons have become a preferred state substitute for mental health institutions, • how the recipients of public benefits are both ostracized and penalized by the courts, and • how racist and inequitable discipline enforcement in primary and secondary education fuels the school-to-prison pipeline.

One of the more illuminating accounts featured in the book comes in the wake of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) 2015 Civil Rights Investigation of the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department. The report notes that the city’s “law enforcement practices are shaped by its focus on revenue rather than by public safety needs, and that African Americans in Ferguson account for nearly 95 percent of all arrests (while making up approximately two-thirds) of the population.”

The DOJ findings also reveal that one African American woman, whose only crime was the onetime illegal parking of her automobile, ended up spending six days in jail and was levied fines that ultimately cost her more than $1,000. Such roguish and

Don’t let the fruit rot on the vine A biweekly column in which various contributors from both sides of prison walls explore common ground for effecting change.

By Kevin Reese Contributing Writer I often find myself in conversations with people who want to know what being in prison for 13 years feels like or how could I best describe what mass incarceration is. If there was one sentiment I can utter that would best describe what mass incarceration is, it would be to picture a fresh, ripe apple hanging from the vine

bursting with nutrients ready to be consumed by the village.

What mass incarceration does is take this same ripe and ready apple and suck out the nutrients and render it empty. In a more literal picture, mass incarceration is not the image of some super-predator criminal without any useful skills and nothing to offer the community.

The real faces of mass incarceration are the capable young men and women who were eaten up during the war on drugs with all of its over-policing and mandatory minimums that, in collaboration with the school-to-prison pipeline, sent the average prison sentence through the roof, so now people are sitting in prison younger than ever for longer than ever.

Mass incarceration is the 17-year-old

youth who was sentenced to 20 years in prison 15 years ago who now sits inside of some institution as a 32-year-old adult who has spent his entire adult life in a cage. In the state of Minnesota, this person could have spent these last 15 years entrenched in positive programming doing all that they could to pay their debt to society and giving everything they have to this system.

What the system will say back to this individual with brutal clarity is that it does not matter. They will send this same person to the county jail and deny this person access to certain programs that would enhance this person’s life. Instead, the system will continue to place this person in high-stress environments that do the work of decaying this fruit on

discriminatory practices, suggests Edelman, have in essence instituted “twenty-first century debtor’s prisons” not only in Ferguson but across America.

In its assessment of Edelman’s text, Kirkus Reviews calls Not a Crime to Be Poor “An impassioned call for an overarching movement of justice.” And, as Edelman concludes, among the most vital elements in our quest to end poverty is the swift and widespread reform of our criminal justice system.

As I have noted in several recent columns, poverty is not a character flaw. Nor is it a crime. Therefore, we cannot allow our social, political and legal institutions to treat it like one. While our nation represents only five percent of the earth’s citizens, it houses more than 25 percent of the world’s prison population. This disparity in no small part helps to drive the disgraceful income and wealth gaps here in America (in a rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer sort of way).

This has to stop. Justice must prevail.

Clarence Hightower is the executive director of Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties. Dr. Hightower holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University. He welcomes reader responses to 450 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104

the vine.

Because of the sentencing guidelines, which are a centralized approach to sentencing that do the actual work of turning human beings into numbers, this where this person will sit, feeling ripe and ready and praying for the chance to get home and contribute to the community.

Often in this space most people have done the eternal work of dealing with whatever decisions they may have made that landed them in handcuffs and feeling so far removed that there is no conscious connection between their crimes and their current incarceration.

When we think about mass incarceration, let’s think about these faces and the entire captive nation of young and vibrant human beings who could do so much to enhance the value of their communities. When we are searching for answers, let’s remember the great human

capital that we have rotting away in our small towns in big prisons — fresh fruit rotting on the vine.

During these environmentally conscious times when we are looking for new ways to reduce our waste of natural resources, let’s also turn our attention to the criminal justice system and hold all of the policymakers and profiteers accountable who are getting rich off the industry of mass incarceration.

Let’s begin to look at mass incarceration for what it is and does, depleting us of our most valuable natural resource: human beings.

Kevin Reese is a participant in Voices for Racial Justice’s “Bridging the Gap” partnership. Reader responses are welcome to info@voicesforracialjustice.org. To learn more about the organization’s work, visit www. voicesforracialjustice.org.

FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN IN OUR HOMETOWN Greater Twin Cities United Way is proud to partner with Phyllis Wheatley Community Center to help all children reach their full potential.

Learn more at gtcuw.org

December 7-13, 2017

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COPD is a preventable and treatable lung disease

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD

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hronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease that is preventable and treatable. Sixteen million Americans are currently diagnosed with COPD. Twelve million more Americans have “pre-COPD” and will be diagnosed shortly.

Every year, 150,000 Americans die of COPD. It is the thirdleading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. COPD is actually a group of lung diseases that includes: • emphysema • chronic bronchitis • some forms of asthma COPD makes breathing difficult — extremely difficult. It is irreversible, chronic, progressive and incurable. Many patients become permanently disabled and may have a drastically shortened lifespan.

In COPD, the airways in a patient’s lungs become inflamed.

Over time the airways become thick and interfere with the ability to absorb oxygen and also expel unwanted waste gases like carbon dioxide.

Over time, permanent destruction of lung tissue occurs.

Lung airflow decreases, and as the disease worsens patients experience extreme shortness of breath and a reduced ability to become and remain active. As one COPD patient said, “Breath is life, and when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”

COPD symptoms • excess mucous production of the lungs, often causing a clearing of the throat of mucous in the morning, immediately after getting up • shortness of breath, especially with light to moderate physical activities • wheezing • frequent lung infections • a longstanding cough that produces clear, white, yellow or green mucus • lightness in the chest • blue lips and fingernails (a medical condition called cyanosis from lack of oxygen intake) • decreased energy • unplanned loss of weight • ankle, feet and lower leg swelling COPD causes The main cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. In fact, 30 percent of smokers will develop COPD. Other causes include environmental exposures involving chemicals, chemical fumes, vapors, dust and air pollution.

A notorious cause of COPD is coal dust experienced by coal miners. COPD in these cases is often called “black lung disease.” Additionally, if one has asthma, smoking dramatically increases the risk of developing COPD. There is also a rare genetic condition that causes COPD called Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. In this case, a person is missing a vital protein that protects both the lungs and liver.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency represents only about one percent of all COPD cases, and Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is treated differently.

COPD complications COPD can cause several complications, including recurrent lung infections, lung cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure and depression.

COPD prevention The best way to prevent COPD is not to smoke. If you do smoke, quit smoking.

Additionally, avoid environmental exposures and chemical pollutants that can damage the lungs including coal dust and other chemical fumes. A respiratory protective mask should always be utilized in any work situation with pollutant exposures to a worker’s lungs.

COPD diagnosis The diagnosis of COPD is made by an experienced physician utilizing multiple informational inputs including medical history, physical examination, imaging studies, blood analysis and special lung function tests.

COPD treatment The treatment of COPD includes smoking cessation; inhibition of environmental or work-related lung pollutants or irritants; medical inhalers that reduce inflammation or increase lung function by relaxing the muscles around the airways, making it easier to breathe and decreasing shortness of breath; oxygen therapy; systemic prescription medications; and, most importantly, a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is the most essential and useful treatment of COPD that extends life and quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a specially designed program that employs

special exercises, educational programs, and support that is designed to allow participants to function and breathe at the very highest level possible.

Pulmonary rehabilitation allows patients to work with a

specialized team of pulmonary health professionals to improve overall health and breathing function by focusing on improving physical health through a complete program of physical exercises. The underlying belief is that by improving physical condition through structured exercise, one will also improve breathing and lung health.

Another goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to educate patients on best practices to manage their COPD so that they

have the lifetime benefit of staying active and healthy. The educational program includes tools to address adverse situations that accompany COPD such as anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.

Other techniques focus on proper breathing exercises, how to prevent COPD exacerbations, how to travel with COPD, the proper use of oxygen and medications, relaxation techniques, and important nutritional considerations. Another benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation is that patients will meet and interact with other people who also have COPD, so networking and sup-

port groups can also develop.

The diagnosis of COPD must be made by a physician with a subsequent referral for pulmonary rehabilitation. The team of pulmonary specialists is exceptionally skilled at working with people at all levels of breathing function.

Your general health and pulmonary status will be closely and carefully recorded, evaluated and monitored. With this information, the pulmonary rehabilitation team of specialists will

custom design a program for the patient. The program will start very slowly and progress as the participant is able.

It is amazing how well patients do and how well and fast they can progress, even if they start at only doing a minute or two of exercises. Patients are brought along slowly and carefully to ultimately breathe and function at the highest level possible.

It is important to remember that, in many cases, COPD can be prevented and can be treated.

If you or a loved one has COPD, talk to your doctor about new treatments and a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN. He received his M.D. and Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology and Genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States

by Black Enterprise magazine. Dr. Crutchfield was recognized by Minnesota Medicine as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations.

Healing is a journey, not a destination was able to understand the things that Trauma has been a common term were constructive for me and those discussed in many social circles for that were destructive. Being honest the past few years. I believe the conwith oneself takes being willing to get cept of trauma is approaching a conout of one’s comfort zone and being dition of stagnation due to the overbrave enough to take a risk. whelming focus it has received.

Models of impact: I remember alWe are beginning to hear new ways coming into contact with men terms to further the conversations on who inspired me directly or indirecttrauma, like “resiliency” and “healJEGNA ly to be greater than I am. I can also ing.” Both terms have their place in say there were a significant number of our conversations on trauma. Howsuch women as well. However, I can ever, we should be careful how we Brandon Jones name at least one male at each stage of are having these conversations and my development who expanded my vision of life crafting these narratives.

One way this narrative is currently explained and created a notion of something different and is the notion of healing being a destination to better out there for myself.

Exposure: This is one of the most underapprereach and not a process to experience. This can be dangerous if not discussed clearly and objec- ciated elements to one’s development. I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to other environtively.

For myself, I see where I am now just at the ments and people. That has allowed me to disbeginning of my journey to discovering who I cover a purpose larger than the box I was socialam as a man. Most of my childhood consisted ized to be in.

In essence, each of these three keys to my healof trauma and drama. I was exposed to domestic violence for a majority of my childhood. It was ing journey involves my self-awareness, social connections and environment. One cannot heal painful, unpredictable, and often shocking.

I am the oldest of three boys. My brothers without being able to find comfort in these three played a significant role in my development as areas.

Many men suffer in silence because we struga man. Unbeknown to them, I made a lot of decisions in my life to provide a model for what I gle to recognize that our comfort zone is an unthought we lacked with the male figures in our healthy place for us to be in. Sometimes our pain is the center cushion in the comfort zone. Our lives.

I always attempted to do things for my broth- pain is familiar and predictable, which usually ers so they could have at least one male to look leads to limited action in treating it in a construcat and say, “This is what a man is supposed to tive matter.

We should not view healing as a destination. be.” This is a lot of responsibility to place on oneself as a child. However, I felt chosen to be such It is dangerous when we do so. We must start discussing healing as a journey. Sometimes we have a person.

Now I am approaching 32 years of age and do experienced so much toxicity in our lives that it a lot of work around trauma, manhood, personal does not go away. However, those adverse expedevelopment and mental health. I am often asked riences do not have to impede our growth and by my peers, “How did you overcome?” and our purpose.

It is my hope that your journey will lead you to “What helped you to heal from your trauma?”

This is not easy to answer. There were several abundance and success. factors from my perspective. I am confident that Brandon Jones M.A. is a mental health practitioner.

I am unaware of some of these factors. However, the following three things have been significant He welcomes reader responses to Brandon@jegnainstitute.com or follow him on twitter @UniversalJones. in assisting me on my healing journey: Being honest: This is the key element in my journey. I was able to be authentic with myself. I

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February 16-22, 2017

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4 December 7-13, 2017

‘Recycle Your Holidays’ program is changing, but recycling efforts remain

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on’t know what to do with those old or no-longer-working strings of holiday lights? Making the switch to energy efficient LED holiday lights? Either way, recycle your old lights!

Recycle Your Holidays is a one-of-a-kind statewide holiday light-recycling program in Minnesota created by the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM). Although the Recycling Association of Minnesota will no longer be operating the Recycle Your Holidays program, you can still drop off unwanted light strings at participating locations featuring their own light-recycling program during this holiday season.

When RAM and our partners started this collection program seven years ago, few, if any, of these holiday lights were recycled.

Now, thanks to collaborative efforts with so many of you, thousands of Minnesotans now realize the value and importance of recycling these lights and additional recycling opportunities now

exist statewide.

While RAM has stepped away from this initiative, many of the same drop-off locations will still be available; others may be added or closed. We will continue to work with the Clean Energy Research Teams (CERT) and other partners to provide and relay collection location information.

To find the nearest location to you, call your city or county solid waste and recycling department or check back soon for an updated map with collection locations.

Year-round drop-offs include: Andover City Hall – 1685 Crosstown Boulevard, Andover, MN 763-767-5175 Becker County Courthouse (3rd floor by Zoning Dept.)

– 915 Lake Avenue, Detroit Lakes, MN Becker County Transfer Station – 24413 County Hwy 144, Detroit Lakes, MN

Carver County Environmental Center – 116 Peavey Circle, Chaska, MN 952-361-1835 Chisago County Household Hazardous Waste Facility – 39649 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 651-213-8921 City of Elk River – 13065 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN 763-635-1073 City of Hopkins – 1010 1st St S, Hopkins, MN 55343 952-935-8474 Coon Rapids Recycling Center – 1831 111th Avenue Coon Rapids, MN 55433 763-767-6485 Hennepin County Recycling Center and Transfer Station - 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 Itasca County Transfer Station & Waste Management – 29959 County Road 62, Grand Rapids, MN 218-328-5801 PHASE Recycling – 104 Main Street, Sandstone, MN 320-425-2246 Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management Recycling Center – 2115 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 320-763-9340 Ramsey County Household Hazardous Waste Facility – 5 Empire Drive, St. Paul, MN 651-633-3279 Rice County Recycling Center & Landfill – 3800 E 145h St., Dundas, MN 55091 507-332-6833 Scott County Household Hazardous Waste Facility – 588 Country Trail E (Hwy 282), Jordan, MN 952-496-8652 South Hennepin Recycling and Problem Waste Drop-Off Center – 1400 West 96th Street Bloomington, MN 55431 Steele County Waste Management Recycling Center – 1171 Brady Boulevard, Owatonna, MN 507-456-4894 Washington County Environmental Center – 4039 Cottage Grove Drive, Woodbury, MN 651-430-6655 West Central Industries (WCI) – 1300 22nd St. SW, Willmar, MN 320-235-5310 Jobs Plus – 200 16th Ave SE, Waseca, MN 507-883-1230 ProAct, Inc. – 3195 Neil Armstrong Blvd., Eagan , MN 651-289-3142 WACOSA – 321 Sundial Dr., St. Cloud, MN 320-251-0087 ext. 207 —Information from Recycling Association of Minnesota

Hennepin County plans to reaCH zero waste to landfills the following strategies to help meet our goals of increasing recycling, preventing waste, and sending zero waste to landfills: • Focus on organics recycling, which is the greatest opportunity to reduce our trash, by proposing requirements for cities and certain businesses, increasing local capacity to manage organics, and working to prevent food waste.

• Build momentum for waste prevention and reuse by better understanding consumption habits and promoting waste prevention actions.

• Continue to serve residents where they are, including

The board adopted the Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Master Plan for 2018-2023. State statute requires metro counties to prepare master plans every six years that identify strategies to meet the state’s goal of zero waste landfilled by 2030. The county has made steady progress toward these goals and diverted 82 percent of waste from landfills in 2016, a rate on par with national leaders. A primary focus of the plan is diverting organics from the trash by proposing requirements for cities and certain businesses, increasing local capacity to manage organics and working to prevent food waste.

The master plan includes

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Contributing Writers

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at single-family and multifamily residences, work, school and on the go.

Promote drop-off disposal options for household hazardous waste and recyclables.

Reuse and recycle construction and demolition waste.

Support the MPCA’s environmental justice policy in alignment with the county’s disparity reduction efforts.

Impact/Outcome: The master plan was developed to be consistent with the county’s mission to enhance the health, safety and quality of life of our residents and communities in a respectful, efficient and fiscally responsible way. It is also consistent with Environment and Energy’s mission of protecting the environment and conserving resources for future generations.

The intended outcome of the county’s master plan is to guide the development and implementation of waste management programs and facilities that protect the environment, reduce the amount of waste generated, properly manage hazardous waste, recover material and energy from waste, and minimize the use of landfills.

The impact of not successfully achieving master plan outcomes will be the continued and increased use of land disposal of solid waste at landfills in Minnesota and adjacent states; greater quantities of greenhouse gas emissions; less material recycled and composted; and less energy recovered from waste.

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The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes and values commentary and feedback from the community. The articles found here are edited for clarity and/or space, but the opinions are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of the MSR.

My Black lesbian body is a target for police brutality

By Reverend Irene Monroe Regular Commentator

The Black soldier they left behind Too many unanswered questions about death of Sergeant La David Johnson OPINION COLUMN Through My Eyes The Minneapolis Story Continues

By Ron Edwards African American Army Green Beret Sergeant La David Johnson was killed in Africa in an ambush along the Niger-Mali border, October 4, 2017. As this is written, the Department of Defense has not released full information regarding how it was that he was missing for 48 hours. He was found tied and tortured, with parts of his body found in a different area than the ambush site where he and three other Green Berets were ambushed.

Pentagon silence raises suspicions and conspiracy theories. Although the Pentagon says it will release the information regarding his death. Will they? Doubts exist. Yet, release it they must.

The Obama Administration ordered the military operations in Niger. Both Republican and Democrat presidents have supported long-standing wars and advisory teams, especially since 9/11. So, why is the Administration silent and slow in reporting?

The American creed is to leave no soldier behind, and yet Sergeant Johnson was clearly left behind, and clearly tortured, mutilated, and killed. Were it not for the tenaciousness of Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), we would not be talking about Sergeant Johnson’s death.

Of course, we want to protect and secure our homeland, but should worldwide military involvement be the best answer? Why Niger? Why this ambush? Some say we are in Niger to protect a $50 million airbase for drones that can reach Algeria, Libya, the Sudan, Kenya and Somalia. Yet, there is very little information on when the commitment was made to build this drone base in Northern Niger.

Prior to the mysterious death of Sergeant Johnson, there had been little if any information in the Congressional Record regarding the intent of American military involvement in Niger.

Sergeant Johnson’s body was found over a mile from the ambush site, mutilated and hands tied. A team of French Foreign Legion, American Special Forces, and military troops from both Mali and Niger recovered his body.

There is a large contingent of private mil-

itary contractors with ties to American corporations in the United States who are helping construct this airbase in Northern Niger, many with executives who made large donations to our national parties.

As few are covering the ambush, we will continue to do so in this column.

In fact, the family of Sergeant Johnson, joined by Congresswoman Wilson, has indicated that they are moving to exhume the body to determine if the remains of Sergeant Johnson are in that casket.

There are those who believe one reason why President Trump’s Chief of Staff was so passionate in his response regarding Sergeant Johnson’s mother, wife, and Congresswoman Wilson, was to distract from the fact that the Pentagon denied the family to view the body before the burial. That was unprecedented and contrary to the rules and procedures for the burial of American service persons who have lost their lives in conflicts.

For a while, Sergeant Johnson was abandoned. The French and Niger Defense ministries are caught in the middle of trying to explain why it allegedly took 48 hours to recover the body of Sergeant Johnson. With the exception of Congresswoman Wilson and some other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, there has been an eerie and troubling silence.

In closing, I refer you to a situation twenty days ago, before the writing of this column, when CNN announced they were prepared that afternoon to bring forward evidence that Sergeant Johnson had been abandoned. Yet, in the time it took to broadcast a 3.5-minute commercial, the story of the witnesses and evidence of the abandonment of Sergeant Johnson disappeared.

The family of Sergeant Johnson, and the rest of us, deserves a full and honest explanation of the circumstances surrounding his death and that of his three comrades.

Stay tuned.

Ron has hosted radio and TV show’s broadcast times, solutions papers, books, and archives, go to www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.

The reality of unarmed African American women — LBTQ, gender nonconforming and straight — being beaten, profiled, sexually violated and murdered by law enforcement officials with alarming regularity is too often ignored — especially with the focus of police brutality on our males.

Like so many African American women, Sandra Bland’s death in 2015, resulting from police brutality was not new news. The national attention it received was, however.

Northeastern University conducted a panel to discuss the topic further, titled, “Invisible No More: Black Women and Police Violence,” that looked at criminalization — of African American women and women of color like Two -Spirit, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern women, to name a few — and police violence that sometimes resulted in deadly consequences.

The panel of experts was the following: Andrea Ritchie is an African American lesbian immigrant and a police misconduct attorney and organizer.

She’s the author of Invisible No More: Racial Profiling and Police Brutality Against Women of Color that has recently come out, and the co-author of Say Her Name: Resisting Police Violence Against Black Women, and Queer (In)Justice: The Criminalization of LGBT People in the United States.

Simone John is a Bostonbased poet, educator, and facilitator. She’s the author of Testify, her first full-length book of poems about African Americans impacted by state-sanctioned violence.

Monica James is a Black trans woman activist. She is the National Organizer for Black and Pink, and a collective member of Transformative Justice Law Project.

Because of maltreatment in prison, in 2014, James became a delegate to testify before the Committee Against Torture (CAT) at Geneva Switzerland. Her work towards the advancement of trans justice, transformative justice, and prison abolition has made her the national

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CORRECTION POLICY If we make an error, we want to correct it. If you believe that an error has been made email jhence@spokesman-recorder.com. If a correction is warranted, it will be printed the next week.

In response to “Drama therapy is a new tool to help those with autism” by Dr. Charles Crutchfield, III, November 23, 2017 Thank you, Dr.Crutchfield for your recognition of drama therapy for people on the ASD spectrum. I do a lot of drama therapy work with this population and it is very effective. It really should be one of the treatments of choice! There is a good deal of research on its effectiveness.

I do want to mention that while Cindy Schneider’s book is a good resource, she is not a drama therapist. I recommend the following by drama therapists: Lee Chasen’s “Engaging Mirror Neurons to Inspire Connection and Social Emotional Development in Children and Teens on the Autism Spectrum: Theory into Practice through Drama Therapy,” “Play-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum,” edited by Loretta Gallo Lopen, RDT, “Dramatherapy and Autism” by Deborah Haythorne and Anna Seymour, and “The Use of the Creative Arts Therapies with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” edited by Stephanie Brooke.

—Sally Bailey via MSRNewsOnline.com

spokeswoman Robyn Maynard is a Black feminist author, grassroots community organizer and independent scholar based in Montréal. She’s the author of Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present.

The panel discussed the context around the historic and present-day patterns and paradigms of policing and punishment that stems from centuries of colonialism, slavery, segregation, and immigration. The overpolicing of women of color is due to gang violence, the war on drugs, war on terrorism, Islamophobia, poverty, sex trade industry, domestic violence and mental health, to name a few.

Transmisogyny and racism put transgender women of color, in particular, at a high risk of police violence.

Less than half of trans women of color report discriminatory policing such as “stop and frisk” and “walking while trans.” Trans women of color who have participated in underground economies have experienced excessive police violence i.e., 34 percent of Latinx and 53 percent of Blacks.

For example, in 2007, James was subjected to excessive police violence. She was viciously attacked by an off-duty police officer in Chicago, arrested, and charged with attempted murder for defending herself. While in prison, James, like many trans women, was misgendered by correctional officers and inmates, sexually assaulted repeatedly and denied access to gender-affirming healthcare.

Shockingly, too, genderbased forms of police violence, such as sexual assault, is wildly pervasive, gravely ignored and deliberately underreported. While the nation learned of the rapes of more than a dozen African American women at the hand of now convicted Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw, most incidents like this one enjoy impunity.

The reason many sexual assaults go unreported is that half of the 35 top fifty police departments in the U.S have no policies prohibiting police sexual violence

against the public. According to a 2016 investigation by the Buffalo News, a police officer, on average, is caught in an act of sexual misconduct every five days. Ritchie stated, “Those are just the ones who are caught, representing, by all accounts, just the tip of the iceberg of this pervasive yet invisible form of police violence.”

For example, to avoid being assaulted during ”stopand-frisk” many women of color have been forced into sexual acts to stave off arrest. Too often, an officer will “turn off the microphone on his body camera and later claim it malfunctioned, and then lie about the gender of drivers he pulled over to cover up the numbers of women he targeted,“ Ritchie stated.

Bland has come “to stand for every Black woman who has ever changed lanes without using a turn signal or expressed frustration at getting a traffic ticket.”

However, the perceptions and stereotypes of African American women — combative, mouthy, not deferential enough and “angry Black woman” — can sadly turn into deadly action as we see with Bland. Bland’s crime is what’s depicted as “contempt of cop.” She wasn’t obsequious or subservient enough when the officer asked her to extinguish her cigarette. And for something as minor as a traffic signal violation, the incident escalated out of control. But when the dominant culture doesn’t see and hear African American voices about our pains, fears, and vulnerabilities our humanity is distorted and made invisible through a prism of racist and sexist stereotypes. So, too, is our suffering.

The campaign “Say Her Name” addresses the lack of reporting, documenting, and accounting for the violations and death of African American women and girls at the hand of law enforcement officials.

Every day, when my spouse and I leave home, I pray we return to each other.

Rev. Irene Monroe is a Huffington Post blogger and freelance journalist.

In response to “Initiative calls for a police-free Minneapolis” by Charles Hallman, November 23, 2017 Hah, absolutely, we’ll disband the PD first thing. Before we do let’s take a look at some statistics.

83 murders in Minneapolis since Clark. I wonder how many of those lives mattered to these young intellectuals? They’re disproportionately African American, by the way.

1,026 rapes reported to the police.

3,680 robberies reported to the police.

4,585 aggravated assaults – this is the figure that icludesnon-lethal shootings, stabbings, and so on.

Mr. Clark was armed with the officer’s gun and refused numerous commands to release that gun when he was shot. Prior to that he refused verbal commands to remove his hands from his pockets. This happened after he assaulted his girlfriend, breaking her ankle, then interfered with paramedics attempting to treat her.

I see they support “community self defense organizations.”

Fascinating. I wonder what these organizations will do. Will they interrupt robberies, burglaries, and other violent crimes? Will they attempt to proactively take guns off the streets? If someone is murdered, shot, or stabbed, what will they do to keep the aggressor from hurting someone else? By what standards of conduct will they be guided – will the 4th amendment apply to them? Will they wear body cameras? What will be the community’s recourse when they disagree with how this organization has carried out its business?

Hmm, I’m sure they’ve thought all these questions and others through. They couldn’t possibly be fantasizing about a vigilante organization with precisely 0 of the checks and balances of the existing police force, of course not. I’m also sure they’ll be the first ones in line when it comes time to tell someone from the tres or 19 dipset or someone else to stop doing that gunpoint robbery. I bet that will turn out well for them.

Best of luck to these young people. I sincerely hope they create some kind of positive change in their lifetime.

—W.G. via MSRNewsOnline.com

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December 7-13, 2017

'Tis the Season for the Sounds of Blackness he moved to Minneapolis from Natchez, Mississippi, before he joined Flyte Time, he joined Sounds of Blackness.

The great Cynthia Johnson — you may not know her name, but everyone knows “Funky Town.” Ann Nesby went on to have a great solo career, but is still part of the Sounds extended family.

a Super Bowl gospel concert at Bethel College.

Also, our homeboys Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are the ambassadors and producers of Super Bowl Minneapolis Sound Celebration. A week of free concerts on Nicollet Mall and ours will the Sunday before the game. A shout out to Jam and Lewis. We appreci-

"We always have such repeat audiences that we do things we know will make it a fresh experience ..."

Photo courtesy of Sounds of Blackness

T

he timeless phrase “Twas the night before Christmas” from the classic ode, A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore, has never been quite the same since Gary Hines and Sounds of Blackness (www.soundsofblackness.org) got their hands on it and took the yuletide scenario to soulville with the annual heartwarming The Night before Christmas — A Musical Fantasy.

The contemporary adaptation brings Santa and the Mrs. together with Rudolph the Rappin’ Reindeer for delightful song and dance to celebrate the reason for the season.

Hines, founding music director/producer, guides the internationally renowned, three-time Grammy Awardwinning ensemble with a well-versed hand, expertly blending genres to craft a universal yet distinct style.

Over almost a half-century, Sounds of Blackness has recorded film soundtracks (Batman, Panther, Posse, Down

in the Delta, Mo’ Money, and Precious), worked with countless luminaries, among them Prince, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker, and performed at the Grammy Awards, World Cup and the Olympics, garnering honors that includes NAACP Image Award and a Soul Train Music Award, to name a few.

The runaway 1991 hit “Optimistic” put them prominently on the musical map and they have since enjoyed ever-increasing success.

Hines spoke with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, taking a break from promoting and preparing The Night Before Christmas. He sounded the alarm to prospective ticket buyers: “Don’t wait ‘til the last minute! We have so many people who afterward, at church or wherever, say, ‘We didn’t get our tickets. And it was sold out.’” Hence, a proverbial word to the wise.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR): When did Sounds start?

Gary Hines (GH): Our roots go to 1968. My alma mater Macalester College started a program, Expanded Educational Opportunity, for students of color — Latino, Native, Asian and African American. As an offshoot, they had a 50-voice choir started by Russell Knight.

In 1971, I [succeeded] him. The music was in the

tradition of Duke Ellington. When people called him a jazz musician, he’d reply, “I do the music of my people.” Gospel, spirituals, blues and, of course, jazz. So, the mold had been set. We needed a name to reflect that, the music of the people. Ragtime, reggae, hip hop, rock. People forget rock is Black music. So, that January we named ourselves Sounds of Blackness.

MSR: What background qualified you for the job?

GH: There was the North High Black Choir around ’70 or so. I was their director. Many times we were on a [bill] with Macalester Black Voices. That’s how they became aware of me. I had started with the old Sabathani Baptist Church, directing their youth choir in my late teens. And my mom, the late great Doris Hines, exposed me and my brothers to all kinds of music.

MSR: But why directing? Was it leadership ability?

GH: I was always attracted to the function of a conductor, whether a symphony orchestra, church choir, a Jackie Wilson or James Brown band. The whole ensemble was the instrument of the conductor. I always heard music that way, in its totality. Even as a drummer, hearing the other parts. Whether it was in my community back in Yonkers [N.Y.] or watching Duke Ellington, Count Basie. I wanted to do that — had to.

MSR: Sounds personnel have come and gone, most notably vocalists. The band, as the saying goes, plays on.

GH: It’s been wonderful. We’ve been blessed. That’s been one of our goals. For Sounds of Blackness to be a springboard for careers.

Our first person to do that, a lot of people don’t know, was Alexander O’Neal. When

MSR: Can audiences expect the same show they saw last year?

GH: Yes and no. We always tweak it. Update some of the songs, some of the gags to keep it a contemporary kind of thing. For instance, the mice this year have a special surprise. So do the reindeer. To divulge any more would ruin it.

MSR: So it’s the same thing only different.

GH: It’s always the basic [production]. But we always have such repeat audiences that we do things we know will make it a fresh experience for them.

MSR: What’s next after The Night Before Christmas?

GH: A few things. We were asked to perform for the General Mills/Martin Luther King breakfast, this year on the actual day of his birthday January 15. After that there’s

ate them having the Sounds of Blackness in there.

The Night Before Christmas A Musical Fantasy is Sat., Dec. 23, 8 pm at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. $25 - $50. For more info, go to http://bit.do/ SoundsNightBeforeChristmas.

Dwight Hobbes welcomes reader responses to P.O. Box 50357, Minneapolis, MN 55403.

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December 7-13, 2017

7

United Way expands local, national, international outreach

By Jonika Stowes Contributing Writer

G

reater Twin Cities United Way’s new mission is to “galvanize the community to build pathways towards prosperity and equity for all.” This new mission has led to implementing college partnership programs and youth LGBTQ partnership programs, just to name a few new initiatives.

Over a hundred years old, Greater Twin Cities United Way is one of the largest locations out of 1,400 around the world serving the counties of Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Dakota, Carver, Chisago, Anoka, Isanti and parts of Washington.

A Medtronic Foundation grant given to the United Way is headed into its fifth year focusing on diabetes and cardio vascular diseases. “In its first few years the grant was used to do community needs assessments in 2013 and ‘14,” says Camille Cyprian, senior community impact program manager. “This assessment showed that the two communities most affected were North Minneapolis’ Near North and South Minneapolis’ Phillips neighborhood.”

United Way doesn’t determine if the diseases are hereditary but instead focuses on “helping a client understand their disease and what it means to their health so that they can advocate and navigate the medical system on their own,” says Cyprian. “The community

needs assessments are really important because we know that the community has the best solutions to their unique challenges,” adds Meghan Barp, senior vice president of community impact at United Way. A community health worker position, considered an emerging field, provides a structured foundation into the medical profession that can be used as a stepping stone in advancing within the healthcare system. “The partnership with Medtronic Foundation has allowed United Way to invest in and with community, and not for and to the community, and we really thought about that approach. We love that it’s about health equity, but it’s also about the creation of jobs,” says Barp.

In 2016, three years into a partnership with the nonprofit agency Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association (MVNA), a merger came about with Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), casting a broader network for United Way to help more members of the community. “The benefit of community health workers is they often come from immigrant communities that are experiencing health disparities and can be that bridge for folks who aren’t sure about accessing care, don’t go to a hospital, or don’t have a primary care provider,” says Cyprian.

“That’s the bridge between community and clinical systems that encompasses a more holistic view of health than just what happens in the clinic, but

what they’re learning in college right now to solve a problem at a non-profit organization.” The program is still in its initiation phases as a club at the University of Minnesota and currently has just under 10 student members.

One of them, Augustus Pendleton, a junior at the University of Minnesota, says, “Last year we had a dedicated executive board who worked really hard and had a great amount of interest.” The club, called Student United Way at the U of M, has seen many of its members return at the beginning of this school year. Pendelton admits, however, that the club has struggled to keep students interested in attending various events, and that the Student United Way is working hard to increase its membership among the student body.

United Way staff Camille Cyprian (l) and Meghan Barp “It’s definitely a Photo courtesy of the United Way work in progress.

We’ve worked really to create a support system for Way, runs the college partner- hard on how we want to structure our organization and memthe targeted communities. “Sol- ship program.

“The purpose is for students bership,” says Pendelton. idarity MN is a collaborative of United Way stationed in funders from around the state to understand the needs of who are specifically focused on their community because they Puerto Rico opened its doors the immigrant and refugee chal- are so young, to be involved in four days after hurricane Malenges based on the executive their communities and use their ria destroyed most of the Unitorders that came out earlier this skills,” Anderson says. “There’s ed States’ island territory. “Our year from President Trump,” so many ways they can be in- U.S. president, Mary Sellers, has volved through volunteering, been in Puerto Rico leveraging Barp says.

“We’ve come together to in- serving in a nonprofit organiza- resources,” Barp says.

“We’ve worked with the fuse money and resources in- tion at a young age and by using also addresses some of the social determinants,” she continues. Out of the six community health workers for United Way, three of them are bilingual and are able to communicate fluently with the communities being served.

When immigrant communities were targeted by the incoming political administration at the beginning of this year, United Way jumped into action, partnering with Solidarity MN

to our communities as soon as possible, investing half a million dollars as a rapid response to a specific crisis that we have in our community right now.”

The college partnership program is in its second year at the University of Minnesota and looking to be implemented at St. Thomas University, Augsburg College, Concordia University and other surrounding colleges. Naomi Anderson, marketing segment manager at United

Community gathered to celebrate mothers Mothers of all ages were honored Saturday, Dec. 2 at Midpointe Event Center in Saint Paul. In front of a packed room of community members, family members and loved ones took turns honoring the special mothers and mother figures in their lives. DJs Walter ”Q Bear” Banks and Lazy T spun tributes songs while attendees networked, shopped, won prizes and enjoyed health screenings. The event was sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Up next: Sister Spokesman invites you to ”Move Your Body in the New Year,” Jan. 6 from 12-4 pm at Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis. Visit Facebook/Sister Spokesman for more details.

Attendees showing off their moves

United Way worldwide team to connect some of our companies to make sure they are able to get resources there as well.”

She says the organization is fortunate to have people on the ground in some of the hardesthit locations around the globe.

Places like Central America, Mexico, and the British Virgin Islands have all seen one of the United Way’s 1,400 locations activated.

Through natural disasters, active shooters and personal crises, United Way has played a key role in assisting countries getting back to semi-normal lifestyles. “Las Vegas is another example of where our United Way system has been activated,” says Barp.

“The number 211 is all over the country where people can call in and access someone who speaks their language and get connected to resources that they need,” she explains. Long after the headlines of a crisis have come and gone, United Way is there fielding calls, raising money, and investing in rebuilding communities.

This story was made possible by support from the Medtronic Foundation. To volunteer, donate, or find more programs, visit www.unitedway.org.To donate or find more information on the partnership with Solidarity MN, visit www.solidaritymn.org.

Jonika Stowes welcomes reader responses to jstowes@spokesmanrecorder.com.

ARTISTIC EAR WEAR Judith Clark your ear wear stylist 612-702-3457 Judy_digg@yahoo.com (title you message: regarding ear wear) facebook: artistic ear wear, leave a message there also

Obituary

Claudia G. Wallace-Gardner

C

laudia, age 68 of Minneapolis, passed away November 6, 2017. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm at Coffman Memorial Union Theater, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus.

More details and complete notice will be shared in January.

(front row: l-r) Tracey Williams-Dillard, Clare Henderson, Josephine Arkadie Bunton, Alfreda Flowers and Kesha Taylor (back row: l-r) Paula Haywood, Leon Rodrigues, Yvonne Turner, Juanita Flowers and Jakai Taylor Photos by Steve Floyd

KFAI is a volunteer programmed community radio station.

The KFAI Board of Directors meets the 4th Monday of each month. The public is welcome to attend.

Visit KFAI.org for updated meeting times and locations or to learn how to donate or volunteer.

Worship Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

Bethesda Baptist Church

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

Rev. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor 2600 E. 38th Street.

Mpls., MN 55408 612-827-7928 fax: 612-827-3587 www.greatfriend.org Sunday Morning Worship: 8 am Sunday School: 9 am Morning Worship: 10:40 am N.B.C.: 5:30 pm Evening Worship: 7pm (1st Sunday) www.greatfriend.org The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody

Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor 451 West Central St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444 Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8 & 10:45 am Prayer Service: Wednesday 7 pm

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Dr. Willa Lee Grant Battle, Pastor 1908 Fourth Ave. So. Mpls., MN 24 Hour Dial-A-Prayer: 612-870-4695 www.gtdci.org Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Prayer Daily 7 pm Evangelistic Service: Wednesday & Friday 8 pm

Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM

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At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904

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Service Times: Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm Children's Bible Class 7 pm

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8

December 7-13, 2017

Harassment

Immigrants documented or undocumented also are wary of reporting sexual harassment, said Palmer. “If you report Continued from page 1 [it], you might get deported. Your family members might get deported. They are held hostage on their job…and taken adimprove current policies.

“Where do you report something that vantage of.” This is the same for low-wage happened to you? It is not easy to do. It workers and those working in hospitality takes a lot of effort on the part of the victim and janitorial positions — more than one in order to come forward. The burden [of in 10 workers report that they have been harassed on the job, Palmer stressed. proof] is very high,” Palmer said.

Palmer admitted that the two MinneIt’s even harder for Blacks and other women of color, she noted, citing sever- sota state legislators’ resignations were a al key points such as they don’t have the same support system as White women, the historical bias against women of color, the “awful stereotypes,” and what happened to Anita Hill.

Hill became nationally known in 1991 after she testified in Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings that the now-U.S. “stunner” because she and MNCASA ofSupreme Court justice sexually harassed ficials have worked with them on sexual her when he was her boss at two federal harassment and sexual assault issues: “We knew them quite well,” she said. “Everyagencies.

“She suffered greatly for coming for- body is scratching their heads on what are ward against Clarence Thomas,” Palmer we going to do next.”

“It is extremely serious,” said State Senrecalled. “It was an awful sight to see what she was put through. That was two de- ator Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis) of cades ago, and I don’t know if it [took place] these resignations in a phone interview the same way today if anything changed.” last week. He believes that rewriting and

reviewing current policies might be required. “We are looking at figuring out a way for people who have been victims of [sexual harassment] or think they have been victims of it to find a confidential way they can report it, be investigated, and dealt with it if someone has been harassed.”

The MSR talked with a Black woman corporate executive last week who spoke on the condition that her name and former employer wouldn’t be identified. “The CEO sexually harassed me for more than three years,” she said. “When he stopped

“I think it takes a toll on Black women.

They find it hard to be taken seriously because of all the stereotypes.”

Zoo

Writer Continued from page 1

“[This] year, Diane Wilson and Bao Phi are mentoring young writers. And [from] the SASE About Town Reading Series, Andrea Jenkins and John Medeiros started Queer Voices.”

In 2015, she enjoyed something of an oldhome-week occasion being published in the anthology Blues Vision: African American Writing from Minnesota (Minnesota Historical Society Press) with several figures from her days of contribution to the groundbreaking opinions journal Colors in the early 90s. For six years it was Minnesota’s only magazine devoted to minority writers and provided exposure to names like Alexs D. Pate, J. Otis Powell and Pamela Fletcher who, along with herself, would go on to make a lasting impact on the literary landscape.

Holbrook reflects, “Along with a lot of young people. I think they did a really good mix of cross-generational stuff.”

Holbrook’s awards include the Minnesota Book Awards, Kay Sexton Award, and Black Poetic Fusion Community Service Award. She received a LIN grant in 1996 to visit with leaders of multicultural and multidisciplinary arts organizations and look at the internal and external qualities that support their programming, management and stability, and to work with a writ-

incarceration Continued from page 1

“In the last 50 years, a generation of Black elected officials” regularly solicited Washington for federal funds to deal with crime, housing and other pressing community needs as well as “a Marshall Plan for Black America — the U.S. government to invest in Black communities as they did in Europe after World War II. They came back usually with money for one of the above — law enforcement, police, prisons.”

The law professor-author also

sexually harassing me, he began attacking me publicly. He once withheld a pay increase although he rated my job performance high/above average, meriting a salary increase, until I spoke to the chairman of the board about it,” stated the woman.

Going to human resources often isn’t the answer, she added, because they work for the company.

She watched with keen interest the lat-

ing mentor to complete a book of essays.

She coordinated LIN alumnae activities from Continued from page 1 1999 until the program ended in 2002. In 2005 she designed the Givens Foundation for African American Literature’s writers-in-the-schools program.

Not Michelle Benson. “I do well interacting Her essays appear in, among other collec- with different kinds of people, so, it doesn’t matter tions, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minneso- to me if I’m the only one. It matters if I’m the only ta (MNHS Press) and as Earth Angels, forthcoming for a very long time.” as a chapbook (Spout Press). Her book, Ordinary She adds, having been on board only half a year, People, Extraordinary Journeys: How the St. Paul “I’ve already had conversations with my director Companies Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods and deputy director about our diversity inclusion Program Changed Lives and Communities (North and equity plan on moving forward with bringing Star Press and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, OX press).

Holbrook currently teaches creative writing at Hamline University, where she received an Exemplary Teacher Award, and at Minneapolis Community & Technical College, where she instructs classes in composition and creative writ- more [professionals] of color to the zoo. Not just in ing. lower level areas, but all the way up through leadHer present contribution to social progress ership. Putting things in place in order to do that. is the ongoing forum “More Than a Single Sto“A way to [put things in place] is being able to ry,” which was hailed as a Change Maker by work with community organizations to let them the Minnesota Women’s Press. The series is an on- know when positions are available. In our comgoing public discussion with individuals from munity, working at the zoo isn’t the first thing that communities of color. It most recently featured comes to mind, but there are a lot of different jobs. the program Men of Color in 2017, held at the “In addition to zoo keeping — dealing with anMinneapolis Central Library. imals — we have scientists, researchers, civil engineers, chemical engineers, and graphic designDwight Hobbes welcomes readers’ responses to ers. We have everything. You don’t have to only P.O. Box 50357, Minneapolis, MN 55403 know about animals.”

“I want to get the word out when job opportu-

cited a lack of imagination in addressing mass incarceration. “In this country we’ve come to see [law enforcement] as someone showing up carrying a gun and handcuffs,” Forman said. Asked about community policing, he replied, “We have to figure out what we mean by community policing.

It has a lot of potential, but unfortunately that potential is often underutilized.”

He also advised the audience to pay more attention to local prosecutors, who are elected officials. “Just don’t accept their statements about aggressive prosecuting. Find out what their positions are. Ask them about racial profiling, prosecuting low-level drug

women are left with emotional scars and distress, sometimes negative financial impact. Then there’s the lasting shame that often comes with having been rendered powerless.”

Palmer agreed: “It’s hard to prove. You need a lot of money and time and support.

It may end up you losing the job.”

Palmer afterwards told the MSR, “I think it takes a toll on Black women. Some people call [her] the angry Black woman, which is so unfair. But that might be another reason why someone is [cautious] about coming forward. They find it hard to be taken seriously because of all the stereotypes.”

With sexual harassment seemingly in the headlines every day, “I think we’re close” to reaching a fatigue level, said Palmer. “We somehow have to get over that.”

To report sexual harassment, go to www. rapehelpMN.org, or call the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission hotline, 1-800-6694000; the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau at 1-800-827-5335 or the National Women’s Law Center at 1-202-588-5180.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

nities arise, through contacting organizations and through [minority] media, so that I’m not the only one. Because there’s definitely enough space for all of us.”

As a personal observation, she continues, “I want to look around and see somebody who looks like me. If I have some problems, I want somebody I can talk to…who can identify with me. White people don’t have to think about that. There’s always somebody there that looks like them.

“I don’t take that for granted,” says Benson. “I usually start out being the only one, but I’m not going to be the only one for long.”

“I usually start out being the only one, but I’m not going to be the only one for long.”

offenders, their support on restorative justice, and then hold them accountable,” states Forman.

Public defender offices “are underfunded and under-resourced,” he added.

Mass incarceration reform must also include restoring full citizenship to ex-offenders once they complete their sentences, Forman said. “We built up a system where people who are incarcerated are so far removed” from their communities, then oftentimes experience reentry issues after their release.

Asked about some criticism that his book is a rebuttal of Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, Forman responded, “I don’t view my book as any way chal-

Volunteer!

lenging the core features of her book. I think her work is fabulous, important and groundbreaking. It has been so widely read in high school, college, in [church] congregations and among politicians.”

Rather, he sees Locking Up Our Own as a complement to Alexander’s best seller and hopes it will further the mass incarceration discussion.

She pauses to reflect. “Being new to Minneapolis, I had a hard time finding Black folks. When [MSR Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard] reached out to me, I was ecstatic. In Chicago, it’s so easy to find Black people. We’re everywhere. I’m making my way here. But, it’d be great if there was a group or something that embraced new Black or Brown people that come here.”

In the meantime, Michelle L. Benson is contentedly networking at LinkedIn. She is pleased to make a vital difference at the Minnesota Zoo. Dwight Hobbes welcomes readers’ responses to P.O. Box 50357, Minneapolis, MN 55403

America must “develop a criminal justice system that’s actually worthy of this nation,” said Forman. “I don’t know if we have a choice, but we must be hopeful,” Forman later told the MSR. “Am I hopeful? My answer is yes.

“I think the African American community here [in the Twin Cities] has been politically engaged, and that needs to continue. I think

my book is on how pressure from ordinary citizens does make a difference. It does influence government.

“I would encourage people to continue that process,” he concluded.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesmanrecorder.com.

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OpenApp_17-18_size5_25x5_25.indd 1

est sexual harassment allegations against elected officials, entertainers, entertainment moguls and others. “There is no question that celebrity [status] drove these stories. Now sexual harassment is ‘news’ because women of means in some cases are speaking out against their alleged perpetrators who are of means.

“It begs the question, however, how about the hundreds of thousands of women who have lost their careers, not just their jobs, because of the power of men in the workplace, women who often have no celebrity,” our executive source continued.

Sexual harassment “is the highest form of bullying in the workplace among men and women,” she said. “It is especially horrific if you have to live with it, live on it. Many corporations and business organizations have used profits and taxpayer dollars to save the careers of high profile men for decades by paying off the accusers or fighting the accusations in court, costing thousands in legal fees, sometimes without any kind of investigation.

“This has resulted in allowing the men to continue in their often very lucrative high-paying jobs while the accusers are sometimes left with no career, or in a lower paying job,” she said. “Many of these

10/25/17 1:17 PM

December 7-13, 2017

9

Legals STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Richard Miller, Plaintiff, vs.

Toni Rice, Defendant.

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

SUMMONS

MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017 CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff complains of Defendant, and for cause therof alleges: 1). That on or about September 9, 2016, 18th Avenue North and Lyndale Avenue North were public roads located within Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2). That on September 9, 2016, Plaintiff was the owner and operator of a 2007 Harley Davidson Roadster. 3).That on September 9, 2016, defendant Toni Rice was the owner and operator of a 2008 Nissan Altima. 4). That on September 9, 2016, defendant Toni Rice, operating the 2008 Nissan Altima traveling northbound on Lyndale Avenue North, made a left turn in front of 2007 Harley Davidson Roadster, causing a collision. 5). That on JSeptember 9, 2016, defendant Toni Rice operated the 2008 Nissan Altima in a negligent manner when made a left turn in front of 2007 Harley Davidson Roadster, causing a collision. 6). That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of defendant Toni Rice in the operation of the motor vehicle, a collision occurred which caused Plaintiff to be bodily injured. Plaintiff sustained injuries to his head, neck,back, shoulder,wrist, finger,elbow and knee. 7).That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendant, Plaintiff has been caused to expend sums of money for medical care and treatment of his injuries, and in the future will be required to expend sums of money for medical treatment of his injuries. Plaintiff has incurred expenses which meet Minnesota threshold requirements under Minn.

Stat.65B.51,subd.3. 8).That Plaintiff has been caused to endure great pain and suffering as a result of the negligence of Defendant.

8). That Plaintiff has been caused to endure great pain and suffering as a result of the negligence of Defendent. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgement against Defendant for an amount in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), together withhis costs and disbursements herein.

Dated: 07/17/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF The undersigned hereby acknowledges that costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded to the opposing party or parties pursuant to Minnesota Statute 549.21, subd. 2.

Signed By: Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

SUMMONS

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendent.

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff’s Complaint against you [is attached to this summons] [is on file in the office of the court administrator of the above-named court].* Do not throw these papers away.They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons.

2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons.

You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham & Curtis, PA 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint.

5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

Dated: 02/18/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS: Notice is given that an application for informal appointment of personal representative was filed with the Registrar herein, No will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted.

Notice is hereby further given that informal appointment of ANTIONETTE RUBY COATES,whose address is 630 HALL LANE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55411, to serve as the personal representative of the estate of the above-named decedent, has been made. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative and the personal representative are empowered to fully administer the estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate, unless objections thereto are filed with the Court (pursuant to Section 524.3-607)and the Court otherwise orders.

Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative OR to the Probate Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.

SIGNED BY: Julie Peterson, Probate Registrar, Probate Division Sarah Lindahl-Pfieffer, District Court Administrator SIGNED DATE: November 22, 2017 Minnesota Spokesman Recorder November 30 & December 7, 2017 STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN WITHOUT REAL ESTATE

CASE TYPE: DISSOLUTION WITH CHILDREN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL COURT

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS In Re - the Marriage of: Saynab Ali Adan Petitioner and Omar A. Abdalla, Respondent THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: Warning: Your spouse (husband or wife) has filed a lawsuit against you for dissolution of your marriage. A copy of the paperwork regarding the lawsuit is served on you with this summons. This summons is an official document from the court that affects your rights. Read this summons carefully. If you do not understand it, contact an attorney for legal advice.

1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Family Law Facilitator Program, Family Court Self Help Center located in the Family Justice Center, 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding involves, affects, or brings into question the real property located at the following address: 2605 W. 70th St.Richfield, in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, with the following legal discription: E 1/2 of N 1/2 of that part lying S of N 30 ft Lot 9 Sabin Lake, Harriet Garden Lots.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings.

IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. NOTICE OF PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Under Minnesota Statutes, Section 518.157, in a contested proceeding involving custody or parenting time of a minor child, the parties must begin participation in a parent education program that meets minimum standards promulgated by the Minnesota Supreme Court within 30 days after the first filing with the court. In some districts, parenting education may be required in all custody or parenting proceedings. You may contact the District Court Administrator for additional information regarding this requirement and the availability of parent education programs.

Date: 11/29/17 Signed: Saynab Ali Adan 2731 17th Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55407 Telephone: (612) 513-8398

MN Spokesman-Recorder, December 7, 14, and 21, 2017

Employment Institutional Giving Manager

Sr. Integration Consultant

Concord USA, Hopkins, MN. Requires Bachelors in Comp. Sci., Inf. Tech., or related field, & 5 yrs. exp. in design & development of integration solutions, or Master’s and 2 yrs. exp. Also req.: 1 yr. exp. w/: TIBCO asynchronous messaging including EMS and RV; developing integration workflow processes using TIBCO Business Works; developing service contracts using REST, JSON, SOAP, WSDL and XML; Linux & Microsoft Windows operating systems & clustering tech.; and developing system monitoring rules using TIBCO Hawk. Work at client sites 80%. May perform duties at client sites in Twin Cities, surrounding counties. All new hires must undergo mandatory drug testing & background checks.

Submit résumé to lauren.kollmann@concordusa.com. No agencies or phone calls.

Continued from page 10

COMPLAINT

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Plaintiff complains of Defendant, and for cause therof alleges: 1). That on or about July 18, 2014 21st Avenue South and Minnehaha Avenue South were public roads located within Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2). That on July 18, 2014, Plaintiff was the passenger in a 2011 Hyundai SGL, which was owned and operated by Shafeho Elmi. 3).That on July 18, 2014, defendant Hussein Mohamed was the operator of a 2003 Dodge Caravan. 4). That on July 18, 2014, defendant Sharifo Salah was the owner of a 2003 Dodge Caravan. 5).That on July 18, 2014, defendant Hussein Mohamed, operating the 2003 Dodge Caravan , ran a stop sign, causing a collision. 6). That on July 18, 2014, defendant Hussein Mohamed operated the 2003 Dodge Caravan in a negligent manner when he ran a stop sign, causing a collision. 7). That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendants, Plaintiff has been caused to expend sums of money for medical care and treatment of his injuries, and in the future will be required to expend sums of money for medical treatment of his injuries. Plaintiff has incurred expenses which meet Minnesota threshold requirements under Minn.

Stat.65B.51,subd.3. 8).That Plaintiff has been caused to endure great pain and suffering as a result of the negligence of Defendants. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgement against Defendant for an amount in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), together withhis costs and disbursements herein.

Dated: 02/18/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF The undersigned hereby acknowledges that costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded to the opposing party or parties pursuant to Minnesota Statute 549.21, subd. 2.

Signed By: Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

Client Services/Intake

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is seeking an Institutional Giving Manager, who will be responsible for foundation, corporate, and government grant-making to the Minneapolis Parks Foundation as well as corporate sponsorship.

This position is fulltime,salaried, and benefited.

For the full job description and how to apply, visit https:// mplsparksfoundation.org/blog/ and view the November 28 posting. Applications will be accepted until position is filled, preferably by year-end 2017. EOE.

PrEP

MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Omar Elmi, Plaintiff, vs.

Hussein Mohamed and Sharifo Salah, Defendants.

NOTICE OF INFORMALAPPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Decedent.

MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Omar Elmi, Plaintiff, vs.

Hussein Mohamed and Sharifo Salah, Defendants.

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, PROBATE DIVISION 4TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FILE NO. 27-PA-PR-17-1299

In Re: Estate of RUBY BELL COATES

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendent.

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff’s Complaint against you [is attached to this summons] [is on file in the office of the court administrator of the above-named court].* Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons.

2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons.

You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham & Curtis, PA 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint.

5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

Dated: 07/17/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Richard Miller, Plaintiff, vs.

Toni Rice, Defendant.

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN

Larry Suggs (Woodbury): The former hoopster was watching his son, who is a sophomore at Minnehaha Academy.

Michael Binns (St. Paul Highland Park): The former point guard for the Scots has a son playing for Minnehaha Academy.

David Hollman (St. Paul Central): The former sharpshooter was watching his niece play for Park Center.

David Holmgren (Minneapolis Central): The former hoops

star has a son playing for Minnehaha Academy.

Brian Sandifer (Saint Agnes): The former football and basketball standout was there to watch Minnehaha Academy.

Arvesta Kelly Jr. (Cretin Derham Hall): The two-time state champion was a forward for the Raiders and now has a daughter playing for Minneapolis South.

Derek Reuben (Minneapolis North): The former star guard, who was 1988’s Mr. Basketball, has a daughter playing for the junior varsity at Hopkins.

Gary New (St. Paul Central): The former football and basketball standout has a daughter playing for

SOE Continued from page 10 win over Northern Iowa to improve to 28-5. “It was one of our best performances of the year.”

Sophomore Alexis Hart had a game-high 20 kills. She was named All-Big Ten last week. “She’s a great player,” teammate Stephanie Samedy said of Hart. “She had a lot of confidence, and it really paid off.”

Samedy, the Clermont, Florida freshman, was

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. For details go to: www.mylegalaid.org/jobs.

Court Reporter

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Court Reporter in Saint Paul, MN. Salary range is $82,085 $94,397. For more information visit the court’s website, w w w. m n d .u s c o u r t s .g o v, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

ATTORNEY OR ADVOCATE – 6-MONTH TEMP: MN Disability Law Ctr. For more info go to: www.mylegalaid.org/jobs.

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Minnehaha Academy.

Paul Hill (Minneapolis South): The former point guard has two daughters playing for his alma mater.

Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

a unanimous All-Big Ten selection and was also named to the conference All-Freshman team. She told the MSR that the USC match will be played just a couple hours from her home.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Samedy admitted. “Now I go back as a different person, a different player, and have grown so much with this amazing team.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

June 8-14, 2017

10

9

December 7-13, 2017

VIKINGS WIN EIGHTH STRAIGHT Listening to Greatness: Tennis star Rubin modestly allows, ‘I did OK’

A

pparently the Vikings were just testing the waters in 2016, starting 5-0 the first year of U.S. Bank Stadium. The team went through a lot losing both Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson to injury and Mike Zimmer having several eye surgeries; the team missed the playoffs.

After going 11-5 in 2015 and losing that heartbreaker 10-9 to Seattle in the playoffs, General Manager Rick Spielman stayed the course, throwing huge contracts at defensive stars, Pro Bowlers Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen and Xaxier Rhodes — over $100 million in guaranteed money.

Joseph has locked down the middle of the Vikings defense.

Griffen leads the NFL in sacks and has been defensive player of the month. Rhode’s is a physical shut-down cornerback. To contain Atlanta’s Julio Jones to two catches and 24 yards after he went for 253 yards and two TDs last week is impressive.

This organization has scars from a history of close calls. Head Coach Mike Zimmer has made the tough decisions, shaking up his coaching staff while guiding the Vikings through his theme.

In 2016 it was no excuses, then the 8-8 season after the injuries and Norv Turner’s abrupt exit mid-season. This team came back in 2017 refocused on getting back after the chase for a title.

After beating defending NFC Champion Atlanta 14-9 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Vikings, with four weeks remaining in the regular season, have the NFC’s ticket to Super Bowl LII in their grasp with eight wins in a row, now the longest in the NFL and tied with Philadelphia 10-2 for the best record in the NFC.

Quarterback Case Keenum, the NFC offensive player of the month, was 20-25 for 227 yards and two touchdowns, out-dueling Matt Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP. The Vikings win streak is the longest since 1998 when Dennis Green led the team to 15-1 and eight straight wins. The last time a Vikings team was 10-2 was 2009 when Brad Childress was head coach. They started 10-1. That team had Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice, eventually losing the NFC title game at New Orleans in overtime.

This Vikings team has won five straight road games for the first time since 1974. This week the Vikings travel to Carolina to play the 8-4 Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton in pursuit of their ninth straight win. To think this team has lost starters Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook and not blinked is remarkable. It speaks to leadership, mental toughness, and a unit committed to each other.

With so many teams winning consistently in 2017, there’s no time to look back: New England 10-2, Vikings 10-2, Pittsburgh 102, New Orleans 9-3, Los Angeles 9-3, Carolina 8-4 and Seattle 8-4.

It’s December — winning is paramount. This is a true team strong in all areas.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold. com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.

Each of the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Sam Lacy Pioneer Award winners has a historical tale worth knowing about. The MSR heard them all at this year’s banquet during the NABJ’s August convention in New Orleans.

We will share them with our readers over the next few months in our “Listening to Greatness” series. This week: Chanda Rubin.

C

ANOTHER

VIEW Charles hallman

handa Rubin made tennis history when she played in two of the longest matches ever in women’s tennis. She played a 58-game match in 1995 and a 48-game match in 1996. She also came from behind 0-5, 0-40 in the third set and saved nine match points for a win in 1995.

“I wanted to get to number one in the world,” Rubin told the banquet room of Black sportswriters at this year’s NABJ Sports Task Force’s Sam Lacy Pioneer Awards in New Orleans in August. She was the only female among the eight honorees.

Now 41, the Lafayette, Louisiana native turned pro in 1991 at age 19 and later became only the third Black female to make tennis’ top 10 (with Zina Garrison and Lori McNeal). Rubin in 1996 was ranked sixth in the world in singles and number nine in doubles. She was a three-time French Open quarterfinalist (1995, 2000, 2003), made the semifinals in 2003 and the Wimbledon semis in 2002, and amassed a 399-254 singles record and 226-160 in doubles.

All total, Rubin won seven World Tennis Association singles titles, 10 doubles titles, and was 1996 Australian Open doubles champ. But her two marathon matches left a lasting impression on two young Black females in California, the Williams sisters.

Years later, the two soon-to-be stars brought that to her attention, Rubin recalled.

“Is it true, is it true?” asked a giggling Serena Williams when the two met at a match, the tennis legend recalled. “I said, ‘I didn’t do anything special but stay in the match as you are supposed to.’” Rubin later snapped Serena’s then-21-match winning

WNBA again earns top grades for gender and racial diversity

Chanda Rubin

streak in 2002 and finished with a 1-1 career mark against her, but only 1-9 against Serena’s sister Venus.

Injuries to her wrist, knee, Achilles and shoulders dogged Rubin throughout her career, in which she was renowned for her killer forehand along with exceptional speed and persistence before she retired in 2008. She was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year she earned an economics and finance degree from Harvard.

Now a real estate developer, Rubin and her husband Mireyou Hollier have a daughter. She said being called a pioneer is at the least shocking. “Arthur Ashe is a real pioneer,” she pointed out of the late tennis legend, the first Black man to win Wimbledon. “His influence in the sport made a difference.”

Rubin downplays her influence, the Williams sisters notwithstanding. “I thought about it later. They saw me and possibly they took that and learned from me.”

Although she never reached the world’s top female tennis player, “It also was about the way I went about it. It was about a journey, the way I approached my craft,” Rubin said.

She started her Chanda Rubin Foundation to mentor youth soon after turning pro. She is a United States Tennis Association board member and helped steer top-notch tennis tournaments to New

PreP Scene mitChell Palmer mCDonalD

Tuesday, November 28 Senior point guard Marianna Monita — displaying a shooting touch and flawless overall floor game — led St. Paul Johnson girls’ basketball team to its first victory of the season, helping Governors to a 58-28 win over Liberty Christian.

Friday, December 1 Lu’Cye Patterson led Brooklyn Center with 25 points in a 78-69 win over St. Paul Johnson.

Richard Lapchick Photo courtesy of Twitter/Richard Lapchick Tamika Catchings (Indiana) and Swin Cash (New York), both as franchise development directors.

There was a two-person increase in Black head coaches in 2017. However, since the report’s release, two Black head coaches were dismissed and replaced by Whites.

The number of Black general managers in 2017 increased by one. Last week, Pokey Chatman was named Indiana GM and joins Amber Stocks (Chicago) as the league’s only Black female dual coachGMs. Assistant coaches of color increased from 47.8 percent in 2016 to a record 53.8 percent in 2017.

Black senior team administrators leaped from 12 percent to 20 percent.

This shows “the power of a truly inclusive organization,” Lapchick told the MSR. “I feel confident that the WNBA will sustain the powerful diversity of their league for years to come. The WNBA significantly distinguishes itself in its gender hiring practices.

“I am thankful that we have one organization composed of individuals who are not afraid to act on what they believe in and who serve as an example of the power of sport,” said the TIDES director.

Gophers volleyball reaches Sweet 16 The Minnesota volleyball team faces USC in the NCAA Sweet 16 in Gainesville, Florida this weekend. Last weekend the Gophers knocked off North Dakota and Northern Iowa at the Maturi Pavilion.

“It was a great night of volleyball — two teams going at it,” Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon told the media, including the MSR, after his squad’s 3-1

Photo by Onika Nicole Craven

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Last week the prep basketball season began.

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer

Alexis Hart

Orleans since her retirement. She also does color commentary for the Tennis Channel.

“I hope I will be able to really continue to give a leg up as I was given a leg up,” said Rubin, “that I gave encouragement as I was given encouragement. Hopefully I can do that for others.

“There are great life lessons I learned certainly in being a woman of color in a predominately White sport. It made me stronger, and I’m so appreciative of it now,” Rubin concluded. “My mom and my dad really taught me a work ethic. I am so thankful for that.

“I did OK.”

Prep hoops season-opening highlights

Sports odds and ends

The WNBA has since its inception been the sport industry leader for racial and gender hiring practices. It recently got an A for its overall race, gender and combined grades for the 13th consecutive year from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES).

The league received five A-plus grades in five categories for gender, including head coaches, assistant coaches, general managers, head trainers and the WNBA League Office. “The WNBA continues to lead the way in terms of racial and gender diversity amongst all professional leagues,” wrote TIDES Director Richard Lapchick in the 2017 TIDES “Racial and Gender Report Card” that was released on November 15.

“The WNBA again received the highest number of A’s as well as the lowest number of grades below an A in all categories compared to men’s professional leagues,” the report says. However, this fact is constantly overlooked, ignored, or possibly both by the mainstream male sports media.

Nonetheless, let’s look at the report highlights: Nine people of color are WNBA franchise owners, including Earvin Johnson (Los Angeles) and Sheila Johnson (Washington).

The percentage of people of color “increased significantly” from 26 percent in 2016 to over 51 percent this year.

Two of four newly created front office positions held by former W players are Black females —

MSR file photos

■ See SOE on page 9

Saturday, December 2: Breakdown Tip-Off Classic (boys’ games) Courtney Brown (East Ridge): Scored 29 points in a 60-58 loss to Minnehaha Academy.

Javonni Bickham and Lorenzo Smith (Minneahaha Academy): Bickham a University of Denver recruit, led the way with 17 points and Smith added 10 in a win over East Ridge.

Sy Chatman (Cretin Derham Hall): The Sienna recruit led the way with 33 points, leading the Raiders to an 86-73 victory over Hopkins.

Gabe Kalscheur (DeLaSalle): The University of Minnesota recruit led the way with 31 points in a 65-62 setback to Iowa City West.

Saturday, December 2: Breakdown Tip-Off Classic Courtney Brown (girls’ games) Sommer Blakemore (Park Center): The point guard scored 20 points in a 78-56 win over Prior Lake.

Zoe Hardwick (Minnetonka): Led her team to a 67-64 comeback victory over Forest Lake with 16 points.

Paige Bueckers and Raena Suggs (Hopkins): Bueckers had 30 and Suggs added 18 in an 84-68 win over Centennial.Frannie Hottinger and Haley Moore (Cretin Derham Hall): Hottinger led the

Marianna Monita Photos by Mitchell Palmer McDonald way with 31 points, and Moore chipped in 14 in 8162 victory over Minneapolis South.

Morgan Hill and Jade Hill (Minneapolis South): Morgan Hill scored 26 points and Jade Hill 14 respectively in a loss to Cretin Derham Hall.

Former prep stars spotted at Breakdown Tip-Off Classic Lisa Lissimore (St. Paul Central): The person who played on the first Class AA State championship girls’ team in 1976 has a son playing for East Ridge.

Courtney Brown (St. Paul Highland Park): The former Scots basketball great has two sons playing for East Ridge.

Rickey Suggs (St. Paul Central): The former football and basketball star for the Minutemen was watching his daughter play for Hopkins.

Tara Starks (Minneapolis Raena Suggs North): The former Polar hoop star was there to watch Hopkins, where her daughter, now in college, starred for four years.

■ See PrEP on page 9