November 10, 2022 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

Twin Cities usher in new police chiefs

O’Hara becomes the new Minneapolis police chief

By MSR News Service

Following the Min neapolis City Coun cil’s approval on November 3, Brian O’Hara was sworn

in on Monday, November 7 as the new Minneapolis police chief. O’Hara joins the City after serving as deputy mayor of Newark, New Jersey in charge of overseeing strategic public safety initiatives.

O’Hara joined the Newark Police Department in 2001 as a police officer, rising through the ranks to become a captain in 2016.

In 2021, he was appointed as the public safety director for Newark overseeing more than 1,960 employees comprising 996 sworn police officers, 611 firefighters and 346 civilian employees and a budget that exceeded $200 million. In that role, O’Hara enhanced the col laborative working relation ships among federal, state and local partners.

As former captain of the Newark Police Department’s Consent Decree & Planning Division (2017-2020), O’Hara has worked extensively with the Department of Justice on the 2016 consent decree between the U.S. and the City

■ See O’HARA on page 5

Mayor Carter taps Axel Henry for St. Paul police chief

By Henry Pan Contributing Writer

After a monthslong search, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter selected Cmdr. Axel Hen ry from a pool of five final ists to be the next chief of St. Paul Police.

“I’m confident that Chief Axel Henry will uphold the highest level of service our community has come to expect as we work to move our capital city forward,” said Mayor Carter at a Nov. 1 press conference that took place in the lobby of St. Paul City Hall.

Henry has a long, deco rated history with the depart ment. He started in 1998 and has experience leading two precincts, as well as units addressing the pandemic

Are you hopeful about the new police

By Nikki Love Contributing Writer

The MSR once again took to the street, including the Souls to the Polls block party last weekend in North Minneapolis, to ask community members about the most pressing issues of the day. We asked community members: Are you hopeful about the new police chiefs in Minneapolis and St. Paul? Why or why not?

down to the next generation. We have the resources, the people, and the con nections. Now is the time to not be incrementalist but assure we achieve the results that are long overdue.

because of his background and the fact that he comes from St. Paul. He’s been doing the work in St. Paul Police Department for 20-plus years. Because he’s part of the commu nity, I’m hoping that he’s going to do a great job and that Mayor Melvin Carter and the team made the right choice in picking someone who is going to move St. Paul forward, and really work with our youth—the things that are going on in terms of violence and crime—and make changes that are needed to better our community.

response, family and sexual violence, and most recently narcotics, finance, and human trafficking. He is also a socalled use-of-force expert and a field training officer who persuaded the department to

adopt body-worn cameras.

On how he accomplished this, Henry said, “There’s a difference between transac tional leadership and trans formational leadership. It’s

chiefs in Twin Cities?

I hope we see some remarkable changes in how the police department deals with people of color, especially Black youth. Black youth is the most marginalized group of people, and they experience the largest amount of discrimination among any sub-demo graphic of people.

I hope we can see changes in how the police interact with Black youth. Get out and vote! If you want to see changes in the community the biggest thing you can do is cast your ballot.

for us to work together in order to make our desired outcomes a real ity. We want to make sure we have a safe place to live, work and play.

I mean the same statement for both Minneapolis and St. Paul police chiefs. I was specifically speaking on the chief in Minneapolis. What we can do is continue to work with the police department and the police work with us in order to make sure we have last ing sustainable relationships that are built on trust and good policing.

We want to make sure that we do our best and be optimistic, not always going into everything pes simistic. Believe that there are pos sibilities—the only way good things happen is when we work together. Teamwork makes a dream work!

I am hopeful because without hope we have nothing. They are being called to a higher service and we are here to hold them accountable. We have learned to be sufficient as to how to hold them accountable because now is the time for liberation.

They will be held accountable until we receive full liberation. Now is our moment and time. Nothing can stop us, and we will not let nothing stop us—not anyone, not us, not here or nowhere; we did our diligence.

We do not want to hand these issues

I am hopeful for both Minneapolis and St. Paul to have police chiefs that are really connected to and hear the voices in the community with all the things that we’ve been through follow ing George Floyd and other incidents.

I am from St. Paul so I’m more in tune with what’s going on in there.

Regarding Chief Henry, I’m hopeful

I am hopeful. I think the City [of Minneapolis] did a good job by throwing in different candidates. It appears the candidates came into the communities and spoke to a cross-section of people.

From my standpoint, the new chief deserves our support, and we should do everything we can to rally around the new chief. It looks like the new chief also has relationships with other communities or organiza tions around the city. It is important

I am hopeful about the new police chief [in Minneapolis]. According to statistics, gun violence has gone down significantly. I am excited to

Expo encouraged Black authors, promoted literacy

By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer

Dozens of authors and liter ary fans gathered last month to support Black authorship at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. Books served as centerpieces at each table and each conversation as authors and community members shared food and drinks through the night of panel discussions, performances, and excerpt readings from several books.

The event served as part

of the 6th Annual Minnesota Black Authors Expo (MBAE), an event founded by DeVon na Pittman and Jasmine Tane’t Boudah. The first expo was held in 2017 and was launched with the mission to “improve literacy and educa tional outcomes in areas with disproportionate educational disparities,” as the organiza tion’s website states.

Nins has served as the expo’s executive director for the past three

Dorothy

Axel Henry

Tomme Beevas, owner of Pimento Jamaican Kitchen & Rum Bar

Monisha Richard, The Linc Consulting

Marcus Hamilton, director of operations at Encouraging Leaders

Senator Bobby Joe Champion

Jovonta Patton, gospel artist

Brian O’Hara

Photo by Henry Pan

Photo by Henry Pan

(l-r)

Lissa Jones, Brian Gilmore, Dara Beevas, and emcee/host

Camrin King

Photos courtesy of MBAE

Submitted photo

Sister Spokesman offers business insights for entrepreneurs

Sister Spokesman’s “Small Business Dos and Don’ts” got November off to a great start on Saturday, November 5 at Eastside Neighborhood Services in Northeast Min neapolis.

November’s panel was loaded with financial ex perts. Talia King transitioned to working in the nonprofit

sector with microloans and financial wellness, coaching after 20 years of working in corporate mortgage lending.

Patricia “Trish” Shattek is a relationship manager at JP Morgan Chase Busi ness Banking. The panel was rounded out by Charlotte Epee of Operation Hope. All the experts share a

passion for working with Black business from early stages. They offered ad vice about business plans, loans, branding, and be coming a certified minor ity business.

The afternoon flew by as attendees asked ques tions and networked follow ing the panel discussion. It

Photo of the Week

Bird of prey demands rapt attention

wouldn’t be Sister Spokes man without the fun with lively games, shopping with the small business vendors, and drawings for cash and prizes—all to tunes spun by KMOJ’s DJ Lazy T.

The rich discussion was streamed live on Sister Spokes man’s Facebook page and can be viewed there.

Sister Spokesman’s next event “Celebrating Moms of

All Ages” takes place on Dec. 3 from 12-4 pm at Eastside Neighborhood Services at 1700 2nd St. N.E. in Minne apolis. Visit @SisterSpokes man on Facebook for the latest.

As a young woman finding her career path, Veronica Carter wasn’t afraid to take chanc es or move to find opportunities. A little over two decades later, her search ended in 2015. “Getting a job with Metro Transit helped ground me,” Carter said. “It helped me choose to live and make a career in Minnesota.”

For 18 years and counting, she’s had a Commercial Driver’s License. As a young mother, she drove school buses in northern Illinois and in central Indiana. After arriving in Min nesota, she completed her associates degrees in the health field while serving as a bus operator and raising her two girls.

“I wanted to finish the degrees I started,” she said. “After finding transit, my path changed.” Carter mostly works on express routes, which she favors because they resemble a

school bus schedule and service. One of her favorites is Route 114, serving the University of Minnesota.

“I enjoy hearing customers tell me how happy they are that I’m there to get them to and from work or school on time, as well as safe,” Carter said.

After six years at Metro Transit, Carter is would eventually like to find a position help ing other operators navigate their careers at transit. “When you weigh all your options, it’s better to be here than anywhere else,” she said. “You can grow more.”

Metro Transit is hiring

Fast track your way to a new full-time career. No experience in bus operations is re quired and training is paid. Bus operators receive outstanding benefits like health care, annual salary increases, a pension plan, and an unlimited-ride transit pass. And, as many Metro Transit

start their careers as operators, there’s also room for growth.

Sponsored content by

Veronica Carter

Submitted photo

A red-tailed hawk took a break from dining on an unlucky squirrel to strike a majestic pose on a tree branch. The South Minneapolis backyard, usually aflutter with birds and squirrels, was markedly quiet during the raptor’s visit.

Text and photo by Paige Elliott

(l-r) Charlotte Epee, Tracey Williams-Dillard, Patricia Shattek, and Talia King Photos by Steve Floyd

By Dr. Dionne Hart Guest Contributor

Before 911 was implement ed, people needing help dialed local 10-digit phone numbers to reach police, fire or emergency services. Emergency medical re sponses were not widespread or commonly available.

In many communities of color, transportation for emer gency services was provided by funeral home staff. Following a report calling for action to re duce the number of deaths and injuries nationwide to request an ambulance, 911 was imple mented. The first call to 911 was placed in February 1968.

In 1973, a new law, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Act of 1973, strength ened emergency services. The Act was part of the Public Health Services Act providing federal guidelines and over $300 million in funding to de velop regional EMS systems across the United States.

This law included a newly designed. single, nationwide telephone number to sum mon an ambulance—911. Its

People in mental health crisis need healthcare pros, not cops

I urge all communities, especially Black communities, to use 988

implementation and nation wide use occurred over many decades. In fact, it would be a rare individual who did not know to call 911 when a per son is experiencing a medical emergency, including a mental health crisis, to activate emer gency medical services.

While 911 is an invaluable service, when people experi encing a mental health crisis activate emergency services, it is armed law enforcement who respond, not healthcare professionals. This practice contrasts with the response to a physical health emergency.

Many officers are well trained

the police each year, and Black men are more than twice as likely to be victims as White men. One in four fatal police shootings between 2015 and 2022 involved people with un treated mental illness.

In addition, police are more likely to shoot and kill unarmed Black men who ex hibit signs of mental illness compared to White men with similar behaviors. An estimat ed 44% of people in jail and 37% of people in prison have a mental health condition.

It is vital that fewer armed police officers respond to mental health emergencies.

teams, not armed laws en forcement officers. It is avail able to everyone.

How does 988 work?

and recognize people in a men tal health crisis may not be able to respond to even simple direc tives, but many lack the skills and patience required to pro vide assistance to those who are severely depressed, psychotic, suicidal, or acting bizarrely, cre ating a potentially high-risk sce nario for a fatal encounter.

Data collected by the Wash ington Post found that 1,000 people are shot and killed by

Recently, there was a big step towards improving the safety of those experiencing a men tal health crisis. On July 16, 2022, a new three-digit daily code, 988, went live. 988, like 911, is a newly designed, single, nationwide number that routes callers to the National Suicide Preven tion Lifeline. A call to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will activate mental health crisis

I urge all communities, es pecially Black communities, to use 988. If armed police are no longer the default re sponder, the number of fatal encounters of police interact ing with individuals who have an untreated mental illness or are experiencing a mental health crisis will decline.

If individuals experiencing a mental health crisis are no lon ger restrained and placed into the back of a squad car, their risk of diversion from a health care facility to a correctional facility will decrease. All these factors will improve the health and welfare of Black communi ties and decrease the criminal ization of mental illness.

If you or a loved one is ex periencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. After accepting the Terms of Ser vice and replying “Yes” to connect, you will be able to text with a counselor.

A veteran or military servic es member may text the Vet erans Crisis Line at 838255.

For voice calls:

• If the caller does not press a prompt, the call is routed to a local crisis center.

• Press “1” to be routed to the Veterans Crisis Line.

• Press “2” to be routed to the Spanish sub-network.

• Press “3” to be routed to LGBTAI+ youth services.

• If the local call center is un able to answer, the call is routed to the national backup network.

Dr. Hart is an American Psychi atric Association delegate to the American Medical Association and a member of the Minnesota Medi cal Association’s (NMA) Board of Trustees. Dr. Hart is the Region 4 chairperson of the NMA’s Board of Trustees and the president of the Minnesota Association of African American Physicians. In 2020, Min nesota Physician journal named her one of the 100 most influential healthcare leaders in Minnesota. Twitter/Instagram: @lildocd

Every family deserves access to inclusive health care. At Children’s Minnesota, we embrace the opportunity to make care more equitable. Our dedication goes beyond the individual — we lift communities by doing everything in our power to eliminate health disparities. All children deserve the chance to thrive, and through our continued efforts, we help make it happen.

Dr. Dionne Hart is board-cer tified in psychiatry and addiction medicine. She is an adjunct as sistant professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic. In 2014, Dr. Hart was named Minnesota Psychiatrist of the Year. In 2017, she received the National Alliance on Mental Illness Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.

It is vital that fewer armed police officers respond to mental health emergencies.

MGN

o’Hara

of Newark.

“I believe that things happen for a reason,” O’Hara said. “I believe very deeply that the experienc es that I have had in the city of Newark, working with community, and working with police officers to bring about some meaningful changes are experiences that are directly applicable to the current

challenges that are facing the residents of this community. I’m incredibly honored and humbled to have the opportunity to be part of the change here in Min neapolis.”

“This moment matters,” said Mayor Jacob Frey at the Nov. 3 news conference. “The act of stepping up for this job—at this time—is an act of courage, and Brian O’Hara is exactly the type of person our city, our community, and our police department needs right now.”

Said City Council President Andrea

Jenkins, “I’m pleased Mr. O’Hara has stepped up to lead the Minneapolis Police Department during this criti cal time of rebuilding the department. His experience in Newark made him a standout candidate in lead

ing MPD under our newly struc tured Office of Community Safety, working in partnership and with the leadership of our Community Safety Commissioner, Dr. Cedric Alexander.

“Building trust with community members and thinking strategically around public safety response and reforms in policy, program and train ing are an important part of the job of police chief, and I believe Mr. O’Hara will do just that.”

The chief of police position is a four-year appointment.

Information provided in part by the City of Minneapolis.

Look for more on Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara in upcoming editions of the MSR.

was unsubstantiated.

employees that follow orders. We want to create believers, and you don’t get that through ordering people around.”

basically telling versus selling.

When we tried to sell our workforce, we don’t want

As chief, Henry pledges to better engage the department workforce and the commu nity. “We got to start creating those connections, so people actually have tangible take

aways,” said Henry, adding that he plans to connect com munity members to housing, jobs, and “why it is important

to maybe wear a button-up shirt to a job interview.”

Henry grew up in St. Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neigh

borhood and graduated from Central High School. He went to college at the University of St. Thomas.

The chief is not without controversy. About a decade ago, he was named in a com plaint for using the Driver and Vehicle Services database to look people up. The complaint

If approved by the full St. Paul City Council on Novem ber 16, Henry will begin his six-year term as designated by City Charter on November 19.

Henry Pan welcomes reader responses to hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.

years but began as a volun teer after coming across a flier of the event. Although Nins is originally from St. Paul, she had been living out of Minnesota for over 30 years and wanted to expand her network.

At the time, Pittman was exploring a run for political office, which led her to pass the responsibilities of run ning the expo onto Nins as she walked out the door.

Nins stated that one of the main goals of the MBAE is to “support authors in their endeavors and promote literacy among all people, especially Black children.” To do that, she believes that it’s important to combat the “myth” that people don’t read.

“Libraries are filled with people who love books. Bookstores are filled with people who love books, and publishers have no shortage of people who are publish ing books and buying books,” she said.

Nins also expressed her desire to help Black authors navigate the publishing pro cess where there are racial barriers at play. “Getting a publisher to publish your book has always been dif ficult, but it’s especially dif ficult for Black authors to try and convince White people to see their book through a different lens.”

Black authors offer representation

Kassim Abdur Razzaq is an author and a licensed inde pendent clinical social worker who has been attending the MBAE for several years. Hav ing worked in social services and youth development for nearly two decades, Abdur Razzaq’s writing focuses on the areas of mental health, community development, and family dynamics.

His books “5 Essential Principles for Healing Black Men,” “Raising Black Boys,” and “Black Child Run” were published independently in 2018. While promoting his books, he was put in touch with organizers from the expo and attended that year, where he found a community of writers.

“I’m gonna say the numberone thing, man, that was like a blessing with the expo was the validation as a writer,” he said. “They brought folks from outside the state who already had, like, kind of a name for themselves and all

write a book—that’s giving back,” Willie said. “It’s that the experience that you have or something that you want to put out there for people to acknowledge or learn or whatever and to write a book.”

it was really fulfilling to be in the room with all of those knowledgeable people who were in the community.”

Originally from New Jer sey, Shider lived in Brooklyn for several years before mov ing to Minnesota just three

make it a part of her curricu lum and continue writing.

“I think that if we could get more educators who look like us, connecting and collaborating so that we can bring these programs and see the representation in our books in the curriculum that is being taught to our children, that’s what I look forward to, is providing that,” she said.

Representation was also important to Abdur Razzaq when it came to his book’s artwork. He sent a photo of his sons to the illustra tor working on his book and instructed them to put some of their characteristics into the illustrations. “I was like, ‘Don’t make it exactly them, but this—I want the char acteristic like this,’” he said.

“When my baby boy looked at the piece, he’s like, ‘That’s me! That’s me!

“It was a cartoon character, but he’s like, ‘That’s me. I know that’s me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s you, Daddy.’”

Support from libraries

speaking of their Kids Cor ner segment of the MBAE broadcast. “And when we were in person, it was one of our most popular sections of the expo. DeVonna was always so clear about mak ing it vibrant and interesting and fun.”

The yearly broadcast gives authors a chance to talk about their journey as authors and highlight their works. A recording of the broadcast is still live and is listed online on Vimeo.

Nins shared that the team at the expo will work to outdo themselves next year and connect authors with more publishers, bookstores, and editors. They’d even like to include voiceovers of the books so that people can enjoy them in a variety of ways all on the MBAE web site.

She also expressed inter est in having quarterly events where more poets, spoken word artists, and authors can connect more frequently and share their works.

this kind of stuff and kind of put them on the same plat form with us.”

Producer and musical artist Pepe Willie was also in atten dance at this year’s expo. His book, “If You See Me,” chron icles his six-decade journey in music and takes readers through his journey of being a young artist from Brook lyn, New York,to a thriving producer in Minneapolis who worked alongside Prince in the studio and managed him at one point.

There were several chil dren’s authors and educa tors taking part in this year’s expo, which showcased the organization’s goal of pro moting literacy among Black children. An entire section was dedicated to children’s books at the Friday night event as poster boards of book cover illustrations were propped up all over the hall.

One of the children’s authors is Stephanie Shider, who attended the expo this year for the first time. She

years ago. She’s worked as a teacher for the past 13 years, mainly with students of color who she felt weren’t being represented in their curricu lum. While Schider has all the inclination to write, she had no idea where to start.

“I had no clue about being an author, so when I felt like I had to write I was like, I don’t even know where to start,” she said. Shider received some advice on journaling her thoughts down, and over time those thoughts became

The MBAE has received support from several organi zations, but most notable has been the partnership with Hennepin County Library (HCL). While they also enjoy support from St. Paul Pub lic Libraries, HCL has given a space for Black authors through the expo’s spotlight on local writers. Libraries in the past have expressed the difficulty of finding books by Black authors to stack their shelves with, but now there’s no excuse according to Nins.

“The MN Black Authors Expo is a great opportu nity for us to showcase free library resources that sup port authors of all ages, iden tities and experiences,” HCL said in a statement. “We love working with MBAE each year and love seeing their featured authors in our col lection and patrons coming in looking for books by local Black authors.

“We’re gonna expand that to even musicians this upcoming year, just to have a creative space that we’re filling and making connec tions with people,” Nins said. “We won’t limit our art to lit erature, but we’ll be reaching out to the other artistic com munities to join us.”

To learn more about MBAE, visit www. mnblackauthorsexpo.com.

Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to aohamed@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Willie’s journey with authorship began after he met his coauthor, Tony Kiene, at Paisley Park. It took years for their work to be com plete, but after 500 pages it was published by the Minne sota History Center.

“I mean, to have all of these people who had the courage and the desire to

also expressed excitement at having had the opportunity to meet other authors at the event and receive a platform from the organizers.

“I thought it was an awe some experience to see oth er Black writers who were doing great work,” she said.

“Sometimes we don’t always have the best examples, but

texts on the page of her first book “Why Do We Hide,” which explores the topic of self-exploration and hidden emotions.

Her second book, “I Think I Like My Natural Hair,” struck a chord with students, especially young Black girls who identified with her writ ing. This encouraged her to

“It’s a magical moment each year because youth see themselves represented in stories and it allows them to dream big about their future.”

HCL has purchased the work of Black authors through the MBAE website and supplied their libraries with their work for the public.

“It remains one of our most popular segments,” Nins said,

see where we go from there. I am grateful that we are com ing together as a city and com munity. We have seen real change with the politicians that have already been chosen. We are also seeing change with the police.

All photos by Nikki Love except where noted.

Nikki Love welcomes reader responses to nlove@spokesmanrecorder.com.

“We want to create believers, and you don’t get that through ordering people around.”

“I thought it was an awesome experience to see other Black writers who were doing great work.”

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to have the opportunity to be part of the change here in Minneapolis.”

(l-r) Dorothy Nims, Roxanne Givens, and DeVonna Pittman. Givens’ support and continued legacy were honored at the event.

Du Nord Social Spirits and Du Nord Foundation

Gains in Black-owned real estate seen in Lake Street rehab

different model.”

By Angela Rose Meyers Contributing Writer

A lot has happened in the last three years for Chris Mon tana, the owner of Du Nord Social Spirits, the first Blackowned distillery in the nation.

In 2020 he faced his dis tillery’s destruction in South Minneapolis during the up rising following the police murder of George Floyd. He responded by starting the Du Nord Foundation as a way to give back to the community impacted by the uprising.

Since the MSR spoke with Montana in 2021, the founda tion has partnered with Delta Air Lines to start a BIPOC wealth incubator and accel erator, an initiative to help current small businesses, and prospective business owners, have access to capital and guidance.

Delta Air Lines also started serving Du Nord’s Founda tion Vodka on its flights, and the distillery recently made USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice list for Best Craft Gin Distillery.

Recalling the origin of the foundation and initiative, Montana noted, “Maybe less than a week after George Floyd was murdered, we were sitting down and thinking of what were the things we wanted to use our business to do.

“And, you know,” Montana continued, “the first was ad dressing food deserts. That was our emergency relief operation that we ran out of what used to be part of our distillery that was damaged.”

During the social unrest in 2020, many community mem bers did not have access to

food as many establishments were closed due to the pro tests and pandemic. Montana and the team utilized the part of their distillery that was dam aged due to the protests as a solution for the food crisis.

The next phase of their vi sion helped local businesses

current phase for Du Nord, the foundation is working to increase the number of small business owners. The BIPOC wealth incubator and acceler ator has partnered with Delta Air Lines to achieve its goals.

Asked how Delta Air Lines came on board, Montana de scribed a synergy that was ini tiated by the airline company.

“Really, because Delta Air Lines did the work, I’d love to say it was because of my business acumen or something else, but the true answer is Delta reached out to us to see if it was a possibility.

“And we didn’t think it was because, at the time, we sim ply were not ready. Even if we hadn’t been damaged in 2020, we wouldn’t have been ready.

company, did what we, as a small company, had been try ing to do for years, which is hire people who don’t neces sarily have the skills that we need, but we know that we can build them, and that’s the way that we can diversify the industry.

“Well, Delta did the same thing with us. We didn’t have the production, capacity or distribution that they needed. But they were willing to work

$30,000, hitting it in hours. Then we kept moving and up and up and up and up, and by the end of it all we had raised about a million dollars.”

Montana continued, “So we formed the foundation so that way, instead of the mon ey going to me and a third of it being taxed, it could go to the foundation. Then we could use 100% of the funds for their intended purpose, which was to help out the commu

He added, “We’re partici pating in two projects that are a different model, one at the Coliseum and one at one of the buildings, formerly Seven Sigma, both of which were im pacted during the unrest.

“Both of which are going to come back as Black-owned real estate—something we don’t see in the commercial space—that will be working to employ people from the

stay afloat. “The second part was some grants we’ve giv en—$15,000 to 73 different businesses to help them stay open,” Montana said. In the

By Laura Poehlman Contributing Writer

On the morning of No vember 2, Chase Bank held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first branch in Eden Prairie. The event featured the Eden Prairie High School cheer team and Eagle mascot, as well as high-profile leaders at JPMorgan Chase.

Chase announced at the ceremony its plans to acceler ate its expansion into Minne sota, bringing the total num ber of branches in the Twin

“But you know, at that time, making spirits was pretty far from our mind, but they were persistent. They were willing to work with us. You know, in many ways Delta, as a large

with us and be patient. That took a year and a half, but eventually we got it done and got it on board.”

Montana discussed the in ception of the foundation and why it was crucial for the or ganization to take its time to set up the foundation right. “First, we didn’t know we were going to have a foundation. We had no money.

“ We started a GoFundMe to raise some money [after the protests started and the building was partially dam aged]. We initially set it at

nity through a tough time.”

Having the Du Nord Foun dation has enabled the Du Nord company to properly and transparently channel the funds raised during the upris ing into the community.

“I will say I’m very ex cited about a number of developments in the Twin Cities, and I think the com munity has been waiting to see what happens to the Lake Street corridor and to some of those buildings and whether it goes to business as usual or if it goes to some

community and give them platforms to chase their dreams. And so, I’m very excited about both of those projects and hope people will tune in and track them as they develop.”

For more information on Du Nord Social Spirits and Du Nord Foundation, visit dunordsocial spirits.com and dunordsocial spirits.com/foundation.

Angela Rose Meyers welcomes reader responses to ameyers@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Chase Bank celebrates expansion

Cities metro area to more than 40 locations by 2025, which is 68% more than in its initial plans. The expansion will bring the bank into many Minnesota communities for the first time, including Sav age, Edina, and Roseville, be fore the end of the year.

Chase hired 10 local em ployees for Eden Prairie, in cluding personal bankers, as sociate bankers, private client specialists and advisors, and home lending and business banking specialists.

“Our branches serve as

community anchors, con necting our neighbors and local businesses to critical re sources that meet their needs and help them build a secure financial future,” said Patty Gilman, regional director for Chase in Minnesota.

“Branches are critically impor tant to our customers, but our mission goes beyond service and convenience,” said Racquel Oden, head of Network Expan sion at Chase. “We’re hiring lo cally, investing in communities, and bringing all the benefits our firm has to offer to drive eco

nomic growth.”

Since opening branches in the Twin Cities area, Chase has announced more than $10 million in philanthropic investments to help local nonprofits and minority-owned businesses, including $5 mil lion in February to the Center for Economic Inclusion and partners, to support local Black, Hispanic and Latina women business owners.

I will say I’m very excited about a number of developments in the Twin Cities.

Chris Montana

Submitted photos

Laura Poehlman welcomes reader responses to lpoehlamn@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Chase Branch Manager Mohamed Zaza cut the ribbon with Racquel Oden, head of Network Expansion, at his side. The Eden Prairie High School cheer team and Eagle mascot helped celebrate the event. Photos by Brian Hanover

By Dwight Brown

1h 45m. Instead, her path is so cluttered with distractions and characters it’s hard to keep track of her mission.

‘Wendell & Wild’ is jampacked to a fault

Thirteen-year-old Kat El liot (Lyric Ross, TV’s “This is Us”) lost her parents (Gabri elle Dennis, Gary Gatewood) in a tragic car accident when she was eight. She still blames herself for their deaths and wants them to come back into her life and has been in an ex tended state of angst for years.

This tween punk rock prin cess enters her town’s Rust Bank’s Catholic School for Girls with a chip on her shoul der. Her journey should be the film’s central focus, but it’s not.

As the movie’s title reveals, the main story is about two de mons who are brothers Wen dell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Jordan Peele). They’re trying to scheme their way out of the Underworld and slither into the Land of the Liv ing. To fulfill their dream, they need the aid of a “Hail Maiden,” someone with magical powers who can help demons cross over. Hence their interest in Kat. She’s got that swag.

Connecting the two story lines is enough of a gulp. Add ing another competing plotline about a wealthy, greedy and wicked couple, Irmgard (Max ine Peake) and Lane Klaxon (David Harewood), who use in timidation, fire and murder to buy Rust Bank properties for pennies on the dollar, is over kill. This class warfare theme involving corporate greed further overshadows the kid’s soul-searching journey, the only plotline worth following.

Writer/director Henry Selick’s jampacked storytell ing is aided by cowriter Jordan Peele (“Nope”). They merge ghoulish fantasy with modern Black life and social issues in

There are plenty of gim micks, including hair cream that brings the dead back to life and a magical toy bear. There’s a bevy of people in her life, like Sister Helley (Angela Bassett), a nun at Kat’s school and a men tor with supernatural abilities: “You’re a Hell Maiden. But it has to be our secret.”

Father Bests (James Hong) runs the school, and his fun draising efforts leave him sus ceptible to trickery. Her fellow student Raúl Cocolotl (Sam Ze laya), an artist, is her wingman. Three clueless classmates Siobhan (Tamara Smart), Sweet ie (Ramona Young) and Sloane (Seema Virdi) are warned to be careful: “Bad things happen to people I’m close to. They die.” What’s on view is either a wealth of storylines, quirky de vices and characters or a pileup. Viewers will decide.

Some audiences find stop-

ways that are very contem porary. Kat’s afro-punk rocker vibe is cool, and her green afro puffs hairdo is so retro it’s fun.

Raising her parents from the dead is her goal and a compelling quest that should retain audiences’ attention for

motion animation unique while others think it’s dis tracting. Artists manipulate objects whose positions are changed and recorded, and on film those images often move around in a jerky fashion, not smooth and fluid like the 3-D computer-animation in films

The sketch comedy series “Key & Peele” brought KeeganMichael and Jordan millions of fans. They were wry, funny and very animated. Part of their schtick involved their very telling facial expressions. It’s a trick that doesn’t trans port to the wicked cartoon ish characters of “Wendell & Wild,” where their antics seem muted and their personas can seem annoying.

But the vocal performanc es by Ross, Bassett, Hong and Zelaya, which perfectly convey the emotions and ec centricities of their characters, make up for what W&W lack.

like “DC League of Super-Pets.” It’s a style the director Selick cemented back in 1993 with “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and further per fected as a writer/director on the Oscar-nominated “Cora line.” It’s an acquired taste.

The dull palette of colors (too much gray and purple) isn’t particularly eye-catching, though the cinematography (Peter Sorg) captures it all. The exteriors and interiors (production designers Paul Harrod, Robin Joseph, Lou

Ramano) do the job but aren’t particularly evocative.

Music is the film’s strongest asset, including Bruno Cou lais’ (“Les Choirstes”) musical score and a fun playlist. Resur recting the classic 1981 song “Ghost Town” by The Specials is a stroke of otherworldly ge nius. Blasting “You Sexy Thing (I Believe in Miracles)” by Hot Chocolate adds spirit. And play ing “Cult of Personality” by Liv ing Colour is a well-deserved tribute to guitarist Vernon Reid, singer Corey Glover and the rest of that hard rock funk band.

Tween and teen girls and

other kids may find this ghoul ishly cartoonist animation a nice distraction. Mainstream audiences may wish the narra tive wasn’t so congested and that the footage was more ar resting. Merely speculating who will and will not like this ani/hor/com/fam and its un derworld shenanigans is a sign that this film’s success may vary.

“Wendell & Wild” is currently available to watch on Netflix.

Dwight Brown is the NNPA News Wire film critic. Find more of his work at DwightBrownInk.com.

Sometimes there’s too many cooks in the kitchen.

there are too many storylines in a movie.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in “Wendell l& Wind”

Photos Courtesy of Netflix

Lyric Ross in “Wendell l& Wind”

Let’s not fail our country as German citizens did in 1927

By Oscar Blayton

In my hometown of Williams burg, Virginia, there is a living museum whose stated motto is: “That the future may learn from the past.” At a time when Amer ica is being plagued by legions of history deniers wanting to hide their true nature by obfuscating who they have been, it is impor tant to learn from the past so we can see the dangers we face in our future.

Most people alive today have no personal memories of World War II, but few are unfamiliar with its place in history. The massive destruction and human misery brought about by the rise of fascism is unmatched in modern times.

For more than seven de cades, historians have struggled to explain how the Axis nations, and Nazi Germany in particular, came to inflict such horror on the world. In many instances, historians simply concluded that this was just the nature of the German people.

In his book, “Iron and Blood: A Military History of the GermanSpeaking Peoples Since 1500,” Oxford University Professor Peter H. Wilson warns that at tempts to draw a continuous line through centuries of violent Ger man history culminating in the Holocaust are the result of “lazy” scholarship and imply a false con tinuity and inevitably.

Wilson argues that this lazi ness risks ignoring the agency of those involved in the atroci ties, thus acquitting them of their personal responsibility. He states that in each case, individu als chose to partake in genocide, and the question as to why they did demands more complicated answers than “because they were German.”

It is true that a great deal of what happened in Germany in the first half of the 20th century had to do with a crazy little man named Adolph Hitler. But even

he can’t take all the blame.

When World War I ended in 1918 with total defeat for Ger many, the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, and the Dawes Plan of 1924 created conditions that placed Germany in a pres sure cooker. The treaty forced Germany to give up its colonial territories, reduce its military forces, and make reparation pay ments to the Allied powers.

But perhaps most stinging to the German people was the treaty’s “War Guilt Clause,” which required Germany and her allies to accept all the guilt for starting the war. This public humiliation of Germany enraged its popula tion and gave rise to their sense of grievance.

The heavy reparation pay ments placed on Germany by the treaty were eased some what by the Dawes Plan, cre ated by Charles G. Dawes, an American banker who later would become vice president of the United States under Presi dent Calvin Coolidge.

discharged from the army six months later, he became an en thusiastic party member.

DAP eventually changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) and became known colloquially as the “Nazi Party.”

As he rose in the party, Hit ler became adept in the use of scapegoating as a means of fo cusing blame upon minorities for the economic hardships and other grievances of his angry listeners.

With the help of early fol lowers, he was able to assemble street thugs into a violent para military group known as the “Storm Troopers.” Ostensibly their function was to provide protec tion at rallies, but most often they were used to physically at tack political opponents.

In late 1923, Hitler, backed by his Storm Trooper thugs, tried to stage a coup, much like the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in Washington, D.C. And like the Jan. 6 insur rection, Hitler’s coup attempt, known as the “Beer Hall Putsch,”

Democracy is on the ballot

By Marian Wright Edelman

In August 1965, as President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act with Dr. Mar tin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders at his side, Presi dent Johnson said he had long believed “this right to vote is the basic right without which all oth ers are meaningless. It gives peo ple, people as individuals, control over their own destinies.”

The ability to elect our political leaders and have our voices and votes count is a precious and fun damental right for all of us. Those of us who participated in and lived through the Civil Rights Move ment know firsthand that this is a right Black Americans were fight ing and dying for not very long ago.

In places around the world others are still struggling and sacrificing for a freedom too many Americans now take for granted. But on Wednesday, President Biden issued an ur gent call to action as he warned Americans that in these midterm elections—during a dangerous rise in political violence and voter intimidation as candidates are still denying the results of the last

election and openly threatening not to accept the will of the vot ers in the future—“democracy is on the ballot for all of us.”

President Biden said: “I ap peal to all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national and generational impor tance. We must vote knowing what’s at stake is not just the pol icy of the moment, but institu tions that have held us together as we’ve sought a more perfect union are also at stake… Look, my fellow Americans, at the old expression, ‘Freedom is not free; it requires constant vigilance.’

We, the people, must decide whether we’re going to sustain a republic where reality’s accepted, the law is obeyed, and your vote is truly sacred. We, the people, must decide whether the rule of law will prevail or whether we’ll allow the dark forces that thirst for power ahead of the principles that have long guided us.”

A national poll released last week by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School showed 40% of 18-to-29-yearolds said they will “definitely” vote this year, which is on track to match or even exceed the re cord-breaking 2018 youth turn out in a midterm election.

“From the very beginning, noth ing has been guaranteed about de mocracy in America. Every genera tion has had to defend it, protect it, preserve it, choose it, for that’s what democracy is: It’s a choice—a decision of the people, by the peo ple, and for the people. The issue couldn’t be clearer, in my view.

“We, the people, must decide whether we will have fair and free elections and every vote counts.

For some college-aged young people, these midterm elections will be their first opportunity to vote for the future they want and deserve. It must not be the last. It is critical that we help preserve this right for generations to come.

Democracy is not a spectator sport—and it absolutely cannot be now with so much on the line. Please do your part.

The eclipse of affirmative action in higher education

By Dr. Luke Tripp

Gone are the days of robust affirmative action policies in col leges and universities. Since the Supreme Court’s Allen Bakke de cision in 1978, affirmative action policies and practices have been compromised to the point that nine states in the United States— California (1996), Washington (1998), Florida (1999), Michigan (2006), Nebraska (2008), Arizona (2010), New Hampshire (2012), Oklahoma (2012) and Idaho (2020)—have already banned race-based affirmative action.

Court invalidated racial quotas but allowed race to be considered only in a narrowly restricted way.

From affirmative action to cul tural diversity

Before Bakke, affirmative ac tion policy was understood as a moral imperative to identify and correct societal racial discrimina tion. It was an outcome of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s aimed to eliminate institutional racial and sexual barriers.

massive progress in desegregat ing schools, but schools have been resegregating ever since.

Under the Dawes Plan, Ger many’s annual reparation pay ments were reduced initially but were scheduled to increase over time as its economy improved. Additionally, economic policy making in Berlin was reorganized under foreign supervision and Germany was required to rely on foreign loans to make its repara tion payments. More importantly, the plan left undetermined the full amount to be paid.

After World War I, Hitler re mained in the German army and, in 1919, was an intelligence agent assigned to infiltrate the German Workers’ Party (DAP). After joining DAP, Hitler dis covered that he agreed with their views, so when he was

failed. Hitler was tried and im prisoned for nine months for his part in the attempt.

In 1927, the threat of rising fascism was recognized in Ger many. The Nazi Party was de clared illegal in Berlin, and even tually Nazi speechmaking was banned throughout the entire German state of Prussia. Unfor tunately, the ban was lifted later that year and the march towards fascism continued.

Five years after Hitler was released from prison, the U.S. stock market crashed in 1929. With the Great Depression that followed, Germany’s reliance on foreign loans under the Dawes Plan sent Germany into an eco nomic tailspin.

The pain of the Depression, coupled with Germany’s sense of grievance over the loss of World War I and the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, ultimately led to politi cal instability in Germany and the end of its democratic government.

The Bakke case

Race-conscious admissions policies promoting greater inclu sion of non-White students at selective colleges became a sub ject of scrutiny in the 1970s. Al lan P. Bakke—a White applicant who was twice denied admission to the University of California at Davis medical school—sued the institution in 1974.

He alleged that its raceconscious admissions policy ex cluded him solely based on race, violating his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. At the time, the university each year reserved 16 spots for Black, American Indi an, and Latinx (BIPOC) applicants in an entering class of 100.

But today, affirmative action policy has been replaced by cul tural diversity, which reinforces the idea of cultural difference rather than racial oppression. This change in the meaning of affirmative action has shaped admission policies and practices in higher education.

The ideology of colorblind ness frames the demise of af firmative action and the rise of cultural diversity policy. This

The shallowness of colorblindness Colorblindness cannot be eas ily dismissed because it supports the ideas of moral justice and fairness. It is aspirational. The idea gained traction during the post-civil rights period, but it is delusional to believe that colorblind policies will lead to a colorblind educational system. Many mistakenly believe that the most effective anti-racist strategy or practice is to ignore race.

Colorblindness condemns overt racism but accepts policies and practices that continue to pro duce racially disparate outcomes. The shallowness of colorblindness (anti-racism lite) facilitates the ac ceptance of diversity policies and goals. Consequently, the White advantage is maintained through a race-neutral mechanism.

ideology, prevalent in the United States, is premised on the belief that the overt forms of racial dis crimination have been eliminat ed and that equal opportunity is ubiquitous. Many think that edu cational policies based on race are inherently racist and illegal.

Racism continues to shape and define BIPOC opportunities and life chances. In everyday life, we use racial categories in social interactions and for our naviga tion in our social settings. Given the persistence of structural rac ism in education, race-conscious policies are necessary.

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com submissions@spokesman-recorder.com.

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com

What ensued was the rise of the Third Reich under the Nazi Party. Using his oratory skills to focus blame on scapegoats, Hitler garnered overwhelming public support by promising to repudiate the Versailles Treaty, strengthen the economy and provide jobs.

By 1933, Hitler had become chancellor of Germany, intro duced censorship, passed laws ending civil liberties and passed the Enabling Act, making himself dictator for four years. And the following year, he made himself chancellor and president.

This is the history of a nation that followed an avowed rac ist and anti-Semite who never finished secondary school, who possessed no discernible skills other than oratory, and who never rose above the rank of corporal in the German army. Germany followed him into

Bakke’s college grades and test scores were higher than those of BIPOC students admit ted. The court deemed the uni versity’s use of racial quotas un constitutional and ordered the university to admit Bakke.

But Justice Lewis F. Powell, in a plurality opinion conveying the court’s decision, wrote that be cause the government had a com pelling interest in the educational benefits of diversity, colleges could continue to consider an applicant’s race as one factor among many in admissions. Thus, the Supreme

World War II and to a destruc tion of its own making.

In 1927, German citizens were at a crossroads. And they failed their country. By ignoring the threat of fascism that year, Germa ny was unable to resist it after the stock market collapsed in 1929.

Today, Americans find them selves at a similar crossroads. Grievance politics and eco nomic instability have led to the scapegoating of immigrants and minorities by a segment of our society that sees fascism as the

Historically, colorblindness provided the general framework for racial equality during govern ment-enforced racial segrega tion. Moreover, it provided the legal rationale for dismantling legal segregation in education.

However, quasi-official reseg regation of K-12 schools resulted in the concentration of BIPOC students in the most poorly re sourced schools. It has disadvan taged BIPOC students in pursu ing higher education. From 1968 to the early 1990s, there was

answer to its problems, even if it is not called by that name.

The critical question at this hour is: Can America become the democracy it claims it wants to be, or will it devolve into the chaos of fascism as Germany did a century ago? Overcoming this danger requires a desire for equality that has been lacking throughout this country’s history.

The myth of a democratic America has never been more than an aspirational concept. But we can no longer deny equal

Persistent poverty, unem ployment, social control and re pression are explicitly framed in racial terms. Race consciousness (recognition of racial identity) works to highlight racial differ ences. Drawing attention to race allows us to challenge racism. Most observers of the Su preme Court expect that it will declare affirmative action un constitutional next year in the case Students for Fair Admis sions Inc. v. President and Fel lows of Harvard College.

ity and a decent quality of life to portions of our society and expect to be rewarded with their loyalty and support.

Shared strength must result in shared power. A democratic America must share power or disappear.

Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and hu man rights activist who practices law in Virginia. His earlier commen taries can be found at oblayton1. medium.com.

Marian Wright Edelman is the founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Dr. Luke Tripp is a professor of the Department of Ethnic, Gender & Wom en’s Studies at St. Cloud State University.

Can America become the democracy it claims it wants to be, or will it devolve into the chaos of fascism as Germany did a century ago?

Our democracy is at risk, but it’s within our power to preserve it.

Drawing attention to race allows us to challenge racism.

Low-key hero honored by her ‘village’

By Al Brown Contributing Writer

When longtime childcare provider Frankie Jean Tor rence walked into the U of M Research Engagement Community Outreach Center (UROC) in North Minneapolis on Saturday morning she had no idea that she would walk into a surprise party, as family, friends, and community mem bers gathered to celebrate her as a vital part of their village.

In a friendly, almost grum bling tone, a surprised and smiling Torrence admonished, “ I don’t like it one bit! They know I don’t like surprises, and I’m not the kind of person that has to have gifts or be cer emoniously honored. I’ve been low-key all my life.”

Nevertheless, this was all done to say thank you to a woman who, as many at the event explained, has been sup portive to so many over the years. “Look at all these people coming in here. This is ridicu lous!” expressed a humbled Torrence.

Not one to discuss her age, Torrence was born in Camden, Ark. and raised in Minnesota. She has been providing care in one way or another for five decades.

Marlene Whitaker, related to Torrence through marriage— her brother is married to Tor rence’s sister—spoke highly of her. “Frankie is always there with an open door and a smile, whether it’s to help with kids or just have someone to talk to.

‘We just wanted to let her know how much she is appre ciated. She has watched all of our children. She’s just a loving soul.” Whitaker said.

Marlene’s brother De

wayne Whitaker also weighed in. “I wanted to come out and show gratitude to Frankie. As the saying goes, a child is not simply raised by the fam ily he or she is born into, but it takes a village, and she was a large part of our village,” he explained.

Candace Whitaker added, “She is a very kind and giving person. She has given to the community, family and friends for more than 40 years, She

was raised on the North Side and still lives here.”

But perhaps the greatest praise came from Troy McCoy. Torrence provided care for him and his brothers. McCoy, now 47, said he has been connected to Torrence since he was six years old. “Me and my broth ers, Tony and Tyrone, practi cally grew up in her house until we were like eight or nineyears old. We spent many nights and days under her watchful di rection. She is part of what is called ‘the village’.

“I remember watching TV shows with her from ‘Sesame Street’ to kung fu movies, ‘Planet of the Apes,’”McCoy continued. “Her playroom was in the basement where all the toys were. It was a little chilly sometimes, but I have great

was in her care, she was also very protective. “We were always safe and never wor ried about anything. She even taught me how to ride the city

was so considerate and protec tive of everyone in her circle. To us she wasn’t just a childcare person per se, but more so a neighbor who cared.”

Although Torrence said she was not a big fan of this surprise celebration, her warm smile and interaction with the many fam ily members and friends told a different story. And, in her words, she is a low-key person never seeking the limelight, a trait of many unsung heroes in our communities.

memories of playing at her house, and of her cooking a lot of good food.

She is family, McCoy affec tionately recalled. While he

bus, and I wasn’t afraid be cause I knew how to act and where to sit.

“If she had a doctor’s appoint ment, she took us with her. She

Al Brown welcomes reader re sponses to abrown@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Winter is coming: help for higher heating bills in MN

By Mike Moen

After a warm start to No vember, cooler temperatures have found their way back to Minnesota. That’s prompt ing reminders for homeown ers and renters to sign up for heating assistance if they’re worried about difficulty paying their bills this winter.

Timing is important, given forecasts for higher natural gas bills in the U.S. this winter— including the Midwest.

Michael Schmitz, director of Minnesota’s Energy Assis tance Program, said so far, ap plications are running 10% to 15% higher than the same time last year. But he said with an nual federal funds, the state is prepared to meet the demand and those eligible shouldn’t leave aid sitting on the table.

“If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills or if you

know somebody who’s strug gling—it might be a neighbor, a friend, a relative,” said Schmitz, “I really encourage you to ap ply yourself or help those folks that you know who are strug gling to apply.”

The state will mail out an application, if requested. Min nesota’s 24 community action

agencies and 11 tribal govern ments can also assist with an application.

The Energy Information Ad ministration says the Midwest is likely to see the biggest price hikes for retail natural gas this winter at 27%. Analysts say that’s a main driver for higher energy bills.

Minnesota does have a cold weather rule aimed at prevent ing utility shutoffs during the winter months. But Schmitz cautioned it’s not an automat ic protection.

“You have to contact your natural gas or your electric util ity company and request a cold weather rule payment plan,” said Schmitz. “You have to es tablish that plan and keep it dur ing the cold weather real season and the utility wouldn’t be able to disconnect you as long as

you’re maintaining that plan.”

He says signing up for heating assistance is a good way to prevent that scenario from happening. Eligibility guidelines include income and household size.

Mike Moen writes for the Minnesota News Connection.

Find more info about Min nesota’s Energy Assistance Program at bit.ly/mn-energyassistance.

Frankie Jean Torrence (center) with friends and family at Nov. 5 celebration Photos by Al Brown

Crowd on hand to honor Frankie Jean Torrence

To us she wasn’t just a childcare person per se, but more so a neighbor who cared.

Help shape the New Nicollet Redevel opment Project (former Kmart site), Proj ect survey open through Nov. 30

The City of Minneapolis wants to hear from community members about your vi sion for the future of the former Kmart

and play here.

• Designing safe and healthy communi ties.

This first phase of engagement focuses on open dialogues with community mem bers who live in, work in, shop in and visit

Obituary

Lou E. Walker-Thompson

Sunrise, December 16, 1932 — Sunset, October 18, 2022

Lou is survived by the children of her blended family: daughters Lisa E. Jones and Alison R. Thompson; sons Maurice Al an (Yonce’) Jones and Jonathan (Sabrina) Jones; Dr. Stephen R. Thompson and Jef frey R. Thompson; seven grandchildren; sister Pauline Walker-Singleton; aunt Irma Lucille Simmons; nieces T’Yanna (Amy) Singleton and TaVanni Singleton; cous ins Russell A. West and Roderic (Tonya) A. West; and numerous other cousins, rel atives, and many friends.

Lou has lived in Minnesota since the spring of 1961 and was a faithful member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and a Gold en Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta So rority, Inc.

Memorial services will be held on Novem ber 16, 2022 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1636 Van Buren Ave. in St. Paul, MN. Visita tion begins at 10 am, which will include an Omega Omega Ceremony by Sisters of Del ta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, followed by the memorial service at 11 am. The burial will be at Fort Snelling on May 22, 2023.

site. The City is reconnecting Nicollet Av enue between Lake Street and the Mid town Greenway as part of the New Nicol let Redevelopment Project.

The development represents a once-ina-generation opportunity to help reshape the future of the site and contribute to a better quality of life for people living and working in the immediate area.

The broad project goals include:

• Reconnecting people and places.

• Building safe, equitable and sustain able transportation networks.

• Building for who is there.

• Designing space to live, work, shop

the area. The second phase will focus on a public space plan and Nicollet Avenue layout plan, which will require city council approval. The third phase of engagement will discuss the future development of buildings.

Ways to share feedback

Before Nov. 30 take the survey by go ing to bit.ly/NicolletRedevSurvey.

Learn more about the New Nicollet Redevelopment Project by going to bit.ly/ NicolletRedev.

Source: City of Minneapolis.

LouE. Walker-Thompson, age 89, of Maplewood, MN passed away peace fully at home with her loving husband of 29 years, George Thompson, Jr., on Octo ber 18, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her father John Walker, her mother Frances M. Walk er; and sisters Jeanette Walker-Jackson and Gloria A. Walker.

The old Kmart store as it appeared in 2017

Photo by Paige Elliott

First of two parts

his college basketball season will feature at least 20 head-to-head matchups of non-HBCU teams coached by Blacks.

The Big Ten, for instance, has eight such matchups (MBB) and two WBB contests featuring the conference’s only two Black female coach es: Coquese Washington (Rutgers) and Marisa Moseley (Wisconsin).

All total this season, there are 15 Black WBB HCs in the Power 5 conferences: ACC and SEC, five each; three in the Pac-12; two in the Big Ten; and zero in the Big 12.

On the surface, it appears that progress in coaching di versity is finally at hand, but the latest NCAA demographics (2020-21) show almost 53% of Division I men’s basketball play

Black college coaches are on the rise But there’s still much room for improvement

ers and nearly 41% of women players are Black. The percent ages of Black male and female head coaches are much lower: 24.3% Black men’s basketball coaches and 18.5% Black fe male basketball coaches.

“I understand that there are 14 of these [Big Ten MBB HC jobs],” admitted Penn State’s Micah Shrewsberry, one of five Black Big Ten men’s head coaches. “I don’t take that lightly.”

Kentucky WBB Coach Kyra Elzy, hired in 2020, is one of four SEC Black coaches. Her Wildcats will play Minnesota at Williams Arena Dec. 7. “It is an honor that Black females

have not had,” she told us.

“I thank the Black female coaches that have paved the way, opened the door for people like me, to be in the position that I am in— C. Viv

ian Stringer, Marian Freeman, Bernadette Locke Mattox, Dawn Staley. We understand the assignment and the re sponsibility. Obviously, we have to be successful in order to keep opening the door for people to come.”

The MSR recently asked Black coaches who will be in head-to-head matchups with fellow Black coaches on

whether or not this is still sig nificant. If so, why? If not, then have we reached the point that it’s no longer an exception?

Said Shrewsberry, “I still think we’re a little way away. If you can point out how many times it’s happening, it’s still an exception. I think there’s progress being made.”

“Obviously I think there’s still a lot of room for growth…

especially in the Power 5 con ferences,” added Washington, now in her second stint in the conference (Penn State, 2007-19). “We certainly have had some movement in the last couple years. We’ve had some good hires.”

Arkansas Pine Bluff Men’s Coach Solomon Bozeman said, “Black coaches are growing, and I think people are start

ing to take notice that we can coach.” His Golden Lions will play Minnesota at Williams Arena Dec. 14.

South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley said in an Associated Press story earlier this year that 2007 appeared to be a high-wa ter mark for hiring Black female coaches: “A lot of Black coaches got opportunities during that

Gopher hockey and soccer players are representing

Hockey player is

fter making WCHA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten, as well as appear ing in all 39 games in 2021-22, Eden Prairie’s Crystalyn Hengler wasn’t ready to call it a college career. Hengler has returned to the Gophers for her fifth and final season.

“Hockey has been such a big part of my life,” she said after a practice at Ridder Arena. The team’s only Black player added, “I’ve been skat ing since I’ve been two years old.”

The always highly ranked Gophers ended last season with back-to-back losses, which left Hengler and her mates with a bad taste in their collective mouths. Because of COVID, which al lows players to get an extra year if they choose, Hengler accepted the option and returned this season in hopes to go even farther this season than last and win a national championship.

The 5-8 player scored the Gophers’ first goal of the 2022-23 season in a 9-4 win over Min nesota State on Oct. 15.

“It sounds clichéd,” said Hengler, “but I mean, let me just play with no regrets. Leave it all out there, because this for sure is now my last year.”

Hengler is one of four sistahs in the WCHA, along with Ohio State’s Sophie Jacques and sisters Chayla and Laila Edwards at Wiscon sin. The Eden Prairie native is the only Black

female playing college hockey this season in Minnesota.

“Just showing what girls of color can do in the sport is awesome to see,” she said proudly. Now in graduate school for sports management, Hengler believes this will give her more options along with her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

“By doing sports management, I can do

Soccer sisters love playing together

022 NCAA Division I women’s soccer had 26 schools that feature at least one set of sisters. Eight, including Min nesota, have two sets of sisters.

Senior Izzy Brown and freshman Amelia Brown, two North Carolina natives, joined sisters Sadie Harper and Khyah Harper on the Gophers squad this season. The Browns are

the team’s only Black players as well.

“Yeah, two sets of sisters. So, there can be some bickering,” explained Izzy when asked about any sibling rivalry. “It’s very lightheart ed. We always talk about it after the fact, but I think everybody else [on the team] is like, ‘Oh God, here’s all the sisters again.” This

River Falls athlete can’t wait to get healthy

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

he Wisconsin River Falls women’s basket ball team opens its 2022-23 season at home Nov. 11 vs. Buena Vista.

Olivia Allen, a sophomore forward from St. Paul, hopes that she will be at full strength for this contest and the rest of the season. The 5-11 CretinDerham Hall graduate was un able to play due to injury when the Falcons played Minnesota

Oct. 30 in an afternoon exhi bition game at Williams Arena. Forced unfortunately to be a cheerleader on the bench rather than playing with her

teammates, Allen told the MSR after the game, “It’s been really hard mentally and physically. I think when I get healthy,” said

fter graduating from Central State Univer sity in 1987, I began my career as a prep sports colum nist at Insight News. In 1996, I moved on to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

This week’s column features one event or accomplishment from each year 2002-2006. Highlights include a Minne apolis team’s third-straight state boys basketball champi onship, another Minneapolis team achieving the same feat a year later, a St. Paul team’s two state tournament appear ances in boys basketball, and a Minneapolis team winning the City and Twin City boys basketball titles.

Izzy (No. 52) and Amelia (No. 25) Brown Courtesy of U of M Athletics

“We run from the race thing and we try to hide it.”

Coquese Washington

Micah Shrewsberry

Marisa Moseley Photos by Charles Hallman

There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the school year and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: Gopher hockey player Crystalyn Hengler and soccer players Izzy and Amelia Brown.

‘leaving it all out there’ her last year

Crystalyn Hengler Photo by Charles Hallman

“I love going into a field with her.”

Allen, the Falcons’ only Black player, “I will be a force on the inside, getting rebounds

(l-r) UVI Director of Athletics Dr. Jerel Drew, GCAC Commis sioner Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, UVI President Dr. David Hall Photo courtesy of UVI Communications

Olivia Allen

Photo by Charles Hallman

Editor’s Note: “Prep Flashbacks” is the third in a series of seven col umns highlighting the teams and players that Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald has covered as a prep photojournalist since 1987. The column will run once a month.

“I really wanted to be on a team that is like family. That’s how it’s been since the first day of practice.”