Read about Walker West Music Academy on page 7.
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November 30 - December 6, 2023
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Police reform without a mandate Former officer Derek Chauvin UCMT hopes its community-based sites will make it easier to file complaints
By Abdi Mohammed Contributing Writer inneapolis residents who want to file a complaint with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) are now able to do so at several communitybased sites across the city, thanks to an initiative led by the Unity Community Mediation Team (UCMT). The announcement came at UCMT’s 2023 Annual Report Back to the Community and Celebration Dinner, which took place on November 20, at Sabathani Community Center. AJ Flowers, a member of UCMT and the Young People’s Task Force spoke to an audience full of community members, city officials, and law enforcement personnel about the need for satellite locations to give diverse communities more options to file complaints. “We know a lot of times in
stabbed in federal prison
By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer source told the Associated Press (AP) that former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin was stabbed in prison. The anonymous source said Chauvin was stabbed just after 12 p.m. local time on November 24, at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Tuc-
(l-r): UCMT Chair Ian Bethel, MPD Chief Brian O’Hara, Hennepin Sheriff Dawana Witt (background) Photos by Abdi Mohamed our community, people don’t feel comfortable going to certain places. So, what we decided to do was open our own places where people can come and file their reports,” he said. Flowers specified that the sites would function to directly connect diverse communities with the complaint process and give them a lo-
cation where they could feel comfortable and heard. These new community sites will work in coordination with the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, which processes complaints against the MPD. This effort is to fulfill one of the many goals of the Memorandum of Understanding ■ See UCMT on page 5
son, Ariz. said they could not divulge the Chauvin is currently hos- victim’s name for privacy and pitalized at Banner University safety reasons. At press time, authorities Medical Center in Tucson. Representatives from the hospital had not disclosed who stabbed are not allowed to disclose his Chauvin, but it has been recondition for privacy reasons. ported that he was stabbed An official press release by another inmate. The Fedfrom the Bureau of Prisons eral Bureau of Investigation did not identify Chauvin as was contacted by the Bureau the victim but confirmed that of Prisons about the incident. the incident happened. A Bu- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for reau of Prisons spokesperson ■ See CHAUVIN on page 5
Chauvin’s attorneys advocated for him to be kept in segregation. Derek Chauvin
A food desert in downtown Minneapolis? Some residents struggle with access to groceries
By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer
dents new and old are wondering where they may get their food. Downtown residents living in the more upscale part, generally along Hennepin and Washington Avenues, have access to four grocery stores: Lunds & Byerlys at 12th and Hennepin, Whole Foods at Hennepin and Washington, Trader Joe’s at Chicago and Washington, and Target at 9th and Nicollet. Those living on Washington, also have access to the year-round Mill City Farmers Market, the Red Lake Nation and their own Washington County farm. Those living in the more impoverished areas, such as near 15th and Nicollet in Loring Park, as well as in Elliot Park, don’t have access to any permanent grocery store within a 10-minute walk. Instead, Elliot Park, where about 40 percent of households make less than $25,000 annually, is served by a mobile market run by a nonprofit organization called The Food Group.
s the civic and business leaders’ focus appears to be on courting residents and tourists to downtown Minneapolis, the city may be neglecting the needs of those who already make downtown their home. Residents of several downtown neighborhoods, including Loring Park, Elliot Park, and North Loop, say they need amenities. In particular, Elliot Park residents say they want a grocery store. But the powers that be are struggling to woo such a store to the neighborhood. “It’s not that easy to just bring a grocery store. It’s up to a grocery store whether they want to be there or not,” said Shannon Fitzgerald, director of downtown partnerships at the Minneapolis Downtown Council. As she and her partners figure out how to bring a grocery store into some of downtown’s impoverished neighborhoods, some nonprofits are helping A grocery store on wheels out by deploying a grocery store on wheels. One cloudy Wednesday morning, Marybeth Teetzel joined several of his Elliot Park neighbors in lining up onboard a bus to get The food situation Downtown Minneapolis is home to more groceries. “It’s a hard time to get to Cub,” said than 56,000 people, according to the Min- Teetzel. “People don’t have a way to Cub.” The bus, which The Food Group owns, neapolis Downtown Council. The Downtown Council reports that 5,460 residents moved makes a stop in the Elliot Park neighborhood, at the Park Center public housing high-rise into the neighborhood since 2020. Developers have built over 3,000 housing at 15th Street and Park Avenue, once a week. units downtown since the pandemic began, with The stop lasts around an hour. The program was started by the Amherst at least 2,500 more housing units being built now. There may be more homes to come as own- J. Wilder Foundation in 2015. It’s intended ers of office buildings consider converting their to resolve an issue endemic to the neighborholdings into residential housing, and as the fed- hood—a lack of grocery options. The program eral government has been encouraging transit started out with two former Metro Transit agencies to offload surplus land to developers to build affordable housing. With an influx of people moving into downtown, resi-
A Twin Cities mobile market bus that serves those in downtown Minneapolis’ food desert
Tremaine Brown (front) and Rofina Madaba Lutta conduct inventory of products on the mobile market bus before leaving the Park Center high-rise in Elliot Park. Photos by H. Jiahong Pan buses, which are being replaced with converted school buses. Stephanie Wagner, who runs the mobile market program, believes they are more important than ever as grocery stores leave lowincome neighborhoods. “We’re seeing [grocery redlining] more and more, where groceries are abandoning many communities where basic needs aren’t being met,” said Wagner. The mobile markets are mostly stocked with products from Cub Foods—The Food Group is a food bank with bulk buying power— but will also carry produce and meat from local vendors, such as Organic Valley, Ferndale Farms, and the Red Lake Nation. Elliot Park has been left with few options since a grocery store on 14th Street between Park and Chicago closed in 2013. Although the neighborhood has easy access to an Aldi’s by the Route 9 and 14 buses, as well as a Target by the Route 9 bus, some residents have taken the liberty to go on a 30-minute trip via the D Line bus to get to the Wal-Mart in Bloomington. And despite a Trader Joe’s being nearby, no Metro Transit route brings Elliot Park residents directly there. Though the lack of grocery stores is not the only amenity Elliot Park lacks, residents the MSR interviewed say it is the most important. “I have agoraphobia so I don’t leave my house,” said Elliot Park resident Danielle Schlemmer. “I don’t have to [leave home to] get food and then some.”
Improving existing options? It’s unclear if any grocery stores plan to open anywhere in the neighborhood anytime soon. The neighborhood association is considering courting a grocer.
Those living in the more impoverished areas, such as near 15th and Nicollet in Loring Park, as well as in Elliot Park, don’t have access to any permanent grocery store within a 10-minute walk. Although The Food Group is looking to expand its operation, it needs to be within onehalf of a mile from an existing grocery store and an existing stop. That rules out Elliot Park. Metro Transit could potentially realign bus routes to better connect downtown residents to amenities such as grocery stores, potentially as part of their Network Now initiative. “As downtown continues to change and grow, we’ll be looking at ways that we can make adjustments,” said Metro Transit’s director of service planning Adam Harrington, who added they will also consider where the main ■ See FOOD DESERT on page 5
2 November 30 - December 6, 2023
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Chowdhury sworn in to represent Minneapolis Ward 12 By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer Southsider and public policy specialist Aurin Chowdhury became the first of two newly elected councilmembers to be sworn into office last Tuesday. Twenty-six-year-old Chowdhury, a Southside native, was sworn in on November 21 to represent Ward 12. Ward 12 includes parts of the Longfellow, Nokomis, and StandishEricksson neighborhoods. Her swearing-in allowed her to succeed councilmember Andrew Johnson, who decided not to seek re-election and opted to leave office early for a new job. “Ten years is pretty much the perfect time on this body because it probably is about equivalent to 30 years anywhere else,” said Johnson at
is another supporter. “When I lice chief say they use the train Chowdhury. To that end, she plans to speak with her, I feel like she’s as shelter because they were living in encampments that do more door-knocking of going to tackle some things. I were swept by the city of Min- residents and host town halls, love her energy. I love her spirneapolis. Chowdhury believes sometimes in partnership with it. I love her background story,” homeless sweeps need to end. neighborhood associations. “I said Adler. “We need to stop the pro- don’t believe that one council Emmanuel Duncan, who cess that we currently have of member can get this job done. owns a business in Ward 12, surprise, inhumane encamp- It really takes a whole commu- was there to document her ment evictions,” said Chow- nity,” said Chowdhury. swearing-in. Duncan thinks dhury, who advocates for a standard operating procedure where the city coordinates with the county and the state to develop a short and longterm plan to address homelessness. “There are smart ways to help people get out of an encampment and reduce the number of people that are Political activist Wintana Melekin (l) and newly sworn-in unhoused to begin with. If we don’t understand what’s availcouncil member Chowdhury able to us, and what connects Chowdhury is excited about clear on their need for policing, and what doesn’t, it’s going to the two-year challenge that especially in addressing emer- be more difficult to do what gencies that require them,” we want.” said Chowdhury. “People have Chowdhury also wants to been really concerned about help renters survive and thrive [the] lack of response times. in Minneapolis. Her agenda They want the same level of includes strengthening protec(l-r): Outgoing Ward 12 council member Andrew Johnson, service that other community tions for renters, implementChowdhury’s mother Ruba, and council member Aurin Chowdhury members have.” ing a rent stabilization ordinance, as well as increasing the amount of money available Enthusiastic supporters from Chowdhury will be great at “I don’t believe in the affordable housing trust all over tackling homelessness and fund. Some of her supporters at- police accountability. “There’s that one council As for what she plans to do tended her inauguration, as just a lot of encampments that member can to address economic dispari- well as her mother Ruba. “I’m need to be picked up, cleaned ties in the Black community, very happy and proud for her. up. But also, they need some get this job she outlines some of her ideas. It’s not only one word I can places to go,” said Duncan. done. It really Duncan thinks it was also “I don’t think we have enough express. It’s just huge and that Black and Brown people at the she made us proud,” said Ruba. great to have a woman of takes a whole table to give their lived expe- “She just told me [about being a color elected to office. Though community.” riences, in terms of what poli- council member and] I said ‘no, Chowdhury is not the first no, no, don’t do that.’ She’s very woman elected to the Ward cies they need.
(l-r): Mayor Jacob Frey, who attended Chowdhury’s swearing-in Photos by Chris Juhn Chowdhury’s inauguration. “I was ready to find my next opportunity to grow as a leader … at a renewable energy investment firm.”
looms before her. “The next two years [are] going to be really critical for bringing our city from healing and recovering to thriving,” said Chowdhury shortly after she was sworn in.
Who is Chowdhury? Johnson’s departure allowed Council priorities Ward 12 is a diverse area Chowdhury to be sworn into her that includes some of the role early. Chowdhury, who was city’s wealthy, white-collar born and raised in the Southneighborhoods. But it also has side to Bengali immigrants, has its share of issues. The ward experience working in the DFL is located entirely within the and with local government. Third Precinct, which police She ran the campaigns of Southside Minnesota State headquarters was destroyed Representative Aisha Gomez, during the uprising that hapWard 9 city councilmember pened days after George Floyd Jason Chavez as well as South- was murdered by former Minside Hennepin County Com- neapolis police officer Derek missioner Angela Conley. She Chauvin. Chowdhury, once a propoalso served as a legislative aide nent of abolishing the police, to former and current Minnebelieves the ward’s residents apolis city council members, deserve a police precinct headincluding Chavez and Steve quarters. “Residents feel pretty Fletcher.
Chowdhury also believes the city needs to invest in a comprehensive approach to public safety that doesn’t exclusively consist of police officers. “Ward 12 residents sent me to City Hall to work on a comprehensive, accountable public safety system, both bringing back up our police staffing numbers to the required amount and also doing the really important [and] necessary work to build out our underfunded neighborhood safety tools,” said Chowdhury. Ward 12 also includes about 2.5 miles of Metro Transit’s Blue Line, a light rail route that operates adjacent to Hiawatha Avenue. The route, which will have its rails and signals and at least one station completely rebuilt over the next three years, is plagued with crime, drug use, and homelessness, issues that make some riders feel uncomfortable. Some of those the MSR spoke with earlier this year for a profile of Metro Transit’s po-
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Supporters at Ward 12 council member Chowdhury’s swearing-in ceremony “I think there needs to be a good about explaining and you whole overhaul on who we’re know, telling everything—the empowering in terms of devel- good part and the down and oping land, how we’re going upside. And then I say, ‘Are you to influence the school board sure?’ And she said, ‘Yes.’” Cassaundra Adler, a Ward and curriculum, and that’s a part of the conversation that 12 resident who was present I want to help facilitate,” said at Chowdhury’s swearing-in,
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12 seat, she is believed to be the first Muslim, first Bengali, and first Asian city councilmember elected to that seat. H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader responses at hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.
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Tips for managing the holiday blues By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer We have officially entered the holiday season. What is supposed to be the most joyful time of the year can be complicated and troubling for people during a mental health crisis or ongoing mental health concerns. One way to address it is to acknowledge it. “A big part of it is naming it,” said Jocelyn McQuirter, project manager of See Mental Health, the Hennepin County mental health awareness campaign. “Choose what fills your cup during this time. Be aware and have a plan for what is going to be a pick-me-up.” In some circles, there’s still a stigma attached to mentioning mental health issues. See Mental Health aims to reduce the stigma with a frank and honest talk about an issue that impacts thousands of families. According to the website, 819,000 Minnesota adults have a mental health condition. McQuirter offered a reminder that the annual shift into winter can trigger both physical and mental changes for many Minnesotans. “With the change in season and the weather, be aware of
how you feel when the days during this holiday season. start getting shorter, darker, “Grief is a very complex and colder. It can take a toll,” she deeply personal topic. Keep said. “A big first step is being that in mind when making a aware how that can affect our bodies and our minds.” The See Mental Health website (www.seementalhealth.org) is a resource that can assist people during this time, whether they are struggling themselves or are in a relationship with someone who is experiencing depression
es, as well as ideas, tips and tools, and the real-life voices of others about how they manage their mental health concerns. “On the front page of the website you see information from everyday people in Hennepin County with ways they get through their mental health journey. They talk about the value of music, physical activity. Self-care is an important practice,” she said. McQuirter added that some people can use their own mental health status to be encouraging to others. “Sometimes it’s us setting an example by showing what mental health looks like,” she said. “We can take care of ourselves and reach out in warm and gentle ways. We can be Shutterstock mood boosters and uplift, and concerted effort to show up times just listening or taking sometimes that’s the best we for a friend or family member,” the time for the simple act can do.” In addition to practical and McQuirter said. of sending a caring text to a wellness-boosting reminders, McQuirter said that some- loved one can be meaningful. “What it means to tap in and See Mental Health also ofconnect with community looks fers emergency resources for different for everyone. Not ev- people who are in the midst eryone wants to gather around of a mental health crisis. The the dinner table. It may mean website is available in Spanish being willing to shift traditions, as well. to support them in a way that’s Sheletta Brundidge welcomes comfortable to them.” See Mental Health offers reade comments to sbrundidge@ a link to community resourc- spokesman-recorder.com.
“With the change in season and the weather, be aware of how you feel when the days start getting shorter, darker, colder. It can take a toll.”
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UCMT
can be done to people rather sections with over 30 items than done with them,” he said. listed in the update showcasContinued from page 1 Frey went on to praise ing the progress of both ormembers of the UCMT and ganizations in their efforts to MPD officers for engaging in uphold the agreement. (MOU), between the UCMT conversation and working toThe update indicated 13 and the MPD. gether to hammer out the pub- use-of-force items that were The MOU is a statement lic safety issues the city faces. now in compliance, along with designed to reflect the shared “We want to get to compli- seven MPD community relaprinciples of the UCMT and ance with not just 25 percent tions items such as reestabthe MPD, to recognize the of these items, but with 100 lishing the complaint reporting community partnership be- percent of them,” Frey stated. process through diverse comtween the two organizations, “There’s more than a few peo- munity groups like UCMT. and how that partnership con- ple out there that will do things Unlike the consent detributes to public safety. with a purely political agenda cree, which is a legally bindin mind. That’s not you guys.” ing agreement between the Adversaries become allies Although the UCMT negotiated its first agreement with MPD in 2003, it was revisited in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police officers. It has become a living document and is just one of three agreements that aim to hold the city and its police department accountable for past violations. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attended the celebration AJ Flowers (l) and Pastor Ian Bethel at UCMT annual celebration dinner and shared that his dinner office was “100 percent on board” to sit down with the Police reform agenda Department of Justice (DOJ) UCMT and work out a list of After signing the agree- and the City and is enforced compliance measures. He ex- ment in 2022, the UCMT and by a federal court, the MOU pressed his desire to see more MPD have worked towards between UCMT and MPD of a collaborative approach compliance with their MOU. has no provisions to hold from other critics of the MPD. The MOU agreement has 14 the department accountable. “One of the areas where I sections, ranging from train- Much of the work is done in feel we often fall short in our ing to cultural awareness and good faith. city, in kind of the activist sensitivity. The City of Minneapolis world is thinking that reforms The event outlined eight has signed a settlement agree-
que, local nt from the nCHAUVIN American mmunity's Continued from page 1
the District of Arizona said in a statement that they cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation into what happened at FCI Tucson. They did add, however, that they typically prosecute inmate-oninmate violence that happens at facilities managed by the Bureau of Prisons. Chauvin murdered George Floyd on May 25, 2020, at 38th and Chicago in Minneapolis. The incident, which involved Chauvin kneeling on
Floyd’s neck for nine and a half minutes, was recorded and disseminated on social media leading to unrest locally, nationally, and around the world. Charged with second-degree murder in state court and for violating Floyd’s civil rights in federal court, Chauvin was convicted of murdering Floyd in April 2021, and was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in state prison in June 2021. He submitted a guilty plea as part of a plea deal in federal court in December 2021, and was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison plus five years of supervised release in July 2022. In August 2022, he was
(l-r): American Indian Movement’s Rachel Thunder, UCMT’s AJ Flowers, and Mayor Frey ment with the State of Minnesota following the Department of Human Rights investigation, which found that the City and MPD engaged in a pattern or practice of race discrimination, violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act. A formal
“We don’t need outside people to come in and tell us what to do. We don’t need a court order to tell us what to do. We are very capable of monitoring this.”
consent decree between the City and DOJ has not yet been finalized but may come in the next year. While many await the signing between the federal agency and the City, others believe that the work can be done without outside input.
Vetaw of Ward 4 gave the keynote address of the night. In her role as the chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee, Vetaw oversees MPD. She asked attendees at the dinner to continue their work in engaging their local officials and guiding the conversation. “The spirit of collaboration is one of the best things you can have in the work that we do,” Vetaw said. “I learned a lot of work that had been done in this community for years. Even when we were told we didn’t need to be on the consent decree, you all have been doing work for decades.” The UCMT invited other members of the community to join them in their work and support their efforts through donations or volunteering their time. The six locations listed as Police Conduct Complaint and Information Sites are the UCMT headquarters at 4301 First Ave. S., NAACP Minneapolis at 1101 W. Broadway, Little Earth Residents Association at 2495 18th Ave. S., Indigenous Protector Movement at 1113 E. Franklin Ave., New Salem Baptist Church at 2507 Bryant Ave. N., and the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center at 924 19th Ave. S.
A spirit of collaboration “I thank God that we were able to sit at the table without the help of the Department of Justice. We didn’t need them anymore,” UCMT Chair Pastor Ian Bethel stated. “We don’t need outside people to come in and tell us what to do. We don’t need a court order to tell Abdi Mohamed welcomes us what to do. We are very careader comments at amohamed@ pable of monitoring this.” Council member LaTrisha spokesman-recorder.com.
managed to obtain a weapon and tried unsuccessfully to shoot a visitor at an adjacent prison camp, according to local media. In April 2022, an altercation resulted in the death of Austin Carlin, who was convicted in Texas for kidnapping a minor and taking them across state lines. In 2018, former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of abusing over 150 girls during his career, said he was MGN assaulted while at FCI Tucson. Chauvin is appealing his moved to FCI Tucson, a medi- the past several years, in part because of staffing issues. The guilty plea, saying his attorney um-security prison. The federal prison in Tuc- prison’s air conditioning sys- did not tell him that a doctor was willing to testify on his beson has been beset by safety tem broke in July. and maintenance issues over Last November, an inmate half to say Floyd died of a tu-
mor. He has yet to win a single appeal in state or federal court. Most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of his second-degree murder conviction on the grounds he had an unfair trial due to ongoing publicity and fears of unrest if he were acquitted. Chauvin’s attorneys, Eric Nelson and Gregory Erickson, advocated for him to be kept in segregation because his past life as a police officer could make him a target. Both were contacted about the incident. H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader comments at hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.
FOOD DESERT
Continued from page 1
destinations are, how far of a walk is reasonable for riders, and if they are providing frequent service to those destinations. Meanwhile, perhaps in an effort to respond to the needs of downtown residents, Target began to extend its store hours later in the evening. Before mid-July, they closed at 6 p.m. The store is now open until 8 p.m. Target did not respond to requests for comment.
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Tamir Mohamud shows Adena Elmiq how to read a food package onboard The Food Group’s Twin Ciites mobile market bus.
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Business Navigating annual sales cycles for savvy shopping
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are also prevalent in late summer. • Electronics. Look for deals on electronics during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November. New models of gadgets are often released in the fall, leading to discounts on older models. • Furniture. Furniture tends to go on sale during major holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day. Additionally, January is a popular time for furniture stores to clear out inventory from the previous year. • Appliances. Big-ticket appliances like refrigerators and stoves are often discounted during holiday weekends, especially Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day. • Cars. If you’re in the market for a new car, consider buying during the end-of-year clearance events when dealerships are eager to make room for the following year’s models. Dealerships often have sales quotas to meet at the end of each month and may be more open to making deals during that time. • Jewelry. Look for dis-
and other gardening items. • Back-to-School Supplies. Find discounts on school supplies such as notebooks, pens, dormitory items, and laptops in late August and early September. • Outdoor Items. Outdoor furniture such as patio sets, grills, and fire pits will typically
counts around Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the holiday season. • Bedding and Linen. A somewhat lesser-known annual deal is called “white sales,” typically run by department stores specifically on bedding, towels, and linens. • Sustainable Items. Look • Clothing and Apparel. Ma- for sales on sustainable items jor clearance sales for winter around Earth Day, including and summer clothing occur reusable bags, smart gadgets, at the end of each respective earth-friendly cleaning and season. Back-to-school sales beauty products, seeds, plants,
go on sale early in the spring and again in the fall when the weather turns cool. Take advantage of holiday sales Holidays provide both pre- and post-sale opportunities. There will be general sales on many products before big holidays like Christmas or more specific items like jewelry, clothing, and gardening for Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Tools, outdoor items, and other dad gifts often go on sale around Father’s Day.
Smart shopping involves more than just finding good deals. It is also about timing your purchases strategically. One effective approach for saving money and getting the most value out of your shopping is to shop based on annual sales cycles. By understanding when retailers typically offer the best discounts on certain items throughout the year, you can make savvy decisions about when to buy. This guide unveils how to shop based on annual sales cycles to maximize your savings. Understanding annual sales cycles Annual sales cycles refer to the predictable discounts and promotions that retailers follow throughout the year. Various factors, including product type, holidays, seasons, and inventory turnover influence these cycles. By recognizing these patterns, you can plan your purchases to take advantage of the best deals.
Sales based on the type of purchase To shop effectively based on annual sales cycles, understand when specific items typically go on sale. Here are some common categories and their associated sale periods:
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Post-holiday sales, such as after Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Christmas, offer savvy shoppers excellent opportunities to save money. You can score significant savings on holiday-related items for a short time after the holiday. Typical deals include holiday-themed candy, decorations, and DIY crafts.
Kohl’s, and other brands hold Black Friday-in-July sales. • Nike has a friends-andfamily discount in February. • Target runs a semi-annual toy sale in January and June. • Ulta has a 21 Days of Beauty sale in March and September.
mindful that some sale items may have more restrictive return windows or policies. Shopping based on annual sales cycles is a savvy way to save money and maximize purchases. By understanding the patterns of discounts and promotions, you can enjoy the While buying an item im- thrill of a great deal while staymediately when you need it ing within your budget. may be tempting, waiting for Discover annual brand sales Have a favorite brand or the right time can lead to sigMSR + JPMorgan Chase have product? Find out if they have nificant savings. Keep an on- partnered to bring you the Fian annual or semi-annual going list so you know exactly nance FYI series. For more from sale. Here are a few examples: what you need and avoid im- this series, visit spokesman-re• Amazon typically holds pulse purchases by holding out corder.com. two Prime Days a year with for the next sale cycle. special deals across several To maximize your savings, product categories. stack coupons and loyalty dis• Apple usually announces new counts on top of sale prices. products in September and then Many retailers offer additional often discounts older models. promotions during sale events, • Home Depot has a Spring such as discounts for using a Black Friday, typically in April. store credit card or coupon Macy’s, JCPenney, Best Buy, codes for online purchases. Be
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Arts & Culture
spokesman-recorder.com
November 30 - December 6, 2023
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Walker West Music Academy expands with state-of-the-art facilities in Rondo community By Tony Kiene Contributing Writer
Minneapolis Sound? It’s had quite a few contributors from St. Paul over the years: Dez Cynthia JohnWhen it comes to arts and Dickerson, culture in the Twin Cities, and son, Mint Condition, and the some of the individuals and Sounds of Blackness. institutions associated with its Then there’s Walker West creative output, the region has Music Academy. Recently named long punched above its weight a Minnesota Regional Cultural class, significantly outdistanc- Treasure award recipient, Walker ing cities of a similar size. Not West is one of the oldest African to mention the number of per- American community conservaforming artists per capita in the tories in the country. Twin Cities is on par with larger Founded in 1988, by Rev. entertainment centers like New Carl Walker and Grant West, York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Walker West has been a mainFrom the outside, it might stay along Selby Ave. ever since. seem like a lot of the focus is “The Pioneer Press ran a on Minneapolis. For some, the story in the late 1980s about Guthrie or the Walker Art Cen- the crack epidemic in the city,” ter or MIA may immediately noted Braxton Haulcy, execucome to mind. Then, of course, tive director at Walker West we have the Minneapolis Sound. since 2019. “That stretch Indeed, Minnesota’s capital along Selby was basically an
city boasts more than its fair share of cultural heroes and hubs. Legends such as Gordon Parks, August Wilson, and Laurie Carlos all called St. Paul home, and their artistic impact in the Rondo neighborhood and around the world is indelible. Penumbra, the premier African American theatre company will soon celebrate 50 years. The aforementioned
open-air drug market. They called it ‘crack street.’” But that didn’t deter Rev. Walker or West, who remained steadfast in their mission to give kids in the community the opportunity to transform their lives through music. “If someone shot out a window in the building,” explained Haulcy, “then they’d just fix the window and get back to
include two performance halls, a state-of-the-art recording studio, digital music labs, more rehearsal and administrative space, instrument storage, increased parking, and more pick-up/drop-off options. Construction is slated to begin in February, and Haulcy anticipates that Walker West will be able to move into its A rendering of the new Walker West Music Academy Courtesy photos new home before the school work. As Rev. Walker used to gift that changed everything. allows us to move into our new year starts in the fall of 2024. Acknowledging the support say, ‘Let’s trade the guns for Walker West had already facility, without the burden of of other donors and some key the keyboards.’” approached the Sauer Family any financing, any debt. Three decades later, the en- Foundation as part of its fun“And more money to put to- community partners, includduring success, influence, and draising effort, which at the ward programming. We are so ing Model Cities and the Local evolution of Walker West ne- time was not accepting any grateful to Pat and Gary for their Initiatives Support Coalition spirit, their generosity, and their (LISC Twin Cities), Haulcy is cessitated a bigger space. And new requests for support. beyond excited about the fuHowever, unbeknownst to love for this community.” in 2021, Haulcy launched a ture of an institution whose capital campaign. This initia- Haulcy and his team, Patricia alumni have gone on to study tive, dubbed “The Power of and Gary Sauer were looking at places such as the famed Music to Heal Our Commu- to provide a personal gift to a Julliard School, the Manhattan nity,” was designed to increase Rondo-based organization and School of Music, and Boston’s sought the input of Mychael and Berklee College of Music. Stephanie Wright, founders of “Kids need the arts. They need the Selby Avenue JazzFest and music education,” he said, adding Golden Thyme Coffee & Café. that these are not luxuries, but The Wrights, who recently rather “essential” to society. transferred ownership of the “The musicians that teach at tremendously popular coffee our school, our students and shop to the Rondo Community families, those who support us Land Trust, had the perfect recommendation for the Sau“We care about the Rondo in any number of ways. They community, and Walker West believe in our mission,” obers: Walker West. “The Sauers reached out to is a beam of light here,” said Pat served Haulcy. “These people us asking if they could conduct Sauer. “We have to make sure know our story. How important a site visit,” Haulcy said. “And that beam stays bright. It’s so we are to this community. They the school’s capacity, expand after spending time with us easy to get caught up in the feed the vibe at Walker West.” its reach, and find a new home at 760 Selby Ave., to take the doom and gloom of our world, To learn more about the Walktime to see the type of work but Walker West is about hope in the neighborhood. we were doing, they told us and joy. There has been real er West Music Academy, how you pain in this community, and can become involved, and all that they were overwhelmed.” A transformational gift The Sauer’s personal gift Walker West is helping heal it has to offer, including the new As the campaign continRondo Community Music Series, ued, Walker West was moving of $4 million, exceeded even and bring back its vibrancy.” please visit walkerwest.org. closer and closer to realizing Haulcy’s wildest expectations. its goals for growth, while con- “This gift is totally transforma- Music education is essential Tony Kiene welcomes reader tinuing to position itself as a tional,” declared Haulcy. “I can’t Walker West’s new home at cultural touchstone for gener- begin to describe just what this 650 Marshall Ave., between St. responses to tkiene@spokesations to come. Then came the means to us at Walker West. It Alban’s and Dale streets, will man-recorder.com.
“There has been real pain in this community, and Walker|West is helping heal and bring back its vibrancy.”
Actress Kerry Washington is vulnerable and honest in new memoir remained an enigma when it comes to her personal life. Many fans aren’t aware that Washington has been married for 10 years and is the mother of three children. Because of this, it is particularly intriguing to dive into—pun intended— her recently released memoir, By Nadine Matthews “Thicker Than Water” (Little, Contributing Writer Brown Spark). From the very first beautiAs much as actress Kerry fully crafted paragraph, WashWashington has been a ubiq- ington pulls the reader into two uitous presence on social me- worlds: her acting career, and dia at least since the advent of her family. her hit show “Scandal,” she has “Thicker Than Water” is remi-
niscent of memoirs such as TV producer Susan Fales-Hills’ “Always Wear Joy.” It is not just a reclamation of the author’s self, but a love letter from a daughter to her parents who, though flawed human beings, clearly did all they could to shield her from hardship and provide the best life possible for her. In its opening pages, the reader sits alongside the Bronx-born and raised actress in her car as she zips away from the television studio where she had been busy developing a pilot, down the palm tree-lined streets of Los
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Angeles, toward the West Hollywood condo she owns. Her parents, Earl and Valerie, are staying there while visiting. Washington has been summoned by her mother via text, but the purpose of the request is left in a shroud of secrecy until Washington arrives. Thematically, secrets loom large in “Thicker Than Water.” But more importantly, what plays out is the idea that alienation from self creates those secrets, and the walls they build within us, and between us and those we need the most. We don’t make it back to the condo until after voyaging through Washington’s exceptional life. One of the most iconic scenes in “Scandal” is of a troubled Olivia decked out in a white (what else?) one-piece over her tiny frame, slicing through the ming in the lake surrounding water of an Olympic-sized pool. her family’s second home in It seems effortless and most upstate New York; being part would assume she used a dou- of the swim team at her tony ble to film the scene. “Thicker Upper East Side prep school Than Water” reveals it was Spence; and nights swimming Washington herself. This third with her husband and children sacred world, Washington’s as an adult. Being in water for Washinglove of being in the water, is reton, it seems, is close to seeing vealed a bit later. The reader learns she has the face of God. “Thicker Than Water” divulges been an expert swimmer since birth, doing so by pure instinct. the secret behind Washington’s Her inordinate love of water is powerfully affecting perforone thing she shares with her mances in projects like “Scandal,” parents, through a quirk of nature. “Django Unchained,” “Little Fires Washington recounts joyful Everywhere,” and “Ray.” Washington dove deep to childhood summers filled with days of endless swimming in burnish her skills as an actress, her apartment complex’s pool beginning as a child in school with friends and family; swim- productions, honing her craft
being a part of a progressive theater troupe as a teen, majoring in acting at George Washington University, and even going as far as traveling to India for a year for her art. She chose India because she “wanted to study performance in a place where theater was sacred.” She describes a frightening encounter in India that highlighted for her, in the starkest of terms, the importance of positive representation in the media. A lesson she carried with her into her career. Washington also lets readers know that she is not the “perfect” human being her image ■ See MEMOIR on page 9
8 November 30 - December 6, 2023
Opinion
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The fight against Black economic advancement By Kerry Mitchell Brown Edward Blum, the conservative lawyer who led the fight to overturn affirmative action, has a new target in his quest to dismantle civil rights advancements: The Fearless Fund, a venture capital (VC) fund dedicated to leveling the playing field for Black women and women of color. Blum’s organization, American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), filed a lawsuit against The Fearless Fund’s Fearless Strivers Grant Contest, which planned to award four $20,000 grants to women of color-led businesses. The lawsuit claimed the grant violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866, prohibiting racial discrimination in contracts. The conservative 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in deprived area. Lack of nature Atlanta ruled in favor of Blum access is not only an issue of and placed a preliminary inone’s physical proximity to a junction temporarily blocking park or green space. Fearless Fund’s grant contest. People of color, especially The grant provides $80k Black people, have an unforof funding, a microscopic pertunate history in this country centage of the $240 billion of segregation and exclusion dollars of VC funding in 2022. from public lands and natural Why target such a small grant places. We’ve been met with for women of color entreprethreats and violence while in neurs? Because they want to nature. And for too long we halt Black advancement. were even excluded from the Lawsuits against The Fearconservation movement fightless Fund, and other educaing to protect natural lands. tional and economic diverThe consequences of this sity initiatives, aim to repress are still felt today. What does Black economic advancement this nature gap and nature defand maintain White hegemonicit mean for our kids? Years of ic power structures. studies have shown that chilApproximately 17 perdren who spend less time outcent of Black women start a doors are more likely to deal new business, compared to with physical health problems, 10 percent of White women ranging from childhood obeand 15 percent of White men. sity to vitamin D deficiency, as However, only three percent well as reduced motor skills of Black women run mature development and higher rates businesses. A lack of access to of emotional illnesses like anxcapital largely accounts for the iety and depression. discrepancy. Statistics back Meanwhile, we also know that up. Between 2009 and that when kids spend time in 2017, Black women founders nature, besides the general received .0006 percent of VC benefits of exercise, it helps funding, and in 2022, less than build confidence, reduce one percent of funding. stress, and promote creativity. A conservative retort is that So, closing the nature gap, as a goal, should be a priority for all of us who have fought long and hard to close the opportunity gaps faced by our kids and our communities. That’s why I’m glad that this week marks a broad, rejuvenated push for Congress to pass the bipartisan Outside For All Act, which would increase access to nature and By Stacy M. Brown opportunities for outdoor recreation in urban and lowA federal appeals court isincome communities. sued a ruling on November 20, By codifying the Outdoor that could have serious conseRecreation Legacy Partnership quences for the Voting Rights (ORLP) program into federal Act. The ruling suggests that law, the Outdoors For All Act the enforcement measures of would make the immense benthe Act, which have historicalefits of local parks more equily supported minority repretable and accessible to all. sentation in American politics, Those benefits, according to may be reduced. the office of U.S. Sen. Alex PaThe 8th Circuit’s decision dilla, one of the bill’s sponsors, states that only the federal include job creation, shade government has the right to and tree cover, and clean air, sue under an important part of as well as “new trails, green this civil rights law. It excludes spaces, playgrounds, cultural private citizens and civil rights gathering spaces, and more.” groups from this authority. It all adds up to healthier This decision focuses on bodies and minds for our chilSection 2 of the Voting Rights dren, and building more of a Act and is expected to be chalshared understanding, for all lenged and appealed to the of us, of why spending time Supreme Court. Experts said outdoors and protecting naSection 2 is critical in preventture are so critical to our welling discriminatory voting pracbeing. tices based on race. The 8th Circuit’s decision Ben Jealous is executive disays that Section 2 does not rector of the Sierra Club, the have a “private right of acnation’s largest and most inflution.” This means that private ential grassroots environmental groups cannot effectively organization.
For too many kids getting outside is easier said than done By Ben Jealous Last week, after a restful Thanksgiving, my family made a deliberate choice to #OptOutside on Friday. #OptOutside is a growing movement in which participating organizations and companies close their doors on Black Friday, give their employees a paid day off, and encourage all of us to embrace the serenity of nature instead of succumbing to the frenzy of Black Friday shopping. I’m an outdoors enthusiast, from a long line of outdoors enthusiasts. As a dad, I try to instill a strong love of nature in my kids and make sure they reap the vast benefits of spending time outside and among nature. However, I’m aware that my family’s ability to enjoy the outdoors is a blessing that’s been denied to far too many other Black families. Like pollution and climate change, inadequate access to nature is not a crisis shouldered equally. Sadly, it won’t surprise you that it falls hardest on people of color and low-income communities. A study of park accessibility by the Trust for Public Land concluded that “systemic racism and redlining have led to chronic disinvestment in parks and recreational facilities in marginalized communities.” The result is one that perpetuates a cycle of inequality: “too few parks as well as parks
marred by cracked asphalt, barren fields, and broken play equipment.” All people, and especially children, need easy access to safe, clean outside spaces for healthy bodies and minds. Yet one-third of all Americans—among them, 28 million children—don’t have any sort of park or natural space within a 10-minute walk of their home.
A study of park accessibility by the Trust for Public Land concluded that “systemic racism and redlining have led to chronic disinvestment in parks and recreational facilities in marginalized communities.” According to analysis of 2017 demographic data by Conservation Science Partners, people of color were three times more likely than White people to live in an area that is considered nature-deprived, with people who identified as Black or African American being the group most likely to live in one of these areas. Sixty-eight percent of people who identified as Black or African American lived in a nature-deprived area. Seventy percent of low-income people did. And a whopping 76 percent of low-income people of color lived in a nature-
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traditional firms do not offer funding for White men. They may not explicitly say that—but their actions show a different story. In 2022, 93 percent of VC funding went to businesses owned by White men. If favoritism was a true concern, where are the efforts to address the disproportionate VC funding granted to White men? Increasing Black women’s access to capital is not favoritism, but rather course correction, addressing years of systemic exclusion to financial services. The Fearless Fund offers Black women an avenue of funding that is not offered by most VC firms.
The Fearless Fund shows the magic Black female entrepreneurs can create when given unfiltered access to opportunities. Conservative organizations are targeting The Fearless Fund because it’s a model of a small Black-owned company making gigantic waves in a field stacked against them. Bigger companies, like Goldman Sachs, have made initiatives to help Black woman entrepreneurs, yet they are not the ire of these lawsuits. Organizations like The Fearless Fund started on a much smaller scale, meaning their model and actions are able to be replicated and tracked. Efforts to block the Fearless Fund and other initiatives that are responsive to the needs of Black female founders and the Black community overall are designed to ensure Black economic advancement does not persist. The Fearless Fund launched in 2019, yet has already invested nearly $27 million in 40 WOC-owned businesses, along with awarding almost $4 million in grants. They represent com-
panies making huge strides. By investing in initiatives that foster racial equity, businesses can also benefit from increased customer loyalty and higher profit margins and make a positive impact on society. Blum and other anti-diversity crusaders understand that if not restricted, more funding avenues mean that Black women entrepreneurs will continue to thrive and take up more space in the corporate sector and global markets. Another insidious aspect of these lawsuits is they force companies to engage in litigation, forcing them to shuttle resources like time, attention, and money from their mission to fighting lawsuits. This could potentially leave organizations with fewer resources to further their mission, diminishing impact, and supporting Black entrepreneurs. This can also invoke fear in other organizations that if they try and help Black entrepreneurs, they will be at risk for expensive litigation. If more organizations hesitate to fight for economic equity, that will translate to less work being done to increase access for Black entrepreneurs, which will reverse much Black economic progress. Blum and company know the power of Black community, collaboration, and creating our own proverbial tables to achieve equity. That’s why the Fearless Fund is under attack. It’s important that we stay alert. We must remain focused on our message. We must maintain our commitment to helping increase access to capital for Black entrepreneurs and leveling the playing field. Kerry Mitchell Brown, Ph.D., is an equity strategist and cultural architect. This op-ed was first published in the AFRO American Newspapers and has been edited for length.
Federal appeals court deals major blow to voting rights challenge actions that might violate the voting rights of minorities.
If this decision remains valid, it may lead to a significant reduction in the protections provided by the Voting Rights Act. Private parties, civil rights groups, voters, and political entities have used Section 2 over the years to challenge issues like redistricting and voter ID requirements.
tions provided by the Voting Rights Act. Private parties, civil rights groups, voters, and political entities have used Section 2 over the years to challenge issues like redistricting and voter ID requirements. The practical implication of this decision is a significant constriction of the safeguards embedded in the Voting Rights Act. Private entities have played a significant role in holding states accountable for discriminatory practices. Section 2 has been particularly effective for them in this regard. The US Supreme Court recently emphasized the significance of Section 2 in an important case about redistricting in Alabama. This required the state to change its congressional map in order to give Black voters more political power.
Stacy Brown is the National If this decision remains Newspaper Publishers Associavalid, it may lead to a signifi- tion Newswire senior national cant reduction in the protec- correspondent.
Employment & Legals
November 30 - December 6, 2023
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MEMOIR
ents nervously greet her and Continued from page 7 deliver news that simultaneously shatters and finally makes might suggest. Though it may Washington and her parents be argued that she doesn’t go whole, in a more profound way into enough detail about her than she could have imagined. imperfections, she is vulnerable, upfront, and honest about her seemingly irrational feelings of hostility toward her parents, shoplifting, engaging in sex, drinking, and drugs as a teen and developing a penchant for deceiving her parents about numerous things, including a same-sex relationship about which her mother confronted her. She carries that same frankness and vulnerability She ultimately realizes that into discussing the trauma of sexual molestation, and her blood is not the only thing battles with body image and thicker than water. eating disorders. Nadine Matthews welcomes Eventually, the reader arrives with Washington at the reader comments to nmatapartment’s entrance. Her par- thews@spokesman-recorder.com.
It is not just a reclamation of the author’s self, but a love letter from a daughter to her parents.
STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DISTRICT COURT PROBATE DIVISION Court File No. 27-PA-PR-23-1529
Estate of Linda Lee Sushko Decedent NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is given that an application for informal appointment of personal representative has been filed with the Registrar. No will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted. Notice is hereby given that informal appointment of Michael Steven Sushko, whose address is 4950 Rosewood Lane, Plymouth, MN 55442 as 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 is 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. Dated: November 8, 2023
Yvette M. Andrade, Registrar
Dated:November 8, 2023
Sara Gonsalve Court Administrator
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder November 30, December 7, 2023
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give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 21 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to PROBATE the person who signed this summons located at: 2700 Snelling Ave N, Suite 460, Roseville, MN 55113. 2W EEK RU N 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the FLAT RAnswer AT Eyou $215.00 D or disagree with each Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your must statePREPA whether you Iagree 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. Please Note: New email address for all future ads 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 ads@spokesman-recorder.com 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. IfThe you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not MSR handles billing digitally. need to respond. A This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoi default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint. 5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legalrequest help from a lawyer. If you do not have unless you specifically a hard copy. 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: October 17, 2023
inserting the right people in the lineup,” Dickerson said Continued from page 10 of Johnson and his staff afterward. “This is probably his best team that he’s had since However, here at the he’s been here.” state’s oldest Black newspaSeeing two Black coachper, we unabashedly support es on opposite sidelines Black coaches. It’s perfectly coaching non-HBCU squads OK when even-handed critiDave Dickerson should be lauded, not unfaircism is warranted but talking ly pitted against each other basketball coach at the Uniabout Johnson like a lame by the media. versity of South Carolina-Upduck seven games into the “I cannot wait for that day 2023-24 season is totally un- state. He guided the Spartans when people don’t have to to one of the program’s most called for. ask what it’s like to be a misuccessful seasons, a second “One game does not define consecutive fourth seed in a team nor a season,” Gates said during his postgame the Big South Postseason comments before speaking Tournament and earned a bid with the MSR. “He’s doing in the College Basketball Invia great job … Great respect tational last season. The Gophers, in bouncearound the country,” Gates back fashion, defeated USCsaid of Johnson. “I’m excited Upstate 67-53 on November about the growth of Ben 18, in another Black coach Johnson and what he’s been versus Black coach match-up. able to do.” “I thought his coaching Desiree Reed-Francois and Dave Dickerson is in his staff did a good job in really Dennis Gates sixth season as head men’s
SOE
LANGFORD
Continued from page 10 the school accomplished such a feat in the same season. The CAA coaches this season picked Stony Brook to finish second. The 23-6 record in 202122 was the most by a firstyear head coach in program history and fourth-most overall. The Seawolves earned a WNIT at large berth. “I inherited a really good team, and we were really successful in my first year,” said Langford, who has nearly 70
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Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
percent of her games at Stony coaching staff is a good fit. “Re- vitational was held last weekBrook, the highest winning gardless of race, they have to end in Berkeley, California. percentage of any head coach fit me, this program, and what It featured host Cal, Texas in program history. “I think I am trying to achieve,” she said. A&M, San Jose State, and our culture has grown.” Assistants Shireyll Moore Winthrop—all four women’s Furthermore, Langford and and Rena Wakama, Associ- teams were led by Black feher Seawolves coaching staff ate Head Coach Steve Pogue, male coaches. are all Black, the first PWI and Basketball Operations Formerly the annual Cal team since Rutgers last sea- Coordinator Cherise Beynon Classic, Cal HC Charmin son that manned the visitors’ “were the most qualified,” not- Smith rebranded the tournabench at The Barn. ed Langford. ment in 2021 to elevate the “It’s important to give our “It is a great platform for me,” voices, stories, and people people opportunities,” said concluded the Seawolves HC. in diversity, equity, and inLangford. “I was afforded an “I continue to represent us in clusion, as well as call attenopportunity. Now that I am the best way possible.” tion to the lack of diversity in in this position, obviously, it is coaching in women’s college important for me to give back.” Raising the bar for Black basketball. But Langford stressed that women coaches Smith, April Phillips (SJSU), it’s also important that her The Raising the B.A.R. In- Joni Taylor (Texas A&M), and
Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church
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Continued from page 10
Amin. “I’m ready for the next challenge. And I think I’m making a step up to college, that next challenge. [I] just wanted to show everybody and to prove that I can lead a program. “The game has given us so much,” said El-Amin. “I just feel obligated to give back to the game and give back to the players in my state and in my community where I grew up. We plan to change the culture.” History will repeat itself this Saturday, Dec. 2, as Moore’s and El-Amin’s teams play each other again at Anoka-Ramsey, at 3 p.m. “It’s a full circle moment for us being able to really show the community that we have two great people who have been positive influences out of our community,” concluded Moore.
Moore made history when Mesabi Range hired her in 2020 as the first woman head coach of a men’s college basketball team, as well as the first Black woman to hold that distinction in history. Her team made a historic run last season to the MCAC title game. “We’re gonna make some noise [this season],” predicted Moore. “I guarantee you we’ll be back down here [for the league postseason tournament next March]. Also, last winter, El-Amin, in his second year at Saint Thomas Academy, led the Cadets to a Section 3 AAA runners-up title. He also was an assistant coach at Burnsville and Minneapolis North. Anoka-Ramsey hired him this summer. Charles Hallman welcomes “Coaching high school was reader responses to challman@ great. I learned a lot,” said El- spokesman-recorder.com.
Winthrop’s Semeka Randall Lay are the four non-HBCU Black female head coaches. Phillips told Yahoo! Sports, “To have four Black women head coaches in one place at one time, it’s really cool. For
some, it brings a lot of awareness, primarily that we are minorities in the profession.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
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Historic coaching match-up between El-Amin and Moore doesn’t disappoint
Second of two parts asketball royalty was on display as two of this state’s most decorated prep players—the King and Queen of Northside hoops of the 1990s—faced off against each other. Both attended North High. Both were state champions and national champions in college. Both were drafted in the pros and forged successful careers domestically and internationally before retiring from playing. But until recently, perhaps
Anoka-Ramsey Community College coach Khalid El-Amin Photos by Dr. Mitchell McDonald the one thing that Khalid El-Amin and Tamara Moore hadn’t done in basketball was coach against each other.
Conference (MCAC) men’s basketball action. It was a competitive contest as both teams took turns leading before Anoka-Ramsey went on a 9 to 4 run in the last two minutes of the game to edge out Mesabi Range 74-71. “It was a really good game for the community,” Moore said afterward, pointing out the history she shared with Khalid “and everything that we’ve been through… being able to say we’re Minneapolis Northside kids or Minneapolis North alumni, or both head coaching college programs, [and] me being a woman coach and his pedigree.” El-Amin added, “This is just Mesabi Range Community the tip of the iceberg for both College coach Tamara Moore of our careers. I [wanted] to kick Tee’s butt,” he said smiling. That changed on NovemBoth were charismatic prep ber 15, as El-Amin’s Anoka- players who led their teams to Ramsey Rams hosted Moore’s success. Moore led the North Mesabi Range Norsemen in Lady Polars to the 1998 state Minnesota College Athletic title and was named Ms. Bas-
ketball. She graduated as the school’s points, rebounds, assists, and steals leader. Moore continued her stardom at Wisconsin where she helped lead the Badgers to the 2000 WNIT championship and was named WNIT MVP. She graduated as its all-time leader in assists and steals.
“The game has given us so much.” Moore became the 15th overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft and played six seasons. She remains the only Northsider to ever wear a Minnesota Lynx jersey (2002), one of six clubs she played for during her WNBA career, and six seasons overseas. Not too shabby himself, El-Amin led his North Polars
to three straight state titles— each one earned under different rules and formats from the previous season. The guard also won Mr. Basketball and attended and played at Connecticut, where he was Big East Rookie of the Year his first year and won the 1999 NCAA national championship in his sophomore season. Before Chicago drafted ElAmin in 2000, he finished his collegiate career as UConn’s fourth all-time in free throw percentage, sixth in assists, and fifth in steals. He played one NBA season then starred overseas for several seasons. It would seem natural that both Moore and El-Amin would travel similar routes into coaching: the former coached high school girls’ basketball for seven seasons and launched a semi-pro men’s basketball league in 2019 where she also served as a head coach. ■ See VIEW on page 9
Four prep stars in Gophers’ rotation
hy can’t we keep our student-athletes at home? How come they don’t want to represent maroon and gold? Those are two questions that usually come up in reference to men’s and women’s basketball at the University of Minnesota. Well, Gopher head men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson, a former metro area prep star himself (DeLaSalle High School) and U of M men’s basketball player, has four local players in Dawson Garcia (Prior Lake), Braeden Carrington (Park Center), Joshua Ola-Joseph (Osseo, Compass Prep), and Pharrel Payne (Park of Cottage Grove), among the top eight in minutes played. See them in action below.
Gopher forward Pharrel Payne (Park of Cottage Grove) establishes position in a game against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Williams Arena on November 21, 2023.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments at mcdeezy05@gmail.com. Photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
Gopher guard Braeden Carrington (Park Center) during a game against Bethune-Cookman University at Williams Arena on November 6, 2023.
Gopher men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson faces unfair scrutiny ubtle or not-so-subtle shots at Minnesota Men’s Basketball Coach Ben Johnson have already made their way onto the public sphere, seven games into his third season on the job. Star-Tribune Columnist LaVelle E. Neal III’s November 16 column declared after two rebuilding seasons—and not even a month into a new season—that it’s now “prove it time” for Johnson. The column came on the same day Johnson’s Gophers hosted Missouri at The Barn, a match-up between two Power 5 Black coaches. Unfortunately, U of M’s 7069 defeat after squandering a 20-point lead didn’t bode well for Johnson, a Minneapolis native and Minnesota graduate. “Year three needs to be about raising expectations,” wrote Neal. “Wins would be the tangible proof that Gopher
Big Ten tournament game. “How much better will be determined by how they learn from Thursday’s debacle,” Neal said a few days later in his Sunday column.
One game does not define a team nor a season. Last week, in his weekly press conference, Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz called men’s hoops is headed in the today’s TV analysts “coach killers” for their oft-unfair critiright direction.” The newspaper’s only Black cism and influence on people’s sports columnist also briefly perceptions of coaches. I would apply this to mainand unfairly compared Johnson with Missouri’s Dennis stream print columnists as Gates, who was hired in 2022. well: Neal’s column served as Gates went 25-10 last sea- planting seeds of doubt about son and made the NCAAs in its Johnson in the minds of Minfirst season. Last season John- nesota’s fans. ■ See SOE on page 9 son went 9-22 but did win a Ben Johnson All photos by Charles Hallman
Gopher forward Joshua OlaJoseph (Osseo, Campas Prep) dunks in a game against University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Williams Arena on November 21, 2023.
Gopher forward Dawson Garcia (Prior Lake) during a game against University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Williams Arena on November 21, 2023.
Former Tulane basketball star finds success as Stony Brook head coach By Charles Hallman Sports columnist shley Langford was a standout collegiate point guard at Tulane, scored over 1,000 points, and was inducted into the school’s athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. She finished second in games, starts, and minutes played, and tops in assists and assists per game in the Green Wave’s all-time history. “No, I didn’t want to coach,” said Langford after her Stony Brook, New York club suffered its first defeat of the season, losing 67-54 at Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 26. The Seahawks were undefeated at 5-0 prior to Sunday’s contest against the Gophers at The Barn, the firstever meeting between the two schools.
“Now that I am in this position, obviously, it is important for me to give back.”
Ashley Langford
Photo by Charles Hallman
her third season at Stony Brook. Hired in 2021, Langford previously had as“My college coach said I would be really good sistant coaching stints at Old Dominion, Navy, at it,” explained Langford when asked if coach- Bushnell, and Denver, and four seasons at ing was in her post-college plans. “I didn’t see James Madison, where she was elevated from that for me. I wanted to get my MBA and go assistant coach to associate head coach. work in corporate America. I got introduced to In its inaugural season in the CAA last sea[coaching] as a GA at Auburn. son, Stony Brook finished 11-7 (18-13 overall). “I fell in love with the game and realized I The team defeated two Power 5 opponents could make a difference with young women. It (Rutgers and Washington State)—the first time took off from there,” added Langford, now in ■ See LANGFORD on page 9