August 10, 2023 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

Driving while Black: another fatal traffic stop

Activists, family members demand state troopers be fired and charged with killing

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

olice have yet again killed another Black man in Minneapolis.

This time, during the early morning hours of July 31, Ryan Londregan, a Minnesota state trooper, shot and killed Ricky Cobb II, 33, of Plymouth. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the shooting occurred as another trooper, Brett Seide, was executing a traffic stop. The entire incident was caught on body and dashboard cameras, with Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic cameras capturing part of the incident.

Local activists and elected officials have denounced the killing. “He was murdered unjustifiably,” said Toshira Garraway, whose organization Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence is helping Cobb II’s next of kin as they grieve over his death. Activists are calling for the release of unedited and

unredacted body camera footage of the incident from start to finish, and to outsource the investigation to another agency.

They have asked Gov. Tim Walz to fire all of the troopers involved, as well as for Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to ensure the troopers involved are arrested and charged.

“This is just a tremendously sad situation,” said Col. Matt Langer at a press conference in St. Paul as he announced the release of the video footage last Tuesday.

The incident

Seide pulled Cobb over at around 1:50 a.m. on July 31, on Interstate 94 at Dowling Avenue in North Minneapolis, because Seide noticed the Ford Fusion Cobb was driving did not have its lights on. Cobb turned his vehicle lights on after he was pulled over by state troopers.

Body and dashboard camera footage from that morning released by the state patrol show Seide trying to coax

Cobb II out of his vehicle to address what turned out to be a hold request by Ramsey County for violating an order of protection. “I’m gonna need you to step out of the vehicle.

Minnesota’s African immigrant community’s economic rebound

By Faaya Adem

MSR Intern

he 2008 recession left a large number of African immigrants in Minnesota unemployed and without the necessary resources and services to survive. The downturn left many of these communities struggling to recover from the financial crisis.

It was then that Dr. Gene Gelgelu founded African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS). As president and CEO of AEDS, Gelgelu sought to provide services and bring much-needed change to the African immigrant community in Minnesota.

“While these problems were noticeable for years, the 2008 financial crisis exacerbated them. Many African immigrants did not have the resources or systems in place to support themselves,” said Gelgelu. AEDS has put in place a multitude of support systems for African immigrants in Minnesota, such as loans, grants and homeownership education. Calling it a “system change,” Gelgelu said AEDS programs and services work well because there aren’t cultural or language barriers.

Before the start of AEDS, Gelgelu noticed that many African immigrants had poor or no credit and had no assets or loans. In 2015, AEDS partnered with Concordia University and Dr. Bruce Corrie, an economist at the university, to conduct an African market study. The research showed nearly 67 percent of African immigrants didn’t have access to loans or traditional business funding.

“There’s a great need in our communities to seek out organizations that support our culture. Someone who speaks their language, someone who understands African culture, someone who understands what it really means to be an immigrant,” Gelgelu said.

St. Paul’s Little Africa

The Little Africa Plaza will be located in St. Paul’s HamlineMidway neighborhood once construction is completed in 2024. The groundbreaking for the plaza was on August 6, just before the Little Africa parade and festival. The community around Snelling and University Avenues is known as the Little Africa Business and Cultural District and is home to several African-owned businesses and restaurants.

As part of the organization’s economic development work, Gelgelu and AEDS helped create the Little Africa cultural corridor in 2013. He wanted to use art and culture to spur the growth of the community.

As an Oromo immigrant from Ethiopia, he understands the importance of building up immigrant communities.

“Each immigrant, African immigrant, has their own identity, including myself. I have my own Oromo culture,” Gelgelu said. “We created a space for us, a space where we, as a collective African diaspora, learn the culture that we normally don’t learn from each other.”

The focus of the Little Africa

Plaza is not just to have a place for African immigrant businesses and art, but to fight gentrification in the area, said Gelgelu.

“The only way we can mitigate gentrification is by owning buildings,” Gelgelu said. “So we encourage our business owners to own more businesses in the corridor. We create systems so that they get the support they need.”

The plaza will host a Halal market (food prepared in accordance with Islamic teachings), a retail space, an African museum and AEDS headquarters. The African museum will display African art to showcase the rich culture and history of the continent.

While there are museums in Minnesota that showcase certain cultures in Africa, there are none that are collective, said Gelgelu. This museum is meant to add to the art and culture of the plaza and the Little Africa corridor.

He wants the plaza to be a place for people to learn from each other. Gelgelu hopes people from outside of the community will visit and learn

page 5

We just have some stuff to talk about,” said Seide. Court records show that Cobb had two expired domestic assault orders of protection.

Upon hearing of the hold

request, a frustrated Cobb II asked why, with Seide continuing to tell him to step out of the vehicle as Cobb tried to contact his lawyer. “Every time y’all talk about ‘we have some stuff to

talk about,’ y’all finna take me to jail. But for what?” asked Cobb II. Seide, who was on the drivers’ side door, eventually placed him under arrest and tried to wrestle him out of the vehicle.

Londregan, who was on the passenger side door, opened it, pointed a gun at him, yelled, “Get out of the car now!” before shooting him three times. Cobb drove off despite being shot, as the two troopers tumbled to the ground. They subsequently tried to run after Cobb’s vehicle, but ran back to their own vehicles to give chase.

Eventually, Cobb crashed onto a freeway divider at 42nd Avenue N., when the troopers arrived and boxed in his vehicle. Cobb died at the scene about an hour after the encounter began, with the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruling that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Although the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) recovered a gun

■ See COBB on page 5

Little Africa Celebration

By Abdi Mohamed

Contributing Writer

espite a momentary downpour, members of the African diaspora gathered for the ninth annual Little Africa Festival on Sunday at Hamline Park in St. Paul. The event was marked by cultural dances, musical performances, and vendors sharing goods and food from the African continent and the Caribbean.

The festival was launched by African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), a St. Paulbased organization created to assist African immigrants with financing and services to help in their entrepreneurial journey.

Sunday’s festival was preceded by a groundbreaking ceremony a few blocks away from the park at 678 Snelling Ave. N. where the new Little Africa Plaza will be located. The project was supported financially by several different groups including foundation support, private lending, and funds appropriated through the legislature to help foster economic development in diverse communities.

Dr. Gene Gelgelu, the CEO and founder of AEDS, opened the event with some remarks

This

and acknowledged and thanked those parties involved in bringing the plaza to life. “Today is a big deal for us,” he said, “a big milestone for African Economic Development Solutions and the Little Africa Cultural Business and Cultural District. Our communities have been supported by philanthropy and government and individuals, and they were the key in reaching this milestone.”

Among the financial contributors to the plaza are BMO Harris Bank, Bigelow, the Minnesota Foundation,

the McKnight Foundation, as well as other financial institutions and foundations. Gelgelu also thanked the officials at St. Paul’s Department of Planning and Economic Development for their coordination, as well as the elected officials who supported the project.

Mitra Jalali of Ward 4 spoke at the groundbreaking and referred to a conversation she had with a developer of color. Although they acknowledged that development of the plaza is a challenge, it would be

Photos by Chris Juhn ■ See CELEBRATION on page 5

Legacy Cruise kicks off

MSR’s 89th year

By Terryann Nash

Contributing Writer

n a remarkable display of history, culture and achievement, the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder (MSR) marked the beginning of its illustrious 89-year journey with an extraordinary celebration aboard the opulent Majestic “Legacy Yacht Cruise.” The event, which anticipates next year’s 90th anniversary and was styled as an evening of Black elegance, took place on Saturday, August 5, 2023, when the Majestic left Stillwater to cruise down the St. Croix River, creating an unforgettable

(l-r) Sharon Smith-Akinsanya (Rae MacKenzie Group), DeVonna Pittman (Nature’s Syrup Beauty), Tim Farrow (U.S. Bank), Rama McGraw (Tropic Trends), and MSR Publisher/CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard

Ricky Cobb II’s twin brother, Rashad Cobb, at the protest outside Hennepin County Center.

Photos by Chris Juhn

Dr. Gene Gelgelu, president and CEO of AEDS

Photo by Chris Juhn

Last former MPD officer sentenced for George Floyd’s murder

By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer

The last of the four former Minneapolis police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd—Tou Thao—has finally been sentenced to 57 months (four years and nine months) in state prison.

Thao, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was performing crowd control at the northeast corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue on May 25, 2020, as his longtime colleague, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds.

In a 23-minute diatribe citing scripture, an apparently agitated Thao compared his predicament to that of Jesus Christ. “I must obey and hold on to [that]

I did not commit these crimes,” said Thao shortly after sermonizing about how Jesus was betrayed by Judas and ultimately crucified. “That day [when George Floyd died], I did not intend on doing malice.”

Judge Peter Cahill was not impressed with Thao’s allocution and sentenced him to the maximum possible term under the law, six months more than what prosecutors asked for and 16 months more than what the defense asked for.

“After three years of reflection, I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgement of some responsibility and less preaching,” said Cahill. “Suffice it to say that I think your culpability is less than Mr. Chauvin, but well above the culpability of Mr. [J. Alexander] Kueng and Mr. [Thomas] Lane, as an experienced senior officer who was in the best position to save George Floyd.”

Assistant Attorney General Erin Eldridge, who helped prosecute the case, agreed. “The defendant stood by and

James Ernest Williams, Jr.

Sunrise: May 15, 1962 - Sunset: August 4, 2023

James Williams, Jr. was born in Minneapolis, MN, on May 15, 1962, to Norma Jean Williams and James Williams Sr.

allowed it to happen. He saw [Chauvin] restrain George Floyd. He saw Chauvin put his knee on George Floyd’s neck. He heard George Floyd’s pleas for help and he ignored them,” said Eldridge. “He used his authority to prevent anyone else [from intervening.] He went so far as to mock George Floyd’s situation by saying, ‘This is why you don’t do drugs.’”

Thao was convicted on May 2 for aiding and abetting George Floyd’s manslaughter, after a three-month bench trial where Cahill reviewed stipulated evidence and video

ing. One of the women silently expressed grief and disbelief at Thao’s 57-month sentence. They were escorted out of the courthouse by Thao’s counsel, father-daughter legal duo Robert and Natalie Paule, without commenting publicly on the case.

Although Thao will serve his time under the custody of the federal government, the federal government allows for alternative arrangements. The Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment specifically on Thao’s arrangements, saying they do not provide specific in-

footage to arrive at his verdict.

With 340 days credit for time served, he will serve about 27 months in prison. His sentence will be concurrent with his 42-month federal prison sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights, of which he has 30 months to serve. Thao also has to serve two years of federal supervised release and 19 months of state supervised release. If they are concurrent, he will serve two years on federal and state supervised release.

On August 4, Thao lost his appeal in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals for a mistrial, alleging the prosecutors unfairly used evidence to sway a jury, therefore depriving him of a fair trial. Should his appeals continue to fail, Thao is expected to be released from his federal sentence sometime in February 2026.

Four women of varying ages who appeared to be Thao’s family members were present in the Hennepin County courtroom on Monday morn-

formation on inmates’ whereabouts, citing safety, security and privacy reasons. At this time it is unclear what those arrangements will look like.

The other three officers continue to serve their sentences in federal prison. Chauvin, who pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of two people he detained as a police officer,

is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Ariz. with an anticipated release date of July 2038. He and his attorney filed an appeal with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on August 1.

Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane is incarcerated at a federal correctional facility in Englewood, Colorado. He will be released on May 26, 2024. J. Alexander Kueng is incarcerated at a federal facility in Elkton, Ohio, with a release date of December 22, 2024.

H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader comments at hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.

He enjoyed life, good food and had an infectious laugh that would bring a smile to those around him.

James is preceded in death by his mother Norma Jean Williams, and father, James Williams, Sr.

He leaves to cherish his memory his sons, James, Brandon and Gregory; siblings Vicky, Tracey, Greg and Tina, and his uncle Wallace “Jack” Jackman.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023, 2:30-3:30 at Estes Funeral Chapel, 2201 Plymouth Ave N, Mpls, MN 55411 with a repast from 4-6:30 at UROC. 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Mpls, MN 55411.

Former police officer Tou Thao being sentenced to more than four years in prison for his role in the murder of George Floyd. MGN

“After three years of reflection, I was hoping for a little more remorse, regret, acknowledgement of some responsibility and less preaching.”

Importance of early detection of dementia in the Black community Participants are needed in a local study

By Dr. Anne Murray Guest Contributor

Many people who show early signs of dementia and their families hesitate to talk to their primary care clinician about their symptoms. They assume that such symptoms are just a sign of getting old and are fearful of the diagnosis of dementia or are in denial. For these, and sometimes cultural reasons, many of those who are elderly in the Black community have a delayed diagnosis of dementia, such that it has progressed to the point that they need inhome or nursing home care.

It is usually a family member who brings their loved one in to see the doctor, but by then most patients have had symptoms for two or three years. To ensure early detection of dementia, family members are especially crucial to provide a ‘history’ or story of the symptoms at each clinic visit, as the patient cannot provide a reliable history.

More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. However, Blacks in the U.S. have about twice the risk of developing dementia compared with non-Hispanic Whites. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 21 percent of older Blacks in the U.S. are living with dementia.

Recent research indicates that this increased risk of dementia is likely due to a combination of the higher prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (brain) disease and as-

sociated risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high BMI (body mass index), as well as social determinants of health and some genetic factors.

Dementia is the “umbrella” or general term for a progressive brain disease that usually begins with apathy—not caring about previously enjoyed hobbies, reading or activities. It can manifest in symptoms like memory loss about recent events and difficulties with finding the right word, planning, and making decisions. Combined, this can eventually make it difficult for a person to perform daily activities independently.

Apathy combined with wordfinding problems can lead to withdrawal from social situations. Families may misinterpret apathy as laziness or disinterest, creating anger and misunderstanding and delaying dementia detection and diagnosis.

disease is often due to chronic high blood pressure alone or in combination with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and associated inflammation.

The under-detection or de-

recognized this and is emphasizing the importance of enrolling Black participants.

The bottom line is that if you or a family member has memory or cognitive problems, don’t

servational study—not a clinical trial, so no medications will be given—that will measure cardiovascular and other risk factors for dementia in Black community members 55 years and

The study will measure cognitive function, physical function (gait speed and grip strength— both can predict risk of dementia), general health measures (blood pressure, weight, BMI) and collect blood samples to measure cholesterol and the new research dementia blood biomarkers that in the future may provide early detection of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common single cause of dementia. But the most common dementia overall is due to a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment, which is usually due to small blood vessel damage (or microvascular disease) in the brain, or less commonly due to strokes. This microvascular

layed diagnosis of dementia leads to many missed opportunities—specifically, for medication supervision to ensure the affected family member is taking their medications correctly—thus avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and missed opportunities to plan for caregiving and care transitions.

A delayed dementia diagnosis can also mean missed opportunities to be treated with current or recently released dementia medications, or to enroll in ongoing clinical trials to potentially slow dementia progression. This is especially important as Black patients have a low rate of participation in clinical studies and trials for many reasons. The NIH National Institute of Aging has

delay seeing your primary care provider, or ask for a referral to a dementia expert such as a geriatrician or neurologist to conduct a cognitive evaluation. Denial and delay can only lead to worse care and outcomes for the patient and family.

Healthy aging research

Participating in the new Healthy Aging in the Senior years—or HATS study—offers a new opportunity to help advance research in dementia in the Black population. The HATS study is designed to identify risk factors for dementia in Black patients to help prevent dementia, and to help with early detection of cognitive impairment and dementia.

The study is a five-year ob-

older in the Twin Cities. It is a collaborative study between Dr. Anne Murray and the Berman Center, part of the Hennepin HealthCare Research Institute in downtown Minneapolis, Dr. David Knopman and the Mayo Clinic, and two community engagement partners, HueMAN Partnership and The Linc. Both partners have been critical in informing the HATS study design, building community trust, and growing enrollment.

You don’t have to have memory problems to participate in HATS! The goal is to enroll a broad spectrum of older Black people, from those having no symptoms to early or moderate dementia. The HATS study will see participants every 15 months for five years.

Medicare Part D now covers all recommended vaccines at

To be eligible for HATS, you must be 55 years and older, self-identify as Black, reside in the metro Twin Cities area, speak English as your primary language, and not have severe dementia (or be unable to participate in memory tests). HATS researchers also request that each participant have a study partner who knows them very well (family member, close friend, caregiver), to provide a history of the participant’s symptoms.

Healthy Aging in the Senior years participants and their study partner will be compensated for their time and contributions to science. The HATS study has been funded by philanthropic funds from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

HATS is actively enrolling. If you would like to inquire about or enroll in HATS, call 612- 449-5347, or email HATSstudy@bermancenter.org. By participating you will directly contribute to dementia research in the Black community.

Dr. Anne Murray is an MD and MSC, and is affiliated with Hennepin Healthcare and Hennepin HealthCare Research Institute.

to you.

The underdetection or delayed diagnosis of dementia leads to many missed opportunities.

no cost

Don’t let preventable diseases keep you from doing the things you love. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are right for you.

Taking Your Small Business to the Next Level

Sponsored by

After a long period of planning and hard work, you’ve finally turned your dream of starting a small business into reality.

As many business owners soon recognize, however, the launch is just the beginning of their entrepreneurship journey. Once you’re open for business, it’s time to start thinking about how to grow and scale your company for longer-term success.

Many small businesses are young—over half are less than 10 years old and nearly half of small businesses exit within the first five years. The smallest businesses have relatively diverse ownership, and the smaller the business, the more likely it is to be owned by a woman or minority.

Consider these steps to begin taking your small business to the next level:

• Secure additional financing. Future financing plans could include applying for more loans, grants or investor funding. It’s helpful to build

a strong relationship with a bank you trust, which will play a critical role in supporting your small business’ growth, as well as connect you to other resources. For instance, JPMorgan Chase’s Special Purpose Credit Program helps expand credit access in majority Black, Hispanic and Latino communities for business owners who otherwise might not be approved or receive it on

less favorable terms. Through the Global Supplier Diversity Grant Initiative qualified and certified diverse businesses have access to affordable growth capital to cover costs including technology, cyber or networking remediation; operational control enhancements, among other costs.

• Streamline operations. Investing now in operations pro-

cesses could pay off in the long run, such as using digital tools to simplify and automate processes like invoicing, approvals and payments. You can move money faster with real-time payments, which can improve your cash flow while minimizing the risk of fraud.

• Build your team. While many small businesses are solo operations, adding team

members to manage the workload can help make your business run more smoothly. If you already have an accountant or bookkeeper, build from there and add other employees who have the industry expertise to help put your business on the path for lasting success.

• Expand your network.

You’ll need advisors, consultants and experts who have seen it all, or who know someone who has. Spend time identifying events, like trade shows and expos, informational sessions, and networking receptions with buyers and potential suppliers, as well as programs you may qualify for that offer additional support. Making these connections can also open your business to new customers. JPMorgan Chase offers a free one-onone coaching program across 21 U.S. cities, featuring 45 trained Senior Business Con-

sultants to mentor and coach small business owners so they can better run their business. Since 2020, the program has helped more than 2,800 minority owned businesses grow.

The operations and methods you used to get your business started may not be the same ones you need to scale it. Focusing on your future and investing in your facilities, teams and processes can get your organization oriented toward growth and help minimize business interruptions down the road.

For more tips and resources to help you grow your small business, scan the code or visit chase.com/business and chase. com/businessconsultant.

MBCRE’s Shereese Turner has come full circle

SPONSORED CONTENT

By Shereese Turner

As a part of her role as Chief Program Officer for Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities, Shereese Turner seeks to advance Black homeownership. She brings that same concern to the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity’s (MCBRE) community wellbeing pillar. Here, in her own words, she speaks about the road she’s traveled, and why it makes her so well-suited to the work she does.

After two decades in corporate America, I started my non-profit career in 2007 at Twin Cities RISE. It was by far the hardest, most rewarding work I’ve ever done. As a coach and mentor, I refused to just go through the motions. If I told you I was going to show up, I would show up and give it everything I had. But I also looked to you to show up and give it everything you had to get you and your family to a better place. That’s why people said: “Shereese don’t play.”

Leading with empathy came out of my own personal experiences. For many years before I remarried, I was a single mom raising three kids. It was a struggle to get my life together and create stability for my family. Housing was a major issue.

One of the places we lived during those rocky times was the emergency shelter at St. Anne’s Place, run by Haven Housing.

Today I’m chair of the board at Haven Housing and passionate about the work they do because they had my back.

I also served on the board for several years at Bridging Inc., which helped me furnish my first apartment. I continue to partner with the non-profit organizations that were there for me when I needed it most.

I share my expertise, drop off food and diapers, or offer a word of encouragement.

A meal on the table

Nikki Robertson is a young woman I connected with when she came to Twin Cities RISE after Hurricane Katrina. She was dealing with her own trauma, living in a shelter, and in need of career training. I took her under my wing. Nikki became not only my mentee, but my little sis.

a reminder of why I was called to this work.

Nikki has had ups and downs, but she’s got her kids with her, gone back to school, and become a manager at a facility where she once got treatment. Along the way, I’ve always reminded her, “If you run into a little snag, don’t hesitate to call me.” Then one day, two days before Thanksgiving, her car broke down and she called me. She didn’t ask for anything, but I sensed

app available to our local Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity workforce.

‘Always trying to get stuff’

When I think about community well-being, I sometimes reflect on what happened to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1920s. That was a thriving, self-

lasting value.

That kind of thinking goes way back for me. I was raised by a mom and dad who didn’t have means. My dad never had a bank account, so I didn’t know anything about banking. I had to catch up. I was a grown woman with children before I figured that out. I

When she got on her feet, she walked in one day and I could tell things were coming together for her. She said, “Hey Ms. Shereese!” I could see how happy she was, and it was

there was a reason she was telling me about her car. I said, ‘What’s your cash app?’ Because what you’re not going to do is, you’re not going to have Thanksgiving without a meal

on your table.” So, I sent her the money to make sure that was covered. Among the success stories, she’s one person who really stands out for me. MBCRE and community wellbeing I co-lead MBCRE’s community well-being pillar. A secure home is an important component of being safe in one’s community.

Public Safety should be a priority for all of us. We have all borne witness to the devastation that’s happened over the years when citizens are not only unsafe, but are murdered at the hands of those who are sworn to serve and protect them.

That’s why, as MBCRE cochair, I’ve encouraged MBCRE members to offer the TurnSignl app within their organizations. TurnSignl can get an attorney on the line immediately during a police stop, to provide support and guidance, which can be a form of de-escalation and a life saver. We’ve made the

sufficient community known as Black Wall Street, and it’s painful to know that it was destroyed. The pathology of that.

In many ways we’re still dealing with what’s been stolen from us. I had an “ah ha moment” not long ago. I was trying to understand why I was always trying to get stuff. I was reliving my childhood again. I loved Minnie Mouse. I collect Minnie Mouses. My husband collects gym shoes.

Sometimes I’m like, “How much of this stuff can we buy?”

But when you grow up not having had a whole lot, you may be trying to fill that hole with gold jewelry, Minnie Mouses, gym shoes, et cetera. It can be ingrained in us to spend and be consumers. But unlike homes, many of the things we buy are not real investments that have

made a lot of mistakes.

I had to find resources I could tap into such as Pillsbury United Communities and financial workshops, where I learned to understand budgeting, saving and credit and all of that. So, when I see the MBCRE offering a webinar to make the connection between financial wellness and social justice, or its deposit challenge with First Independence Bank to bring much-needed resources into our community, I know the value of that.

I feel so fortunate to be on this side of the struggle. To offer my children stability that I didn’t have growing up. It’s allowed them to build healthy relationships and to blossom. Now all three of my children are homeowners and living their best lives.

From housing insecure to helping others become homeowners

It can be ingrained in us to spend and be consumers. But unlike homes, many of the things we buy are not real investments that have lasting value.

Shereese Turner and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge

Photo courtesy of MBCRE

MBCRE’s Steering Committee (l-r) Shereese Turner, Delphanie Daniels, Tiffany Daniels, Toweya Brown-Ochs and Sam Ndely

Photo courtesy of MBCRE

The smallest businesses have relatively diverse ownership, and the smaller the business, the more likely it is to be owned by a woman or minority.

COBB

Continued from page 1

and two cartridges from behind the center console in the rear section of the car, Cobb did not appear to be armed and both of his hands were visible in body camera footage.

The BCA, which is under the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, investigated the shooting. This concerns Communities United Against Police Brutality because both the BCA and the state patrol are part of the same department.

“It is completely inappropriate to have one division of a state agency investigating another division of that same agency,” said Communities United Against Police Brutality in a statement. “We demand that an independent use of force investigator—with no ties to any part of the state government—be brought in to investigate this matter.”

gan was the trooper who fired the fatal shots that killed Cobb. Londregan relocated to the Twin Cities from New England in 2019. He studied business administration at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt., and worked as an unpaid intern for the Vermont State Police. He also worked at a college and a shellfish farm and as a private investigator in the Twin Cities before becoming a Minnesota state trooper in 2021. In May, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Minnesota awarded him “Outstanding Rookie” for his work in “removing” impaired drivers from Twin Cities roadways, as well as two “Hat Trick” awards from the Office of Traffic Safety for arresting three impaired drivers in one shift in 2022.

before separating.

Ricky Cobb II also leaves behind a twin brother, Rashad. “I lived [aged] zero to 33 years with a man I can’t go 34 and over with,” said Rashad. “How am I supposed to make this make sense? And when I do, it’s still gonna hurt. Why do we have to keep going through that? We’re supposed to live and grow old.”

At a press conference where DPS released video footage of Cobb II’s killing on Tuesday, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson reassured the public that both agencies are independent of each other and that the BCA has a reputation for investigating other police officers for misconduct.

“They act independently. They do independent work.

They both have their chief law enforcement officers,” said Jacobson. “Anytime that there is an officer involved shooting in the state of Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension typically is asked to perform those investigations.

“[The BCA’s] Forces Investigation Unit [has been] the goto agency for law enforcement officer-involved shootings or use-of-force shootings or incustody deaths,” Jacobson said. “That has worked very well for a number of years.”

The officers involved Last Thursday, the Department of Public Safety released the identities of those involved in the incident. Ryan Londre-

AEDS

Continued from page 1

National African Leadership Conference

In 2020, AEDS launched the National African Leadership Conference. Hosted virtually and in-person at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis, the two-day event connected African leaders in Minnesota and African communities across the country.

The popularity of the event has led to AEDS hosting it an-

CELEBRATION

Continued from page 1

worth the effort given the impact it would have in the community.

“That is what I think Little Africa Plaza has come to embody,” said Jalali. “It is really just looking at the old light and fan building on Snelling Avenue in the Midway, which is changing the neighborhood and imposing pressure in a lot of different ways, and saying, ‘We want to turn this into a community space, not just whatever the top dollar’s going to get us.”

Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten also spoke about how important it was for her to see such a resource in the community she grew up in. Coming from a Senegalese background, Verbeten’s mother immigrated to the Twin Cities in the 1980s

County, he was nominated for a Meritorious Service award for helping a St. Francis police officer who continued to pursue a suspect despite being shot at.

Seide has an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Hennepin Technical College. In the past decade he worked at UPS, as a performer and attractions maintainer at a haunted house in Wyoming, Minn., and as a custom fishingrod technician.

the officers involved in Cobb’s killing be fired and charged.

what happened.”

The two other troopers involved—Brett Seide and Garrett Erickson—did not use force. And although they have more law enforcement experience than Londregan, they are also relatively new to the state patrol.

Both Seide and Erickson have a combined five years of law enforcement experience from other jurisdictions in the state. Both happened to be in the same trooper training class that began in July 2022, and were appointed as full troopers in October 2022.

Seide, who pulled Cobb over, previously worked as a deputy for the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office from July 2020 to June 2021. He submitted his resignation two days after his last day of work in June 2021, saying in his resignation letter that he wanted to “enhance my career in law enforcement.”

While working at Anoka

nually, with the size of the conference growing every year. There are also multiple events leading up to the conference, including networking events, speakers and forums.

There were more than 12 sessions during last year’s event. The topics included youth leadership, business development, policy, homeownership, and health and wellness. These topics were selected based on feedback from the community. This was done by bringing in diverse African leaders from Minnesota and other states to provide input, said Gelgelu. The program designers then used this input to

and would bring her to the area as a child.

“We always knew that coming to this area—Hamline Midway and Snelling—that this was a place where you could get your hair done, or get the spices that you needed for your food, or just be around people who looked like us and who spoke the same languages that we did,” she said.

“That’s the community that we have here in Little Africa. We need a dedicated space, and now we finally have that.

I’m just so happy personally to have that and for our community to have that as well.”

Food trucks and tables were lined around Snelling and Lafond Avenues. Festival-goers had their choice of enjoying food and cultural attire from across the diaspora, offering a flavor of all the diverse African cultures in Minnesota.

Seide himself has had trouble with the law. He was cited for speeding in November 2021, and failing to yield to merging traffic in February 2022. Neither Erickson nor Londregan have a criminal record in Minnesota.

Erickson has the most experience in law enforcement, having worked at three city police departments in Becker and Wadena counties in northwestern Minnesota from 2020 to 2022. The state patrol sustained a complaint against Erickson in which he left a person in a vehicle involved in a crash overnight on Christmas Eve 2022.

The reaction

Some elected officials have spoken out denouncing the killing, as well as family members and friends of Cobb. Activists gathered all last week and this week to grieve and demand

build the topics and itinerary.

“We always believe in a community-driven approach because it’s to solve a community issue,” Gelgelu said. “It has to come from the community.”

During last year’s conference, AEDS recognized leaders in the community for the first time ever with its African Lifetime Leadership Award. The award acknowledges and shows appreciation for those in the community who have served the public for years.

This selection was also decided in part by a committee. Community advisors from different states were selected and given the job of creating a set of criteria for the

Monica Habia sat behind a booth covered with books and children’s toys representing Planting People Growing Justice (PPGJ), a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting education and literacy for children, as she discussed the importance of the festival for the community.

“I’ve been here every year maybe the past five years,” she said. “I see that every year the numbers grow, which shows that there is the need for this.”

Originally from Ghana, Habia has lived in the state for 12 years. She joined the board of PPGJ to help give children the representation they need in their educational development. She sees the festival as doing similar work to put African Minnesotans on the map.

“It’s very important. Representation matters, especially when you live in a state like

On Friday, Rep. Ilhan Omar issued a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, expressing despair over the situation. “I am in anguish with his family and our community that has experienced far too much violence at the hands of law enforcement. The video footage is deeply disturbing, but only reiterates what we already know. Interactions like these with law enforcement should not be a death sentence,” said Omar.

The Minnesota House and Senate POCI caucus, of which member Rep. Fue Lee (DFLMpls) represents the area where the shooting happened, expressed outrage over the incident. “The impact of police shootings of Black and Brown motorists is profound and farreaching,” said their statement.

“It continues to cause a devastating impact on individuals, families, and entire communities. We respectfully demand transparency and accountability from law enforcement in the wake of another fatal police-involved shooting where a Black man has been killed,”

Gov. Tim Walz offered condolences to Cobb’s mother and said in a statement on social media,“We will do everything we can to get to the bottom of

award. They then nominated people based on the criteria.

Cobb’s family and friends demand independent investigation into his shooting. about African immigrants and their stories.

After the committee makes its selections, the nominee list was made public on social media. The public voted for who they believe should receive the award. Last year, AEDS received over 530 votes for the award.

The African Lifetime Achievement Award does not just go to one person. Five people were

Minnesota. We have to make sure that we showcase not just our culture, but what we have as a people,” she said.

Dressed in a white suit with an Oromo flag sash, Girma Hassen, better known as Girma Oromo by his friends and colleagues, arrived at the festival with a spirit of cultural pride. He called the day’s events a chance for communities to interact with each other and build a bond. For Hassen, there is little standing in the way of a united African diaspora in Minnesota if people come together.

“We haven’t realized it yet. Once we realize that, our power is in our hands,” he explained. “The only thing that we have been missing is we are not working for ourselves. The more we’re divided, the less power we have.”

Hassen created the Na-

Minneapolis Councilmember Latrisha Vetaw and Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, both of whom represent the area where Cobb II was killed, did not respond to requests for comment on the situation. Neither did the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association.

At protests and vigils throughout the week, family and friends remembered Cobb II as a funny, mischievous person who was looking to turn his life around after a string of driving violations and convictions for domestic violence.

Kiyah Cobb, Ricky’s niece, recounted the laughs she had from his jokes. “Every time I see him, it was just all good laughs. Good times. ‘These dreads, I just want them to look like hot Cheetos,’ he said, every time he saw me, That’s what [he said] my hair looked like,” said Kiyah Cobb at a vigil for her uncle the night he was killed.

Danielle Pickett, the mother of Cobb’s children, reminisced at the vigil the day he was killed about how they met. “I was sitting in a car with a friend…and he rode past on a bike and my friend decided to catcall him.

[My friend] encouraged us to exchange numbers,” said Pickett, who knew Cobb for 12 years and was engaged to him

given the award during the 2022 conference. One of the recipients was an 80-year-old Oromo man from Seattle. Another was a Liberian medical doctor, Dr. Mardia Stone, from New York.

“She said she was about to cry and just got emotional. When she received the award, she said, ‘I’ve never been recognized all these years. I’ve been serving and never been

tional American Sports Association of Africans (NASAA), a program that connects the diaspora across the country through soccer matches. He hopes that different gatherings through sports and festivals can help create familiarity among different cultures.

Having gone to several of the Little Africa festivals in the past, Hassan Shahid said that he’s seen improvements with each passing year. From the food to the performances, Shahid said the intentionality behind the event has helped elevate the experience. As a father, he said the event was a great chance for his son and others to be introduced to their culture in another way.

“I think we need to double down on our different cultures, because maintaining our culture and our tradition is a great way for us to maintain who we

Novella Williams, who knew Cobb since she was in high school, is among many who wants Londregan to be fired and charged with Cobb’s killing. “We want that cop who pulled that trigger to sit down [in a jail cell] and see what it feels like to be without your family, to be without your loved ones. Because he still has his life and [Cobb] don’t,” said Williams, who was among 40 or so who participated at a rally at 42nd and Lyndale in North Minneapolis the day after Cobb was killed.

At the same rally, activist and poet Brandyn Tulloch pointed to Cobb’s killing as part of the systemic racism Black Minnesotans face. “The police are on video saying, ‘Yeah, he was nice to me.’ They literally are saying he wasn’t putting up a fight,” said Tulloch at a rally for the family on Tuesday.

Tulloch continued, “But they still wouldn’t just tell him [why they wanted him to step out of the vehicle]. All they wanted him to do was comply. ‘Do as you’re told, boy.’ They believe that as Black men, Black women, Black people in this country, ‘you don’t get to ask questions. You do as you are told, you speak when you are spoken to, you act when I tell you how to act.’”

Ricky Cobb II’s survivors plan to hold a funeral for him on Saturday, August 12, at Immanuel Baptist Tabernacle, 4505 Halifax Ave. N. in Robbinsdale. They will hold a wake starting at 11 a.m. followed by the service at 1 p.m.

H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader comments at hpan@spokesman-recorder.com.

recognized,’” Gelgelu said.

The point of this award is for the community to honor their own, said Gelgelu. That is why AEDS has no hand in selecting the recipients.

This year’s conference will once again be held virtually and in-person in December. There will be 43 speakers, with 13 breakout sessions and five African Lifetime Achievement Awards presented.

Faaya Adem is a journalism student at the U of M and part of the Oromo community in Minnesota. She welcomes reader comments at fadem@spoesmanrecorder.com.

are and what we want our children to reflect in the future,” he said. “I’m African American, but being able to see African culture is beautiful, whether people just show up and show out and wear the traditional garments or just come in their shorts and their t-shirts.”

In Dr. Gelgelu’s view, the sense of belonging is integral to the success of the community overall. “When people fit into the fabric of society, they succeed in education. They succeed in work. They succeed in business. They invest because they see themselves with the fabric of society,” he said.

“When you don’t have that space, when our kids don’t have that space, it’s socially isolating. It’s dangerous.”

“They believe that as Black men, Black women, Black people in this country, you don’t get to ask questions.”

“We always believe in a community-driven approach because it’s to solve a community issue.”

Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader comments at amohamed@ spokesman-recorder.com.

LEGACY CRUISE

Continued from page 1

evening of reflection, connection and commemoration.

Founded in 1934 by Mr. Cecil Newman, the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder (MSR), established as the oldest Black business and newspaper in Minnesota, has long been a pillar of the African American community, providing insightful journalism, fostering important conversations, and advocating for social change.

The Legacy Yacht Cruise stood as a testament to the publication’s enduring impact on the community it has served for nearly a century. Guests from various walks of life, including sponsors US Bank, Andersen Windows & Doors, and Hue-Man Partnerships, a host of top line vendors, community members, business leaders, and dedicated longtime supporters of the newspaper, gathered for an evening of sophistication and celebration.

Against the backdrop of the sparkling waters, attendees experienced an event that blended the rich history of the publication with contemporary elegance. As the cruise ship embarked on its journey, attendees were treated to a variety of experiences that paid homage to the newspaper’s legacy.

Three floors of orchestrated exhibitions provided a live jazz band, a spectacular array of vendors from some of our top entrepreneurs, and an upper level showcasing the talents of DJ Ray Seville, line dancing with Phyllis ‘Showtime’ Braxton, and a meal that was fit for a country club. Two of vendors on the Legacy Cruise—DeVonna Pittman of Nature’s Syrup Beauty and Rama McGraw of Tropical Trends were sponsored by US Bank, in supporting small businesses.

Tracey Williams-Dillard (third

Arts & Culture

2023 MSR Legacy Yacht Cruise Photo Highlights

generation owner of the paper) gave an account of pivotal moments in the publication’s history and insights into the role of journalism in shaping societal narratives. The evening was a true amalgamation of culture, history, and future aspirations that highlighted the ongoing importance of diverse voices in journalism and the impact they have on fostering understanding and change.

The Legacy Cruise wasn’t just a celebration of the past, but also a call to action for the future. Amidst the glitz and glamor, attendees were reminded of the journey that lies ahead and the role that media, particularly newspapers like the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, play in addressing and reporting the Black community’ interests.

The event exemplified the newspaper’s commitment to fostering unity, encouraging dialogue, and amplifying the voices of the African American community. As the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder looked back on 88 years of achievement, it also embraced the opportunity to shape the next chapter of its impactful journey.

The cruise was not just an event—it was also a reflection of resilience, progress, and the power of storytelling. As the MSR continues to navigate the evolving landscape of journalism, it does so with the knowledge that its history is a foundation upon which an even brighter future can be built. In the words of Publisher/CEO Williams-Dillard, “Let’s get ready to celebrate 90 years as we plan for 2024!”

For more information about the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder and its contributions to the community, visit www. spokesman-recorder.com.

We Must Be the Examples

By Marian Wright Edelman

When our children see the news right now, what are they thinking? We are at a moment where adults everywhere are reminded once again that we must all continue to strive to be the examples we want our children to emulate. We must teach them to value the truth and to know right from wrong. We cannot depend on anyone else.

Federal Trade Commission hindering Black economic achievement

By Julianne Malveaux

The Biden Administration has been pushing hard for credit for its significant economic successes. Coining the phrase ‘Bidenomics,’ the term is meant to direct attention towards the administration’s striking successful economic agenda.

Under President Biden, the rate of inflation has been more than cut in half, employers have created more than 13 million jobs, wage growth has outpaced inflation, and the unemployment rate of Black workers is at a record-breaking, historic low. Now, the administration wants the public to give them credit.

Yet, the key to widespread public support is not through grandiose statements or flashy catchphrases. Instead, it is through the ongoing prioritization of policy that enhances the everyday, lived experiences of Americans—especially Black Americans. On this front, the FTC can play a crucial role.

The Federal Trade Commission is charged with protecting American consumers from everyday threats permeating the domestic marketplace. Appointed by President Biden, Lina Khan now serves as chair of the Commission, and she has adopted a unique, ultraprogressive approach to the FTC’s mandate.

Soon after assuming leadership, Chair Khan deprioritized the consumer welfare standard, a time-tested precedent that puts individual wellbeing at the forefront of any and all policy discussion, deeming it

“too narrow.” Instead, the Commission has embraced a broad view of consumer well-being, focusing on antitrust cases that could theoretically have sweeping, long-term impacts on the economy.

While I appreciate this approach, a loss of focus on the FTC’s bread-and-butter consumer protection issues could have a devastating impact on Americans’ economic wellbeing, especially those most vul-

communities filed consumer reports at a higher rate than predominantly White or Latino communities.” Beyond that, Black and Latino individuals have reported higher instances of fraud via payment methods that do not have refundable protections. Without a solution from the FTC, they remain at a loss—exacerbating income inequality for consumers already working in traditionally marginalized communities.

Americans are increasingly turning to gig economy work to make up for losses to increasing fraud, to keep up with rapid inflation, or simply to gain extra spending money.

I believe all great faiths, history, moral decency, and common sense beckon us anew to examine as individuals and as a people what we are to live by and teach our children by precept and example. I urge adults in America of all races, faiths, and political persuasions to make a difference by teaching our children to love themselves and others as God loves us. We must teach our children at every age how we expect them to treat themselves and

others respectfully and fairly and then struggle to model that behavior daily no matter what people in power, public figures, or role models are doing or how often we fail to meet our own standards, get up, and try again.

by persevering and not giving up no matter how difficult the challenge; by being determined and resourceful; by being grateful for the gift and wonders of life; by working together with others; by being compassionate and kind; by being nonviolent and working for justice and peace in their communities, nation, and world; and by being faithful and struggling for what they believe.

nerable.

We have already witnessed the consequences of a loss of focus on fundamental issues at the FTC. As the Commission focused their energy on theoretical risks rather than real threats posed to consumers, consumer fraud cases soared.

From 2021 to 2022, fraud losses increased by over 30 percent. Last year alone, consumers lost $8.8 billion to fraudsters—and Black Americans are disproportionately suffering from the consequences of this tragic phenomenon.

According to the FTC’s Serving Communities of Color report, “Predominantly Black

In fact, Black and Hispanic individuals are most likely to take up gig-work, comprising over half of workers in the industry. Nearly one-third of Hispanic adults have earned money through the gig economy, while over a quarter of African American adults have earned money through these platforms.

Despite this trend, Lina Khan has now turned her attention to gig economy workers, with the commission vowing to “use its full authority” to investigate gig companies and worker practices. At an FTC Open Meeting, app-based workers warned the Commission against pursuing unnecessary legislation.

Advocacy groups like the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and National LGBT Chamber of Commerce called on the FTC to consider that these apps serve as a resource to members looking to empower themselves through another income stream. Yet their pleas went unconsidered.

Khan decided to release a policy statement giving the FTC the power to regulate the American labor market in the form of gig-worker regulation— despite the fact that opposing commissioners claimed the decision “meanders in and out of our jurisdiction into matters of employment law.”

Once again, Khan prioritized her own agenda despite what Americans were telling her they needed on the ground. In the name of individual American wellbeing, this trend cannot continue.

The Biden administration claims its goal is to “lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive.”

To achieve this, the FTC must recommit to its most fundamental pillar: the consumer welfare standard. This commitment will especially benefit Black Americans, who have become innocent bystanders as foolhardy legislation renders them even more vulner-

To our children, I hope they will make a difference as they grow by being courageous, aiming high, and holding on to ideals of mutual respect; by caring and serving; by being honest and telling the truth;

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it still bends towards justice. It is so important for adults not to let ourselves off the hook or to become apathetic or cynical by telling ourselves that nothing we do can make a difference. Every day, light your small candle. It just might be the one that sparks the movement to save our children’s and our nation’s future.

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

Unleashing the potential of Minneapolis through American tech innovation

By Robert Droddy

Minneapolis, a city that has faced numerous challenges in recent times, stands at a critical juncture for revitalization. In the wake of pandemic shutdowns, civil unrest, and the emergence of a work-fromhome culture, the path to recovery lies in embracing the transformative power of tech in our communities.

To breathe new life into our neighborhoods and businesses, we must recognize the invaluable role that American tech innovation can play in creating a prosperous environment for a once-thriving economy. By leveraging their vast resources and capabilities, we can forge a path toward greater stability for our neighborhoods and businesses, creating a more inclusive and even brighter future for Minneapolis.

One of the most significant advantages of embracing the innovation of American tech leaders lies in their capacity for digital transformation. As businesses adapt to the new normal of a post-pandemic world, the integration of technology has become more crucial than ever.

Tech companies have been able to provide the necessary tools and expertise to help businesses navigate the challenges of a changing landscape. From implementing ecommerce platforms and contactless payment systems to optimizing supply chains and enhancing customer experiences, tech-driven solutions have been key to revitalizing our city.

Legislating statewide policies that nurture innovation can attract top tech talent to our city. By fostering a supportive regulatory framework and investing in digital infra-

able at the hands of scammers.

When Americans feel the impact of thoughtful policy, they will be vocal in their support. From gig-economy workers to small business owners to high level corporate execu-

structure, we can position Minneapolis as a hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship. This will not only generate business and job opportunities, but will also encourage startups and tech companies to set up shop in our downtown area, further catalyzing economic growth.

Additionally, we have seen a flood of tech innovations that continuously expand the digital tools at our disposal to help uplift our neighbors. Undoubtedly, access to the newest innovations in technology plays a critical role in supporting many families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

fortunate circumstances, it is critical that urban youth have access to the latest technology tools, enabling them to expand their goals beyond the harsh realities that some face in their communities. Beyond contributing hardware and physical tools that we use to educate and uplift our children, America’s tech sector provides a critical digital backbone to support organizations, communities and families in Minnesota.

These resources empower our youth with various tools for personal and professional development online so they can explore their personal imagination and establish their own American dream.

As we regroup following a busy legislative session, embracing tech companies and pro-tech policies is imperative for growth in our communities and revitalizing Minneapolis. By harnessing the resources, capabilities and innovation provided by American innovation and tech companies, we can propel our city into a new era of economic prosperity with even more inclusive opportunities for our youth and adult workforce.

As a city, we can utilize technology as a catalyst for positive change and work together to create a vibrant and resilient city that thrives in the face of adversity.

Furnishing these resources allows our students and families to access a vast number of opportunities for educational and professional development which ultimately leads to significant economic advancements for the community.

While many children in Minneapolis too often fall into un-

tives—every single American benefits from a vigorous FTC committed to protecting consumer interests.

It’s time that the FTC recommit to the day-to-day needs of consumers rather than distant,

Robert Droddy is the senior director of individual giving development for the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). NAZ is a Minneapolis organization that leads a collaboration of schools and nonprofits in North Minneapolis that offer comprehensive support to children of color and their families on the North Side.

theoretical policy ideals that do nothing to benefit the lived experiences of Americans.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and higher education leader.

Black and Hispanic individuals are most likely to take up gig-work, comprising over half of workers in the industry.

We are at a moment where adults everywhere are reminded once again that we must all continue to strive to be the examples we want our children to emulate.

It is critical that urban youth have access to the latest technology tools, enabling them to expand their goals beyond the harsh realities that some face in their communities.

The MSR’s guide to summer festivals, concerts, and activities for foodies, stargazers, art and music lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy for the next two weeks from August 10 - 16.

Minnesota Fringe Festival

August 3 – 13 | Grain Belt Bottling House – 79 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis

Minnesota Fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for free and diverse artistic expression. The 30th annual festival, the 2023 edition of the Minnesota Fringe Festival will fill tens-ofthousands of seats with audiences viewing dozens of works at hundreds of performances by more than 1,000 artists on a variety of stages. For more info, visit minnesotafringe.org.

Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival

August 12 – 13 | Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

The Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival is a free and unique downtown art experience for residents and visitors that celebrates street art in all its forms. The festival takes place annually the second weekend in August and features chalk and spray art, murals, performance, craft, food and fun! For more info, visit www.mplsstreetartfest.com.

Twin Cites Hair and Beauty Expo

August 13 – 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Courtyard by Marriot –1500 South Washington Avenue, Minneapolis

The Twin Cities Hair and Beauty Expo (formerly Twin Cities Natural Hair and Beauty Expo) is an annual celebration of hair, beauty and culture, which provides BIPOC entrepreneurs and businesses an opportunity to market their products and services to thousands of attendees. This expo cultivates social enterprise and ethnic inclusion, while honoring and celebrating hair as a centerpiece of Black culture. For more info, visit bit.ly/TwinCitesHairBeautyExpo.

GOURDINE

Continued from page 10

Simon’s widow, during a recent phone call. This was when he was employed by the NBA through an outside law firm before he was officially hired by the league.

After he left the league in the mid-1990s, Gourdine worked as New York City consumer affairs commissioner, then Rockefeller Foundation secretary, then labor relations director for the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He was hired by the NBA Players Association as their executive director.

SOE

Continued from page 10

and Tracy Henderson (Minneapolis Henry, University of Georgia) both remain the only

Gourdine later negotiated a tentative long-term collective bargaining agreement in 1995 that helped avert a players strike, and the union executive board awarded him a new two-year contract. But the player reps rejected the deal and Gourdine was fired in 1996. He later got nearly $900,000, thanks to an arbitration panel.

He went on to serve as general counsel for the NYC Board of Education, then NYC deputy police commissioner for four years, and then chaired the city’s civil service commission.

In her book, Runstedler suggests that perhaps the main

two Northside female players drafted in the WNBA.

The 6’3” Henderson first played in the old ABL before Cleveland selected her in the third round in 1999, and she played for the Rockers (1999,

reason why Gourdine never got the NBA commish job was because the league’s all-White team owners couldn’t fathom a Black man at the top. We asked her why the Black players, who were becoming more vocal at that time, for the most part didn’t fight more on Gourdine’s behalf.

“He was part of management,” said the author and American University professor, purporting that the Black players, not all but a significant few, didn’t trust Gourdine despite him looking like them. “He would actually be somebody who would support their interest,” added Runstedler.

2002-03).

The 5’10” Moore was a first-round pick of Miami in 2002 (No. 15) and played for the Lynx (2002), one of seven teams that she played with until her retirement in 2007.

Many believe Gourdine should have gotten the job, including her husband, said Mrs. Gourdine. “That was the natural progression.”

“He’s somebody who should have a place in NBA history,” said Runstedler on Gourdine’s historical significance to the league.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to say he was a first,” added Patricia Gourdine. “He was the deputy commissioner at the NBA, and he was there for 12 years. That is a big legacy.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Next featured Lynx Greats player: Renee Montgomery

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Office.

If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be granted as a default matter. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s Order.

Court Administrator Ramsey County District Court Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder August 10, 2023

Ode to Simon Gourdine

He deserves a lasting place in NBA history

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

heresa Runstedtler’s latest book, “Black Ball,” devoted a chapter to former NBA deputy commissioner Simon Gourdine, who died in August 2012, at age 72. Gourdine was one of the highest-ranking Black executives in professional sports in the 1970s, and later served as the league players’ union executive director.

As this summer’s sports talk has been dominated by NBA players signing unthinkably huge contracts, one wonders how many really know about Gourdine and what he did decades ago to make such deals possible today.

Simon Gourdine should have been the NBA’s first Black commissioner. Why wasn’t he?

A former U.S. attorney, the New Jersey native Gourdine was born in 1940. He was brought in by the late NBA commissioner Walter Kennedy, who knew him from his days as a mayor, as an assistant to the commissioner, a high-profile job. He was the first Black hired to such a position in pro sports history.

Supposedly Kennedy recognized how good Gourdine was and wanted him to succeed him at the league’s top job when he retired. Gourdine worked hard for four years to prove Kennedy right in his choice.

Gourdine “wore many hats in the organization,” Runstedtler explains in her book. He advised Kennedy on all legal matters, reviewed player contracts, did arbitration and grievances, oversaw trades and ran the draft among other things. He also

Simon Gourdine Courtesy of Facebook

helped negotiate a labor deal that created NBA free agency in 1976, and helped the NBA-ABA merger become a reality.

Gray-Miller transitions from coaching to broadcasting

right out of college. I’ll be 51 in November. I’ve worked full time for 30 years,” she said proudly.

Second of two parts

henever a coach gets fired, what often gets lost is the fact that the assistants on the staff are also shown the door. Therefore, when Minnesota let Lindsay Whalen go in March, the former associate head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller and her fellow assistants were also suddenly out of work.

With nearly 25 years of coaching experience, GrayMiller has coached at all five of the Power Five conferences, certainly qualifying as a coaching lifer. But now she has reached both a personal and a career crossroads.

Gray-Miller was hired by Minnesota in May, 2021. “Minnesota was going to be my last coaching job. I’ve said that from the get-go,” she admitted. “I was not going to coach any-

found a broadcasting internship at the Big Ten Network. “I applied—the only qualifications were that you had to have played a sport in the Big Ten [she was a three-time letterwinner and team captain at Michigan in the 1990s] and that you didn’t have any eligibility. I checked both those boxes.

each game.

“There’s two things I miss about coaching,” she said. “I miss working with the players and being on the court in practices, or one-on-one sessions working with the players. I miss that… I miss watching film, game planning, the prep, the scheming, the X’s and O’s. So,

It would seem natural and expected that he would succeed Kennedy, but he never rose past his second-in-command role as not just one but two White men (Lawrence O’Brien and David Stern) were brought in. One had no sports background, like O’Brien, and the other leapfrogged over Gourdine as Stern did.

“David Stern was on the phone, oh my goodness, so many nights in my home,” recalled Mrs. Patricia Gourdine,

■ See GOURDINE on page 8

“When everything happened with Lindsay getting fired, I said, what’s next? I knew that I did not want to get a quote-unquote ‘real job,’” admitted GrayMiller, speaking candidly from her home in Chicago. “I knew I didn’t want to coach anymore.”

She pointed out that it’s been a whirlwind 12 months beginning last summer. “I got engaged last year. Got my master’s. Got a promotion.

My mother went into hospice. Got fired. Planned a wedding. Planned a funeral. When everything went down [after Whalen’s firing],”continued Gray-Miller, “I was really scared of the uncertainty.

“I got my first full-time job

where after Minnesota.”

Yet, giving up something she dearly loves isn’t easy. “My fiancé is a broadcaster. So her and I watch a lot of games together,” said Gray-Miller. “She’ll say, ‘You should be a broadcaster.’”

“I did an interview and I got it,” said Gray-Miller. She was one of six applicants and the oldest as well, she noted. “It was such an incredible experience to work with network producers and writers and directors. We got a ton of feedback. It was just a really intensive, hands-on experience and I loved it.”

the broadcasting piece checks that box.”

That suggestion eventually became a reality as Gray-Miller

Tamika Williams’ key to success: ‘Invest in the community’

The MSR is the only local media that has covered the Minnesota Lynx from the start of its 25-year existence, as the team became the Twin Cities’ most successful pro franchise. Before this season, the team chose its top-25 players in Lynx history and held their 25th anniversary celebration the weekend of June 9-11, where the MSR spoke to several of the honored players. This week: Tamika Williams (2002-07)

efore being named to the Lynx’s All-25 team this spring, Tamika Williams had already earned a place on the team’s legends’ list.

Minnesota selected the 6’2” Williams sixth overall in the 2002 WNBA draft, the fourth and final Connecticut player selected in the same draft in which North Minneapolis native Tamara Moore was also picked (see later). Williams, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Sue Bird, once heralded by Sports Illustrated as “the best recruiting class of 1998” out of high school, were all key members of UConn’s 2002 NCAA championship.

As W rookies, all four UConn alums accounted for between eight and 21 percent of their respective teams’ total points, rebounds and assists.

“We were the worst team in the league when I got drafted,” recalled Williams, now Williams-Jeter, referring to her first pro season with the Lynx.

But her second season with the team is where Williams made history. With the score tied at 72 and less than 10

seconds left, the host Lynx, in their first-ever playoff game, fought back from a 20-point deficit. Williams picked off the L.A. Sparks in-bounds pass and broke for the basket, finishing at the rim to give Minnesota their first-ever postseason victory. That same season, Williams also set a league fieldgoal shooting record, hitting .668 from the field.

Also, before the 2004 draft, it was rumored that for the Lynx to draft Gopher great Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut was asking for both Williams and teammate Katie Smith, easily the team’s best players, along with future draft picks. This reporter later confirmed that rumor and easily noted that if Minnesota made that trade, it would have handcuffed the franchise for years to come.

Williams played six seasons for Minnesota before she was traded to Connecticut in 2008, where she retired as a player after that season. She finished

her W career with over 1,400 points and 1,100 rebounds.

That single-season field goal record she set in her second year still stands today. Williams also set an NCAA Division I shooting record (.703) that still stands today.

After playing, Williams went into coaching with stops at Kansas, Kentucky, Penn State and Ohio State as an assistant, and Wittenberg and the India National Team as head coach. She begins her second season

Twitter

was well-cemented long before the team’s dynasty run. “I was a player, but I was also about community,” Williams proudly told us during the All-25 team celebration in June.

On-court success, she said, “Is not gonna happen overnight. But if you invest in the community, they’ll start to show up. You start winning games, you get new coaches, then you start to draft the correct way.

“It’s amazing to be able to see and witness a lot of things that we were able to do, even during the hard times. And to see the growth in the organization and that it’s moving in the right direction,” said Williams. “There’s so many trailblazers out there. Just to know that I was one of them, a half of a percent to get this thing moving, I’m speechless.”

That internship led to her working several Chicago Sky telecasts this season. “I have five more games coming up in August and September,” said Gray-Miller, adding that she felt herself getting better with

Also, this summer Gray-Miller worked as a volunteer coach with a local middle school boys basketball program in Chicago. And, in a few weeks Gray-Miller will be getting married. “I’m just really excited,” she said. “I’m so excited for what’s next. I just don’t know for sure what that is, but I know it’s going to be something great and I’m excited for it.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

McDonald, Shipman lead former area prep players in state’s Division I

ormer prep football standouts Craig McDonald and Shawn Shipman will be playing this season at each of the state’s NCAA Division I programs.

McDonald, who starred in basketball and football at Minnehaha Academy, will play defensive back at the University of Minnesota— with three years of eligibility remaining—after stops at Iowa State University and Auburn University.

Shipman, a junior running back for the University of St. Thomas who prepped at Champlain Park, was voted preseason

1st-team All-Conference in the Pioneer Football League (PFL), after earning 2nd-team AllConference honors last season. Here are a few more former

Minnesota prep stars on the Gophers and Tommies rosters for the up-and-coming season: Offensive linemen Logan Richter (Perham), Deven Eastern (Shakopee) and Jerome Williams (Osseo); defensive back Garrison Monroe (Shakopee), linebacker Alex Elliot (Hutchinson), and wide receiver Kristen Hoskins (Alexandria); and tight end Brevyn SpanFord (St. Cloud Tech) are on the Minnesota rosters. Running back Hope Adebayo (Simley); wide receivers Terrance Kamara (Minneapolis North) and Bryce Boyd (Holy Angels); linebackers MalakiHilton Jackson (Wayzata) and David Ayeni (Anoka); defensive linemen Jordan Titus (Hutchinson), Delainey Suraju (Lakeville South), Martin Owusu (Prior Lake), and IBK Mafe (Blaine); and defensive backs Sanjay Redd (Minnehaha Academy, SMB) and Johnson Fallah (Osseo) are likewise at UST. The state is well-represented.

this year as University of Dayton head coach in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio.

But her part in Lynx history

North Side’s two Ws Tamara Moore (Minneapolis North, University of Wisconsin)

“He was the deputy commissioner at the NBA, and he was there for 12 years. That is a big legacy.”

“I’m so excited for what’s next.

I know it’s going to be something great.”

Shimmy Gray-Miller Courtesy of Twitter

“It’s amazing to be able to see and witness a lot of things that we were able to do, even during the hard times.”

Tamika Williams (now Williams-Jeter) as a player…and now as a coach Courtesy of

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments at mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

Craig McDonald Courtesy of University of Minnesota

Shawn Shipman Courtesy of University of St. Thomas