MN Spokesman-Recorder - March 14, 2024

Housing Stability Act would bar discrimination against Section 8

By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer

She also shared how her neighbors, predominantly immigrant families, would watch over her while her mother went to work and allowed her to freely run in and out of their homes as she was seen as family. Flanagan’s family could afford the apartment with the help of a Section 8 voucher.

“I share this with you because I want to remind you

receive housing vouchers in the next biennium, emphasizing the importance of the bill and the need to ensure that these families would find a home with their vouchers.

difference where she can.

Historical Capsule

Several local and state leaders gathered together in the governor’s reception room, led by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, to speak about their support of the Housing Stability Act. This bill would expand the definition of public assistance to include rental assistance, ensuring that those who use Section 8 vouchers would be classified as a protected class.

In her address, Flanagan shared a photo of herself depicting life in her family’s St. Louis Park apartment. She recounted the memories she had growing up in what she described as one of the “most community-centered spaces” that she’s lived in.

“Allowing landlords to deny applicants solely because they have rental assistance limits housing choice, it concentrates poverty.”

why this matters,” she said. “We are overdue to make right on these wrongs, and that starts today. So I am proud to be here today along with this powerful group of leaders that say we are ready to work together to get this done.”

Lt. Gov. Flanagan shared that over 5,000 families would

According to Flanagan, the Housing Stability Act was written to address the 2010 Minnesota Court of Appeals decision that stated Section 8 vouchers do not fall under the protection of state law as public assistance.

Terri Smith, the director of the Metropolitan Council Housing and Redevelopment Authority, addressed the audience of journalists and stakeholders in the room to speak about her role as a public servant to ensure she can make a

Smith referenced a statistic that found 54 percent of new voucher holders could use rental assistance to afford their new home. The remaining 46 percent of the people returned to the agency looking for a landlord who would accept their voucher. She described this issue as a common occurrence that leads to further issues for families down the road.

“Allowing landlords to deny applicants solely because they have rental assistance limits housing choice, it concentrates poverty, it limits wealth building and social mobility, and it disproportionately impacts people of color,” Smith said.

Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner

Rebecca Lucero and Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho attended the press conference to support the Housing Stability Act, given their direct involvement in the work that assists families and works to bar discrimination

■ See STABILITY ACT on page 5

Minneapolis mayor torpedoes pay raise for rideshare drivers

Jiahong Pan

Texas court ruling reflects widespread racism in schools

By Kenjus T. Watson

Texas judge ruled on Feb. 22, 2024, that the Barbers Hill School District didn’t violate the law when it punished Darryl George, a Black student, for wearing his hair in long locs.

The Texas law in question—the CROWN Act—prohibits dis-

crimination against hairstyles in schools and workplaces.

The school district argued— and Judge Chap B. Cain III agreed—that the law doesn’t mention anything about hair length. In the following Q&A, Kenjus Watson, an education professor at American University who studies the psychological

■ See HAIR on page 5

■

Lt.

Gov. Peggy Flanagan, second from right in the front row, joined legislators, state leaders and stakeholders to champion the Housing Stability Act. Photos by Chris Juhn

The Twin Cities’ future of Uber and Lyft is still uncertain.

Photo by H. Jiahong Pan

Women’s History Month

Celebrate inspiring Black women

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder celebrates Women’s History Month by profiling Black women leaders from all walks of life who are making an impact in their communities. All are deserving of recognition and praise. The MSR will continue to profile women leaders throughout the month of March.

Artika Tyner empowers kids through culturally relevant books

By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor

r. Artika Tyner’s love of teaching dates back well into her childhood.

The fifth generation Rondo native remembers lining up her Barbie dolls in her family home and teaching them how to read and write. As a teenager, Tyner would facilitate STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workshops and classes for young people at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Tyner would go on to pursue her passion for education at Hamline University, where she would study to become an English teacher. Upon realizing the systemic issues that caused many Black children to struggle academically, she decided to pursue a career in law.

“I knew that if I could understand the language of the law and become well-versed in the law, that’s where the real power was,” she stated.

She shared how the decision to pivot toward law was influenced by the moment she heard about the correlation between illiteracy and incarceration. Some studies have shown that 60 to 80 percent of individuals behind bars are illiterate depending on their location and juvenile status.

Tyner had gone on to become a civil rights attorney and founded the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice at St. Thomas Law School where she also worked for 17 years.

Launching an organization and pursuing a solution

While she furthered her efforts to craft policy and influence change through academia, Tyner continued to have a vested interest in young people and their education. During a passionate conversation with friends on the issues plaguing young people, she and her peers decided that there was an opportunity for them to launch a nonprofit organization to help address these challenges.

Tyner founded the Planting People Growing Justice Institute in 2014 to help increase the literacy rates for children of color by providing them with culturally relevant books to read. Following her conversation with friends, she restructured the organization into a nonprofit with the same goal.

Their efforts were recognized nationally by entities such as the Walmart Foundation, which helped validate their efforts and reaffirm that they were headed in the right direction. To date, the nonprofit has donated over 24,000 books to children.

Addressing disparities in the Twin Cities

Minnesota is often cited as one of the leading states when it comes to racial disparities between white and Black residents, especially in the area

of education. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, 31 percent of Black students are at or exceed the grade level standards in reading. White students in comparison are at 58 percent.

Tyner believes that the numbers point to a reality of two experiences playing out in real time. “It’s a tale of two cities when it comes to looking at data around quality of life,” she said.

“We know that Minnesota has one of the best educational systems, but it’s not experienced for those who are low-income and for those who come from diverse backgrounds, in particular the African American community.”

Tyner believes that al-

We know that Minnesota has one of the best educational systems, but it’s not experienced for those who are low-income and for those who come from diverse backgrounds, in particular the African American community.

though some might see this gap as a challenge, she sees it as an opportunity to create change. She shared how she utilizes Department of Education data to find schools struggling with early learning and literacy and help create a culture that fosters a love of reading and learning outside of the classroom.

“Am I going to wait for somebody else to figure that out? Absolutely not,” she stated. “I’m working with privatepublic partnerships, whatever it takes to ensure our babies are uplifted, protected and empowered on their educational journey.”

Phyllis Sloan is a Northside guiding light She has led La Crèche Early Childhood Center since 1997

By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer

orty years of service in a field that one is passionate about is typically a path to excellence. Phyllis Sloan has been an example of this by the impact that she has had on children and families and by bringing a Northside cornerstone in early childhood education back from the brink of closure.

Her interest in child care began in Chicago while attending North Park University studying pre-law. “It just kind of felt…like it [law] wasn’t capturing any passion,” she says. But an off-campus job at an early childhood center did. “I loved it,” she says. “I loved the kids, the planning for the children, watching them discover their first areas of interest [and] connecting with the parents.”

Inspiring through cultural representation

Tyner aims to teach resiliency and cultivate power and a cultural understanding through the works she supports with Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore. She herself has authored dozens of books that cover topics around history, science and ancestry.

“When I think about what we’ve been able to do, to really radically transform the publishing industry where you’re more likely to see a black dog or black bear on the cover of a book than a Black boy or Black girl,” she said.

When Tyner first attempted to go the traditional publishing route she was told that Black people don’t read, and if they did they didn’t have the disposable income to purchase those books.

Tyner believed that the Black purchasing power, set to reach roughly $2 trillion within the decade, easily debunked the belief that Black people did not have the disposable income to purchase books written by Black authors, but that it was imperative for there to be the demand. When launching her organization she made the commitment to train 100 Black authors within the next 10 years.

They’ve already been able to train 66 authors since that time. The next step for Tyner and her organization is to increase the number of Black illustrators in the industry to help create more work.

She’s received distribution partnership from Lerner Publishing, which aims to scale their releases and place their titles in independent bookstores, libraries, and schools around the country. Tyner was also selected as a judge’s choice honoree for the HyVee Opportunity Summit, motivating her to seek more retail partnerships.

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

She switched her major to elementary education and English literature with an early childhood sequence. At the time, the school didn’t offer an early education major.

Sloan moved from her birthplace of Des Moines, Iowa when she was five. She claims Minneapolis as her home. “I am a graduate of North Community High School, bicentennial class of ‘76,” she says.

Though the North Side is often cast in a bad light by the media, “From the life experience that I have, it has always been good people, caring people, hard-working people…living the best life that they can.”

She started at La Crèche Early Childhood Center on February 10, 1997, with an already established career. She worked at Northstar as a classroom teacher, at Phyllis Wheatley’s Mary T. Welcome Child Development Center as a director, and as interim executive director at Phyllis Wheatley for a year before going to Minneapolis Way to Grow as associate director.

Sloan says La Crèche is one of the few early childhood cornerstones in North Minneapolis. She credits this to its forward-thinking founder Ruby Hughes, who recognized the need for a space in the community where children could grow and thrive. After the sudden death of the founder, Sloan was charged with reviving the center.

Near the time of Hughes’ death, an infant had been shaken to death, allegedly by a parent’s boyfriend, and a teacher’s child was killed when he stuck his head out of a moving Minneapolis public school bus. “What I and the board were concerned about were the families that left the center because they felt there was a gray cloud over La Crèche,” she says.

Between the two sites, La Crèche had a capacity for 132 children. When Sloan came as executive director, they had

approximately 25. She and the board initiated a series of steps to reassure parents, beginning with a call to the community in the form of a letter published in the MSR. “[We were] saying that we’re here, we’re open. This space is for the children within our community. We love you, [and] we want you to return.”

Community leaders devastated by Hughes sudden death were allowed a chance to grieve and heal. “So, people like Elder Atum [Azzahir] and Cora McCorvey, [we] let them privately come through the space and deal with their own grief issues as well as to bless the space for the children.”

They went to councilperson Jackie Cherryholmes asking if they could rename the frontage road that La Crèche sits on for Hughes. Community leaders in child care like Ella Mahmoud, Sharon Henry-Blythe, Sloan and others looked to Hughes for guidance, many coming to the early childhood field through connections with Hughes.

Certainly the schools get recognized, but early childhood often doesn’t.

Though renaming the street wasn’t something Hughes would have asked for, “This is more about…acknowledging within the community that we have elders who have gone on to be ancestors of ours who did a great job, and we’re standing on their shoulders,” Sloan says. “Many of the institutions that may still exist within our community are because of their hard strategic work.”

It took a law to create Ruby Hughes Boulevard because frontage roads are state alleys,

not city streets. Hughes’ family was able to return for the renaming ceremony.

Currently, Sloan is on boards of directors in the community gathering or sharing information helpful to children and families. She tries to identify resources to support families through trying times. She has gone to court with parents and ensured that children get resources like screening and assessment, eyeglasses, or developmental support.

As a result of her work, she has adults who attended La Crèche as children now returning with their own children, but she doesn’t feel that she needs recognition. “I’ve got some really hardworking, talented, committed teaching staff,” she says. “Certainly, the schools get recognized, but early childhood often doesn’t,” she says.

With the current workforce, it is hard to find the right people, especially considering that Covid hit the childcare field harder than most. “It would be great to retire from this field knowing that it’s so much better than when I came into the field, but we still have so much work to do.”

It is essential to acknowledge how important early childhood teachers are to the fabric of the community by offering professional development opportunities with wages and benefits that adequately compensate them for the work they do. Also, “giving classroom teachers their credit, their kudos, for knowing the children, learning them the way that someone needs to in order to know if everything is alright,” Sloan says.

“The family can feel as though the beauty of their child is going to shine, perhaps even if they had not had the best educational experience themselves.”

Vickie Evans-Nash welcomes reader responses to vnash@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Artika Tyner

Photo by Chris Juhn

Phyllis Sloan interacts with La Creche Preschoolers.

Photo By Chris Juhn

Health March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

What a perfect time to heighten our understanding of colorectal cancer

By Sharon Luster Dykes, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Guest Contributor

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common diagnosed cancer as well as the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and in Minnesota. CRC is preventable.

Signs and symptoms of CRC include change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stools lasting several days); incomplete emptying; rectal bleeding or blood within the stool (bright red blood or maroon or dark stool); abdominal cramping or pain; weakness or fatigue (anemia); and weight loss.

CRC develops slowly over the course of years; 95 percent

begin as precancerous polyps inside the colon or rectum. Polyps can grow from the inside of the colon or rectal wall, through the layers of the colon, and eventually to nearby lymph nodes and other organs.

abdomen and pelvis. Overall five-year survival is excellent for early CRC (90 percent for Stage 1, 80 percent for Stage 2, 70 percent for Stage 3, and 14 percent for Stage 4).

Risk factors include:

1) age (risk increases with age, as 90 percent of CRC diagnosed among people 50 years or older);

one

CRC is staged based on the TNM classification: T (depth of tumor penetration through the colon wall), N (lymph node involvement), and M (metastasis or distant spread of cancer outside of the colon).

CRC diagnosis is made by biopsy, and its subsequent staging is determined after obtaining CT scan of the chest,

2) male gender (CRC incidence is greater for men than women);

3) personal history of colon polyps or cancer;

4) family history of colon cancer and genetic syndromes (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis or Lynch Syndrome); and

5) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

Obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and diet high in red and processed meats have also been

linked to CRC risk.

Importance of screening

There is strong evidence that the most effective prevention of CRC in average risk individuals is screening. Historically, guidelines have recommended screening begin at age 50 in the average risk population.

For unknown reasons, CRC incidence and mortality have been increasing in individuals aged 20-49, especially in the African American population. Consequently, new guidance recommends CRC screening in all average-risk individuals at age 45.

It is important to note that African Americans are more likely to die from CRC when compared to other races/ethnicities. In Minnesota, incidence and mortality are highest for American Indians (63 percent), followed by African Americans (40 percent), then Hispanics and Caucasians

(39 percent each).

Screening guidelines for the average risk population have been published by several organizations with these recommendations: Start at age 45; stop at age 75; individualize at ages 76-85. Criteria for screening in the older age group is individualized based on patient preference, life expectancy, overall health and prior screening history.

For those at increased or high risk, referring to the factors discussed above, screening guidelines generally recommend:

1. If family history of CRC, begin screening at age 45 or 10 years earlier than family member diagnosed with CRC.

2. If family history of familial or genetic syndrome, begin screening in teenage years or early 20s, with surveillance colonoscopy recommended every two years after initial examination.

3. If polyps are found on initial colonoscopy, surveillance examination should be scheduled in one, three or five years depending on size, type and number of polyps.

4. If you have a personal history of IBD, initial colonoscopy is recommended eight years after IBD diagnosis with surveillance examination every one to two years, depending on risk factors and findings on prior colonoscopy.

5. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

Screening tests are divided into two types:

1. Direct visualization

• Colonoscopy every 10 years

• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*

2. Stool tests*

• Fecal immunohistochemical test (FIT) yearly

• Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) yearly

• Multi-target stool DNA test (Cologuard) every 3 years

Any abnormal test should be followed with colonoscopy.

If you have any questions regarding your risk of CRC, please talk with a healthcare provider such as myself to discuss your best screening option. Please remember and always keep in mind, the best screening test is the one that gets done.

Sharon Luster Dykes, MD, FACS, FASCRS is a dual board certified colon and rectal surgeon,who received her Bachelor’s Degree as well as her medical degree from Brown University in Providence, RI, in 1988 and 1991, respectively. She has practiced colon and rectal surgery in the Twin Cities of Minnesota since 2003.

In 2010 she launched her solo, independent surgical practice and serves as CEO of Minnesota Colon and Rectal Surgical Specialists.

It’s 2024, and being online is a normal part of childhood. Kids can access everything from schoolwork to games with friends and family movie night, and there are many digital tools to help our kids learn and grow.

Unfortunately, there are also safety risks that come with a digital presence. As parents, we can prepare to guide our children as they learn how to navigate this digital world responsibly.

From the beginning, introduce online activity as a shared interaction. In the same way you’d know what book your child picked up at the library, normalize the fact that your child’s online presence isn’t private. Keeping computers in shared spaces can make monitoring activity easier.

Draft a family online safety agreement that you update every six months. You can find a template for younger kids and one for teens from the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) to get started.

Common Sense Media has an online safety portal that’s an excellent place to start if you need an internet safety refresher. These resources will give you kid-appropriate language to use when broaching these topics.

Set up parental controls

If your kids have access to their own devices or ac-

counts on shared systems, you should always set up parental controls. On most devices, these controls allow you to set screentime limits, restrict content by age, require approval for installing new apps or making purchases, and send usage statistics to your parental account.

You can find step-by-step guides for Apple products, Microsoft accounts, and Windows that will guide you through the process. Make sure your kids know you’ve set these controls and see you check their activity regularly.

However, it’s essential to understand what parental controls do and do not affect. Most device controls won’t apply to every installed program or app, so investigating controls for specific apps is key. Don’t overlook services

like wireless routers and smart home systems that might need controls, too. This comprehensive list can point you to parental control guides for a wide range of online interfaces in these categories:

• social media

• browsers

• email

• cable and wireless providers

• smart home services

• streaming media

• gaming

Install a standalone parental control app

Many parents agree that the system-based parental controls don’t provide enough coverage and information for their peace of mind. For one thing, you have to continuously update the controls when you install a new app or expand your services. Stand-

alone parental control apps are one way to increase your access to your child’s devices and online behavior.

Some of the best parental control apps require a paid subscription, but most parents say peace of mind is worth the cost. These apps let you track your child’s online presence in real time, follow their location, get alerts for your set preferences, and even remotely restrict their access. The best app for your family will likely change over time as your kids grow and have more responsibilities and independence.

Spend time online as a family Children learn how to navigate new situations through observation and trial and error. Just as we model how to confront a tough interaction with a friend or handle an unex-

pected emergency at the park, we must model online safety best practices.

Our kids rarely see us interact with online resources beyond streaming services for family movie night, so setting up times to be online together is crucial. Here are a few interactions that can help model online safety for your kids. Keep these scenarios casual rather than presenting them as instructions.

• Choose to search for an interesting video on YouTube. Discuss the ads as they pop up (“Why am I seeing this ad? What happens if I click on it?”) and decide together how to choose your next video. Explain why you don’t like some of the suggested videos and how you’ll block those channels.

• Casually mention why you will or won’t post the latest family photos on social media. Start a dialogue about your digital presence and how you feel about things existing online forever.

• Browse sites like Common Sense Media to determine if family movie night suggestions are a good fit. Normalize questioning your online choices instead of going with the crowd.

Letting your kids spend time online can be scary, but if you make online safety an intentional part of your parenting plan from the start, you can support healthy and secure digital behavior.

MSR + Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) share a mission of protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of ALL Minnesotans. Our shared vision for health equity in Minnesota, where ALL communities are thriving and ALL people have what they need to be healthy is the foundation of our partnership to bring readers our feature, Parenting Today. Good health starts with family! To view our weekly collection of stories, go to our website or scan the code.

• Play an online game together and model proper game etiquette. If there’s a chat feature, talk about why you don’t want to interact with strangers online and how you’ll block the conversations. Model that it’s okay to exit the game early if other players are bothering you.

Parenting

Courtesy photo

Business Women’s History Month

JPMorgan Chase’s Renée Horne talks career, finances and achieving success

Women’s History Month is a time to come together to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions of women throughout the years. For this Women’s History Month, we spoke with Renée Horne, chief marketing & experience officer at Chase Auto, based in Dallas-Fort Worth, to discuss her career journey, share tips on taking charge of your finances, and other recommendations for achieving success.

What has been key to your success throughout your career?

I think being curious and a bit adventurous has been a big part of my success. I’ve always had a passion for learning and a willingness to take on new assignments across functional domains and industries—including in finance, product, digital, marketing and communications.

The combination of the functional rotations and continuous education beyond graduate school made me more versatile and able to take on complex challenges. I believe this is a significant part of what prepared me for joining JPMorgan Chase in 2021. And while self-initiative has always been at the core, I benefited greatly from the support of mentors and sponsors along the way. You need both to be successful and grow.

Looking back, what is one thing you

wish you knew when you were first starting out in your career?

One thing I wish I knew in the early phases of my career was to place equal, if not greater, focus on proactively building relationships. It’s easy to become fixated on meeting business goals and objectives. If I could do things over, I would have been more intentional about nurturing relationships more deeply at the onset.

After all, relationships are what matters most. Knowing that, I would also have given myself permission to

have more laughs and more fun. What are some tips for women to take charge of their careers and finances?

Taking charge of your career means you should unapologetically embrace the vision you have for yourself and your professional future. This includes being intentional about your own life plan, networking, and seeking out trusted advisors and mentors who can help you grow. Always ask for feedback; I view feedback as a gift.

As women, we are challenged with overcoming societal norms of what is expected of us. Sometimes, gender roles work differently from the norm and you may find yourself as the breadwinner of the family or the primary source of income. Be ok with that. Manage it well and protect your assets by saving for an emergency, having a will, investing in an estate plan, etc. As women, we have to think about and engage in these aspects and not defer to someone else to do it for us.

Taking charge of your career also means taking charge of your finances. Seek knowledge and support to effectively manage your income through budgeting, saving, and investing—for short and long term. There was a lot I did not know about managing finances until I entered the workforce.

As women, we are challenged with overcoming societal norms of what is expected of us.

My first manager sat me down and explained to me the importance of investing in a 401K retirement savings

account and the significance of the company match. This was the beginning of my journey to taking charge of my finances.

How has your local community shaped you and what are your recommendations to others for achieving success?

My community has been a lifelong collective network including my alma mater of Mizzou athletics, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and other non-profit associations, which I have had the pleasure to serve. This collective community has been a key component of shaping my experiences, honing my leadership skills, and building a lifelong network of friendships and support.

And through it all, my mother has been my biggest influence and cheerleader. She instilled in me her values and ambitions to want to do more to reach my full God-given potential while reminding me to give back to my roots and community.

For more information about JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move, scan the code or visit www.jpmorganchase.com/impact/people/women-on-the-move.

Community

specifically

a Call for Contractors;

STABILITY ACT

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against individuals.

Ho stated that vouchers are the best tool to provide individuals with long-term rental assistance, and landlords who accept the vouchers would only stand to gain from the situation.

“These owners know that accepting housing vouchers is good insurance. That rent will be paid. It’s a win-win. The renter has stability in their housing, and the owner receives a guaranteed payment,” Ho said.

Commissioner Lucero said that preventative measures would be a guiding principle in their approach when asked what more could be done to prevent landlords from discriminating against applicants

HAIR

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and social effects of racism, discusses how the decision upholds a long-standing legacy of cultural assimilation.

What message has the court just sent?

I’d argue it’s a harsh reminder that the natural appearance, cultural expressions and freedom of Black children are incompatible with the objectives and ideals of the school system in the U.S. Those objectives and ideals were created to establish social order, enforce conformity, demand cultural assimilation, and suppress marginalized groups.

The court decision in Texas— and the no-long-hair policy in the Barbers Hill Independent School District—might seem outdated, misinformed or at

RIDESHARE

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only took home 27 percent of that after expenses and mileage, $14.48 per hour. In 2022, the Minneapolis minimum wage for large businesses was $14.25 per hour until June 30, and $15 per hour on July 1 and after.

Some drivers say they take home even less. “We get only 30 percent from [what the customer pays]. And that’s 30 percent we get…to pay the bills and for the gas and maintenance of the car. Uber uses us as slaves,” said rideshare driver Ahmed Ahmed.

Last session, state legislators passed a bill requiring rideshare drivers to be compensated $1.45 per mile and 34 cents per minute if a trip started in the Twin Cities. Gov. Tim Walz vetoed the bill, instead convening a committee of rideshare drivers and industry representatives to devise recommendations for a bill. The committee did not make a recommendation, partly because they did not have the Department of Labor report published on Friday.

So the city took matters into its own hands. Councilmembers conducted a study to determine what fair compensation looked like. They passed an ordinance last August mandating rideshare drivers get paid $1.40 per mile plus 51 cents per minute, with a $5 minimum fare.

That ordinance was vetoed by the mayor and did not survive a vote to override. After the city auditor devised models on how fair compensation should look, council members tried again this

with rental assistance.

“Our goal is, first and foremost, to always educate,” she said. “We want to prevent discrimination from happening in the first place and work with the many landlords out there that are already doing it well and to support other landlords who could be part of that process and story.”

Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (DFL64A) authored the House bill and spoke to the historic investments made in housing in last year’s omnibus bill. Vang Her stated that there was $124 million invested in rental assistance programs, and the Housing Stability Act would

ensure those dollars would be put to good use.

“To ensure that the investment we’ve made in the last year is impactful, we must clarify that property owners and management companies cannot refuse to rent to someone because they receive and use public assistance to pay for their rent,” Her said.

Senator Clare Oumou Ver-

“Property owners and management companies cannot refuse to rent to someone because they receive and use public assistance to pay for their rent.”

beten (DFL-66), who authored the companion bill in the Minnesota Senate, also took the podium to highlight the bill’s importance. She described how it would help prevent other forms of discrimination.

“I think it’s important for us to come back and clarify this because it’s also a proxy for other forms of discrimination. That’s what makes me so angry about this is that it’s [a] proxy for discrimination against people of color. It’s a proxy for discrimination against people with disabilities,” she said.

St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed was also in attendance at the press conference to show her support for the bill and share her story of how, like Flanagan, a Section 8 voucher made it possible for her family to live in St. Louis Park.

Mohamed shared data from the Housing Justice Center and Minnesota Housing Part-

nership that show 44 percent of Minnesotans benefiting from housing vouchers are Black or African American. According to Mohamed, the data illustrated that the denial of vouchers perpetuates issues that hinder economic security and upward mobility.

She also touted her city’s support of 157 public housing units and providing rental assistance to over 500 households annually, but stated that this work could not be done in a vacuum.

“While we are proud of our actions to expand housing options in St. Louis Park, affordable housing is a statewide issue and cannot be solved by one community alone. It is time for a statewide commitment to prohibiting income discrimination,” she said.

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

odds with best practices for culturally responsive education. But as I and other researchers have found, strict monitoring and other antiBlack practices—such as those regarding Black children’s hair, bodies, language, clothing and even their presence—are widespread in America’s schools.

What options do Black students have?

Since education is compulsory for minors, the only options for Black families are to find schools that attempt to prioritize their overall wellbeing by being supportive of their children’s hairstyle and other cultural values, or to educate their children at home, as many Black families do now.

Finding a culturally supportive school can be a challenge. Despite efforts from Black families, educators, leaders and allies to create more inclusive environments in schools, anti-

year. The ordinance passed on March 8 on a 9-4 vote.

Councilmember Latrisha Vetaw, one of four councilmembers who voted against the ordinance last Thursday, believed drivers were already making Minneapolis minimum wage based on what she heard from drivers who live in her ward.

“I have conversations with [rideshare drivers] in my ward. Folks have shown me receipts from the apps. I have not seen anyone show me that they’ve made less than $15 an hour,” said Vetaw, adding she spoke with a driver who made $45,000, $6,000 of which is taxable income, from driving rideshare last year.

Black racism is pervasive in educational settings—from pre-K through higher education.

Staying in a school system that is hostile to Black cultural expression can threaten children’s well-being. Extensive research has found that racial microaggressions—everyday acts of racism— can adversely affect the mental and physical health of Black people.

Staying in a school system that is hostile to Black cultural expression can threaten children’s well-being.

rates of disease and overall shorter life expectancy among Black people in the U.S. Finding a supportive school can be an even more urgent matter of life and death. Researchers have found that enduring everyday racism in school is also a key factor behind rising suicide rates for Black youth.

What should school leaders consider?

If educational leaders want to see Black students flourish, I believe they should dismantle racist policies that require order, conformity and assimilation. They should replace these with schoolwide micro-affirmative practices that validate Black student cultural expressions, identities, resilience and brilliance. They can also prioritize mental and emotional health and wellness.

To move toward a new educational system that truly serves all students, I argue

that it is crucial to listen to Black families and students in the development of school policies, curriculum and instruction. Doing so can help place Black families’ current experiences within the broader context of the ongoing struggle against discrimination and unjust legal decisions, such as the one against Darryl George.

Kenjus T. Watson is an assistant professor of urban education at American University.

This article is republished with permission from The Conversation.

My own research has found that it can affect the biological health of Black young people. The hormones the body releases under stressful racial events can damage the DNA of Black students. Over time, this can contribute to higher

operations or only offer luxury services in Minneapolis. This could cause great harm to those who depend on [Uber and Lyft] for transportation,” he said.

Drivers and some councilmembers have called Uber and Lyft threats to leave a bluff, saying they didn’t leave Seattle or New York when they threatened to do so.

“Rideshare companies tend to use these tactics saying that they will leave cities when residents are pushing for fair wages. Our drivers deserve to be paid fairly,” added Chavez.

Next steps

“Uber uses us as slaves.”

Why do Uber and Lyft want to leave?

Uber and Lyft have threatened to leave Minneapolis if the minimum compensation ordinance passes. Both companies say city councilmembers failed to work with them to devise a fair minimum wage standard.

“We support a minimum earnings standard for drivers, but it must be done in a way that allows the service to sustainably and affordably operate for riders,” said Lyft spokesperson CJ Macklin. Lyft says they pledged to dedicate 70 percent of fare revenue towards the income of drivers, while Uber says they support legislation that guarantees drivers $35 per hour.

Frey echoed those concerns in a letter he wrote explaining his veto on March 8. “I am deeply concerned that if this ordinance becomes law, [they] will cease

Mayor Frey has called for a special city council meeting for members to attempt to override his veto on March 14. Though the ordinance passed 9-4, a veto-proof majority, it remains to be seen if they can hold that majority.

The fate of the ordinance may rest with Councilmember Andrea Jenkins. Though she has been a swing vote on issues in the past and has generally aligned with the mayor on issues, she voted to pass and override the veto of the minimum compensation ordinance the last time around. It’s unclear if the report released by DLI last Friday will affect how she votes, as she hadn’t seen it when the MSR contacted her about it this past weekend.

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

Lt. Governor Flanagan showcases a photo of herself at a time when her family lived in a Section 8 subsidized apartment.

By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor

Born and raised in South Minneapolis, Daren Hill’s journey as an artist was an organic one. He recalled memories of exploring his grandfather’s dark room, an activity that would get him in deep trouble but served as a touchpoint where he could trace back his own love for photography.

He wouldn’t realize that art was his calling until moving to New York City in 2006, where he fell in love with the graffiti art scene. Hill had connected with a creative director from Source Magazine that would later lead to an opportunity for him to become a contributing writer and cover artist.

Hill would return to Minneapolis nearly a decade later to attend the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and pursue his own artistic impulses. Roughly two years later, his great uncle would bring him all of his grandfather’s old photos to sift through and organize.

While Hill’s grandfather had passed away in 1998, digging through his photos would allow him to repay that spark of inspiration that led Hill to his purpose as an artist.

with the idea that would eventually become his exhibit titled, “The Bond Between Us.”

Hill’s exhibit celebrates the bond between the works of his grandfather Forest Hill and his father Gregory that tie three generations of artists. The exhibit opened last year in April, and although it was scheduled to run until this spring, it recently received an extension through the summer.

“I kind of approached it from a lens like I was like a curator,” Hill said about his approach. “I think it brought me closer to my grandfather in a way. I al-

The thread that helps bond them

Seth Goodspeed, a Hennepin History Museum employee at the time, offered Hill access to their scanners to help preserve his grandfather’s work. Through this archival process, Hill came up with the idea to exhibit the photos he had discovered in his family’s collection. It was then he came up

most feel like he was kind of reaching out and pushing me.”

In his process to preserve the photos, Hill discovered his grandfather had snapped photos of Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis and began to understand the scope of his work. This led him to interview some of his aunts and uncles to learn more about his grandfather and his career as a photogra-

pher for several decades.

The project also allowed Hill to examine the characteristics of both his grandfather and father, who he described as men of very few words. Through this journey he remembered how his father took him to his first art museum and how Prince had gifted him his first art set as a child due to his stepmother working for him.

Artistic style and messaging

Much of Hill’s work is influenced by street art with a mixture of fine art. In pursuing an entrepreneurial degree, he had been focused on the advertising and marketing utilizations of art, but had decided to focus on developing his craft when he began to attend MCAD.

He described his work as a digital college where he takes one image and then superimposes another image on top of it once it’s scanned. Hill’s fascination with textures also shows in his artwork where he’s been able to incorporate physical materials into his creations. One of his pieces includes ripped prop money to symbolize his rejection of any notion of putting profit over artistic integrity.

“A lot of my art explores the commodification of culture and the fact that society has this want to commodify culture,” he said.

A series of 0s and 1s can be seen through Hill’s work to symbolize binary code. He stated that this is in reference to the coded knowledge and experience people have passed down to them by their ancestors embedded in their DNA. Other pieces depict individuals with crowns over their

“I think it brought me closer to my grandfather in a way. I almost feel like he was kind of reaching out and pushing me.”

tributions of Black and brown people.

Highlighting his family’s works

heads or the word “crown” spelled out next to them. According to Hill, this is to showcase their value as people and celebrate and uplift the con-

Hill’s exhibit is the first time both his grandfather and father have been able to have their works shown in a gallery or museum space. Though Hill’s grandfather had operated out of a studio, he never worked professionally as a photographer. Rather, he al-

ways had a camera in his hand and was able to capture photos in his travels.

It wasn’t until Hill went through this collection of photographs that he would discover that his grandfather had traveled to New York City. Part of the exhibit mixes photographs taken by Hill with the work of both his father and grandfather to blend their artistic approach.

“I got a photograph that he took in New York, so we’re kind of walking through this time and space differently, but also like exploring some of these subjects the same way,” Hill said.

The exhibit was also an imsportant one for Hill’s extended family to attend and participate in and experience the work of an influential figure in their lives.

“We have a scrapbook where I allowed them to kind of share their thoughts about my grandfather and what he did, and that was also important for me because as much as it’s like my show, it’s all of our work,” he said.

The Bond Between Us is on view at the Hennepin History Museum, which is open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Obituary

Charles Henry “Chuck” Puckett

Sunrise, October 15, 1940 – Sunset, February 28, 2024

Cas Honeywell and the Minneapolis Public School District.

Mr. Puckett leaves behind six children, 12 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, in addition to four remaining siblings: Robert (Bob) Puckett, Jasper (JC) Puckett, Edward (Ed) Puckett, and Janice Moore.

The Puckett Family will celebrate the life of Mr. Puckett on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Estes Funeral Chapel located at 2201 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55411. Visitation and viewing will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and the homegoing services will start promptly at 3 p.m. In honor of his favorite color yellow, the family welcomes attendees to incorporate the color in their attire if possible.

Mr. Puckett will be laid to rest at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 10 a.m. Extended family and friends are welcome to join.

Please send any cards and flowers to the Puckett Family c/o Estes Funeral Chapel.

Daren Hill, an interdisciplinary artist, stands in front of his artwork in his exhibit, “The Bond

at the Hennepin History Museum. Photo by Abdi Mohamed

The exhibit predominantly showcases the work of Forest Hill, Daren Hill’s grandfather, whose work spanned several decades.

The exhibit features digital collage images created by Daren Hill which are superimposed onto his grandfather’s original photographs.

Saving news media needs more than benevolent billionaires

By Rodney Benson and Victor Pickard

For the journalism industry, 2024 is off to a brutal start.

Most spectacularly, the Los Angeles Times recently slashed more than 20 percent of its newsroom.

Though trouble had long been brewing, the layoffs were particularly disheartening because many employees and readers hoped the Times’ billionaire owner, Patrick SoonShiong, would stay the course in good times and bad—that he would be a steward less interested in turning a profit and more concerned with ensuring the storied publication could serve the public.

According to the LA Times, Soon-Shiong explained that the cuts were necessary because the paper “could no longer lose $30 million to $40 million a year.”

As one X user pointed out, Soon-Shiong could weather $40 million in annual losses for decades and still remain a billionaire. You could say the same of another billionaire owner, The Washington Post’s Jeff Bezos, who eliminated hundreds of jobs in 2023 after making a long stretch of steady investments.

Of course, it helps if your owner has deep pockets and is satisfied with breaking even or earning modest profits—a far cry from the slash-and-burn profit-harvesting of the two largest newspaper owners: the hedge fund Alden Global Capital and the publicly traded Gannett.

Yet, as we’ve previously argued, relying on the benevolence of billionaire owners isn’t

a viable long-term solution to journalism’s crises. In what we call the “oligarchy media model,” it often creates distinct hazards for democracy. The recent layoffs simply reinforce these concerns.

Systemic market failure

This carnage is part of a longer story: Ongoing research on news deserts shows that the U.S. has lost almost one-third of its newspapers and nearly two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005.

It’s become clear that this downturn isn’t temporary. Rather, it’s a systemic market failure with no signs of reversal.

As print advertising continues to decline, Meta’s and Google’s dominance over digital advertising has deprived news publishers of a major online revenue source.

When quality journalism disappears, it intensifies a host

of problems—from rising corruption to decreasing civic engagement to greater polarization.

The way forward

While the market dynamics for news media are only getting worse, the civic need for quality, accessible public service journalism is greater than ever. When quality journalism disappears, it intensifies a host of problems—from rising corruption to decreasing civic engagement to greater polarization—that threaten the vitality

By Maurice J. Rhodes

The cornerstone of Black music is movement, the movement of body parts.

When you hear Black music, you can’t sit still.

The head goes to bobbing.

The feet go to stomping.

The fingers go to snapping.

All that jazz

Music is our parlance—way of speaking, talk, language.

Jazz takes it to a higher level.

A level that holds very few boundaries—sometimes resulting in physical and mental discord.

“Be Bop” was a genuine freedom of musical expression.

Chords climbed all over one

another.

Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk were perfect examples of this genre. They expressed themselves unconditionally.

Maurice J. Rhodes is a jazz enthusiast who resides in South Minneapolis.

Prostate cancer is no longer a silent killer

By Hamil R. Harris

Political provocateurs are determined to stir up controversy over Defense Secretary

“You can count on me to set a better example on this issue today and for the rest of my life.”

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com

of U.S. democracy.

That’s why we believe it’s urgently important to grow the number of outlets capable of independently resisting destructive market forces. Billionaire owners willing to release their media properties could help facilitate this process. Some of them already have.

On a smaller and far more precarious scale, U.S. journalists have founded hundreds of small nonprofits across the country over the past decade to provide crucial public affairs coverage. However, most struggle mightily to generate enough revenues to even pay themselves and a few reporters a living wage.

Donors can still play a role

The crucial next step is to ensure these civic, missiondriven forms of ownership have the necessary funding to survive and thrive. One part of this approach can be philanthropic funding.

A 2023 Media Impact Funders report pointed out that foundation funders once primarily focused on providing a bridge to an ever-elusive new business model. The thinking went that they could provide seed money until the operation was up and running and then redirect their investments elsewhere.

However, journalists are increasingly calling for longterm sustaining support as the extent of market failure has become clear. In a promising development, the Press Forward initiative recently pledged $500 million over five years for local journalism, including forprofit as well as nonprofit and public newsrooms.

Charitable giving can also make news more accessible. If donations pay the bills—as they do at The Guardian—paywalls, which limit content to subscribers who are disproportionately wealthy and white, may become unnecessary.

Public funds for local journalism

A strong, accessible media system that serves the public interest will ultimately require significant public funding.

Is it worth it? In our view, a crisis that imperils American democracy demands no less than a bold and comprehensive civic response.

Rodney Benson is a professor of media, culture and communication at New York University.

Victor Pickard is a C. Edwin Baker professor of media policy and political economy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Lloyd Austin’s failure to tell President Biden about his treatment for prostate cancer. Yet, his desire to keep the matter private—and out of the public eye—is in line with what many men, particularly men of color, have done for decades. The reluctance to share details of a medical condition is understandable, but prostate cancer is a silent killer in the Black community, and the time has come to give it a voice.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose son Dexter recently passed from prostate cancer, “I ask: How long? How long will Men of color suffer in silence and die alone? How long will too many brothers hide their plight?”

When he finally commented publicly about his condition, Austin regretted keeping silent and made a significant pledge. He said that by not initially disclosing his diagnosis, he “missed an opportunity to send a message on an important public health issue” while noting the prevalence of prostate cancer, particularly among Black men.

Encouraging all men to get screened, Austin promised,

Data from Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City shows that more than 13 percent of African American men between the ages 45 and 79 will develop prostate cancer in their lifetimes. And Black men have a 70 percent higher rate of developing prostate cancer than white men.

Black men are disproportionately not being screened for prostate cancer as early or as regularly as white men.

These figures are appalling when considering that prostate cancer is one of the most treatable forms of the disease, with the five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with it being greater than 99 percent if the cancer is detected during the early stage.

While there are numerous reasons why this disparity between Black and white men exists—decades of structural racism, environmental issues, certain comorbidities, different molecular pathways in the body of Black men—a great deal of the reason comes

down to the fact that Black men are disproportionately not being screened for prostate cancer as early or as regularly as white men.

Given his platform as Secretary of Defense, I am happy that Austin recognized his duty to be open and honest about his battle with this disease. In doing so, he now joins groups and individuals already working on spreading awareness for prostate screenings, which can act as guideposts.

For example, Mount Sinai Medical Center recently unveiled the Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, which will visit New York City neighborhoods where men could be at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

The mobile home-sized bus is named after the African American philanthropist and venture capitalist who donated almost $4 million to launch the program.

Thankfully, there are individuals like Smith and now Austin who use their platforms to spread awareness of this deadly—yet very treatable—form of cancer and ensure that more people don’t die needlessly.

Hamil R. Harris is an awardwinning journalist and contributing writer for the NNPA.

Whales are dying and the fossil fuel industry is lying

By Ben Jealous

Whoever would have thought fossil fuel industry front groups would make whales and other marine species a cultural wedge issue? However, thanks to a deception campaign targeting wind energy, that’s exactly where we find ourselves.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in New Jersey rescues and rehabilitates live beached animals and performs necropsies on the remains of dead ones to pinpoint their causes of death.

Sheila Dean, one of the group’s founders, describes how the rampant misinformation connecting whale deaths to sonar used in surveying the seafloor for offshore wind farms is making her job more difficult. And it is distracting people from what is really killing the whales: vessel strikes, climate change, plastic pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris.

“I’ve been doing this for 47 years. We had a lot of whale deaths in 2023, but there have been years we’ve had more. In 2013 we had a lot of whales and dolphins washing up.

Our necropsy data show a wide variety of possible causes of death, including blunt force trauma from suspected vessel strikes. If the sonar from mapping was killing marine life, our shores likely would have been littered with hundreds, if not thousands of dead and dying marine mammals.”

demanding close examination of whale’s ears to show signs of damage from sonar. But most beached whale remains are in an advanced state of decomposition, making that impossible.

Where there have been beached animals that have not been too decomposed, mostly dolphins, the MMSC and its partners have gone the extra mile and incurred great cost for CT scans and lab analysis.

The results? No evidence of auditory trauma.

Scientists have been clear. Disruptions in the whales’ feeding patterns, water salinity, and currents are likely the result of climate change. Dean points out the whales are following their food source, which is what brings them into the shipping lanes.

These groups opposing wind energy are not just screaming their lies into the wind. They are shifting public opinion.

Finding no evidence that sonar mapping for offshore wind farms is connected to the whale deaths, groups like Dean’s are being targeted as if they are part of some coverup fueled by the wind industry. Dean is clear that her organization takes no money from the wind industry.

fuels to clean energy the solution…well, it is not hard to see how this is by design.

So let us follow the money behind the rising tide of local front groups opposing offshore wind development. The organizing efforts and litigation come from organizations with benign names like the American Coalition for Ocean Protection and Save Right Whales.

Those organizations link back to dark money groups like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the Caesar Rodney Institute, and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. And those groups are funded by fossil fuel interests like ExxonMobil and the Charles Koch Foundation.

The Northeast as a region has been among the most forward-thinking when it comes to the use and development of renewable energy. If these groups are successful in blocking the development of renewable energy adoption and production in the Northeast, it does not bode well for the rest of the country. And the fossil fuel industry knows it.

So if it has not already, misleading campaigns of the fossil fuel industry could be coming to a town near you. Remember if you see a group opposing clean energy, it is usually a good idea to follow the money behind the message.

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com.

This commentary was republished with permission from The Conversation.

The frenzy that has been whipped up against offshore wind energy has thrust Dean’s organization into the storm. Anti-wind activists and the people they have duped are

Meanwhile, the real problems behind the increase in whale deaths go unaddressed. And with climate change perhaps the largest overriding problem, and our transition away from fossil

Ben Jealous is the executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Paid for

Mpls educators, families fight proposed budget cuts

By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor

A small crowd of educators and parents gathered together across the street from Lucey Laney Elementary School on Thursday afternoon to respond to the “threat of budget cuts” from Minneapolis Public Schools.

The district announced in their latest financial committee meeting on March 5 that it projects a deficit of over $95 million for the Fiscal Year 2025. To address this, they’ve proposed reallocating resources and making significant cuts that would affect classroom size and staffing.

All fifth-grade instrumental music teaching roles would be axed along with world language teachers and more.

In an email to the press, the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Education Support Professionals (MFT) described the cuts as “emotional blackmail” used against educators for years. “They’re saying, ‘Accept exploitative working conditions and below-market wages or we’ll go after the most vulnerable students,’” said Greta Callahan, president of the teachers’ chapter of the MFT.

In May of last year, both the Minnesota House and Senate passed over $2.2 billion in new spending for K-12 education over the next two years during a government surplus.

In response to a request for comment, a district representative shared that MPS is currently facing the largest budget gap in its history of at least $110 million. This figure, according to the district, does not represent the forthcoming contract settlements with the different collective bargaining units engaged with the district.

The district representative cited the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, which estimated that about 70 percent of their member districts were facing budget gaps in the next year due to the end of COVID-19 and increasing expenses. They also stated that roughly 60 percent of funds were spent on instruction with an additional 12.6 percent on instructional and pupil support services.

were settling their contracts with educators, begging them to stop the cuts and settle their contracts.

Marcia Howard, MFT vice president and an English teacher at Roosevelt High School, criticized MPS during the conference and stated that their actions did not match with their rhetoric.

“Minneapolis educators won’t stand for it anymore. If the administrators would reprioritize their spending, this district can afford to pay its educators fairly and provide the high-quality education all our students deserve.”

The statement asserts that the union has met with the district for 12 negotiation sessions and is currently in mediation with them. Their opening offer to the district was an 8.5 percent salary increase for the first year of their next contract followed by a 7.5 percent increase.

Rebecca Pera, a member of Minneapolis Families for Public Schools, has two children in MPS

schools and stood with educators on Thursday afternoon to show her support for their jobs. She described past teachers who lose their jobs due to cuts as important members of the community and in the lives of the children in school.

“In the last few years we’ve seen the district make a lot of cuts even though there’s been significant funding increases in the state legislature,” Pera said. She expressed concern that the funding wasn’t going toward the salaries of educators, social workers, nurses, deans, and any individual who makes contact with students each day.

“In the last few years we’ve seen the district make a lot of cuts even though there’s been significant funding increases in the state legislature.”

Their statement continues, “It is unreasonable for MFT to ask MPS to prioritize teacher salaries and reduced workload without recognizing the reductions and adjustments that are necessary to fulfill those priorities.”

During their committee meeting, the district also illustrated how they would reallocate 20 percent of school-generated compensatory education revenue to deal with the influx of “new-to-country” students and use a third of title I funding to fund intervention staff at those same schools.

Catina Taylor, ESP president, also addressed the media on her stance against the proposed cuts.

“We want our district to invest in our schools, invest in Minneapolis.

“I’ve been employed for over 25 years and counting, and I want to see our district grow. I want to work with our district to put the money where it belongs. Because when you’re taking it away, you’re taking it from the students,” Taylor said.

Taylor also pointed to the fact that districts surrounding MPS

“You cannot cut your way into being a world class district,” she said. “They constantly say that they are going to be broke and then at the end of the year, we find out that they got a surplus.”

In their statement against budget cuts, MFT has called out MPS for having administrative bloat and overspending with outside contractors. Howard underlined this criticism and stated that any money available at the district should be flowing toward benefiting the students of the district.

“Our students support us. The people support us. I don’t know what’s going on at the Davis Center. I don’t know what’s going on at the board. But we’re hoping that the powers that be support us and our students as well,” she said.

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

Ramadan finds greater recognition in America’s public schools

By Amaarah DeCuir

There are 3.85 million Muslims in the United States. Of that number, 1.35 million are children.

Although this may only represent a small portion of public school students nationwide—and many Muslim children attend private Islamic schools—Muslim students are a part of a 60 percent majority of students in public schools who say that religion is important in their lives.

Federal law—specifically Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964— protects all students from discrimination based on race, color or national origin. This includes students of any religion.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education reissued guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression. This gave school leaders detailed information on federal protections for students who seek to practice their religion during the school day.

These guidelines help schools prepare adequate accommodations for Muslim students yearround. The guidance specifically mentions Ramadan, stating Muslim students also have constitutional protections that permit them to pray during non-instructional time, as long as it doesn’t

disturb other students. Research shows that students have a stronger sense of belonging, have better well-being, and do better academically when they attend a school that fosters a positive environment that recognizes the diversity of the student body.

By contrast, students who experience discrimination and bias tend to suffer academically. Highquality, supportive school environments create excellent teaching and learning for all students.

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. Muslim students who fast may request to sit away from the school cafeteria to avoid the sights and smells of food.

“Educators can offer alternative lunch seating, low-intensity physical education and multiple assessment schedules to support any student who might be observing the fast.”

Alternate seating minimizes physical discomfort and supports other experiences like reading, quiet play or rest during lunchtime. Muslim students often prefer to sit in the library or a favorite classroom during their lunchtime, ideally with other Muslim students

observing the fast. Students who have not reached puberty, female students who are menstruating at the time, and students who are ill or traveling are exempt from fasting during Ramadan.

Although fasting does not prohibit studying and completing schoolwork, some fasting students may notice that they experience fatigue, headaches, and daytime dehydration when fasting. Others notice increased energy and focus and better sleep.

Muslims begin abstaining from food and drink at dawn, typically one hour before sunrise. The exact time changes with the seasons and geographic location. During Ramadan 2024, which falls in March and April, fasting students may wake up as early as 5 a.m. to eat, drink and pray.

By the end of the day, studies have shown that students may have less cognitive focus, in addition to fatigue and exhaustion.

Some Muslim students struggle with academic assessments and complicated tasks scheduled in the late afternoon during Ramadan. They may seek permission to take tests early in the school day when they are more alert and able to focus on complex tasks. Muslim students break their fast at home or the mosque at

sunset. After the meal, families may join nighttime community prayers at the local mosque for about two hours. These traditions and routines limit students’ abilities to complete typical homework assignments and afterschool activities.

Some students opt to do homework early in the morning when they are more alert, but some after-school programs like athletics and clubs are not easily postponed. Schools can support Muslim students by modifying expectations for after-school engagement during Ramadan.

As educators prepare for Ramadan, they can advance inclusive practices that offer schoolwide accommodations to minimize the need to make requests that reveal students’ religious identity. Similar

to universal design principles, educators can offer alternative lunch seating, low-intensity physical education and multiple assessment schedules to support any student who might be observing the fast.

Muslim students who have physical education classes during Ramadan may ask to avoid cardiointensive activities when fasting to avoid exhaustion and dehydration. Instead, they may opt for moderate strength training with periods of rest.

Young Muslim athletes might not perform as well as they usually do at the start of Ramadan, until their bodies get used to fasting. Older student-athletes adjust their workout schedule during Ramadan to prepare for competitions. Muslim student-athletes rely upon coaches to adapt physical

training during Ramadan.

Muslim students in higher education have long traditions of hosting annual Fast-A-Thons to invite fellow students to fast in community with them for one day in Ramadan. Dating back to 2001 at the University of Tennessee, Muslim Student Associations, known as MSAs, continue to promote Fast-A-Thons to raise awareness of Ramadan and Muslims.

Occasionally, groups fundraise for social justice causes like local and global hunger. Today, many college campus MSAs invite other students to fast for a day and host events to enjoy the sunset meal together. By my count, at least 19 U.S. public school districts were closed in 2023 for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that follows the month of Ramadan.

This now includes Watchung, New Jersey,Broward County, Florida, Hilliard, Ohio, and Stamford, Connecticut.

Eid ul Fitr this year is expected to be observed on Wednesday, April 10.

Amaarah DeCuir is a senior professorial lecturer in education at American University.

This story was republished with permission from The Conversation.

Union leaders Catina Taylor (left), Greta Callahan, and Marcia Howard stand across from Lucey Laney Elementary School at a press conference calling out MPS for their proposed budget cuts.

Photo by Chris Juhn

Students of Highland Park High School and their families stand for prayer during an afterschool iftar, marking the breaking of the fast, during Ramadan in 2023. Photo by Abdi Mohamed

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Central Minnesota Legal Services (CMLS) Minneapolis office.

Full-Time Deputy Director of Finance and Administration position in the Minneapolis office. Tasks include general accounting and administration duties, accounts payable and receivable, ensuring accurate entries in the general accounting software, program planning and budgeting, human resources, and employee benefits administration. Associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting or equivalent experience is required. Microsoft Office Suite. Salary starting $70,001+ D.O.E. Excellent Benefits, Hybrid WFH. Email cover letter, resume, and references to Hiring Committee: info@ centralmnlegal.org, E.O.E.; no calls please.

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fans have told us that they are having a wonderful time watching hoops and visiting the sites in and around downtown.

“We know how to roll out the red carpet” for players, their family members and fans, declared Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey during the Big Ten Kickoff event in January.

“Having both men’s and women’s Big Ten basketball tournaments is a big win for the city,” Meet Minneapolis Executive Director Melvin Tennant said after his organization’s annual meeting at Minneapolis Convention Center last month. Tennant is one of the key Black people who have been heavily involved in attracting bigscale sporting events to the city for over a decade. “Our hospitality industry is really going to benefit from it.”

The non-downtown area also will benefit from having the two Big Ten tour-

HBCU

Continued from page 10

Norfolk State. Alcorn State also won their first NCAA tournament game in 1980, but this was when the tourney consisted of 32 teams. It’s not better on the women’s side. After Howard, Jackson State and Cheyney made history making the mostly PWI (predominantly white institutions) field in the first NCAA tournament in 1982, only 19 other HBCUs earning NCAA bids and only three (Cheyney, 8-3, South Carolina State 1-1 and Howard, 1-7) have won at least one tournament game.

neys. Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) teamed up with the Big Ten to support Twin Cities youth in several activities, including basketball-related upgrades to two local community centers.

A celebratory event for a new upgraded scoreboard and sport technology at North Minneapolis’ Farview Rec Center is planned for this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. A new mural and hoop unveiling was held last Saturday at the MLK Rec Center in St. Paul.

It is Minnesota Food Share Month, and MNSE is partnering with HandsOn Twin Cities to provide 3,500 snack packs to local youth through the “Big Ten Gives Back” initiative. The second of this snack pack bundling event will take place at City Center in Minneapolis on Thursday, 3:30 to 5 p.m. If interested, visit the Minnesota Sports and Events website.

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

Only three Black schools have gotten a higher seed than 16th—Cheyney earned No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds in 1983, 1982 and 1984 respectively; Jackson State (No. 7 in 1982), and Howard (1982), Jackson State (1983) and South Carolina State (1983) have all gotten a No. 8 seed.

The MEAC men’s and women’s tournaments are in Norfolk, VA this week (March 13-16). The SWAC is holding its tournaments this week as well in Birmingham, AL. Both HBCU conferences’ tournament winners will receive the automatic NCAA berth.

According to the latest ESPN projections, only Jackson State (SWAC) and Norfolk State

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head coaches.

“I think there needs to be absolutely role models, and as a young person watching [us], even not just young Black men and women but kids in general, I think in order to see that it’s possible to have people of all different walks doing this,” stressed Moseley. “For she [Washington] and I to have the opportunity

(MEAC) are predicted to make the NCAA WBB field, both as No. 15 seeds, and Grambling State (SWAC) and Norfolk State (MEAC) as No. 16 seeds on the men’s side.

Calling this an annual slap or a total disrespect for Black college basketball isn’t a stretch. Wishing it eventually would go away might be a pipe dream as well.

“People are not treating HBCUs at the same level” as PWIs, noted freelance journalist Kyle J. Andrews, who covers college sports for Press Box OnLine out of Baltimore. “I think the problem isn’t necessarily with HBCUs, but I think it’s the people who continue to think that they’re second tier, which they

to coach at this level and be a role model or potentially inspire a next generation of coaches or leaders, I think it’s incredibly important.”

Added Washington, “Yeah, I hope it’s meaningful. It doesn’t matter that we’re in 2024—representation matters. Not only just as women of color, but as women. All the accomplishments of women of color in this conference, being able to step into the shoes of [retired] Coach Vivian Stringer, who’s

are not.”

Both Norfolk State basketball teams are the top seed in their respective tournaments this week: The men’s remaining seeds are North Carolina Central (2), South Carolina State (3), Howard (4), Morgan State (5), Delaware State (6), Maryland Eastern Shore (7) and Coppin State (8).

The MEAC women’s seeds after the Spartans are Howard (2), North Carolina Central (3), Coppin State (4), Maryland Eastern Shore (5), Delaware State (6), Morgan State (7), and South Carolina State (8).

Jackson State (WBB) and Grambling State (MBB) are the SWAC tournament top seeds.

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had tremendous success coaching at Iowa and coaching in this tournament.

“So definitely I want to be somebody who folks can look up to and have aspirations to do tremendous things in their own lives, whether it’s in sport

Both teams are expected to emerge as tournament champs after the finals games on Saturday. The same is expected for the two Norfolk State teams as well. The MEAC championship game also is scheduled for Saturday.

“They deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament. Norfolk State is one of the 32 at-large teams. We got to make sure we push for them,” South Carolina State WBB Coach Tim Eatman told the MSR earlier this season. Andrews covered the recent CIAA tournament. The CIAA is America’s oldest all-Black conference. Lincoln (Pa.) University won the men’s title, and Fayetteville State are the women’s

or outside the sport. So, take that challenge and just try to be the best we can be all the time,” said the coach.

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

winners. Both teams earned the automatic NCAA Division II berths.

“The CIAA tournament served as a bridge to the [Baltimore] culture,” said Andrews on the tournament now being played in Baltimore—it moved up north to Baltimore in 2022 after years in Charlotte, North Carolina. Officials announced earlier this year that the tourney will remain in “Charm City” through 2026.

Sadly, concluded Andrews, DII HBCUs getting high seeds rarely or never happens.

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

Sports

MSR MARCH MADNESS 2024

HBCUs consistently underrated as seeds

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

Selection Sunday is March 17.

Will this year’s HBCU teams get better than a low double-digit seed?

Of the 59 times HBCU men’s teams made the round of 64, only one school (Southern) had the best seed (No. 13). Otherwise, 33 times a Black college team has been seeded 16th, the lowest possible seed.

Only four teams have ever

won a first-round game—Southern, Coppin State, Hampton and

ust like last week, downtown Minneapolis remains the epicenter for Big Ten basketball. This week, for the first time in league history, the Big Ten MBB Tournament champion will be crowned here this Sunday after four days of games that begin on Wednesday, March 13.

“Minneapolis is a hotbed for basketball [with] a lot of good coaches in the area,” said former Gopher and NBA player John Thomas, a Minneapolis Roosevelt graduate and former Minnesota Timberwolves executive. “I think it’s important” to have the conference tournament held here.

U of M Athletics Director Mark Coyle concurs with Thomas: “Our fans are show-

“Having both men’s and women’s Big Ten basketball tournaments is a big win for the city.”

Sistas excel during WBB tourney

he Big Ten on Sunday, March 3 crowned its WBB tournament champion and NCAA automatic qualifier. Several sistahs shined during the tourney who are worth noting:

Minnesota sophomore Amaya Battle scored 54 points, shooting nearly 49 percent in two Big Ten tournament games. She, Ayianna Johnson and Ajok Madol combined for 79 percent of Minnesota’s scoring last Thursday (45 of Minnesota’s 57 total points) against Michigan.

Niamya Holloway led the Gophers in their opening round win over Rutgers with nine rebounds. “Winning our first Big Ten game in the tournament this year was probably the most special thing that ever happened,” said the 6-0 redshirt freshman from Eden Prairie. After sitting out all last season due to injury, “To be able to celebrate with my team, and I had a big role in it, was amazing,” she added. Freshman forward Taylor Woodson (Hopkins) was inadvertently left off last week’s WBB preview—she is one of seven Black Minnesotans on team rosters this season. She played 10 minutes, grabbed two

rebounds, and recorded a block for Michigan vs. Minnesota.

“I’ve played here during my state championship game back in high school,” said the 6-0 first-year player from Minnetonka. “I had to take a moment to realize how far I’ve come. My parents were in the stands.”

Wisconsin with 15 points and shot 50 percent from the field.

Sellout crowds pack Big Ten Tournament games

ing up to support this great tournament. I know the Big Ten is super excited to have a tournament here.”

There are 107 Black players, 30 Black coaches including three Black head coaches, and eight local former Black prep stars:

• ILL – Dain Dainja, 6-9 redshirt junior (Brooklyn Center)

– 5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg

• OSU – Jamison Battle, 6-4 grad student (Robbinsdale) –14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg; and Taison Chatman, 6-4 freshman (Minneapolis) – 0.4 ppg, 0.5 rpg

• PSU – RayQuandis Mitchell, 6-5 grad student

(Blaine) – 2.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg

• MIN – Joshua Ola-Joseph, 6-7 soph (Brooklyn Park) – 8.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg; Braeden Carrington, 6-4 soph (Brooklyn Park) – 5.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg; and Pharrel Payne, 6-9 soph (Cottage Grove) – 10.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg

• MSU – Tre Holloman, 6-2 soph (Minneapolis) – 5.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.9 ast State Coach Tom Izzo told me last month on Holloman, “He proved a lot. I think he’s gonna continue to get stronger.” The sophomore guard concurred with his coach that he must get stronger in order

to be consistent on the court, especially in making “contested threes,” Holloman said.

Both he and Ola-Joseph are glad that the conference post season starts and ends in downtown Minneapolis. “It’s really cool being able to play at home…and having family and friends here to watch us play,” said Ola-Joseph. I’m super excited,”

Officials are expecting large crowds this week—last week’s WBB tournament was a historic sellout. We have walked around downtown and visiting

■ See VIEW on page 9

Metro area players shine in Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament

the Target Center last week.

Wisconsin sophomore Serah Williams recorded her 16th straight double-double (points, rebounds) against Purdue, which set a new conference record. “I want to play like a mix of [Nikola] Jokic and Anthony Davis,” said Williams on patterning her game after the two NBA stars.

The 6-4 forward from New York last week was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defense. “Just being able to move the ball

“To have the opportunity to coach at this level and be a role model or potentially inspire a next generation of coaches or leaders, I think it’s incredibly important.”

around the court is the next step for me,” she pointed out.

Coach Marisa Moseley spoke about both Williams and Porter when asked by the MSR during the post-game press conference. On Williams, “Obviously the type of scorer and impact player that she is offensively, being able to pass out of doubles or have more patience when the ball comes in…I think is the next step.”

On Porter, “I think Ronnie gave us her very, very best this year. Consistently becoming a better three-point shooter

is going to be something that she will work on, I know for sure,” said the coach.

“I definitely love Kendall Coley,” said Nebraska Coach Amy Williams on the junior guard/ forward from Minneapolis. She was the only Minneapolisborn Black player in last Sunday’s title game. “What a team player she’s been for us.”

Added the 6-2 Coley, who expects to graduate in May but plans to return next season, “I always came and watched Lynx games when I was a kid. Playing on the same stage was surreal.”

Moseley and Rutgers’ Coquese Washington are the conference’s only Black female

niversity of Minnesota Golden Gophers guards Amaya Battle (Hopkins) and Niamya Holloway (Eden Prairie), University of Wisconsin Badgers guard Ronnie Porter (St. Paul Como Park), University of Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Kendall Coley (St. Louis Park), University of Illinois Illini guard Adalia McKenzie (Park Center), and University of Michigan Wolverines forward Taylor Woodson (Hopkins) have something in common. All made their mark in high school as girls basketball players in the metro area, and all recently represented their teams in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament held at

McKenzie, a 5’11” junior, and Illinois lost their second-round contest 75-65 to the University of Maryland Terrapins.

Porter, a 5’4” sophomore, led Wisconsin with 15 points in an 80-56 second-round setback to the Penn State University Nittany Lions.

Battle, a 5’11” sophomore, had 32 points and Holloway, a 6’ 0” freshman, gave a fine defensive effort during Minnesota’s 77-69 opening round win over the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights before losing 76-57 to Michigan in the following round.

In addition to the victory over Minnesota, Woodson, a 6’0” freshman, contributed to a 68-58 quarterfinal before losing 73-61 to Nebraska in the semifinals.

Coley, a 6’2” junior, helped Nebraska reach the championship game—losing 94-89 to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in overtime—with victories over the Purdue University Boilermakers (64-56), the Michigan State Spartans (73-

61), and Maryland (78-68). The metro area was well represented in the 2024 Big Ten Women’s basketball tournament.

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

John Thomas Photos by Charles Hallman

Tre Holloman

Kyle J. Andrews

Adalia McKenzie (University of Illinois) Amaya Battle (University of Minnesota)

Ronnie Porter (University of Wisconsin)

All photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Taylor Woodson

All photos by Charles Hallman Niamya Holloway Kendall Coley