March 16, 2023 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

LOCAL OFFICIALS PRESS FOR HYUNDAI AND KIA RECALLS

By Cole Miska

Contributing

Writer

On Tuesday, March 7, the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a civil investigation into sales of Kia of America and Hyundai USA vehicles that lack “in-

dustry-standard, anti-theft technology.”

The investigation will require both Kia and Hyundai to provide documents and testimony to Ellison’s office, to determine if the two auto manufacturers violated state consumer protection and public nuisance laws.

“The drastic increase in Kia and Hyun-

Protesters denounce hate crime on Metro Transit

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

Last Thursday, March 9, amid a blizzard, about 200 people gathered at the plaza adjacent to Metro Transit’s Lake Street/Midtown Station to denounce the savage beating of a trans woman nearby weeks earlier.

The woman, who has not been publicly identified, remains in stable condition. The assault, which happened inside the Lake Street/Midtown Station, comes at a time when Metro Transit is struggling to make the system safe and comfortable. It also comes at a time of heightened hostility towards the transgender community and people who choose to live their authentic identities.

“What happened to that woman is wrong. She deserves to live [free of harassment],” said a frustrated trans person at the rally. “And I’m sorry that my trans existence [and] your trans existence is threatening to your masculinity.”

Despite the work being done to enshrine trans rights in the state, with both the legislature introducing a bill and Gov. Tim Walz signing an executive order affirming trans people’s rights to gender-affirming care, hate

crimes towards trans people remain a problem. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension recorded six crimes motivated by bias towards trans people in 2019, four in 2020, and six in 2021. Data for 2022 are unavailable as of this writing.

However, hate crimes against trans people may be underreported. Some don’t trust the police, and the police officers currently rely on training that was last updated in 1992 to identify those crimes.

Rep. Samantha Vang, DFLBrooklyn Center, introduced a bill in January that would fix both issues. It would require the Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training to update their training materials every three years. It would also provide funding to the Department of Human Rights to take those reports from schools, community organizations and individuals.

The bill, HF 181, was heard in January and awaits a floor vote. The Senate companion has yet to receive a hearing.

Meanwhile, the assault comes at a time where Metro Transit is struggling to make the system safe, which includes contracting for security personnel, enhancing its

■ See HATE CRIME on page 5

dai vehicle thefts is continuing to threaten public safety and do serious harm to our communities,” Ellison said in a press release. “With this investigation, we will follow where the facts lead us and will continue to use all the tools of the law to help keep Minnesotans safe.” ■ See RECALL on page 5

By Cole Miska

Contributing Writer

Minneapolis Public Schools

(MPS) has entered its third week of what it describes as an “encryption event,” where a ransomware group called Medusa managed to install an encryption virus on the district’s servers.

The virus, which locked MPS students and employees out of several systems for multiple weeks, was first no-

ticed on Feb. 18. MPS reported that most systems were back online by Feb. 28, but some teachers within the district said they were still unable to access their grade books or print documents from their computers at that time.

MPS announced on March 7 that some of the district’s data had been accessed during the encryption. Medusa is threatening to release the seized data to the public on ■ See DATA BREACH on page 5

PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAGUED WITH CRIME AND DRUG USE

By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer

You may have been on the light rail or a Metro Transit bus lately and felt unsafe, if not downright uncomfortable. A trans woman was savagely beaten at Lake Street/Midtown Station [see “Protest denounces hate crime on Metro Transit”]. More likely than not, there usually is someone hunched over on the very last seat using a lighter to prep drugs by burning the underside of a piece of tinfoil.

Scenes like this make light rail riders like Selena Wade feel uncomfortable. “The train is real bad. People smoke hard drugs, weed, cigarettes, pills. I’ve gotten into it with multiple people telling them it’s not okay to do that on the train,” said Wade, as she rode the 62 with her child, on the way to the Green Line one dreary day.

She and hundreds of light rail riders are fed up, and so is Metro Transit. And so are some state legislators, one of whom introduced a bill to flood the system with social workers to address the issues before summer arrives.

Smoking on the trains has long been a winter pastime. The agency has tried to address it by purchasing real-time surveillance systems for its light rail vehicles and requiring its officers to work overtime in 2020.

Nonetheless, smoking worsened when the pandemic began. As people abandoned the trains because they began to work remotely from home, some people started to use the trains to smoke not just cigarettes, but also hard drugs. Narcotics use increased 182 percent in 2022, over

2021 levels, according to Metro Transit.

This comes at a time when people are overdosing on opioids at rates higher than before the pandemic. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 978 Minnesotans died of an opioid overdose in 2021, more than double the number who died of an opioid overdose in 2019. Meanwhile, 4,349 people survived an opioid overdose and visited emergency rooms in 2021, compared to 2,821 people in 2019.

passenger boardings.

Seeing people smoke on the train motivated Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-54A), who is commuting from Shakopee to Minneapolis by bus and train this session because his truck is undergoing repairs, to do something about it. He hopes to pass legislation in the coming weeks that would allocate $1 million for state agencies, counties and social service nonprofits to work together to address drug use— and homelessness—on the light rail in a

Meanwhile, crimes on transit—not just light rail—involving assault, fraud, gambling, theft, and sex and weapons offenses more than doubled from about 100 in September 2020 to about 200 in December 2022. Meanwhile, November 2022 light rail weekday boardings, at just over 39,000, is about half of what it was in January 2020, with just over 73,000

matter of weeks.

The bill as introduced would also require the agency to formally adopt a code of conduct stipulating what behaviors are not acceptable on transit, excluding sleeping that does not otherwise violate the code of conduct. Police officers would be allowed to order anyone off the

on page

Metro Transit Blue Line train crosses Hennepin Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis.

Photo by H. Jiahong Pan

Passengers on the Blue Line

Photo by H. Jiahong Pan

Jae Yates (green jacket) leads chant at a rally for trans lives at Lake Street/Midtown Station.

Photo by H. Jiahong Pan

Metro Mitchell Hamline opens new Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law

By Angela Rose Myers

Contributing Writer

In February, Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul hosted a gala launching the new Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law, and formally introduced the center’s new director, Dr. T. Anansi Wilson. The event highlighted the mission of the center, with speeches from students, affiliated faculty, and representatives from the university.

scholar in the field of Black studies and law, who earned a law degree from Howard University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin, in the African and African American studies program.

Asked how the center came about, Dr. Wilson admitted to dreaming of doing this work for over a decade. “I think it was my sophomore year in college at Tufts. I was taking a class with Christina Sharpe, who wrote ‘In the Wake: On

women, and how trauma lives long.

“And so for our final topic, our final seminar, it was supposed to be some type of project on how trauma in the past has affected us and how we’re living in the wake [of slavery].” Wilson remembered thinking, “I was like, you know, years from now I’m gonna have some type of center that is focusing on the way the law orders and disorders Blackness and Black real life.

we’ll see.’ And literally, the announcement of the center last February was the 10-year anniversary of that conversation!”

The serendipitous moment of seeing Mitchell Hamline recruiting for the director’s role for a new center focused on Black life and the law didn’t mean Wilson was gung-ho about the institution. Black academics have seen White institutions create Black study centers without giving autonomy, adequate funding or proper respect to those centers,” Wilson said. “They’d rather give lip service in order to say they have ‘done something,’ without fully supporting the Black scholars they’ve recruited.”

Wilson made sure to fight for clear boundaries and expectations even while interviewing. “When I was interviewing for the job, one of the things I said was that I wanted to come and be able to do my own thing. I wanted to do something that was explicitly about Black and Black Queer people.

The center’s associate director, Deanna Burns, welcomed guests and expressed the university’s enthusiasm for the center and the leadership of Dr. Wilson, an award-winning

Blackness and Being.’ One of our seminar topics, I think, was the Black feminist theory of memory for forgetting,” recalled Wilson. “But anyway, it was about Black people, Black

“It’s gonna have a policy arm. There’ll be an organizing arm, and I’ll work with artists. [And Dr. Sharpe], she was like, ‘All right. Well, you let me know how that goes in 10 years, and

Velma Gene Warder

Sunrise: August 15, 1931 — Sunset: March 6, 2023

nalism and a minor in art. In the late 60’s she returned to the University and received a B.S. in education. She began her teaching career in 1968, as a first-grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School.

However, Velma is best remembered as an extraordinary musician. She studied organ, piano and music theory at the MacPhail School of Music. She began playing the piano at Zion as a teenager, then at Sabathani Baptist Church. She took her piano skills everywhere, delighting her students when she played in the classroom.

“Because if you don’t put ‘Black’ in the title, it just becomes a racial justice thing, which usually means the Black people get put at the end, or censored, or don’t get explicitly focused on at all,” said Wilson. Mitchell Hamline has since supported Wilson’s vision in the creation of the center, making sure to emphasize that the work will focus on the “study of Black life.”

Hamline is the only Minnesota law school that explicitly names “Black life” as a research center’s focus. Asked if White institutions can fully support truly Black-centered research, Dr. Wilson offers this explanation: “I don’t think about or put trust in institutions. I pay them no mind—good intentions aside. I came here to do good work. That work will be judged by spirit, ancestors, and community, including students, in that order.

center, Wilson responded, “We have so much going on. Obviously, our launch gala. That’s something we want to do is have an annual fundraising event. But really, [other] events

That’ll actually be moderated by both the Black law student organization at Harvard and Harvard Law School, as well as ours here at Mitchell Hamline. We’re having this kind of

Velma Gene Warder was born on August 15, 1931, in Minneapolis, the oldest of three children born to Velma Austin and William Wesley Williams. She was the wife of William Warder, sharing 71 years of marriage, mother of three, grandmother of one, and great grandmother of six.

She taught for 25 years in the Minneapolis Public Schools and was a freelance writer, publishing hundreds of articles in music and religious publications.

Velma (Genie) grew up in North Minneapolis, among friends in her close-knit community and would fondly recall those days when her life centered around church activities at Zion Baptist Church (then located on Lyndale Ave. N.), and the Friendship Club at the Phyllis Wheatley House. She attended Franklin Junior High School, where she played basketball, and North High school where she participated in orchestra and was inducted into the National Honor Society. She graduated from North High in 1949.

In 1948, Velma met William Warder, who was recently discharged from the U.S. Army, and they dated for three years. They were married on a snowy Thanksgiving Day in 1951. They lived in South Minneapolis for 64 years, raising three children.

Family meant everything to Velma. She loved being around her family and would do anything for her family. She was kind, giving and thoughtful. She never hesitated to send a note of thanks or encouragement to anyone who needed a lift. She loved playing board games and was a fierce Scrabble player. Most of all, she loved God, and put her faith in Jesus Christ.

In 1951, Velma graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in jour-

She was a powerhouse on the organ and took command of 2- and 3-manual pipe organs, working the foot pedals like she was tap dancing. She played everything from Bach, Handel, Chopin and Brahms to Joplin, gospel, spirituals, anthems, Broadway tunes, and even pop. She accompanied numerous vocalists, including her husband William and daughter Cheryl, and performed many recitals of traditional organ literature.

She was a trailblazer in featuring organ music by African-American composers. She also conducted workshops for national conferences in music and Christian education. She was also an active member of the Black Music Educators of the Twin Cities, the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians, and the American Guild of Organists. She served 23 years as organist at the former Temple Baptist Church in Minneapolis, and retired in 2010 after 26 years as organist at River Hills UMC in Burnsville.

Velma passed away on March 6, 2023, at the age of 91. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Velma Williams, her sister Rauby Brown, and great-grandson Cameron Reeves. She is survived by her husband William; brother, Wallace Williams (Pam); son, Paul Warder (Pam); daughters, Cheryl Warder Reeves and Julie Warder; grandson Kellen Reeves (Michelle); great grandsons Quentin, Zavier, Zaire Reeves, David and Christopher Johnson; and a host of other family members who will cherish memories of Velma.

There will be a celebration of life service at River Hills United Methodist Church in Burnsville on Friday, March 17, at 11 am. Public viewing will be from 10 – 11 am at the church. Burial will follow the service at Fort Snelling.

“I’ll join and struggle with anyone to do good—and that includes not just our community, but good work with our dean and partner Anthony Niedwiecki, and our brilliant faculty and staff. And when good is no longer possible or my time is up here, I’m going to go where my soul is called next.

“We’re off to a good start, but the proof is in the journey, and trust is forged in the crucible. Those things are earned.”

Asked about the initiatives and the upcoming work of the

have drawn attention to the unfinished business of Black life, not just in Minnesota, in the Twin Cities, but you know— across the nation and abroad.

In March, a joint roundtable conversation between the Center for the Study of Black Life and the Law and Harvard Law and the local economy project is scheduled. “We’re gonna be talking about racial capitalism and its effect on the law’s legal promulgation right now, in the way that it’s enforced both by police but also by bureaucrats, and agencies.

What is the utility of race and racism and anti-blackness in the laws?

“We’re thinking about new and old laws and reform.

simultaneous conversation that will be streamed into both classrooms that’s open to the community.”

In April, the center is going to be partnering with the law review symposium, focusing on Black life in the afterlife of slavery and how those afterlives continue again, according to Wilson. “I keep saying this phrase—how can you order disorder—within Black living and death in focusing on Minnesota, but also think about the greater Midwest and just the Black diaspora in the United States as a whole.

Angela Rose Myers welcomes reader responses to amyers@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Black academics have seen White institutions create Black study centers without giving autonomy, adequate funding or proper respect to those centers.

Dr. T. Anansi Wilson at the gala for the Center’s launch Photos courtesy Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Dr. T. Anansi Wilson at the gala for the Center’s launch Photos courtesy Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Center Director Dr. T. Anansi Wilson

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD Senior Medical Advisor

From bath oils and soft drinks to skin creams and coffee bars, everywhere you look, you can see what looks like the next hot product: CBD oil.

CBD, or cannabidiol, oil is a member of the cannabinoid family of molecules found in marijuana and plants closely related to marijuana, such as hemp. Although CBD has been around since the 1940s, CBD’s popularity has dramatically increased along with the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana across the United States. There are over 100 different cannabinoids found in marijuana and hemp plants. CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most commonly studied cannabinoids. CBD oil is extracted from the buds and flowers of marijuana and related plants, such as hemp. But, unlike THC, which is psychoactive marijuana derivative oil, CBD does not produce a “high” or intoxicated feeling.

CBD does have medicinal benefits, however. Proponents of CBD claim that it can treat a variety of conditions including seizures, pain, anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, acne and oth-

How safe is CBD oil?

er skin diseases, and even some forms of cancer.

Experts are not quite as enthusiastic because solid scientific research has not verified most of these claims, yet. That has not stopped marketers and producers. In addition to CBDinfused products popping up in bath and body stores and local coffee shops, many malls now have “CBD stores” dedicated to selling a variety of products containing CBD oil.

You can even search “CBD oil” on Amazon.com and well over 1,000 products are displayed, all touted to treat a wide variety of health concerns.Read on to learn more about the different types of cannabinoids and safety and effectiveness of CBD.

Three types of cannabinoids

Phytocannabinoids: These compounds, like CBD, are found in plants like marijuana and hemp.

Endocannabinoids: These are found in the human body, discovered as a result of studying phytocannabinoids. They are derivatives of a chemical called arachidonic acid. Many tissues and organs contain receptors for endocannabinoids, which are released by human tissues in times of pain and inflammation.

It is well-documented that receptors for endocannabinoids are located throughout the human body, including skin cells and the nervous system and brain.

The endocannabinoids in the skin can regulate cell growth which can be used in cancer treatments. The endocannabinoids in the nervous system and brain may affect thinking and

understanding, memory, body movements, and pain control.

Synthetic cannabinoids: These are man-made cannabinoids used for research purposes and in some currently available products. They may eventually be employed in pharmacologic preparations and drug treatments used for cannabinoidresponsive conditions.

The rest of this column will focus on the phytocannabinoid CBD.

products are critical for their effectiveness.

Some studies have shown that CBD can have adverse effects on the liver. This seems to be the case in about five percent of all people. Other studies need to be done to see how CBD affects a person if the person consuming CBD is taking other medications. This is extremely important.

In general, there are relatively few side effects. So, the down-

Is CBD effective?

There are CBD receptors in our bodies. In the presence of bound CBD, our bodies can produce physiologic responses. In fact, CBD is FDA-approved to treat certain epileptic seizures in children.

There is emerging research that CBD may be useful in treating anxiety, and there are countless anecdotal reports that it helps muscle aches, joint pain, depression, psychiatric conditions, and insomnia. The number of human trials for other diseases is small but promising.

In fact, CBD’s use as an antiinflammatory may be the next area for future FDA investigation and approval. As mentioned, many cells in our bodies have CBD receptors, so it stands to reason that CBD can have other physiologic effects in humans, such as on pain, inflammation, anxiety and sleep.

Unfortunately, due to the murky legal status of CBD, research to uncover these physiologic responses has been sparse.

research needs to be done. If one is considering the use of CBD when other tried-and-true treatments are not working, don’t just buy something off the shelf because the label says it will help you.

I would strongly suggest using CBD-containing products with the guidance and care of a physician knowledgeable about and familiar with CBD-containing products. The future appears bright for CBD-containing products, but its ultimate success will depend on the production of high-quality products with safe, proven and approved results.

Is CBD safe?

Unfortunately, most CBD is being produced without regulation. As a result, purity and quality can vary greatly.

In a recent study, 70 percent of products evaluated contained a different amount of CBD than listed on the label. Most products examined had less CBD, but some had more. Also, about 15 percent of CBDcontaining products had measurable amounts of THC. This derivative can cause anxiety, just the very thing CBD is reported to calm, and THC should not be in CBD products.

Additionally, CBD is poorly absorbed. Only about 20 percent of CBD gets absorbed, so the quality and purity of CBD

side in using CBD-containing products is relatively low, but liver and other possible drug interactions must be considered.

Is CBD legal?

This is really a gray and everchanging area. It appears to be legal in the 30+ states where marijuana is legal, but the overall national legal status has not been challenged yet, and the FDA has taken a very quiet and conservative stance.

Recently, a farm bill was proposed and is expected to pass that will make hemp-derived CBD legal. Keep in mind that just because something is legal does not mean that it is FDA-approved to treat anything or everything that is printed on the label.

As for other health claims, much more research, especially on humans rather than animals, needs to be done. Unfortunately, due to lack of regulation, manufacturers of products that contain CBD can print just about any health claim that they want on the product label, and buyers, desiring a relatively inexpensive natural treatment, may just believe it.

As the new farm bill clears, legality issues over research should move forward at a much faster pace. Additionally, the best method of CBD delivery (oral, topical or inhaled) should be studied for the best treatment results.

Should I use CBD?

CBD is a promising product for a variety of challenging medical conditions, but more

WE ARE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO CARE THROUGH COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

The newly-established M Health Fairview Center for Community Health Equity advances community health through building trusted partnership and innovations to address social factors influencing health.

The M Health Fairview Center for Community Health Equity builds on our long-standing work alongside our communities as we tackle racial disparities in health outcomes. Together, we’re applying equity-centered, culturally responsive solutions to some of the biggest challenges people face in being healthy.

Want more details? Go here.

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of biology at Carleton College. He also has a private practice, Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, MN. He received his MD and Master’s Degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine. Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specializes in skinof-color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 18 years. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He can be reached at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.

is a crowd-pleasing romp for all ages ‘Corduroy’

By Paige Elliott Digital Editor

If you’re looking for an enjoyable time for the family, look no further than “Corduroy” at the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC).

The 90-minute play, first staged at CTC in 2018, is based on two beloved children’s books by Don Freeman— “Corduroy” and its sequel “A Pocket for Corduroy.” In 1968,

“Corduroy” broke new ground by portraying the main characters as people of color.

The story is driven by a young girl named Lisa (Ayla Porter) and her desire to take home a teddy bear that she eyes while shopping with her mother. Lisa quickly bonds with the lone bear sitting by itself with a button missing from its corduroy overalls.

When her mother elects not to buy the toy bear, Lisa is deter-

The character Corduroy utters only one word—“Button!”— throughout most of the play. But actor Dean Holt, in reprising the role from 2018, varies his line readings and employs a nimble physicality to convey Corduroy’s emotions.

Humor is also provided in a series of mishaps by Lisa, whose attempts to do household chores lead to disaster at each turn and earn the ire of her long-suffering and exasperated mother.

mined to do whatever it takes to earn enough money around the house to buy it herself.

From that point on, the department store comes to life, as does the humor, when Corduroy (Dean Holt), goes around the store in search of his missing button. Hot on his trail is a hapless nighttime security guard (Autumn Ness), and together the two make an absolute mess of the store, much to the delight of the audience.

Lisa’s inner turmoil and why her quest for Corduroy is so important to her, ground the story and provide the emotional pulse of the play.

The relationship between Lisa and her mother (Alexia Thompson), and the revelations about Lisa’s inner turmoil and why her quest for Corduroy is

so important to her, ground the story and provide the emotional pulse of the play.

The clever use of the store mannequins that double as stagehands (Luciana Mayer and Hugo Mullaney) help round out the story. The hard-working stagehands also engage the kids in the audience during intermission, enlisting them to assist in a bit of on-stage cleanup that effectively makes them part of this colorful romp.

“Corduroy” runs until April 2 at Children’s Theatre Company’s UnitedHealth Group Stage, located at 2400 3rd Ave. S. in Minneapolis. Tickets range from $15-$69 and can be purchased by calling 612-874-0400 or by visiting childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/corduroy-22-23. This show is suitable for ages 4 and up.

Paige Elliott welcomes reader responses to pelliott@spokesman-recorder.com.

2023 St. Paul Sidewalk Poetry contest invites submissions

Last week, Mayor Melvin Carter announced the details of St. Paul’s Sidewalk Poetry Contest for 2023, a collaboration between the City, Public Art St. Paul (PASP), and St. Paul Almanac.

Writers who live in St. Paul can submit poems for the chance

to have them stamped into city sidewalks this summer. The contest runs through April 3.

“For the past 15 years we’ve collaborated with St. Paul Public Art, St. Paul Almanac, and local artists to dress our sidewalks with poems from members of our community,” said

Mayor Carter. “I look forward to carrying on this exciting and creative tradition.”

The 2023 Sidewalk Poetry Contest will accept submissions from new, emerging, or professional writers of any age. Winning writers will receive a $100 prize and have their po-

ems stamped onto city sidewalks beginning this summer. Submissions in four non-English languages will be also accepted, including Dakota, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish, reflecting the

Poetry, it is also the inaugural summer of the Wakpa Triennial Art Festival organized by PASP.

diversity of Saint Paul.

“St. Paul Almanac is a literary arts organization that is proud to collaborate with Public Art St. Paul again on this fantastic sidewalk art project,” said Pamela Fletcher Bush, CEO and publisher of Saint Paul Almanac and Arcata Press. “We are glad to share our resources and networks to ensure a successful contest that reflects the stories of St. Paul residents.”

The 2023 contest is not only the 15th year of Sidewalk

The Wakpa Triennial Art Festival is a major new art event for the Twin Cities, scheduled for June 24 to September 16. More information can be found on the PASP website at www.publicartstpaul.org/wakpa.

“We’re excited that the Sidewalk Poetry Contest will participate in the Triennial by having poets write to the Triennial theme, ’Network of Mutuality,’” said Executive Director Colleen Sheehy, “a phrase that comes from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’”

This year, Kevin Yang, a poet and poetry slam performer, and Marian Hassan, a writer and educator, will lead a panel of professional poets who will serve as jurors. The panel will select up to 15 winning poems, which will join the current 72-piece collection of Sidewalk Poetry in Saint Paul. Winners will be announced in early May.

To review instructions and submit a poem, visit the PASP website at www.publicartstpaul. org/sidewalk-poetry-submission-2023.

Information provided by the City of St. Paul.

Autumn Ness plays the hapless nighttime security guard.

Dean Holt (Corduroy) in the Children’s Theatre Company production of “Corduroy.” Hugo Mullaney (Mannequin) and Luciana Mayer (Mannequin) in the background. Photos by Glen Stubbe Photography

Ayla Porter (Lisa) in the Children’s Theatre Company production of “Corduroy”

Recall

Continued from page 1

The announcement followed a March 2 letter to Kia and Hyundai, penned by Ellison along with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. The letter, addressed to Hyundai CEO José Muñoz and Kia of America CEO SeungKyu Yoon, urged a recall of all vehicles missing anti-theft technology.

“The lack of anti-theft technology in Kia and Hyundai vehicles makes them a prime target of auto theft, and social media trends have clearly shown how simple tools can be used to break into them,” the letter states. “Innocent lives are at risk.”

According to a press release from Frey, 2,340 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen in Minneapolis in 2022, an 836% increase from the number of thefts in 2021.

“The ease and sheer volume with which these

Data BReach

Continued from page 1

March 17 if their ransom of $1 million is not met.

“MPS data that was shared and potentially accessed is currently undergoing an in-depth and comprehensive review,” the district stated in a March 9 update to its website. “This will take some time and individuals will be contacted directly by MPS if this review indicates personal information has been impacted.”

MPS has pledged to provide free credit monitoring and identity-theft protection services for anyone whose personal information was accessed. MPS recommends changing passwords on any accounts that have been used on an MPS device or network.

Local professional hacker and cybersecurity specialist Ian Coldwater, who is hired by companies to break into their systems to help find and close vulnerabilities, says schools and hospitals are common targets of data breaches.

“This is not unique to MPS, and I wouldn’t even say it’s the fault of MPS, but what’s important for organizations to know is how to respond to those things,” Coldwater said. In fact, school systems have become prime targets for hackers, having breached the Los Angeles and Chicago school systems, among many others.

“Ideally in this situation, the district would be notifying people who are affected immediately telling them that they were affected, what

tRansit safety

Continued from page 1

transit system violating those terms, as well as if they smoke, eat, litter, or have an animal on-board without the operator’s consent.

The bill is supported by the “100% Campaign”, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, which runs transit service in western Dakota and northern Scott counties and has routes that connect to Metro Transit’s light rail and rapid transit bus routes.

But some who testified at Thursday’s bill hearing were skeptical this would address safety and quality-oflife concerns on the region’s light rail system. “The human cost of insufficient housing and health care make public transit one of the few places and spaces accessible to unhoused people,” said Minnesota Youth Collective Program Director Sean Lim. “So as such, this million dollars could be better used to fund initiatives that

hate cRime

Continued from page 1

surveillance cameras on its vehicles, and lobbying for decriminalizing fare evasion citations and funding to deploy a transit ambassador program.

Kia and Hyundais were stolen creates too many opportunities for both crime and tragedy,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “These vehicle thefts have endangered the lives of innocent

O’Hara. “Children not even old enough to have a learners’ permit have died while behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle. This epidemic needs to be addressed by both car owners and the

ware upgrades, which would prevent a method of theft with a USB device, the letter from Ellison and the mayors pushed for all Kia and Hyundai vehicles to be equipped with engine immobilizers. Neither Kia nor Hyundai have responded to requests for comment.

Mayor Frey tweeted his praise on Tuesday morning for Ellison’s announcement of opening an investigation into the two automakers. “I applaud [Ellison] for launching a civil investigation into Kia and Hyundai’s sale of vehicles that lack industrystandard anti-theft technology,” Frey said.

“Too many lives in the Twin Cities have been lost due to this preventable crime, and it’s time we say enough is enough.” In a followup tweet, Frey also advocated for holding car thieves accountable on top of having the vehicles recalled.

people of all ages in all corners of Minneapolis.

“These vehicles are used to facilitate more serious crime and harm in our communities,” said

kind of data was exposed,” said the cybersecurity expert. “Because the district isn’t doing that right now, it’s up to all of us to take these measures to protect ourselves and to let other people know this is going on and what kind of measures they can take.”

Coldwater says encryption events often start with someone in an organization clicking a phishing link from an email or text message. Phishing messages often spoof legitimate com-

manufacturers.”

While Kia and Hyundai have each announced programs offering owners free soft-

Cole Miska welcomes reader comments at cmiska@spokesman-recorder.com

manager to create strong, unique passwords for every account, and activating two-factor authentication, which would require a user to approve all logins through an email, text message, or authenticator application.

Coldwater says that since data from the breach goes back as far as 1995, anyone who was a student or employee of MPS at any point in the past decade should assume their data may have been affected.

that issued the report, and for individuals to freeze credit if anything looks amiss on a credit report. Some in the community have expressed frustration with the hack.

“Why is such old data even being stored? It’s ridiculous. This could impact me 20 years after I left MPS,” said former MPS student Taylor Dahlin, who last attended school in the district in 2003 before transferring to Arts High School in Eden Prairie.

Coldwater says the best cybersecurity practice a district can have is to design its systems assuming they will be breached. One example of this would be to use student ID numbers rather than names on sensitive files, so that a hacker would have to secure both the files and a list of student IDs to get any identifying information.

“Know that this kind of thing happens. You could talk to your local school district and ask, ‘What kind of measures are you taking? You should be aware of this happening,’” Coldwater said. “And maybe encourage them to bolster their security system and hope they take you up on it.”

munications, such as telling victims their password needs to be changed, to get the recipient to click a malicious link.

Coldwater agreed with MPS that all users should change passwords for any account that has been recently used within the MPS network or any account that shared a password with an account recently used on the network.

Coldwater also recommends using a password

actually mitigate all of these systemic issues that we have.”

Rep. John Petersburg, R-Waseca, offered an amendment to ensure playing loud music on transit remains a misdemeanor. “We have families with young kids, and some of the rap music…can be just as vile as some of the videos that we see,” said Petersburg.

“Keep an eye on your accounts, like your financial accounts and statements, for anything weird,” Coldwater said. “If you get any fraudulent charges, if you have people trying to sign into your account as you, trying to change your password, if you see anything weird, make sure to act on that right away.

Coldwater recommends reporting any suspicious activity on financial reports to the institution

accepted and really often vibrant part of that culture,” said Sencer-Mura.

“And I’ve seen kids on the New York subway that love to watch people dance, love to watch people play music on it.” Petersburg’s amendment failed with a voice vote.

Tabke’s bill, which will be considered by the House Ways and Means

Coldwater recommends talking to family and friends who may be affected to make sure they are aware of the hack, especially if they do not keep up with news through social media. Coldwater created a Twitter thread with detailed recommendations for those affected by the hack, which can be found on their profile, @IanColdwater.

Cole Miska welcomes reader comments at cmiska@spokesman-recorder.com

tract with community-based organizations instead.

“There are a lot of additional legal and staffing issues with using County personnel. We are already short-staffed at Ramsey County with social workers. Bringing on new staff in this area can take four months,” testified Ramsey County Commissioner Rena Moran.

This is not the only bill Tabke has to address light rail safety. Tabke also has a bill decriminalizing fare evasion, which would allow any Met Council civilian staff, in addition to the agency’s cadre of police officers, to issue citations for fare evasion.

Such a bill has been discussed for years, but now has a chance of passing because of a state government DFL trifecta. The bill was re-referred to the House Public Safety Committee on March 10.

between the two sites,” says BelCom owner Doug Belton, who adds they have as few as two and as many as four security officers patrolling, depending on the time of day.

On Monday, the Met Council’s Transportation Committee considered awarding a contract to a Philadelphia-area security company, Allied Universal, to patrol the two stations, as well as Central Station in St. Paul, Brooklyn Center Transit Center, and Chicago-Lake Transit Center and Uptown Transit Station in Minneapolis.

The agency also entered into an agreement with the Metropolitan Airports Commission to patrol the trains as they run through the airport with Transportation Security Administration air marshals serving as backup.

Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL63A), disagreed with Petersburg’s amendment, as she believes music can be a part of the local transit culture like it is in New York.

“I don’t pretend to say that everyone on the train likes that, but it’s an

But Jae Yates, who spoke at the rally, is skeptical about all of these solutions because they failed to protect the trans woman from being assaulted. “Clearly it’s not enough to just add cops and add cameras,” said Yates. “What would have prevented this act of violence would be the

Committee, might be hard to implement. Metro Transit remains short of more than 60 full-time police officers.

Both Hennepin and Ramsey counties are concerned about having available social workers, since they are shortstaffed. Both suggest the agency con-

Meanwhile, Metro Transit has taken some steps to secure the light rail system. Late last year, they contracted with BelCom, a Bloomington-based security firm, to patrol the Franklin Avenue and Lake Street/Midtown Station. “They kind of go back and forth

Even with security guards patrolling Franklin and Lake Street stations, people continue to congregate on the platform as they drink, smoke, converse and hold train doors open.

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

trans woman having people around her to go with her, people to make sure that she’s able to get home safely. But those people are not cops. Those people are us.”

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

“These vehicle thefts have endangered the lives of innocent people of all ages in all corners of Minneapolis.”

“Why is such old data even being stored? It’s ridiculous. This could impact me 20 years after I left MPS.”

“The human cost of insufficient housing and health care make public transit one of the few places and spaces accessible to unhoused people.”

“Clearly it’s not enough to just add cops and add cameras.”

Women’s History Month

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder celebrates Women’s History Month

As part of the MSR’s celebration of Women’s History Month, we are profiling some of the Black women leaders in the Twin Cities metro area. They come from all walks of life. Some of the names you may recognize, while others are less well-known. However, all are worthy of recognition and our tribute. MSR will continue to profile women leaders throughout the month of March.

Nekima Levy Armstrong is a civil rights attorney and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation who is well-known in the Twin Cities for her relentless advocacy for victims of police violence.

Many know Levy Armstrong as a former law professor, former president of the Minneapolis NAACP, and former Minneapolis mayoral candidate, among many other milestones in her storied career.

Her advocacy encompasses a multitude of areas of Black life. She unapologetically incorporates her faith, her family, the community, and a deep-rooted desire for justice into everything she does.

“My family means everything to me,” she said. “They are a source of comfort and encouragement.” This can be seen in her new book, “J is for Justice,” which encourages young children to stand up for what they believe in and use their voices to better society.

At age 46, she took a roundabout journey before landing in Minneapolis. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, she grew up in Los Angeles, attended boarding school in Andover, MA, went to college at the University of Southern California, and got her law degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“One of the things that motivates me is that I do the work alongside those who came before me, who fought against injustices and worked to make things better for our people. I feel that I have a responsibility to clear the pathway for others and to stand up for what’s right,” she said.

know, there will always be someone who has a problem with that,” she said. “And so I think it’s coming to that realization, and then making the decision to lead in the best way that you know how to overcome those kinds of obstacles.

“I also think that women leaders, particularly Black women leaders, are held to an unfair standard in terms of what people expect from them. Sometimes, our humanity gets lost in the shuffle. People treat you like you’re Superwoman. And you’re really one woman that’s trying to make a difference.”

For all the years that she’s been a civil rights advocate, there was a turning point in her career, she said. “The pivotal moment came after a conversation I had with Nathaniel Khaliq, the former president of the St. Paul NAACP. It was in the mid2000s—2005 or 2006,” she recalls. “Nathaniel Khaliq was one of my mentors who took me under his wing—he and his wife Vicki Davis—and showed me the ropes regarding civil rights issues in the [Twin Cities], and also how to navigate dealing with elected officials and being responsive to the community.

I would encourage young women to believe in themselves, to have confidence in themselves and their ideas, and to take opportunities to use their voice to be an advocate for what is right, and to identify what they’re most passionate about and go after it.

“I think that my work has shown the community the power of using your voice and fighting against injustice. I have been able to collaborate with community members to get unjust laws and policies changed, and to push for leadership changes for those who are not adequately serving our community.”

One of the challenges of her role as an advocate is knowing that you can’t please everybody. “I’ve felt like no matter what you do, how hard you work, how hard you try, you

“He talked to me about the issues impacting the Black community. And I knew at that moment that I needed to start a civil rights legal clinic, and that’s exactly what I did. I launched the Community Justice Project, which was the first of its kind in the nation.

“Thinking about the power of storytelling, and hearing from a Black elder freedom fighter in a community, resulted in a life-changing choice for me and my career and the path that I’ve ultimately taken in my life.

“Now, I’m looking out for the next generation. Even people in my own peer group might need support. But I feel that it’s my responsibility to make a way for the next generation and to pour into whomever I can who may need help.”

As president and CEO of the YWCA Minneapolis, Shelley Carthen Watson works to empower girls, women, and people of color, and eliminate barriers that reinforce disparities in health and education. A self-described recovering attorney, her journey to the Minneapolis

Y was seemingly destined from an early age, growing up in San Bernadino, California.

“I like to joke that the YWCA is in my DNA. I grew up in the YWCA in San Bernardino,” she recalled. “My grandmother volunteered there, and my mother was on the board. Our mission is eliminating racism and empowering women, and I grew up learning about the YWCA’s role in the civil rights and women’s movements,” she said.

“We had African American women on our national board, integrated our facilities before the Civil Rights Act, and participated in the March on Washington. I could go on and on, so it was natural for me when I became an adult to become involved.”

Resource

She served two terms on the Minneapolis YWCA board, remained on advisory committees, and also served on the board of the St. Paul YWCA. “I come to work each day and get to see firsthand the incredible work that we do here,” she said.

Miller, and Ciresi law firm in 1992, Carthen Watson became the first Black woman in Minnesota history to become partner at a large law firm. After having her daughter, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps as a civil rights lawyer in New Orleans, Carthen Watson transitioned through several roles before serving as associate general counsel in the General Counsel’s Office at the University of Minnesota for 22 years.

“I went through a period about six years ago when I was feeling a bit restless in my career,” she said. “Thanks to the university, I was able to take a sabbatical and moved to Cape Town, South Africa for four months and worked as a legal consultant for the South African Human Rights Commission,” she continued. “It made me realize that I was happiest when I could put my skills as a lawyer to work effecting change.”

Carthen Watson sees the YWCA’s mission as eliminating racism and empowering women. “We are interrupting the cradle-to-prison pipeline through quality child care and after-school care,” she said.

Before joining the Y, Carthen Watson had a successful law career. She said she knew she’d become an attorney at eight years old, when her grandmother introduced her to Thurgood Marshall.

Resource

Come network with other caregivers and gain access to resources and opportunities.

Carthen Watson carried out her childhood aspirations and graduated from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago in 1985. After practicing entertainment law in Los Angeles, Carthen Watson relocated to Minnesota, where she’s made her mark as a prominent attorney.

Upon making partner at the Robins, Kaplan,

Resource

Come

“We empower women by providing quality child care and support for families, so women can remain and advance in the workforce, and by providing opportunities for sustainable, well-paying jobs and financial security,” said Carthen Watson. “To me, success is when a child is happy, healthy, a citizen of the world, and a champion of social justice. I also enjoy being able to use the gifts with which I have been blessed to make a difference in the lives of others. Her advice to young women looking to follow in her footsteps is, “You are, and always will be, enough,” she advised. “Never be afraid to reinvent yourself. Find your tribe—those sisters of the heart that are your fiercest critics, biggest cheerleaders, and who will straighten your crown for you when you forget that it exists.”

Profile by contributing writer Niara Savage

Profile by contributing writer Angela Rose Myers

Nekima Levy Armstrong

Submitted photo Shelley Carthen Watson

Photo by Steve Floyd

- Shelley Carthen Watson

The Pioneer

- Nekima Levy Armstrong

Women’s History Month

The Communicator

Sheletta Brundidge is the CEO and owner of the production, podcasting and publishing company ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com. Originally from Houston, the mother of four settled in the Twin Cities to raise her family and made the region the headquarters for her company in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. The Emmy award-winning comedian and radio host holds a degree in journalism and inspires, entertains and educates audiences while working to diversify the media industry.

Outside of the recording studio, Brundidge puts her skillset in public policy to use as a political and social advocate and uses her platform to both spotlight triumphs and draw attention to areas of concern in her community.

People only see the grand. But if I am a good mother, that is the greatest thing,” said Brundidge.

“Being in the news business, it’s all about who’s first. I’m competitive not with other Black women, but with myself. I want to be better today than I was yesterday,” she said.

She acknowledges the obstacles that stand in the way. “There are systems that are specifically designed and set up and have been in place for generations. They keep Black women from achieving and accomplishing their goals,” she said.

- Sheletta Brundidge

“I am a light,” said Brundidge. “My job is to shine a light on my community, for the celebrations as well as the sorrow, to help uplift Black businesses, Black people, Black families.

“I’ve got a broadcasting network. I’ve got a large following on social media. I have connections to politicians. And I have resources. I’m always looking for ways to help shine a light on people.”

Brundidge’s life has always been an open book—from raising four children as a single mother, three of whom are on the autism spectrum, to what she describes as her amicable divorce from her husband, to the tragedy that beset her family in Louisiana.

“Being on TV, or on the radio, in the newspaper, it’s just a small thing,” she said. “You don’t see the laundry, and sweeping and mopping, running kids to school. Don’t forget, all that goes along with everything else.

The Wordsmith

Dara Beevas, 42, is the co-founder and co-CEO of Wise Ink, a Minneapolis-based publishing company whose mission is to share powerful stories that ignite change, tolerance, and growth. She is on the board of The Loft Literary Center and 826 MSP, a nonprofit whose mission is to amplify the voices, stories and power of K-12 BIPOC students, as well as a member of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, she followed her (now) husband Tomme, chef and owner of Pimento Jamaican Kitchen and Rum Bar, to Minneapolis. “We were in our early 20s when we met,” said Beevas.

“For me to do what I do, I have to be a disruptor. I am a disruptor of systems. For me to make one dollar I have to disrupt everything.”

Her determination and drive are what keep her going—and her faith. “Whatever it is that God has designed for me to do, when I die I want to make sure I get all that done.”

Despite her multi-hyphenated media empire, that’s not how she measures her accomplishments. “Success is not a dollar amount. Success is when you can take an idea that is inside of your head and put it in front of your face.”

Her advice to the next generation of multimedia journalists: “Have faith. Be brave. Be strong and be bold. Be a disruptor. You can’t follow in anybody’s footsteps because God has a plan for each person. As much as you may admire somebody, their plan is not the plan for you. You don’t want to miss what you are supposed to do.”

Profile by contributing writer Niara Savage

“He was doing philanthropy work on the nonprofit side when he got a dream job offer to work at Cargill in corporate philanthropy. He couldn’t say no. But said he would only go if I came too. We had been dating for about four years, and I said I’m only coming if we get married.”

The couple initially thought they would only stay in Minnesota for three to five years but are still here 15 years later. “We have two children, a six-year-old and a 19-month-old. Having kids at an older age, as a CEO it has been for the better because it forced me to set boundaries,” she said.

community—whether it is our elders, activists, healers, nonprofit leaders, busy executives, teacher, doctors—who are out there doing amazing and cool things and feel the slightest tug in their mind to test out an idea, they know Wise Ink is a place that is truly an invested partner.

“I’m really excited about Wise Ink evolving into a media company. We’re going beyond just book publishing, working with people who need marketing assistance, and working with brands all around storytelling. We don’t want to be a PR company, but rather support authors who need a company that offers everything from marketing to writing to social-media strategy,” she continued.

“Personally, I want to figure out how to diversify this industry that is still so painfully White. I want to be able to donate more time and money to publishing books by Black and Brown authors and wrap around some kind of reparations model.

Be free!

- Dara Beevas

The Crusader

Toshira Garraway Allen is the founder of Families Supporting Families, a nonprofit that supports community grieving the loss of a loved one at the hands of the police. A native of St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood, 36-year-old Allen can usually be found leading a protest or campaigning for racial justice and transparency when it comes to police-involved killings.

“Speaking out publicly about the injustices, I think is really difficult and painful and hurtful,” she said, “to know that because someone believes something different, that they would try to hurt me or my family is difficult.

“My family inspires me because I know that the work that I do now in the community will

ultimately, hopefully make it a better tomorrow for my son and make a difference for the young Black men in my family and the community,” she said of her 16-year-old son Justin Teigen, Jr.

“I lost my son’s father at a young age, and I just want to see things be different for my son. I want people to value his life,” she added. In 2009, the father of Garraway Allen’s son was pulled over by St. Paul police, and later found dead after a brutal assault.

“Going through that loss was really painful and devastating to me and my family. That’s when I started speaking to others at different community events,” she said. “I’d go out and talk about the night that my son’s father was pulled over. During that time, I ended up meeting other mothers and other people in the community who had lost loved ones at the hands of law enforcement.”

“I had to say ‘no’ to things a lot more often and be a lot more intentional with my time. It also just made me a more laser-focused business owner,” she added.

One of the missions of Wise Ink is to create a safe space for people in the community to talk about their book idea, even if it doesn’t go anywhere. “If anyone in our

She ended up meeting Jamar Clark’s sister, and they recognized how there was little to no support for families who had lost loved ones.

“We felt isolated and very alone in battling our grief,” she said.

“Meeting these other families and being out in these communities, I decided that we need support continuously for people that had lost loved ones at the hands of law enforcement. Because no matter the circumstances or what happened, people still lost someone and needed support.”

Families Supporting Families provides a safe space for loved ones to come and grieve, to talk to people that understand their experience, and to love on one another.

“I think it provides an outlet for families. The organization holds a lot of memorials in the community,” she said.

“We do a lot of banquets. We do a lot of events where there’s food and balloons so it gives a chance for the community to come together and mourn as a whole. It also uplifts the family.

“I also want to figure out a way to make this city safe for my kids and make sure the same opportunities are available to them and all kids. I know it can’t happen in one day, but I’m personally committed to creating change,” she added.

“Everything is possible when you follow your intuition,” she said. “I think, as women, we are often encouraged to behave, to fall in line, to be likable, to be low maintenance, versus listening to our own voice.

“I’m encouraging my daughter to listen to her intuition. Know when something doesn’t feel or sound right, even if it’s coming from someone you really respect or admire.”

Profile by contributing writer Julie Gordon

my faith that I have. My father always taught me to be independent and be a hard worker, and I was taught to stand up for others and to always stand up for what I believed in.

Among those she credits for helping her organize is Michelle Gross with Communities United Against Police Brutality. “She showed me the ropes. She has been a strong backbone for me, and one I can turn to for advice.”

She also counts the late Mel Reeves as a mentor as well. “When he heard about Justin, he reached out to me to write a story.”

She is also working with young activists like Jerome Treadwell with Minnesota Teen Activists. “Just as Michelle showed me the ropes of organizing, that’s what I’ve done with him,” she said.

- Toshira Garraway Allen

The organization also remembers the birthdays and the day a loved one died for the family.

“Those are the hardest days from my own lived experience,” she said.

To survive, Garraway Allen said she has to be very strong in her faith. “My mother taught me

“I think ultimately, the work I do saves the whole community,” she said. “I believe that my organization and the work that I’m out here doing actually deals with some of the trauma.

“It keeps the hurt and frustration and anger at bay. When people are not getting their needs met mentally, spiritually and emotionally, at some point their backs are up against the wall, and that’s where the George Floyd outcry came from.”

Profile by contributing writer Cole Miska

Sheletta Brundidge and son Brandon

Submitted photo

Dara Beevas

Photo by Steve Floyd

As a girl who grew up being a rule follower, the goal in life is not to be well-behaved. It’s actually the opposite. Your goal in life is to be free. Walk your path on your terms and don’t worry about behaving.

As much as you may admire somebody, their plan is not the plan for you. You don’t want to miss what you are supposed to do.

Toshira Garraway Allen

Photo by Chris Juhn

I believe that my organization and the work that I’m out here doing actually deals with some of the trauma. It keeps the hurt and frustration and anger at bay.

Leveraging tech to expand youth opportunities in the Twin Cities and beyond

By Tony Sanneh

When I founded the Sanneh Foundation in 2003, I knew we had the chance to make a real impact in our communities. And along the way, it’s become increasingly clear that a multifaceted approach is most needed to effectively uplift our local communities and families—from policymakers to teachers and parents, and all leaders in between.

Women’s rights are under renewed attack

By Marian Wright Edelman

There is an African proverb that says, “Women hold up half the sky.” Women constitute half the world’s population, but still have not realized half of the world’s potential, received half of the world’s resources, or exercised half of the world’s power.

But women have always been the invisible backbone—unseen but strong—of transforming social movements and of anchor institutions in society: our families, congregations, schools and communities. March is Women’s History Month in our nation, and a chance to reflect on women’s transformational impact on American history and turn it into inspiration and action for the future.

The National Women’s History Alliance, which champions women’s history across the U.S. all year long, puts it this way: “History helps us learn who we are, but when we don’t know our own history, our power and dreams are immediately diminished. Multicultural American women are overlooked in most mainstream approaches to U.S. history, so the National Women’s History Project champions their accomplishments and leads the drive to write women back into history…

“The impact of women’s history might seem abstract to some, and less pressing than the immediate struggles of working women today. But to ignore the vital role that women’s dreams and accomplishments play in our own lives would be a great mistake. We draw strength and inspiration from those who came before us—and those remarkable women working among us today.”

This annual observance is

marking an anniversary this year. Its origins in the United States began 45 years ago in 1978, when the Education Task Force of Sonoma County, California’s Commission on the Status of Women, first celebrated “Women’s History Week” in Santa Rosa.

They chose the week that included March 8, International Women’s Day, since that had already been celebrated in many countries for much of the 20th century and officially recognized by the United Nations one year earlier as a day to acknowledge women’s contributions and call for women’s economic, political and civil rights.

as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.

“As Dr. Gerda Lerner has noted, ‘Women’s history is women’s right—an essential and indispensable heritage from which we can draw pride, comfort, courage, and long-range vision.’ I urge libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality—Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul.

“Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people. This goal can be achieved by ratifying the 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that ‘Equality of Rights under the Law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.’”

The 2022 World Cup magnified soccer’s ability to mend differences and bring cultures together to cheer, laugh, and even cry together at times. As Americans observed this on an international scale, you only need to take a quick trip to St. Paul to observe the positive impact that soccer can have on a community, and the children within it.

For instance, our “Kick it Back” program recycles gently used soccer gear and shoes to be sent to children in Haiti, and our local high schools too. Simply by establishing a pipeline to help a young person get a pair of shoes to play soccer, you keep our urban youth in positive sports programs and not searching for guidance in the streets.

While soccer has been pivotal in my life, I am proud that the talented team at the Sanneh Foundation takes a wraparound approach to uplift, mentor, support and nourish our youth. Our Dreamline Pro-

gram empowers coaches to support children in schools to have an extra outlet that they can lean on to help make conscious decisions, growing as a more confident and productive individual in the process.

During the COVID pandemic, we began to help feed families as well. At this point, we have donated over three million pounds of food to our local communities through that initiative.

digital products or the many free digital tools that we utilize undoubtedly gives individuals a competitive edge as they pursue a career or higher education.

Now that the midterm election season and delay in selecting leadership is over, I am excited for the opportunity for good commonsense governance that this Congress brings. While I am proud of the impact that the Sanneh Foundation continues to make, I also understand that it takes a village to raise a child.

Following the midterm elections, I hope that we will see Congress take a less combative tone toward the tech sector. Rather than targeted bills aimed at breaking up or disrupting companies, I am hopeful to see positive legislation that can work to uplift our communities in tandem with the work of our organization.

Technology also plays a vital role in the work that we do at the Sanneh Foundation. I will never get tired of the initial reaction on a child’s face when you hand them a tablet, laptop, or piece of new tech that they may not have access to at home.

While it is fun to engage with the newest tech gadgets, it also empowers children in Twin Cities communities to be versed in the technology platforms that are critical in obtaining jobs and a modern education. Being familiar with

Tony Sanneh is the founder of The Sanneh Foundation, which provides resources to create positive social change for youth. Tony has been working in the community for over 10 years and has a passion for serving people and pursuing systemic change. He represented Team USA in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan and serves as a Sports Envoy on behalf of the SportsUnited Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Women historians and community leaders quickly spread the demand for a national commemoration. In 1980 President Jimmy Carter responded by issuing the first presidential proclamation designating March 2-8 as National Women’s History Week.

President Carter’s proclamation read: “From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was

Of course, the measure that President Carter then hoped would become the 27th Amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment, still has not been enshrined into the Constitution. March formally became a full Women’s History Month in the U.S. following a 1987 Congressional resolution, but 45 years after that fledgling Women’s History Week, women’s rights are under renewed attack in our nation. American women have not yet received equality on a range of key measures, including equal pay.

One of those measures of disparate outcomes hangs in the balance right now. As the Supreme Court hears arguments this week on whether to strike down President Biden’s plan to cancel $10,000 of student loan debt for low- to middle-income borrowers, women are facing a disproportionate threat. Women hold two-thirds of student loan debt in our nation.

Black women, who often have fewer family wealth resources to pay for higher education, have the highest average totals. For many of these women and their families, the Biden administration’s plan would bring critical relief. Now, as the Supreme Court considers the challenges to the student loan forgiveness plan from six Republicanled states and two plaintiffs, once again women have the most to gain—or lose.

Women’s chances are still unequal in our nation, but our will is not and never has been. As a growing number of women gain political power all the way to the highest levels, and a growing number of young women realize how critical it is to use their power to vote in every election, women are once again poised to lead transforming and necessary change.

Student debt relief would benefit the whole country

By Svante Myrick

Ever since it was taken over by far-right justices nominated by Donald Trump, the Supreme Court has been eroding the quality of life for Americans. Now it looks like it could happen again if the Court decides against President Biden’s plan for student debt relief.

Oral arguments in the case happened in late February. Litigants, backed by far-right politicians, are trying to derail the Biden plan that would significantly reduce or even eliminate debt for millions of lower-income people across the country. Nearly half of Latino borrowers and a quarter of Black borrowers would have their entire student debt relieved.

I sincerely hope the Court will not rule against this program, because debt relief would be good not just for individual students and graduates—it would be good for the country as a whole. Here’s why.

We have a great tradition of innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit in the U.S., stretching from Benjamin Franklin to Mark Zuckerberg and beyond. But what would have happened if our bestknown inventors in recent decades had been weighed down by a massive student loan that they had to work off for five, 10 or even 20 years? How long would they have to be employees rather than innovators, robbing us and the rest of the world of their contributions?

That certainly wasn’t a problem for Zuckerberg, whose father famously offered to pay either for him to go to Harvard or to have his own McDonald’s franchise. (And yes, Zuckerberg did drop out of Harvard, but for most of us that would

be a bad idea.)

Meanwhile millions of hardworking students, including a disproportionately high number of Black, Brown, and female students, are saddled with debt that will keep them working to pay it back for many years. And because of that, it’s highly likely that this debt crisis is costing us the next entrepreneurial genius, including the next (possibly Black or female) Mark Zuckerberg.

With tens of thousands of dollars in debt hanging over their heads, many young people can’t think seriously about starting a business, or maybe a nonprofit, of their own. This debt is also linked to the issue of fewer young people being able to become homeowners; in the past, a house was often collateral for

Millions of hardworking students, including a disproportionately high number of Black, brown and female students, are saddled with debt that will keep them working to pay it back for many years.

entrepreneurs raising money for a startup company.

That’s a big loss for the country. But there’s more.

The debt crisis is also costing us jobs—the jobs that youthful innovators would create. After all, nearly half of Americans work in small businesses, the kinds of companies that young business owners would start out building. And it’s reasonable to assume that this debt burden is harming the economy in other ways. Paying off debt gobbles up discretionary income. Debt relief could put money back in college gradu-

ates’ pockets and give consumer spending a boost.

The Supreme Court case that will be decided later this year hinges on a legal argument about the law under which the debt relief plan was created, the HEROES Act. In a nutshell, conservatives have turned the plan’s enormous economic benefit into a legal argument against its legitimacy. They argue that debt relief that extensive is a “major question” of policy that goes beyond what the HEROES Act provided for.

They also argue that the law permits the government to relieve student debt only if it doesn’t leave the borrowers “better off” than they were before. Of course, which individuals are “better off,” and by how much, is always arguable. And there are lots of things that government does to make some segments of society better off than others—but that is a bigger conversation.

What is clear right now is that relieving student debt— and solving the problem of the high cost of education overall, also a bigger conversation—would make our country “better off.” I wish the conservative politicians who want to squash the Biden plan could see that. Meanwhile, we’ll wait and watch to see what the Supreme Court decides.

Svante Myrick is president of People For the American Way. Previously, he served as executive director of People For and led campaigns focused on transforming public safety, racial equity, voting rights, and empowering young, elected officials. Myrick garnered national attention as the youngest-ever mayor in New York State history.

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

To ignore the vital role that women’s dreams and accomplishments play in our own lives would be a great mistake.

It’s become increasingly clear that a multifaceted approach is most needed to effectively uplift our local communities and families – from policymakers to teachers and parents, and all leaders in between.

ViEw

Furthermore, the high expectations for this year’s Gophers men with such a

young group definitely was unrealistic. This isn’t an excuse but a fact.

“This is a big, big job to be a head coach at a university, and it takes time,” said veteran broadcaster Lea B. Olsen, a Go-

AIRY HOMES, Contract No. 23-122 until 2:00 PM, Local Time, on April 13, 2023, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud via the Zoom App. Bids must be submitted electronically, in a pdf format, to Northstar Imaging, www.northstarplanroom.com

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held in conjunction with a tour of the buildings on March 28, 2023, at 1:30 PM, at Roosevelt Homes Community Center, 1575 Ames Ave E., St. Paul, MN 55106 . Immediately following the conference there will be a Pre-Bid Tour of the buildings. All questions arising from this pre-bid conference will be addressed by addendum if necessary.

A complete set of bid documents is available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com, under public plan room, Roof Replacements at Roosevelt Homes and Mt. Airy Homes, Contract No. 23122. Digital downloads are available at no charge. Contact Northstar for hard copy pricing.

Bids must be accompanied by a 5% bid guarantee, non-collusive affidavit, EEO form and Minnesota Responsible Contractor Compliance Affidavit. The successful bidder will be required to furnish both a satisfactory performance bond and a separate payment bond.

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AN EQUAL JIM LEARY OPPORTUNITY AGENCY PROJECT LEADER (651) 775-4094 JIM.LEARY@stpha.org

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 16, 2023

pher alum. “You have to have patience with the coaches, because there’s just a lot to it.”

“It is tough seeing what they’re going through right now,” added Eric Curry, who played last season for Johnson—he is featured this week in “Sports Odds and Ends.” “I can see the potential” in the young Gophers, stressed Curry.

American University Sports Law Professor N. Jeremi Duru, whose field of interest includes racial and gender dynamics when it comes to Black coaches, told us, “We have often seen in sports unfair double standards that people of color in positions of power have faced.

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“I’m not a Minnesotan, but from what I read [Johnson] came into a bad situation in terms of where the program is. So, in my view, you should allow somebody who came into a program like that several years to get it right. It seems premature for him to be terminated,” said Duru. Minnesota finished overall 8-21, but 1-1 in Big Ten tournament play and 2-2 in games played in March.

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Coyle said that he has confidence in Johnson: “I do think that the criticism” is unfair, he said. “Sometimes this negativity creeps in and muddles what you are trying to do. We will get there sooner than later.”

“I know it’s not a popular view. I just got to preach patience,” said Olsen.

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session attendance

8,577 — record attendance for a quarterfinal session

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9,375 — record attendance for a semifinal

9,505 — record attendance for a single session or game 47,923 — record total attendance over five days

11.6 percent— increase in tourney merchandise sales over last year 380,000 — record viewership of Iowa-Maryland semifinals 745,000 — record viewership of title game on ESPN platforms

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way herein to be taken, and to keep and have the exclusive control of the same, and to acquire a temporary easement in those cases which are herein particularly mentioned.

It is the intention of the above-named Petitioner to move the court for an order authorizing the Hennepin Court Administrator to accept and deposit, in an interest-bearing account, payment from the Petitioner to the court pursuant to Minn. Stat. §117.042.

Further, it is the intention of the above-named Petitioner to move the court for an order transferring title and possession of the parcels herein described, prior to the filing of an award by the court appointed commissioners, pursuant to Minn. Stat. §117.042.

The Petitioner reserves its right to recover costs of clean up and testing and all other damages arising from the presence of pollutants, contaminants, or hazardous materials on the property described herein, from all potential responsible parties, including respondents herein where appropriate, in a separate legal action to the extent permitted by law. III.

That the following described lands in these proceedings taken are situated in Hennepin County, Minnesota; that the names of all persons appearing of record or known to your Petitioner to be the owners of said

Employment & Legals

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

Dated: February 21, 2023 Lindy Scanlon Registrar

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STATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court File No.:27-FA-22-2114

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March Madness is in full bloom with NCAA games this week. The present state of University of Minnesota men’s and women’s basketball is, however, in bad shape, some would say, including fans, local media and social media who have been loud in their “chicken little” alarms about the respective programs.

often Lindsay Whalen resigned two weeks ago, after five seasons amidst recent criticism. Is Ben Johnson’s job safe after two seasons?

“You have to have patience with the coaches, because there’s just a lot to it.”

His boss, Minnesota AD Mark Coyle, last week assured me that the Minneapolis native is good. “There is no doubt winning has a significant importance at our level,” he

Gopher hoops in crisis Whalen gone; Johnson stays

tion to Ben and what he does. Nobody wants to win more

It’s so wrong to compare Johnson’s second year to Northwestern, the Big Ten’s regular season runner-up, which last season was the league’s worst. Or to Rutgers, which finished last in 2017-18, but looks like it will make its third consecutive NCAA trip this year.

Two years ago, Johnson came in with virtually no players in the program. He coached a leaguehigh 10 newcomers, mostly transfers last season, and eight newcomers this season.

No school in the veteranladen Big Ten had as many youngsters playing major minutes. Three first-year players logged over 20 minutes a game, and four freshmen figured prominently in the regular rotation this season.

■ See View on page 9

The 12 Black head coaches pictured above aren’t being mentioned by the local White media as qualified candidates to be considered for the now-vacant Gopher WBB job: (l-r top row) –Alex Simmons, Jeff Cammon, Katrina Merriweather, Tomekia Reed (l-r) middle row – Zenarae Antoine, Laura Harper, Bridgette Mitchell, Larry Vickers (l-r) bottom row – Billi Chambers, Jada Pierce, Erin Dickerson Davis, Kim McNeill

College hoopster explores the sport’s business side

Eric Curry was doing his job to help ensure the recent fiveday, Big Ten women’s basketball tournament, held here for the first time, ran as smoothly as possible and provided a positive experience for everyone who attended.

The 24-year-old Memphis native and University of Minnesota grad is in his first year of a two-year Big Ten fellowship program, working in the commissioner’s office.

“I’m in the operations department,” explained Curry on his role working on the various sponsored league events.

“That’s the football championship game [and] both basketball tournaments,” he added.

I almost did not recognize Curry as he and fellow former Gophers Kiera Buford, Lea B. Olsen and Crystal Flint-Holloman ran a youth basketball clinic on the tournament’s second day at the Lifetime health club, downstairs in the Downtown basketball arena. Later, they all spoke to the youngsters on various topics, and Curry definitely has the expe-

Former prep standouts in Big Ten Women’s Tournament

Former Twin Cities-metro area prep girls’ basketball stars Amaya Battle, Angelina Hammond, Adalia McKenzie, Kendall Coley and Ronnie Porter all made their presence felt in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament held at the Target Center a couple of weeks ago.

rience to speak on the topic of perseverance.

He first came to campus as a highly touted recruit in 2016, but only played four seasons— he missed two seasons, 201718 and 2019-20—due to knee injuries.

Yet he recovered and finished his Gopher career last season—Ben Johnson’s first—

with 104 games played and 25 starts, along with 555 points and 462 rebounds. His final collegiate game came at last March’s Big Ten tournament when he posted 10 points and a career high six assists.

Curry also earned two degrees, a bachelor’s in communications studies and a master’s in youth development

leadership. Now he’s hoping that his current internship will better prepare him for a postathletic career.

“It’s a new journey for me,” admitted Curry, in his first season not playing basketball. “The only thing I’ve known all my life is basketball. So transitioning to the business side of sports has been amazing. It’s a great learning experience. It’s been amazing.”

Working in the league office, “I wanted to get on the other side of [basketball], see how everything goes on the other side of it,” said Curry. “I definitely would say it is preparing me…to get back into the basketball world and be on the business side of basketball as a GM or assistant GM one day.”

Reliford a top guard

New Hope native Jayla Reliford, a sophomore guard at Park (Ariz) University, was named honorable mention allconference. The MSR featured her earlier this year when she led the nation in assists. Reliford finished third among the

nation’s guards.

Black coaches recognized

About 20 coach-of-theyear awards this season have gone to Black men and women coaches: WBB—Billi Chambers (Iona), Niele Ivey (Notre Dame), Kim McNeill (East Carolina), Brenita Jackson (Texas Wesleyan), Jeff Cammon (LBSU), Terence McCutcheon (Catawba (NC) College); MBB— Shaka Smart (Marquette), Jerry Stackhouse (Vanderbilt), Rodney Terry (Texas), Larry Vickers (Norfolk State), Dennis Gates (Missouri), Jeff Capel (Pitt), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), Speedy Claxton (Hofstra). Chris Lowery, Northwestern assistant coach, was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

Finally…

This year’s Big Ten WBB tournament held here in Minneapolis earlier this month set new highs for attendance, viewership and merchandise sales:

4,890 — record first round

■ See SOE on page 9

Buzzer-beater caps thrilling championship

By Travis Lee

Contributing Writer

Big games and rivalries are what legends are made of. The game on Saturday afternoon, March 11, was no different as parents and community members came together to watch the thrilling Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 2023 Invitational Youth Basketball 13U Championship Game between Jerry Gambles Boys and Girls

Club and Hospitality House, both of North Minneapolis.

The steady snowfall did not deter the crowd as cars were tightly parked on all blocks leading to the Colin Powell Community Center located off Lake Street in South Minneapolis.

From the tip-off, the game was competitive, physical and close. Hospitality House, whose players were visibly smaller in size, kept a slight

lead throughout the game until the last 60 seconds of the game when the Boys and Girls Club hit a three to take the lead by one point with six seconds left on the clock.

After receiving an inbound pass, Hospitality House’s Ira Thomas, Jr., streaked past half court and threw up a shot with one second on the clock—it kissed the backboard and

bounced in. Game over!

The crowd erupted off the bench and onto the court— some with cheers, others with tears. Although the final score was 35-33 in favor of Hospitality House, it seemed everyone agreed that there really were no losers as the well-coached teams were both celebrated by the crowd.

That’s what community is supposed to be.

Travis Lee welcomes reader comments to tlee@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Battle, a 5’11” freshman guard from Hopkins, capped off a fine first-year, by running the show for the University of Minnesota.

Fellow 5’11” Hopkins alum and graduate student Hammond, also represented Minnesota at the guard and forward positions.

McKenzie, a 5’10” sophomore guard from Park Center, is one of the top scorers for the University of Illinois.

Coley, a 5’11 sophomore guard and St. Louis Park alum, contributed to the University of Nebraska.

Porter, a 5’4” guard from St. Paul Como Park, just finished her first year as a walk-on at the University of Wisconsin.

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

Ben Johnson Photo by Charles Hallman

Amaya Battle

Photo courtesy U of MN

Adalia McKenzie

Photo courtesy U of Illinois

Kendall Coley

Photo courtesy U of Nebraska

Ronnie Porter

Photo courtesy U of Wisconsin

Photo by Charles Hallman

Hospitality House won this year’s championship at the last second.

The Boys and Girls Club team All photos by Travis Lee Ira Thomas, Jr. hits a buzz-beater to win the game for Hospitality House.

“It’s a new journey for me.”

Angelina Hammond

Photo courtesy U of MN