Issuu

Read more about Just B Solar on page 3.

THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

April 28 - May 4, 2022

Vol. 88

PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391

Inside this Edition...

www.spokesman-recorder.com

No. 39

Future of George Floyd Square open for discussion City must overcome community mistrust

greenhouse, and several communityrun aid initiatives. The open house had a poster board and a suggestions box where residents could drop their ideas. City Council President Andrea Jenkins, Councilmember Jason Chavez, and Mayor Jacob Frey were in attendance. “This today is an initial step in how we can come together and plan for our community,” Jenkins said. “No plans have been made; no plans will be made without community engagement, input, involvement, at every step of the process.” City officials say this framework of community engagement coming before a project even begins is a new approach in Minneapolis. The city’s director of public works, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, said this approach Photos by Henry Pan can be scaled up and used for future A caretaker of George Floyd Square speaks to open house attendees about projects. “Having what we would call the making the space a UNESCO World Heritage Site. engagement and inform phase be first By Cole Miska section where George Floyd was mur- for a major project is a real change in Contributing Writer dered by former Minneapolis police the way that transportation planning in the past has been done,” Anderofficer Derek Chauvin in May 2020. son Kelliher said. “In the past, a set of Since the killing of Floyd, the blocks he City of Minneapolis hosted an open house Saturday after- surrounding 38th and Chicago (often plans were made, you’d come out to a noon April 23 at Phelps Field called George Floyd Square) have community, you would say, ‘Here’s our Park about a future redesign of become a memorial that serves as a idea of what this should look like.’” “Here, the input is really on the front 38th St. and Chicago Ave., the inter- community gathering zone with art, a

Transportation planner Trey Joiner, center, talks with two community members about City plans for George Floyd Square. end of this,” Anderson Kelliher added, “and I think that’s an important thing.” Some community members have expressed doubt that the new process is an improvement for community involvement. On a poster board asking the community for engagement, unsigned post-it notes from several

community members expressed skepticism over the City’s approach. “There is a great deal of mistrust in the community as every process always starts in private meetings without invitation to all to participate,” one note read. “The process needs to ■ See GF SQUARE on page 7

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS! Honoring Twin Cities Centenarians

Wayne Glanton A party was held for Wayne Glanton’s 100th birthday on April 24 at his daughter Sherry Glanton’s home. Wayne was

Wayne Glanton and his honored by family, friends, and many community mem- wife Clodeal are longtime bers who gathered to cel- contributors to the Tw in ebrate the happy occasion. ■ See GLANTON on page 7

Mask mandates may end, but not mask wearing

Alan Freeman wears his mask out of respect for others. Photo by Henry Pan By Henry Pan Contributing Writer Passengers riding public transit no longer need to wear masks. Although the federal public transit mask

Photo by Vicky Lyle

mandate was to end on May 3 so the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) could study the coronavirus BA.2 variant, a federal judge in Florida struck the order down on ■ See MANDATE on page 7

Lillian Arizona Lindsey Reed Lillian Arizona Lindsey Reed, a St. Paul resident for 76 years and member of the historic Pilgrim Baptist

Photo by Travis Lee

Family and friends showChurch, celebrated her 100th birthday with family at the ered Reed with birthday wishSholom Home East. Her birth- es that included interactive day is Wednesday, April 27. ■ See REED on page 7

For some, it’s learn to read or die

Advocates want teachers better prepared to deal with dyslexia By Ivan. B. Phifer Contributing Writer Dyslexia is a growing problem in Minnesota, according to the National Reading Panel’s Report Card. “We’ve been at this almost 10 years now,” said Rachel Berger, founder and director of Decoding Dyslexia, MN (DDMN), whose own son was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of five. “Imagine my shock and dismay when I learned [our own] public schools were not ready to say that word. They weren’t prepared to instruct him in the way he needed…or include his diagnosis within IEP documents.” On Thursday, April 21, Berger and other advocates gathered at the State Capitol in St. Paul to provide life experience testimonies about dyslexia and explain

Crowd of ralliers why it is imperative to address the issue. Decoding Dyslexia, incorporated in 2013, is a nonprofit grassroots organization supported by Minnesota families, educators and professionals concerned with the limited access to educational interventions

for students within educational environments. DDMN also trains teachers to work effectively with students who have these specific needs. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that as of this year 46% of White stu-

Photos by Ivan Phifer dents in the third grade are proficient in reading compared to only 19% of Blacks. Berger noted that these statistics, while dismal across the board, can lead to two different outcomes depending on economic and social status. ■ See DYSLEXIA on page 7

2 April 28 - May 4, 2022

Must be 18+ to play.

A day on the water is always a win. Know what else is? Proceeds from the Minnesota Lottery that help improve our lakes’ water quality. So, Go Fish.

April 28 - May 4, 2022

Metro

Young campers learn about solar energy By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer

The event took place from 9 am to 3:30 pm at the Shiloh Baptist Church in North MinA day after Earth Day, on neapolis and was sponsored Saturday April 23, 2022, Just with a seed grant Clean EnB Solar, a North Minneapo- ergy Resource Teams (CERTS). The campers were given lis program that has been making youth part of the instruction on how to build a solar revolution since 2016, mini-solar home with a small hosted an all-day solar camp/ cardboard box and mini-solar panels, and were entertained workshop.

by a few guests throughout the day. First, the Minneapolis firefighters from Station # 20 showed up. The campers were allowed to climb aboard the firetruck and even sit in the driver’s seat. Afterwards, two mascots showed up: Sunny Solar (the sun on two legs) and Penny

Attendees at the Just B Solar workshop Panel (a solar panel). The campers screamed with excitement with each guest. Lunch was provided by Soul2-Go Catering, and after lunch, the campers went back outside to take turns driving in one of two solar go-karts. Just B Solar has hosted camps at the Breck School and several other locations in the Minneapolis area. This

weekend was a homecoming of sorts for the organization as Shiloh Baptist Church was the very first camp hosted by Just B Solar back in August of 2016. In addition, Keith Dent, the president and founder of Just B Solar, was the lead installer for the first community solar garden in Minneapolis, which happens to be on top of Shi-

Photos by James L. Stroud, Jr. loh Baptist Church’s rooftop. Not only is he the installer of the solar garden, he is a subscribing member as well. For more information, contact www.Justbsolar.org or call 651-313-1793. James L. Stroud, Jr. welcomes reader responses to jstroud@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Minneapolis seeks community input for police chief search By Cole Miska Contributing Writer

website, “The community feedback, guidance, and perspective received during The search for a new Min- these sessions will be an inneapolis police chief contin- tegral piece in the creation of ues, as members of a search the position profile and will incommittee held their second form the entire search process community listening session for the new police chief.” City Councilmember LaTrion Thursday, April 21 in Elliot sha Vetaw, who moderated Park’s community building. According to the City’s the session, said the commu-

nity input will lead to picking a better candidate than if the search committee had selected a candidate on their own. She referenced her time serving as director of health policy and advocacy at NorthPoint Health & Wellness, saying she asked for community input on every decision she made in that role, and that it would

Working ahead or catching up? We have you covered. With more than 200 courses available, there is something for everyone this summer at Saint Paul College.

Classes start this summer.

have felt wrong not to do the same while working on the police chief search committee. “What we’re going to be asking you about is what qualifications are most important in selecting the chief, what should be the highest priorities of the next chief of police, and what leadership qualities are most important when selecting the next chief,” Vetaw said. Liban Hassan, a resident of the Armatage neighborhood, said he believed that community listening meetings are very important for choosing the best police chief to address issues within the department. He referred to racial disparities between Black and White residents in police stops and the criticism against the Minneapolis Police Department after the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the killing of Amir Locke in February of this year. “[Police] training has to be very specific,” Hassan said. “We need to have police officers that are not only honest and transparent, but ones that actually know how to do their jobs properly, and not hire the ones that have been fired from another department.” He added, “We need strong background checks, strong racial equity training, because obviously crime is the issue, but racial profiling issues is a

At left, Councilmember LaTrisha Vetaw stands as a community member offers input. Photo by Cole Miksa big issue itself.” Vetaw said the input gathered from these meetings will be used by the search committee in partnership with Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc. (PSSC), the executive search firm hired by the City to create a job description for the role. This job description will in turn inform what qualities PSSC will be looking for in a candidate for the Minneapolis police chief. PSSC will then send a list of finalists to Mayor Jacob Frey, who will send his choice to the city council for approval. The new chief of police will take over for Amelia Huffman, who was named interim police chief in January after Medaria Arradondo, the city’s first

Black chief of police, stepped down. A third community session took place on Monday, April 25, with two more to follow: • Wednesday, April 27 from 6-7:30 pm at Logan Park building, 690 13th Ave. N.E., Mpls. • Tuesday, May 3 from 6-7:30 pm at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park building, 4055 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. Community comments regarding the selection of a new police chief can also be submitted directly to the police chief search committee by filling out a survey at bit.ly/ MPDChiefSessions. Cole Miska welcomes reader responses to cmiska@spoksman-recorder.com.

Enroll at saintpaul.edu/summer

Document available in alternative formats by contacting 651.350.3008 or AccessResources@saintpaul.edu. Saint Paul College is an Equal Opportunity employer.

Saint Paul College, A member of Minnesota State

@MNSpokesmanRecorder

4 April 28 - May 4, 2022

Health

New treatments for vitiligo offer new hope life-altering. Socially and psychologically, vitiligo can be devastating and have profound quality-of-life effects. Vitiligo can affect self-esteem and interfere with friendships. Some people with vitiligo develop depression. The good news is that there are many suitable treatments for vitiligo.

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD Guest Contributor

What causes vitiligo? The exact cause of vitiligo is not fully understood. Vitiligo is a condition where the cells in the skin that produce color (melanocytes) either die early or are inappropriately destroyed by the body’s immune system. It can also be induced by environmental toxins, steroid injections, and some new anti-cancer

The bad news is that vitiligo is a common condition that affects self-esteem. The good news is that vitiligo can be treated. Vitiligo (vit-uh-lie-go) is a common skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. People with skin of color are especially prone to the negative effects of the disease. Vitiligo appears as white spots and patches on the skin. Michael Jackson had vitiligo. The condition can be particularly troubling when patients have tan, olive, brown or dark brown skin, as the white spots and patches are much more apparent. Vitiligo is not contagious, and it is not life-threatening. But, vitiligo can be Barbie Doll with vitiligo

medications. Interestingly, the development of vitiligo on the hands after receiving some of the newer cancer (monoclonal antibody) medications indicates a better outcome in fighting that cancer. Vitiligo is exacerbated by stress. Researchers have identified several genes that may be involved in vitiligo and continue to look for additional involved genes. How common is vitiligo? About one in 100 people will develop vitiligo in their lifetime. Unfortunately, vitiligo is much more apparent when you are a person of color. Vitiligo is a medical disease and not just a cosmetic concern. Vitiligo occurs equally in people of all skin colors. Men and women develop vitiligo in approximately equal numbers. It can occur anywhere on the body, in small areas or large patches. It can also cause the hair to turn grey/white. Vitiligo can occur at any age, but commonly it occurs before age 20. The risk of getting vitiligo increases if a person has a close blood relative who has vitiligo; or an autoimmune disease, especially thyroid disease, anemia, or alopecia areata (hair loss).

ercise regularly, and minimize stress. For people with vitiligo, it’s important to develop coping strategies such as learning about the disease or connecting with other people with vitiligo through support groups and social gatherings, like Camp Discovery for kids.

Vitiligo before and after treatment Can vitiligo be prevented? Vitiligo cannot be prevented; however, aggressive treatment can keep it from spreading and even reverse its course. How is vitiligo treated? Vitiligo is treated using topical prescription medications (including anti-inflammatory agents and vitamin D creams), meticulous sun protection, and narrow-band UVB phototherapy treatments. In extreme cases, when only a small patch of dark skin remains, that area can be lightened (depigmented) with special chemicals.

Sometimes tiny grafts of skin from uninvolved areas can be transplanted into areas of vitiligo. Also, camouflaging skin (with makeup) can work well. People with vitiligo should protect their skin using exceptional sunscreens and sun-protective clothing. They should also avoid tanning and trauma to the skin (like getting tattoos), which can cause the disease to spread via a process called the Koebner effect. People with vitiligo should live a healthy lifestyle free from tobacco, minimize alcohol consumption, eat a healthy diet, ex-

Into the mainstream Camp Discovery offers children living with chronic skin conditions, such as vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia, epidermolysis bullosa, and ichthyosis, a oneof-a-kind week-long camp experience. Camp Discovery is provided at no cost to the campers. Fortunately, many companies are creating products that embrace vitiligo, like the new “Fashionista” Barbie Collection, featuring a Barbie Doll with vitiligo. Additionally, many high-profile models like Chantelle Brown-Young and Winnie Harlow are embracing their vitiligo, bringing it into the mainstream. Their efforts are applauded. Emerging research indicates that medicines called JAK inhibitors may also be

■ See Vitiligo on page 5

How is vitiligo diagnosed? Vitiligo is most easily diagnosed by a board-certified dermatologist. This can be done by a special light examination called a “wood’s lamp” or by a skin biopsy.

To Protect Yourself and Others from Covid-19 If you feel sick...

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS

START WEARING A MASK

GET TESTED

STAY HOME IF YOU TEST POSITIVE

GET VACCINATED

For more information, visit northpointhealth.org/ coronavirus-updates

Scan this QR code for more vaccine information

April 28 - May 4, 2022

For the second straight year, renewables are MN’s leading power source By Mike Moen Minnesota is accepting public comment on broader plans to address climate change until Friday, April 29. While that takes shape, clean-energy leaders say new data show the state can build on strong actions already taking hold. The 2022 Minnesota Energy Fact Sheet says at nearly 30%, renewables such as wind and solar power are the leading source of the state’s generated electricity. Virginia Mooty Rutter, director of engagement & strategic initiatives for Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, said that’s the second year in a row that’s happened. Com-

Vitiligo

Continued from page 4 beneficial in treating vitiligo. Researchers may develop better treatments once all of the genes causing vitiligo have been identified. The ultimate goal is to find a treatment that will permanently stop the skin from losing color. Currently, a combination of treatments, including topical medications, JAK inhibitors, and narrow-band UVB light treatments, can have dramatic and satisfying results, as shown in the accompanying photographs.

Action steps for anyone

bined with nuclear energy, 52% of Minnesota’s power source is carbon-free. “It’s exciting to see how Minnesota companies and utilities and our policymakers are choosing to invest in this clean-energy transition,” said Rutter. The remaining 48% is from coal and natural gas. However, Rutter noted that major utilities in the state are on pace to retire coal plants by 2035. She added that while the state has seen clean-energy gains over a long period, it did have to combat global instability in 2021 with supply-chain issues. Despite some year-overyear volatility, industry ob-

servers say it’s noteworthy that Minnesota has held steady through short-term challenges—including the pandemic. Keven Lee, a deputy commissioner with the state Commerce Department, said the numbers speak for themselves. “Wind and solar have transitioned from a sort of early-stage nascent technology in the eighties and nineties,” said Lee, “to one of the mainstays of our grid.” Lee said the state needs to focus on infrastructure, including adding grid capacity, to ensure a smoother transition to renewables. As for electric vehicles and hybrids, Minnesota had 24,000 of them on the road

MNC by the end of last year. And with the state implementing clean-car standards, Rutter said there’s room for more growth. “Transportation is currently Minnesota’s largest source of carbon emissions or greenhouse-gas emissions,” said Rutter. “And I think what we

gist can help with this. Patients with vitiligo can also experience hearing and vision changes. This is because melanocytes in the eyes and ears can be affected. If you have vitiligo, check your hearing and eyesight regularly. It is essential to realize that vitiligo is a common condition, and you are not alone. There are many new, effective and promising treatments for vitiligo. If you have vitiligo, see a boardcertified dermatologist. local support groups. In pawith unwanted vitiligo Be sure to get under tients where vitiligo causes Charles E. Crutchfield the care of a board-certi- psychological and social III, MD, is a board-certified fied dermatologist and learn problems, insist that the dermatologist and clinical about vitiligo. Also, join the insurance company covprofessor of dermatology at National Vitiligo Founda- ers treatments as medically the University of Minnesota tion and participate in their necessary. Your dermatolo-

show in the report is that Minnesotans are adopting electric vehicles at increased rates.” Since 2017, registrations for vehicles increased by 300%. 2021 saw a slight dip from the previous year, but the report says that’s another example of supply-

chain issues. The findings come as Minnesota prepares its Climate Action Framework, with a final draft expected later this year.

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. In addition, Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specializes in skin-of-color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota

for the past 20 years. He is the consulting team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of the American and National Medical Associations and past president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He is a founding member of “Minnesota’s Black Community Project” which recently published an award-winning book. Dr. Crutchfield has been recognized by NBC News/The Grio as one of the most influential African Americans in America. Dr. Crutchfield can be reached at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.

Mike Moen is a writer for Minnesota News Connection.

6 April 28 - May 4, 2022

Business

Forreal ’Real estate coffeehouse’ Coffeehouse opens at George Floyd Square

Black Business SPOTLIGHT By Ashley Lauren Contributing Writer Business partners Disney Foote and Billy Jones own Forreal Coffeehouse, a new “real estate coffeehouse” located in South Minneapolis on 38th & Chicago, otherwise known as George Floyd Square. They launched a soft opening in March 2022. The owners actually met 10 years ago before deciding to launch a business together. Now, they are social entrepreneurs on a mission to manifest positive change in the community. “We’re actually a real estate coffeehouse, so it’s two businesses in one,” Foote explained. Foote handles “the real estate brokerage side.” She said, “My family’s brokerage is based out of Brooklyn Park, which is America’s Realty Group, so my dad has been in real estate all my life. I’ve always been with the family business.” Foote obtained her real estate license in 2015. She noted that Jones is more wellversed in tech. He graduated in ‘08 from Central State University (HBCU) in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he obtained a degree in computer science. Right now, Jones is also working on his real estate license. “I’ve been a broker since 2018,” Foote said, “so we’re creating a space [where] people can come and expect to have a collaborative conversation about money, finances, financial literacy, tech, any-

thing.” The owners aspire to create an “open dialogue environment” where everyone is welcomed. The entrepreneurs want the community to enjoy their coffee and learn about real estate. “We have an internship program I launched years ago. I describe it as an insideout real estate journey,” Foote said. Internship participants would have an opportunity to “work in the coffeehouse, network, learn real estate, learn if it’s even for you, and then connect on deals, working with real agents until you become an agent,” Foote said. She elaborated, “So, the whole objective is to lead people into a space where their barista is also their local real estate expert.” They hope to help people learn about real estate and provide proper guidance while they enjoy a cup of coffee. Asked about the most popular drink on the menu, Jones said, “Tangy Wake-Up,” which is named after a local artist and food critic by the name of “Tangy G.” Jones described the drink as “something that gives you the energy you need, but easy to digest—it’s smooth.” Jones has extensive knowledge and expertise in brewing up the best coffee and beverages. He used to work as a barista during his high school years. “He’s also an amazing barista,” Foote said. It’s not a game—he’s really good.” Foote added, “We’re very

(R.I.P.), so when I grew up, all my grandma referenced was that this was an all-Black neighborhood.” He added, “We wanted to feel what this neighborhood was like before though, especially on 38th Street, when you look at the PBS documentaries.” So far the real estate coffeehouse has been well-received by the community, and they are grateful for the outpouring of support. The owners are paying it forward with advice for youth and budding entrepreneurs. “Whatever you envision, if God puts a vision in your head, then you can do it. The sky is really the limit,” Jones declared. He added, “God is deDisney Foote (l) and Billy Jones Photo by Ashley Lauren veloping you.” Foote added, “Life is just serious about the quality of borhood. Foote said, “I told value to the neighborhood. going to keep repeating the Most importantly, “Our ob- same messages—and if you the coffee, but also the qual- Billy I haven’t been here since ity of the experience is equally June, since the protests. Then jective is to bring life back to just read between the lines of important.” The unique cof- we got the keys on March 1, the square and to the Minne- our life experiences, individufeehouse can be described so to see this right here when apolis area, because obviously ally, who you are today is just as “a space to collaborate and people are taking trips, tour- since the riots, things are not reflective of the thing that ists from all around the world,” sustained,” Foote said. As a re- came to you when you were make change,” she said. sult, she is motivated to invest eight. So just stay connected The owners are thrilled is quite surprising. She added, “They [some in the neighborhood and get and self-aware.” to provide space where individuals can come together tourists] don’t actually care the community involved. Jones said, “Even with to communicate and make about the community or real For more information visit moves. Jones said, “Outside of problem, they just want their bringing this around to the www.forrealcoffeehouse.com. [Minnesota just talking about it, just kind little moment—are we go- Spokesman my of really figuring out how to ing to lynching sites, is that a Spokesman-Recorder], Ashley Lauren welcomes accomplish the goal—figur- thing?” Their goal as business grandma was really good reader responses to alauren@ ing out the problem and what owners is to focus on adding friends with Launa Newman spokesman-recorder.com. steps does it take, and that’s what Disney is good at.” The George Floyd memorial site is directly in front of the coffeehouse, and the owners are happy to be in the neigh-

What you should know about credit monitoring

Sponsored Content By:

So much of our lives take place online, including things like paying bills, shopping, getting paid, and even sending a friend money for your half of the lunch bill. With so much transfer of sensitive financial information online, it makes sense to be a little wary of what’s happening to your data and what it could mean for your finances. Your credit score is the most common aspect of your financial life that can be hurt by malicious activity online. This critical number is calculated based on several factors, including how much of your total credit limit you’ve used, your payment history, and the age of your credit accounts. The score helps lenders determine whether or not to lend to you and influences the interest rate you pay on a loan. The higher your score, the better off you’ll be, so it’s essential to keep an eye on your credit. The last thing you want is to find out that your credit has taken a hit because of stolen financial information when you’re applying for something like a home loan. That’s where credit monitoring comes in.

Photo: kali9 via gettyimages.com

How can credit monitoring help me? Credit monitoring essentially works as an alarm system for your credit. When it detects something is wrong, it alerts you so that you can take action. The sooner you’re able to address fraudulent activity by freezing your accounts or other preventative action, the more you can minimize harm to your credit and overall financial health. It’s important to note that credit monitoring does not fix the problems caused by stolen financial information, like recovering your identity or reporting fraudulent activity to financial institutions. Instead, it alerts you so that you can What is credit monitoring? Several well-known, trust- take the necessary steps. ed companies offer credit monitoring as a service that Do I need credit monitoring? keeps tabs on your credit reBecause everyone is vulports and alerts you to sig- nerable to having sensitive innificant changes to suspicious formation stolen and used for activity. Then, you can take fraudulent purposes, generally action to prevent further dam- speaking, everyone can benefit age or try to reverse what’s from credit monitoring. A 2020 been done. You can use one of study showed that identity fraud these services to stay on top reached $16.9 billion in 2019, of changes to your credit score and criminals are growing more without manually checking it sophisticated, making their efyourself all the time. forts harder to spot and fix.

How much does it cost? Credit monitoring services typically charge a fee, and that fee varies by the company you choose and the level of protection you get. There are basic services that are free to use but don’t offer the same protection as a premium service. Additionally, if your information was involved in a data breach, you may qualify for free credit monitoring service. Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine how much it’s worth to protect your information and financial health online. If you choose to pay for a service, make sure you’re doing business with a reputable company. Every year, it seems like we spend more of our lives online in one form or another. With so much transfer of information and increasingly sophisticated criminals out there who are constantly creating new ways to steal your information and misuse it, it’s savvy to keep a close eye on your accounts, watching for signs of potential misuse. Your future self will thank you for your diligence, and credit monitoring is one way to ease a bit of the worry.

April 28 - May 4, 2022

GF Square Continued from page 1

begin with public listening sessions.” The note also referenced some of the City’s early community engagement for the project, interviews with 30 unnamed stakeholders in the community. The only information the City has released about the stakeholders is that they are involved with the local

community in varying capacities. “Who are these mysterious stakeholders?” the note inquired. “Why wasn’t there a public invitation to join?” The note ended with, “Turn around and start over.” Other community members are more hopeful. Billy Jones, one of the partners in the newly opened Forreal Coffeehouse in George Floyd Square, thinks the redesign could benefit the community. “Most of these houses and places have been designed in the early 1900s, so with the new design and the City

coming in, it could be a great thing depending on how it goes,” Jones said. “Change is always good,” he added. “I’m looking at ways to make it accessible for the public but also businesses. That balance could be a great thing for the community.” According to an FAQ sheet released by the City, a final design concept for the streets is projected to be completed by spring 2023. It also notes that “the timeline will have to include flexibility to allow for each engagement phase to be completed before advancing to the next.”

Dyslexia

Berg stated during the rally that she spent six weeks being tutored for thousands of dollars but noted that everyone doesn’t have that option. “I worry about families who can’t afford private tutoring,” she said. “What will happen to those children who always struggle to read because they depend upon their schools?” MN State Representative Heather Edelson was also diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and even held back in the third grade because of it. “It was terrible,” said Edelson, “and nobody knew why I

Continued from page 1

“Struggling White students, like my son, often gain skills in reading because of the ability to afford private tutors,” stated Berger. “Many kids don’t have this access, and there is no fallback for them.” This can lead to a downward spiral. “For literacy in my community, if you literally [don’t learn how to] read, you die,” said Khulia Pringle, of the National Parents Union, an organization supporting training for teachers and literacy for students. “Many children who look like me experience the desperate impacts such as being referred to special education with an emotional behavior disorder,” continued Pringle. “They then end up getting suspended [from school], kicked out, and referred to the juvenile justice system, taking the troubled record into adulthood. “In addition, generational poverty, housing disparities, economic and health disparities—that all accrues from lack of literacy,” said

Some of the City’s stated goals for the redesign are to reflect community needs and use of the space, and to explore pedestrian and transit expansions while maintaining access to local businesses. The City has not ruled out creating a pedestrian plaza in the area, noting it would explore the idea through further community engagement. The City is also exploring expanding opportunities at 38th and Chicago regarding the upcoming D-line bus route and has considered purchasing the closed Speedway gas station on the intersec-

tion’s northwest corner. Another virtual public meeting regarding the redesign took place on Tuesday, April 26. Opinions on the redesign can also be submitted online through a survey by going to www.surveymonkey.com/ r/38Chicago_Phase2 Cole Miska welcomes reader responses to cmiska@spokesman-recorder.com. Henry Pan contributed to this story. Pan can be reached at hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.

about 55 to 70% of the time. Also, around 49% of parents of dyslexic children also have it. However, 30% of dyslexic diagnoses are due to the environment. To help remedy this, DDMN supports bill SF2872, which will add $30 million to the current Minnesota Department of Education grant program for licensed teachers to take LETRS—a professional development program aligned with the science of reading—free of charge. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes), is currently in the Senate Educa-

“I worry about families who can’t afford private tutoring.”

Khulia Pringle

Pringle. Elana Berg, an elementary school student, gave her testimony on her school experience with dyslexia. She recalled feel-

Mandate Continued from page 1

Photo by Ivan B. Phifer ing “defeated and stupid” as her classmates were already reading chapter books. “Reading, writing and spelling do not come easy for me,” said Berg.

likely to die from the coronavirus. “I still respect them. I know if I get it, I might survive, but if they got it, they might not,” said Freeman, who is indifferent about the need for a mask mandate. Taneisha Holm, on the other hand, thinks the mask mandate should stay. “Because we’re so close [to each other], you never know who’s next to you. It could be an elderly person [or someone] like myself with health problems, which makes me nervous,” said Holm. She added that she was hospitalized for COVID-19 for a month. The CDC continues to recommend maskwearing for people vulnerable to COVID-19. The Department of Justice, at the request of the CDC, plans to appeal the ruling. The ruling, if it stands, may make it difficult for the CDC to respond to future public health emergencies. Not all agencies across the nation are getting rid of their mask mandates, despite the lack of federal backing. New York City transit continues to require riders to don masks, and Los Angeles County reinstated such an order on its transit vehicles and airports. San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit district will consider a mandate to be enforced through their code of conduct on April 28.

April 18, saying the CDC exceeded their authority and failed to follow procedures for rulemaking. This comes at a time when the COVID-19 spread is increasing; the positivity rate as of April 22 was 6%, just above the state’s 5% threshold for uncontrolled spread. Nonetheless, all Twin Cities transit agencies began to stop requiring masks onboard following metro counties and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which mostly ended their mandates between February and March of this year. Nevertheless, many passengers on certain Metro Transit routes continued to wear masks as if the ruling did not take place. On a Friday afternoon ride on two Route 18 buses, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) noticed most passengers, save for a small percentage, still wearing masks. Alan Freeman of South Minneapolis was one of those Route 18 riders who decided to continue wearing a mask out of respect Henry Pan welcomes hpan@spokesmanfor the vulnerable, he said, who may be more recorder.com.

Glanton

Reed

Continued from page 1

home-made cards and poems from students at South County Middle School in Lorton, Virginia (where Reed’s granddaughter teaches); 150+ cards from her granddaughter and godchildren’s He is also one of the founders of the friends; and a personalized letter from her favorSabathani Community Center, and a longtime ite president, Jimmy Carter, commemorating her builder in the community—his company built 100th birthday—an incredible milestone. The matriarch of the Reed family continues the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder building— in addition to owning a True Value Hardware to be the voice of faith, wisdom and support to franchise for several years. We wish him a her three children, six grandchildren, eight greatgrandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren. Happy Birthday!

couldn’t read. Then I found out my 12-year-old son had it. I was asked if me or my husband had a hard time reading and I immediately got defensive,” she recalled. What she didn’t know was that dyslexia is hereditary. According to Nelson Dorta of Understood.org, about 40% of siblings of children with dyslexia “also have reading issues,” and if one twin is dyslexic, the other will have dyslexia

MEMPHIS APR 23 -MAY 15 DIRECTED BY AIMEE K. BRYANT FEATURING

VIE BOHEME AS FELICIA FARRELL

MATT RIEHLE AS HUEY CALHOUN

WITH NIKKI ANTHONY, MATTHEW J. BRIGHTBILL, SHAVUNDA BROWN, RODNEY PATRICK FAIR, BRI GRAHAM, JAVARI HORNE, RICKY MORISSEAU, C. RYAN SHIPLEY, ELLY STAHLKE, THERESE WALTH

Cities community. He is a World War II veteran and commander of the Johnnie Baker Legion Post.

Text by Anthony Scott

Photo and text by Travis Lee

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! $15 - 47

952.563.8575 ARTISTRYMN.ORG

tion Finance and Policy Committee. “We can’t do this alone,” Berger said. For more information on Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota, visit https:// www.decodingdyslexiamn.org. Ivan B. Phifer welcomes reader responses to iphifer@spokesmanrecorder.com.

8 April 28 - May 4, 2022

Arts & Culture Growing up with Prince: the makings of a superstar

By Tony Kiene Contributing Writer Conclusion of a two-part story In part one of this story, Prince’s cousin Charles Smith recounted their early years growing up together. In this installment, Smith reflects on the origins of Prince’s legendary and iconic musical career. “I’ll play the guitar” The subsequent musical collaboration between cousins began somewhat casually. “I’d bring new records over to his house,” recalled Charles Smith: “Hendrix, Santana, Grand Funk Railroad, Cold Blood from Oakland, stuff like that. It blew his mind. I’d see the gleam in his eyes. He was made for this.” One day Prince just started playing the piano, so Smith, who didn’t have his own drum kit yet, grabbed some kitchen utensils and joined in. “I started playing on this bench

“What?!” replied Smith, “You can’t play guitar!” Prince insisted, “I’ll get my dad to buy me a guitar.” Indeed, shortly after this declaration, Prince’s dad gifted his son with his first guitar and he brought it over to his cousin’s house at 927 Sheridan Avenue North. “It was a Gibson semi-hollow body, like B.B. King used,” laughed Smith. “The guitar was bigger than he was!” Smith shouted, “There’s no way you can play that thing” before grabbing hold of it and fiddling around on it himself. “Gimme my guitar, Charles,” demanded Prince, to which his cousin thought, “Ok, then, here you go,” as he handed it back. The very next day, Prince returned to the Smith home having taught himself both the lead line and all the chords to Santana’s “Black Magic Woman.” “I couldn’t believe it,” recalled Smith. “Prince was probably only 12 years old at

On the floor wrestling: Charles Smith and Prince Rogers Nelson. On the sofa (l-r): Charles’ mother Mary Smith, his sister Denise Smith, and his aunt Mary Lou Hill holding his newborn cousin Tracy Riley-Giles. that was down at his mother’s house. And, for my bass drum, I would just kick the side of it,” said Smith. The two of them got to where they’d play television theme songs such as “Batman,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” and “Get Smart.” Before long, they felt like they really had something. Smith eventually told Prince, “Now we just need someone to play guitar and bass.” “I’ll play the guitar,” said Prince.

the time. He’d had the guitar one day, and already he played it perfectly.” Realizing how serious Prince was about the instrument, Smith made sure to expose him to a variety of other guitarists as well. “We absorbed it all. He loved Funkadelic… You know, Eddie Hazel, Garry Shider,” recalled Smith. “And he really got into Bobby Womack. Not everyone thinks of Bobby as a guitarist, but he played with the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex, Janis Joplin. So, of course,

Prince was all over that.” Smith introduced Prince to some of the legendary “rock dudes” as well—guitarists like Frank Zappa, Robin Trower, Johnny Winters, and even “jazz fusion cats” such as Pat Martino. And, when it came to singing, Prince was starting to discover new influences as well. “When Prince was about 12 or so, he really did not like his voice,” noted Smith. “It was just too high then.” Smith started to style his own vocals after Smokey Robinson, something that Prince really liked. And, soon enough, Prince started to gravitate toward the artists who sang in higher octaves such as Philly soul groups like The Delfonics, Archie Bell and The Drells, and Blue Magic. “Prince even studied pop stars, people like Neal Sedaka,” revealed Smith. “He was starting to craft his singing voice even before he was a teenager.”

Charles Smith speaking at a memorial for his Cousin Prince (April 2016)

which was the origins of the scure, intricate chords,” said Smith. “What chord is that y’all band Grand Central. Andre’s sister Linda played just played?” Prince would ask. Smith said they’d respond the keys, and Terry Jackson and William Doughty both with something like, “You can’t played percussion. The lineup play that chord. Your hands are too small.” Nevertheless, was complete. “We used to play all over the Prince wasn’t deterred. “Someday, that’s gonna be us “He’d go off somewhere,” place,” said Smith. “Anywhere up there” One of Smith’s most trea- we could get a gig—The Way, reminisced Smith, “and just sured memories came in July the Y, wherever. And when figure it out. He was like that of 1970 when he and Prince it came to the Battle of the to the end. Prince would take slipped into Parade Stadium Bands competitions, we’d what others did and make it his own. Make it better. He to see Sly and the Family clean up!” Stone. “Someone had cut the fence, so Prince and I just slipped in,” said Smith. They made their way up front as far as they could and were simply mesmerized. “It was so cool,” declared Smith. “Everyone in the band was a hero of ours. But as I was a drummer, I locked in on Greg Errico, and naturally, Prince was checking out both Sly and his brother Freddie on guitar.” And then, out of the blue, Prince turned to his older cousin and said something that Smith still remembers as if he just heard it yesterday: “Someday, that’s gonna be us up there.” Smith is certain of one thing: “Prince Grand Central (early 1970s) with Prince on guitar, Charles believed it.” Photos courtesy of the Smith Family Archives As the two cousins contin- Smith on drums. ued to rehearse, they would If success started to go to never stopped practicing, nevsoon revisit the idea of starting their own band. Charles their heads, it definitely didn’t er stopped studying.” told his younger cousin that keep Prince from his obses- The days of wild When it came to girls, they needed a bass player. sion to become better and Prince mentioned that he better. “We had some real Smith said he used to tell his knew of someone who played neighborhood legends over cousin, “Don’t let them know the saxophone but not bass. North—Jerry Hubbard, Sr., you’re interested. Make That individual was André Sonny Thompson. Sonny was them chase you.” Of course, as Smith readily admits, it Anderson who played the like a god to us kids. “Prince would hang out and wasn’t long before Prince atsax in the junior high school band. So now their two-piece observe these guys, and they tracted the interest of more became a three-piece band, might be playing some ob- girls than he likely could

BLEND IN OR FADE OUT: A MEMOIR COLNESE M. HENDON

A beating heart of a memoir. “BLEND IN OR FADE OUT” is a piercing and honest narrative of a young woman’s Black experience in 1960s-1970s Minneapolis as a biracial adoptee navigating identity, love, brokenness, spirituality, and belonging. Colnese Hendon’s unfettered look at the self from childhood to early adulthood is emotional, wholehearted, and packed.

Northrop and Walker Art Center Present

Third Coast Percussion with Movement Art Is In-person Apr 30

- Book review by Ari Tison

Buy Now! Available now for purchase at strivepublishing.com

northrop.umn.edu Third Coast Percussion with Movement Art Is in Metamorphosis. Photo © Landon Akiyama.

have ever imagined. One of the things that Smith remembers most about those days—in addition to music, sports, and girls— was just how much fun Prince was to be around. “Prince and I would crack each other up! He always had an enormous sense of humor,” recalled Smith. “He used to observe and mimic all these different personalities in our neighborhood, whether they were cool, crazy, or whatever.” And this, according to Smith, was the foundation for a lot of the characters and/or pseudonyms he created over the years—Jamie Starr, Bob George, Joey Coco, Peter Bravestrong, Alexander Nevermind, and so on. Although Smith can’t help but smile every time he mentions his cousin’s name, the tears are always near the surface, ready to flow at little more than a moment’s notice. “It’s so hard to believe it’s been six years without him,” lamented Smith. When they were kids, the two cousins used to lay in the yard at his grandmother’s at night and gaze up at the stars and talk. On one such occasion, Prince said, “I’m gonna be up there one day.” “I used to take that to mean he was going to be a star, you know, as in a superstar,” confessed Smith. “But now I think of it differently. I look into the sky at night, and I know he’s up there somewhere guiding me from a distance.” Tony Kiene welcomes reader responses to tkiene@spokesman-recorder.com.

April 28 - May 4, 2022

Jazz milestones, celebrations, and new releases At 54, bassist Charnett Moffett passed away on April 12 at Stanford University Hospital following a heart attack. His publicist Lydia Liebman confirmed the sad news. “He could elevate a tune without soloing on it. His ability to intertwine with drummers and pianists created flexible yet sturdy foundations for soloists to drive the music in whatever direction he or she pleased,” said writer Martin Johnson for npr.org. Moffett will be missed. He was a kind and loving spirit. The last time we saw each other was in 2005 at the Newport Jazz Festival. Veteran writer and critic Nate Chinen called Moffett a bass phenom who covered the full spectrum and was a beautiful human being. Happy birthday to the legendary keyboardist and composer Herbie Hancock, who turned 82 on April 12. Happy birthday is also in order for Tito Puente, aka Ernesto Antonio “Tito” Puente Jr. He celebrated a birthday on April 20. On April 9, WBGO 88.3 FM celebrated 43 years of jazz. So congrats to all at the “World’s greatest jazz station” in Newark, New Jersey. Vocalist Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915. If you have to choose one album of hers to

listen to, make it “Lady in Satin.” On April 3, 1954, Miles Davis recorded “Walkin’” for Prestige Records. Performances by Horace Silver, Kenny Clarke, Percy Heath, Jay Jay Johnson, and Lucky Thompson are all included on the album. Catherine Russell’s new album from Dot Time Records, “Send for Me,” is out now. Fantastic musicians such as drummer Mark McLean and baritone saxophonist Paul Nedzela play on tracks featured on the album. Russell provides not only the vocals but percussion and some handclaps. Some of the track listings include songs like “Send for Me,” “Going Back to New Orleans,” “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon),” plus the standout track “Make it Last.” Saxophonist Najee will release his new album “Savoir Faire” on May 13. It’s available for pre-order now at listen.to/ najeesavoirfai. In other news, the all-star band consisting of saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade are all out on tour now. It’s good to know they are back together again. Rolling Stone magazine’s Senior Music Editor Hank Shteamer had this to say about the group on Twitter: “Total investment in the material-from hard-swinging to abstract to deeply grooving and delight in one another’s abilities. A privi-

Najee’s new album “Savoir Faire” comes out on May 13. lege to witness.” There’s a Charles Mingus centennial going on. Mingus’ timeless classics such as “Better Get It In Your Soul,” “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” “Fables of Faubus,” and “Boogie Stop Shuffle” live on. One of my favorite albums featuring Mingus is “The Quintet: Jazz at Massy Hall (Live).” It includes such classics as “Salt Peanuts,”

“All the Things You Are,” and “A Night in Tunisia.” Twenty years ago this month, pianist Bill Charlap released “Stardust” featuring his longtime trio bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. They play the music of Hoagy Carmichael with guests Tony Bennett, Shirley Horn, Frank Wess, and Jim Hall. Charlap, along

Shanachie Records

Questlove won Grammy gold for his music documentary “Summer of Soul. If you haven’t watched the film yet, I highly recommend doing so. A new festival in the same Harlem location as the previous festival is currently being planned. Jazz greats Eliane Elias, the late Chick Corea, and Chucho Valdes won the Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy for “Mirror Mirror” on Candid Records. Writer Ricky Riccardi won a Grammy for Best Liner Notes for his work on “The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966,” a seven-CD boxed set released by Mosaic Records. “I learned everything I know about jazz from liner notes,” Riccardi said during his acceptance speech. “The music of Louis Armstrong changed my life, and that’s the crux of this box set.” Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy went to Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ron Carter and Jack Dejohnette for “Skyline,” a beautiful album. Coming up, some musicians to see at the Dakota in Minneapolis include drummer Nate Smith + Kinfolk on May 3 & 4. B-3 organ giant Joey DeFrancesco will perform on May 19. For more information and tickets, visit dakotacooks.com.

with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, will perform at the Hopkins Center for the Arts on April 30. Last but not least, congrats are in order for late-night bandleaders Questlove and Jon Batiste for their recent Grammy wins. Batiste won Robin James welcomes readfive Grammys including Album of the Year for his album, er responses to jamesonjazz@ spokesman-recorder.com. “We Are.”

Know your operator: Andre Williams Sponsored Content By:

Andre Williams is at Metro Transit to help people. “I’ve gone through some things,” Williams said. “Why not share what I’ve learned?” Over the course of his young adult life, he’s learned to work through tragedy. As a 13-year-old in Memphis, Tennessee, he was in a car accident that took the lives of his father and his two sisters. Today, he tries to help anyone onboard his bus experiencing any issue, small Andre Williams or large.

Photo by Metro Transit Marketing Team

“It’s more than just getting people from point A to point B,” he said. “Every day, I pick up a person who might need a little encouragement.” Recently, a distressed customer felt that they had nowhere to go and that no one loved them. A few kind words made all the difference. “By the end of our conversation, I could see something lift off of them,” Williams said. Being a bus operator is very different from his previous 20-year career working overnight at a semiconductor company. The 12-hour shifts were process and not people oriented. “When I started my career

Predatory lenders know that times are tough. They count on it. We can help break the cycle. No interest. No fees. No judgment. LEARN MORE exoduslending.org 612-615-0067

with transit, my daughters were shocked,” he said. “They told me that I never talk.” After 7 years of service, he says he’s found a new family at Nicollet Garage and plans to retire here. “It’s a great job where I can punch in and punch out then spend time with my friends and family,” Williams said. Operator at a Glance Hired: 2015 Routes: Serves various routes as an extra-board operator Family: Two daughters Lives: Minneapolis Hobbies: Biking from Minneapolis to St. Paul and snowboarding

We’re hiring Fast-track your way to a new full-time career. No experience in bus operations is required and training is paid. Bus operators receive outstanding benefits like health care, annual salary increases, a pension plan, and an unlimitedride bus pass. And, as many Metro Transit managers start their careers as operators, there’s also room for growth.

Visit metrotransit.org/drive to apply.

"I can handle $40 a month vs. $234 every two weeks. So, it was a big, big relief." -Lara, Program Participant

Minnesota's only nonprofit with a predatory loan refinancing program.

10 April 28 - May 4, 2022

Opinion More corruption of Trump and his lawbreaking friends exposed By Ben Jealous

Humanity may be evolving in spite of itself By Robert C. Koehler As wars rage, as cruelty shatters lives across the planet—as nuclear Armageddon remains a viable option for all of us—I think it’s time to claim some stunning awareness in this regard. The human race is evolving in spite of itself— evolving beyond war, beyond empire, beyond dominance and conquest, and toward an uncertain but collective future. Indeed, I think most of us already know this, but only at a level so deep, so vague, it feels like nothing more than “hope.” There’s also another problem. Much of our world remains organized in a totally opposite way: committed, as Richard Falk puts it in his 2013 book, “(Re)Imagining Humane Global Governance,” to national policies “shaped by unimaginative thinking trapped within a militarist box.” Another way to put this would be: a de facto commitment to human suicide. As long as there’s no serious, organized alternative to war, this is what we’re going to get, which, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seems suddenly clearer than it’s been since, oh, 1962. (Remember the Cuban missile crisis?) As long as global order, global security, is allegedly maintained with bombs and bullets and bully-swagger— with various nuclear-armed enemies occasionally challenging one another for the right to control particular swaths of the planet—we’re hostage to an insanity we

seem to have bequeathed ourselves. What is power? This strikes me as the key question, and untangling ourselves from the wrong answer is the beginning of the creation of real peace. When we think of power, the word itself commands that we carve the concept into something isolated and wieldable: a sword, a gun, a scepter. Power means power over. There is no basic concept of power—no word for power in the English language—that also means collaboration, collective participation: People working together, individually empowered at the same time that they are part of a larger whole.

“Despite its military dominance, despite the harm it inflicted, the U.S. has done nothing but lose wars for the last three quarters of a century.” Even when we examine the dark side of power—as in, power corrupts—the examination seems to hover as a warning rather than open up to larger awareness. Consider, for instance, this 2017 article in The Atlantic by Jerry Useem titled (fasten your seatbelts!) “Power Causes Brain Damage,” which discusses a concept called “hubris syndrome.” The article’s essential point is that people who gain a significant amount of power over others lose the ability to empathize with—or mime, as the

submissions@spokesman-recorder.com

article puts it—people in general, the lesser mortals who must follow the boss’s orders. This inability, it turns out, is serious. It isolates the powerful into their own stereotypes and egotistical certainties, which lessens their ability to make good, or even rational, decisions. The idea is that we’re naturally connected and subconsciously “mimic” others: We laugh when others laugh, tense up when others grow tense. It’s not faking an emotion to fit in; it’s participating in— feeling—the collective emotion that fills the room. “It helps trigger the same feelings those others are experiencing and provides a window into where they are coming from,” Useem writes. But powerful people “stop simulating the experience of others,” leading to what is called an “empathy deficit,” which saps the powerful of most, or maybe all, of their social skill, leaving them, even as they generate endless obeisance, socially isolated souls. The conclusion to be drawn here is that what is commonly thought of as power—power over others, a.k.a., dominance—isn’t power at all. It’s an illusion of power that weakens, and perhaps destroys, those who hold it. So does this hold true beyond the personal level—at the geopolitical level? Among countries? Well, a “country” is a created, collective entity, and may well be bound to the concept of us vs. them, intoxicated by the need for armed self-defense and, occasionally, armed conquest. Richard Falk calls this “hard power”: dominance maintained by force and, when necessary, massacre. Is something else possible—e.g., “a world order premised on nonviolent geopolitics”? Falk calls this “soft power”—the power of working together, respecting and valuing rather than fearing one another. The way I have put it over the years is power with others rather than power over them. And Falk makes a startling observation about how the world has changed since, in essence, the end of World War II. “Throughout the colonial era, and until the mid-twentieth century, hard power was generally eﬀective and eﬃcient,” he notes. Heavily armed European nations tramped across the rest of the planet, claiming ownership where they felt they could. But then something changed, beginning with India’s struggle for independence from Great Britain: “Every anticolonial war in the

We keep learning more about the attack on the U.S. Capitol. And we keep learning more about the many schemes former President Donald Trump and his team tried to use to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In some ways it is discouraging. We know just how badly Trump’s inner circle was corrupted by his desire to keep power at all costs. We had lawyers writing memos about how to break the law and stop Congress from affirming Trump’s defeat. We had members of Congress repeating his lies about a stolen election and trying to take the decision away from the voters. In other ways it is encouraging that the truth continues to come out. News stories that expose lies and corruption remind us of the importance of a free press. The investigation by the Jan. 6 select committee reminds us how much we need the checks and balances that are built into our system. Those checks and balances—like the ability of Congress to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch—are necessary to prevent abuses of power and hold politicians accountable. But for those protections to work, we must have public officials who are committed to upholding the rule of law. That’s not what we’re seeing from former Trump staffers and advisers. Just the opposite: They are stonewalling the congressional investigation and defying its subpoenas. And with just a few exceptions, congressional Republicans are not acting honorably. Rather than embracing the search for truth, they try to discredit the investiga-

tion. Rather than face up to the anti-democratic rot in their party, they would like to sweep it all under the rug. Let’s be clear: Trump and his lawbreaking friends are trying to keep Americans from learning the truth about the attack on Congress and the attempt to overthrow the will of the voters. Specifically, Trump and his supporters are trying to run out the clock. They are counting on their allies taking a majority in the House of Representatives in this year’s elections, and then they’ll shut the investigation down before the full truth can come out. That would be disastrous for our democracy.

We can’t make Clarence Thomas act honorably. But that doesn’t mean we are powerless to protect our democracy. Consider just a few of the things we have learned recently. When the White House handed over logs of Trump’s calls on the day of the insurrection, there was a seven-hour gap covering the crucial hours before, during, and after the attack on Congress. What violations of law are hiding in that gap? We also learned that Ginni Thomas, a hard-right activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, was in regular contact with Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows in the days and weeks after the presidential election. She embraced even the most extreme and ridiculous far-right conspiracy theories about the election.

She even said she hoped it was true that members of the “Biden crime family,” reporters, and elected officials were being arrested and would be held on barges in Guantanamo Bay to face military trials for sedition. She urged Trump not to concede defeat. It just so happens that Justice Clarence Thomas was the only Supreme Court justice who backed Trump’s attempt to keep White House records from being shared with the Jan. 6 committee. It was an 8-1 vote. That explains why so many people are now calling on Thomas to resign—or at the very least to recuse himself from any other cases about the insurrection that come before the Court. We can’t make Clarence Thomas act honorably. But that doesn’t mean we are powerless to protect our democracy. It was we the people who voted Trump out of power. Trump’s ability to pressure and bully election officials and legislators into joining his corrupt schemes was limited by the fact that he lost in multiple battleground states, not just one. His supporters’ ability to shield him from accountability will be determined in part by what happens in this year’s elections. When Americans go to the polls this fall to elect members of Congress, we will not only be participating in democracy. We will be determining its future. Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and professor of the Practice in the Africana Studies Department at the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches leadership. Jealous has decades of experience as a leader, coalition builder, campaigner for social justice and seasoned nonprofit executive.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MN anti-lynching law preceded new federal measure By Marshall H. Tanick The enactment last month of the federal anti-lynching law was long overdue after repeated setbacks since the legislation was first proposed in 1900. But the measure, known after Emmett Till, the youth whose lynching in Mississippi in 1955 was one of the catalysts of the Civil Rights Movement, actually had a forerunner here in Minnesota a little over a century ago. The obscure law was passed by the state legislature in 1921 in the wake of the notorious lynching of three Black

traveling circus workers in Duluth. They were executed by a mob of some 5,000-10,000 vigilantes in Duluth a year earlier due to a trumped up claim that they raped a young White woman. The Minnesota measure was a rather tame one compared to the long incarceration and monetary fines allowed under the federal law. The state law provided up to $7,500 compensation to the family of lynching victims and removal of lackadaisical law enforcement personnel who allowed lynchings to occur, and no other sanctions, and it apparently was

latter half of the twentieth century,” Falk writes, “was eventually won by the militarily weaker side, which prevailed in the end despite suﬀering disproportionate losses along its way to victory.” Their resistance was often nonviolent, which “included gaining complete international control of the high moral ground.” This is not a pretty story. The hard power didn’t let up; it simply lost. “The United States completely controlled land, air, and sea throughout the Viet-

nam war, winning every battle, and yet eventually losing the war,” Falk writes, “killing as many as four million Vietnamese on the road to the failure of its military intervention.” And despite its military dominance, despite the harm it inflicted, the U.S. has done nothing but lose wars for the last three quarters of a century. It created hell on earth for millions of people; it just didn’t get its way. It has also failed to learn any lessons from its losses. The United States has refused

never activated. A trio of statutes of the three victims—Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie—in downtown Duluth, along with an adjoining memorial plaque, was erected in 2003. It commemorates the unforgettable and unforgivable blot on that city’s reputation. But the state law it inspired is part of the legacy that belatedly helped pave the way for the new federal legislation. Marshall H. Tanick lives in Minneapolis and is a Constitutional law and civil rights attorney and historian.

to abandon its commitment to pointless militarism, as reflected every year in its grotesquely expanding military budgets. But change is happening nonetheless. Soft power— power with one another —is our future…if we have any future at all. Robert Koehler, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is a Chicago award-winning journalist and editor. He is the author of “Courage Grows Strong at the Wound.”

April 28 - May 4, 2022

tice coloring book. The third-place winner’s artwork will be used as the design for the Green Zone member T-shirts. All submissions will be included in the first Minneapolis Green Zones Environmental Justice coloring book. The deadline to enter is May 8, 2022. Winners will be announced at the Minneapolis Green Zones Summit on May 21 at the Convention Center. According to the website, a Green Zone is a place-based policy initiative aimed at improving

A/1 Contract # 23-007

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Sealed proposals will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 200 East Arch Street, Saint Paul, MN 55130 for SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AND TRAINING AT THE W. ANDREW BOSS OFFICE BUILDING, Contract No. 23-007, until 11:00 a.m., local time on May 12, 2022. Proposals must be submitted electronically, in a PDF format, to Northstar Imaging, www.northstarplanroom.com

To submit artwork, go to sites.google.com/view/ mplsejartsindakitt/home

District Court

Ramsey County

Second Judicial District Court File Number: 62-HR-CV-22-327 Case Type: Harassment

KEETH BERNARD CAMPBELL

Notice of Issuance of

Harassment Restraining Order

Lakela Jefferson

by Publication

Date: Time:

The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive any informalities in the proposal process. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY

State of Minnesota

 A hearing is scheduled for the following date, time, and location:

Proposals must be accompanied by an Equal Employment Opportunity form. The successful proposer will be required to furnish a satisfactory performance bond and separate payment bond.

Location:

Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center 25 W. 7th Street Room B122 Saint Paul, MN 55102

OR 

A hearing has not been scheduled. You may request a hearing on this matter by filing a

Request for Hearing HAR301 with the Court within twenty (20) days of the date this Notice is published. You may get a copy of the HRO from the court administrator’s office at the following address: Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center 25 W. 7th Street Room B122 Saint Paul, MN 55102 Failure to appear at a scheduled hearing or to get a copy of the Harassment

STEVE AHNER PROJECT LEADER (651) 292-6069 STEVE.AHNER@STPHA.ORG

Restraining Order will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s order. Donald W. Harper Juvenile and Family Court Administrator

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder April 28, 2022

Case:

! OAK GROVE !

610

! !

West Broadway Ave

health and supporting economic development using environmentally conscious efforts in communities that face the cumulative effects of environmental pollution, as well as social, political and economic vulnerability. In Minneapolis, Indigenous communities and communities of color experience unequal health, wealth, employment and education outcomes and are overburdened by environmental conditions such as traffic and stationary pollution sources, brownfield sites, blight, and substandard housing.

Filed in District Court State of Minnesota Apr 26 2022

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Harassment Restraining Order was filed on April 6, 2022.

A complete set of proposal documents are available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom. com, under public plan room, SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AND TRAINING AT THE W. ANDREW BOSS OFFICE BUILDING, Contract No. 23-007. Digital downloads are no charge, contact Northstar for hard copy pricing.

2D artists living in the Green Zones (see map) ages 15 to 18 in the city of Minneapolis, regardless of their experience or education in the art field, are encouraged to submit their best interpretation of the theme “environmental justice” by depicting climate change, water pollution, and air pollution, inadequate food, and any related subject for inclusion the Green Zones 2022 art exhibition. The artwork of the first-place winner will be displayed on a to-beannounced billboard location in Minneapolis. The artwork of the secondplace winner will be displayed on the cover of the first Minneapolis Green Zones Environmental Jus-

Case:

93RD AVENUE

Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul 85TH Security Guard Services#23-007 ! AVENUE Size: 3.4167 x 5.75 Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you can get online @MNSpokesmanRecorder advertising as well.

Campbell vs Jefferson 62‐HR‐CV‐22‐327 ! Planned LRT Stations Size: 3.4167 x 6 Station Study Areas Ad Run: 4/28/22 Ad Options: --

! you What do METROin Blue Line Extension want to see your new [ route?

B ROOKL YN PARK

lvd 1) au B 8 ne Road tti y Bo ount (C

! !

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

To Respondent:

A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held in conjunction with a Pre-Proposal Tour on April 28, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the W. Andrew Boss Office Building, 555 N Wabasha, St. Paul. Immediately following the conference there will be a PreProposal Tour. All questions arising from this pre-proposal conference will be addressed by addendum, if necessary.

Courtesy of the city of Minneapolis

His enormous playbook prepared her for pro ball as well. “The biggest thing is this playbook, of being able to play different positions and know how to manage the game and understand the importance of that. That helped me at the next level,” she said. Pitts hopes that her Mexican playing experience will lead to more pro opportunities, “to get a feel…to get a better situation overseas.”

We’ve been meeting with stakeholders, gathering input and doing technical analysis and now the METRO Blue Line Extension has a route for traveling through Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park.

BROOKLYN BOULEVARD 73rd Ave

694 63RD AVENUE

B ROOKL YN CEN TER

BASS LAKE ROAD

Twin Lake 100

CRYSTAL N EW H OP E

ROB B I N SD AL E

M I N N EAP OL I

Lowry Ave N tB

EMERSON FREMONT AVENUE

yA wa

PENN AVENUE

GOL D EN VAL L EY

Golden Valley Rd Learn more about the route recommendation, Plymouth Ave N share your comments and Olson at join the conversations Memorial Highway 55

mybluelineext.org BLRT_5_1875x9_4375in.indd 1

Wirth Lake

Washington Ave N

NORTH MEMORIAL

er pi Riv issip

Crystal Lake

M iss

DOWNTOWN ROBBINSDALE

Lyndale Ave N

The Minneapolis Environmental Justice Arts Sindakitt (which means a group of individuals combined to promote some common interest) is an art contest aimed at encouraging youth to creatively express environmental justice and to provide a space to spotlight the talent of youth artists. In keeping with its goal, the art competition is calling for entries with the theme of environmental justice for a juried art competition in the month of May 2022.

enough, noted Pitts. “We are playing back-to-back [games] each weekend.” We first met Pitts in 2017, a top signee for Minnesota at the time, and almost immediately struck a connection. She lived up to her prep star billing, setting a school freshman record with 90 made threepointers and leading the Gophers with nine double-figure rebounds games. Her sophomore year, she

experience,” said Pitts of her college career at two different schools. “It wasn’t my ideal situation throughout the whole college career, especially what happened in Minnesota. It taught me a lot, and it helped me understand the business side of college athletics.” More importantly, Pitts learned a lot under Hall of Famer Gary Blair, who retired after this season. “I think it was a really good experience,” she reaffirmed. “He was able to teach me a lot, not just basketball, and helped me make a lot of connections.”

Fremont Ave N

Environmental justice art contest open to Minneapolis youth ages 15-18

Continued from page 14

made first team all-Big Ten and Academic all-conference honoree. She was a preseason allleague her short-lived junior season before her unexpected and still controversial departure from the team. She eventually transferred to Texas A&M in 2020. In Pitts’ senior year she won 2021 SEC Sixth Woman of the Year and led the conference in three-point FG percentage. She also took advantage of the NCAA’s extra year granted due to the pandemic and returned for the 2021-22 season. Our connection remained intact as well. “I think it was good and bad

Penn Ave N

Pitts

PLYMOUTH AVENUE

TARGET FIELD STATION 4/14/22 7:17 AM

12 April 28 - May 4, 2022

State of Minnesota

Case Type: Personal Injury

State of Minnesota

Case Type: Personal Injury

County of Hennepin

District Court

County of Ramsey

District Court

Fourth Judicial District

Second Judicial District

Court File Number: 27-CV-22-4239

Court File Number: 62-CV-22-1964 The Honorable: Robert Awsumb

SUMMONS

Cameron Looney, Plaintiff,

Janet Oppong-Agyei,

vs.

Plaintiff,

Spence Edwards, IV,

Defendant.

Brian Lemke and Barclay

SUMMONS

Construction LLC, THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO: DEFENDANT SPENCE EDWARDS, IV.

Defendant.

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiffs Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant: 1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you.

though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on

The Plaintiffs Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw these papers

this summons.

away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even

2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at:

though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons. 2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must

Swor & Gatto, P.A.

send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at:

1177 West Seventh Street Saint Paul, MN 55102

Brantingham Law Office, P.A.

3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer. 4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not

2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer. 4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN

get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the

RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS

Plaintiff everything asked for in the Complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims

SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not

stated in the Complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered

get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the

against you for the relief requested in the complaint.

Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims

5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint. 5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get

6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute. I hereby acknowledge that sanctions may be awarded pursuant to Minn. Stat. §549.211.

legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case. 6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response the Complaint even if you

315 North West Avenue, otherwise described as: Horizon West Condominium Homes, a condominium declared and existing under and by virtue of the Condominium Ownership Act of the State of Wisconsin, as more Condominium Ownership particularly described in the declaration of condominium recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds on May 9, 1980 in Reel 407, Image 500 as Document No. 1126528 and as amended.

Pursuant to the authority vested in the undersigned by section 66.0413(1)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes and section 21.03(2)(a) of the City of Waukesha Fire Code, you are hereby notified that the building described above and having the post office address of 315 North West Avenue, Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53186, is in the judgment of the undersigned so old, dilapidated, or has become so out of repair as to be dangerous, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use, so that in the judgment of the undersigned said building must be made safe by the razing and removal of such building and by restoring the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition. This Order is based on on-site observations and engineer reports indicating that support columns and beams that were partially exposed when balconies were removed display significant degradation due to heavy rusting, delamination and deterioration. Observable corrosion of the steel columns supporting the building’s exterior has caused cross-sectional loss of steel in certain locations ranging from 10 to 30 percent. Nuts and bolts in the supports have also significantly corroded. With the balconies removed, it is apparent the building slab supporting the individual floors shows significant signs of degradation into the structure and no longer fully supports the exterior wall. Exterior wall framing consists in large part of combustible wood nailing strips used to fasten external panels to the structure that show extensive decay and deterioration. Four-hour fire resistive protection in exterior nonbearing walls, required when the building was constructed, is nonexistent in certain areas, as is fire protection around columns, girders, and beams. This is merely the evidence that may be observed currently, with sections of exterior columns and supports exposed; it is likely the deterioration extends into other areas. An affidavit is attached to this Order as Exhibit “A” and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. It further describes the conditions giving rise to this Order and provides the basis upon which I conclude repairs are presumed unreasonable pursuant to section 66.0413(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Statutes. You are therefore ordered to raze and remove said building within 120 days of service of this order. You are further ordered to grade and level the lot after said razing is completed. Since repairs to the building are presumed unreasonable, they shall not be permitted pursuant to section 66.0413(1)(b) 1. of the Wisconsin Statutes. FAILURE TO COMPLY If you refuse or fail to comply within the time prescribed, by the authority granted under section 66.0413 (1)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes the undersigned or other designated officer will cause such building to be razed and removed and may restore the site to a dust-free and erosionfree condition either through an available public agency or by control or arrangement with private persons. The cost of such razing, removal and restoration of the site to a dust-free and erosionfree condition will be charged in full or in part against the real estate upon which such building is located and will constitute a lien upon such real estate and shall be assessed and collected as a special tax. Under the power granted by section 66.0413 (1)(i) of the Wisconsin Statutes, if you fail to remove such personal property as will unreasonably interfere with the razing of said structure, the undersigned shall cause the same to be removed and stored if that property has value and destroyed if it has no appreciable value, and the cost of such storage shall be a lien against such property stored and against the real estate, and shall be collected as a special tax against you as owner of the real estate, if such personal property is owned by you. Pursuant to section 66.0143 (1)(g) of the Wisconsin Statutes, if you refuse or fail to comply with these Orders within the time prescribed, the City may, at its option, seek an order from the Circuit Court requiring you to raze the building and remove debris and personal property and fixtures, rather than the City razing and removing them. IMPORTANT Any appeal of the above Orders to Raze or Repair must be brought within 30 days of the service of these orders upon you. Such appeal must be made to the Circuit Court of Waukesha County in the form of an application for a restraining order. Failure to bring such application to the Circuit Court within 30 days from the date of service of these orders will bar forever any right to prevent enforcement of these orders. In addition, the condition of the property is a health and safety hazard and constitutes a public nuisance under section 12.05(8) of the Waukesha Municipal Code, which declares as public nuisances all buildings so dilapidated and out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human use.

expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

SWOR & GATTO, P.A. By: /s/Paul J. Gatto Paul J. Gatto (#33741) ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF 1177 West Seventh Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 651-454-3600

Dated: March 11, 2022

ORDER TO RAZE BUILDING To: Condominium Association RE: and individual unit owners of Horizon West Condominium Homes 315 N. West Avenue Waukesha, WI 53186

Therefore, the undersigned request separate legal action underTIME, section 823, Wisconsin MDAN adsmayto run ONE the Statutes, if the condition exists beyond the date set forth in the order. Dated this ______ day of __________________, 2021.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder April 21,28, May 5, 2022

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder April 14, 21,28, 2022

Wanted: Assignment Editor

Executive Director The Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) is searching for its next Executive Director. For more details, visit https://mssasubmissions.secure-platform.com/a/page/ED/2022

CITY OF WAUKESHA

By: _________________ Harold McDonald Fire Inspector

DEPUTY/LEGAL DIRECTOR Minnesota Disability Law Center. For details, go to https://mylegalaid.org/employment

MDAN ads to run ONE TIME, the week beginning 4/24/2022

The MSR seeks an assignment editor to help identify, cultivate, and connect writers to news stories that center the voices of African Americans in Minnesota, as well as shine a light on issues of inequality and inequity. The ideal candidate will have a passion for discovering news and happenings in Minnesota. A degree in journalism or experi-

Case: Looney vs Edwards IV, Case# 27-CV-22-4239 ence as a journalist is required. Must also have strong organizaSize: 3.4167 x 8.75 tional and people skills, with an ability to coordinate assignments Ad Run: 4/21/22 - 5/5/22 andOptions: work with-writers of various levels of experience. Ad

Case: Size: Ad Run: Ad Options:

Oppong-Agyei v Lemke Barclay 62-CV-22-1964 3.4167 x 8.75 4/14/22 - 4/28/22 --

Become a Tutor! Join.ReadingandMath

Pay commensurate with experience. To apply, send a resume to twilliams@spokesman-recorder.com.

@MNSpokesmanRecorder

Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Worship

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 3744 4th Ave. South • Minneapolis, MN 55409 Phone: 612-827-4021 • Fax: 612-827-0577

TRACEY WILLIAMS-DILLARD

CECIL E. NEWMAN

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

Bethesda Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

At the Old Landmark Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor

451 West Central

St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444

Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8:00 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:

Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church"

1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904

www.bethesdamnonline.com bethesdamn@prodigy.net Sunday Service Times: Early Morning Service 9 am Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm

Children's Bible Class 7 pm

2600 E. 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 www.greatfriend.org Phone: 612.827.7928 Fax: 612.827.3587 info@greatfriend.org

IN PRINT & ONLINE! CALL 612-827-4021

Sundays 8:00am Sunday School Case: MSSAExecutive Director 9:30am Worship Service

• Employment • Rentals

• For Sale Size: 3.4167 x 1 • Divorce Run Date: 4/28/22 • Adoption The Friendly Church Where Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you can get online Everybody Is Somebody • Bid advertising as well. • Public Notices

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM

Publisher/CEO

Founder-Publisher 1934-1976

WALLACE (JACK) JACKMAN Co-Publisher Emeritus

Senior Editor Jerry Freeman

Contributing Writers

L AUNA Q. NEWMAN CEO/Publisher 1976-2000

NORMA JEAN WILLIAMS Vice President Emeritus

Tony Kiene Ashley Lauren

Dr. Deidre Golden

Nikki Love

Nadine Matthews Digital Editor Charles Hallman Your newspaper has agreed to participate in Paige Elliott Mary F. Moriarty Stephenetta “isis” Harmon

the Minn these ads in the main your newspap Julietof Mitchell Dr. Clarencenews Hightower section Addi Mohamed Desktop Publisher Robin James per). At times, advertisers may request a specific sect Kobie Conrath Savage Jon Jeter may need toNiara each newspaper. Ads be decreased/incr Jim Handrigan Marquishave Taylor questions, Please do not bill for these ads. If you Case: MN Legal Aid - Deputy Legal Director Contributing Photographers Account Representatives Sports Writers Size: 3.4167 x 1 Cecilia Viel Charles Hallman Onika Nicole Craven Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you can get online Dr. Mitchell P. McDonald Steve Floyd advertising as well. Administrative Assistant Anne Jones

Chris Juhn Travis Lee

MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

Minnesota Newspaper Association • National Newspaper Publishers Association The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Publications are published every Thursday by the Spokesman-Recorder Publishing Co., Inc.

@MNSpokesmanRecorder P.O. Box 8558 • Minneapolis, MN 55408

Editorial/Business o ce is at 3744 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409 POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder, P.O. Box 8558, Minneapolis, MN 55408

SUBSCRIPTION RATES:In-state $35 yearly • Outside Minnesota $40 yearly All subscriptions payable in advance.

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

Employment & Legals EXHIBIT A State of Wisconsin ) ) ss Waukesha County ) __________________________________________________________________________ AFFIDAVIT OF HAROLD MCDONALD __________________________________________________________________________

City of Waukesha Fire Prevention Inspector Harold McDonald, being duly sworn, on his oath hereby deposes and says the following. 1. From August 7, 2020 to the present, I have been employed as a Fire Inspector by the City of Waukesha Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau and I have 10 years’ total experience in Fire and Construction Code Compliance. 2. It is my duty as Fire Inspector to regularly inspect public buildings and places of employment and investigate potential City Property Maintenance and Fire Prevention Code violations set forth in Chapters 17 and 21 of the Waukesha Municipal Code; consequently, I am familiar with the provisions of the Waukesha Municipal Code, State Statutes, Wisconsin Administrative Code, and model codes incorporated therein related to fire prevention, building construction and property maintenance. 3. To fulfill my duties as Fire Inspector, I possess the following State of Wisconsin and nationally recognized certifications: #1225592 Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) Construction Inspector, UDC Commercial Building Inspector, UDC HVAC Inspector; Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) #O45800 Fire Fighter1/ Haz Mat Ops, WTCS #N45095 Fire Inspector; #8154119 International Code Council (ICC) Fire Inspector 1, ICC Fire Inspector 2, ICC Residential Building Inspector, ICC Commercial Building Inspector, ICC Building Inspector 4. On or about June 3, 2020, I was assigned an inspection of a condominium (the “building”) located at 315 N. West Avenue in the City of Waukesha, County of Waukesha, State of Wisconsin (the “property”). 5. Based on previous inspections of the property, I knew that the 6-story building had 48 units and 40 balconies connected to its units which all were made of a concrete shell surrounding steel girders, with a metal deck built atop the steel girders. 6. I conducted my inspection of the property on June 5, 2020. 7. Prior to my inspection, I reviewed a report from the engineering firm RPS Structural Engineering which summarized their inspection of the 40 balconies connected to units of the condominium; the report included photographs of exposed areas of the concrete balconies showing that infiltration of water had caused a great deal of rusting and deterioration to the steel girders and metal deck holding up the individual balconies. 8. RPS’ report stated that “cracks and the holds thru the [concrete] slab have allowed water to penetrate to reach the steel beams, metal deck and the welded wire mesh that reinforces the concrete slab on that metal deck… where there are holes in the deck and the reinforcing is exposed it has clearly rusted. As metal rusts it expands, and this expansion causes the concrete to fracture and eventually fail. Without remedial repairs or replacement this balcony and possibly others on this building will eventually fail.” 9. During my inspection, I observed 5 balconies that had been exposed to show the steel beams, metal decks, and unsupported concrete decks; I also observed missing and damaged asbestos fireproofing coating. 10. While viewing the exposed inside of the balconies, I observed that the rust on the steel beams was so bad that I had difficulty finding any portion of the beams not covered in rust, which was causing the steel to flake off and fracture into layers; other areas were so badly rusted that no steel remained. 11. After completing my June 5, 2020 inspection of the Property, I believed based on my training and experience as a Fire Inspector that the extent of the deterioration and damage to the structural supports of the balconies made them entirely unsafe to use and in danger of collapse; if the same amount of deterioration was present in most or all of the other balconies, large pieces of unsupported concrete decking could fall and at worse, the upper balconies would fall onto the lower balconies, causing a cascading failure which would bring all the balconies to the ground. 12. Since the Fire Department is required by law to inspect the property on a regular basis at least once per year, contact information for the persons responsible for managing the property were on file, which included: Mr. Al Pulcifer, Building Manager, member of the Condominium’s Board of Directors and resident of Unit 206 of the property; and Mr. Randy Lijewski, resident of Unit 307 of the property. 13. After my June 5, 2020 inspection, I notified the property’s building management by email and phone to start informing the occupants that they must clear all items off the balconies and discontinue their use until repairs could be made; I also prepared written notices to each occupant stating the same, which were mailed to each unit via first class postal mail; and on June 9, 2020 I posted orders on the door of each unit in the building that also stated the same. 14. Between June 9, 2020 and the start of balcony removal in October of 2021, inspections of the building were made, deadlines for repair were established, and communications between the City and Condominium representatives took place regarding repair or removal of the balconies. 15. The balconies had been sprayed with asbestos when they were constructed; since the law requires that any asbestos must be abated prior to engaging in construction or demolition, the first step in the physical removal process was to have asbestos abatement professionals remove the asbestos. 16. On November 30, 2021, while balcony removal was ongoing, I attended an on-site meeting between City code enforcement officials and the construction and design team retained by the Condominium Association; the people retained by the Condominium Association present at the meeting were Steve McGuire, General Contractor; Matt Butler, Engineer; and David Baum, Architect. 17. Mr. McGuire requested the November 30, 2021 meeting to discuss preliminary observations of the building’s support columns which, due to balcony removal, were now partially exposed. 18. All parties at the November 30, 2021 meeting agreed that the portions of the support columns that were now visible displayed heavy rusting, delamination and deterioration, and there were other deficiencies in the support systems and exterior walls that could now be seen; Mr. Butler stated that in his opinion as an engineer, repair activities must commence within 6 months. 19. The parties at the November 30, 2021 on-site meeting then discussed the cost to repair the support columns and return the building to code compliance. Mr. Baum stated that the cost of repairs would far exceed the value of the property, and that was just based on what they could currently observe; further inspection of the columns and walls would increase the cost. He said the cost of the current project to simply remove the balconies was around half a million dollars. The parties discussed the original estimate for balcony repair given by the first engineer the Condominium Association retained, who estimated the cost to fully repair the balconies was approximately $2,000,000, and that estimate did not include repairs to the building’s support columns because their level of decay was unknown at the time. Mr. Baum stated the cost to repair just the portion of the columns he could see, which was only a small portion of the columns, would greatly exceed $2,000,000. Furthermore, the walls were filled with asbestos, which under the law would have to be remediated before repairs could commence; this expense would also be very costly—according to Mr. McGuire, the cost of asbestos abatement for the balconies alone had been $75,000. 20. As the balconies were being removed, it became possible to inspect the structural supports and exterior walls of the building in even greater detail than had been possible prior to November 30, 2021. 21. On Thursday, December 2, 2021, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Fire Department office admin called me and informed me that the Department, in conjunction with the Office of Community Development Building Division, were about to order the building evacuated; I went to the property to assist with the evacuation effort after meeting with command staff. 22. I was later made aware that, as further described in Engineer D.A. Mattox’s Report dated December 13, 2021, before the evacuation took place on December 2, 2021, Matt Butler, the engineer hired by the Condominium, conducted a new inspection as to the building’s exposed structural supports and made a rapid structural analysis, and concluded certain columns were “completely unbraced” and compromised to the point where they “could reasonably handle a maximum load of 0 lbs loading to the column,” meaning they were unable to support any load when they should be able to support at least 25,000 or more pounds; and therefore the building was in imminent danger of collapse. See, D.A. Mattox, Observation Report for Property located at 315 N. West Avenue, Waukesha WI Horizon West Condominiums Regarding Structural, Fire and Life Safety Concerns After Action Report, December 13, 2021, at page 5. 23. On December 3, 2021, I attended a post-evacuation meeting between City officials and Condominium representatives Matt Butler, Engineer Steve McGuire, and Architect David Baum. 24. During the December 3, 2021 meeting, Mr. Butler explained in further detail the structural issues with the building, which were later summarized in a final report dated December 8, 2021 he prepared for the Condominium Association, a copy of which was provided to the Fire Department. 25. He explained that steel columns supporting the building’s exterior had been significantly corroded, bringing about cross-sectional loss of steel in certain locations from 10 to 30 percent; nuts and bolts had also significantly corroded, and the steel columns no longer were properly laterally braced; this combination of factors created such a reduced capacity to support the original intended loadings (i.e. self-weight of the building, occupant live load, roof snow load, and probable main wind-force resisting system loads) that the columns posed a significant life-safety risk. Ambrose Engineering Final Report, December 8, 2021, at page 3. 26. During the December 3, 2021 meeting, all persons retained by the Condominium Association—Steve McGuire, Matt Butler, and David Baum—agreed that based on multiple factors including the cost of repair that razing the building was appropriate. 27. After the December 3, 2021 meeting, as stated in Mr. Butler’s December 8, 2021 report, Mr. McGuire’s steel workers installed horizontal angle bracing at each floor level with welded connections, which re-braced the columns lacking structural support and mitigated the risk of collapse to a sufficient degree so as to allow Condominium unit owners to enter their units for brief periods of time to remove possessions. 28. The last balcony was removed on or about December 3, 2021. 29. I have reviewed an article published by Greater Milwaukee Today on December 8, 2021 where Mr. McGuire is quoted as stating, “You can certainly make repairs to the building, but the repairs to the building far exceed the value of the building as it is now.” Jake Ekdahl, “Demolition or Repair for Waukesha Condo Building? Residents Seeking Second, Perhaps Final Return for Belongings,” Greater Milwaukee Today, December 8, 2021. 30. I am aware that Steve McGuire has worked extensively as a General Contractor on the construction and repair of large commercial buildings and has extensive knowledge of the building’s condition, as further informed by the Engineer on the project, Matt Butler, and Architect David Baum; and had provided several estimates to the Condominium Association in the past regarding the cost to remove and replace the balconies. 31. I am also aware that David Baum has considerable expertise as an Architect in the construction of commercial buildings and their repair, and also possesses specific knowledge about the building’s condition and the cost to repair the same. 32. I conclude Mr. McGuire and Mr. Baum’s estimates and opinions as to the cost to repair the building expressed during on-site inspections, other meetings, and in the media are accurate and reliable. 33. I conclude based on all the information available to me, including my own observations of the building and the information supplied by the engineers, architects and general contractors involved with the building, that the building is so old, dilapidated and out of repair and consequently dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation and unreasonable to repair, that it must be razed in accordance with Wis. Stat. §66.0413. 34. I am aware that a provision in the raze statute, Wis. Stat. §66.0413(1)(c), states that if a municipality’s designated officer determines that the cost of repairs of a building would exceed 50 percent of the assessed value of the building divided by the ratio of the assessed value to the recommended value as last published by the department of revenue for the municipality within which the building is located, the repairs are presumed unreasonable. 35. I have reviewed information on file and as reported by the City of Waukesha Assessor for the building, indicating that the assessed value of the building as of December 1, 2021 ($3,453,500), divided by the ratio of the assessed value to the recommended value as last published by the department of revenue for the municipality within which the building is located (0.873855597), is $3,952,025.95, and therefore 50 percent of that amount is $1,976,012.98. 36. Based on all the information I possess regarding the cost to repair the building, including Steve McGuire’s representations that it would exceed the total cost of the building and that merely repairing the balconies would cost $2,000,000, I conclude that repairs are presumed unreasonable. 37. The damage to the building giving rise to the need to raze the structure was incurred before December 5, 2021. Executed this _____ day of January, 2022, by: _____________________________ Harold McDonald Fire Inspector Waukesha Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau Subscribed and sworn before me this ______ day of _______________, 2022. _____________________________________ Notary Public, Waukesha County WI My commission expires: __________________

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE March 26, 2010, modified April 24, 2015 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $49,000.00 MORTGAGOR(S): Jeffrey C. Bjerksett and Sheryl E. Bjerksett MORTGAGEE: Northeast Bank DATE AND PLACE OF REGISTRATION: Registered with the Registrar of Titles in and for the County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, on April 9, 2010, as Document No. 4744632, modification recorded May 5, 2015, as Document No. 5253771 ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to Alabama 2, LLC in Assignment of Mortgage dated January 20, 2022, recorded February 2, 2022, as Document No. 5919605 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 17, “Seton” (REGISTERED PROPERTY) PROPERTY ADDRESS: 2605 Tyrone Lane, Mound, MN 55364 COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $55,395.04 THAT there has been compliance with all pre-foreclosure requirements; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; THAT pursuant to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of Hennepin County as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: June 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Room 30, 350 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. The date on or before which the mortgagor must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property redeemed under section 580.23: December 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Dated: April 11, 2022 Alabama 2, LLC Assignee of Mortgagee HOELSCHER LAW FIRM, PLLC By: /s/ Brian G. Hoelscher (#238752) Attorneys for Assignee of Mortgagee 13100 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Phone: 952-224-9551 Email: brian@hoelscher-law.com FORECLOSURE DATA Minn. Stat. Sec. 580.025 (1) the physical street address, city, and zip code of the mortgaged premises is 2605 Tyrone Lane, Mound, MN 55364; (2) the name of the transaction agent, residential mortgage servicer, and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: – not applicable; or the name of the residential mortgage servicer and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is not a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: residential mortgage servicer – Alabama 2, LLC, lender or broker – Alabama 2, LLC; (3) the tax parcel identification number of the mortgaged premises is: 19-117-23-23-0158; (4) if stated on the mortgage, the transaction agent’s mortgage identification number is: - not applicable; (5) if stated on the mortgage, the name of the residential mortgage originator as defined in section 58.02 is: Northeast Bank Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022

Summit Academy OIC Request for Proposals In partnership with the City of Minneapolis, Summit Academy OIC is pleased to announce an RFP for our Summit Works program. Summit Works will directly address post-pandemic economic conditions by connecting Minneapolis residents from untapped social networks with living wage jobs. Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), Summit Academy invites qualified providers in our community to consider participating in this new venture. Summit is seeking partners with experience in effectively engaging unemployed, or under-employed people in our community and placing them into stable, living wage jobs. The specific duties of qualified partners include: 1. Recruit, assess, and coach Minneapolis residents 2. Provide training, skills building, and job supports so people with little to no employment history can prosper and thrive as workers 3. Provide opportunities to earn training credentials which lead to higher wage jobs and economic mobility 4. Engage employers and place people in stable, living wage jobs Up to $275,000 is available to fund this service from June 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. Email RFP@saoic.org for full RFP with submission details. RFP submissions are due no later than 5pm on May 26th 2022.

April 28 - May 4, 2022

View

Continued from page 14 Client: Mortgage Forecl Sale - Northeast As one of two Black womSize: 3.4167 x 13.75 en coaches (Tashina StegRun Date: 4/21/22 - 5/26/22 gall associateFor HC), AdisOptions: an“being additional a Black woman$300.00 in athletics, you can g helping adviseonline our advertising Black and Brown students here, there’s always something being in a predominately White institution.” “I will say that definitely as a former student athlete living in Minnesota, born and raised in Minnesota, I definitely am used to navigating White spaces as a Black woman,” continued Brown. “I think for me that translated pretty smoothly into my professional career and having to advocate as much for students of color that I’m coaching now. “Originally I wanted to be a teacher,” she admitted. “I knew I was going to be a teacher from a very young age. I have educators in my family—my grandmother, my mom. It wasn’t until my final year of college where I was doing my practicum study where I realized I was not enjoying my time.” After student teaching at a St. Paul public school and a city charter school, “I truly got to see the difference…what teaching would be like.” Before she graduated from Hamline in 2019 with a communications and education degree, Brown set school track records in the 60-meter hurdles (indoors), 100-meter hurdles (outdoors), and the 4x100 meter relay. She was a three-time All-American. Brown also interned in the track office in her junior year, “doing the operational logistical stuff behind the scenes.” During that stint, her track coach “started putting in my ear, ‘Gabby, you can do this… We need more women. We need more women of color in this field.’ She was definitely speaking life to me, and I received it all. “So then my senior year of college, I started taking certifications [classes] to get to learn proper terminology, language, coaching cues, those sorts of things,” said Brown, who also became a student coach. She later became a graduate assistant coach at the University of Jamestown (2019) as she worked on her masters in business leadership. She also coached five seasons in AAU club track for Track Minnesota Elite. Brown designs training programs for sprints, jumps and hurdles. “I don’t know what’s going to happen day to day,” she noted. “I will say it’s probably one of my biggest attractions [to coaching[—every day is different. “I’m intentional with making sure that I’m continuing learning and that I’m learning from the athletes, other coaches and whatnot,” Brown said. “I am super intentional to try to lead with humility… If I mess up, I’m correcting it. I’m acknowledging that I messed it up.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesmanrecorder.com.

14 April 28 - May 4, 2022

Sports HBCU players strong contenders in NFL Draft

everal HBCU players should be strongly considered among the 262 selections in this weekend’s NFL Draft. Last year no Black college player was taken in the three-day, seven-round draft. “I think the NFL used COVID as an excuse not to even take a look at some of the potential [HBCU] prospects,” said HBCU Legends Managing Editor Kyle Mosley. “I think they should have had at least 10 or 12 [HBCU players drafted]. You look at some of the talent in the pool. It’s more of a glaring issue.”

“You take any of the prospects, they will fit on the Vikings roster.”

Kyle Mosley

Donald Hunt

Aqeel Glass, QB, 6-5, 225— Jackson State DH – “Aqeel Glass is a bigtime quarterback. He’s one of the best QBs in the draft. If Aqeel is selected, he would be the first HBCU quarterback drafted since Tarvaris Jackson [in 2008 by Minnesota in the second round]. Both Aqeel and Tarvaris played in the SWAC.”

KM – “He’s got great feet. He ran a 5.0 140-yard dash.” DH – “… has the talent to be a real good pulling guard with his speed and blocking skills.”

Decobie Durant, CB, 5-11, 180—South Carolina State DH – “… a shutdown corner.” Mosley said Durant was very impressive at the NFL Mosley (KM) and veteran James Houston, LB, 6-1, 225— Scouting Combine. sports journalist Donald Jackson State DH – “He can tackle and Markquese Bell, safety, 6-3, Hunt (DH) shared their col205—Florida A&M lective thoughts on the top get to the quarterback.” Black college prospects for this year’s NFL Draft, which Ja’Tyre Carter, OL, 6-3, 311— Joshua Williams, CB, 6-3, 197—Fayetteville State Southern University begins Thursday.

All photos courtesy of Twitter Will Adams, CB, 6-1, 186— Virginia State DH – “Decobie, Markquese, Joshua and Will are really good defensive players. There are some real talented HBCU prospects who could get drafted and play on Sundays.” The Minnesota Vikings pick 12th in the draft. Draft experts say a defensive lineman, cornerback and tight end are tops on the team’s needs. Said

Mosley, “You take any of the prospects, they will fit on the Vikings roster.” Will NFL teams finally look at HBCU players seriously, or is this another one-off? Black college teams are starting to get more national television exposure, which might force NFL clubs to do more than lip service when it comes to drafting Black college players. That talent is not just at

the Power Five schools, surmised Mosley. “The SWAC is going to be everywhere,” said Mosley. “I think we’re still a couple of years away from having actual big-time matchups [with bigger schools] where it’s gonna be very competitive.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Minnesota players prevalent in NBA here was a time when you could count the number of Minnesota players in the NBA on one hand. During the 2021-22 season, however, though some players participated in a limited number of games, 11 former metro-area high school players found themselves on NBA rosters Here is the list by name, height, high school, college and NBA team each played for this past season: Amir Coffey, 6’7” shooting guard (Hopkins, University of Minnesota) Los Angeles Clippers Freddie Gillespie, 6’9” power forward (East Ridge,

Gary Trent Jr. Carleton College, Baylor University) Orlando Magic Tre’ Jones, 6’1” point guard (Apple Valley, Duke University), San Antonio Spurs Tyus Jones, 6’0” point guard (Apple Valley, Duke University), Memphis Grizzlies Zeke Nnaji, 6’9” power forward (Hopkins, University of Arizona), Denver Nuggets Daniel Oturu, 6’8” center

Tyus Jones

Amir Coffey (Cretin Derham Hall, University of Minnesota), Toronto Raptors Jericho Sims, 6’10” power forward (Cristo Rey Jesuit, University of Texas), New York Knicks Jalen Suggs, 6’4” shooting guard (Minnehaha Academy, Gonzaga University), Orlando Magic Tyrell Terry, 6’2” point guard (DeLaSalle, Stanford

For Mac track coach, the learning never stops

University), Memphis Grizzlies Gary Trent Jr., 6’5” shooting guard (Apple Valley, Prolific Prep, Duke University), Toronto Raptors McKinley Wright IV, 6’0” point guard (Champlain Park, University of Colorado), Minnesota Timberwolves. Trent Jr. averaged 18.3 points per game. Suggs had a good start to his rookie sea-

Photos courtesy nba.com

(2016), Wright IV (2017), Tre’ Jones (2018) and Suggs (2020) were each named Mr. Basketball during their senior years. Tyus Jones (2013 Class 4A), Tre Jones (2013, 2015, 2017), Coffey (2016 Class 4A), Terry (2016, 2017, 2019 Class 3A) and Suggs (2017, 2018, 2019 Class 2A) all led their teams to state championships. Tyus Jones led Duke to the NCAA Division I championship and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2015, while Suggs led Gonzaga to a runner-up finish in 2021. Tyus Jones and Trent Jr. also helped their teams qualify for the NBA playoffs. A pretty good representation if I do say so myself.

son with an 11.8 average. Coffey averaged nine per contest, Tyus Jones 8.7, Nnaji 6.6, Tre Jones 6.6, and Sims—whose playing time increased as the season progressed—2.2 points per game. Gillespie, Oturu, Wright IV and Terry saw limited action in a number of games this past Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonseason. ald welcomes reader responses Tyus Jones (2014), Coffey to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

Destiny Pitts’ destiny leads her to Mexico By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

isted near the bottom of her resume, along with her accomplishments and work experience, Gabrielle Brown discloses the following: “1M+ mistakes I’ve made and will continue to make as I learn and grow,” noted the second-year Macalester men’s

“I definitely am used to navigating White spaces as a Black woman.” and women’s assistant track coach. Her positive aura is unmistakable, how comfortable she is to admit that she’s far from perfect on her resume. “I don’t know ev-

estiny Pitts was among the 108 NCAA players available for the recent 2022 WNBA Draft. The former Minnesota Gopher and Texas A&M star didn’t get drafted; however, she is playing pro ball nonetheless. The 5-10 guard from Detroit started her pro career last weekend, playing for the Monterrey Fuerza Regia club in Mexico. She talked to the MSR last Friday prior to her pro debut. Pitts explained it was a quick turnaround from being an undrafted player to heading south across the border to continue her basketball playing. “Earlier in the week, I was working in our athletic Gabrielle Brown Photo by Charles Hallman IT department at Texas A&M, erything,” said Brown in her the MIAC in 2020 as a finishing up school,” said Pitts, on-campus office. “I don’t coach and lead recruiting who will graduate this year with her human resources dewant to know everything. I coordinator at Macalester. don’t have all the answers.” “I went to Johnson and velopment master’s degree— Born in Minneapolis in Hamline, and it feels good she has her bachelor’s in tech1996 and later a St. Paul to be here at Macalester,” nology management. “My agent reached out to me. Johnson grad, Brown at- she pointed out. “I feel like tended and ran track at it’s almost full circle for me.” We thought it would be a great Hamline. She returned to ■ See View on page 13 situation.” Finding the right

Destiny Pitts

agent, especially one with the right international connections, is awfully important for former college players. Were there any apprehensions about playing overseas these days with a pandemic still around and political instability around the world as well? “That was my whole point of even signing with [an agent],” responded Pitts. “To be able to trust them and know they’ll put me in a good situation.”

Photos courtesy of Twitter Pitts joins another American, Alexis Jones, a 2017 first-round pick of Minnesota who played two seasons in the Mexican team’s backcourt. Playing for Fuerza Regia, “They really emphasize the importance of the players’ needs,” Pitts stressed. “We all stay in the same building together. We all have our own rules.” The season isn’t long, about a couple of months, but long

■ See Pitts on page 11