August 13, 2023 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

Diversity on campuspost-affirmative action

By Niara Savage

Contributing Writer

n a few short weeks, millions of young Americans will set foot on college campuses around the country as first-time freshmen students holding a unique distinction—they are the last class of university students admitted under race-conscious affirmative action policies. The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action policies in a 6-3 decision in late June.

For the past 40 years, racial diversity increased on college campuses with each decade.

But diversity figures in the handful of states that previously banned affirmative action policies in higher educa-

tion tell a different story.

The year California voters approved an affirmative action ban at public universities in the state in 1996, Black and Latino enrollment at the University of

Community to DOJ: Look beyond policing

California, Berkeley and UCLA fell by 40 percent according to Princeton University economist Zachary Bleemer. Data from other states with bans tell a similar tale.

The 2022 entering freshman class at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus was the most racially diverse in the institution’s history. Black students are just slightly underrepresented and make up about 9 percent of the overall student body in a state with a Black population of 12 percent, according to 2022 census data. Diversity is an afterthought Kristina Yeboah is a rising senior at the University of Minnesota and president of the Black ■ See AA on page 5

By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer

o far this summer, the Department of Justice has held at least 20 meetings around Minneapolis to better understand, from the community’s perspective, what to include in the consent decree with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).

A recent DOJ community meeting addressing discriminatory policing at Farview Park in North Minneapolis was attended by a small group of about 15 people. And, according to Dr. Chaunda Scott of the Minnesota’s Black Community Project, most of the attendees have been to past meetings the DOJ held. “It’s the same White people that come,” said Scott.

you moderate your behavior,” reasoned Akhtar.

“If you have these kinds of things available in the public domain, then 90 percent of this problem will disappear. [Police] have unlimited power right now because everything is [hard to access],” he said.

One White woman at the meeting thinks police should be gradually defunded, with surplus funding to go to policing alternatives, saying that the police are less likely to cause problems if they are given less to do. Still, others at the meeting believe the opposite—giving them more to do—would result in them causing less problems.

“Let’s do something where they’re not doing eight hours of policing,” said Southsider

By Charles Hallman

Staff Contributor

ony Sanneh, a former national and international soccer star, created The Sanneh Foundation (TSF) in 2003. Seven years after he retired as a player in 2010, the St. Paul native took on the full time job of running his foundation, as president and CEO, in order to create positive social change for youth.

“Our brand is [that] we step up,” declared Sannah as we spoke recently at his headquarters on University Avenue in St. Paul. “That might not sound sexy. But it means that we’re willing to be there for the community. It means that we don’t give up and we’re not going to say no… So, I think our brand, other than working hard, stepping up is also creating a culture of enjoyment.”

By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer

fter a year of engagement with community members, the Met Council has decided on a route through North Minneapolis for the Blue Line extension that they want to vet as part of the federally-required environmental impact review.

The route, which will not be finalized for another year, avoids Lyndale Avenue and much of West Broadway at the request of area business owners and residents concerned about the effects on their neighborhoods such as parking, loading for those with limited mobility, and generational wealth.

Kim Smith, who over the last year rallied her Lyn-Park neighbors to prevent the light rail from being built in their neighborhood, was relieved yet cautious about the recommended alignment because it is not yet final. She and her neighbors pledge to continue to monitor

the project as it develops.

“You actually listened to us,” said Smith after she learned of the recommendation at a Blue Line Extension Corridor Management Committee meeting last Thursday. “This is potentially the best route of the options they have given so far.”

Despite the relief, business owners remain concerned over displacement, and some residents are worried about how the line would alter the North Side, particularly the West Broadway corridor.

The recommended alignment

With Lyndale and most of West Broadway out of the picture—for now—planners are proposing to take the Blue Line up Washington Avenue and 21st Avenue to West Broadway. As previously proposed, the extension will start at Target Field Station and end in Brooklyn Park, near Target’s North Campus office park.

Planners envision the Blue Line emerging from Target Field Station, heading north-

west on 7th Street, following the D Line. At Oak Lake Avenue, the train will make a right, following 10th Avenue, where it might operate on its own lane or share it with buses and emergency vehicles. Planners may decide to use the remaining space for pedestrians, biking, or for northbound traffic towards the river.

At Washington Avenue, the proposed route makes a left and heads north. It continues on Washington until 21st Avenue, where it makes another left and crosses a new I-94 bridge overpass. Planners envision the bridge overpass to carry traffic, as well as pedestrians and bikers.

From the bridge, planners envision the train continuing west on 21st Avenue, crossing through a parking lot owned by Minneapolis Public Schools, and ultimately cutting across an area where several homes and a soon-to-open smoke shop exist, to return to West Broadway.

The agency has proposed ■ See BLX on page 5

In June, the DOJ found the MPD engaged in patterns and practices of discriminatory policing, including that they are eager to use force, pull over people with darker skin colors, and retaliate against those who report on them. Since they announced the findings, the DOJ has been facilitating meetings around the city to understand what a consent decree should entail.

Scott is not confident that the DOJ’s consent decree will amount to anything, citing the incompetence of the facilitators as an example. “[The facilitators] are young, White kids that are only just reading what they know. But they’re not really invested,” said Scott.

“[One of the facilitators, a White woman,] didn’t even want to write down ‘anti-racist training’ until a White man said, ‘Could you write down what [Scott] said?’”

Scott believes the DOJ needs a Black facilitator who is local and knows about policing issues in Minneapolis.

Some at the meeting believe that people need to take police accountability into their own hands. Others think the police need to do less, while some think the police need to be more involved in the community.

One of those who has lost confidence in the City being able to hold police accountable in doing their job is Mansoor Akhtar, a Loring Park resident who recounted being hassled by Minneapolis police officers.

“[Minneapolis police] lost the videotapes of me getting assaulted [by their officers],” said Akhtar.

Terinda Love. “Let’s do, like, maybe four hours of being an emergency person, for instance. Maybe a personal care assistant? You still have the gun and badge.” Love also said at the meeting that officers should be serving people meals and recounted when officers gave community members haircuts ahead of their court appearances.

Some contend that the DOJ is not looking at the bigger picture, saying that people in Minnesota can be racist and may be making [MPD] do racially discriminatory things. A former Minneapolis 911 dispatcher who was at the meeting recounted being reprimanded for refusing to dispatch police officers for a caller who wanted a vehicle with a Black male removed simply because they appeared to be suspicious.

“A lot of times we had people who call in and say, ‘There is a suspicious vehicle and there’s people in there. I want the police to get them out of here.’ I was told if [it’s a] call for service, we have to send the police out. It happened four or five times a day,” said former Minneapolis 911 dispatcher Eddie Osorio.

To help the MPD, which is short 300 officers, the dispatcher will often ask questions to clarify what the suspicion is.

[When I ask], ‘What is suspicious? I need more information,’ they will call and complain and I will get in trouble,” said Osorio.

Almost from the beginning, TSF has been involved in youth programming, such as sports camps and other afterschool and summertime programs.

Since 2010, TSF has grown in five years from one program and a $60,000 annual budget

Akhtar suggested at the Farview Park meeting that people should start a website where citizens can give Minneapolis police officers reviews, just like how people can review items on Amazon.

“If somebody’s watching you,

Community members who are interested in attending future sessions or providing their feedback on the consent decree can email community. minneapolis@usdoj.gov or call 866-432-0268.

H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader comments at hpan@spokesmanrecorder.com.

University of Minnesota revised its admissions after the Supreme Court decision.

Photo courtesy of U of M Facebook

Kristina Yeboah, University of Minnesota’s president of the Black Student Union

Photo courtesy of LinkedIn

Raie Gessesse, Hamline University and Harvard Kennedy School graduate

Photo by Chris Juhn

“The facilitators are young, White kids that are only just reading what they know.

But they’re not really invested.”

Community members at DOJ-facilitated meeting on MPD consent decree.

Photo by H. Jiahong Pan

(l-r) Sarai Hernandez, Sophia Hayden, Tony Sanneh Photos by Charles Hallman

Northside event helps bridge healthcare gap

By Abdi Mohamed

Contributing Writer

The second annual “Live Your Healthy Lyfe” event took place on Saturday, August 12, with dozens of booths representing health organizations, community groups, and small businesses, putting the topic of health and wellness center stage. The daylong block party, between Penn and Logan avenues, had several attractions including face-painting and a bounce house for children. There were opportunities to sign up for health insurance, check blood pressure, or learn ways to improve overall health.

The event’s organizer, Teto Wilson, is the owner of Wilson’s Image Barber and Stylists, located on the corner of West Broadway and Penn Ave. Though this is his second year holding the event, Wilson has had a history of facilitating conversations between health groups and members of the Northside community. Recognizing this gap between the Black community and health groups, Wilson believes that an event such as this could help build the relationships.

“I think people are realizing that the relationships were not there,” he said. “If I have a physical ailment or have a family member or a close friend has a physical ailment, and they’re not comfortable going to the hospital or clinic, or if they don’t have a doctor, then they’re probably less likely to get the treatment that they need. They feel like no one is listening to them or understands their plight.”

Originally from Decatur, Illinois, Wilson moved to Minneapolis in 2000, by way of Boston. He opened up his business in the Camden neighborhood before relocating to West Broadway in 2010.

During that time, he had participated in the Clipper Clinic program, a national initiative that helped embed local health organizations within barber-

shops to give individuals direct access to health services.

Wilson’s clients could get their blood pressure and BMI measured along with other quick procedures as they waited for their haircuts.

that shot. I don’t want it,’ to them coming into the barbershop feeling like I was a trusted messenger,” Wilson said. Over the course of a year, Wilson’s barbershop gave out 1,200 shots to Northsiders through his efforts.

In continuing to bridge the community with healthcare providers, this year’s event worked to incorporate a broader vision of health. According to Wilson, the three components of health that made up the health and wellness-focused event were financial health, physical and mental health, and housing stability.

and not just parts of the person, because that’s how we show up. We show up in totality.”

Johnson Lee also underlined the importance of the health organizations coming directly to the community, as accessibility and communication have been an issue for the Black community when it comes to their relationship with healthcare providers. She also shared that although every member of the community might not have attended the event, they would surely catch wind of it from a friend or family member who did.

“One of the things about our community is that we share information,” she said. “Just because they’re absent doesn’t mean they don’t get the information. Because of how our

nity for her, as a Black woman, to show the community that there are people at these organizations that share their lived experiences and want to help.

“I grew up low-income myself and with no health insurance. So we faced some healthcare disparities,” Ross said. “I just think it’s important to see people like yourself. It makes it more welcoming. It makes it less scary.”

Tiffany Cobb was also at the Gillette booth and spoke about her experience as a neuropsychologist and how far communities have come to understand health disparities and reduce stigmas around cognitive issues.

“I’m glad we’re participating in this kind of thing so that we can bring that awareness and try to break that stigma a little bit so

women in the Twin Cities area who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to find the resources and support they need.

Having started the organization after her own diagnosis, Berry found that patients had better experiences with healthcare providers and social workers who looked like them.

“If a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and she goes to a support group and it’s mostly Caucasian women, they don’t feel comfortable,” she explained.

According to the American Cancer Society, Black women have the lowest survival of all subtypes of cancer and a 40 percent higher breast cancer death rate compared to White women.

Berry credited events such

Years later, at the peak of the pandemic, Wilson opened his shop’s doors once again for healthcare providers and turned the shop into a center where nearby residents could get vaccinated on Fridays and Saturdays. He saw the hesitancy in some community members dissipate when they realized that he was helping provide the vaccines.

“It went from having people saying, ‘Nope, I’m not getting

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and First Independent Bank were present at the event representing these other components of health to illustrate the holistic approach. Natalie

Johnson Lee echoed Wilson’s point on approaching all levels of health with the event.

“We have to look at our community in totality,” she said. “We are a communal people. It is important that you deal with us from a communal perspective. You deal with a whole person

community is structured, we care for one another.”

The block party was sponsored by several health institutions including UCare, Children’s Minnesota, and Northpoint. Ladonna Ross attended the event representing Gillette Children’s, educating families about the hospital’s work. She said that the block party was an opportu-

that our kids can get the same kinds of help and assistance that kids in other communities get,” she said.

Reona Berry stood beside her booth donning a bright pink cowgirl hat as she spoke with people about her work at the African American Breast Cancer Alliance. For the past 33 years, Berry has been working with

The People’s Garden Almanac: Abuzz with Learning

MSR News Service

he Pillsbury Urban Farm, located at 1701 Oak Park in North Minneapolis, was buzzing with activity on Wednesday, August 2 as young and old alike gathered for an ongoing effort to introduce community members to the People’s Garden Initiative.

Sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the project engages urban communities and residents in food justice, climate justice, and environmental justice.

Joining in the classroom without walls were participants of the Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope, a summer engagement experience program coordinated and operated by the Power of People Leadership Institute.

Julia Brokaw of Xerces Institute and Molly Coddling of the Department of Natural Resources helped participants navigate through the garden and inner mysteries of the natural world.

as the block party, as well as information channels from television to radio, to better inform the public about their options for diagnosis and treatment if there’s a history of cancer in one’s family.

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

Mayor Frey and Teto Wilson at “Healthy Lyfe” event

“You deal with a whole person and not just parts of the person, because that’s how we show up.”

One of several healthcare providers participating in North Minneapolis block party

Photos courtesy of Live Your Healthy Lyfe

Information provided by Michael Chaney of Project Sweetie Pie.

Photos by Maria Benito Correa

10 items to inspire outdoor play for your kids

Parenting Today presented by

Let’s face it—television and video games are entertaining. While some screen time can be a good part of your family’s routine, it’s important to balance that with plenty of active, outdoor play.

Sports equipment

Having the right equipment can make it easy for kids to turn off the screens and head out the door. Choose to invest in a few key pieces so your kids have options when they need to burn off that extra energy.

Bikes

Getting out on a bicycle is one of the best forms of activity for the whole family. Kids can practice in the driveway or backyard until they’re ready to circle the neighborhood with an adult. Don’t overlook a bike’s versatility, either. Most children’s models can handle a bit of sand or grass, so try an outing to the local park or nature center for an extended adventure.

Scooters

Scooters are ubiquitous right now. There are three-wheeled versions for the youngest kids, scooters with seats for siblings to share, and models with flashy additions like LED lights. A scooter is easier to store than a bicycle, so opt for this equipment if you’re in a small space.

Roller skates

This popular pastime from decades gone by is making the rounds again. You can find

adjustable roller skates to fit any shoe size; even the youngest kids can wear skates over their regular shoes. Skating takes some practice, so your kids will be encouraged to get active daily if they want to improve. Make sure to invest in elbow and knee pads if you’re worried about scrapes.

Binoculars

It may not seem obvious, but a pair of binoculars can encourage your kids to get outside and be active. Exploring the backyard can feel novel when you have a different point of view. Beyond your own property, binoculars will encourage the kids to run in every direction in search of a new bird, bug, or bloom.

Rain boots and umbrella

make it easy for kids to catch, observe, and release the critters in your area. Tracking an insect and planning a humane capture takes lots of skill. Your kids will use gross and fine motor skills alongside stealth maneuvers to grab the best bugs in the yard.

Walkie-talkies

A good pair of walkie-talkies can inspire so much outdoor play. Practice with the equipment inside the house first so you trust your kids to communicate effectively out in the field. They’ll want to go on adventures to test the signal strength! Walkie-talkies are a good tool for allowing a bit more independence, too. You can let the kids run ahead at the park, knowing they can easily check in with you.

Fun and games

Getting active shouldn’t feel like work. Invest in a few new activities to encourage your kids to choose an energetic game rather than the TV.

Dance mat

Inspired by real-life dance challenges, these dance mats are a fun way for creative kids to get active. You can find versions that offer a variety of songs, skill levels, and designs to match your family’s needs best. Most mats are easy to move around, so let the kids take their dancing fun out to the patio or even to the park.

Activity tracker watch

Kids love nothing more than feeling grown up. With their own activity trackers, they’ll be excited to meet the move-

ment goals you set every day. Some watches come with additional features, like reminders to drink water, that can help your kids develop lifelong healthy habits.

Ninja course supplies

If you have the space outside, investing in a ninja course for your kids will pay off immensely. These sets come with various items to help make a customizable obstacle course. With everything from zip lines to tree ladders, a ninja set can provide hours of entertainment for the whole family. The best sets will adjust with your kids for many years as they grow, so the investment is worth it.

Even just a few of these supplies will make it easier for your kids to choose an hour of active play rather than another episode.

Adventure gear

Sometimes it’s easier to get away from the screens and head outside if there’s an adventure on the horizon. Grab a few supplies and let your kids take the lead.

Get the kids a fun pair of rain boots and a colorful umbrella. These items may not seem like much, but your kids will bolt for the door when that storm hits. If the weather isn’t wet enough in your area, let them splash in the kiddie pool or a bucket out back!

Bug catcher

Give the kids an outdoor goal! Inexpensive bug boxes

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

State Fair welcomes visitors on autism spectrum with first sensory-friendly morning session

By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer

This year for the first time in its 164-year history, the Minnesota State Fair is taking proactive steps to welcome visitors with sensory processing challenges like autism spectrum disorder.

On Monday, August 28, guests who visit the Mighty Midway and Midway will experience something unique. The area will literally turn down the volume and be without its usual loud music and signature bright lights.

From 9 to 11 am on the Midway and from 10 am to noon on the Mighty Midway, lights will dim or be turned off entirely and noisy sound effects and thumping tunes will be silenced. Barkers’ voices will not be amplified with microphones and all non-safety-related announcements will be kept to a minimum.

“The State Fair is called the Great Minnesota Get-Together and we’ve made a few adjustments to try our best to embody that and be more inclusive, to help people navigate their day so they can have a great experience,” said Christine Noonan, marketing director for the State Fair.

Many visitors love the State Fair specifically for its sensory overload, with the commotion of the crowds, the spectacle of live entertainment, the parades, the animals, and the scents of roasting corn, smoking pork, and deep-fried everything.

But the very atmosphere that attracts most Fair fans is too stimulating for people with sensory processing challenges and can trigger a meltdown. Many have been wary to venture to the Fairgrounds, but this year’s

new accommodations may appeal to them.

“We’ve already heard from people who are excited about what we are doing and are planning to come on the morning of August 28,” Noonan said. “We hope people will take a chance and try it out and see if this will work for them and their families.”

The State Fair has also collaborated with Fraser, a Minnesota nonprofit that treats people with autism and mental health disorders, to provide visitors with an online pre-visit story. This narrative explains the experience of visiting the Fair to prepare children for what the experience will be like and to reduce the anxiety of the unfamiliar.

Visitors of all ages who live with sensory processing challenges can also plan to take a break at the Fraser Sensory Building, on the west side of Cosgrove Street south of the Home Improvement building.

Staffed by Fraser’s trained individuals and volunteers, the air-conditioned space offers a quiet respite where visitors who feel overwhelmed can self-regulate with techniques and tools including weighted blankets, floor cushions, and

fidget toys.

The Fraser Sensory Building will be open from 9 am to 9 pm throughout the 12-day run of the State Fair. People of all ages with PTSD, seizure disorders, and other anxiety disorders are also welcome.

These accommodations by the State Fair represent another step in a growing national trend. Venues that want to be more welcoming to the neurodiverse have offered adapted spaces for fans who are on the spectrum. In recent years, professional sports teams, theater operators, museums, and other public places have created sensory rooms for those in search of a less stimulating environment.

“Our employees and the ride and game operators all on board, wholly supportive of this,” Noonan said. “When you think of rides and games, you naturally think of kids and families, but there are plenty of adults who also want to experience walking around the Fair in a calmer way.”

Some screen time can be a good part of your family’s routine, but it’s important to balance that with active, outdoor play.

Photo: standrets via 123RF

Photo: milkos via 123RF

Sheletta Brundidge welcomes reader comments to sbrundidge@ spokesman-recorder.com.

The State Fair’s sensory-friendly morning promises an opportunity for fun for all children. Submitted photo

AA

Continued from page 1

Student Union. She’s concerned that the ban on affirmative action could reduce diversity at her school.

“I think [for] people of color that are looking towards the U of M, [it’s] already a little bit overwhelming, considering it is a PWI (predominately White institution),” Yeboah said. “But with this new affirmative action [decision], it’s just gonna be even more tough to build that diversity.”

The University of Minnesota updated its admissions policy following the Supreme Court decision, confirming race and ethnicity will no longer be considered as a part of the “holistic” admissions process.

“The application will ask for this optional information for recruitment and communication purposes about programs and

BLX

Continued from page 1

adding three stations along the route. One of the stations, at Washington and Plymouth, would connect with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority headquarters and the new V3 Sports Complex a third of a mile away.

The other two stations would be on 21st Avenue. One of those stations will be at James Avenue to connect with North Commons Park and the YMCA. The other, at Lyndale, will connect with the Kemps milk plant, the Masjid An-Nur mosque, as well as Cub Foods to the south. Both stations are roughly a five-minute walk to the D Line at Emerson and Fremont.

The agency does not plan to build a station at Emerson or Fremont to connect with the D Line because planners are worried about losing ridership. “How do we efficiently serve the community? How do we get the stations that we’re proposing in the spots that get the most ridership,” pondered

Nick Landwer, Metro Transit director of transit system design, adding that more stations may impact light rail travel time. This is in spite of the fact that the Blue Line makes two stops in Bloomington that are spaced 1,100 feet apart, roughly the same distance of the proposed Lyndale stop from Emerson Avenue.

The alignment’s impact

Although the alignment has the potential to foster new connections and development within North Minneapolis, it would affect commercial buildings and homes, some of which may have to be demolished.

One of them is the Bell Lofts building, a former Northwestern Bell telephone exchange building that was converted

SANNEH

Continued from page 1

University Avenue with 100 units for nonprofit, education, and healthcare workers, along with offering training programs and housing for the Sanneh Foundation’s offices.

It was recently named one of 42 local organizations that are part of a $7 million economic revitalization grant from the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation.

The organization has served nearly 200,000 meals to children in the Twin Cities metro area, six days a week to help support families. They signed a three-year management agreement with the City of Saint Paul, to run Conway Community Center, to provide free youth programming, as well as a safe space for local youth.

services offered,” the university said. “The information will not be provided to application reviewers and will not be considered at any point during the University of Minnesota admissions decision process.”

Predominately White institutions should take additional steps to attract Black applicants and ensure inclusive and diverse spaces exist on college campuses in the wake of ruling, Yeboah said.

“I think that it’s best not to throw a bunch of people of color on the front of a folder to show that ‘oh, yeah, we have diversity here.’ I think it’s best to actually show what exactly these universities are doing for students of color to benefit them academically,” she said.

Harvard College is one of two institutions at the center of the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.

Students for Fair Admissions

into apartments in 1986. The building was condemned in December after residents, who complained about deferred maintenance over several years, were forced to quickly vacate with help from local activists and money from internet strangers after a water pipe burst.

Chris Webley, who owns the building and serves on the project’s business advisory committee, did not respond to requests for comment on the station location when repeatedly contacted.

Twelve additional buildings could also be demolished, eight of them on 21st Avenue. Some of those buildings are currently vacant. Others are occupied by renters, some of whom were unaware of the project. Two of the buildings’ residents—one at the proposed James Avenue station location, the other at the proposed Lyndale Avenue station location—only spoke Spanish and were not interviewed due to the language barrier.

Bruce Barron, who lives at the corner of 21st and Emerson, has mixed feelings about the light rail running mere feet from his home. “What are you displacing?” said Barron of the abandoned houses steps from his front door. “If I were planning, I’d build it here. From a living standpoint, it wouldn’t help us. Who is going to buy a house that’s 20 feet from the train?”

“If that happens, we’ll have to leave,” said a person who lives at Barron’s home who declined to give his name. “We can’t be here with the train going back and forth in front of our single-family home. The County’s going to have to buy us out.”

A building at the corner of 7th Street and Oak Lake Avenue owned by native Northsider Wendy Sullivan would also be impacted. She bought the building and its property

“To empower youth, improve lives and unite communities,” said Sanneh, of the foundation’s overall mission. Asked if he had envisioned all of this, he said he didn’t, but others had.

“My mom would tell me I could do whatever I want to do,” he said. “But she also tells me that I’m afraid to fail. So, I don’t announce a plan. I just do a plan.

“I never said I was going to be a soccer player. But you could read my seventh-grade journal… I was going to be a soccer player. I just didn’t tell the world,” continued Sanneh.

“I talked to my college coach years later and he said, ‘You remember what we talked about when you left school? I asked you what you were gonna do.’ He told me I could play soccer for five to seven years, save $100,000, buy a house, and then find a way to work with

brought lawsuits against Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, alleging their admissions policies violated the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by giving preference to Black and Hispanic students, causing fewer Asian and white students to be admitted. The suit cites literature that reports Asian students need to earn significantly higher standardized test scores than Black students to be admitted to selective universities.

“Harvard requires much more of its Asian-American applicants than it requires of other races and ethnicities,” the suit says.

Unlikely coalition at Harvard

Raie Gessesse graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School earlier this year with a master’s degree in public policy. She’s back in the Twin Cities area working as a consultant.

“I am a little bit nervous and

last year to develop a 10-story office and entertainment space to make North Minneapolis culture accessible to the rest of the city.

“I bought my first commercial properties…to link the divided communities through food and fun. [It’s] to share the Northside community with the larger population in a way that is uplifting and dissolves the isolated commerce that has historically occurred in my community,” said Sullivan.

fearful for what [this decision could] mean for Harvard’s campus and for college campuses across the country, where, if we are no longer considering race, as but one factor in an admissions [process], people can fall through the cracks,” Gessesse said.

dents on campus, around how this is a myth. This has fundamentally been a myth. And it’s really unfortunate that this is the narrative being purported,” she said.

“It was the ideal location to accomplish my vision. As an emerging developer of color, it will be extremely devastating this far along in my development process to have the project snatched from me without consideration.”

“We’re being told anti-displacement is there, but we’re not seeing anything happening. I don’t care about transit.

Sullivan is also concerned about road access to the elevator-accessible 150 parking spaces she is proposing for

Gessesse added that she’d attended Harvard with Asian students who fought back against the idea that Black students are displacing Asian students at selective universities.

“I witnessed tons of really powerful coalitions between Black students and Asian stu-

the site, as well as the lack of a light rail station in the area of her building. “Suburban people are not going to take the light rail. They want to park. And they also want to have secure parking because Minneapolis has got a bad rap right now as far as being safe,” said Sullivan. “I [also] would like to see another [light rail] stop where [my development] is, either before or after, because 30,000 people passing by does not help my business or my development.”

The project would also affect milk producer Kemps’ operations in North Minneapolis. Kemps has a plant on West Broadway Avenue and stores its trucks in a lot on the north side of 21st Avenue between 4th Avenue and I-94. When contacted through their website, Kemps’ did not respond to requests for comment. They also could not be reached by phone.

Despite the challenges, building the light rail would mean building a new overpass bridge over I-94, which could potentially improve connections from the North Side to the Mississippi River waterfront. “I love the finger connections that you’re making,” said Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner Meg Forney at the corridor committee meet-

respond to the needs of the community. I tell people this is a choice that we’ve made. We’re dedicated to doing the right thing. We don’t always get it right. But eventually we do more good than anything else.”

As head of the eponymously named organization, in addition to helping the community, especially youth, Sanneh is committed to leading a diverse nonprofit operation, having a workforce that reflects the community it serves. People of color make up 70 percent of its employees.

“Black students are at Harvard because we worked hard,” said Gessesse. She double majored in public health and political science at Hamline University and graduated in 2020. “Affirmative action is about ensuring a fair and holistic process, not granting additional advantage.”

A boon for HBCUs?

The Court’s decision could

ing last Thursday. “I would also advocate that [the bridge across I-94 should be made] into a land bridge. Anything that we could do to get people to that river is what I’m just so passionate about.”

It’s important to note that the light rail would continue operating on West Broadway west of James Avenue as it continues to Brooklyn Park. Planners are sure the alignment would require the demolition of the Five Points building, located at West Broadway and Penn Avenue.

Local radio station KMOJ is housed in that building. General Manager Freddie Bell is worried about the impact the project will have on the radio station. “I can’t pick up this radio station and move it from point A to point B tomorrow and have it communicate effectively without interruption,” said Bell.

Displacement concerns linger

The Met Council plans to finalize the Blue Line extension route over the next year. Next month, members of the corridor committee will vote on whether or not to adopt the recommended route. Planners will then have to evaluate the route for its impact on potential historic resources, traffic, parking, land use and pollution, all required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

They plan to publish a draft report on how they would address those impacts and allow people to provide feedback on it. The routing is finalized when all the cities along the corridor approve the alignment and project planners address the comments in a final copy of the environmental report, which they will submit to the federal government. All this is expected to be completed sometime in the next two years.

Planning for the project will continue despite concerns

Sarai Hernandez, who is working in event planning, added, “I think that Tony and everyone here does a good job

spur enrollment growth at HBCUs. Journalist and Howard University professor Nikole Hannah-Jones encouraged increased funding and support for the historic institutions in the aftermath of the ban, writing, “the Supreme Court has sent its message. Now, we must answer with our own.” Though chronically underfunded, HBCUs punch well above their weight in establishing a pipeline to professional careers for Black students. HBCUs award 24 percent of all STEM-related bachelor’s degrees earned by Black Americans although they make up just three percent of all colleges and universities. They also send more Black students to medical schools than do predominantly White institutions.

Niara Savage welcomes reader comments at nsavage@spokesman-recorder.com.

from local business owners over displacement. “The biggest fear with this project is we’re being told how much this is going to benefit our community. But we’re not being told how,” said KB Brown, who owns Wolfpack Promotionals on West Broadway and sits on the project’s business advisory committee.

“We’re being told anti-displacement is there, but we’re not seeing anything happening,” said Brown. “I don’t care about transit. If my business is stopped, I lose my home.”

Mayor Jacob Frey agrees.

“This is the worst possible scenario that I think we could put the council, and ultimately the city in, is to be in a position where they’re about to grant or deny municipal consent and there is a looming question [on if] we might get an additional $5 million [for antidisplacement] in a couple of months,” said Frey. “The more that we can time this correctly so that at the very least we’re all voting with our eyes wide open about what we will have and what we won’t have, [the better].”

Cathy Gold, senior department administrator at Hennepin County, said they are working to find money to implement the anti-displacement recommendations from a mix of private and public sources. “We want to be a model for how we produce good projects that have the community benefiting. Also we’ll look to our nonprofits and philanthropic partners, in addition to our federal and state agencies, to try and get as much money and resources available for this work,” said Gold at the corridor committee meeting. Gold also said they are looking to hire staff to get the antidisplacement work going.

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

people that do some good stuff,” said Sanneh of the two women.

He announced that TSF is looking to expand in other areas: “We expanded into workforce development. But we call it human development,” explained Sanneh. “My goal isn’t for you to graduate here and get a job. My goal is to educate you, give you the tools and the essential supports like housing, transportation, food, so that you can make a choice to do what you want to do that makes you happy.

some kids.

“Everybody around me said… all the signs were there that I would do [this]. I just never announced it,” he said. “I’m a down-to-earth person. I have a saying, ‘There’s no room for complacency when it comes to helping others.’

“We built the organization to

“We get a lot of opportunities that most people wouldn’t when you first start your entry-level career,” said Sophia Hayden, who is working at TSF in marketing and content strategy. “They listen to us even though we’re younger. They take into account our ideas. And it just helps us grow.”

of showing us how we need to present ourselves to be able to continue growing.”

Both Hayden and Hernandez came to the foundation through AmeriCorps VISTA, a national program in which members serve one year at a nonprofit organization.

“We’ve built an organization with a lot of really talented

“And hopefully that’s making the community stronger, because we’re developing stronger employees,” concluded Sanneh. “It’s exciting when you see the positive effects it is having on communities.”

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

“I think that it’s best not to throw a bunch of people of color on the front of a folder to show that ‘oh, yeah, we have diversity here.’”

Wendy Sullivan poses by a building at 7th Street and Oak Lake Avenue that she bought in 2022. Photos by H. Jiahong Pan

If my business is stopped, I lose my home.”

Tony Sanneh

“We’ve built an organization with a lot of really talented people that do some good stuff.”

InGensa, Inc.

Black Business SPOTLIGHT

By Gino Terrell

Contributing Writer

Growing up, Jacqui Coleman remembers being called “bossy,” which in her grandmother’s parlance meant “sassy.” In hindsight, Coleman realized that when she was younger she had a habit of asking questions, taking charge and embracing challenges. Little did she know those were the first steps into becoming the leader she is today.

The Minnesota transplant, and South Side Chicago native, has been and continues to be a difference maker. She’s lived in the state for 20 years and has led her business, InGensa, Inc., for 10 years as owner, president and CEO.

In layman’s terms, InGensa is a firm that helps school districts renovate and rebuild their infrastructure, property,

Breaking down barriers in a White-male-dominated field

my projects.” She takes a customized approach to her work rather than a “one size fits all” model.

Recently, InGensa helped a client in central Minnesota, Browerville Public Schools—a K-12 system—rebuild in April 2023 after the roof of the school’s gymnasium collapsed under heavy snow accumulation. Coleman worked with the school district, members of the legislature, and the community to address the issue.

She understands that schools are a critical part of the community, especially in a small town. This motivates her to continue the work she does leading InGensa. Her company serves schools in rural areas in greater Minnesota and the Dakotas, so she’s no stranger to hitting the road for hours to attend conferences and meetings.

business, she worked for a Fortune 100 company in the same field. Being limited to a corporate-specific template for client solutions and ever-present time constraints meant that she had to sacrifice some of her best ideas. As a result, whenever she came up with “outside the box” ideas she had to leave them on the corporate cutting-room floor.

“When you’re passionate about what you’re doing, and trying to service the clients, it makes it really difficult. I was limited in what I could do,” she says.

veloping solutions together. She builds out her staff by trying to acquire quality talent whose values align with InGensa’s mission and culture.

“It feels liberating. I feel seen. I’m able to be myself more. I’m not a robot in a corporate structure,” Coleman says. “A lot of companies are concerned with their bottom line. Don’t get me wrong, we

of her desire to become a mentor. “I want to help at-risk young African American women.”

Throughout her career, she says she’s had people who showed her what was possible and, in turn, has a desire to do that for others. Early on in her life, one of her mentors showed her the value of education, which was one of the reasons why she pursued

like to instill in her mentees.

“Confidence is key,” Coleman says. “There will be obstacles. But you have to have the confidence to keep going and be resilient.

“Lean on your support system. Build your network and have people around you. You are going to need them, even if you think you can do it all by yourself.”

Coleman currently leads by example for her 13 nieces, two nephews and, of course, her colleagues. Her desire is to branch outside of her family and give Black girls in her hometown of Chicago someone who can show them a path to success.

Success has a different meaning for Coleman now.

“When I was younger I thought it was about career and money,” she says. “Now, I feel it’s about being happy. Whether

and educational facilities. The company offers local school districts operational and capital improvement solutions that may include developing new facilities, closing down buildings, or consolidating spaces.

“It’s a lot more complex than that,” Coleman notesin explaining InGensa’s business. “I work with school districts [to] develop, plan and execute those projects. I manage [the projects] as well.”

In addition, there are lots of moving parts that InGensa juggles to achieve the end goal to “help clients achieve optimum learning environments.”

The firm brings authenticity to their work, which is why Coleman says, “I’m proud of all of

Traveling isn’t the only challenge Coleman faces.

She is not just the only Black woman leader in her space; she’s also the only Black leader in a White-maledominated field. With a relatively small firm, she makes it her mission to wear “many hats’’ to make ends meet. She hopes to continue to see her business grow in capacity so that she can delegate tasks to employees and serve a higher volume of clients.

“I want to get all these hats off so I’m not working until 11 o’clock at night,” she says. However, the long hours are what have led to Coleman’s success in leading InGensa.

Prior to starting her own

Her work leading InGensa for a decade didn’t go unnoticed by MEDA (Metropolitan Economic Development Association). They named Coleman their 2023 Resilient Entrepreneur of the Year.

“It was a surprise,” Coleman says of receiving the honor. “I have been working with MEDA since the start of the business. They took me on as a client. They watched me grow,” she adds. “I feel honored and very grateful MEDA recognized me for the work I put in day-to-day.”

Beyond personal accolades, Coleman finds her work to be more rewarding compared to when she worked in a corporate structure. At InGensa, she has a hands-on approach to working with clients and de-

are not a nonprofit. But for us it’s bigger than that.

“If we are servicing our clients to the greatest satisfaction, then the bottom line will follow,” Coleman says.

In addition to being a business leader, Coleman is a mentor. “It’s a goal of mine,” she says

higher education.

She took a liking to the programs at the University of Illinois and saw her older sister’s experience at the school, which played a part in inspiring her to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

There are a few traits she’d

that’s being happy in my career, financially comfortable, happy with family and friends— success to me is happiness.”

Gino Terrell welcomes reader comments at gterrell@spokesman-recorder.com..

“If we are servicing our

then

follow.”

Jacqui Coleman

Photos by Chris Juhn

Arts & Culture

By Tony Kiene

Contributing Writer

t was the spring of 1986 and Charles Smith and his aunt were driving through Hollywood when the image ahead started to come into view. Rising high above Sunset Boulevard was Smith’s cousin Prince on a billboard touting what would soon become his third number-one single, “Kiss.”

Prince had already achieved international superstardom, with eight studio albums to his credit and a second major motion picture, “Under the Cherry Moon,” on its way to theaters that summer.

Of course, none of this was lost on Smith, who was there the day Prince first strummed a guitar just before the two of them started their first band together, Grand Central. Still, there was something about this billboard that resonated a little differently.

“Wow. Look at this,” Smith thought to himself as his eyes fixed on his cousin now staring back at him, bigger than life. “He really made it.”

That same sentiment came to mind when he gazed upon the brand-new signs that designate a seven-mile stretch of Minnesota State Road 5 as Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway.

“I think it’s dope,” he declared while wondering aloud what Prince would think of the tribute. “He might say, ‘It’s just a road.’ But it is a great honor for our family. And it speaks to Prince’s impact on our culture. Not just here in Minnesota, but around the world.”

“This is a Prince day!”

The bill proposing Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway was authored and intro-

PRINCE HIGHWAY: honoring music royalty

HF 717 was passed by a vote of 121-0 on the House floor and 55-5 in the Senate, before being signed into law by Governor Tim Walz at Paisley Park in May.

Then on Thursday, August 3, 2023, four purple signs were finally erected officially rechristening Minnesota 5—starting from Mitchell Road in Eden Prairie and extending westward just beyond the site of Prince’s longtime Galpin Boulevard home in Chanhassen—as Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway.

One of those signs sits right outside the fence at Paisley Park, literally a stone’s throw from the Riley Creek tunnel, which has become a sacred site and continues to bear the tributes of Prince fans from both near and far.

And it was here where family, fans, former Prince associates, and members of the media gathered for the official unveiling of the sign, hearing from Prince’s eldest sister Sharon L. Nelson and Mark Webster, who may have played the most significant role in helping this day come to fruition.

“This is a Prince day! This is a Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial

“This is my job,” continued Webster, “I never worked for Prince, but I think I’m working for him now. So, I’m trying to do the best I can in his honor.”

In addition to Rep. Rehm and Sen. Coleman, Webster cites the support of MnDOT’s Jennifer Witt and Ann Meyer in getting the highway effort completed.

It turned out to be a “purple day” all day as a number of those present had the chance to celebrate later that night too. August 3 marked the 40th anniversary of Prince’s historic First Avenue concert where he debuted several songs that would be included on “Purple Rain,” including the live recording of its title track.

Minneapolis legends in their own right, Dr. Mambo’s Combo took over the club that Prince made world famous and treated a capacity crowd to the very same set Prince & The Revolution performed that very evening in 1983.

The party continued back in Chanhassen on August 7, where Paisley Park opened its doors to the public to once again rejoice and revel along the highway that now bears Prince’s name. The festivities were included on a live radio broadcast from KMOJ.

Unit, Zschomler researched and authored “Prince: 1958 – 1987,” a multiple property document that has chronicled and cataloged scores of Prince-related sites throughout the Twin Cities, including those that may become eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

“Absolutely fantastic,” Zschomler asserted when discussing the new Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway.

“There are so many things as a state that [we] must do to honor Prince and all that he means to us,” she noted before adding that she’d love to see a similar designation along the stretch of Highway 55 that cuts through the North Minneapolis neighborhood that nurtured Prince and his contemporaries as they established the

Minneapolis Sound.

Likewise, whether thinking about that Hollywood billboard so many years ago, or the newly minted signs out in Chanhassen, Smith’s mind is immediately drawn back to the old neighborhood and all that his cousin overcame on his way to the top.

“It’s hard to put into words,” he explained. “I mean, look at this brother. Coming out of this town at the time when he did. Prince broke through so many barriers.

“Now, I don’t like to brag,” Smith continued. “Nevertheless, all things considered, I am going to brag. My cousin conquered the world. He is worthy not only of this tribute but so much more.”

Tony Kiene welcomes reader comments to tkiene@spokesmanrecorder.com.

(l-r) Walter “Q Bear” Banks, Williams Bakeshow Baker, Rico Devotion and Patrick Adams at the Paisley Park Prince Hwy celebration

Photos by Chris Juhn

“There are so many things as a state that we must do to honor Prince and all that he means to us.”

Unlikely allies and uncomfortably large coalitions

By Ben Jealous

“Spend your energy figuring out what’s the one thing that you can agree on with a political foe,” Gen. Colin Powell told me years ago. “Figure that out and you can get a lot done.”

Children are supposed to enjoy their lives

By Marian Wright Edelman

“What did you do over summer break?” It’s a common question for students getting ready to head back to school, and thousands of young scholars who were enrolled in Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools summer enrichment programs will have stories to tell from this year’s National Day of Social Action.

Every July, students in grades K-12 at CDF Freedom Schools sites across the country take part in a special day to advocate around a critical issue affecting children’s lives. This year focused on gun violence, and many scholars got to attend marches, rallies, and meetings with legislators where they were able to share their own stories about how gun violence affects them and their communities.

They were able to see the power of collective action, gained valuable experience in speaking up in front of new audiences, and learned the key CDF Freedom Schools principle that children are never too young to make a difference.

In New York, CDF Freedom Schools scholars rallied and marched at City Hall Park, where their call for adults to protect children, not guns, was also a demand for their own right and freedom to live joyfully. One scholar put it this way as she stepped up to the microphone: “We should be able to walk the streets and have a good time at the park without being worried about getting shot or getting hurt… I think it’s unfair to all the kids and all the parents who have suffered through these shootings. It’s not fair. Kids are supposed to enjoy their life.”

The scholars took part in a loud call and response: “What do we want?” “JOY!” “When do we want it?” “NOW!”

Later, a group of scholars dropped off letters asking New York City Council Members to take action against gun violence at Council Member Charles Barron’s office, where his chief of staff spoke with them about the history of Black freedom fighters and movements. The indomitable Ella Baker, whose legacy of servant-leadership is an integral part of the CDF Freedom Schools movement, was one of the freedom fighters whose picture was displayed prominently on the wall.

can’t use them right/Don’t use them AT ALL!”

In Sacramento, California, where scholars gathered for a large rally inside the Sacramento Kings’ Golden 1 Center, hundreds raised their hands when they were asked whether they knew someone who had been harmed by gun violence. In San Francisco, news crews captured a similar exercise where scholars were invited to step forward if they’d lost someone to gun violence or if they’d come close to being injured by guns themselves.

When a reporter asked one scholar, 11-year-old Montae, whether he felt safe in his neighborhood, he answered, “Sometimes, no… I hear a lot of gunshots.”

We’re seeing that proven across the Midwest from Illinois to North Dakota where unlikely allies with different interests and perspectives are joined in fighting against several multistate carbon dioxide pipelines proposed by huge agribusiness and fossil fuels companies. For some, it’s as simple as private companies trying to take private land that belongs to someone else to make private profit for themselves. For others, the pipelines would extend our reliance on dirty fuels and prolong pollution from industrial farming and the ethanol producers it supplies. Together they see the pipelines as unnecessary, destructive to precious land, and potentially dangerous.

“We might not agree on a lot of things, but this is something we will all oppose, these pipelines,” says Kim Juncker, who farms land with her husband in Butler County, Iowa, that could be grabbed for what’s called the Navigator project. “We will lock arms on this one.”

For their part, landowners appreciate that environmental groups bring their organizing experience and their capacity to monitor the smallest details in the fight. One of the biggest challenges is farmers are busy farming and can’t make opposition a full-time job.

no small feat as Baughman’s own filing to intervene was 51 pages long.

Our system allows for the power of enough people to thwart the power of money, which the pipeline developers certainly have. That’s how opponents have managed to claim some big wins.

In Ohio, one of the 10 states with the highest number of gun-related deaths among children and teenagers, along with Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, CDF Freedom Schools scholars rallied at the statehouse and brought posters and letters to be left on display.

At another rally in Knoxville, Tennessee, one scholar’s handlettered poster was decorated with large X’s and read, “Fight against gun violence/If you

In St. Paul, Minnesota, approximately 1,600 scholars and supporters marched to the Minnesota State Capitol grounds, part of a special week for Minnesota CDF Freedom Schools scholars that also included Youth Science Day at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Before the march, Tim Cryer, CDF-Minnesota’s youth development senior manager, explained some of the experiences children gained during all of the National Day of Social Action events.

“What does it look like to protest? What does it look like to use your voice? Something that they can put their energy to, that they can get excited about with their peers—that helps them feel like they are part of the solution, and not just victims.”

Several parents whose own children were killed by gun violence marched alongside the Minnesota scholars. One, Monica Jones, told a reporter: “We don’t want this to continue to happen to any more kids in our community.”

Another mother, Marea Perry, said, “Through loss you can still love, and that’s what we want to continue to do, to represent the love that we have for our children, and the love that we have for other people’s children.”

Fewer parents would feel these mothers’ pain if every adult felt the same love for other people’s children and the same compulsion to protect children, not guns. Fewer children would need to speak out at rallies and marches if more adults were willing to act.

How long will our nation continue to allow children to feel scared in their own neighborhoods, schools and homes?

CDF is so proud of all of these young people who are learning to speak up for themselves and their right to grow up joyfully and safely.

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

Tim Baughman, who owns land with his sister in Crawford County, Iowa, that could be disrupted by the Summit pipeline, attended a safety meeting with the developer last week; the only reason he learned of the session was hearing about it from a farmer in another part of the state. In turn, he does his best to keep two other landowners informed. They’re among nine in the county who haven’t signed voluntary easements for the pipeline to cross their land and are less connected to the digital world, he says.

In North Dakota, the public service commission last week denied Summit the permit it needs to move forward, citing issues from impact on cultural sites and wildlife areas to property values; the company can reapply. In Iowa, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would have significantly limited the pipelines’ ability to take land involuntarily with nearly two-thirds of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans in support.

The bill unfortunately was killed in the state Senate.

To really harness people power, we need to build coalitions that are uncomfortably large. That’s what pipeline opponents have done. People who will question whether carbon is damaging the climate are fighting alongside people who will question the role of biofuels in prolonging our fossil fuel addiction.

Juncker calls herself a “constitutional conservative” and explains her political leanings and in her view those of many landowners simply: “We like our property rights and we like our freedom.”

Environmental activists have seen that opposing pipelines demands the voice of the people who own land that they don’t want to sell to the developers.

More than 150 landowners now join weekly Zoom calls with environmentalists to share information and strategy. One outcome is that more than 460 landowners have filed to intervene when the Iowa Utilities Board holds its hearing in a few weeks over the Summit pipeline’s request to take land through eminent domain. That’s

In a country that can feel so divided, there’s promise in that beyond the pipeline fight. As General Powell told me, “As you win one victory together, you might just discover along the way that there’s something else you agree on.”

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

First ballots cast in Minnesota by those on probation or parole

By Maurice L. Ward

On August 6, 2023, there was a significant victory in the state of Minnesota. Legislation was passed restoring voting rights for those who were formerly incarcerated. With the passage of the bill, the first absentee ballots were cast earlier this month by formerly incarcerated persons to take back power for those who were disenfranchised, to help restore their humanity.

The absentee votes were cast by members of JIIVE (Justice Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively), a nonprofit 503(c)4 social welfare organization that focuses on empowering justice-impacted individuals, which has been working tirelessly to restore the voting rights of formerly incarcerated individuals in Minnesota.

With the passing of the bill, those who have previously

been disenfranchised will now have a voice in the election process. “We are thrilled to see this change happening in Minnesota,” said JIIVE’s executive director, Lovell Oates.

“Restoring the right to vote for

justice-impacted individuals has long been a controversial issue in Minnesota and across the country. According to the Sentencing Project, over five million people are unable to vote due to a previous conviction.

“Voting is a fundamental right, and it’s important that everyone has a say in the decisions that directly affect their lives,” said Johnson. “We are proud to have played a part in making history and look forward to continuing our work to empower justice-impacted individuals.”

On August 12, JIIVE was in North Minneapolis registering justice-impacted individuals to vote. For more information, visit www.jiive.org.

formerly incarcerated individuals is a huge step in the right direction towards achieving true justice.”

The fight for voting rights for

Maurice L. Ward is the founder of JIIVE, Justice Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively, a political action committee and social welfare organization.

“Through loss you can still love, and that’s what we want to continue to do, to represent the love that we have for our children, and the love that we have for other people’s children.”

“Voting is a fundamental right, and it’s important that everyone has a say in the decisions that directly affect their lives.”

To really harness people power, we need to build coalitions that are uncomfortably large.

On the One Festival returns with a tribute to neo-soul legends

Tony Kiene

Contributing Writer

Coming of age in Lansing, Michigan, Chadwick “Niles” Phillips initially took to visual artistry, but he always remembers music being at the center of his universe.

His father, legendary jazz and classical bassist Sam Gill, recorded and performed with the likes of Art Blakey, Randy Weston, and Thelonius Monk among other greats.

It was through the world of music that the young Phillips found “solace, healing, and empowerment.” By the time he was 16, Phillips was becoming a rapper of some renown around his hometown.

Yet despite all that Lansing meant to him, Phillips always felt like he had a second home in the Twin Cities. He has family here. In fact, he graduated from Park Center High School before matriculating back to greater Lansing and Michigan State University, where he continued to mature as an artist.

single on the Koch Records label.

Another victory soon followed at the Harlem Rap-athon, and before he knew it Phillips was opening for the likes of KRS-One, Raekwon, and Talib Kweli among others. He didn’t limit himself to the stage or the studio either, scoring production gigs with BET, CBS, MTV, New York City Fashion Week, and major motion pictures at Walt Disney and Sony studios.

Notwithstanding the successes and experience he’d garnered in music, art, television, film, and business, he always sensed that there was something missing.

“I knew I wanted to create my own legacy in music,” says Phillips, “I wanted to do things the way that I wanted to do them.” So, he made his escape from New York and returned to his second home—The Twin Cities.

From the Big Apple back to the Minneapple

The Twin Cities proved to be the perfect location for what Phillips was looking to create.

“There is so much musical history here, so much talent that continues to emerge. It’s almost unreal.”

Submitted photos

New York, New York… Big City of Dreams

After graduation in East Lansing, Phillips made his way to New York City to pursue a career in hip hop. It didn’t take long before he made his mark.

“I won the Hot 97 talent search in 2006,” says Phillips, “So now I’m hanging out with New York radio icons like Miss Jones and DJ Envy.” His big win also gave him the chance to record his first

His first order of business was to establish the Poet’s Groove, an open mic experience that soon became a staple on the local scene. “It was always poppin’,” recalls Phillips.

In 2014, Phillips founded The Avant Garde, an expansive production company rooted deeply in Black art, aesthetics, and performance, with an eye toward the nuanced and the eclectic.

“Just consider some of the legends of the culture. Those who created something that was revolutionary,” muses Phillips. “Phyllis Wheatley,

DOJ seeks community input about the future of MPD at listening sessions

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is continuing to host a series of meetings to center the voices of the community regarding changes in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).

The DOJ is negotiating a consent decree as part of its two-year investigation into the MPD following the murder of George Floyd and the outcry that followed. Through its investigation, the DOJ found that the City of Minneapolis and MPD engaged in discriminatory practices that violated the rights of African Americans and Native Americans.

The City and MPD have agreed in principle to resolve the DOJ’s findings through a consent decree. The DOJ is now seeking community input on potential remedies as we work toward the consent decree.

Upcoming sessions are listed below:

Thursday, August 17 | 6:30-8 pm

Topic: Americans with Disabilities Act

Northeast Recreation Center 1530 Johnson St. NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Week of August 21 | 6:30-8 pm

Topic: First Amendment and Use of Force

Location Pending

Tuesday, August 29 | 6:00-7:30 pm

Virtual | Zoom Link Forthcoming

For a complete list of upcoming MPD listening sessions, go to MSR’s website. If you’re unable to attend a meeting, you can contact the DOJ community inbox at community.minneapolis@usdoj. gov or use the QR code below or leave a message at 866-432-0268.

Ma Rainey, Billie

Holiday, Miles Davis.

This is the torch that we carry. The type of space we are trying to cultivate. To showcase the depth and breadth of who we are as artists, as people.”

The Avant Garde continued to produce events centered on this ethos, but the world came to an abrupt stop when Covid arrived in early 2020. That didn’t hinder Phillips, however, who responded with Quarantine Soul, a virtual performance project that highlighted artists from around the world.

Then, as the world began to push past the pandemic wall, Phillips started to rekindle a dream of his. “It had long been a vision of mine to produce a music festival,” he recalled, “Montreux Jazz Festival. The Essence Festival. South by Southwest. These are cultural touchstones.”

It was always Phillips’ intention to bring multiple genres together under one umbrella. “Soul and R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, Spoken Word and Poetry, Reggae, Afrobeats. Different lanes, but still part of the same road.” That’s when fate stepped in.

nett, Ashley Dubose, Bree Turner, and the International Reggae All Stars.

“As everyone knows the one is a musical term,” notes Phillips. “Makes you think of James Brown or Prince. But for the purposes of this music festival, it means more. It’s about unity. Harmony across cultures. It’s about all of us together, as one. That’s why I chose the name.”

On the One!

In 2022, Phillips received a call from Faith Jackson, racial equity coordinator for the city of Bloomington. Jackson was looking to partner with the Avant Garde to launch a large and impactful community event that recognizes and celebrates the increasing diversity of Minnesota’s fourth-largest city.

The On the One Music Festival was born.

The inaugural event took place over three Friday nights last summer and featured some of the area’s top talents, including Jamecia Ben-

The 2023 edition of On the One will make a special nod to the neo-soul movement, which emerged in the mid-to-late 1990s. “It was during my teen years when this new sound came about,” reminisces Phillips. “Artists like D’Angelo, Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott. That whole scene was so influential to me.” DuBose will return this year along with fellow powerhouse vocalist Jamela Pettiford, who together will headline and respectively pay tribute to neo-soul queens Badu and Scott.

Among the other dozen-plus artists on the bill are Obi Original, who just came off a tour with Alicia Keys, and critically acclaimed singer and multi-instrumentalist Allie McIntosh, whose mentors include Robin Thicke and Stevie Mackie.

The 2023 On the One Music Festival is Saturday, August 26, 12- 8 pm, at the Normandale Lake Bandshell, located at 5901 West 84th Street in Bloomington. On the One is a free, all-ages event. For more info, go to Facebook/On the One Festival.

Tony Kiene welcomes reader comments to tkiene@spokesman-recorder.com.

MPD seeks community engagement online and in public gatherings

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara announced last week the latest steps to reform the police department. In addition to the structural changes, which will split the department into two bureaus—one to handle police operations, the other to help build community trust—Chief O’Hara announced a new webpage for community feedback, as well as a series of community engagement sessions designed to gather public input regarding policy and procedures.

The upcoming dates and topics are listed below:

Use of Force:

• Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6-8 pm, at East Neighborhood Services Inc.,1700 N.E. 2nd St. (2nd Precinct)

• Saturday, Aug. 19, 1-3 pm, at Urban Ventures, 2924 4th Ave. S. (3rd Precinct)

Stop, Search, Arrest:

• Tuesday, Aug. 22, 6-8 pm, at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. (4th Precinct)

• Wednesday, Aug. 23, 6-8 pm, at Public Services Building, 505 S. 4th Ave. (1st Precinct)

• Thursday, Aug. 24, 6-8 pm, at East Neighborhood Services Inc., 1700 N.E. 2nd St. (2nd Precinct)

Non-Discriminatory & Impartial Policing, Mission, Goals, Vision & Values:

• Tuesday, Aug. 29, 6-8 pm, at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and OutreachEngagement Center, 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. (UROC) (4th Precinct)

• Wednesday, Aug. 30, 6-8 pm, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave. (5th Precinct)

• Wednesday, Sept. 6, 6-8 pm, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave. (5th Precinct)

To visit the new MPD webpage, go to bit.ly/MPDCommunityFeedback or scan QR code.

“It’s about unity. Harmony across cultures. It’s about all of us together, as one.”

Ashley DuBose

Chadwick “Niles” Phillips

Summer Guide

The MSR’s guide to summer festivals, concerts, and activities for foodies, stargazers, art and music lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy from August 17, continuing through spring 2024.

Lil Baby and GloRilla

August 19 – 7:00 p.m.

Target Center – 600 First Avenue North, Minneapolis

Singer, songwriter and rapper Lil Baby is bringing his “It’s Only Us Tour” to Minneapolis at Target Center on Saturday, August 19 with special guests GloRilla, GLOSS Up, Rylo Rodriguez and Hunxho. For more info, visit bit.ly/LilBabyTargetCenter.

Chaka Khan and Boyz II Men

August 27 – 7:00 p.m.

Minnesota State Fair Grandstand – 1265 Snelling Avenue, Falcon Heights

One of the world’s most gifted and celebrated music icons, Chaka Khan is a 10-time Grammy Award-winner who has the rare ability to sing in many musical genres, including R&B, pop, rock, gospel, country, world and classical. She will be performing in concert with Boyz II Men, a group that redefined popular R&B. The trio holds the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time, with an astounding 64 million albums sold, and has penned and performed such celebrated classics as “End of the Road,” and “Motownphilly.” For more info, visit www.mnstatefair.org.

Extended Summer Events

Night Life: Nocturnal Worlds in African Art

Now through September 10 Minneapolis Institute of Art, Gallery 255 – 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis

“Night Life” presents 20 artworks from across Africa that address how nighttime is perceived and experienced in the past, and in some cases the present. Wooden masks, head rests, and figures support contact—through dreams—with spiritual companions. With the sounds of African nightlife in the background, these artworks speak to the richness and vitality of life after the sun goes down. Admission is free. For more info, visit new.artsmia.org.

Black Liberation: Dismantling of Racism in Minnesota, 1800s to 1960s

Now through December 31

Tues. through Fri., from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

MAAHMG – 1256 Penn Avenue North (4th floor), Minneapolis

Curated by Tina Burnside, with researcher Simiyah Garrison and graphic design by Michaela Spielberger, the exhibit is an exploration of the Black Liberation Movement in Minnesota. Focusing on Black-led organizations and Black leaders including abolitionists, labor, civil rights and Black Power leaders, “Black Liberation” reflects the fight for Black self-determination in Minnesota during the 19th and 20th centuries. Admission is free and free parking is available in the ramp at the rear of the building. For more info, visit www.maahmg.org.

The Bond Between Us

Now through Spring 2024

Thursdays and Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hennepin History Museum – 2303 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis

In “The Bond Between Us,” local artist Daren Hill reflects on the past through an exploration of three generations of photographers. This exhibit will feature a large collection of images of Minnesota’s Black community as well as new original digital artwork by Hill that honors his family and celebrates their bond. The museum’s admission policy is “pay as you can.” For more info, visit hennepinhistory.org.

Twin Tracks

Ongoing – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays

Minnesota Transportation Museum

193 Pennsylvania Avenue East Visit this moving exhibit, which highlights the careers, lives, stories and legacies of Minnesota’s African American railway workers in the early 20th century. For more info, visit transportationmuseum.org.

Minnesota Streetcar Museum

Tuesday, August 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to noon

All Aboard! The Minnesota Streetcar Museum is offering rides on a streetcar that once ran in Minneapolis and St. Paul before the 1950s through a forest between Bde Maka Ska and Bdé Umáŋ (formerly Lake Harriet). The museum rolled out two new programs in recent years, both of which center around their quintessential streetcar rides. One is focused on neurodiverse people, their family and friends; and the other provides an opportunity to ride streetcars at night. Fares for both events are $3; an unlimited ride pass for the event period is $7. Transfers from Metro Transit or other transit providers are not accepted. For more info, visit trolleyride.org/special-events/como-harriet.

Public Star Parties at the Baylor Regional Park Observatory

33, Norwood Young America

Baylor Observatory, 10775 County Road

2nd and 4th Saturdays through the end of October, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

View stars, galaxies, nebulas, planets, and other celestial wonders up close with one of their big telescopes! Star parties happen regardless of the weather; volunteers will give tours of their telescopes if the sky is cloudy. Those eager for a deeper dive into our universe may want to consider participating in the Minnesota Astronomical Society’s Camping with the Stars event in mid-July. For more info, visit www.mnastro.org.

612-827-4021

& Legals

582.032, DETERMINING, AMONGOTHERTHINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES

OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTYUSED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.

From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder

PHONE: 612-827-4021

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder August 3, 10, 17, 2023

Please proof, respond with email confirmation to ads@spokesman-recorder.com

WARNING: Your spouse has filed lawsuit against you for dissolution of your marriage. copy of the paperwork regarding the lawsuit is served on you with this summons. This summons is an official document from the court that affects your rights. Read this summons carefully. If you do not understand it, contact an attorney for legal advice

FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT @ BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM

Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard

1. The Petitioner (your spouse) has filed lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. There should also be a copy of the Petitioner’s Financial Affidavit attached.

SUMMONS PREPAID FLAT RATE: $110 X 3 WEEK RUN TOTAL: $320

2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and your Financial Affidavit. You must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms and the Financial Affidavit form are available from the Court Administrator’s office. You must serve your Answer and Financial Affidavit upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer and Financial Affidavit the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

Please proof, respond with email confirmation to ads@spokesman-recorder.com

3. This proceeding does not involve real property.

The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS

Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements ap-ply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the court or the proceeding is dismissed:

(l) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (a) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (b) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (c) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding.

(2) Neither party may harass the other party.

(3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continue without change in coverage or beneficiary designation.

(4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the court administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider or a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the court in later proceedings.

IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT.

FOR RENT

NOTICE OF PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder PHONE: 612-827-4021 FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS

Find your place with us! We’re At Home Apartments, with locations throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Call 651-224-1234 or visit AtHomeApartments.com to check availability of an apartment or townhome. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Under Minnesota Statutes, Section 518.157, in a contested proceeding involving custody or parenting time of a minor child, the pa1iies must begin paiiicipation in a parent education program that meets minimum standards promulgated by the Minnesota Supreme Court within 30 days after the first filing with the court. 1n some Districts, parenting education may be required in all custody or parenting proceedings. You may contact the District Court Administrator for additional infom1ation regarding this requirement and the availability of parent education programs.

Signature:

Dated: 7/14/2023

FOR RENT

Find your place with us!

We’re At Home Apartments, with locations throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Call 651-224-1234 or visit AtHomeApartments.com to check availability of an apartment or townhome. Equal Housing Opportunity.

From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder

PHONE: 612-827-4021

State of Minnesota District Court County of Hennepin Judicial District: Fourth Court File Number 27-FA-23-3931 Case Type: Dissolution without Children In Re the Marriage of: SUMMONS Latalia Anjolie Margalli WITHOUT REAL ESTATE Petitioner and 1saiah Tre-von Slack Respondent

FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT:

PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT @ BILLING@SPOKEMAN-RECORDER.COM

WARNING: Your spouse has filed lawsuit against you for dissolution of your marriage. copy of the paperwork regarding the lawsuit is served on you with this summons. This summons is an official document from the court that affects your rights. Read this summons carefully. If you do not understand it, contact an attorney for legal advice

SUMMONS

FLAT FEE: $320

1. The Petitioner (your spouse) has filed lawsuit against you asking for dissolu-tion of your marriage (divorce). copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. There should also be a copy of the Petitioner’s Financial Affidavit attached.

Please proof, respond with email confirmation to display@spokesman-recorder.com

2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and your Financial Affidavit. You must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms and the Financial Affidavit form are available from the Court Administrator’s office. You must serve your Answer and Financial Affidavit upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer and Financial Affidavit the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.

3. This proceeding does not involve real property.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS

Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements ap-ply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the court or the proceeding is dismissed:

(l) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (a) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (b) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (c) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding.

(2) Neither party may harass the other party.

(3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continue without change in coverage or beneficiary designation.

(4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the court administrator about resources in your area.

If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider or a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the court in later proceedings.

IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT.

NOTICE OF PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Under Minnesota Statutes, Section 518.157, in a contested proceeding involving custody or parenting time of a minor child, the pa1iies must begin paiiicipation in a parent education program that meets minimum standards promulgated by the Minnesota Supreme Court within 30 days after the first filing with the court. 1n some Districts, parenting education may be required in all custody or parenting proceedings. You may contact the District Court Administrator for additional infom1ation regarding this requirement and the availability of parent education programs.

Employment & Legals

STATE OF MINNESOTA IN DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Case Type: Condemnation COURT FILE NO. 27-CV-23-11901

State of Minnesota, by its Commissioner of Transportation, Petitioner, vs. Crossroads Professional Center Association, Respondents. IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDEMNATION OF CERTAIN LANDS FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY PURPOSES NOTICE

To the Respondents hereinabove named:

You, and each of you, are hereby notified that on November 8, 2023, at 1:15 p.m., or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard, before Judge Bridget Sullivan, in the Courthouse at Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, via remote hearing, the Petitioner will present a Petition now on file herein for the condemnation of certain lands for trunk highway purposes. This hearing will not be in person at the Courthouse. The remote hearing may be accessed by video at https://Zoomgov.com/ join, or by phone at 833-568-8864. For either method, the Meeting ID is 161 598 8965 and the Meeting Password is 740012. A copy of the Petition is attached hereto and incorporated herein.

YOU, AND EACH OF YOU, ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED, that Petitioner will also move the court for an order transferring title and possession to Petitioner of the parcels described in the Petition in accordance with Minn. Stat. §117.042, as of December 13, 2023.

YOU, AND EACH OF YOU, ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED, that all persons occupying the property described in the petition must VACATE THE AREA BEING ACQUIRED AND MOVE ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM THE AREA BEING ACQUIRED ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 13, 2023. All advertising signs or devices located in the area being acquired must be removed by December 13, 2023.

YOU, AND EACH OF YOU, ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED, that (1) a party wishing to challenge the public use or public purpose, necessity, or authority for a taking must appear at the court hearing and state the objection or must appeal within 60 days of a court order; and (2) a court order approving the public use or public purpose, necessity, and authority for the taking is final unless an appeal is brought within 60 days after service of the order on the party.

Dated: August 7, 2023

KEITH ELISON Attorney General State of Minnesota

s/Mathew Ferche For JEFFERY THOMPSON Assistant Attorney

LLC, Novad Management Consulting LLC, Kenneth L. Clarin Jr., May Ann Hummel, Kelly Clarin, Dawn Mattie, Thomas Emmons, Best Buy Co., Inc., also all other persons unknown claiming any right, title, estate, interest or lien in the real estate described in the Petition herein,, Respondents. - - - -IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDEMNATION OF CERTAIN LANDS FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY PURPOSES

To the District Court above named the State of Minnesota brings this Petition and respectfully states and alleges:

controlled access highways, and further, to acquire a temporary easement in those cases which are herein particularly mentioned.

With reference to Parcel 215E, there appears a mortgage executed by Patricia A. Clarin and Kenneth L. Clarin Sr., husband and wife, Hennepin County, Minnesota, as mortgagors, to the United States of America, acting through the United States Department Housing and Urban Development, mortgagee, and filed in the office of the County Recorder in Hennepin County, Minnesota, as follows:

Dated Date Filed Document No. April 4, 2005 April 4, 2005 T4097464

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

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

Further, it is the intention of the above-named Petitioner to move the court for an order requiring the parties to exchange any appraisals at least 14 days prior to a commissioners’ hearing, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 117.036.

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

III.

That the following described lands in these proceedings taken are situated in Hennepin County, Minnesota; that the names of all persons appearing of record or known to your Petitioner to be the owners of said lands or interested therein, including all whom your Petitioner has been able by investigation and inquiry to discover, together with the nature of the ownership of each, as nearly as can be ascertained, are as follows:

FEE ACQUISITION Parcel 438 C.S. 2782 (35W=394) 913 S.P. 2785-424RW

All of the following:

That part of the Common Element of COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITY NO. 1610, CROSSROADS PROFESSIONAL CENTER, shown as Parcel 438 on Minnesota Department of Transportation Right of Way Plat Numbered 27-243 as the same is on file and of record in the office of

a point distant 7 feet northerly (measured at a right angle) of a point on said south line, distant 144.56 feet westerly of said southeast corner; thence westerly parallel with said south line for 1015.80 feet; thence northwesterly to a point distant 48 feet northerly (measured at a right angle) of a point on said south line, distant 168 feet easterly of the southwest corner thereof; thence westerly parallel with said south line for 53 feet; thence southerly at a right angle for 48 feet to the south line of said Tract A and there terminating; containing 17,174 square feet, more or less.

Names of parties interested in the above-described land and nature of interest: Best Buy Co., Inc. Fee

County of Hennepin Taxes and Special Assessments

WHEREFORE, Your Petitioner prays that commissioners be appointed to appraise the damages which may be occasioned by such taking, and that such proceedings may be had herein as are provided by law.

Dated: July 25, 2023

KEITH ELLISON

Attorney General State of Minnesota

s/Jeffery S. Thompson

JEFFERY S. THOMPSON

Assistant

fee simple absolute, together with the following rights: to acquire all trees, shrubs, grass and herbage within the right of way herein to be taken, and to keep and have the exclusive control of the same, to acquire from the owners whose lands front thereon any existing right of access to said highway in those cases which are herein particularly mentioned, and to keep and have the exclusive control of all access to said highway in accordance with the law governing

VIEW

Continued from page 14

NL Rookie of the Year, two-time MLB home run leader and three time MLB RBI leader during his entire Philadelphia Phillies career (2004-16).

“Numbers are definitely going down since I played,” said Winn, who played for five MLB clubs (19982010) and is now an analyst for Giants broadcasts. “Our game has gotten very one-dimensional. Right now most ball clubs are looking for one thing—power hitters.”

STRAWBERRY

Continued from page 14

two seasons. He amassed a grand total of five homers in each season.

Los Angeles released Strawberry in May 1994, after he was a no-show for a game. Later he signed with San Francisco but got limited playing time. After testing positive for drugs, Strawberry was suspended at the beginning of 1995, and later signed with the Yankees. But after that

Asked if I am spending too much time talking about the low numbers of African Americans in baseball, the former MLBs and others told me I need not stop.

“I think everybody recognizes that we still got work to do,” said Reynolds. “But I do see a change coming. It’s more of a financial problem…so we got to get those kids opportunity to get seen and get in front of those college coaches and pro scouts.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@spokesmanrecorder.com.

season he was out of baseball.

The Saints signed him in May 1996. After his nearly 30-game run, the Yankees brought Strawberry back in July 1996, and he helped the team win the 1996 and 1998 World Series.

After another positive drug test and battling colon cancer, Strawberry was suspended by MLB in 2000, and soon thereafter retired from baseball.

Mike Veeck is the son of the late White Sox owner Bill Veeck, who along with Marv Goldklang, Bill Murray and Van Schley brought the “no

one believed in us” organization to St. Paul in 1993. They operated the team for over 30 years, and the Saints became one of the most successful and recognizable baseball teams in the country. Veeck told the MSR, “Darryl rebuilt himself like the phoenix. Nobody walks away from a $20 million contract and lives to tell about it. And nobody walks away from addictions and lives to tell about it. He’s going to end up being remembered more for what he did as a person than what he does as a player, and

SOE

Continued from page 14

She finished her career in Atlanta, where she signed as a free agent in 2018. After two seasons there, she opted out of the 2020 season in protest against the police shootings of Black people and the coronavirus. Besides staying healthy, Montgomery focused instead on social justice causes. She became a studio analyst for the WNBA and college basketball games.

that’s pretty remarkable.”

Now an evangelical, bornagain Christian, Strawberry has a national ministry (FindingYourWay.com). “It’s a tremendous privilege and honor that God would think of me as someone that He will use… would bring from a mess to a message and become a masterpiece,” he told us. “I would never think that I would become a preacher of the gospel.”

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

Montgomery officially retired in February 2021, which coincided with her making history by joining the new Dream ownership group, to buy the club from then-Georgia U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler was pressured to sell by her team and other players around the league after she publicly criticized the players’ racial justice activism. Loeffler later lost her Senate seat; many credit WNBA players’ all-out efforts to urge Georgia voters not to elect her.

About a month before the Dream sale in 2021, the now-retired guard became a part owner of the FCF Beasts of Fan Controlled Football, a now dormant professional 7-on-7 indoor football league.

“I think it’s a progression—player to ownership,” said Montgomery proudly. “It should be a pathway [for other players] if they so choose. I hope that we start to see that more.

“I didn’t feel like I was out of place,” she noted. “I didn’t feel like I couldn’t do the job. So, I hope that other athletes start to think about that.”

During the weekend-long

celebration of the team’s alltime greats in June, Montgomery again was her typical exuberant self. Teammates embraced her, even those she hadn’t played with.

“We’re here because this matters, and being a part of what we did here was a big part of our lives,” said Montgomery, who also got to dance on stage with Prince at Paisley Park when the late singer threw an all-night postgame party and concert after the Lynx won the 2017 title.

“This is literally a reunion for us right now,” she said and smiled, acknowledging this reporter’s place in team history as well. “We’re like all homies now.”

Next featured Lynx Greats player: Janel McCarville

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

Standing among the Lynx Top 25, Renee Montgomery is in front wearing glasses and clowning with hand signs. Courtesy of MN Lynx

Concert Series sponsored by

Nightly Fireworks Spectacular sponsored by

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin

he first MLB regular season game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals will be played next June 2024, at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. It is the first time an MLB game will be played at a Negro League ballpark.

Baseball in Birmingham Historic Rickwood Field not past tense, but living history

Negro Leagues. A virtual Negro Leagues

“Who’s Who” played at Rickwood Field during their baseball careers, from A (Hank Aaron) to Z (Jim Zapp), including Willie Mays, who grew up minutes from the park. Three films have also used the stadium as a backdrop, including “42” (2012), because Jackie Robinson also played there.

“It’s so important to not forget about the past.” declared Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to the MSR, after his remarks during the August 3 ceremony at the ballpark to unveil the 2024 event name and logo.

time All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia. He and former MLBers Ryan Howard, Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson, and Randy Winn gave brief remarks along with Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick.

who wasn’t able to attend: “I have wonderful memories playing there. It was a source of empowerment. The Negro Leagues produced champions in more ways than one,” texted the Hall of Famer.

by game time. A veteran Black stadium worker told us this is typical. “We don’t buy advance tickets. Depending on the weather, we buy at the door.”

Rickwood, the oldest pro fessional baseball park in the United States, was once home for both the minor league Bir mingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons of the

“That’s not just one generation. There are so many generations when it comes to baseball history, and particularly Black baseball history, especially Birmingham Black Barons. The city of Birmingham is honored to host this game. Rickwood is not past tense, but living history.”

“I feel super connected to this place, super connected to the Negro Leagues,” said six-

“It’s always going to be a mission of mine to be visible and make sure that I’m here and showing up any chance I get for the players that paved the way for me,” added the pitcher.

Former major leaguer Harold Reynolds, now an MLB network analyst, served as emcee. He read aloud a text he received from Willie Mays,

Strawberry returns to Saints stadium

His jersey retired, now he’s preaching the gospel

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

arryl Strawberry and Mike Veeck are two of the most important people in the St. Paul Saints franchise history. Both men, along with Marv Goldklang, actor Bill Murray and Van Schley, were honored prior to last Saturday’s game at the Saints’ St. Paul ballpark.

jersey retired.“This ranks at the top,” Strawberry told the MSR last Friday at the ballpark. He admitted his initial hesitation to come to St. Paul. But once he agreed he never regretted it, recalled the retired ballplayer.

“They embraced us,” said the 6’6” Strawberry, who played 17 MLB seasons, of the Saints fans. “They treated my family with love and care. And we had never experienced that because of the challenges of my life that I was going through. Everywhere I was going, so many people were pointing fingers at the failure,” he said referring to his history of substance abuse.

Although he only played in 29 games for St. Paul in 1996, Strawberry hit .435, 18 homers and 39 RBI before signing with the New York Yankees, where he helped them win two World Series.

Strawberry’s number 17 becomes the first Black player in St. Paul history to have his

“To be able to be a part of something like that, I had no idea that it existed in this country,” noted Strawberry. “It was a great experience. They made baseball fun.”

Strawberry reached the majors with the New York Mets in 1983, after he was drafted first overall in 1980. He won National League Rookie of the

Year. The following season, he made the first of eight consecutive All-Star appearances, the first five as a starter. He was part of the Mets’ six-year run (1984-1990) in which they finished first or second in their division every year and won a world championship (1986).

Strawberry signed a $22.25 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1990. His first year in LA he hit 28 home runs and 99 RBI, but injuries and personal problems kept him out of action for much of the following ■ See STRAWBERRY on page 13

Montgomery progressed from player to owner

The MSR is the only local media that has covered the Minnesota Lynx from the start of its 25-year existence, as the team became the Twin Cities’ most successful pro franchise. Before this season, the team chose its top-25 players in Lynx history and held their 25th anniversary celebration the weekend of June 9-11, where the MSR spoke to several of the honored players. This week: Renee Montgomery (2009, 2015-17)

enee Montgomery is now the only WNBA player who later became a team owner. She is Atlanta Dream vice-president and part-owner, a member of a three-person ownership group that bought the club a few years ago.

Her 11-year career included two different stints with Minnesota, who drafted

Montgomery fourth overall in 2009. As a player, the 5’7” guard quickly won over Lynx fans with her neverending energy on the court. To call her a pest is indeed a compliment to her play, as she constantly put pressure on opponents.

Born and raised in West Virginia, she attended college at UConn, where she was a four-year all-Big East performer.

She became the first Husky to make the “Huskies of Honor” while still playing in her senior year, when she helped lead the

team to a 39-0 season and a national title. Montgomery is in the school’s top 10 in many categories, including games played, career points, shooting, three-point shooting, free throws, assists and steals.

Montogomery also secured her place in team history after her rookie season when she made the league All-Rookie squad, averaging nine points, two assists and nearly two boards a contest. She was then traded to Connecticut in 2010 for Lindsay Whalen, a very key piece in the Lynx’s eventual dynasty run.

Montgomery played for the Sun for five seasons. Then, after a half-season in Seattle, she returned to Minnesota, again in a swap of guards as the Storm traded her for Monica Wright. Montgomery, Whalen and Wright all are members of the Lynx’s All-25 team named this year.

In Montgomery’s second stint with the Lynx, she continued her pesky ways as a top reserve, causing havoc and headaches for opponents. Her play helped Minnesota win their final two championships in 2015 and 2017.

■ See SOE on page 13

While in Birmingham for NABJ, the same week of the Rickwood event, we also attended a Birmingham Barons game at Regions Park. Between the two clubs, there were three Black ballplayers, one Black reporter, and a very light sprinkling of Blacks in the stands on a night when the 90plus daytime temp was cooling down to the mid-80s

This prompted my age-old question: Can next year’s Rickwood game help attract more Black fans? It’s no secret that African American MLB players are in single-digit percentages. “I think there has to continue to be these conversations… and try to come up with the right solution so we can rectify that,” noted Howard, a World Series champion, NL MVP,

■ See VIEW on page 13

Former prep stars McNeal and El-Amin making moves

rett McNeal and Khalid El-Amin, legends who honed their basketball skills at Minneapolis North High School, are making moves just as they did while draped in the blue and white Polar uniform.

McNeal, under head coach Tony Queen, led North to three Class AA tournament appearances—back when the state tournament had a twoclass system—with runner-up finishes in 1984 and 1985. Standing at 5’10”, El-Amin, with head coach Robin Ingram leading the way, was the point guard for four years for the Polars while leading them to three consecutive state championships in 1995, ’96 and ’97. Both were named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in 1985 and 1997 respectively.

McNeal went on to an AllAmerican basketball career (1985-89) at Western Kentucky, where he was recruited by future University of Minnesota head coach Clem Haskins. El-Amin, after verbally committing to Haskins and the Gophers, ended up at the University of Connecticut (19972000), leading them to the NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1999.

Their paths differ a little from there.

McNeal has moved on from his position of athletic director at Minneapolis Edison High School to become assistant athletic director for the Minneapolis Public Schools.

Before becoming involved in athletic administration, McNeal was involved in politics before becoming head boys’ basketball coach at his alma mater and leading them to the Class AAAA championship in 2003.

El-Amin, head boys’ basketball coach at St. Thomas Academy the past two seasons, was recently named head men’s basketball coach at Anoka Ramsey Community College.

Both have a little more in common than the Polar connection.

As a 6’3” shooting guard,

After playing one year with the Chicago Bulls during the 2000-01 season, El-Amin went on to have a decorated professional career overseas, a brief stint in broadcasting, and assistant coaching roles at Burnsville High School. There he teamed with then-head coach, former Minneapolis Roosevelt Mr. Basketball (1995), and University of Miami standout Robert Mestas, and at North with Hall of Fame Coach Larry McKenzie, while leading STA to a 23-6 record section 3AAA runner-up finish this past season. McNeal and El-Amin have accomplished quite a bit over the years. It’s pretty evident that there’s more to come.

“The Negro Leagues produced champions in more ways than one.”

Former major leaguer Harold Reynolds

All photos by Charles Hallman

Rickwood Field outside and in

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

Brett McNeal Courtesy of LinkedIn.com

Khalid El-Amin Courtesy St. Thomas Academy

“Darryl rebuilt himself like the Phoenix.”

Darryl Strawberry (l) and Mike Veeck Photo by Charles Hallman

“We’re here because this matters, and being a part of what we did here was a big part of our lives.”

Renee Montgomery Courtesy of WNBA