PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
May 12–18, 2022 Vol. 88
NO. 41
www.spokesman-recorder.com
Talent Garden grows local youth into healthcare workers By Feven Gerezgiher Contributing Writer A 2019 study conducted in collaboration with University of Minnesota researchers found Black newborns are more likely to survive when Black doctors care for them after birth. In Minnesota, there is only one Black neonatologist in the entire state,
says Dr. Nneka Sederstrom, chief health equity officer at Hennepin Healthcare. “If we only have one Black physician to take care of the sickest of the sick as babies, how many Black babies have suffered and died as a result of that?” said Sederstrom in an interview with the MSR. “That’s a statistic we have to change.” ■ See TALENT on page 5
Metro realtors elect ABORTION RIGHTS UNDER THREAT ACROSS NATION first Black president By Henry Pan Contributing Writer
By Julie Gordon Contributing Writer For nearly 30 years, Denise Mazone has dedicated her life and career to helping Minnesota residents realize the value of homeownership. A Minneapolis native, Mazone’s passion is finding avenues to bring more diversity into the local and national real estate narrative. Recently named president of Minneapolis Area Realtors (MAR), Mazone represents the first Black person to hold the top position in the organization’s 135-year history. The MSR had an opportunity to sit down with Mazone (DM) to understand her viewpoints on where the industry has faltered, and where it is heading to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. MSR: What led you down the path of real estate? DM: I grew up in South Minneapolis, graduating from Central High School and getting a degree at the University of Minnesota. After spending a few years in California, I came back to Minnesota and got my own real estate license. I started calling on everyone in my neighborhood who I grew up with, encouraging them to consider buying a home. I now have my own company,
Denise Mazone Photo by John F. Walsh, Jr.
protested last week. Aaron Silva was one of hundreds who participated A leaked majority Supreme in a University of Minnesota Court opinion shows the student-led march to Sen. landmark case Roe v. Wade Amy Klobuchar’s office to may be struck down. The protest the imminent opinopinion, which was leaked to ion. “I know people who’ve Politico and is supported by been affected personally by five conservative Supreme not having that option in Court justices, may allow different states, specifically states to decide whether southern states, and it’s just not right,” said Silva. abortion is legal. Until Roe v. Wade is struck News of the leak angered pro-choice activ- down, abortion remains legal ists in the Twin Cities, who in all 50 states. Gov. Tim Walz
pledged abortion will remain legal for as long as he is in office. Walz faces re-election this November. The U.S. Senate plans to vote on a bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer to enshrine Roe v. Wade into law this week. Even though the Senate has a de facto Democratic majority, it’s unlikely to pass as Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, as well as every single Republican senator, opposes it. “All of us out here are living amongst wives, sisters, friends,
that are going through situations that call for needed abortions,” said Alemni Yiran, who marched with protesters on Washington Ave. “Making that access difficult is unnecessary and harmful, and kills lots of women across the country.” Look for more on this developing story in upcoming editions of the MSR. Henry Pan welcomes reader responses to hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Mazone Real Estate Group. MSR: What sets you apart from other realtors in the area? DM: While I help all types of clientele, I love focusing on first-time buyers—especially those who are struggling with resources or credit issues. I partner with nonprofit organizations like PPL, who assist homebuyers with building credit and creating long-term stability. Many people do not realize these services are available, so I help them understand that down payment assistance money is within reach. One of my clients got into a house for less than $14, so the days of having 10% or 20% down are not true anymore. Homeownership is for ■ See REALTOR on page 5
Alemni Yiran (center left) holds a sign during the student-led march to Klobuchar’s office.
Photo by Henry Pan
From ‘Purple Rain’ to ‘Dear White People’ How Minnesota’s film industry uplifted Black stories By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer In the summer of ‘86, Van Hayden and his friend Michele Norris attended the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists. That year, attendees were given an exclusive screening of a young Spike Lee’s directorial debut, a film that launched the celebrated director’s decadeslong career. Hayden and Norris left the film amazed. “We were at one of the first screenings of Spike Lee’s first feature film, ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ and we were blown away by it,” he said. Hayden had followed in the footsteps of his father, a journalist who wrote for the Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder. He had been set on a writing career as well until he viewed another Spike Lee Joint— “Do The Right Thing.” After watching the Brooklyn-based director’s third film, Hayden was determined to join Lee’s production team in New York. He wrote a letter to 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Lee’s production company, inquiring about a job.
Carl Franklin, director of “Laurel Avenue” and known for movies like “Devil in a Blue Dress.” Sometime afterward he received a call from a production assistant (PA) of the company who relayed that there weren’t any more opportunities available as a PA, an entry-level job in the film industry outside of union representation. Weeks later, Hayden received another call that informed him of an opening in the craft service depart-
stood that he had to leave Minnesota if filmmaking was for him. “I had to go where the jobs were, and that’s the difference now. These jobs are almost everywhere now,” Hayden said. He listed states like Pennsylvania, Minnesota’s tax incentive program Ohio, North Carolina and others that one year in For many years, the film and TV are now go-to locations for the film industries were mainly limited to New and TV industry. Last year, Minnesota legislators York and California. Hayden underment. He jumped at the opportunity. After Hayden established a reputation for hard work, Lee offered him a job with his production company.
Photos courtesy of MN TV Film
passed a bill signed by Governor Tim Walz that created a film production tax credit for production companies that spend at least $1,000,000 in a taxable year for their eligible production costs. The state also has a rebate program that provides 20-25% of a cash reimbursement to production companies that spend at least $100,000. The ■ See FILM on page 5
2 May 12 - 18, 2022
Metro Northsiders divided over light rail impacts
Gary Cunningham and former to West Broadway and Lyndale, City Councilmember Don Sam- they considered running it down uels to build a streetcar down Lowry Avenue to either WashMetro Transit may try once West Broadway. Samuels is now ington Ave. or I-94. Some business owners are again to build light rail through running for Congress against Rep. skeptical about who the project Minneapolis’ North Side, but Ilhan Omar. “[Light rail] serves as the back- is for. Studies conducted in the some businesses—and transit riders—aren’t necessarily on- bone for our transit system,” said past by the National Association project spokesperson Trevor Roy of Realtors, the American Public board. The Blue Line Light Rail exten- in an email. “The METRO Blue Transit Association, and the Unision project, formerly known as Line Extension is a once-in-a- versity of Minnesota, have found the Bottineau light rail project, is generation investment that will that rents and property values inproposed to extend today’s Blue connect people to education, crease after light rail is built. Line—which now runs from Target Field station to Mall of America—12 miles north to Brooklyn Park, with stops in Crystal, Robbinsdale and Minneapolis along the way. The County has long envisioned the plan to connect some of its most diverse communities to job opportunities. It’s not the first time the County and regional planners have tried to run a light rail through the North Side. They had previously considered running it down either Penn Ave. and West Broadway or on Olson and along a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad corridor a decade ago. They opted for the latter West Broadway at Dupont in North Mpls because building on Penn Ave. would mean tearing homes This happened with propdown. But planners decided to health care, employment, entererties along Olson Memorial bring it back to North Minneapo- tainment and opportunity.” After the Met Council gave up Highway, says KB Brown, who lis because not only were they unable to reach an agreement on reaching an agreement with owns Wolfpack Promotionals on with the railroad, but the new BNSF, who wasn’t interested in West Broadway. “And the ones alignment would also serve a lot negotiating, the County and the that were renting over there, Met Council evaluated several the rents went up so much they more people. It also builds on efforts led alternative routes through the couldn’t pay it. So they left.” Some landowners and busiby former Met Councilmember North Side last year. In addition
By Henry Pan Contributing Writer
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nesses may also have part of their land taken from them. According to maps produced by the County and the Met Council and obtained by the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, at a minimum, building the light rail may require partial eminent domain of the Cub Foods’ parking lot at Lyndale and West Broadway. Also, two of the three alternative routings involve building either a new street or a light rail line through the Minneapolis Public Schools headquarters’ parking lot, as well as through homes on 21st Ave. between Girard and Irving. This has transit riders and longtime Northsiders like Lorraine Smith worried about gentrification. “Who is [the light rail] for? Is it for the community that’s already there, or are you preparing it for the community that you want it for?” asked Smith as she rode the 14 home from downtown. Nicole Jackson, another Northsider, agrees. “They’re gonna take people’s homes out, and I don’t want that,” said Jackson as she waited for the 724 at Starlite Transit Center, where the Blue Line will run. If the project is built, during and after construction people may have to walk up to a quarter mile just to cross the street, like on University after the Green Line was built. The County may also remove parking and left turns and reduce traffic lanes to one in each direction. “I’m not interested in the project going down West Broadway at all,” said Lisa Spicer, who owns Dimensions in Hair on West Broadway. “You know, there’s already a lack of parking. It’s going to narrow the lanes. This is a main thoroughfare from the suburbs to downtown, and it’s just, it’s going to be hectic.” She and other business owners are worried about their fate, given how many Black-owned businesses on University closed because they could not survive Green Line construction. “Some people in the community are referring to the light rail as the Northside 94 Rondo,” said Brown. “It’s literally the last stand for the Black community.” Foes of the extension may
have an ally at the legislature. Rep. John Petersburg, (R-Waseca), introduced a failed amendment to kill the extension, citing ongoing problems with constructing the Southwest light rail line, the Green Line extension from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie via St. Louis Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka. The Southwest project, which will now cost $2.75 billion, has been partly blamed for causing structural cracks in condominiums converted from grain silos adjacent to the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes and may not open until 2027. But Brown says he does not yet support or oppose the project. What he and some businesses, such as Spicer’s Dimensions in Hair, want to see is some form of mitigation, such as compensation. Brown also wants access to vacant buildings on West Broadway owned by the City and County. “Prioritize small Black developers developing these [buildings] so that we can have places where these business owners can go,” said Brown. “I would suggest they start the process immediately.” Kyle Mianulli, spokesperson for Hennepin County’s Economic Development department, is aware how important it is to have anti-displacement measures in place. So, they con-
“Some people in the community are referring to the light rail as the Northside 94 Rondo.”
KB Brown, owner of Wolfpack Promotionals to catch the train to go to work. Easier than driving a car,” Duong said while decorating the nails of a customer, adding she may retire by the time the extension opens. Same with Gwen Johnson, who also lives in Brooklyn Park. “I won’t have to catch bus after bus after bus [to get to the Mall of America]. Bring it on, be quick— don’t wait until 2028,” she said while waiting for the 724 at Starlite Transit Center. Bringing the Blue Line down West Broadway instead of Olson may affect other transit projects. Metro Transit isn’t sure if it will move the C Line to Glenwood as it planned as early as 2016. They plan to decide after the County and Met Council formally decide the final Blue Line alignment. They are also studying a rapid bus line running to Medina in western Hennepin County that could make stops on Olson.
The Met Council is accepting feedback on the Blue Line route until May 18. Comments may be emailed to Kjerstin.Yager[at] tracted with the University of metrotransit.org, submitted on Minnesota Center for Urban an online form www.surveyand Regional Affairs to facilitate monkey.com/r/RYMV3LT or an “anti-displacement working mailed to: LRT Project Office, group,” which Brown is a part of Park Place West Building, Suite to devise displacement mitiga- 500, 6465 Wayzata Blvd., St. tion recommendations. Louis Park, MN 55426. The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs did not respond to Henry Pan welcomes reader requests for comment. responses to hpan@spokesmanStill, some businesses, such recorder.com. as TMJ Nails owner Tina Duong, like the idea and think it can’t TOP PHOTO: A Blue Line train come soon enough. “We live crosses N. 1st Ave. at N. 5th in Brooklyn Park, so we’d love Street. Photos by Henry Pan
Photo of the Week
2nd Annual Duck Race helps kick off spring
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Community members came
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the parkway. The race kicked off at the
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trucks,
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ducks eastward as they float- children’s activities, and visit-
was off to the races for hun- ed downstream to the Cedar
ing with members of the Min-
dreds of yellow rubber ducks
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neapolis Fire Department.
that sailed down Minnehaha
was called for a lucky duck.
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Photo by Paige Elliott
May 12 - 18, 2022
Health
3
What’s skin color got to do with it? Moving beyond ‘race-based’ medicine to ‘race-conscious’ medicine
By Andrew W. Kirago, MD, FAAP, FCCM Guest Contributor “Race, as we currently carry such a notion in our heads, is largely a myth, a fiction, or a stage of false consciousness… Race is a superstition, our modern-day witchcraft.” —Mahmoud El Kati. “Race creates new forms of power: the power to categorize and judge, elevate and downgrade, include and exclude” —Ibram X. Kendi. Our world is afflicted with a life-threatening disease that impacts and permeates virtually every aspect of our lives. It is dangerous and continually denies millions their rightful place in society. It is indiscriminate, leaving its mark on men, women, and children. This disease is racism. Sadly, a definitive cure for this disease continues to elude us. Given how widespread racism is in society, it should not be surprising that it affects the science and practice of medicine. Indeed, as far back as the 15th Century, race was used to justify atrocities against Black bodies. These justifications took the form of scientific racism, or rather, the pseudoscience of White biological superiority. Over the centuries, scientific racism has been effectively used to legitimize and spread anti-Black racism and White Supremacy.
that characterizes race as an essential biological trait that is then translated into clinical practice. Ultimately this results in inequitable care. Generations of physicians have been taught about racebased biological “differences” even though race is a social construct and a poor proxy for human differences. Research into the human genome has proven that human beings cannot be divided into distinct biological subcategories. We are indeed one human race. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, race is not a risk factor that predicts disease, severity and disability. Race is instead, a risk marker of bias, discrimination and vulnerability. It is, therefore, essential to approach the practice of medicine with a conscious appreciation of the impact of race on patient illness and outcomes. Unfortunately, medical education and training have lagged in their appreciation of the relationships between race, racism and health. The tendency to do this reflects deep-rooted societal beliefs and institutional norms. Medical schools have persisted in presenting racial and ethnic differences in disease without putting these differences in context. For instance, medicine has not traditionally viewed the higher rates of certain conditions in Black patients through the lens of residential segregation. This segregation has historical roots in “redlining” and unequal access to adequate housing and health care. Moreover, a tendency to link minoritized populations with an increased disease burden persists.
Photo by Antoni Shkraba via Pexels
adjusted for race. Other raceadjusted measures include a risk score for vaginal delivery after Cesarean section and a breast cancer risk calculator. These race-based measures have significant implications for BIPOC populations. For example, a recent study showed that 3.3 million more Black Americans would be diagnosed with Stage 3 chronic kidney disease without the race-adjusted measurements of kidney function. At this level, complications of kidney disease such as high blood pressure, anemia, and bone disease begin to develop. Having these diagnosed earlier would mean earlier treatment. The study found that 300,000 more Black patients would qualify for referral to a kidney specialist, and 31,000 more would become eligible for a transplant evaluation and inclusion on the transplant waitlist. The latter is signifiRace-adjusted measures cant since the time spent on The racialization of medi- the waitlist is one key factor cine has led to the devel- in determining who receives a opment of guidelines that kidney transplant. endorse racial categories It is beyond the scope of this in diagnosing diseases and article to discuss the developconflate race and ancestry in ment of the drug BiDil specifitreating illness. This includes cally created and marketed to the development of kidney Black people. However, a soand lung function measures cial construct like race should
Unique, local content from the African American community's
Race-based medicine The use of race in medicine remains one of the most deeprooted and polarizing topics in U.S. medical education. Racebased medicine is the system
not have served as a proxy for line’s use of race meant Black the unknown biological rea- and other children of color were improperly deemed at sons for this drug’s efficacy. lower risk for these infections. As the practice and science Race-conscious medicine The growing recognition of of medicine evolves, it will be the negative impact of these essential to incorporate the race-based guidelines has led context behind the racial disto changes. Recently, the Amer- parities seen in illness. Mediican Society of Nephrology and cine must not become “colorthe American Kidney Founda- blind” but “race-conscious.” Those involved in the care tion released a new, race-free measure of kidney function. It of their fellow human beings encouraged the increased use should be mindful of the enof a blood test for cystatin C to vironment in which their patients exist. In addition, they evaluate kidney function. In 2021, the AAP withdrew should be aware of the impact the clinical practice guideline of structural racism on the for diagnosing and treating incidence of disease and the urinary tract infections in in- experience of medical care for fants and toddlers. The guide- minoritized populations.
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Dr. Kiragu is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and the co-medical director of the Pediatric Brain Injury Program at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. He is an associate of the Children’s Respiratory and Critical Care Specialist’s group and provides pediatric critical care at Children’s of Minnesota and Gillette Children’s. Dr. Kiragu is a passionate advocate for children and is immediate-past president of the MN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a past president of the Minnesota Association of African American Physicians.
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4 May 12 - 18, 2022
Ties
Black Business SPOTLIGHT By Nikki Love Contributing Writer In March, Ties, a new lounge with a rooftop, opened in downtown Minneapolis. The owners have hopes of enlivening the downtown scene following the one-two punch of civil unrest and the ongoing COVID pandemic. Ties co-owner Stevie Moman said the downward turn during the pandemic gave him and the other owners, Gene Sanguma and Tommy Joyce, time to plan their next endeavor. Moman explained, “Once COVID hit, everything came to a halt. We were thinking about how to make a change or how to be a part of the change.” Together, the three started a promotion company called Minneapolis Ties that would host and throw parties at various bars and clubs. Yet they always thought about opening their own space. They figured that in-
stead of making money for someone else they could make money for themselves. “We knew we had the capability to be successful at this type of adventure,” Moman said. The idea came from seeing the numbers from sales at places where they hosted.
“We wanted to build a place and space for everyone to feel comfortable.” According to Joyce, investors who attended events they hosted realized that they drew big crowds. Some investors approached them and introduced the idea of them opening their own establishment, as well as the location of the building. The group took a tour of the building on Nicollet Mall and made a quick decision. Moman stated, “We wanted more for our lives and
Business New lounge brings positive vibe back to downtown Mpls knew we could make an impact at a young age. We’re not the smartest…or overly talented. We’re just normal, downto-earth guys trying to give underprivileged kids someone to look up to business-wise. “Some kids do not have the same resources or opportunities as others,” he added. “The role models they see are on TV, like rappers or athletes, etcetera… Not saying that is a bad thing.” Moman continued, “I am an African American male with dreads down my back and a beard. They need someone who looks like them to look up to. We want to be an inspiration to the underprivileged and a beacon of hope.” Ties incorporates local foods, art showings, diverse groups and entrepreneurs and strives to provide a safe and clean environment for the community to enjoy, according to the website. When asked what the
(l-r) Stevie Moman and Tommy Joyce most popular item on the Ties menu is, Joyce said, “By far the shrimp scampi pasta, chicken wings, and pepperoni pizza [Little Roni].” The owners of Ties believe their place is popular because attendees can enjoy a fastcasual dining experience with fine dining taste. Moman told the MSR that their business is different from others because they did the necessary footwork and research. He said the owners
Photo by Nikki Love
visited a lot of bars in Minneapolis, considered what people liked, and let their findings guide their planning. The Ties experience offers four different levels with four different vibes. The dance floor is in the basement; the main floor is casual; the mezzanine has couches and a lounge-style, and there is also a rooftop. “What also sets us apart from other businesses is our willingness [to go out of our
way] to attract everyone. We want to be inviting. We wanted to build a place and space for everyone to feel comfortable,” Joyce said. Moman’s advice to others who are thinking about going into business is to “take your time. Build the right team and have support behind you. Things are not going to be perfect. Do not be scared to learn on the fly, and it’s OK to fail.” Joyce added, “It wasn’t about the partying, it was more about building a community. The city has a lot of potential, and we want to bring the positive vibe back to downtown. As long as you are trying, that’s all that matters!” Ties Lounge & Rooftop is located at 921 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. For more info, visit www.tieslounge.com. Nikki Love welcomes reader responses to nlove@spokesman-recorder.com.
Business accelerator to award $100K in grants Does your business need a boost? The Get Down to Business Accelerator is a collaboration among Bell Bank, Houston White of The Get Down Coffee Co., and the Neighborhood Development Center. The purpose is to identify three entrepreneurs who are ready to scale their business by providing access to social and financial capital. The three finalists will compete for grants at the 3M Open July 18. 10 semi-finalists will be: • Highlighted in the Star Tribune. • Provided business plan feedback.
• Invited to attend a networking event on July 18 at the 3M Open. Three finalists will: • Receive a professional business trailer, highlighting their business. • Provided business plan feedback. Receive professional business coaching. • Compete for up to $100,000 in grants at the 3M Open on July 18th by pitching their business to a panel of business leaders and a Apply by May 27 at https://ndc-mn.tfafor• Be invited into further networking opporlive audience. ms.net/92 tunities and mentorship to continue growth • Be matched with a mentor from the comafter the conclusion of the event. munity to guide business growth.
May 12 - 18, 2022
Talent Continued from page 1
One way Sederstrom is tackling health inequity is by training youth from historically marginalized communities for careers in health care. In her role at Hennepin Healthcare, she created the Talent Garden, a suite of initiatives “to inspire and support historically excluded youth.” The first project has been organizing youth summits for students ages 12-18. The first of these summits, “Black Men with Stethoscopes,” Sederstrom called a huge success with about 80 young Black men attending last December. It’s called the Talent Garden “because it’s an image of what it takes to build an award-winning garden,” explained Sederstrom. “Like everything that you need to do to build an award-winning garden, we have to do to our youth in order to create the talent that we need to run our hospital.” She continued, “We’ve complained about not having enough talent of color to hire at the hospital— we’re always looking outside. We have conversations about recruiting from HBCUs or from big cities that have more people of color. Why don’t we just grow our own [talent]? Why do we always have to look elsewhere? “We sit in a community with a whole bunch of people of color who use us as their main source of care. Why don’t we just teach them how
Realtor
to care for their own?” said Sederstrom. On April 30, Hennepin Healthcare held a second summit titled “Black Women with Stethoscopes.” Both that event and a second planned for May 15 have been oversold. At the six-hour event at Hennepin Healthcare’s downtown campus, 80 students went through hands-on activities and engagement opportunities with Black physicians, dentists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. There are three learning areas. In one, students practiced delivering babies with a birth simulator and surgery with a robot control system. At the “Ear, Nose, Throat” area, students filled cavities on 3-D printed
manager at Hennepin Healthcare. “Our design intent is to get young people so excited about having a future, if not in medicine, in science, technology, engineering and math.” Attendees receive lab coats personalized with their names. Peters said it’s a tradition in medicine to
benefits to the summit was hearing from its panel of Black providers, who shared frankly about their struggles and how they overcame barriers. “It was special for us, as Black women, to know what we can do and to feel accepted in pursuing a
“It was special for us, as Black women, to know what we can do and to feel accepted in pursuing a health career.”
health career,” said Tekle. “And to know there are a lot of women who did that and we can do it, too.” The summit took place with the help of 50 volunteers from across the county hospital’s system. Dr. Elizabeth Alabi, clinical director of the ambulatory clinic and the only Black OB-GYN at Hennepin Healthcare, said she jumped at the opportunity to contribute. “I love these opportunities to be, like, ‘No, not only can you do this, you should do this. We need you,’” said Alabi. “We’re going to get old. We need someone to take care of us too.” Alabi added, “I think if we’re really going to impact change, these are actually the steps that are part of it. A lot of times we spin our wheels wondering how we can make a difference, but it’s things like this. Because by virtue of bringing diverse backBetty Tekle, a high school senior grounds and representation into the teeth. In another, they learned basic who moved to the U.S. from Eritrea system, it will impact change.” assessment tools. To further support student devel“You don’t get that in a high school three years ago, attended the April science class,” said James Peters, 30 summit already interested in den- opment, Hennepin Healthcare is folhealth equity program development tistry. She said one of the biggest lowing up programming with a paid receive a lab coat at different stages of learning and professional accreditation, and the program’s hope is this lab coat is only the first of many that attendees will receive.
Two years ago, the National there to pursue getting loans. Sometimes I literally hold Association of Realtors issued people’s hands and just talk an official apology for all the Continued from page 1 them into moving forward. And wrongdoings such as redlining when we get to closing day, they and racial covenants and has are so overwhelmed with tears since launched new initiatives to of joy. That just speaks volumes combat housing discrimination. all, and it is reachable. On a state level, we have been to me. able to make more space on the MSR: As the new president board of directors for diversity. MSR: What actions has the MSR: The homeownership of Minneapolis Area Realtors, We have more voices at the real estate industry taken to gap between Black and White where will your focus be? table from each affinity group, address racial inequality? DM: I believe in diversity, Minnesotans is the largest in DM: Once again, all eyes including LGBTQ+, Black, Asian equity and inclusion, so I will be the nation. Where do you see are on the industry. Everyone Pacific, and Hispanic realtors. making sure it is a pillar every progress, if any? I believe we are on point and DM: The situation is getting knows we have all these differstep of the way—including our staff. I need someone to come worse, and the gap is widening. ent issues that started from the doing a fantastic job. Can we do behind me like the young man We owned more houses 20 to government all the way down, better? Always. on our board of directors who is 30 years ago than we do now, so we need to make sure we are and it is so unnecessary. But we speaking up and upholding laws MSR: How do you feel also African American. We all stand on someone’s must believe in the process, you like the Fair Housing Act and when you serve multiple generations of families, helping shoulders, and I want to keep know, and just put ourselves out Community Reinvestment Act.
Film
that going versus letting it just fade away. Additionally, in the next three years we will be working on strategic planning and member engagement because we have almost 10,000 realtors in the metro area that we serve.
Louisiana are other states that on the dollar compared to have implemented tax cred- Minnesota’s 15. With a federal its to draw the film industry rebate and tax incentive, Minnesota slowly saw itself being towards their states. Continued from page 1 Minnesota’s film indus- passed up as a film location. try wasn’t always so small in Soon afterward other states the past. According to Craig such as New Mexico and LouiLaurence Rice, filmmaker and siana after Hurricane Katrina rebate is funded at $500,000 MSP Film Society programmer, used their tax credits to revive each fiscal year. The 2022 program is currently accepting Minnesota was once a hub for their economies. Before the state lost to its applications and has $6.7 mil- filmmaking. “Filmmaking in Minnesota competition, it created many lion dollars in allocations available for the remainder of the has a long legacy. It goes back to opportunities for Black crethe early ‘20s when they made atives in the filmmaking space, tax year. that some Melodie Bahan is the execu- the first feature films here, and opportunities tive director of the Minnesota Film and TV Board, the country’s only nonprofit film commission, which administers the state’s incentive program. She describes the work of MN TV Film as marketing the state to the film and TV industry as a location and highlighting all the things Minnesota has to offer. She sees the recent legislation as a step in the right direction. “That rebate program was not competitive with other states. Because of that, we had our film and TV production industry just shrunk over the last couple of decades from where it used to be,” she said. Behind the scenes during the filming of “Laurel Avenue” “What passed, I would describe it as a really great start in our efforts to rebuild. It’s one of there were always productions believe can be brought back the smallest programs in the here,” Rice said. “We were at with the tax credits. Supporters of the state’s country, but it will allow us to one point in time…third in the nation behind production for tax credit point to film projects be somewhat competitive.” States like Georgia offer a years up until unfortunately the like “Downtown Owl” as a direct result of the state’s abiltax credit of up to 30% and end of the ‘90s.” For years, Minnesota’s ity to lure filmmakers to make have seen their film industries grow to the tune of $9.5 bil- chief competitor was Canada, their projects here. Though the lion in 2018. New Mexico and whose rebate was at 30 cents novel in which the film is based
on is set in North Dakota, the production came to Minnesota with a star-studded cast that includes Vanessa Hudgens, Ed Harris, and Henry Golding. How Minnesota helped lead the way for Black storytelling David “T.C.” Ellis got his start in music and film right in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota. He and his younger sister Suanne were two of the first Minnesota-based artists signed to Warner Bros. through Prince.
Photo courtesy of MN TV Film Having worked closely with the late singer and musician as a recording artist, Ellis had the opportunity to play a part in his second film “Graffiti Bridge,” the sequel to “Purple Rain.” Ellis saw firsthand how the music and film worlds were colliding to Minnesota’s ben-
5
summer internship shadowing physicians for students age 16 and up. “We’re a county hospital; we don’t have a lot of money. We’re not a big private player in the game,” said Sederstrom. “[But] you don’t need millions of dollars thrown at the problem to address racism.” Their programming has been supported by sponsorships from 3M, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Starkey Hearing Labs. “You just need people to make good decisions and do the right thing for the people in front of them. And teaching these kids, opening up our doors and letting them come do the things that we do every day, doesn’t require a lot to make happen,” continued Sederstrom. The plan is to have similar events for Asian, Latino, American Indian, and LGBTQ youth “because we don’t want anybody to feel like they’re left out in this space,” said Sederstrom. “If you’re marginalized, then we’re trying to make sure you see yourself in being a physician, being a nurse practitioner, being a hospital administrator, chief financial officer, or an architect. “There’s all kinds of jobs that make this building run, and we want to cultivate the talent for all of it.” For more info, visit www. hennepinhealthcare.org/talentgarden. Feven Gerezgiher welcomes reader responses to fgerezgiher@spokesmanrecorder.com. Photos by Alex Carroll
them build wealth through homeownership? DM: After 29 years in the business, I still feel like this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I love serving everyone, and it is really where my heart is. Everyone deserves to own their own home—that comfortable, nice place to stay where you feel safe. And guess what? Your communities are safer, too. To learn more about Mazone Real Estate Group, please visit mazonerealestategroup.com. Julie Gordon welcomes reader responses to jgordon@ spokesman-recorder.com.
efit. “The business was really kind of bubbling. The Minneapolis music scene was real hot, and it was attracting the movie industry,” he said. After starring in “Graffiti Bridge,” Ellis was cast in HBO’s “Laurel Avenue” (1993), a miniseries that portrayed the life of a Black family in St. Paul. The series is credited for ushering in a new wave of Black drama on television. “I feel like the Twin Cities was really on the forefront of the work that was similar to things that came afterward like “The Wire” and real mystic documentary shows,” Ellis said. “Laurel Ave. was really, I think, the beginning of that kind of work, and I think that we should have continued with it even more.” Paul Aaron and Carl Franklin, the show’s producer and director, approached Ellis to help develop the show’s bible. His songs illustrated life in St. Paul and gave insight into the day-to-day living that they hoped to portray on screen. Ellis would later go on to be cast as Derek, a main character on the show. Many people in the community found themselves getting a chance to step into the film world from behind the camera as well. “A lot of people who I grew up with and knew kind of got their feet wet in the industry and got a leg up,” Ellis said. Jobs in hair and makeup, wardrobe, location scouting, and
more were available to local community members, some of whom launched careers after the show wrapped. Hayden hosted a reunion for the cast and crew in the fall of 2020 to reflect back on the show’s impact nearly 30 years later. While Minnesota hasn’t had as many productions as it did in the ‘90s, there have been individual efforts to bring films to the state. The film “Dear White People” (2014) was shot in Minnesota with cast members from the community. It would go on to inspire the Netflix series of the same name. Hayden, who produced the film, pitched his home state as a location. “We shot at the University of Minnesota, at the women’s club in Loring Park, and on Summit Avenue,” he said. Hayden moved back to Minnesota after five years in New York and 25 years in L.A. He’s currently on the board of MN TV Film and works to create interest in the jobs surrounding filmmaking that can provide a living to people in the state. “These are jobs where you didn’t have to have a college education, and at the same time you could make a living off of them if you stay with it for a long enough period,” he said. Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to amohamed@spokesmanrecorder.com.
6 May 12 - 18, 2022
Arts & Culture
Hot theater picks in the Twin Cities and beyond Looking for a night out on the town? You’re in luck as there are several theater productions playing in the Twin Cities and the greater metro area that are sure to entertain. Below are a few of the editors’ picks. Remember to check the theaters’ COVID-19 public safety policies before purchasing your tickets.
COMING SOON “The Labyrinth and The Minotaur: The Incarceration Play Project“ Mixed Blood Theatre 1501 S. 4th St., Minneapolis Runs May 13 – May 22
JUST OPENED “A Raisin in the Sun” Guthrie Theate 818 South 2nd St., Minneapolis Runs until June 5 Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play about the trials of the
The Labyrinth and The Minotaur: The Incarceration Play Project opens on May 13.
This musical based on the 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon, which was based on a real story of social repression in a small town in Elmore City, Oklahoma, is a true crowd-pleaser. Unflattering ’80s hairstyles and jeans still abound, but unlike the movie, this production of “Footloose” features a diverse cast. All the main couples in this production are interracial, starting with Ariel Moore (Maya Richardson), the rebellious preacher’s daughter who catches the eye of newcomer Ren McCormack (Alan Bach). As the story goes, McCormack helps loosen the restrictive grip of Ariel’s father, Pastor Shaw Moore, whose past trauma causes him to wield his power with a heavy hand. With the current wave of book banning and the denying of American history in classrooms, the dangers of allowing fear to drive societal repression still resonates. Add in a likable cast, high-energy dancing, and hit pop songs like “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” and (l-r) Tonia Jackson (Lena Younger) and Anita Welch (Ruth “Almost Paradise,” and you have an enjoyable evening of enterYounger) in “A Raisin in the Sun.” tainment. Photo by Tom Wallace Standout: Matthew Hall as the lovable Black cowboy William Hewitt Younger family never gets old. Centered on the dreams of a multi-generational Black family living in a cramped apartment on Chicago’s South Side, this production, directed by Austen Van, is as fresh and poignant as ever. Having lost the patriarch of the family, we learn about the strained family dynamics and the dreams of each family member as they await the arrival of a $10,000 life insurance policy. Though some dialogue is naturally dated, much of it feels relevant with family strife centered on such hot button topics as religion, abortion, gentrification, gender roles, racial inequity, and self-determination. Through humor and heartbreak, the family learns the importance of bearing each other’s burdens and leaning into one another to combat the ills of a society rife with systemic racism. Stand out: Jamecia Bennett as the meddlesome neighbor Mrs. Johnson
More info: chanhassendt.com/footloose
EXTENDED “Jelly’s Last Jam” Theater Latte Da 345 13th Ave. N.E., Minneapolis Runs until May 14
Courtesy of Wonderlust Productions
Billed as a “one-of-a-kind” play that “shows the world of incarceration in a new light,” this world premiere production is performed by a mix of people with experience in the incarceration system and professional artists. Wonderlust Productions gathered more than 230 diverse stakeholders in the Minnesota Corrections system from inmates and their families to corrections officers, prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, policymakers, and many others. The production reimagines the ancient myth of Theseus and his quest to kill the Minotaur—a half-man, half-beast trapped in a maze—by layering true stories from people who have spent their lives working and living inside a modern-day labyrinth— the Minnesota incarceration system. More info: wlproductions.org “Charlie Brown Black” Pillsbury House + Theatre 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis Runs May 28 – June 12
More info: www.guthrietheater.org
STILL PLAYING “Footloose” Chanhassen Dinner Theatres 501 West 78th St., Chanhassen Runs until Sept. 24
The entertaining “Jelly’s Last Jam” closes May 14. Photo by Dan Norman This week offers the last chance to take in the scorching “Jelly’s Last Jam” at Theater Latte Da. Jazz great Jelly Roll Morton’s tragic life is recounted through a colorful, smokey jazz backdrop complete with energetic dance breaks. The play plumbs the troubled depths of the classically trained pianist’s fractured psyche brought on in no small part by his turbulent childhood. Early in his life, he is shunned by his grandmother for “disrespecting” his “Creole” heritage—and his deceased mother’s memory—by soaking up the soulful sounds of Black musicians in his New Orleans neighborhood. This Tony- and Drama Desk Award-winning play sets harsh, painful racial realities to a smoldering jazz soundtrack helmed by Sanford Moore. Catch “Jelly” before it takes its final bow on May 14.
The kids are all right in “Footloose.”
Photo by Dan Norman
Courtesy of Pillsbury House + Theatre Longtime Pillsbury House + Theatre collaborator Mikell Sapp will kick off the theater’s 30th Anniversary season with a comedic solo performance. The play chronicles his trials and successes in becoming a theater artist and navigating the challenges of race as a young Black man from Alabama encountering the culture shock of Minnesota. Billed as “raw” and entertaining, this comic-strip-style telling weaves stories, memories and reflections on today’s complicated racial landscape to take audiences on a wild ride that illuminates struggles, faces hard truths, celebrates triumphs, and explores what it means to be a Black artist in an ever “awakening” world. More info: pillsburyhouseandtheatre.org/charlie-brown-black
More info: www.latteda. org/jellys-last-jam
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LORRAINE HANSBERRY directed by
AUSTENE VAN
Now – June 5 612.377.2224 / guthrietheater.org
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May 12 - 18, 2022
Opinion
7
Federal lynching law shows America can heal its wounds By Dr. Gail C. Christopher Special to NorthStar News
Anti-Black policing in Minnesota imperils our safety By L. Tripp
and found contraband as a result of searches of Blacks, Latinos, and The Black community faces American Indians at lower rates a conundrum. One of our most than in searches of White drivers. Conversely, law enforceworrying concerns is public safety, but we suffer violence ment officers stopped and from the police and the criminal searched White drivers at elements in our neighborhoods. lower rates than drivers of The police violence against color and found contraband in Black people is the greatest searches of White drivers at a danger because of its more greater rate than in searches devasting effects on the Black of drivers of color. community and its functional role in maintaining a structure Study by the Minnesota Departof White power. Despite studies ment of Human Rights (2020) On June 1, 2020, the Minproviding evidence that police departments practice anti-Black nesota Department of Human policing, police racist practices Rights filed a charge of discriminevertheless continue as usual. nation against the City of Minneapolis (City) to investigate Minnesota statewide racial and determine if the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapprofiling study (2003) During the 2001 legisla- olis Police Department (MPD) tive session, the Minnesota violated the Minnesota Human legislature enacted Minnesota Rights Act for a pattern or pracStatute 626.951 providing for tice of race discrimination. They analyzed MPD’s data a racial profiling study. According to this statute, law enforceBlack people in ment agencies throughout the state received additional State Minnesota live money for video cameras in in an anti-Black their police vehicles. In return, these jurisdicpolice state. tions agreed to collect traffic stop data from January 1, on all recorded use of force in2002 through December 31, cidents across MPD’s five pre2002, and these data were cincts from January 1, 2010 submitted to the Department to December 31, 2020 and of Public Safety (DPS). The found a pattern or practice of Council on Crime and Justice racial discrimination through and the Institute on Race and statistical evidence and/or Poverty submitted a joint pro- other examples of specific inposal and were awarded the stances of discrimination. • Although Black individucontract to analyze the data. The study revealed a basic als comprise about 19% of the pattern from an analysis of traf- Minneapolis population, 63% fic stop data collected by the 65 of all use of force incidents law enforcement jurisdictions that MPD officers recorded in this racial profiling study. Law were against Black individuals. • MPD officers use higher enforcement officers stopped Black, Latino, and American In- rates of neck restraints or dian drivers at higher rates than chokeholds against Black indiWhite drivers, searched Blacks, viduals than White individuals Latinos, and American Indians at in similar circumstances. • MPD officers are more higher rates than White drivers,
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likely to use soft tactics against White individuals and chemical irritants against Black individuals. • MPD officers are more likely to search Black individuals and/or their vehicles during a traffic stop than White individuals in similar circumstances. • MPD officers are more likely to arrest Black individuals during traffic stops than White individuals in similar circumstances. • MPD officers, who improperly and excessively cite Black individuals, use these citations in a discriminatory and punitive way, unjustifiably citing Black individuals at a higher rate than they cite White individuals. • MPD’s covert social media accounts were used to conduct surveillance unrelated to criminal activity and to falsely engage with Black individuals, Black leaders, and Black organizations. Police culture Our community members continue to request authentic engagement with MPD. However, MPD’s use of covert social media undermines community trust and negates relationship building between MPD and the public. Some MPD officers and supervisors expressed their contempt for Black people through racial slurs. They frequently refer to Black individuals as “n****rs” and “monkeys.” A review of MPD’s Academy training and MPD’s written training materials demonstrates that MPD training establishes a war-like mindset with officers from their very first day as new MPD officer hires. American culture conditions people to view Black people as violent and dangerous criminals. This stereotype, which defines us as the public enemy, is reinforced in officer training. MPD’s emphasis on aggression during training results in officers unnecessarily escalating encounters and/or using inappropriate levels of force with community members. How can good relations between police officers and the Black community be built on anti-Black hostility? Police as agents of racial incarceration The police are the intake agents of the criminal justice system that officially labels convicted Blacks as felons. Consequently, many Black people are denied citizenship rights (the vote, student loans, public housing). The criminal justice system has become a dominant presence in the lives of Black people. It negatively impacts our employment, housing, family formation, and political participation. The disproportionate imprisonment of Blacks is largely caused by racial profiling—not a justification for it. Police departments, which are allowed to function with impunity year after year while
For three centuries lynching was a standard practice in the cruel treatment of Black men, women and children in America. Even after slavery, Blacks from 1882 to 1959 were lynched on average every six days, totaling at least 4,733 brutal deaths, according to researchers at the Tuskegee Institute. Now, after more than a century of advocacy, legislation declaring lynching a federal crime was recently signed into law. Despite decades of senseless delays, this new law pushes America to finally acknowledge that racism often correlates to a level of violence and terror woven into the very fabric of this country. Centuries of lynching, brutality, and unspeakable violence against Black people in U.S. history was considered normal, even Christian, according to author Terry Anne Scott in her new book “Lynching and Leisure”. Church socials were organized around lynchings of Black people. White families and children posed for photos with the hanging corpses and even sent these grotesque images through the mail as postcards. Though it can be disturbing to acknowledge, this country sanctioned these hideous acts before this law was enacted. That remains one of America’s hidden truths. With no federal law deeming lynching illegal, America could turn a blind eye to these atrocities. Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush in the House (DIll) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) in the Senate, the Senate unanimously passed the Emmet Till AntiLynching Legislation, and the House approved it 422 to 3.
With this law finally in place, the dawning of a racial reckoning in the United States seems more believable than ever before. In 2020, George Floyd’s brutal murder sparked global outrage, protests, and demands for racial equity—sentiments expressed with deepened intensity and purpose. COVID-19 has killed more than six million people and devastated families around the world. Today, scenes of suffering and destruction in Ukraine grip us all. The collective outpouring of grief may be creating a special moment. We are saturated with pain and loss, contributing to a higher, increased capacity for empathy and compassion. Is it possible these heart-wrenching narratives merged into our collective consciousness and produced an environment where 100 years of failure to produce a federal lynching law was transformed, paving the way for a milestone accomplishment? All people of color can now celebrate this victory as Black people were not the only race to suffer from lynching. The inspiration and name behind this legislation stems from Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black youth from Chicago lynched in 1955 near Money, Mississippi after Whites believed he offended a White woman in a grocery store. In other parts of the nation, the pain and suffering from lynching was also felt throughout history. In the 1800s, across the frontier, 137 Native Americans were lynched. During the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre of 1871, a mob killed 19 Chinese immigrants, 15 of whom were hanged, some after they were shot. Passing this anti-lynching legislation and fully supporting Ukraine in its time of crisis indicates that America is ready to
unite and dismiss the idea of devaluing human life and humanity based on a fallacy of ultimate power and authoritarianism. Even in today’s polarized times, progress continues; a reminder that our hearts must open before mindsets can change. The unique aspect of Russia’s War on Ukraine gives way for more open-mindedness on the topic because White people are terrorizing other White people in a bedeviling war where combatants are bound by similar skin color, culture, and even language in some cases. The Emmet Till Anti-Lynching Law provides proof that America can push forward and evolve, even finding bi-partisan consensus to bridge entrenched division at a critical moment. Perhaps an environment is emerging where Congress will continue to act on proposals addressing centuries of slavery and racism in America. Showing compassion for those opposing your beliefs is a key component of racial healing. A democracy cannot survive without a critical mass of the population having empathy and care for those perceived as different and holding alternative views. The war in Ukraine illustrates what can happen when false narratives enable violence. This monumental moment could be propelling America on a journey towards healing and transformation. Dr. Gail C. Christopher, executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity, is the former senior advisor and vice president of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and architect of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation framework. Her newly released book “Rx Racial Healing” is a narrative of her understanding of the power of racism and the need for healing.
What have you done for me lately? Using elections to rebuild trust By Melinda Burrell The leaked draft Supreme Court opinion on Roe v Wade roused rage from both left and right. One reaction has been common to both sides—more democracy-eroding cynicism about our government. By creating a framework of laws and norms for setting priorities and making decisions, governments help different groups interact with each other. Because government plays this role, low trust in government is linked with greater prejudice and polarization. It’s a vicious circle. We’re cynical about government, which lowers our trust in other people, which further lowers our trust in government, because some of those other people are the government. Happily, we have a powerful moment to act. Primary elections are occurring now across the nation. As we interact with and evaluate candidates, we can demand–-and reward–-behaviors that will help rebuild our trust in institutions. Pollsters and researchers have been able to chart what creates or undermines peoples’ trust in institutions. The list is familiar, as they’re the stuff of dinner table griping. Politicians who
make big promises and don’t deliver. Officials who speak out of both sides of their mouths. Council members who dole out favors to cronies. These gripes point to what researchers have identified as five drivers of trust in institutions: responsiveness, reliability, integrity, openness, and fairness. These qualities are what we citizens need from our government. They are also how we can evaluate political candidates. Americans’ worries about the openness, integrity, and fairness of our government have been in the news lately. We’re talking about how well officials have handled providing information about COVID and vaccines, whether or not politicians act according to the moral stances they preach, and who is served and not served by our court system. It’s good that we’re talking about this, and even better if we ourselves act. Transparent government is a key element of trust in several surveys noted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This makes sense. Humans are wired to crave information about our situation, as it helps us control our fate. Transparen-
practices over the last two violating Black citizenship rights, are working like the gov- decades reveal a persistent pattern that clearly shows ernment wants them to work. that Blacks are subjected to police tactics and practices Police state Black people in Minnesota that are illegal. The evidence shows that live in an anti-Black police state. The two cited studies of police the police are a cause of vio-
cy includes acknowledging what is not known—something that is always likely in our complex, rapidly changing world. During the primary season, when candidates are seeking our votes, we can and should demand speech and action from them that will rebuild trust in our institutions. Some of the things to analyze include: do candidates discuss their policy plans fully (openness) or rely on vague slogans? Is their desire to hold office part of a personal history of working for the common good (integrity) or is it simply selfaggrandizement? Do they seek to work on behalf of all their constituents (fairness) or only a certain group? It’s up to us to put people in office whom we can trust, so that government can work for all of us. We have that chance— both now during primary season and again in November. Melinda Burrell, Ph.D., @ MelindaCBurrell, syndicated by PeaceVoice, was a humanitarian aid worker and now trains on the neuroscience of communication and conflict. She is on the board of the National Association for Community Mediation, which offers resources on cross-divide engagement. lence and injustice, not a cure for it. Mainstream political discourse (like tough on crime) and more police will only make the police problem worse. Dr. Luke Tripp is a professor at St. Cloud State University.
8 May 12 - 18, 2022
Avoid warm weather diseases spread by insects As we expect temperatures to begin increasing over the next few weeks, public health experts offer advice to help families avoid potentially severe insect-related diseases associated with warmer months. Mosquitoes Mosquitoes spread the West Nile virus when they feed on infected birds and bite people, animals, or other birds. Most people infected with the West Nile virus don’t have symptoms; however, if symptoms are present, they may include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. A small number of people develop the West Nile virus with severe headaches, fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions and paralysis. Environmental health specialist Claire Knocke said, “Getting out in nature is important for our health, but we need to be smart to avoid getting bit by insects.” She recommends several steps to prevent West Nile virus: • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)registered insect repellents with DEET, Picardin, or
“Enjoy the outdoors, but lemon eucalyptus oil. • Wear long-sleeved also know how to prevent tick bites.” shirts and long pants. Photo by Erik Karits on • Take steps to control Pexels.com mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. Use screens on windows and doors. Empty who get Lyme disease get containers of water to stop diagnosed. Untreated Lyme mosquitoes from laying disease can produce a wide range of symptoms, dependeggs in or near water. ing on the stage of infection. These include fever, rash, faTicks Ticks can carry multiple cial paralysis and arthritis. “Ticks that carry ticktickborne diseases. Lyme disease is the most com- borne diseases are here [in mon. Lyme disease signs Minnesota],” Knocke said. and symptoms can become “Enjoy the outdoors, but present three to 30 days also know how to prevent after a tick bite. People tick bites.” Tick exposure may ocwith Lyme disease can experience varying symptoms. cur when walking through, A typical presentation of playing, or sitting in brushy Lyme disease may include and grassy areas or handling fever, chills, headache, fa- certain animals. Steps to tigue, muscle and joint avoid Lyme disease include: • Walk in the middle of aches, and swollen lymph trails while hiking. nodes. • Use EPA-registered inRashes from Lyme disease occur in approximate- sect repellents. • Take a shower and ly 70-80% of infected persons and expand gradually check your body for ticks over several days, reaching after being outdoors. • Place your clothes in up to 12 inches or more across. The rashes may feel the dryer for 10 minutes on warm to the touch but are high to kill ticks on clothing. • Don’t forget to protect rarely itchy or painful. In about 30% of cases, the your pets with tick and flea rash becomes clear as it en- protection and Lyme dislarges and may result in a ease vaccines. “bullseye” appearance. Source: OCPHS Only one in 10 people
• Accurate and impactful writing of the Trellis and LeadingAge MN Foundation are pleased to be offering a free introduc- proposal • Crucial steps for reviewing and submittory course covering the basics of writing a successful grant proposal. We will be ting a grant proposal • Successfully executing a funded presenting the course via Zoom two times project (register for only one day). • Thursday May 12, 2022, 1:30-3:00 Our presenters will be: • Terri Foley, Program Officer at LeadinPM – Register on Eventbrite at: https://bit. gAge MN Foundation ly/GrantWriting101_May12 • Diane Graham-Raff, Eldercare Development Coordinator at Trellis OR Space is limited – This course is intend• Tuesday September 13, 2022, 1:30ed for staff, board members and volunteers 3:00 PM – Register on Eventbrite at: at organizations that provide services for https://bit.ly/GrantWriting101_Sept13 older adults in Minnesota, and students in the field of aging services. The course will cover: • Essential elements of planning and Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging is now preparation for the proposal writing Trellis: trellisconnects.org process
Free mulch offered at select sites in Minneapolis side of the 5700 block of Russell Ave. S; mulch is at the south end of the parking lot near a dumpster. Marshall Terrace Neighborhood: Mulch is located on MSR file photo the north side of 30th Ave. Pictured above is a NE just west of Randolph St. Spring weather has finally arrived, and along mound of mulch in a park- NE along the road in a comwith warmer temps comes ing lot on Lake Nokomis munity garden just east of yard work. Just as the City Parkway between 50th St. Marshall St. NE. of Minneapolis offers a E. and 22nd Ave. S on the free salt and sand mix in north side of the lake. For more info, visit https:// the colder months, the bit.ly/mplsmulch or call 612City also provides free Other sites: 313-7710 or email forestry@ Armatage Park: The minneapolisparks.org for admulch (woodchips) for parking lot is on the east ditional information. landscaping.
Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Worship Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church
Bethesda Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor
Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor
At the Old Landmark Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor
451 West Central
St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444
Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8:00 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:
Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church"
1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904
www.bethesdamnonline.com bethesdamn@prodigy.net Sunday Service Times: Early Morning Service 9 am Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm
Children's Bible Class 7 pm
2600 E. 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 www.greatfriend.org Phone: 612.827.7928 Fax: 612.827.3587 info@greatfriend.org Sundays 8:00am Sunday School 9:30am Worship Service The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody
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Employment & Legals NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE March 26, 2010, modified April 24, 2015 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $49,000.00
State of Minnesota
District Court
County: Clay
Judicial District: 7th Court File Number: 14-FA-21-3035
Client: Aug 31, 2021
Mortgage Foreclosure Case Type: Dissolution without Children Sale - Northeast Bank In Size: Re the Marriage of: 3.4167 x 13.75 Demeris Allen Run Anthony Date: Lynn4/21/22 - 5/26/22Summons (Check One) Name Petitioner AdofOptions: For an additional☑ Without Real Estate and ☐ With Real Estate $300.00 you can get Yvonne Hannah Day Allen online advertising as well. Name of Respondent
MORTGAGOR(S): Jeffrey C. Bjerksett and Sheryl E. Bjerksett
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT:
MORTGAGEE: Northeast Bank
WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A 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.
DATE AND PLACE OF REGISTRATION: Registered with the Registrar of Titles in and for the County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, on April 9, 2010, as Document No. 4744632, modification recorded May 5, 2015, as Document No. 5253771 ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to Alabama 2, LLC in Assignment of Mortgage dated January 20, 2022, recorded February 2, 2022, as Document No. 5919605 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 17, “Seton” (REGISTERED PROPERTY)
1.
The Petitioner (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to
2.
the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Court Administrator’s office.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 2605 Tyrone Lane, Mound, MN 55364
You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of
COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $55,395.04 THAT there has been compliance with all pre-foreclosure requirements; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;
service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. ☐ This proceeding involves. affects, or brings into question the real property located at the following address ____________ City
in ___________ County, State of ____, with the following legal description:
THAT pursuant to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of Hennepin County as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: June 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
_______ _________ State Zip Code
___________________________________________________________ 4. ☐ (For a second property)This proceeding involves. affects, or brings into
PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Room 30, 350 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. The date on or before which the mortgagor must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property redeemed under section 580.23: December 6, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.
question the real property located at the following address: _________________________________
in ______________ County,
State of ______, with the following legal description: ___________________________________________________________ OR ☑ This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) 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 continued 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 medi-
Dated: April 11, 2022 Alabama 2, LLC Assignee of Mortgagee
ation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact
HOELSCHER LAW FIRM, PLLC By: /s/ Brian G. Hoelscher (#238752) Attorneys for Assignee of Mortgagee 13100 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Phone: 952-224-9551 Email: brian@hoelscher-law.com
or threats as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not
the court administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or
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Findrequired your toplace with us! We’re At Home Apartments, with locations try mediation and you will not be penalized by the court in throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Call 651-224-1234 or later proceedings. visit AtHomeApartments.com to check availability of IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE an apartment or townhome. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Continued from page 10
American females that were selected for this award. I was beyond proud.” Lisa Lissmore, who recently retired as Minnesota State High School League associate director, added, “When you start looking at all these beautiful women, particularly the women of color here, it is phenomenal and I’m so happy to be in this space.” By contrast, seven POC females were among the 48 St. Paul Athena winners honored April 20 at Vadnais Heights Commons. “I can recall when Kathy Eiland [1976] was the very first African American woman to receive this award,” said Lissimore. “That’s when I became aware of this award.” To be named your school’s top female athlete is indeed special: “I was kind of shocked… I just didn’t believe it,” said Battle. “Then after some time it kinda settled in and I was like, yeah, I won the award.” Many Athena winners have their college selected for this fall. Battle, Holloway, Salaam and Ben are slated for Minnesota. Miller’s off to Texas Women’s University and it’s Iowa Lakes for McNeill. “I’m very, very excited,” said London, who will attend Marquette this fall. London’s mom, Annique, said, “These young ladies deserve the attention and celebration.”
(3) the tax parcel identification number of the mortgaged premises is: 19-117-23-23-0158; (4) if stated on the mortgage, the transaction agent’s mortgage identification number is: - not applicable; (5) if stated on the mortgage, the name of the residential mortgage originator as defined in section 58.02 is: Northeast Bank
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en’s basketball coach played for Stringer at Rutgers (2001-05) and later coached on her staff (2010-2015). “I tell you Coach Stringer is the sole reason I am coaching,” the Monroe, La. native told the MSR. “I had no desire to coach.” Even while she was still playing as a pro (WNBA and overseas), Stringer kept insisting that Newton look at coaching as a post-athletic career. She did briefly and worked as a director of player development at Rutgers during its NCAA runners-up season in 2006-07. “As I was playing, every single year Coach Stringer would call and say, ‘Hey, are you ready to coach?’ recalled Newton. “Literally every time I would come home, ‘Are you ready to coach?’ asked Stringer. I’m like, no.” Newton finally gave in and Stringer hired her as an assis-
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesmanrecorder.com.
Administrative Coordinator Full-time
(2) the name of the transaction agent, residential mortgage servicer, and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: – not applicable; or the name of the residential mortgage servicer and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is not a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: residential mortgage servicer – Alabama 2, LLC, lender or broker – Alabama 2, LLC;
What hasn’t been lauded is her coaching tree. A coaching tree is similar to a family tree showing the relationships of coaches. For example, a coach who worked as an assistant on a HC’s staff for at least a season would be counted as a “branch” on the head coach’s coaching tree. Coaching trees too often refer to NFL and college coaches, and mostly male coaches in general. Rarely are such references applied to Black women coaches, especially such a legendary one as Stringer, who announced her retirement a couple of weeks ago after 50 years. Chelsea Newton is a proud branch on the Stringer coaching tree. The current Texas A&M associate wom-
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SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT.
(1) the physical street address, city, and zip code of the mortgaged premises is 2605 Tyrone Lane, Mound, MN 55364;
Contunued from page 10
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alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through
FORECLOSURE DATA Minn. Stat. Sec. 580.025
Stringer
May 12 - 18, 2022
tant coach (2010-2015). She later moved on to Georgia and now Texas A&M, developing a reputation nationally as a top developer and recruiter of talent. Newton has coached 14 future WNBA players and has helped sign 13 top-100 prospects and six top-20 recruits. Once her former coach announced her intention to retire April 30, Newton shared with us her thoughts: “To be a part of such a legacy and to play for a coach, to work with her at the moment, at the time when you are aware that she was a legend. She is a legend,” the Texas A&M associate coach proudly declared. She said a co-worker once told her that playing for or coaching with Stringer, “You earned a Ph.D. in basketball, pretty much learned every aspect from the offensive standpoint and defensive standpoint.
The Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder (MSR) enjoys living legacy as the oldest Black-owned newspaper in the state of Minnesota and one of the longest-standing family-owned newspapers in the country. As we continue to expand and grow, we are looking for an experienced Administrative Coordinator to help us with our ever-increasing administrative needs. Monday - Thursday 10:00am - 5:30pm. Salary based on experience. Contact: twilliams@spokesmanrecorder.com NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
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“When you watch her from a coach, a mother, and just a woman in this business in America,” continued Newton, “you see all the things that The MSR seeks an assignment editor to help identify, she went through and the cultivate, and connect writers to news stories that center the things that she will fight for voices of African Americans in Minnesota, as well as shine a light on the court. She taught you on issues of inequality and inequity. to stand up for yourself, and she taught you to keep perThe ideal candidate will have a passion for discovering news severing and keep fighting.” and happenings in Minnesota. A degree in journalism or experiAsked about her place on Stringer’s coaching tree, ence as a journalist is required. Must also have strong organizaNewton surmised, “There tional and people skills, with an ability to coordinate assignments are probably so many more and work with writers of various levels of experience. [branches] that we just don’t even know about that are Pay commensurate with experience. To apply, send a just involved in some aspect resume to twilliams@spokesman-recorder.com. of the game.” At Home Apartments (AHA) - For Rent Case: “It was more 3.4167 than basketCase: MSR - Admin Asst. Size: x1 Size: 1.677 x 4 ball. Her purpose was just far Run Date: 5/12/22 Run Date: 5/12/22 more than winning games. I Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you can get online Ad Options: For an additional $3 pray that people all know advertising as well. advertising as well. that about her career.”
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10 May 12 - 18, 2022
Sports
Stringer coaching tree bears fruit By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist Second of two parts n addition to her 2004 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction and 2001 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement,
cord 750, 800 and 850 wins; fourth coach and seventh all-time (men’s or women’s) coach to register 900 wins; fifth women’s coach to reach 1,000 career wins, and fifth all time in wins (all divisions) with 1,055 victories. Stringer’s teams were the nation’s best defensively (1981, 1983 and
Athena Awards recognize female athletic excellence
“I tell you Coach Stringer is the sole reason I am coaching.”
he Minneapolis Athena Awards, now in its half-century year, first came about in 1972 after the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce proposed recognizing local female high school athletes. The first awards luncheon was held in February 1973. When the Chamber dropped its support in 1990, the Athena Awards Committee became a 501(c)(3) organization and kept up its mission. Its 50th annual Minneapolis Athena Awards ceremony was held May 6 at Brooklyn Center’s Earle Brown HeriChelsea Newton Courtesy of Twitter tage Center and honored 55 female athletes. We were C. Vivian Stringer’s many ac- 1993) and second-best (1985, there thanks to an email from 2005, 2006 and 2008). complishments include: Annique London pointing out Third women’s coach to re■ See Stringer on page 9 that “Many of the City winners
Amaya Battle
Anya London
Added Anya London (Minneapolis Southwest), “It’s pretty amazing being here…all the big stars that are around— very, very talented people and athletes here. I just feel so “I can’t believe all honored that coaches and the the African American athletic director nominated females that were me for this, and I’m here and selected for this award. it’s just really surreal.” I was beyond proud.” “It’s like a really big honor at my school,” noted Eden “A lot of times we get over- Prairie’s Nia Holloway. “It’s looked for these types of just such a great honor…and things, and I was glad to see it’s really cool that women of that a good amount of us are color continue to succeed.” Shean’ Areial Miller (Edison), here,” said Hopkins senior Alexandria McNeill (North), Amaya Battle. are African American females.” She suggested that the event might make a good story. Of the 55 winners, seven this year are Black females.
Nia Holloway All photos by Charles Hallman Laubenra Ben (Park Center), and I’Tianna Salaam (DeLaSalle) are the other Black winners. Adriana Cardoso Hilguera (Columbia Heights) and Joana Enriquez Lopez round out the nine women POC Athena Award recipients. It’s not certain if this is a record, but it’s still very noteworthy. “It’s interesting as they were coming in,” observed Faith Johnson-Patterson, a 1980 Athena winner, now HOF girls’ basketball coach. “It was the first thought on my mind—wow! I can’t believe all the African
■ See View on page 9
Four that are doing it big ere are four individuals who have made and will continue to make their marks. Michigan State University men’s basketball signee Tre Holloman finished his career as one of Cretin Derham Hall High School’s most decorated student athletes. He also starred for the football team as a defensive back. Holloman’s mother, Crystal Flint, was a star player for the University of Minnesota Women’s basketball team, leading the Gophers to their first NCAA tournament victory over Notre Dame in 1994. Former St. Paul Central girls’
basketball coach Willie Taylor just finished his first year leading the St. Paul Academy (SPA) girls’ basketball team. Taylor coached Central to Class 4A championships in 2007 and 2008 and led Duluth Central’s boys’ basketball team to the state tournament in 1977. Before SPA, Taylor led Stillwater High School to Class 4A state tournament appearances in 2019 and 2020. Taylor’s daughter Julia recently completed her freshman year on the team. Former East Ridge High School star Courtney Brown Jr. will be playing for the University of St. Thomas men’s basketball team next winter. The forward redshirted after transferring from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His father, Courtney Brown Sr., starred in boys’ basketball
Willie Taylor
Courtesy LinkedIn
Tre Holloman Courtesy 247sports
Courtney Brown Jr. Courtesy U of St. Thomas
Kendall Blue
at St. Paul Highland Park before moving on to Southwest State. Younger brother Kendall Brown played this past season at Baylor University and has made himself eligible for this year’s NBA draft.
After an outstanding career at East Ridge, Kendall Blue has committed to play for the University of St. Thomas this fall. Blue was one of the state’s top players this past season. Blue’s mother, Lisa Lissi-
more, was inducted into the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame last month. Lissimore was also a member of the St. Paul Central girls’ basketball team, the first Class 2A—the highest class of
competition at the time—girls’ basketball team to win a state championship in 1976.
Courtesy Facebook
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
Flag football gains momentum with Vikings support he Minnesota Vikings have joined several NFL teams to help support girls’ flag football leagues in their team’s local areas. Two Minneapolis middle schools, Olson and Anderson, last Saturday played their first game in the inaugural three-week Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Girls Flag Football program. It is a continued part of the partnership between the district and the Vikings, who pledged $75,000 to create flag football leagues in 2022 and future years in hopes that eventually the sport will become a sanctioned high school varsity program in Minnesota. Flag football is played similar to tackle football except the offensive players wear a flag belt and the defensive player must pull the flag from the player with the ball to “tackle” or stop the ball carrier. The playing field is a rectangle, usually 60-80 yards long and 20-30 yards wide, with a 10yard end zone at each end. The MPS teams have ap-
Brett Taber
proximately 10 girls each, and each team got custom uniforms and equipment specifically donated by Nike and the Vikings. The games are played at Roosevelt and South High Schools on Saturdays this month. The final games will be at the Vikings’ indoor practice
Courtesy of MN Vikings facility in Eagan on Saturday, May 21, 10 am-2 pm. MPS District Athletics Director Antony Fisher said that the Vikings-MPS partnership has been a fruitful one thus far. “Together we will continue to ensure that our female middle school student-athletes
have a great athletic experience with the addition of flag football to our current athletic offering,” he said in a May 2 press release. “The NFL has made a commitment to continue to make this game, grow the sport at a grassroots level, and find a way to continue to build this inclusively of the sport,” explained Brett Taber, the Vikings vice president of social da, Georgia, Nevada and New impact, last week in an MSR York—have sanctioned girls phone interview. flag football as a high school sport, something the Vikings “The Vikings are are committed to see happen one of those few NFL some day in Minnesota as well. “The Vikings are one of those teams on the few [NFL] teams on the foreforefront of trying front of trying to really push to really push this initiative,” continued Taber. this initiative.” “This is a program that we’re committed to expanding, and According to the NFL, flag we want to hear from school football since 2015 has be- districts that are interested in come one of the fastest grow- making [flag football] a part of ing U.S. youth sports with a their own athletic offerings.” nearly 40% increase among He said that the Vikings 6-to-12-year-olds, more than have talked to St. Paul and 1.5 million youth. But only six Anoka-Hennepin school disstates—Alaska, Arizona, Flori- tricts officials about adding
Courtesy of Hale/Getty Images flag football. “We’ve already had some great conversations with several other metro districts, but also districts in rural Minnesota areas.” “There are some intentional ways that we want to continue to keep this more of a yearround mindset,” said Taber. “We’re hoping for a narrative that we can change with this program by creating opportunities for girls to continue playing beyond the youth years into middle school, eventually at the high school level.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.