July 27, 2023 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

ast Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council voted to co-locate the 3rd Precinct headquarters with the 1st Precinct at their under-construction downtown Minneapolis headquarters. In addition, after hearing feedback from community members, the council agreed to never consider moving the 3rd Precinct back to its previous location before it was torched, looted and evacuated three years ago in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder at 38th and Chicago.

The vote to never build a police precinct at 3000 Minnehaha, of which Council Vice President Linea Palmisano was the lone “no” vote, as well as the unanimous vote to colocate the 1st and 3rd pre-

cincts, come as the city council receives a report from staff about the flawed community engagement to rebuild the 3rd Precinct headquarters.

In introducing the resolution at the Committee of the Whole meeting on July 18 to never re-

locate the 3rd Precinct at the 3000 Minnehaha site again, Councilmember Jason Chavez, who represents that ward, said his constituents were frustrated that the City offered only two choices in bringing the 3rd Precinct headquarters back into

the precinct boundaries. “There were a ton of people who didn’t fill out the survey, because they didn’t agree with the options. They opened up the survey, and they closed it. They called our office and shared their frustrations that [2600 Minnehaha and 3000 Minnehaha were the] only two options to move forward,” said Chavez.

Councilmembers at the Committee of the Whole meeting expressed concerns about conducting community engagement around locating the 3rd Precinct headquarters, even though three years has passed since the precinct was destroyed. Some believed the survey was poorly designed and intended to manufacture consent.

“They don’t feel that it’s something that really represents what the City should be doing. It should be an open

process, where people can actually express themselves,” said Ayodeji Emmanuel Oyebola, senior consultant for DeYoung Consulting, as he presented community engagement results to the Committee of the Whole. Some thought the City jumped the gun on engagement, because they had yet to facilitate a healing

process to hold themselves accountable for bad policing.

Jenny, who tends to the People’s Closet at George Floyd Square and lives nearby, agrees. “We are still in the process of healing,” said Jenny. “We do not need to sit there and talk about the 3rd Precinct right now. That does not matter.

By Abdi Mohamed

Contributing Writer

lashing cameras, hors d’oeuvres, and a red carpet set the tone for guests at the Minnesota premiere of “It’s Basic,” a documentary by Marc Levin that chronicled the guaranteed income movement and its impact on communities across the country.

The screening was held at The Wellstone Center on Wednesday, July 19, and hosted by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. Dozens of community members packed into the theater to participate in the screening of the documentary and hear from those championing the guaranteed income movement.

The film featured several individuals who participated in different guaranteed-income pilot programs throughout the country and emphasized how much of an impact the extra income provided on their lives.

Many of the subjects in the film were women and parents, from low-income backgrounds doing what they could to stay afloat.

It demonstrated how the guaranteed income campaign made headway across the country and the ways in which financial support can make a difference in the lives of many.

It’s been nearly three years since St. Paul launched the

People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot, which gave 150 families $500 a month for 18 months. Ahead of the screening, Mayor Carter spoke of how he was determined to provide residents with resources and encouraged others to follow suit.

Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton, California, attended the event and introduced the concept of universal basic income (UBI) or guaranteed income to Mayor Carter.

“Six years ago, when I had been mayor for three weeks, Mayor Tubbs and I ended up having dinner together. I had read about this thing that he was doing around guaranteed income and it was just amazing,” Carter explained as he introduced the documentary.

Years after their first meeting, Tubbs would reach out to Carter and invite him to participate in a national movement to build a campaign for guaranteed

income programs across the country. Now, Tubbs leads both the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and Counties for a Guaranteed Income. Over 100 cities in the country have signed-on to the platform for guaranteed income. In Minnesota, St. Paul along with Minneapolis, Rich-

field, and Brooklyn Center have signed on to participate.

“I looked at Muneer KarcherRamos, who runs our Office of Financial Empowerment and I said, ‘Stockton’s already first. St. Paul, we’re gonna be second,” Carter said. “That started a journey for us here in St. Paul which

is a really sacred journey every politician, every elected official, every person always tells us they believe in us. Well, if you believe in us, then invest in us.”

Carter launched St. Paul’s guaranteed income pilot in November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of last year, the mayor’s office shared the findings from the pilot to showcase how the funds provided to residents were spent during those 18 months.

Over half of the funds were used to purchase necessities such as food, household goods, and hygiene products. Nearly half of the participants were of mixed background with another 27 percent identifying as White, 24 percent as African American, and 13 percent as Latino. When looking at the gendered breakdown, roughly nine out of 10 participants were women.

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

n a hazy, smoggy weekend

in July, more than a thousand people gathered on a street in St. Paul to dance, eat, sit, and get reacquainted with people they grew up with. This gathering didn’t happen on just any street. It happened on Concordia Avenue, immediately to the south of Interstate 94, in the Rondo neighborhood. Concordia Avenue used to be called Rondo Avenue. And before I-94 was built in the 1960s— slicing through the neighborhood—it was the heart of Black St. Paul.

“When they divided [the neighborhood] with the freeway, it affected all of us,” said lifelong Rondo resident Michael Charles as he took a break from barbequing at his booth during the Taste of Rondo block party. The music and celebratory mood helped

drown out the noise generated by the freeway behind him. “It dispersed a lot of families because [MnDOT brought] a freeway through. People moved away to different states [saying] ‘I can’t live here because they want to come through and ruin our neighborhood.’”

That freeway, which cleaved

through other neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul, may soon be a thing of the past. In a nod to transportation advocacy organization Our Streets Minneapolis, which spent the last several years advocating for converting Interstate 94 into a surface-level boulevard, the Minnesota Department of Transportation

may indeed follow through with the group’s demands.

The Our Streets proposal would turn I-94 from Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis to Marion Street near the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul into a boulevard. MnDOT may opt to keep I-94 as is, widen it, narrow it, or convert it into a boulevard. Those are just some of the options being considered.

However, it’s hard for Charles and other

Consultant Ayodeji Emmanuel Oyebola Photos by H. Jiahong Pan

MPS data breach exposed student and staff personal information

By Cole Miska Contributing Writer

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) announced that the review it has been conducting of the data stolen from its servers in a cyber-attack this past spring will conclude “very soon.”

The data was stolen in March, by a ransomware group called Medusa, which demanded a $1 million ransom not to release the information. Similar cyber-attacks have occurred in school districts across the country. And like other districts, MPS did not pay. As a result, the group posted the stolen data online.

The MPS data breach was particularly damaging, revealing troves of personal information that compromised the privacy of its students and staff. The Associated Press reviewed the stolen files and reported that they contained everything from medical records, discrimination complaints, Social Security numbers and contact information for district employees, to student sexual assaults, psychiatric hospitalizations, abusive parents, truancy, and even suicide attempts.

Local cybersecurity expert and professional hacker Ian Coldwater says that it is a matter of debate within the cybersecu-

School districts have become targets for cyber-attacks.

rity field as to whether ransoms should ever be paid. Sometimes stolen data can be so damaging that it is worth it for affected organizations to pay. However, Coldwater says that paying helps fund future ransomware operations and that there is no guarantee the data will not be released anyway.

MPS says it has implemented “additional security measures,” but declined to elaborate on those measures due to the risk of that information

“falling into the wrong hands.”

An MPS spokesperson clarified that the district had so far provided free credit-monitoring services for 350 people whose data it confirmed was compromised.

Coldwater estimates that the number of people whose data was leaked greatly exceeds 350, estimating that many thousands of people were affected. MPS said it had not decided which additional individuals would receive free

credit-monitoring.

Coldwater says organizations can reduce their risks from hackers by not retaining data for longer than is needed and by implementing data segmentation policies where more sensitive data is kept with stronger cybersecurity measures. Coldwater compared digital data segmentation to filing cabinet systems.

He says that while non-sensitive data may have been kept in any cabinet, sensitive data

would likely have been kept in a locked cabinet behind a locked door, and that the same concepts would apply when storing digital data. Coldwater says as far as he can tell, MPS did not practice digital data segmentation at all.

“In this situation, this was the equivalent of not only having students’ records in an unlocked file cabinet, but basically chucking all the records into a bankers storage-box and leaving it open in the middle of the hallway,” Coldwater said.

“There wasn’t any delineation, as far as I can tell, between the data that was especially sensitive about things like sexual harassment, retaliation, com-

recommends that anyone who has attended, been employed, or in any way done business with MPS should assume their data was part of the leak. He recommends that those who believe they could be affected “stay vigilant,” monitoring their credit and changing any passwords of accounts that could have been compromised in the leak.

MPS says no lawsuits have been brought against the district over the data leak so far. However, Coldwater says lawsuits are not often brought against ransomware groups due to the anonymous nature of their activities. They are often located in countries that

plaints, financial information or healthcare information, and anything else. It’s all just out there on the server for anybody to find.”

In the meantime, Coldwater

would not cooperate with a United States-based lawsuit.

Cole Miska welcomes reader comments at cmiska@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Shirtless in the Twin Cities

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

In 2018, Helena Howard was sunbathing on Cedar Lake with a male friend. Neither had a shirt on. However, Howard, who has breasts and uses they/ she pronouns, was cited by Park police officers. Howard’s companion, who did not have breasts, was not.

“I was upset because it was sexist,” said Howard one sunny day in Powderhorn Park. “I don’t identify strongly with gender, so [being] charged with a misdemeanor for gendered reasons was really frustrating.”

Although the Park Board ultimately dropped charges against Howard, she embarked on a summer-long campaign in 2020, to bike around topless and encouraged others to do so.

Although it’s not something Howard does anymore—unless it is really hot out—other Twin City residents have been out and about riding out the summer’s unusually hot temperatures without a shirt. Whether or not it is legal is another question. The answer keeps evolving over the years, as government agencies and people question: ‘What is the point of covering up on a really hot day?’

Being shirtless in public is governed by state law. Although Minnesota Statute 617.23 does not explicitly say whether or not someone is allowed to be in public without a shirt. It does allow people to breastfeed in public. And those who expose themselves in a lewd fashion would likely find themselves in trouble with the law, with more serious penalties if they end up sexually assaulting, trapping someone, or exposing themselves to someone under the age of 16.

Local jurisdictions can and often do craft their own ordinances to regulate whether

or not someone can appear without a shirt in public. While both Minneapolis and St. Paul prohibit indecent exposure, they do not explicitly prohibit or allow someone to be shirtless. Minneapolis allows local businesses to decide whether or not to require a shirt indoors.

“Policies are often influenced by insurance and legal liability considerations,” said Minneapolis spokesperson Sarah McKenzie. For years, the Minneapolis Park ordinance prohibited people from being in the parks without covering their breasts.

After Howard’s ordeal, she/they worked with an attorney to lobby for changes to the ordinance.

The Minneapolis Park Board changed the ordinance in 2020, by removing a rule that required people 10 years of age and over to cover their breasts, with a Park Board spokesperson saying city and state law already address the issue. Three Rivers Park District, which operates parks in suburban Hennepin County, did not respond to our requests for comment on how they handle people who are not wearing a shirt.

And although Metro Transit and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority do not allow riders to ride shirtless, as specified in their respective codes of conduct, the Metropolitan Council is consid-

ering changes to its rules and is asking riders if the agency should even worry about shirtless riders. Metro Transit does not have data on how many riders were refused service because they did not have a shirt on. And people who the MSR spoke to did not report any issues.

Ramsey County has different policies in its buildings around whether or not one needs to wear a shirt. For example, its libraries require patrons to wear shirts. Hennepin County’s policy is a bit more vague. The County does not have a specific rule, however, they say they expect library patrons to avoid “disruptive behavior,” “be courteous and respectful,” and that the library is a “public place.”

“If a patron’s apparel (or lack thereof) contributes to a disruptive environment, library staff will engage visitors in respectful conversations about maintaining an atmosphere of enjoyment for everyone,” said Hennepin County spokesperson Carolyn Marinan. The county cannot make public data about trespassing related to those not wearing a shirt at their libraries because of state law.

Some think that it’s time for a change and that more people should be shirtless during the summer. For example, Charles Benson, who is unhoused, does not like to wear a shirt for health and climate reasons. “On a really hot day, I have my shirt off. I don’t see what the issue is,” said Benson as he sat on a chair on Nicollet Mall shortly after visiting the library. “When the sun is out, I gotta get as much Vitamin D as I possibly can.”

Kenneth St. Julien, on the other hand, believes being shirtless should be a fashion statement.

“We were born naked,” said St. Julien as he wore only a jacket, his chest exposed, at the Taste of Minnesota festival earlier in July.

“I wore a button-up before. But the weekend just ended [and] no one’s bothering me. Wearing [my jacket] like this, I want other people to feel comfortable wear-

ing it like this as well.”

Transit riders can comment on how the region’s transit agencies can address those riding without a shirt at bit.ly/

CodeofConductSurvey.

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

MPS says it has implemented “additional security measures,” but declined to elaborate on those measures due to the risk of that information “falling into the wrong hands.”

MGN

While both Minneapolis and St. Paul prohibit indecent exposure, they do not explicitly prohibit or allow someone to be shirtless.

By Sheletta Brundidge

Contributing Writer

As July’s Minority Mental Health Month comes to a close, the concerns of many in the Black community about emotional and psychological well-being are a continuing problem year-round. The annual designation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) serves as a reminder that while one in five Americans experience a mental health disorder, racial and ethnic minority groups are far less likely to receive diagnoses for their behavioral health issues and have less access to mental health services.

“Those with the highest need for support are the least likely to access it. Our data shows a significant amount of our health is influenced by where we live. Your zip code has more influence on your health than your genetics,” said Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare.

“We saw increases in rates of anxiety, depression, substance use disorder and suicide predating the pandemic. The pandemic put an accelerant on it and disproportionately impacted people of color,” she added.

A 2021 study by the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services estimated that 39 percent of Black adults and 36 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults with any mental illness were treated, compared to 52 percent of White adults. That troubling gap is also in evidence with mental health

Are

the kids alright? Mental health concerns for children of color

According to data from the federal Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, children whose parents were frontline workers as Covid-19 arrived experienced higher levels of stress, and statistically, more people of color were employed as frontline workers.

“There has always been some cultural pride in resisting help,” says Brandon Jones, a psychotherapist, executive director of the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, and host of the “It’s Not Your Fault” podcast on the SHElettaMakesMeLaugh.com podcasting platform.

issues, he says, “require treatment beyond talk therapy.”

He urges parents and caregivers to be “proactive, not reactive,” in helping children and teens develop communications tools and skills to manage adversity in a constructive way. As the father of three daughters, aged two, seven and ten, Jones practices what he preaches.

tal health landscape by using influencers and targeting social media to young people. Their campaigns raise awareness, stress the importance of mental well-being, and educate people on how to access care. They also detail how to support loved ones who might be experiencing mental health dilemmas.

care for children and adolescents of color. Lack of access to health insurance and transportation is partly to blame for the discrepancy. The shortage of mental health professionals of color presents another obstacle to treatment.

“It’s challenging to find providers who mirror us, who are connected, and who understand us. Our mental health system was designed by White people for White people,” noted Sara Gonzalez, pediatric psychologist at Children’s Minnesota.

“We are doing good work. But the reality is, across Minnesota 80-plus percent of professionals working in mental health, from psychiatrists to social workers, are White.”

Dr. Gonzalez noted that Children’s Minnesota is taking steps to build trust with its young patients and their

families. She said that screening for mental health is now woven into appointments with providers.

“A big push in our nine primary care clinics is to understand that mental health is health. In addition to seeing a pediatrician and a nurse, we offer access to social workers and therapists in routine checkups,” she said. “We’re aware of that mind-body connection. Children come in with headaches and stomach aches and that may be a byproduct of stress.”

Coming out of the pandemic, the entire mental health system is still swamped, with many people experiencing waits to see a counselor or therapist. Again, this backlog is more pronounced for families of color with children experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions.

“In my clinical career, I have noticed that in communities of color, parents and caregivers often wait too long to get services for their kids. They are so resilient. They have dealt with so much adversity that by the time they do reach out to get help, the problem is significant.”

“At our family dinner every night, we play a game called high-low. What was the high point and low point of the day,” he said. “We do this strategi-

Dr. Randall notes that today’s adolescents are making strides in breaking the stigma for addressing mental health. Many are willing, even eager, to share conversations connected to what were formerly taboo topics. She credits the power of peers for even saving lives.

“Teens are likely to confide in each other. We are using social media campaigns to raise awareness for youth to understand when to keep conversations with friends confidential and to know when to bring in an adult to prevent a serious consequence,” she says.

She also sees the rapid advancement of online therapy and telehealth appointments as a real positive prompted by the pandemic. “Virtual care in behavioral health has an ease of use and a quickness in which someone can get access to care in the comfort of their own home,” Dr. Randall said.

Jones believes that delays in getting help are especially problematic for youth with symptoms of bipolar disorder, eating disorders, or obsessivecompulsive disorder conditions. These mental health

cally, so that our kids know they can talk about their problems and identify their feelings from the day and have a safe space for these conversations.”

UnitedHealthcare has responded to the changing men-

“This can even out some issues in under-resourced communities. With online appointments, it doesn’t matter what your zip code is.”

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

Free health screenings, vaccines at Northside Wellness Village

By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer

Circle July 29th on your calendar.

That’s the day for the latest quarterly Wellness Village, put on by the Power of People Leadership Institute (POPLI) under the leadership of Brother Shane Price and Dr Verna Cornelia Price.

The Wellness Village will be at POPLI’s headquarters at 600 18th Avenue North in Minneapolis from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 29.

The event, which is open to anyone aged 18 and older, will offer attendees a free lunch in addition to free healthcare services and screenings. That includes blood pressure and A1C testing for diabetes, as well as dental fluoride application and cleanings. No reservations are required to attend so take advantage of these health screenings.

Local residents attending the Wellness Village will also be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Anyone who gets the vaccine at the event will receive a $50 stipend.

“We’ve been seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases among older folks and people in the 18 to 30 age group. We want to make sure the community is taking precautions,” said Tierre Caldwell, employment navigator for POPLI. “This thing is not over yet.”

The vaccines will be administered by nurses who are familiar with the community. A physician will also be on site at the Wellness Village with

information about COVID-19 and the vaccines.

“We’re all about making this accessible here in the community,” said Andrea Smith, POPLI’s health and wellness specialist. “Everyone here, including myself, has been vaccinated. The doctor and nurses here can break down why the vaccine is important, and they will be happy to answer any questions that people may have.”

At previous Wellness Villages events put on for the community, Dr Verna Cornelia Price has been present to encourage people who had overcome their hesitancy and arrived at the emotional decision to get their COVID-19 vaccine at last.

“I have held the hands of grown men who were crying as they got the vaccine. Some come in hesitant, but others come in ready to go,” she said.

“We are glad to do COVID awareness. They can come in with their questions and they

don’t have to get the vaccine. But we’ll let them know, it is available to you today.”

Attendees with high blood pressure will also be gifted with a blood pressure cuff that they can take home. Over-thecounter medications and pain relievers, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, will also be available for them for free.

To best serve the community, POPLI is partnering with Minneapolis Public Housing & Council, the Minnesota Health Dept and University of Minnesota’s Mobile Health Initiative.

Power of People Institute’s Wellness Village is hosting free healthcare services and screenings from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 600 18th Avenue North, in Minneapolis. For more information, go to www.popinstitute.org.

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

“It’s challenging to find providers who mirror us, who are connected and who understand us.”

Brandon Jones Courtesy of Children’s Minnesota

3RD PRECINCT

Continued from page 1

That is not relevant. What matters right now is the people and what we’ve been through, and how we need to heal. The abusers should not be the focus of the conversation right now.”

The engagement process appears not to represent the demographics of the 139,000 or so residents who live in the 3rd Precinct. The precinct area has a sizable BIPOC population. Only 3,000 people completed the survey, while 1,000 people attended the in-person meetings. The surveys, which people were able to fill out more than once, overrepresented White people. In addition, the survey was reportedly being shared with conservative groups whose members live outside of the 3rd Precinct.

The City attempted to address the disparities by hosting focus groups with people from the Asian, African American, East African, Latino, Native American and LGBTQ communities. The Asian, African American, East African, Latino and

INCOME

Continued from page 1

DJ Mickey Breeze, an artist, and educator from St. Paul, introduced the film and gave his own remarks as a participant in the pilot program. He shared how getting a stream of guaranteed income has allowed him to pursue his love of music and the arts that he wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do.

“As a 22-year-old musician, a lot of my artform people don’t tend to take seriously. ‘Oh, that’s not a real job,’” he said. “People don’t see the value in it until they finally need it. So the guaranteed income program actually bankrolled those ideas and helped people understand how important it is to keep these things going. It makes it smoother for other artists, other creators, and other people in

I-94

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it’s also more dangerous compared to freeways like it in the Twin Cities. Data obtained from MnDOT shows that between 2014 and 2022, the corridor between Loring Park and Downtown St. Paul has about three crashes per day on average.

10 roadway options to choose from

On July 17, MnDOT released a list of 10 alternatives they could choose in rebuilding Interstate 94. Two of the options, which the agency is required to study by the federal government, would leave I-94 as-is.

A third option would rebuild I-94 with continuous shoulders from downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul, so buses can use them to get around traffic congestion regardless of where they are stuck. A fourth option would convert two of the freeway’s existing eight lanes into toll lanes, similar to those on I-35W today.

MnDOT could also rebuild I-94 as a narrower freeway, with two lanes in each direction. One option calls for an additional third lane that is tolled. The streets that are immediately parallel to I-94 today—St. Anthony and Concordia Avenues—could become two-way streets.

Another two alternatives involve completely removing I-94 and replacing it with a two-lane surface boulevard and bus-only lanes on either the side or the center of the new roadway.

If MnDOT follows through with this plan, at seven miles it would be the longest such conversion in the nation. All of the options that consider a slimmed-down version of the freeway, or a boulevard conversion, would accommodate people who bike and walk. The agency will decide what those

Native American communities want some form of public safety in their communities. The LGBTQ community explicitly said they do not want the 3rd Precinct to return at all and the City to develop more creative approaches to public safety.

The City’s search for a 3rd Precinct site created an obstacle in the City’s long-term plans to bring a community center to the 2600 Minnehaha location. “[The East African community] said that there was an interest in developing a mall for the East African community,” said Oyebola.

Until the City figures out where to locate the 3rd Precinct, Council President Andrea Jenkins

need, who simply need a benefit to keep going in life.”

Earlier this year, the Springboard for the Arts announced the expansion of its own guaranteed-income program for

2021, to support 25 St. Paul artists with $500 a month, and is now expanding to include 50 artists from St. Paul and 25 artists from Otter Tail County.

Given the findings of the

introduced a plan to move the 3rd Precinct headquarters, which is currently housed in the City of Lakes building across from City Hall, with the new 1st Precinct headquarters. Both precincts would be located at Century Plaza, where developers are currently renovating the former Miller Vocational High School building, turning it into a police precinct and a hotel to open next year.

Southsider Johnnie Lee believes police need to have a presence to prevent the South Side from becoming more like the deteriorating conditions in the 1990s, when crime was rampant. “By having them in the neighborhood, I think it’d be better. You don’t give the people a chance to say they’re not in the neighborhood and that it’s okay to get trouble started,” said Lee. “Regardless of the bad thing [George Floyd’s murder] that did happen, all of them are not bad.”

Still, Southsider Krystal Smith believes they don’t need the police except in very limited circumstances. “Now when somebody gets killed or something like that, you do have to call them. But other than that, we don’t need them. What do we need them for? They’re literally nothing but trouble,” said Smith as she hung out with neighbors at the Peopleway at George Floyd Square.

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

have also become interested in creating a fund to support more Minnesotans in dealing with financial hardships.

State Rep. Athena Hollins, (DFL-66B, St. Paul), is the chief author of the Universal Basic Income bill at the state legislature and spoke during the presentation of the documentary about her efforts. The bill proposes that eligible recipients receive between $350 to $1200 depending on their needs for a period of 12 to 24 months and dictates that there be substantial reporting to follow up on the performance of the program.

went a long way for families and business owners.

Hollins said that guaranteed income would be a cushion to help close the racial and gender wage gaps that have led to disparities between groups. Much of the pushback against guaranteed income has been that those who stand to benefit from these resources may not be responsible enough to be trusted with this stream of income. Mayor Carter addressed these issues and pointed to the data that his office gathered that contradicted these claims.

artists in St. Paul to also include rural Minnesotans in its current application. The nonprofit launched its own pilot in April

accommodations would look like later in the process.

Two more alternatives call for widening I-94 by one lane, with the extra lane being a toll lane, or one for general traffic. That option was not well-received by the people who represent St. Paul on MnDOT’s Rethinking I-94 Policy Advisory Committee.

St. Paul pilot program and the growing popularity of guaranteed-income programs across the country, state legislatures

said Our Streets Minneapolis Executive Director Jose Antonio Zayas Cabán at MnDOT’s Rethinking I-94 Policy Advisory Committee meeting.

“Protect the community with strong housing and community development benchmarks And allow community members to connect and rebuild their neighborhoods in the

Hollins shared that the concept of UBI was introduced to her by Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was her professor in law school. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that she saw the necessity of UBI or guaranteed income programs for Minnesotans, where every dollar spent

slowdown and not an expansion of this freeway,” said Conley at the PAC meeting.

Back at the Taste of Rondo block party, mother and daughter Jada and Latrese Johnson, both Rondo residents, are interested in the boulevard idea for its potential to bring more people into Rondo and restore it to what it was like before the freeway came in. “It seems like there’s a possibility for more people to enter the area,” said Jada through Latrese as they conversed in sign language. “It would take a cultural divestment from using cars as transportation. I know Americans love driving,” added Latrese.

“I was able to not worry about when my next paycheck was gonna hit. I was able to spend more time with my kids and not try to rack up more overtime,” she said. “I was able to invest in local community businesses and restaurants and support the organizations that I wanted to support during this time of pandemic, when they really needed my business.”

MnDOT to rebuild the freeway based on what local communities want. “One size does not fit all,” said Baker. “And while we all have the same climate change, economic development, and housing aspirations, it’s important that we look at things in the context of communities along the corridor.”

“What we’re finding out is that when ‘those people’ have money, they spend it a lot like us, like most people would. And maybe we’re finding out, that there never was a ‘those people’ in the first place. They were all just part of our humanity,” he said.

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

the connection from here to Minneapolis. [The freeway is] what connects the Twin Cities now.”

“Why is expansion even on the table if the goal and the project’s master vision is to have equity, climate resiliency, etcetera,” asked St. Paul Councilmember Mitra Jalali, who represents Union Park, at a project policy advisory committee meeting on July 17.

“Freeway expansion is actually categorically in opposition to those things, and I’m trying to understand how they even got into the mix.” MnDOT planners said they want to consider all their available options.

All of these options will affect transit service that runs on I-94, including Metro Transit Routes 94, 353, 355 and 363.

Controversy over the boulevard option

Supporters of the boulevard option who spoke at the policy advisory committee meeting point to concerns about climate change, public health, and remedying past wrongs when Black homeowners were redlined into the Rondo neighborhood only to be displaced by the freeway.

“We must decolonize the project corridor by removing I-94. Return the land to the community. Prioritize benefits for those who were harmed the most,”

same way that was afforded to White families protected by racial covenants,” he said.

Celeste Robinson, aide to Councilmember Robin Wonsley, as well as Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley support the freewayto-boulevard conversion and asked MnDOT to invite an expert to the next policy advisory committee meeting who has done freeway-to-boulevard conversions to talk about the idea. “I want to know the substantial research that was done around these very popular alternatives that we’re hearing from our constituents that they are interested in a

Indeed, those who oppose the boulevard option are concerned about disruptions to traffic, even though studies found that travel patterns adjusted for changes in road capacity.

Rena Moran, the Ramsey County Commissioner who represents the Rondo community, does not want MnDOT to convert Interstate 94 into anything else other than a freeway. “I kinda like it the way it is. If I get on the highway, I want to get to where I want to get as quickly as possible,” said Moran, adding she wants MnDOT to rebuild the freeway as it is and upgrade it to current standards.

Keith Baker, Reconnect Rondo’s executive director, wants

A boulevard conversion could jeopardize Reconnect Rondo’s vision for a land bridge. Should I-94 be converted into a boulevard, Reconnect Rondo would not be able to build a land bridge above I-94, where the group plans to build a neighborhood of homes, businesses, offices and open space. Although it’s possible a boulevard option could free up land MnDOT no longer needs for a roadway for Reconnect Rondo

On the other hand, Michael Adams, a Brooklyn Park resident who grew up in Rondo, is skeptical about the land bridge idea. “Well, are they going to have all electric cars by [the time I-94 is rebuilt and the bridge is built]?” asked Adams. “You drive cars underneath the place humans are, the fumes have to go somewhere. And most fumes go up. [Living above the freeway] would be worse than [being exposed to] radon. The carbon monoxide exhaust would be like living in a garage with a car on.” MnDOT does not know the cost of any of the choices. To inform what option they end up choosing in rebuilding I-94, MnDOT is collecting surveys through the fall from people about what they think about the alternatives MnDOT is considering.

to implement their vision, MnDOT won’t know how much land will be available until at least 2027, when they finalize how they want to rebuild.

Charles, the barbecue chef, prefers the freeway be rebuilt with a land bridge. “I think they should leave the freeway and build over the top of the freeway,” said Charles. “I understand building over the freeway, and having the cars go underneath, and having the families come together. The freeway’s here. If they remove the freeway, it removes

They also plan to conduct community outreach and will present their choices along with Reconnect Rondo’s update on the land bridge proposal at a meeting on August 17, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, at the Wilder Foundation’s headquarters, 451 N. Lexington Pkwy. at University. Representative Sencer-Mura, who sits on the Minnesota House Transportation Committee, also wants MnDOT to present the project before the committee during a field hearing to happen sometime this fall.

They hope to have several choices to evaluate as part of federally required environmental studies sometime next year. Weigh in on MnDOT’s options to rebuild I-94 at bit.ly/rethinkI94survey.

“Regardless of the bad thing [George Floyd’s murder] that did happen, all of them are not bad.”

“What we’re finding out is that when ‘those people’ have money, they spend it a lot like us, like most people would.”

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

“While we all have the same climate change, economic development. and housing aspirations, it’s important that we look at things in the context of communities along the corridor.”

Abandoned 3rd Precinct site

Map of proposed 3rd Precinct sites

(l-r) Michael Tubbs, Commissioner Moran, Mayor Carter

(l-r) Jada and Latrese Johnson survey I-94 options.

The Hype Mpls Black Business SPOTLIGHT

By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer

The Hype Mpls opened its doors in March of last year (MSR, March 26, 2022) and has become a destination for professional athletes, artists, and social media celebs on their visits to the Twin Cities. Known for carrying the latest sneaker releases from Jordans to Yeezys, Hype is also the place to shop for locally owned clothing brands.

Business

Sneaker shop owners collaborate with local brands to expand their business

gathered to commemorate how far their community had come.

The event included a dunk tank, a food truck by Tender Lovin’ Chix, and tables and racks full of clothes for sale. Locally owned brands were prominently featured throughout the party to showcase entrepreneurship front and center.

The atmosphere was that of a 90s feel-good music video with friends embracing and

said, ‘We need a meeting right now,’” Abdulle said. “Darryl said, ‘Let’s do this block party. We gotta give back to the community. HYPE stands for helping people eat. Let’s help our people eat.’”

Sir Curtis Kirby, co-owner of Hype, says the team at Hype likes to run things differently compared to other businesses. There isn’t a hierarchy and all good ideas, such as the block party, are welcome.

Kirby is also a co-owner of the brand Sentrol Apparel, a streetwear brand local to Minneapolis. Hype has held several pop-up shops for local brands in the past year, including SlfMade, Kalsoni, and UnderDAWG.

UnderDAWG’s owner, Is-

“I did a collaboration with SlfMade. He has his own audience. I had my own audience. If we bring it together, it’s just nothing but eating,” said Ugas.

“So why not just help them collaborate [with] each other? It’s just reaching out your hand and grabbing it and just putting them together.

“I really think that collaboration is just the key to more

owner of Kalsoni, a modest wear athleisure brand. She highlighted the importance of showing up for friends’ events as a way of celebrating each other’s successes.

“I think we all come from a generation where our parents tell us to be doctors and things like that. But I think we’re creating a new group of communing for ourselves and paving our own ways,” she said.

Arif Ahmed, another coowner of Hype, underlined the theme of the party as having it be a place where entrepreneurs can share tips and tricks with one another on their businesses and encourage one another in their journeys.

Abdulkarim Abdulle, cofounder of Hype, coined its name as an acronym for Help Your People Eat, a phrase that has since become a mantra for them.

On July 2, during the weeklong celebration of Somalia’s independence, the owners of Hype, a sneaker shop located near West 29th St. and Hennepin Avenue, threw a block party in the back lot of their store where several young East African entrepreneurs

laughing with one another. Various owners of The Hype sat in the dunk tank to allow friends and family a chance at dousing them while others danced to the DJ’s music.

Abdulle described how the idea of a block party came from one of their barbers who works at Cutz by Hype, a barbershop owned by the Hype team that came together earlier this year. “We were sitting at Hype one day. One of our barbers, Darryl, texted us, he

“That’s what’s different about Hype,” said Kirby. “Most of the time things run under one person and they make the decisions, and you follow. But after our barber said it, we knew we had to make it happen. We all have different strengths and different connections. So, we all pulled together our different strengths and connections. And man, the city’s out right now. So clearly, they’re loving us,” he said of the block party.

mail Ugas, sees Hype as having paved the way for collaboration, sparking the idea for other brands to collaborate. He lamented the fact that sometimes people may wait to see if others support a brand before they choose to. But he believes that may be changing.

growth. If you keep going, you’re gonna eventually succeed.”

Being part of the next generation of East African immigrants in Minnesota has factored into the journey toward entrepreneurship for individuals like Muna Mohamed,

“Competition is really like an old way of thinking. But now it’s collaboration. That’s like the new way,” Ahmed said. “I see more businesses of color popping up, and it’s just going to be very normal. That’s kind of our goal—to show others, ‘If we can do it, why not you?’”

The Hype Mpls is located at 2835 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. For more information, contact 612-545-5314. Cutz by Hype is located at 2817 Hennepin Ave. S., Ste. 110, Minneapolis. For more information, contact 612-323-6542.

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

5 Ways to Build or Rebuild your Credit

Sponsored Content

A good credit score is a critical part of a healthy financial future.

Having strong credit can make it easier to get a car loan, mortgage, an apartment and even some jobs. Because lenders use your credit score to help assess your reliability as a borrower, a high credit score can help you qualify for lower loan interest rates – saving you money over the course of your lifetime.

There’s no fast track to building credit or improving your current score, but you can help make the process much easier.

These five steps can help:

1. Find out your current credit score

Most adults already have a credit score that can be obtained by requesting a credit report and reviewing it carefully. You’re entitled to one free report each year and can request it at AnnualCreditReport.com. Chase Credit Journey® can also help you manage, monitor and protect your credit.

2. Apply for a credit card

If you’re starting to build credit, credit cards can speed up the process if used re-

sponsibly. Since credit card companies report activity to credit agencies, healthy activity can be a huge help when it comes to building your credit. Student and other new-tocredit credit cards are a good option for those who are looking to build credit. Establishing a credit score and history requires having an account open for at least six months, so be patient and diligent about practicing healthy credit habits.

3. Address debt impacting your score

It’s expected for consumers to have some debt, but significant credit card debt and missed loan payments can have a major impact on your credit score. Pay bills on time and don’t overspend – maxing out a credit card or coming close to your limit will lower your score. If you’re working to rebuild your credit, pay down debt as much as possible and catch up on past-due bills. Also be careful about searching for new lines of credit while carrying significant debt – lenders could see this as a risk and your score could drop.

4. Practice good financial habits in other areas

Establishing a savings and checking account, renting an apartment and paying utility and other bills on time are among the activities that help show lenders you’re fiscally responsible. While these actions might not directly affect your credit score, they’re beneficial practices lenders will notice when considering your application for a car loan, mortgage or other major life goal.

5. Help your children build credit Opening checking and savings accounts for your children can help teach them about everything from depositing your paycheck to easily paying your bills -- the basic building blocks of your financial infrastructure. You can also consider making your teenager an authorized user on your credit card account to assist them in establishing their own posi -

tive credit history. Take this approach if you consistently pay your credit card bill in full and on time, as late payments can also impact your child’s credit report, in addition to your own.

Building and rebuilding credit takes time and patience, but the results are worth it. A solid credit history can help you build generational wealth, reach your financial goals and establish

long-term fiscal stability for you and your family.

For more information on the basics of building credit, scan here or visit chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education.

Photos courtesy of Facebook

“There isn’t a hierarchy and all good ideas are welcome.”

(l-r) Arif Mohamed, Sir Curtis Kirby, Yassir Mohamed, and Abdulkarim Abdulle

Photo by Ashley Lauren

By Nadine Matthews

Contributing Writer

MID-JULY

Arts & Culture

Hot films and TV

Twisted Metal - Peacock Series

This is a tale about a motor-mouthed outsider who is offered a chance at a better life, but on the condition that he delivers a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Featuring Anthony Mackie (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Altered Carbon”), and Tahj Vaughans (“P-Valley”). Release date: July 27.

AUGUST

They Cloned Tyrone - Netflix

A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper. Featuring Jamie Foxx (“Ray,” “Django Unchained”), John Boyega (“Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens”), Teyonah Parris (“Survivor’s Remorse,” “WandaVision”), and David Alan Grier (“Joe Pickett”). Released on July 21.

Stephen Curry: Underrated - Apple TV

This documentary features behind-the-scenes glimpses of Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry. Co-produced by Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther,” “Fruitvale Station”). Released on July 21.

Reservation Dogs - Hulu series

This dramady series follows the exploits of four Native American teenagers on an Oklahoma reservation as they journey to California. Release date: August 2.

The Collective – Theatrical release

A young recruit to a mysterious agency of assassins finds himself going rogue on his first assignment tracking down a dangerous group of human traffickers. Features Tyrese Gibson (“Baby Boy”) and Megan Danielle Gerald (“Halston”). Release date: August 4.

Johnson - Bounce Series S3

Life-long best friends, all with the same last name of Johnson, navigate love, friendship, heartbreak, and personal growth together. Featuring Thomas Q. Jones (“Straight Outta Compton”) and Deji LaRay (“Bosch”). Release date: August 5.

Painkiller - Netflix Series

A fictionalized look at the origins of the opioid crisis. Featuring Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”) in treatment. Release date: August 10.

Nadine Matthews welcomes reader comments to nmatthews@spokesman-recorder.com.

Investigation into Tupac Shakur’s unsolved killing resurrected

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Authorities in Nevada have rekindled the investigation into the unsolved murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur, nearly three decades after his tragic death. Law enforcement officials disclosed that they executed a search warrant earlier this week, breathing new life into the quest for justice surrounding the rap star’s shooting.

The resurgence of the case follows the June announcement by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York, revealing charges against a third individual in the 2002 shooting death of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay.

Authorities in New York said the indictment of Jay Bryant, 49, marked a significant breakthrough in the case involving the late Jason Mizell, professionally known as Jam Master Jay. Bryant’s indictment builds upon the prior charges against Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr.

in August 2020, as authorities said they have tirelessly pursued leads to unravel the mystery behind the murder of the influential hip hop icon.

Tragically, Jay was shot in the head in his recording studio in Jamaica, New York, on October 30, 2002. His death, occurring several years after the murders of Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., also sent shockwaves through the music industry.

Meanwhile, in connection with the murder of Shakur, fatally shot on September 7, 1996, Las Vegas police confirmed they executed a search warrant on July 17. Executed in the nearby city of Henderson, the new warrant has left the public curious about the nature of the search and the specific locations involved. A police spokesperson refrained from provid ing additional details regarding the recent prog ress in the case, including the potential identifi cation of a suspect.

The 25-year-old rapper was traveling in a black BMW driven by Marion “Suge” Knight, the

founder of Death Row Records, as part of a convoy of about 10 cars, supposedly en route to a nightclub following the Mike Tyson versus Bruce Seldon championship fight at the MGM Grand. The police confirmed that no other occupants were in the car at the time. At an intersection near the Las Vegas Strip, while the BMW sat at a red light, a white Cadillac carrying four individuals pulled up alongside it. That’s when one of the occupants opened fire, unleashing a barrage of bullets into the passenger side of Knight’s car.

KAREN ZACARÍAS

Youth aren’t bulletproof

By Marian Wright Edelman

“Dear Lawmaker,

My name is Ana Rodriguez.

Bold leadership and historic investment are launching climate renewal

By Ben Jealous

The last Apollo mission launched a few weeks before I was born. I grew up hearing people describe an audacious goal as a “moonshot.”

What excites me lately is how poised for a comeback this country is for the environment and the economy. I think of it as our “Earth shot,” and my home state of Maryland is emerging as Cape Canaveral’s successor.

Sparrows Point is one of our launchpads. That’s where Orsted, a wind energy company, will manufacture what it needs to power about 300,000 Maryland homes as part of a state goal for offshore windfarms to provide electricity to about three million homes.

That also will create 125 good jobs that pay well. All on a site that once housed the world’s largest steel mill. The Free State is showing what can happen when bold leadership and real dollars meet to address climate concerns.

Governor Wes Moore and the state legislature last year set a goal for Maryland to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2031 and reach net zero emissions by 2045.

They’ve begun pursuing those goals, from demanding dealers offer more options for zero-emissions cars and trucks each year until reaching 100 percent of sales in 2035 to permitting community solar power projects to bring that renewable energy to more homes and businesses.

The White House and Con-

gress did their part last year by passing a historic spending package directing nearly $400 billion to growing clean energy and revitalizing American manufacturing. In Baltimore Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a $20 billion loan program for underserved neighborhoods that she called “the largest investment in financing for community-based climate projects in our nation’s history.”

ings that only accrue over time. Owners of multifamily buildings can get rebates of up to $400,000.

Transportation and electricity use make up nearly 60 percent of Maryland’s greenhouse gas emissions, which makes this federal support vital and targeted. The real test is to make sure the benefits of clean energy and the good jobs that will come with it are shared widely and fairly across Maryland and every state.

I lost my daughter, Maite Rodriguez, on May 24, 2022, in a mass shooting at her school, Robb Elementary, in Uvalde, TX… It was the last week of school and she was excited about watching movies with her friends and attending the honor roll ceremony. Don’t imagine. Put yourself in my daughter’s shoes that day: Her name is called out to receive her honor roll certificate and she walks over, wearing her green Converse with a heart on the right toe. She must feel so happy and proud of herself. After the ceremony, her class gets up and starts heading back to Room 112. I’m sure she and her friends are talking and showing each other their achievement certificates, not knowing the fear, pain and horror that awaits… All I have left of my daughter Maite are memories. Memories and the last pair of shoes I purchased for her, the ones she wore on that awful day—her green Converse with a heart drawn on the right toe.”

Republican lawmakers have been proudly wearing AR-15 lapel pins to work, they hoped these pins could send a different message.

As the artist who created the pins said, “Maite’s shoes are a symbol of her beauty and strength, and a reminder that real people are dying every day from gun violence, including small, innocent children. Instead of celebrating AR-15s, let’s remember all that they have the power to destroy.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Co.) was filmed being handed this letter and pin and immediately throwing both into a trash can.

to protect children, not guns. As one child’s sign read: “Protect us not guns!!! Please.”

Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States, killing students like Maite in their classrooms and killing and injuring babies, preschoolers, children and teenagers in their neighborhoods, at parks, playgrounds and shopping malls as they ride in their cars and play in their yards, and inside their own homes. Thousands of other children and teenagers are affected because someone they love has been killed or injured by a gun.

The unprecedented clean energy package provides tax incentives, grants and loans for much of what Maryland seeks to accomplish. There are tax credits of up to $7,500 for buying new and used electric cars and trucks. Pretty soon, the neighbors I see at our local watering hole near the Chesapeake Bay will be far less interested in my electric Ford F-150 because they’ll have one of their own.

Similarly, there are rebates of up to $8,000 for home energy efficiency upgrades like heat pumps and rooftop solar panels. This helps balance the upfront costs that hit immediately with the energy cost sav-

“The climate crisis impacts everybody, but it does not impact all communities equally,” the vice president noted. “Poor communities, rural communities, Native communities and communities of color are often the hardest hit and the least able to recover.” We see this in places like West Baltimore where I spent summers with my grandparents and where the childhood asthma rate is five times higher.

We need more contractors to do those energy upgrades, and there are federal dollars to provide that, for example. We must ensure that people from the communities most in need have a place in that training, as they’re the ones most likely to serve their neighbors.

“When the President and I invest in climate, we intend to invest in jobs, invest in families, and invest in America,” Harris told the crowd at Coppin State University.

In the 1920s, National Geographic called Maryland “America in Miniature” for its terrain and waters. Let’s hope that nickname takes on a broader meaning as my state becomes the clean energy model it aspires to be and does it in a way that allows all residents to feel the benefit. It’s then we’ll know that this Earth shot led to that “one giant leap for mankind” we’ve heard about.

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

When 10-year-old Maite Rodriguez was murdered by an assault rifle in her fourthgrade classroom alongside two teachers and 18 classmates, her parents had to identify her body by those favorite sneakers. Maite’s shoes became a symbol of the devastation of that day.

On July 18, supporters of the Uvalde families brought copies of this letter from Maite’s mother and lapel pins featuring Maite’s green sneakers to Washington, D.C. to distribute in the halls of Congress. At a moment when some

These are the forces our children are up against from some of the adults who should be entrusted to help protect them. But our children already know they deserve better. Every year students in grades K-12 enrolled in Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools summer enrichment programs take part in a National Day of Social Action, highlighting a critical issue affecting children’s lives.

This year, on July 19, thousands of scholars at CDF Freedom Schools sites across the country made signs and posters, attended marches and rallies, wrote letters, and met with elected officials to share their own direct and indirect experiences with gun violence, remind adults that #YouthArentBulletproof, and ask adults

One young CDF Freedom Schools scholar, Andrew, read aloud this message to his city councilmembers: “I do not approve of gun violence because it puts a direct impact on kids, and it makes them motherless and fatherless. It scares a lot of kids. It hurts to experience this type of violence. Please help us stop all this violence.”

Another scholar wrote, “I have a vision for a safe community. I care about gun violence because people’s lives shouldn’t be cut short because others made bad decisions.”

Even while some lawmakers are ignoring pleas to protect child victims of gun violence and treating them as trash, these children are standing up for their own lives and asking adults to stand with them. The CDF Freedom Schools scholars were grateful for the lawmakers who met with them and encouraged them as they demanded change.

Which side are you on?

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

Cultivating the next crop of America’s farmers

By Danielle Browne

I consider my days in the sun as a young, organic farmer to be the most rewarding work I’ve done. The days were long, hot, and unforgiving, but I felt free. Farmers have my utmost respect and I believe them to be the backbone of America.

But for young people like me, becoming a full-time farmer is nearly an impossible dream. If we truly care about the future of our food, we must unpack why — and offer solutions to preserve America’s farming culture.

According to the USDA, the median age for agricultural producers increased from 56.3 to 57.5 years old between 2012 and 2017— making farmers among the oldest workforces in America. People 35 or younger account for only nine percent of the country’s farm producers. Why are so few young people going into farming?

The 2022 National Young Farmers Survey names access to land, funding, health care, and the cost of production as the top challenges.

The average net income for family farms in 2023 is expected to be less than $40,000, lower in real terms than a decade ago. Meanwhile, the costs of agricultural land and machinery have skyrocketed. Even a secondhand John Deere combine can easily run more than $750,000.

Only a young person with family wealth could even get a loan for that amount — and that’s if they can afford to buy

farmland in the first place.

The average price per acre of cropland reached $5,050 in 2022, nearly double the 2009 rate, according to USDA. With high inflation, prices shot up by more than 15 percent in the Midwest and by nearly 20 percent in the Northern Plains between 2021 and 2022.

So what can be done to address the crisis of America’s aging farmers? The negotiations over the new Farm Bill are a huge opportunity to change course. Congress passes this omnibus legislation every five years. The last one, in 2018, allocated some funding for loans and other support for a multitude of farming operations and rural health care. It supported outreach programs for beginning, veteran, and historically underserved farmers, as well as youth agricultural employment. But these initiatives made up just one percent of the 2018 Farm Bill’s total spending. If we’re serious about cultivating the next crop of young farmers in America, we need to do much more to clear the roadblocks stopping young farmers from taking their place in the agricultural workforce.

The federal government spends billions every year on farm subsidies, but most of the money goes to the largest and wealthiest operators. And because of systemic racism, Black and Indigenous farmers have faced particular difficulty in accessing these funds. In 2022, White applicants for government support were approved 72 percent of the time compared to just 36 percent of Black applicants.

In 2021, Congress set aside $4 billion in loan forgiveness for minority farmers to address the long history of discrimination against Black farmers. But the courts blocked the program, claiming it would be unfair to White farmers.

I’ve been privileged to be able to experience what it’s like to work the land. At the end of every day, I slept well, partly from sheer fatigue but also because I felt the satisfaction of knowing I was helping to put healthy food on someone’s table.

I want other young people to have the opportunity to share in the experience of cultivating the earth, connecting with nature, and understanding the true value of sustainable food production.

Danielle Browne is a Next Leader at the Institute for Policy Studies, a progressive think tank started in 1963 that is based in Washington, D.C.

“The climate crisis impacts everybody, but it does not impact all communities equally.”

“Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States.”

The federal government spends billions every year on farm subsidies, but most of the money goes to the largest and wealthiest operators.

Summer Guide

The MSR’s guide to summer festivals, concerts, and activities for foodies, stargazers, art and music lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy for the next two weeks from July 27- August 9.

Loring Park Arts Festival

July 29 – 30

Loring Park – 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis

Since 2000, Loring Park Art Festival has combined creative expression and community connectedness to surprise and delight all who attend. With beautiful ponds and formal gardens, Loring Park makes an idyllic spot to celebrate art, music, food and entertainment for two days each summer in downtown Minneapolis. The event features 140 visual artists selling original work, with something for everyone. Visitors will encounter strolling musicians, scheduled stage performances, engaging children’s activities and adventurous culinary options. Admission is free. For more info, visit www.loringparkartfestival.com.

Minnesota Fringe Festival

August 3 – 13

Grain Belt Bottling House – 79 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis

Minnesota Fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for free and diverse artistic expression. The 30th annual festival, the 2023 edition of the Minnesota Fringe Festival will fill tens-of-thousands of seats with audiences viewing dozens of works at hundreds of performances by more than 1,000 artists on a variety of stages. For more info, visit minnesotafringe.org.

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind and Fire

August 4 – 7:30 pm

Xcel Energy Center – 199 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul

Legendary singer, songwriter and producer Lionel Richie has announced his 2023 Sing A Song All Night Long tour with very special guests and one of the best-selling bands of all time, Earth, Wind and Fire. The 20-city arena tour kicks off Friday, August 4 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. For more info, visit bit.ly/LionelRichieEWF.

Uptown Art Fair

August 4 – 6

Intersection of West Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue area, Minneapolis

The Uptown Art Fair, produced by the Uptown Association, is a juried fine arts festival with a reputation as one of the most exceptional art fairs in the United States. Through a rich history and constant innovation, the Uptown Art Fair showcases a variety of quality art for everyone’s budget. For more info, visit www.uptownminneapolis.com/uptown-art-fair.

MSR Legacy Yacht Cruise

August 5 – 5:00 to 9:30 pm

525 Main St. South, Stillwater, MN

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder celebrates 89 years of continuous publication by sailing down the St. Croix. The four-deck sailing experience includes an all-you-can-eat buffet, a vendor marketplace, games, prizes and more. The cruise features live entertainment from Wenso Ashby Jazz & Beyond, DJ Ray Seville and Phyllis “Showtime” Braxton. Boarding begins at 4:30 pm. For more information and tickets, visit bit.ly/MSRLegacyCruise2023.

Powderhorn Art Fair

August 5 – 6

Powderhorn Park – 3400 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis

Over 200 artists from 26 states and 216 cities, more than 20 food vendors, and nearly 20,000 attendees: Welcome to the Powderhorn Art Fair! Shop the works of hundreds of local and regional artists while filling up on the finest food truck-vendors have to offer. New and returning art demos, both a community and youth showcase, and activities for all ages round out this summer experience. For more info, visit www.powderhornartfair.com.

Little Africa Fest 2023

August 6 – 12:00 to 9:00 pm

Hamline Park – 1564 Lafond Avenue, St. Paul

African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) strives to connect and build vibrant communities with creativity and social connection. The Little Africa Festival and Parade features food, live performances, art shows, and an African fashion show. For more info, visit bit.ly/ LittleAfricaFest2023.

Know Your Operator: Marva Wagner

Marva Wagner felt stuck in her career until she found Metro Transit.

“I worked my way up to assistant manager of an eye care store,” Wagner said. “But after multiple times of being blocked from working into a general manager position, I knew I wasn’t valued.”

So, while still working, she sought out other career opportunities. It was at a People of Color job fair that she rediscovered Metro Transit.

“I had some family who worked there when the buses were red and the uniforms were green,” she said. “But this organization looked very different.”

She was impressed by the diversity of people who worked at the fair and at Metro Transit. Wagner was also floored by the amount of support applicants were provided by transit throughout the process – especially as someone without a Commercial Driver’s License. She continued working full time while studying to become a bus operator.

“It took me a few times to earn my CDL, but when I did, it was like Christmas,” Wagner said.

Today, she feels valued working extra-board

or on-call shifts and looks forward when she’s called to work the METRO D Line, especially after working Route 5.

“It’s faster and better for my Route 5 customers – good working people,” she said. “It’s also great for operators because we don’t

Full- and part-time positions available!

have to worry about a farebox and can interact with people more.”

After four years and counting, she continues to look forward to her job at Metro Transit and knows that she’s not only valued but has opportunities to grow into other positions.

There’s no experience required – Metro Transit will give you the PAID training you need. You’ll earn $26.16 per hour to start and after one year of employment, your hourly wage rate will increase to $27.80 per hour. You›ll receive outstanding benefits, such as health care, annual salary increases, a pension plan, an unlimited-ride transit pass. Plus there›s growth opportunities. Many Metro Transit managers started their careers as bus drivers.

A/1 Contract No. 24-064 INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 200 East Arch Street, St. Paul, MN 55130 for FOUNDATION REPAIR

AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT 74 MARIA AVE., Contract No. 24-064 until 2:00 P.M., Local Time, on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud via the Zoom App. Bids may be submitted electronically, in a pdf format, to Northstar Imaging, www.northstarplanroom. com, or may be delivered to the address above.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held in conjunction with a tour of the jobsite on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 1:30 P.M., at 74 Maria Ave., St. Paul, MN 55106.

Immediately following the conference there will be a Pre-Bid Tour of the site. All questions arising from this pre-bid conference will be addressed by addendum if necessary.

A complete set of bid documents is available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com, under public plan room, FOUNDATION REPAIR AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT 74 MARIA AVE., Contract No. 24-064. Digital downloads are available at no charge. Contact Northstar for hard copy pricing.

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

The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding.

AN EQUAL JIM LEARY

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

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder July 27, 2023

Senior Consultant - Software Engineer/Architect for Concord USA, LLC in Hopkins, MN. Req. Bachelor’s or foreign equiv. in MIS, Computer Science, Applied Computer Science, Computer Engr, or related discipline, & 5 yrs of progressively resp post bacc experience as a software developer, software engr, or related field working in business, IT, prof. services, and/or Big 4 consulting; or Master’s or foreign equiv. in MIS, Computer Science, Applied Computer Science, Computer Engr, or related discipline & 2 yrs experience as a software developer, software engr, or related field working in business, IT, prof. services, and/or Big 4 consulting. Required to have 3 or more of these requirements: documented exp. w/ microservices architecture & large-scale app. development; 2 yrs exp. working w/ AT LEAST one modern programming language; documented exp working w/ Integration platforms as well as related architecture & implementation solutions such as API-driven design, messaging patterns, & app. development best practices; demonstrable exp. w/ software development lifecycle, messaging patterns, endpoint security, interfaces w/ internal & external app., & database knowledge; exp. driving full cycle of project development, from requirements to delivery & support; historical exp. w/ web deployment support using Azure; documented exp. w/ core skills of REST, SOAP, Azure, JavaScript, React, HTML, Bootstrap, .NET Core & Framework; & demonstrable knowledge organization data follow & its use in mgnt decision making. Position is based out of & reports to Concord’s facilities in Hopkins, MN but allows for the option to telecommute from a home office anywhere in the U.S. Concord reserves the right to conduct background checks upon hire. Please submit résumé to Jennifer Jamison via email to jennifer.jamison@concordusa.com, reference “Senior Consultant - Software Engineer/Architect”. No agencies or phone calls please.

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VIEW

Continued from page 12

women’s basketball team under Head Coach Dawn Staley

Continued from page 12 driving during the first half.”

Summer 2004

During this WNBA season, McCray-Penson teamed with former Minneapolis North girls basketball great, 1998 Miss Basketball, and All-American Tamara Moore to play one season for the Phoenix Mercury.

Before a five-year career in the WNBA, Moore, who is currently the men’s basketball coach at Mesabi Range College, starred at the University of Wisconsin from 1998-2002. She was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

January 2009

McCray-Penson was an assistant coach for the University of South Carolina

She was in the metro area to scout future Miss Basketball and McDonald’s All-American Tayler Hill, at the time one of the nation’s top girls basketball players for City conference champ Minneapolis South. South was hosting the annual Twin Cities game against St. Paul City Conference champion Central.

As fate would have it, McCray-Penson wound up sitting next to me during the game. We talked basketball as Hill led the Tigers to a 6042 victory. Hill ended up choosing Ohio State University and went on to outstanding collegiate (2009-2013) and WNBA (2013-2018) careers.

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

NLBM president in 2011, but he was with the Kansas City institution for a lot longer.

“When I walked into that one-room office 30 years ago, that was the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum back then,” said Kendrick. We sat at the Twins ballpark in between his umpteen scheduled appearances that the team set up for him during his two-day visit.

“I didn’t realize it at that point in time, but I had just walked into what would become my passion,” he said.

Like his mentor and friend O’Neil, Kendrick is prodigious in extolling the greatness and historical significance of the Negro Leagues. As was O’Neil, Kendrick is passionate and charismatic as he tells endless and entertaining stories, as well as constantly educating

everyone about the history of Black baseball wherever he goes.

“O’Neil told me something many, many years before he passed away,” Kendrick recalled. “‘If you find a job that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ That doesn’t mean that it’s going to be easy.”

As museum president, Kendrick runs its day-to-day operations and development along with fundraising for the not-for-profit organization.

“Obviously my job is to go out and raise money,” continued Kendrick. “And anytime you gotta raise money, that’s always challenging.” Currently his goal is to raise the necessary funds to build a new 30,000 square-foot building “adjacent to the Passo YMCA” in Kansas City. “The Passo YMCA is the birthplace of the Negro Leagues.” This new education and

research center “will be attached to the historic YMCA and create what I call a Negro Leagues campus…an international headquarters for both Black baseball and social history,” stressed Kendrick, located at 18th and Vine, where the NLBM currently stands.

“This is a civil rights social justice museum seen through the lens of baseball.”

Kendrick’s voice is now heard on the new “MLB The Show 23,” video game, along with archival footage and related illustrations from the Negro Leagues. Eight Negro Leaguers are also featured in the new game.

“I’m so excited about the things that are happening around me,” exclaimed Kendrick. “Many young people and young adults are falling in love with the Negro Leagues through this gaming platform.

I’m having young kids of all colors come into the Negro

Leagues Baseball Museum and want to seek me out, because I’m narrating.”

Black baseball before major league integration was an economic engine for the communities that had Negro Leagues teams. “Stars stayed in the same neighborhood. I saw [them] every day at the same barbershop. I worshiped with them, ate at the same restaurant because that’s what segregation did,” said Kendrick. “I also wanted to emulate them. But not just for their athletic ability. I wanted to emulate them as men.

“The Negro Leagues is one of those great American success stories that should always be shared,” stressed Kendrick. “I’ve been blessed to do this work.”

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

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

his month, Las Vegas hosted three major events: the NBA Summer League, the WNBA AllStar Game, and the first-ever National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation Las Vegas Golf Invitational. The one-day golf outing included many current and former NBA players.

NBPA Foundation Executive Director Stephanie RawlingsBlake, a former Baltimore mayor and city council president, talked to the MSR after the event. “The National Basketball Association Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the players’ union,” said Rawlings-Blake.

A longtime public servant, Rawlings-Blake was the first, and at one time the only, Black woman elected president of the US Conference of Mayors. She admitted that what initially drew her to the NBPA Foundation was after she watched the

Basketball players foundation has big plans, busy agenda

four-part basketball documentary, “Game Change Game,” released in June 2022.

The film showed NBA players addressing social justice issues in this country. “I realized that the players, like me, wanted to make their communities better. I also saw that they needed support, getting the right people in the right place to help,” she acknowledged.

The NBPA Foundation was established as a global nonprofit organization in 1997. It distributes millions of dollars in grants to organizations around the world on a regular basis.

“Primarily we were set up to do the matching-grant program that allows the players to get the most out of the defined split [of gross revenue] between the NBA and the players union,” explained Rawlings-Blake. “The players have a chance to match up to $25,000 in giving every season. So it’s a way to do something good.”

The foundation also gets a

portion of the players’ fines for technical fouls levied by the league. “When I watch the

Museum prez envisions a Negro Leagues campus

ob Kendrick keeps alive the spirit of the late Buck O’Neil, the first Black coach in Major League Baseball, and who before that was a Black baseball player and manager. O’Neil in his later years became known more for his storytelling, overall sunny optimism, as well as being a staunch advocate for the Negro Leagues. He was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, 16 years after his death in 2006 at age 94.

“Being around Buck O’Neil for all those years,” Kendrick fondly recalled, “every chance I get to talk about this history is a welcome opportunity. It gets us another step closer to

NX

GREATS

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: Monica Wright (2010-15)

fter Tina Charles was selected first overall in the 2010 WNBA draft, Monica Wright was selected second, by Minnesota out of Virginia. She was among three Black women chosen in the first five picks of that draft.

The 5’10” Wright hit the 1,000-point mark in her sophomore year at Virginia. Her individual honors were bookmarked between ACC Rookie of the Year (freshman year) and Defensive Player of the Year (ACC and

moving Negro Leagues history in a mainstream fashion.”

The Minnesota Twins brought Kendrick, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president, to town earlier this month as keynote speaker for its annual diversity celebration. It was yet another chance for Kendrick to talk Negro Leagues. He was named

■ See VIEW on page 11

game, I have mixed emotions,” joked Rawlings-Blake watching players getting called for tech-

nicals during basketball games.

Current and former players can apply for NBPA Foundation grants. “There’s no specific requirement. It could be for a small start-up, a small business or nonprofit, or something of that nature,” noted Rawlings-Blake.

social justice, and other areas where NBA players’ influence is needed and can have an impact.

“I spoke at the UN recently,” said Rawlings-Blake. “I looked around at the different countries that were listed, and I realized that players in our league probably have more followers than all the leaders in the UN combined. There’s not as much faith in elected officials or even religious leaders,” she added, in helping to solve current problems in our country.

Her vast experience in establishing and fostering strategic partnerships is invaluable as she takes on her current duties in guiding the NBPA Foundation in its mission, as well as overseeing its agenda, which includes childhood nutrition, disaster relief, mental health,

“We’re just getting started,” Rawlings-Blake said of her NBPA Foundation leadership, stressing that the recent golf invitational will be an annual fundraising event. “I think that there’s so much more that we can do. I would say look for us to be more impactful across the board when it comes to philanthropic leadership and social justice.”

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

McCray connected with former prepsters

She was an assistant coach at Rutgers University at the time of her death.

McCray-Penson had brief connections with former prep standouts from the Twin Cities metro area. Here are three that occurred at different times during her illustrious career.

April 1995

fter an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Tennessee (1991-95), winning Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000, and playing professionally in the WNBA and coaching at the Division I level, Nikki McCrayPenson, passed away a couple of weeks ago at the age of 51.

The first connection between McCray-Penson and the Twin Cities metro area occurred during the 1995 NCAA Women’s Final Four held at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The teams involved were the University of Connecticut, Tennessee, University of Georgia, and Stanford University.

McCray-Penson was a senior guard for a Tennessee team that played SEC rival Georgia in a semifinal game.

Georgia featured former Minneapolis Patrick Henry standout center Tracy Henderson and forward Brandi Decker of Minneapolis North, both sophomores at the time.

Wright aided Lynx dynasty run

nagging knee injuries.

A member of Minnesota’s championship teams in 2011 and 2013, Wright went into college coaching (Liberty assistant, 2018-19; Virginia assistant, 2019-21).

Nikki McCray-Penson Courtesy of Rutgers University

McCray-Penson led the way with 22 points as the Lady Volunteers defeated the Lady Bulldogs 73-51 before losing the championship game to UConn 70-64.

As I researched information for this column, I came across a photo by Star Tribune photographer Jerry Holt in an April 1995 edition. The caption reads as follows: “Georgia’s Tracy Henderson tried to prevent Tennessee’s Nikki McCray from

■ See PREP on page 11

national) in her senior year. With the Lynx, Wright primarily played off the bench at both guard and forward. She made the WNBA’s All-Rookie Team after her first season (2010). In 2013, she was the team’s primary backup at shooting guard and point guard.

Wright averaged 11 points a game and shot nearly 40 per-

cent from the field in her rookie summer. She shot almost 43 percent and averaged a career-high 2.3 assists per game in 2013, playing 21 minutes as a key reserve. She scored 9.1 points per game as well.

Midway through the 2015

season, a year when Wright also dealt with a season-ending knee injury, Minnesota traded her to Seattle for Renee Montgomery and a 2016 secondround pick. She finished her pro career in the Emerald City, forced to retire in 2016, due to

Now married, Wright Rogers, a mother of one, and now the assistant general manager for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, she said, “It’s been an honor to be a part of the league, especially during our dynasty run. In retrospect, looking back I feel like I should have appreciated it a lot more. But I had a blast playing with these phenomenal women.”

Named to the All-25 Minnesota Lynx team, Wright Rogers concluded a successful playing career and is currently a front office executive. “I feel like I can impact in ways that others can’t because of the career that I had here.”

Sheriff Witt honored

Last Saturday, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt was honored during the Minnesota-Las Vegas contest. She

became the county’s first Black elected sheriff when she won her election last November.

“It feels wonderful. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Witt told us after receiving a Lynx autographed basketball at half court. A city native, Witt is an unabashed Lynx fan: “They’re my hometown team,” she stressed.

Next featured Lynx Greats player: Tamika Williams

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

“The players, like me, want to make their communities better.”

(l-r) Jalen Rose, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Grant Williams Photo courtesy of NBPA Foundation

“Many young people and young adults are falling in love with the Negro Leagues through this gaming platform.”

Bob Kendrick

Photo by Charles Hallman

As fate would have it, McCrayPenson wound up sitting next to me during the game.

“I had a blast playing with these phenomenal women.”

Among the Lynx Top 25, Monica Wright is in the front row second from left wearing a white jacket and glasses. Courtesy of MN Lynx

Dawanna Witt

Photo by Charles Hallman