January 18, 2018 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

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— More Vikings on pg. 10

January 18-24, 2018 Vol. 84 No. 24 www.spokesman-recorder.com

Social justice activist turns to health advocacy

Trump disparages African nations Civil rights groups, U.S. lawmakers condemn president’s latest slurs

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer

Kinshasha Kambui has been a community resource pretty much since her days as a rug crawler, exposed to grassroots activism at an early age, basically born to it. After all, her dad was Matthew Little, the illustrious pioneering champion of social justice. For good measure, her twin sister is Titilayo Bediako of We Win Institute, which is dedicated to adequately educating Black youth. It simply makes sense that Kambui is a career health advocate. “I don’t think there can be By Freddie Allen anything more revolutionary Contributing Writer than taking care of our bodies.” As producer and host of Health ivil rights groups, U.S. lawNotes from the Heart of a Natural makers condemn president’s Woman (KFAI-Fresh Air Radio), latest slurs she provides a forum to, as she Trump made the comments during a says, “share pertinent and timely meeting with Republican and Democratic congressmen about immigration reform and President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The New York Times reported: “When Mr. Trump heard that Haitians were among those who would benefit from the proposed deal, he asked whether they could be left out of the plan, asking, ‘Why do we want people from Haiti here?’” Congressional Black Caucus Chair-

C

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

man Cedric Richmond said that the Diversity Visa Program “greatly benefits immigrants from African countries and provides an opportunity for them to achieve the American Dream.” Civil rights groups and lawmakers on Capitol Hill condemned racially hostile comments that President Donald Trump made during a recent meeting about immigration reform with Democrats and Republicans at the White House. The New York Times reported: “President Trump…balked at an immigration deal that would include protections for people from Haiti and some nations in Africa, demanding to know at a White House meeting why he should accept im-

migrants from ‘sh--hole countries’ rather than from places like Norway, according to people with direct knowledge of the conversation.” The U.S. congressmen who attended the meeting, according to The New York Times, included: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.); Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.); Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.); Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.); Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); Representative Robert W. Goodlatte (R-Va.). Trump’s disparaging comments received quick condemnation in the civil rights community and across the political spectrum. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, tweeted: “It is a glaring contradiction that as the U.S. is preparing to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a national holiday, President Trump utters racist statements against Africa and people of color.” In a statement about the president’s comments posted to her Twitter account, Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah), the only Republican serving in the U.S. House of Representatives of Haitian descent, said that his “behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation.” Love continued: “My parents came from one of those countries but proudly took the oath of allegiance to the Unites

States and took on the responsibilities of everything that being a citizen comes with. They never took a thing from our federal government. They worked hard, paid taxes, and rose from nothing to take care of and provide opportunities for their children. They taught their children to do the same. That’s the American Dream.” Love added that Trump must apologize to “the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned.” Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that President Trump’s comments are yet another confirmation of his racially insensitive and ignorant views. “It also reinforces the concerns that we hear every day, that the president’s slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ is really code for ‘Make America White Again,’” said Richmond. Richmond continued: “All of the reservations we have had about negotiating with him on immigration are well-founded. President Trump is clearly more concerned with ending the future flow of immigrants from Africa and the African diaspora than providing relief to Dreamers who came here through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe that we can negotiate in good faith with a person who holds such ■ See Trump on page 8

At-risk youth find support at Face to Face

Kinshasha Kambui Photo by Dwight Hobbes

Demand for their services on the rise

health topics on nutritional, mental, emotional, spiritual and political health topics,” as well as her favorite subject, colon hydrotherapy. She has stressed time and time again, “We [African Americans] experience the top five diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure.” That, it goes without saying, is due in large part to how we treat our bodies, basically as depositories for some of the worst, most chemically laden substances the market foists upon undiscriminating consumers — fast food and junk food. “Of course, how many of us think is heavily influenced by media, what we see and hear, often accepting without question or at least mindful scrutiny. Health Notes From the Heart of a Natural Woman materialized 25 years ago, Kinshasha more or less backing into the opportunity that has become a hallmark of her career. “In the community, I’ve always been a person who knows a lot about herbs, juices and things like that.” A friend referred Mari

By Ethan Horace Contributing Writer

■ See HealTH on page 8

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

THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934

Face to Face, funded by the United Way, has been helping young people in need since 1972, particularly runaway, homeless, and at risk-youth. Many of the services provided by Face to Face are free of charge and available to youth as young as 11 years old. Face to Face has found success in basing their work on respectful relationships with their youth, staff volunteers, and community members. For over 40 years they have aspired to be the leading organization in the Twin Cities where youth can find information to better themselves as well as the community. . The organization has gone through many changes over the years. Beginning as a crisis call-in center during the early 1970s, Face to Face now serves over 3,000 youth annually with multiple support services to youth in need. The growing demand for their services from young clients has caused Face to Face to grow continuously since their

opening over 40 years ago. Services at Face to Face range from free health services to a food shelf, on-site clothing closet, shower and laundry, counseling and more. In-need youth can also find other resources such as job listings and housing resources. The organization experienced some hardship back in 2016 while awaiting funding for their Safe Zone Dropin Center. However, enough money was raised and the Center had its ribbon cutting on April 13, 2016, opening shortly thereafter. The Safe Zone Drop-in Center, located in downtown St. Paul, serves as a hub for 14-to-20-year-olds who need immediate help. It is open Monday through Saturday. The Center has been a major success since its opening. Many youth have called the location “a safe place” and “full of support.” Many also recall their enjoyment of the free yoga classes Face to Face offers. As the organization con-

Face to Face group enjoying yoga tinues to see rising numbers in the young people they are helping each year, the need for volunteers has increased as well. Volunteers have been an essential part of the organization’s major success, along with the donations of many kindhearted people over the years. One of the many success stories at the organization

Photo by Ethan Horace

comes from Gabrielle. At the age of 17, Gabrielle came to Face to Face looking for help. Coming from a background of a heroin-addicted mother and an alcoholic father, Gabrielle needed real help. She was on the run from a group home where she had lived. She built trust with Face to Face staff and was assigned a case manager. To meet her

goals, Gabrielle started independent living classes and obtained her state ID, as well as making a health and medical plan. Even though she has more work to do, Gabrielle’s progress to date is encouraging. Another success story comes from Rachel, who ■ See Face To Face on page 8

Historic Dayton building repurposed in downtown St. Paul The Wild will train in the basement, practice on the roof

PR Andrea Novak offered the MSR a brief timeline of the process involved in the transformation. A historic community asset, va“When we purchased the buildcant since 2013, is now reborn in ing” in early 2014 for $3 million, “at downtown St. Paul. The former Dayton/Macy department store building has been redeveloped as a mixed-use facility, and according to the Saint Paul Port Authority it is now “positioned to rejuvenate the center of downtown St. Paul” much as the St. Paul Saints ballpark did for the Lowertown neighone time we were looking at leveling borhood. Businesses also grew along the building,” she recalled. “But the Kellogg Boulevard and West Seventh cost of digging that hole would have Street years earlier when the Minnecost up to $13 million and probably sota Wild moved into a brand-new would have been significantly higher arena built in the area, says Authorthan that. When we took a look at the ity officials. building, it was built with such qualSitting in the Authority’s downity infrastructure. [Then] we looked town St. Paul conference room, Seat transforming it into residential nior Vice President, Marketing and space, but it was so wide — it takes

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer

“We want the rink and the center to reflect the community.”

St. Paul “Made in Minnesota” mural

Photos by Charles Hallman

up an entire city block.” Then the Wild started looking for a practice facility. The old Dayton building was a possibility, and the Authority began looking for investors to redevelop the place, Novak continued. “It took five years…to find the best use of the building. We talked to so many developers and pitched the idea, but so many people couldn’t see how it could get done and didn’t believe in the project. We knocked on a lot of doors. We kept going until we got a yes.” Hempel Companies, who manages the redevelopment, “saw the vision,” Novak said. They created the joint venture Go Wild, LLC and have 75 percent ownership in the building; the Authority owns the remaining 25 ■ See ST. paul on page 8


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