Minnesota’s Haitian community at risk for deportation as Trump ends TPS designation
A federal judge ruled Tuesday afternoon that the Department of Homeland Security’s actions to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians early was unlawful. The judge’s ruling restores the original expiration date for TPS for Haitians on Feb. 3, 2026.
By Andrew Hazzard
he Department of Homeland Security is attempting to terminate immigration protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in the United States in a move that clears the way for possible deportations. About 4,000 Haitians live in Minnesota; the number under the immigration protection is unclear.
President Donald Trump’s administration is ending the
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for about 500,000 Haitians, DHS announced June 27. Many Haitians have had TPS, which allows people to stay and work in the United States if their country is considered unsafe, since a massive earthquake struck the island nation in 2010. The 18-month designation has been renewed several times due to lack of political and economic stability in Haiti.
Djenane Saint Juste, a Haitian artist who lives in Minnesota, has had TPS since 2010. She came to California on a tourist visa before the January 2010 earthquake, and moved to Minnesota with her mother and son in 2014.
Saint Juste, 46, has been expecting the administration to terminate TPS for Haitians, ■ See IMMIGRATION on page 5
Commemorating the CROWN Act, ‘It’s our hair, It’s our right’
By Jasmine McBride
Associate Editor
hen Anne Austin
was a little girl, growing up as one of seven children in a strug gling household, her relation ship with her hair was marked by neglect — not by choice, but by circumstance.
“Our hair was very long, but it was never really done,” Aus tin recalled. “That’s actually what inspired me to get into hair… I wanted to make sure mine was combed.”
Today, Austin is a profes sional loctician at Loc Starz Natural Hair Salon in the Twin Cities, and a proud advocate for natural beauty. But even with decades of experience and a license in cosmetology, she knows firsthand that acceptance for Black hair is still a battle.
World for Natural Hair, matters so deeply. Passed in Minnesota in July 2023, the legislation prohibits discrimi-
That’s why the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open
Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ sparks national outrage
By Jasmine McBride Associate Editor
newly constructed immigrant detention facility in rural Florida — nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” — was built in just eight days, and immigrant advocates across the country are calling it a warning sign of how far the U.S. is willing to go to criminalize migration.
Surrounded by swampy marshland and reportedly difficult to access, the facility has drawn criticism for its remote location, prison-like conditions and symbolic name
a narrative that portrays immigrants as threats rather than individuals seeking protection or opportunity.”
While Florida may feel far removed from the Upper Midwest, the policy trends it represents are not.
Benjamin Gleekel, a removal defense attorney with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said the construction of such a facility signals a disturbing precedent — and potential expansion.
“As somebody who spends a lot of time in detention centers, I don’t think it’s a good sign,” he said. “All the press
in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
“The fact that a law had to be put in place is absolutely sad,” Austin said. “But it also shows the state of America — how they view us, our culture, and who we are as a people. It’s a reminder that we still have to fight just to be accepted for how we naturally show up.”
Across the Twin Cities and beyond, Black Minnesotans are reflecting on what it means to finally have their natural hair legally protected, something many say should never have been up for debate.
Brenda Morrison, who now wears her hair in locs, remembers dreading the hot combs and chemical relaxers of her youth.
“I hated getting it done,” she said. “And as soon as I got around water, it would do its own thing again,” referring to
■ See CROWN on page 5
evoking isolation, danger and punishment.
“The name alone sends a clear message: that immigration enforcement is prioritizing deterrence through harsh conditions over humane treatment,” said Yolanda Mendoza, a Miami-based national immigration attorney. “It reinforces
around this instills fear that something like this could happen here or in other parts of the country.”
“The reality is that people are being pulled off the street — and that’s not how it used to happen before the Trump administration,” Gleekel said. Mendoza said that in Minnesota, fear has grown even among immigrants with legal status. Many are now avoiding schools, doctors’ offices, and court appearances out of concern for their safety.
“People are preparing folders with their family’s birth certificates and Social Security cards, just in case,” she said. “That kind of fear doesn’t just affect undocumented individuals. It tears at the fabric of entire communities.”
Gleekel said one of the most pressing questions right now is how U.S.-born residents can support their immigrant neighbors. His
Even without an Alligator Alcatraz in Minnesota, Gleekel said the state still detains a significant number of immigrants in remote facilities. Three county jails in Minnesota currently hold contracts with the federal government to detain immigrants.
Djenane Saint Juste, founder of performing arts group Afoutayi, has worked to bring Haitian dance to the Twin Cities. Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal
nation based on hair textures and protective styles such as braids, twists, afros, and locs
Brenda Morrison, who decided to loc her hair to embrace her natural texture Photo courtesy of Brenda Morrison
Anne Austin, a loctician at Loc Starz Natural Hair Salon Photo courtesy of Debbie Morrison/MSR
U.S. President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visit a temporary migrant detention center informally known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in Ochopee, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Lydia Millard draws on lived experience, logistics know-how in bid for Ward 10 seat
By Kiara Williams Contributing Writer
Lydia Millard, a longtime neighborhood organizer and logistics professional, is running for the Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10 with a campaign rooted in practical systems, lived experience, and a promise to ensure residents feel seen and heard.
With a background in operations, budgeting, and community organizing, Millard says she is well-positioned to bring order and efficiency to a ward she believes has been overlooked.
“Logistics is all about coordination and solving problems; that’s exactly what city governance needs more of,” she said. “Whether it’s budgeting, housing, or small business development, I know how to allocate resources to where they’ll make the biggest impact.”
Millard is challenging an incumbent she says has failed to show up for residents. She promises to be accessible, responsive, and proactive — values she says were formed in part by her own experience being dismissed by leadership while raising workplace safety concerns.
“I’ve been ignored when I brought serious issues to my superiors, and I’ve seen the consequences,” she said, recounting an incident where her employer initially rejected her request for restroom security monitoring — only for an
overdose to occur days later.
“Having an ‘open door policy’ means nothing if you don’t act.
That’s why I’ll always take the call, and I’ll always follow up.”
Millard’s working-class upbringing shapes the core of her platform. Raised by a single mother, she says she knows the difficult trade-offs many residents face.
“I remember having to choose between groceries and paying a bill,” she said.
“That stress is real, and it’s something I carry into my policymaking.”
housed residents. “We need to understand their victories and their roadblocks, and become true partners in sustainable solutions,” she said.
Her vision includes policies aligned with the city’s 2050 Climate Action Plan, such as weatherization upgrades, tree canopy expansion, and equity-focused infrastructure investments in older, lowerincome neighborhoods.
Millard is sharply critical of what she calls “four years of inaction” in Ward 10 and pledges to bring energy, experience, and availability to the council seat.
“People feel unseen,” she said. “I will hold office hours that make sense for working families. I’ll attend neighborhood meetings. I’ll show up consistently.”
Her proposed policies include support for affordable childcare, paid family leave, flexible work hours, and job training programs. “I want to push for systems that give people real breathing room,” she said.
Millard also emphasized fair wages and accessible healthcare, education, and transportation, regardless of income or zip code.
Millard champions investment in small businesses, particularly those owned by Black, brown, and women entre-
preneurs. Her economic plan includes micro-loans, grant programs, and tax incentives for startups and job-creating businesses.
“Too often, folks with big dreams and smart ideas are shut out of access to capital,” Millard said. “I’ve been that person; I know how disheartening that feels.”
She’s already begun conversations about alternative financing tools to help underrepresented entrepreneurs, and says she’ll continue to advocate for more equitable support.
As a Black woman from North Minneapolis, Millard
Shir’Don Midan Callender
Sunrise April 25, 1990 - Sunset June 10, 2025
says she understands both the trauma and the necessity of law enforcement in communities.
“I want a police presence that protects without prejudice,” she said. “The consent decree is a start, but real reform means building relationships and trust.”
She supports increasing Behavioral Crisis Response staffing and embedding social workers to reduce unnecessary police involvement in mental health and social crises.
Importantly, she says, safety isn’t just about policing, it’s also about streetlights, accessible transit, and clean public
spaces. She advocates for upgraded infrastructure, including smart traffic lights, LED street lamps to reduce theft, and expanded green space in Lake Street’s corridor.
“Better design can reduce crime, improve health, and create pride in our public spaces,” she said.
Millard proposes redeveloping vacant commercial spaces into affordable homeownership opportunities to address both housing supply and generational wealth gaps.
She also plans to collaborate with Hennepin County to expand transitional housing and short-term support for un-
With over 15 years in management and 18 years in customer service, Millard sees herself as a practical leader with strong communication skills and a passion for relationship-building.
“I’m not running to push a personal agenda. I’m running to listen, to lead with compassion, and to build something better, together.”
The primary registration deadline is July 21. For more information, visit www.vote.minneapolismn.gov.
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@ spokesman-recorder.com.
hir’Don Midan Callender, born on April 25, 1990, left this earth on June 10, 2025.
He was a graduate of South High School, as well as Glenwoody Technical School
with a Degree in Applied Science and Technology Estimator in 2011.
Shir’Don’s first job was with Mortenson Construction Co. as an Estimator for 9 years before leaving MN. He was employed with Exxon in Columbus, Ohio.
Shir’Don is preceded in death by Grandfather Donald Callender, and survived by mother Deanna Callender, grandmother (nanna) Shirlee Callender, brother Jerry Jenkins, 3 uncles, Ricardo, Michael and Don Callender, godparents Steven Turner and Geralyn Catucci-Shulkind, and a host of relatives and friends.
His memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 12, at St Peters AME Church, 401 E. 41st Street, Mpls, MN 55409. Visitation is at 11:00 AM, and the service will begin at 12:00 PM.
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder July 10, 2025
Lydia Millard (left center) says Ward 10 needs leadership that will listen to community, uplift small business, address public safety, provide housing solutions, and protect green space.
Turning Point honored for cultural grounding in the fight against addiction
Sponsored by
By Jasmine McBride Associate Editor
In the heart of North Minneapolis, Turning Point has long been a place where healing is not only possible — but cultural.
Founded in 1976, the Black-led recovery organization has become a cornerstone in Minnesota’s behavioral health landscape, especially for African Americans seeking substance use treatment and long-term support. Through inpatient, outpatient, transitional housing and peer recovery programs, Turning Point continues to grow its impact nearly 50 years later.
“Our goal is to meet people where they are,” said one counselor and supervisor at Turning Point, who asked not to be named in the article.
“This work is about restoring lives, and it starts with trust.”
That trust is rooted in cultural specificity. The counselor said many clients feel more at ease when they’re receiving care from someone who
shares their cultural background and lived experience.
“When people come in and see someone who looks like them, who understands the language they use or the environments they’ve come from, it makes all the difference,” they said. “It can break down fear, shame, or the feeling of being judged.”
Whole-person approach Turning Point’s flagship
service is a 90-day inpatient recovery program, which offers medical support, mental health counseling, group therapy, and a stable, traumainformed environment. After completing inpatient care, clients can move into outpatient programs or transition into sober housing, such as Miss B’s House.
The continuum of care is designed to address both immediate recovery and long-
term stability — including job readiness, housing assistance, and connection to an alumni network.
Addressing stigma and shame
One of the largest barriers to treatment, the counselor said, is the internal struggle many clients face before they even walk through the door.
“A lot of people are scared to ask for help because they feel like they’ve already failed,”
New ‘medical clinic on wheels’ will meet people where they are
By Chris Juhn Contributor Writer
A new Mobile Medical Unit
(MMU) is set to launch in Minneapolis this summer as part of the city’s strategy to bring health care directly to residents and curb the ongoing opioid crisis. Backed by more than $1 million in opioid settlement funding, the project is a landmark step in improving health access for underserved and overburdened communities — especially Black, Indigenous, and immigrant populations disproportionately affected by addiction and chronic illness.
The MMU, essentially a medical clinic on wheels, will be outfitted with two exam rooms and staffed with licensed professionals offering a range of essential services. That includes wound care, health screenings, vaccinations, medication-assisted treatment referrals, and behavioral health resources.
“The Mobile Medical Unit was created to reduce barri-
that prioritizes zip codes most affected by overdose deaths and longstanding health disparities. According to city health officials, the focus areas will include parts of North Minneapolis, Phillips, and Cedar-Riverside: communities with high concentrations of Black, Native, and East African residents.
Healing on wheels
ers to care, address the opioid crisis, and promote long-term wellness through integrated medical services,” said Lisa Roberts, interim communications manager for the City of Minneapolis Health Department. “It’s about meeting people where they are — with dignity, respect, and a commitment to improving the health of all Minneapolis residents.”
The unit is expected to become operational in early August, with a rotating schedule
Outreach and care will be delivered with support from local health care providers and culturally specific partners, including M Health Fairview Riverside; the Native American Community Clinic; and HueMan Partnership, a nonprofit focused on Black men’s health and wellness.
“For a lot of folks in our communities, walking into a traditional clinic just isn’t an option.”
The idea for a mobile clinic gained momentum in the wake of Covid-19 and Minneapolis’ rising overdose rates, which reached record highs during the pandemic. In particular, opioid-related deaths among Black Minnesotans more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
“For a lot of folks in our communities, walking into a traditional clinic just isn’t an option,” said Roberts. “There are layers of trauma, mistrust, transportation issues, language barriers, and stigma — especially when it comes to addiction. This unit is a tool to break down those barriers.”
they said. “But addiction is not a moral weakness. It’s a disease — just like diabetes or high blood pressure — and it can be treated.”
They added that community education and compassion are essential in shifting how the public views people struggling with substance use disorders.
“There’s this idea that folks with addiction are lazy or don’t want to change, and that’s just not true,” they said. “Most of them want to get better, but they’ve been hurt, or they don’t know where to turn.”
“Turning Point is about more than sobriety, it’s about restoration.”
Growing need, growing response
Though the counselor is relatively new to their position, they said they’ve noticed increased interest in 2025 from individuals seeking help, particularly among Black Minnesotans looking for culturally aligned care.
“The need is only growing,” they said. “And we want people to know that the door is open. Just come in. Ask questions. Get information. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start your healing.”
Community recognition Turning Point’s leadership was recently honored this past June. President and CEO Lori Wilson received the Senator Champion Legacy Leadership Award for her continued commitment to advancing health and justice in the Black community.
Wilson’s leadership is part of a legacy that stretches back to the center’s founder, Dr. Peter Hayden, whose vision for a culturally grounded recovery model reshaped behavioral health in Minnesota.
“Turning Point is about more than sobriety, it’s about restoration,” the counselor said. “It’s about reclaiming life, community, and identity.”
For more information or to begin your recovery journey, visit www.turningpointmn.com or call 612-520-4004.
Help is Here is a partnership between MSR and Hennepin County created to highlight local organizations committed to the recovery and education of the Black community surrounding addiction. For more information, visit our website at www. spokesman-recorder.com under the tab “Help is Here.”
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Unlike some programs that only address emergency response or substance use, the MMU will offer broader wraparound care with the aim of long-term healing. The project also signals a shift in how public health departments approach addiction — not just as a personal failing, but as a systemic issue tied to poverty, racial inequity, and policy neglect.
A community-first model
Roberts said the city took input from public health workers, harm reduction advocates, and local residents when developing the model for the MMU. “Community voices shaped this from the beginning,” she said. “We asked, ‘What do people need, and how can we deliver that in a way that feels safe and culturally responsive?’”
Each MMU staff member is trained not only in medical care, but in trauma-informed practices that take into account the lived experience of those affected by addiction, homelessness, and systemic racism. The city is also working with outreach navigators to connect MMU visitors with housing, legal aid, and other supportive services.
“Every overdose is preventable,” Roberts emphasized. “But we can’t just talk about saving lives, we have to show up and do it. That means investing in access, listening to people on the ground, and making care visible, mobile, and human-centered.”
MMU services
• Wound care and basic medical exams
• Naloxone training and distribution
• Vaccinations (Covid-19, flu, etc.)
• Medication-assisted treatment referrals
• Behavioral health assessments
• Culturally specific health education
• Navigation to housing, legal, and social services
What’s next?
As the MMU prepares for deployment, the city is finalizing its route schedule, which will be publicly available on its website. Community members will also be able to
erts said. “And if it is, we’ll work to scale it.”
The Mobile Medical Unit is funded through the National Opioid Settlement, which awarded Minnesota more than $300 million to be distributed over 18 years. Minneapolis is using its share to fund community-based harm reduction efforts and health interventions that address the root causes of addiction.
“This is a new chapter for public health in our city,” said Roberts. “And we’re doing it together, with the community leading the way.”
request MMU visits for block parties, wellness fairs, and neighborhood events.
Although only one unit will launch this year, the city hopes to expand the program if outcomes are successful.
“We want to be able to say this is making a real difference in people’s lives,” Rob-
Turning Point’s CEO Lori Wilson (middle) receiving Senator Champion Legacy Leadership Award at Sabathani Community Center, June 23
Veteran behavioral consultant Sam Simmons in front of the new Minneapolis Mobile Medical Unit
Photos courtesy of Chris Juhn/MSR
Lisa Roberts, interim communications manager for the Minneapolis Health Department.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Roberts
Tony Zaccardi, public health specialist for Minneapolis
By Kiara Williams Contributing Writer
What began as a fallback plan after repeated job dismissals has grown into one of the Twin Cities’ most trusted Black-owned security firms. For Will Dinga, founder of W&W Protection, his story isn’t just
about guarding doors; it’s about opening them as well.
Launched on June 6, 2015, W&W Protection was born from Dinga’s frustration with being let go time and time again.
“I’d get hired, work hard, and then someone would dig into my past,” he said, referencing a federal record
that often stood in the way of long-term employment.
“In Minnesota, they don’t need a reason to fire you. They just say, ‘We no longer need you.’”
Rather than accept the cycle, Dinga took control of his future. What started as bodyguard gigs and club security at age 17 turned into a full-fledged business.
“It wasn’t a dream… I didn’t plan on becoming a bodyguard. It just happened.”
A chance encounter with a New York rapper launched him into touring and managing high-stakes security assignments across the country. “That opened doors. I started meeting people just like me — no direction, no guidance. I brought them onto my team, and it grew from there.”
metro area. But to Dinga, it’s more than a security company.
“I don’t run a security company, I run a de-escalation company. We work in spaces where people look like us, and that matters.”
Today, W&W Protection is known for its presence at local events, school functions, and community centers across the Twin Cities
W&W’s biggest impact lies not just in who they protect, but in how they empower. The company has become a haven for men with complicated pasts or uncertain futures, especially those beginning their journey into adulthood. Dinga offers more than a paycheck — he offers a chance to grow.
“Some of these guys have
never had a bank account, never been taught how to show up on time or present themselves professionally,” he said. “They stay with me for a year or two, get the tools they need, and either grow with the company or take those skills into another career path.”
One of his proudest moments didn’t come from securing a celebrity; it came from seeing former employees thrive.
“I had a guy start his own business. Another went back to school and got his degree. Some of these guys came straight out of high school with no direction. To
hear them say, ‘Thank you for the structure, I went back to school,’ that’s everything.”
Though W&W is rooted in Black communities, its work transcends cultural lines. Dinga trains his team to de-escalate, engage, and operate with professionalism in any environment.
“The skills they gain here — conflict resolution, communication, cultural competence — those are transferable anywhere.”
Still, entrepreneurship hasn’t come without challenges. Dinga admits the biggest hurdle is internal.
“I overthink everything. When you’re responsible for other people, it’s a lot of pressure. I want things to be perfect. I don’t want to mess up, especially knowing others depend on me for their livelihood.”
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs? “Be a student of life.
“Whatever you want to do, start at the bottom. Learn every piece of it. Watch how others do it and apply it. The key is getting out of your own way.”
For more information, visit www.wandwprotection.com.
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Will Dinga
Photo courtesy of Will Dinga
Will Dinga
but is frustrated by the news. Her work permit will expire August 3, and Haitians have been told to leave the country by September 2. But her life is here, and she hasn’t been to her home country in more than 15 years.
“I don’t have a house in Haiti. Where am I going to live in Haiti?” Saint Juste said.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has said conditions in Haiti no longer meet TPS requirements.
“This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary,” said a DHS spokesperson. “The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home.”
But Haiti remains in a state of civil unrest. The nation currently has no president, hasn’t held elections in years and gangs control wide swaths of Port-au-Prince, the capital city. The conditions are bad and signal the Trump administration’s commitment to end-
ing TPS whether home countries are safe or not, according to Minnesota immigration attorney David Wilson.
The government has moved to end TPS designations for Venezuelans and Afghans since Trump took office in January for a second term.
“Frankly, this is one of the worst decisions this administration could make,” Wilson said.
The government’s message about safety in Haiti is conflicting, Saint Juste said. The State Department evacuated embassy workers in Haiti in 2024 and currently advises Americans not to travel there for fear of kidnapping and civil unrest. The Trump administration also included Haiti in its 2025 travel ban, which prohibits people from 12 countries entering the United States on visas over security concerns.
“It’s very funny how the administration decides when things are safe and when things are not safe,” Saint Juste said.
Many Haitians living in the United States have been working to get off TPS for years, Wilson said. Some have applied for asylum or legal permanent residency. Those applying for asylum
now could find temporary relief, but should be cautious, Wilson said. If Haitians living under TPS haven’t started applying for another way to stay in the country by now, it could be too late. And if people fail to get asylum, they can be denied future access to the United States for the rest of their lives.
“Asylum is not meant to be a catchall,” Wilson said.
David Policard runs Vanse, a nonprofit that helps new Haitian immigrants in Minnesota. The situation in Haiti is only getting worse, he said.
cash jobs and renting rooms instead of having permanent addresses, Policard said.
“Some are going underground,” he said.
2010, and we followed the process. We did everything. I don’t have any criminal background. I pay my taxes… but everything we do doesn’t feel enough,” Saint Juste said.
whose employers are already nervous about keeping them on the payroll.
“We have so many people who have been let go from work already,” Policard said.
recoiling that naturally happens to Type 4 hair when wet, even when processed.
When she got old enough to care for her hair on her own, she embraced her natural texture and began learning to braid. Eventually, she turned to locs for their simplicity, individuality, and strength.
“It’s easy, it lasts, and it doesn’t look like anybody else’s,” Morrison said. “That’s what I love.”
Still, Morrison, like Austin, was appalled that legal action was required to protect people like her.
“Your hair is part of who you are,” she said. “I disagree with what happened to that young man who was forced to cut his locs to compete in wrestling. That was discrimination, plain and simple.”
She’s referring to the 2018 case of a Black New Jersey high school wrestler who was told to cut his hair on the spot or forfeit his match, a moment that sparked nationwide outrage and ultimately helped fuel the CROWN Act’s momentum.
Austin said stories like that are far from isolated.
“I’ve known people for years who couldn’t get jobs if they wore locs, braids, or afros,” she said. “We were still stuck in that same Jim Crow environment, just with a modern face.”
But Austin’s clients, and her career path, tell a different story. As a loctician, she sees the beauty and versatility of Black hair every day.
“People say ‘good hair’ like it’s rare,” she said. “But we all have good hair. We have the hair “they” want, because it can do anything.”
That sense of pride and advocacy also drives Kimberly Steward, a veteran session stylist who has worked with
Mendoza emphasized that “unjust detention” — including isolated locations, limited attorney access and poor conditions — is at odds with true public safety.
advice: “Listen to immigrant advocates.”
“There’s a lot of volunteer opportunities and great organizations doing impactful work around this issue,” he said. “But I don’t have a perfect answer. It’s a hard question.”
“Just detention prevents flight risk or protects the public when necessary,” she said.
“Unjust detention isolates people, removes them from their support systems, and often denies them basic rights.”
She urged Minnesotans to continue supporting im-
‘We followed the process’
The government rejected Saint Juste’s green card application last year, more than a decade after she applied for her and her son. Her father is a U.S. citizen, and he sponsored their application. She hired lawyers and spent countless hours on paperwork.
Saint Juste said she was denied because she overstayed
“If Haitians living under TPS haven’t started applying for another way to stay in the country by now, it could be too late.”
Many Haitians are too afraid to go home, Policard said. His mother recently had to flee her home in Port-auPrince because warring gangs were shooting at each other in her neighborhood.
Some Haitians in Minnesota are already planning to return, he said. One told Policard they plan to return to Haiti in October after hearing about the move to end TPS, he said. Others are looking for ways to stay covertly by taking
her tourist visa when she came to the United States in 2009. But she had a good reason: a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010 and she couldn’t return. When the United States launched its TPS program shortly afterward, she applied right away and was accepted. Now she and her son, who is now 21 and hasn’t been to Haiti since he was a small child, could be sent back.
“We’ve been here since
Essence, Rolling Stone, ESPN, and red carpet stars.
“I’ve styled textured hair on Emmy-winning sets, magazine covers, film and red carpets,” Steward said. “The truth is — texture, not race, determines how hair should be cared for.”
Steward grew up with two
older sisters, now celebrity stylists, and became their first client.
“My relationship with my hair growing up was healthy and adventurous,” she said.
“I’ve always loved my hair. Recently, my texture has changed and become more
She’s lived under TPS for years, often having to stop work for a month or two when the program for Haitians had gaps between renewal dates. She fears that limbo period will hit again come August, and doesn’t want to have to live off the charity of friends, neighbors and students.
Saint Juste and her mother run Afoutayi, a nonprofit that performs and teaches Haitian and Afro-Caribbean music and dance. The TPS termination means they can’t accept contracts for classes or performances after August 3, because they won’t have permission to work. The organization has been doing well this year, but now all that is at risk, she said.
Job loss is the first consequence of ending TPS, Wilson said.
The biggest issue for many Haitians is not knowing what comes next, Policard said. The current TPS term for Haitians was set to expire in February 2026; DHS aimed to cut that short, and announced work permits would expire in August. He’s heard from people
coarse, which allows me to wear a big afro, and I love it.”
As someone who has seen the industry shift over time, Steward says the CROWN Act is essential, but it also exposes deeper truths.
“Black hair is not a problem. It’s a crown.”
“Kinky, curly textures were especially demonized when associated with Black people, and that bias echoed around the world,” she said. “As Black women began embracing their natural hair and wearing it unapologetically, it opened the door for others globally to do the same. That freedom and self-expression has always started with us.”
Like her peers, Steward recognizes the beauty, politics, and power in hair.
The move to terminate TPS for Haitians is almost certain to be challenged in court, Wilson said, and conditions could change through the courts.
“In immigration, two months is forever,” he said.
In May, DHS announced a program that encourages people whose legal status has expired to schedule their self-deportations through the Customs and Border Protection Home app. The government says it will help cover travel costs and give a $1,000 stipend to people who leave.
Saint Juste said she has too much invested here. Who will pay off her mortgage if she’s deported? What will happen to the businesses Haitians in the United States have started, she wonders.
“I am going to go to the airport and do what with $1,000?” she said. “This needs to stop… They need to start respecting human beings.”
This piece was originally published in Sahan Journal. For more information, visit www.sahanjournal.com
“Our hair is political. Our hair is love. Our hair is community. Our hair is life,” she said. Morrison believes the world needs to stop policing Black expression altogether.
“Why do people who aren’t Black want to control us?” she asked. “Our hair doesn’t hurt anyone. It’s not affecting how we breathe or walk or work.”
Austin agrees, adding, “I stepped away from doing all styles as a cosmetologist because I wanted to be a voice for our hair — our natural, beautiful, powerful hair. And I absolutely love the magic in locs.” As Minnesota continues to implement the CROWN Act and push for broader equity across education, health, and employment, all three women say the message should be simple:
Black hair is not a problem. It’s a crown.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
“As somebody who spends a lot of time in detention centers, I don’t think it’s a good sign,”
migrant communities by donating to legal aid, serving as emergency contacts for families, and demanding ac-
countability at every level of government. With recent Supreme Court rulings altering the legal landscape, Gleekel said the road ahead is uncertain — but what’s happening in Florida could be a sign of what’s to come.
“Alligator Alcatraz should set a precedent,” he said. “If
we’re building this now, we have to assume more of these efforts could be implemented across the country.”
Mendoza agreed: “We are all implicated in the kind of country we choose to build. If we can build a detention center in eight days, we should be able to build systems of justice just
Kimberly Steward, stylist and beauty consultant
Photo courtesy of Kimberly Steward
A person holds a placard during a protest at an entrance road of a temporary migrant detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” on the day of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump in Ochopee, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
Yolanda Mendoza
Photo courtesy of Yolanda Mendoza law
Benjamin Gleekel of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota Courtesy of Equal Justice Works
Investing basics: Stocks, bonds, and building wealth
Meta Description:
When it comes to building generational wealth and financial security, investing plays an important role. Here are the investing basics you need to know.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of investing, you’re not alone.
Many of us never learned the fundamentals of investing in school, or even at home. But the good news is: you don’t need to be a finance expert or have a large bank account to get started.
At JPMorgan Chase, we believe that everyone deserves the tools and confidence to build lasting financial wellness. That’s why we’re here to help break down the basics of investing, from stocks and bonds to your first portfolio, so you can start your financial journey with clarity.
Why investing matters, especially now:
Saving money is an essential part of financial planning, but saving alone may not be enough to grow long-term wealth. While a traditional savings account is key for emergencies, it likely won’t keep pace with inflation. That’s where investing comes in.
Even small investments made early can grow over time thanks to compound inter-
est. And whether your goals include retirement, buying a home, funding education, or building generational wealth, investing helps make those goals possible.
Understanding the basics: Key investment types
Before jumping in, it’s important to understand the common types of investments, and how each one works for different needs and comfort levels.
Stocks: Buying stock means purchasing a share of ownership in a company. While stocks can offer faster potential growth, they also carry more risk due to market fluctuations.
How to get started: You can purchase stocks through brokerage platforms or investment apps. Many allow you to start with fractional shares, as little as $1.
Bonds: Bonds are essentially loans you give to companies
or governments, in exchange for interest payments and the return of your investment over time.
Why they matter: Bonds typically offer lower risk than stocks and can provide income and stability, making them a strong addition to a well-balanced portfolio.
ETFs and Mutual Funds:
These investment vehicles group together multiple assets, like stocks and bonds, to create a more diversified investment. They’re a great way to spread risk and gain exposure to broader market performance.
How to invest: Most online or traditional brokerage platforms offer ETFs and mutual funds. Just be sure to review any fees or minimum investment requirements.
Your Investing checklist: Laying the groundwork
Before you invest, consider these key financial steps:
• Create a budget to under-
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stand how much you can afford to invest.
• Pay off high-interest debt to prevent it from outweighing your investment gains.
• Build an emergency fund of 3–6 months of expenses for peace of mind.
• Set clear goals — whether it’s retirement, college savings, or a major purchase, knowing your “why” helps shape your strategy.
Getting Started: Tips for New Investors
Still feel unsure? You’re not alone. The most important thing is to start where you are. Thanks to modern tools and technology, investing is more accessible than ever.
Here are some helpful tips:
• Choose your mix: Your age, goals, and risk tolerance should all shape the mix of investments you choose.
• Use automation: Consider setting up recurring contri-
butions, even $25 or $50 a month, to build consistency.
• Diversify your investments: A mix of stocks, bonds, and funds can help weather market ups and downs.
• Stay the course: Investing is a long game. Avoid reacting emotionally to short-term market changes.
“The most important thing is to start where you are.”
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Whether you’re just starting to explore the stock market or looking to grow your financial confidence, you don’t have to go it alone. JPMorgan Chase offers tools, financial education, and guidance designed to meet you where you are.
From accessible mobile banking to in-person financial health workshops, our goal is to help you make informed decisions, and take action, toward lasting financial success. Because when you invest in your future, you’re investing in something even bigger: your family, your goals, and your legacy.
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Arts & Culture
Lewiee Blaze to release ‘ONE OF ONE’ album on major platforms following Juneteenth tour
By Jasmine McBride Associate Editor
Minneapolis-based artist
Lewiee Blaze is preparing to bring his soul-baring album
“ONE OF ONE” to a broader audience, announcing that the project — originally released exclusively on his birthday, November 11 — will soon be available on all major streaming platforms.
The 11-track album marks a new chapter in Blaze’s evolution as a lyricist and creative,
blending introspective storytelling with themes of transformation, spirituality, and survival. Its tracklist includes:
neteenth tour that took him through community events and celebrations across the Twin Cities, Blaze is entering a new era, one shaped by liberation rather than expectation.
“This project is different,” Blaze said in an interview with the Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder. “I’m moving forward with my music and with my life, putting it out into the world without any expectations. I’m just surrendering myself to the process.”
reflection of that feeling.”
Blaze named “Church in the Trenches” as his favorite track on the project, noting its deeply personal tone and emotional resonance, and collaboration with local artists Juice Lord, Maya Marchelle, Jerome Richardson, and Latrez 100. “That one means a lot,” he said.
While an official release date for the wide digital distribution hasn’t been announced yet, Blaze is plan
ning a listening party that will
“Early
Blaze, whose early career leaned into mainstream sounds and high-energy tracks, now gravitates toward music that’s more reflective and grounded in message. Though he distances himself from labels like “conscious rapper,” the shift in tone is unmistakable.
“I’ve gone through a few phases as an artist,” he said. “Early on, I was just trying to create something people would turn up to. Now, I’m speaking from where I am. The place I’m going is going to take some very strong-minded individuals to ride with me.”
The title “ONE OF ONE” reflects that personal and artistic transformation. “As a person and as an artist, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to be accepted,” Blaze said. “But the truth is, nobody else is like me. Once I embraced that, I felt free — and this album is a
mark the first formal celebration for one of his projects.
“This will be my first real album release party,” he said. “I’ve never really thrown one before, so I’m excited to do it the right way.”
From the trenches to the dream, Lewiee Blaze continues to push past limits — offering music that uplifts, challenges, and declares there’s only one of him.
“Simply, I’m one of one…” said Blaze.
To stay updated on the album’s release and upcoming events, fans can text “BLAZE” to 33777. “Once you’re tapped in, you’re officially a part of the Blaze train,” he said with a grin. “And it’s going to be one hell of a ride.”
Follow Lewiee Blaze on Instagram at @LewieeBlaze, or visit
www.even.biz/r/one-of-one. com to get the album ahead of distribution at a pay-what-youcan price point.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Minneapolis-based artist Lewiee Blaze Photos courtesy of Lewiee Blaze
The big lie of the Big Beautiful Bill
By Mustafa Ali
Let’s call this bill what it is: dangerous.
Not just politically dangerous, but biologically. Economically. Spiritually. It is a document engineered not to uplift, but to unravel. It is an assault on breath, on balance, on belonging, on we the people, which is democracy.
And it’s being wrapped in the flag, stuffed in the mouth of struggling communities, and lit like a fuse for the Fourth of July.
Start with the people.
This bill makes the poor poorer and the rich richer — a phrase so worn it should be retired. But here, it is terrifyingly literal. Cuts to healthcare, food assistance, housing support, and environmental protections aren’t just accounting decisions; they are moral decisions. And the morality here is clear: if you’re not rich, white, and well-connected, you’re expendable.
For seniors, the promise of rest and dignity is being dismantled brick by brick. Cuts to Medicare, reduced protections in elder care, and the elimination of support systems for aging populations say plainly: grow old at your own risk.
Students fare no better. The bill slashes funding for public education and student aid while pouring gas on the fire of for-profit education. It strips opportunity from the classrooms and replaces it with debt and despair. Children born into poverty won’t just have fewer paths forward; they’ll have a boot on their
backs before they even learn how to read.
And food? The most basic expression of care? The bill reduces SNAP benefits, ends free lunch programs, and pretends hunger is a personal failing instead of a policy choice. Millions of kids will go to bed with stomachs rumbling so the stock market can hum a little louder.
But the devastation doesn’t stop at the dinner table. It’s in the air we breathe, too.
This bill greenlights pollution — literally. It weakens the Clean Air Act, disables the EPA’s ability to regulate toxic emissions, and rolls back protections for drinking water. It tells corporations they can dump, poison, and profit without consequence. And who suffers? The same people who always suffer — Black communities in the South. Indigenous communities in the West. Rural families living downwind of plants that don’t need permits anymore, and our small and mid-size Farmers who feed the nation.
This is not a coincidence. It is design.
The Black community, as always, gets the sharpest edge of the blade. When the government disinvests in public health, strips education funding, and kills environmental safeguards, you are targeting us — our lungs, our futures, our children. We’ve seen this play before. From redlining to urban renewal, from “war on crime” to “war on woke,” the language changes, but the target remains the same. This bill is Jim Crow in a busi-
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ness suit, with legalese in one hand and a shovel in the other, ready to bury us beneath its weight.
And don’t think rural white America will be spared.
You voted for this man. You carried his banner.
But when your hospitals and clinics close, when your kids can’t get loans, when your land dries out and your rivers turn to poison, who will you blame?
Because this bill is bipartisan in its cruelty. It doesn’t care if you live in Detroit or Appalachia. If you don’t have a lobbyist, it’s got nothing for you but pain.
And economically?
The lie of trickle-down gets regurgitated again. The bill hands billions in tax cuts to the wealthiest and tells working people to wait their turn. But there is no turn. There’s no chair left at the table. This isn’t economics — it’s theft. From the bottom up. From those who sweat to those who scheme.
And still, they have the audacity to call it “beautiful.”
There is nothing beautiful about watching a mother ration insulin.
Nothing beautiful about kids forced to drink lead.
Nothing beautiful about teachers buying pencils from their own pockets, or elders skipping meals to pay for their rent.
This bill should never be called beautiful. It should come with a warning label that describes just how brutal and dangerous it will be for all Americans.
But it’s more than that. It’s a test.
A test of who we are as a people.
Will we swallow this poison just because it’s patrioticflavored?
Will we sit silent while our neighbors are crushed under the weight of indifference?
Because if we do — if we let this pass quietly — we are accomplices to our own demise.
But if we speak — if we organize, mobilize, resist—then maybe we can stop the bleeding. Perhaps we can remember what real beauty looks like: clean air, full bellies, children laughing in safe schools, elders treated with reverence, not neglect.
There’s still time to reject the Big Beautiful Lie.
In this historical moment, let’s be crystal clear, that window is rapidly closing.
And when future generations look back, they’ll ask: Did we protect the vulnerable?
Did we fight for justice? Or did we sign our names to a death sentence in red,
By Lawrence Ware
President Donald Trump followers are clear examples of people voting against their own interests. He has most recently persuaded the Senate and House of Representatives to push through his Big Beautiful Bill that will strip millions of Americans, white and Black, of their health care. This is after he gutted the federal workforce, sending thousands of governmental employees (again, both white and Black) packing. What’s shocking is that many of the people he is hurting helped the man get into the White House.
By now it is common knowledge that white Americans are the reason why Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris in 2024. But there is a deeper question we need to be asking that is bigger than why the man who currently sits behind the Resolute Desk is there.
The question is as simple as it is complex. Why are we so deeply polarized in this country along racial lines?
The division runs deep. So deep, in fact, that many fail to realize that we, white and Black folks, have so much in common politically. Especially when it comes to working class white people. If they were to only
open their eyes, they would see they have far more in common with Black folks than they do with Trump and people like him.
So how did we get here?
Well, unsurprisingly, much of what we are seeing traces back to America’s original sin: slavery and the war between the states that erupted in its wake.
If you ask most white folks in the South about their ethnicity (their cultural identity), they will just tell you they are American.
If you ask most in the North, they will identify as American, yes, but also as Irish, Italian or some other ethnicity that traces back to Europe. Why is this important? Because it shows how the political establishment at that time (almost all white men) convinced white people to identify as white above all else. They did that to solidify support against the growing movement to free slaves. But they did not stop there.
After losing the Civil War, political leaders continued to pit white Americans against Black ones. They convinced all whites, but especially workingclass ones, to see Black Americans as their enemy. They told them Black men were animalistic and after their daughters and they persuaded some to see Black women as welfare queens who did not want to
work. But Black folks are not without blame in this.
We have always looked suspiciously at white politicians who wanted our vote. But there are an untold number of Black politicians who courted the Black vote and then did not do what’s best for the Black community.
Any time a person threatened to bring together white and Black people politically, they just happened to be killed. That is not to say that this is the reason why Bobby Kennedy, who was building a biracial political coalition, or Fred Hampton, who was politically uniting working-class white and Black people in Chicago, was killed. So again White and Black people have more in common that we like to admit. We may not all like the same music nor do we season our food the same way. But we would be wise to look past the way political leaders try to divide us. Because none of us are helped by seeing each other as the enemy.
This piece was originally published in The Root, under the title, “If Poor Black, White People Unite, They’d Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here’s Why The Powers That Be Won’t Let Them.” For more information, visit www.theroot.com.
By Julianne Malveaux
The big ugly boondoggle, which our President calls The Big Beautiful Bill, is a disgusting transfer of resources from the poor to the wealthy, preserving 2017 tax cuts, cutting Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, or food stamps), imposing new work requirements for benefits, and increasing defense spending by at least thirteen percent.
Kasey Kosgarian, Director of the National Priorities Project of the Institute for Policy Studies posed our choices as “weapons and war or food and health care”. We have apparently chosen weapons and war, and apparently the rest of us exist in peril.
Treatises can be written about the odious bill, and the many aspects that leave millions without health care and food assistance, existing with a safety net that has been maliciously shredded. We shouldn’t be surprised, since this is what was promised in Project 2025. We will pay in the long run as our future, our students, will encounter great obstacles as they attempt to prepare themselves to be economically competitive in the future.
I am especially concerned about cuts to higher education, and to Pell Grants, as part of the Big Ugly. Grants for higher education attendance were part of the Higher Education Act, passed in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society Program. The Pell grant, named after Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) was authorized in 1972 as a Basic Educational Oppor-
tunity Grant (BEOG), and was designed to provide grants to low income families, as opposed to (or in addition to) the loans that formerly funded higher education.
In 1972, Pell grants covered about 75 percent of college costs, between $8000 and $9000 in today’s dollars. The value of the Pell has steadily eroded. In 2013, the maximum Pell was $5645, again in today’s dollars. President Biden increased the Pell to a maximum of $7395 for academic year 2024. In contrast, the tuition and fees at Howard University that year was $35,810. The total cost of attendance was $58052.
Some families can pay some of the cost, but most low income students cobble together Pell, loans, outside scholarships, and parental contributions.
The Pell covered only a fifth of Howard University’s tuition, and just an eighth of the total cost of attendance.
The Big Ugly will make college access even more challenging. It would cut the Pell to $5710, a 23 percent cut. It would only provide the maximum Pell for students who enroll for a full load of 15 credit hours a semester. Often firstyear students are advised to take a lighter load, four classes instead of five, especially if they may need time to adjust to college. I’d rather a student take a lighter load and achieve solidly, than to have a student struggle with five classes.
About 40 percent of undergraduate students rely on Pell grants to get through college. The lowest among them will likely drop out. This imperils our future. How are we to compete internationally if mil-
lions of our students can’t afford higher education?
The legislation that cuts Pell grants, part of the Big Ugly, also limits or eliminates benefits to part-time and community college students. A student who is enrolled less than half time (7.5 credits) would receive no Pell money at all. Yet millions of students who work full time (or part time) and attend school part time will lose benefits. These include working moms and dads, differently abled students, and others who can’t manage a full time load. At a time when employment needs demand flexibility, legislation is insisting on punitive rigidity.
The Department of Education has been so crippled by this President’s “slash and burn” approach to education that there is little input from the department around the harmful effects of these Pell changes. Who in Congress will speak up for our nation’s students?
Our young people are our future, yet we treat them like debris. In divesting from college access and attendance, we are divesting from our futures. Our international rivals are investing in education, while we are divesting. In the long run, this will give them the competitive advantage that will leave us falling even further behind than we are now. Who gains? Oligarchs! Predatory capitalists! And a President who hawks Bibles and Alligator Alcatraz instead of our robust American future.
This piece was originally published in the LA Progressive. For more information, visit www. laproressive.com.
Employment & Legals
/s/John Paul J. Gatto John Paul J. Gatto (#0387730) Paul J. Gatto (#33741) ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS 1177 West Seventh Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 651-454-3600 jpg@sworgatto.com paulg@sworgatto.com
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder July 10, 17, 24, 2025
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who went straight from retiring as a player to part owner of the Atlanta Dream in 2021.
“We’re hoping to get more former players in,” she stressed.
We also asked Engelbert about the league’s continuing anti-hate efforts. “We obviously launched right as the season launched this year our “No Space for Hate” platform with the [WNBA] Players Association…to addressing this issue,” she replied.
“People are mean only when it’s anonymous online, right? And they have no accountability.”
The Chicago Sky last week announced its partnership with Moonshot, a global company that monitors online threats. “Moonshot’s goal is not just to understand the problem, but to solve it,” said a July 1 release statement.
“People are mean only when it’s anonymous online, right? And they have no accountability, right?” Engelbert pointed out. “No accountability to typing whatever they’re typing. Everybody else believes everything they read in the comments section on our players’ social [media accounts], and it’s inappropri-
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had 13 for the Fever, while guards Kelsey Mitchell and Ari McDonald, along with forward Aliyah Boston, added 12 each.
ate language or misogyny, or racism or homophobia, or just unacceptable hate-type speech.”
The WNBA also introduced this season AI technology to monitor social media activity as well as “a newly enhanced and more accessible Fan Code of Conduct” on WNBA.com. the WNBA app and WNBA social accounts, said a May press release.
“You’ve seen an increase in home and other arenas and outside the arenas on physical security,” surmised Engelbert. “We’ve found the ability through technology to monitor physical threats.
“The players essentially are who we’re focused on here,” said Engelbert.
Three sistahs talk sports Vibe Check, a new allfemale-led show hosted by three sistahs — Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter — premiered last week on Disney Plus. I posted on Threads the following: “Three Sistahs talking sports. This should be the norm, not an exception. There’s no shortage of talent. Just shortage of imagination.”
The new show produced by ESPN will stream new episodes three times a week and “will deliver fast-paced coverage of every sport with expert analysis; all-access moments, unapologetic opinions and a healthy dose of laughter,” said an ESPN press release.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Smith led the Lynx with 15 points, Collier had 12, and Williams added 11. The Commissioner’s Cup Final does not impact actual playoff standings.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
From Ads Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder
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Continued from page 10
Black population.”
Chicago Sky broadcaster Shimmy Miller told us last week, “Right now I’m concerned more about expanding current roster sizes, revenue sharing for the players, and viable practice facilities for the current teams.
Braswell. “Not just the WNBA, but as for players coming from overseas, players coming into the league from college.
“I just really hope that there are the necessary eyes [are on] the issues” important to the players, he stressed. “It doesn’t sound like their demands are being met. I would hate for the league to see the level of growth…be af -
“I want a league that will be marketable and profitable and relevant 30 years from now, and I’m not convinced that adding six new teams in a five-six year window is the answer,” she continued. “However, with all that being said, I love the choices of the cities.”
Braswell pointed out that last week’s WNBA expansion news might have served as a distraction to the current CBA talks between the league and the players union. Satou Sabally, a WNBA player rep, told the media last Tuesday that the league’s latest proposal presented to the unionized players was a “slap in the face.”
“The CBA is going to define the next generation of women’s basketball,” said
fected by a possible lockout.
“Overall, these players have the right to demand the situations and the advantages that they deserve.”
“At the end of the day, the players’ needs come first,” concluded Braswell. “Overall, these players have the right to demand the situations and the advantages that they deserve. They’re professional athletes, and for too long WNBA players have been treated less than the person.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
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BSA CHAT
Continued from page 10
Sneakers to Scrubs, according to its website, is dedicated “to prepare the next generation of health care professionals who reflect the communities they come from, ensuring they are equipped to meet the unique needs of the people they serve, and creating sustainable pathways that connect athletic excellence with health care transformation.”
“I met them back in the fall of 2023,” recalled Shuck of the four male Sneakers to Scrubs founders. “Two of them played basketball, two played football, and they went to Yale, Harvard, Stanford and Columbia.
“During the time I met them, I was in between jobs. They didn’t know anything about running the organization, creating programs, none of that stuff. I set up their 501(c)3. I’ve done all their marketing…and wrote grants as well.
“They were my first consulting client,” she pointed out.
“Whether you want to be a doctor, a nurse, whatever, you still have to master math and science.”
“Whether you want to be a doctor, a nurse, whatever, you still have to master math and science. In Chicago, less than 30% of Black Chicago Public Schools eighth graders are proficient in algebra,” said Shuck.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
The four former college players, now medical students, told the BSA Summit participants that it isn’t too late to look at the medical field while they are still in college. “Like explaining that there’s many different paths, but also explaining that student athletes have so many qualities that are transferable,” said Shuck. The medical students regularly talk to local school students. Said Shuck, “The number one thing is making sure that they can even go to medical school, and that starts back in middle school. That’s why we have a middle school program where we have student athletes and medical students tutoring the kids in math and science.
WNBA expansion cities
Photo/art courtesy of X
Sports
W Commish talks expansion, addresses hate speech
he WNBA by 2030 will have 18 teams, the most in league history. Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) are the latest expansion franchises, joining Golden State, which started this season, and Portland and Toronto that are scheduled to come on board in 2026. However, unless things change, the majority-Black female-led women’s pro basketball league still won’t have a Black majority team owner, the principal individual who writes the check.
According to the 2023 WNBA Racial and Gender Report Card, there have been only two Black owners since 2021 — the all-time high is seven (2018-2020).
Hall of Famers Grant Hill and Chris Webber last week were announced as part of the Detroit WNBA ownership group, led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, who is expected to be the majority owner.
While in town for last Tuesday’s Commissioner Cup championship, the MSR asked WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about the lack of Black majority owners.
“I hope someday [we will have] a majority owner of color,” confirmed Engelbert in
Lynx back to winning ways
he Minnesota Lynx — sporting a 16-2 WNBA record at press time — have responded with two consecutive wins at Target Center last week after losing the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Final 7459 to the Indiana Fever July 1. On July 3, the Lynx defeat-
ed the Washington Mystics 92-75 with power forward Napheesa Collier continuing to perform at an MVP level, scoring a game-high 28 points.
Point guard Courtney Williams added 10 points, eight assists, six rebounds and five steals. Backcourt mate Kayla McBride and center Alanna Smith also chipped in 10 each.
Guard Lucy Olsen led the Mystics with 19 points, forward Aaliyah Edwards had 15 points and six rebounds, and center Shakira Austin added 10.
Two days later, on July 5, Collier led the way with 22 points, Williams had 15, and McBride added 12 in an 8271 Minnesota’s victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Guard Tiffany Hayes led Golden State with 23 points. Forwards Kayla Thompson and Stephanie Talbot added 13 and 10, respectively.
The wins were a welcome sight for Target Center fans as well as the Lynx, who were upset by the Fever in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The Lynx took immediate control of the game, building a 20-12 first-quarter lead behind excellent three-point shooting.
The Fever responded in the second period holding Minnesota scoreless while embarking on an 18-0 run the last eight minutes of the first half, giving them a 32-27 advantage.
It was all Indiana from there. Forward Natasha Howard’s 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists led Indiana and earned her MVP honors.
Guard Sophie Cunningham
Fans and players weigh pros and cons of WNBA expansion
he latest WNBA expansion news has created unprecedented buzz, both negative and positive, which has temporarily put the women’s hoop league on the front page and atop the sports media rundown.
our exclusive interview with her before the contest the day after she announced the three expansion cities. “We are working with those groups to bring in a diverse ownership group. So, I think you’re going to see that in their analysis.
“By the way,” continued the Commish, “everything we announced [on June 30] is still subject to WNBA and NBA Board of Governors approval, including the additional investors coming in, but all three are already on it as bringing in minority investors.”
Engelbert also said she hopes to not only see more Blacks as team owners, but also former WNBA players such as Renee Montgomery,
■ See VIEW on page 9
A white player last week questioned why Detroit and Cleveland will be expansion cities in a few years. Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham said that she didn’t “know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland].” The league announced June 30 that Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) all will join the league over the next five years, making the W a league-high 18 franchises.
Both cities through their official social media accounts clapped back at the player. Cleveland said that the city is “proud to have been chosen to host a WNBA team.” Detroit’s response: “Detroit is a sports town.”
“She could just have kept her mouth closed,” said Christan Braswell in an MSR phone interview last week regarding Cunningham’s mistimed remarks.
A Chicago native now living in Texas, Braswell started his Off The Record report on Substack earlier this year. He billed it as “an independent media outlet committed to unyielding, unfiltered cover
age of women’s basketball.”
We reached out to him after his Threads posts on WNBA expansion after it was announced.
“I’ve been covering the NFL, the Bears, the [NBA] Bulls, the [MLB] Cubs, the [MLS] Fire since around five, six years ago,” said Braswell, adding that he now basically focuses on the WNBA. “I started covering the [Chicago] Sky when Candace Parker [came],” he pointed out.
“Being a Chicago kid, that was kind of my first stepping stone as a journalist and holding some level of objectivity. I started covering the Dallas Wings and moved to Dallas,”
said Braswell. “I’m basically just covering the WNBA and the way that I think it should be — kind of a heavy hand but a soft heart.”
In other words, cover the W with solid but fair analysis, something that too many mainstream sports media struggle to do.
“When it comes to the WNBA,” stressed Braswell, “it’s a disservice to the women in this league. It’s actually very sexist.”
Braswell said he supports the W expansion plans, especially Detroit and Cleveland, two former WNBA cities but “cities that have a majority
Sneakers to Scrubs recruits athletes into medical fields
By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist
The MSR recently attended the 2025 Black Student Athlete (BSA) Summit in Chicago, a four-day experience (May 2124). It brings together both students and professionals from all backgrounds across the college sports ecosystem. In an occasional series we will feature interviews and panel discussions from the BSA. This week: Be your authentic self.
HICAGO, IL. – Dr. Johari Shuck calls herself “a change catalyst.”
With a doctorate in higher education administration, she has extensive experience in working in nonprofit organizations. However, she quickly admits that she too often doesn’t fit in a majority White-run work environment, especially if it conflicts with her overall life mission of uplifting Black people.
“I’ve been fired three times, but I’ve always done it when I stood on principle for Black kids,” said the nonprofit veteran after this year’s BSA Summit in Chicago in May.
The Summit’s main goal was to stress to Black studentathlete participants the importance of not only focusing on their athletic performances
but also on preparing for postathletic lives while still playing.
More importantly, they say, the male and female players should always be their authentic self.
back in February,” she continued. “The opportunities that I now have, that strength travels through me. I don’t think everyone is built for that, but because I know that it’s so much bigger than me.
“Where I come from, and being appreciative of the privileges that have been afforded, whether I earned them or not,” added Shuck, “I just have this immense love for [Black] kids, young people, that I’ll just do whatever I need to do, and that gives me energy as long as I’m able to do it my way.” It was Shuck’s first appearance at the BSA Summit, which also was its first time in Chicago.
Shuck, who lives in Chicago, is an unapologetic educational innovator and nonprofit strategist. Earlier this year, she said she got confirmation that what she is doing is right: “I recently was able to trace my family to slavery. I discovered that my family, my ancestors basically built this town called Gurley, Alabama.
“I didn’t even know that there was a place until I started doing my family research
“We did two panels on the last day. I organized a panel of former student athletes that are now in the medical field,” said Shuck. She is the executive director of Sneakers to Scrubs, a local nonprofit started a couple of years ago by four former college student athletes who are now in medical school.
■ See BSA CHAT on page 9
Christan Braswell
Photo/art courtesy of X
■ See SOE on page 9
New part-owners Grant Hill (l) and Chris Webber Photo courtesy of X
Cathy Engelbert
Photo by Charles Hallman
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams
Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald Sneakers to Scrubs founders speaking to students
Dr. Johari Shuck
Photos courtesy of X