March 7, 2018 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

November 4 - 11, 2015

March 1-7, 2018

— See more on how Black Panther empowers girls on pg. 6

Vol. 84 No. 30 www.spokesman-recorder.com

New YWCA leader a force, not a figurehead By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer Luz María Frias, president-CEO of YWCA Minneapolis, employs inclusion and empowerment as critical watchwords, not a p.c. catchphrase. This, it goes without saying, is vital versus Minnesota Nice’s manner of affording social progress perfunctory lip service while resolutely sustaining the status quo. Within six months of Frias’ arrival at the YW in December 2016, among operational upgrades was promoting Jacqueline Lloyd Cunningham from directing marketing to vice president of marketing and communications. “Given her experience, it was imperative to ensure our leadership team reflected [diversity],” Cunningham states. “I’m honored to work for an organization whose mission is so aligned with who I am as a person and the contributions I hope to make. Every day, I experience mission moments that further connect me to our work. Partnering with my team to share the stories of the lives we impact, and inspiring

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer

E Preschoolers at the recent YWCA Black History Festival recited an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Photo by Lou Michaels the community to support our mission, is some of the most rewarding work I’ve done.” The team includes Annie Porbeni, Ph. D, vice president of human resources, hailing from Nigeria; from Sri Lanka, Ramya Rauf, chief financial officer, named 2017 CFO of the Year by Mpls St. Paul Business Journal; and Rubén Vázquez, vice president of racial

justice and public policy, who is from Mexico. Frias underscores, “It is about seeing and recognizing talent, not being limited by what has been done in the past.” Currently, 50 percent of the YWCA senior leadership team is of color, as is 45 percent of all staff and 41 ■ See ymCa on page 8

County Board candidate says she brings a new bottom-up perspective

Angela Conley, candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner Photo courtesy of VoteConley.com

Angela Conley stands as proof positive that there’s none so qualified to effect a solution than she who is herself impacted by the problem. When Conley speaks to resolving issues in her candidacy for Hennepin County Commissioner, District 4, it is from vast, hands-on experience. Native to South Minneapolis, Conley went from receiving public assistance as an underemployed single mom to pulling down a paycheck as a financial worker at Hennepin County Human Services. Eventually, she earned an undergraduate degree

Who’s at the table when decisions are made?

Too often they do not reflect the communities affected

Out of the trenches and into the race

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer

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

THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934

from St. Catherine University in social work.

asking myself what is it that we, servants of the public, can do, are doing, and are not doing to advance key principles of social justice advocacy.” She got her master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University and now works as the Minnesota Family Investment Program operations coordinator. She was also appointed to the Hennepin County Adult Mental Health local advisory council. “This allows me to look at adult mental health through the lens of employment as a tool for wellness and a key connection to community for people living with mental illness. “As part of this council,” Conley continues, “I am able to work with my peers, providers and consumers on identifying needs that have gone unmet in service delivery. Our council prioritizes these needs for consideration in the County Board’s proposed budget, and we advocate on behalf of adults who live with men-

how to make it right. MSR: There are quite a few sisters running for office these days. AC: There are! It’s about time. Black women are capable and have been in leadership roles in our community for years. For many years, we have been using our power to fight back against social injustices. We have participated in protests; we have done what we could in our workplaces to address inequities. The power we have within our community can be transferred to an elected office. The background Black women bring is imperative, and quite desperately needed. MSR: Why? AC: We are living in a time where we face unprecedented disparities. In order to make progress on reducing those, we need us in positions to make change. The experts to inform policy are people who are living the experiences. Working within County and State government

lected representatives at all levels of government in this country — from mayors on up — do not reflect the country’s population. A recent symposium examined what this means for those whose voices are not being heard. In 2014, the Women Donors Network (WDN) created the Reflective Democracy Campaign to show “who holds power and who is excluded at every level of government,” according to a fact sheet provided by the organization. WDN also devised a National Representation Index to measure political power by race and gender, comparing the demographics of states’ populations and their elected officials. WDN used a percentage breakdown to illustrate the nation’s population: 30 percent White men, 32 percent White women, 19 percent women of color and 19 percent men of color. A comparable breakdown of elected officials shows that 65 percent are White men, 25 percent White women, seven percent men of color and four percent women of color. Minnesota’s population is 41 percent White males, 41 percent White women, nine percent men of color and nine percent women of color. Our state elected officials, however, are 76 percent White men, 21 percent White women, two percent men of color and one percent women of color.

Mayor Melvin Carter, keynote speaker at Sayles Belton Policy Symposium The need to increase people of color in elected offices was among several topics discussed at the Sharon Sayles Belton Policy Symposium on February 23, an event hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Sayles Belton, who was Minneapolis’ first Black mayor from 1994 to 2001, also spoke at the event. Dianne Pinderhughes, chair of both the Political Science and Africana Studies departments at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, told the MSR, “I think it is important” to have a person of color in elected office with strong ties to the community and its interest at heart. Pinderhughes co-authored Race, Gender, and the Changing Face of Political Leadership in 21st Century America. St. Paul’s Mayor Melvin Carter III, the symposium’s keynote speaker, told the participants, “I am a product

■ See DeCisionmakers on page 8

“The background Black women bring is imperative and quite desperately needed.” “My motivation for studying social work,” she states, “was witnessing the needs of my community go unmet and wanting to work for society to make it better, which is the foundation of social work practice. The most important thing that I learned during my studies is that there are people in our neighborhoods who are one paycheck away from homelessness, one sick day away from unemployment, and

tal illness and their families.” She adds, “I am proud to serve as the president of Bryant Neighborhood Organization where I can listen to my neighbors, build community, and take the lead on neighborhood priorities.” Angela Conley (AC) visited Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder for an in-depth conversation regarding how she sees what is wrong with the County’s current practice of serving the public and

for almost 20 years, within social services and employment and training, I also bring a lived experience of going through the process of receiving County assistance to help support my family. I want to change that experience for other families. MSR: Care to expound? AC: Hennepin County is a very large level of government managing everything from the roads ■ See Conley on page 8

Dianne Pinderhughes

Photos by Charles Hallman

CORRECTION Last week we incorrectly gave the name Council Member Jeremiah Cunningham. The correct name is Jeremiah Ellison.

Northside Market gets government attention

Sen. Smith encouraged by inclusive vision for store an elated Smith. “They think community engagement means [that] we’re going North Minneapolis has “a nutrition- to do a lot of internal thinking, then we al gap” that has been getting more atten- will show that to our community and tion recently. With Appetite for Change, hope they buy in.” Green Garden Bakery and Kindred Kitchen, there is now a market that has healthy food with a deli and bakery, fresh produce and daily cooked meat. North Market also addresses health services and concerns. On February 10, Senator Tina Smith The organic grocery store is just a few (D-Minn.), a member of the Senate Health Committee, visited North Mar- blocks from Hamilton Manor, a senior ket, an innovative North Minneapolis housing complex on 44th Avenue. Some grocery store that opened in December years ago, Metro Mobility provided bus 2017. The store supplies the local com- services to Cub Food (some three miles munity with access to food and much- away on Broadway), but that service was needed health and wellness services. cut due to lack of funding. Asked how the project came about, The venture includes partnerships with Adair Mosely, president and CEO of North Memorial Health System. “What you do automatically is what Pillsbury Communities, stated it origsome organizations fail to grasp,” said inated in an entirely different projBy Ivan B. Phifer Contributing Writer

ect. “We were actually trying to solve a whole different problem. We were talking about WIC (Women Infants & Children). [But] working with the community, what we found was folks had barriers

“If you don’t believe you can make that transformational change, then you for sure won’t make it.” in access to food.” Mosley gave the senator a tour of the grocery store. She wanted to gain a perspective of innovative tactics to take back to D.C.. Smith pointed out that the investment was a smart move with Mosely seeing an investment where others haven’t. “What is beautiful about this is, according to marketing analysis, ■ See market on page 8

Sen. Tina Smith and Adair Mosely, Pillsbury Communities, tour the store. Photo by Lou Michaels

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March 1-7, 2018

Networking with a sisterhood focus

Sister Spokesman keeps growing to meet Black women’s needs and interests

Sister Spokesman cultivates networking with a sisterhood focus. By Jonika Stowes Contributing Writer

H

igh praise comes from Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Publisher and CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard when speaking about the Medtronic Foundation, crediting Jacob Gale, the foundation’s vice president of philanthropy, with making a strong effort to support communities of color. The Spokesman-Recorder nonprofit has benefited from Foundation support over the years, especially its Annual Graduation Celebration and its Sister Spokesman program. Now in its 13th year, Sister Spokesman was the brainchild of WilliamsDillard and Theresa Upton, who at the time worked for American Family Insurance as a marketing manager. The two met through business affairs and noticed that when Minnesota corporations hired people of color to key positions, they often wouldn’t stay. To address the issue, the two looked at how to help corporations be more diverse and keep people of color. Williams-Dillard and Upton believed that the answer was in building a support system of women professionals. “We really wanted it to be

about Black women just coming together, getting to know one another, being in a relaxed environment and having a good time,’ says Williams-Dillard. “We wanted to create an environment where women would feel like they were among friends and a sisterhood network to help them connect to their community and would make them stay here in Minnesota.

Black professional woman, doing business compatible with Sister Spokesman’s mission. She was a beacon.” Thereafter, Arnellia’s Nightclub became a frequent venue host where crowds sometimes overflowed the monthly Saturday event. In an effort “to go where the sisters are,” in WilliamsDillard’s words, Sister Spokesman has rotated among a range of venues includ-

“We wanted to do something that made connections to the community and got people involved in doing good things. We finally came up with Sister Spokesman.” Upton says, “We wanted to do something that made connections to the community and got people involved in doing good things. We finally came up with Sister Spokesman.” Arnellia’s Nightclub owner Arnellia Allen, who passed in December 2017, was the opening honoree for Sister Spokesman, the venue being the Press Box in downtown Minneapolis. “That was the place that we recognized Allen,” says Williams-Dillard. “She was our first sister that we recognized as a

ing the Minneapolis Urban League, Sabathani Community Center, Arnellia’s, the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minneapolis Women’s Club, Hallie Q. Brown and the Minnesota Café. Since Sister Spokesman’s creation, the focus has shifted from reaching primarily the professional Black woman to reaching Black women in the community as a whole. In recent years it has grown into an opportunity for women to socialize with a wide range of other women regardless of occupation –

Stay Warm. Stay Safe. Stay Connected. Don’t Get DisconnecteD! enerGy AssistAnce cAn Help. Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County’s Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance to eligible Hennepin County residents, to help with home utility costs. NEED HELP?

Energy Assistance Program offices are now open in St. Louis Park and 3 Minneapolis locations: Minnesota Council of Churches, Sabathani Community Center and Minneapolis Urban League

To apply, call 952-930-3541 E-mail eap@caphennepin.org or text 4WARMTH to 555888 www.caphennepin.org facebook.com/caphennepin

A program of Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County, sponsored by: The Minnesota Department of Commerce & The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

whether blue collar worker, homemak- tunity to learn how to trade in the forer, professional or entrepreneur, young eign exchange market, and how to start or old, Sister Spokesman has become an their own business between networkall-inclusive women’s meeting place. ing and the trade market. Although Sister Spokesman origiLeticia Alvarez, Williams-Dillard’s nated with a sisterhood focus, it has al- daughter, is heavily involved with Sisso grown to include events where men ter Spokesman and sees the good that it are included, such as the Legacy Boat does in the community for Black womCruise held in August, a major Sister en. Alvarez closely monitors the proSpokesman fundraiser now in its fourth gram’s online presence: “Anytime she year. Men are welcomed to an annual sees us online and in line with what the event in December where mothers are young folks are thinking and doing, she honored. [Alvarez] gives us the thumbs-up.” Just as most business ideas never stay Says Williams-Dillard, “It’s compathe same from conception to realization, nies like Medtronic Foundation that get so has Sister Spokesman increasingly behind initiatives like Sister Spokesman grown into an opportunity for women and our Annual Graduation Celebrato learn about and develop small busi- tion that help make community-based nesses, getting advice from panel pro- programs as successful as ours have befessionals, shopping small business come over the years. Our success deowners, checking on health, providing pends on the support of people who befitness sessions, and giving new entre- lieve and put their money behind what preneurs encouragement and exposure. they believe.” Mo’s Fitness and Built for Wealth are two examples of smaller companies that Jonika Stowes welcomes reader responses have benefited from Sister Spokesman’s to jstowes@spokesman-recorder.com. Small Business Showcase held October 2017. Monique Adams started her company, Mo’s Fitness, a year ago after creating a waist trainer and losing 69 pounds through changing her meals and exercise from December to March. Her company is called Mo’s Fitness which focuses on the overall body and health, but what her company is best known for is trimming the stomach area via her products. With Sister Spokesman serving as her first vendor venue last year, Adams has since gained the confidence to attend four other venues as a business vendor. Rochelle Zanders has a small business called Built for Wealth Founder Tracey Williams-Dillard at a recent that she uses as a side income. Zan- event with panelist Nicole Pillow ders says, “It gives people an opporPhotos by Steve Floyd

We already know that poverty is a math problem. So, what else is it? Growing up poor can lead to lifelong emotional problems Aber, and clinical psychologist and education expert Hirokazu Yoshikawa. Published in American Psychologist, their report titled “The Effects of Poverty on the Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health of Children and Youth: ImpliChronic stress, which is experienced by cations for Prevention” begins by stating many poor children, can be devastating since that “the effects of poverty are cumulaThe Antithe hippocampus (part of the temporal lobe of tive; consequences at one stage in a child’s Poverty the brain that regulates emotional responses) is development can hinder development at Soldier critical in the formation of memory and spatial a later stage.” by awareness. – Arthur Dobrin They also note that poverty is a “famiDr. Clarence ly experience” and that in addition to ecoHightower Fourth in a six-part series nomic hardship, additional circumstances including parental stress, relational In the previous installment of this series, I fo- conflict, limited neighborhood resources such as accused on the recent flood of research from scholars, cess to quality education and health care, and othscientists, journalists and others with regard to the er environmental factors are critical to the mental, psychological effects of poverty. And though not yet emotional, and behavioral health of developing chilas broad as the psychological investigations, science dren. is also exploring the emotional impact that living in Rather poignantly, the authors also compare the poverty has on individuals and families. aforementioned “mechanisms” that influence emoOne might inquire, as did I, as to the difference tional health to what they call “moderators” which between “psychological” versus “emotional” effects. can either improve or exacerbate emotional issues Through a bit of my own research, including look- in children. Among these is the “policy context,” ing into the works of Hungarian-Canadian endocri- which speaks to how the larger society directly renologist Hans Seyle and American author and stress sponds to the needs of those experiencing poverty. management expert James Porter, I believe that perThey don’t shy away at all from the issue of race, haps the best way to explain the distinction is that writing that “To the extent that marginalized ethnic, the psychological stress affects our thinking and de- racial, or indigenous groups are more likely to be excision-making process, while emotional stressors af- posed to multiple forms of discrimination beyond fect our mood and behavior. the economic, children in such groups may encounSome suggest that there isn’t much of difference ter greater risk as a result of their family poverty staother than semantics, and others even contend that tus due to correlated higher levels of discriminapsychological and emotional stress, while technical- tion.” ly different, are often so interrelated (coupled with Yet in between all of the science, which is crititheir ability to induce physical stress) that the dis- cal to understanding the emotional development tinction is trivial. For example, wouldn’t someone of our kids, the bottom line is that poor children are who suffers from severe depression have both psy- at much greater risk for emotional problems, which chological and emotional (and quite likely physical) can follow them throughout their entire life. With symptoms associated with their diagnosis? that fact in mind, the authors identify a number of I am not a social scientist, nor do I have much prevention strategies ranging from early childhood knowledge in this particular arena, so I do not in- interventions, childhood allowances and tax credtend to weigh in on this debate. What I am interested its, educational supports, income supplement proin are some of the new studies that cite the link be- grams and human capital interventions, in-kind tween poverty and emotional health, particularly as support policies, and other programs that are provit relates to children. en to reduce poverty. When studying the psychological effects of povWhy would we deprive our children of such reerty on young children, researchers are primarily sources? There is far too much at stake. We must not honing in on issues of cognitive development. By continue to fail our younger generations. contrast, when focusing on the emotional development of poor children, scientists are interested in anClarence Hightower is the executive director of Comalyzing how kids express themselves and relate to munity Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington the world around them. Counties. Dr. Hightower holds a Ph.D. in urban higher edAmong the most comprehensive studies in ucation from Jackson State University. He welcomes readthis area comes from child psychiatrist William R. er responses to 450 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, MN Beardslee, developmental psychologist J. Lawrence 55104 To grow up in poverty can have a lasting impact on a child. What is less understood is how it affects the early relationships that shape a child’s social and emotional growth. – Abby C. Winer and Ross A. Thompson

March 1-7, 2018

Melasma: a common, disturbing and challenging condition to treat

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD What is melasma? Melasma is a condition where one develops dark brown patches on the forehead, upper lip, nose and cheeks. It can also occur, rarely, on the forearms and neck. Melasma is very common. Skin discoloration of the face can be very upsetting and can lower self-esteem. I see patients every day in my dermatology clinic with melasma being the sole reason for their visit. Melasma is a condition that occurs in both men and women. Ninety percent of melasma cases occur in women and about 10 percent of cases will occur in men. It is estimated that melasma affects 10-25 percent of women and two to five percent of men. Melasma is seen in all skin colors, but it is observed more frequently in persons of color. Melasma can occur after pregnancy or after the use of birth-control pills, prescribed hormones, or, rarely, other medications. I consider melasma to be a very rapid, uneven suntan. Melasma is caused by a combination of genetics, hormone exposure (like pregnancy or birth-control pills or certain medications), and sun ex-

posure. Emerging research has also shown that melasma can be caused by (excessive) heat exposure. This heat exposure can be from cooking, relaxing in a sauna, or just sitting in the direct sun (with sunscreen on) or being outdoors during periods of extreme heat. The cells in the skin that produce color are named melanocytes. As a result of sun or heat exposure, melanocytes residing in the forehead, cheeks and upper lip can become sensitized and release pigment granules (called melanin) that rapidly darken the skin. Melanin acts like an umbrella to protect the skin from additional sun exposure and damage. The darkening of skin from sun exposure results in what we commonly call a suntan. If you think about it, a suntan is a direct result of ultraviolet damage to your skin. This is why I tell my patients that I view melasma as a rapid, uneven suntan. “Chloasma” is the old term for the dark patches that occur after pregnancy; some call it “the mask of pregnancy.” The term melasma is now most commonly used instead of chloasma. How is melasma diagnosed? Melasma is diagnosed by a physician after examining the patient’s skin and reviewing the patient’s medical history, including past pregnancies, medication history, and the timing and location of the dark patches. There is a very rare birthmark (called bilateral nevus of Ota) that can look and act like melasma. In cases where the diagnosis of melasma is in question or if the area diagnosed as melasma is entirely resistant to treatment, a skin biopsy of the involved area may be needed to confirm or explore other diagnoses.

Can melasma be prevented? Knowing if one’s family history indicates a predisposition for the condition and, as always, implementing proper sun protection are essential. As mentioned earlier, avoidance of heat exposure is vital in preventing melasma. This means minimizing heat exposure when cooking or avoiding prolonged exposure to extreme heat outdoors or any activity that exposes one to significantly high temperatures, such as a sauna. As far as sun protection, I recommend a sunscreen that is labeled broad-spectrum Ultraviolet protection and an SPF rating of 30. Sunscreens must be applied 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and then reapplied every one to two hours, and more frequently if either perspiring or swimming. How is melasma treated? Melasma is notoriously difficult to treat. In my experience, 25 percent of the time, even with our very best heroic efforts, we cannot successfully

Grants address disparities in African American births

$1.3 million in Human Services grants aims to enhance prenatal care

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recently awarded more than $1.3 million in grants to help enhance prenatal clinical services and reduce significant health disparities in birth outcomes for African Americans. The Integrated Care for High-Risk Pregnancies (ICHRP) pilot program aims to address significantly elevated rates of babies born with low birth weights to African Americans in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Grants totaling $1,334,000 went to the following organizations: • The African American Babies Coalition and Projects, St. Paul, $534,000; • Ramsey County Care Collaborative made up of Open Cities, West Side Community Health Services and United Family Medicine, $350,000; and • NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center Inc., a multi-specialty agency in North Minneapolis, $450,000. The funding will support enhanced prenatal services and promote babies’ healthy development, with the goal of improving

overall birth outcomes for African Americans in the Twin Cities area. Although Minnesota as a whole has some of the nation’s lowest rates of prematurity, low birth weights and infant mortality, disparities among African Americans and American Indians for these indicators are among the highest nationally, compared to the White population. “African American babies in Minnesota face substantially worse birth outcomes,” said Assistant Commissioner Nathan Moracco. “Through the Integrated Care for High-Risk Pregnancies initiative, we are supporting and funding the work our partners are doing to make sure Minnesota babies are born healthy.” Prematurity and low birth weight are strongly associated with social and behavioral risks. Infants with low birth weights (less than 2,500 grams, or about 5.5 pounds) are at substantially higher risk of dying during their first year. Although not all causes of low birth weight are understood, it is well accepted that addressing mothers’ needs during pregnancy and providing early access to quality prenatal care reduces the risk for low birth weight. Integrated prenatal care that links assessment of those risks with communitysupported risk reduction interventions has been shown to improve these outcomes. In Medical Assistance, Minnesota’s Medicaid program, the low birth weight rate is about 13 percent for African Americans and eight percent for Whites. About eight in 10 births to African Americans in Minnesota are covered by Medical Assistance, compared to about 43 percent of Minnesota births overall. Grant award contracts were signed in November 2017 for work to be completed by April 2019. DHS will report the results of the pilot program to the legislature and make recommendations for future action.

treat melasma to the patient’s satisfaction. Fortunately, 75 percent of the time treatments can make a difference. I use topical medicines either independently or use a combination of them, including hydroquinone, retinol, Kojic acid, anti-inflammatories preparations and vitamin C. In addition to these measures, alpha-hydroxy acid chemical peels, deep arbutin peels, a series of HydroFacial-infusion peels, platelet rich plasma treatments, and the use of a specialized lasers can be helpful. In a minority of cases, the removal of the causative hormone (birth-control pills) may improve the condition. In the majority of cases of melasma, treatment becomes a lifelong battle. Sometimes, based on a patient’s genetics, the cells that produce color (melanocytes) deposit melanin pigment deep in the skin. The treatments described above can only penetrate so far and may not reach deeply enough for good results in these cases. I caution patients that the treatment of melasma can be extraordinarily complicated, and I don’t want a goal of “perfection” to ruin the reality of “very good” results. Additionally, if we are fortunate enough to successfully treat melasma, without continual and ongoing meticulous sun protection and heat avoidance the melasma can return. In fact, even the amount of sun that touches the skin walking from a car to a store on a cloudy day is enough to trigger the reappearance of melasma in some people! Ultraviolet lights in buildings and the sun exposure while riding in a car can also be culprits. I tell patients that the treatment of melasma, without sun and heat protection, is like try-

ing to walk up an escalator that is going down. It will be very difficult to make any progress without heat and sun protection. Action steps for melasma treatment • Do not use brightening products purchased at cultural stores that contains clobetasol or other metallic ingredients to lighten the skin. These are both inappropriate and dangerous. • Talk to your pharmacist about over-the-counter cream treatment options. • If over-the-counter medications don’t work, see a board-certified dermatologist for other treatment options. • Medications that contain the lightening agent hydroquinone can only be used for a short period. Hydroquinone has the odd side effect (called exogenous ochronosis) that actually causes the skin to become darker if used for too long. Your dermatologist can recommend the appropriate amount of time to use hydroquinone before needing a break. • Most importantly, if melasma is successfully treated, appropriate sunscreen and heat avoidance must be used meticulously, for a lifetime, to manage this chronic condition and prevent the recurrence of melasma. Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine and one of the top 21 African American physicians in the U.S. by the Atlanta Post. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians, MABP.org.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT:

MENTAL HEALTH MAR. 3, 2018 • 12-4

Join us at Sister Spokesman as our panel of experts talk about mental health, indicators of depression and where to look for support and treatment. You are not alone!

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4 March 1-7, 2018

GET MORE HEAT FROM YOUR FIREPLACE: TIPS FOR EFFICIENCY

Photo by Nathan Fertig, Unsplash A charming old fireplace may seem warm and cozy on a Minnesota winter evening. But the reality is it likely loses more heat than it gives off.

Traditional open masonry fireplaces are not very effective for heating. A home’s warm air gets sucked up the chimney, replaced by cold air leaking in. In fact, as a fire dies down, more heat is drawn up the chimney than the fire creates. Reduced airflow can also lead to back-drafting of flue gases and smoke into the living space. You can save heat, money and even lives by making sure all the components of your fireplace and chimney function efficiently and safely. Regular inspections will help prevent carbon monoxide intrusion, chimney fires or costly repairs. An annual chimney inspection performed by a qualified professional is recommended by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and fire safety organizations, including the National Fire Protection Association. The following tips will improve the operation and safety of your fireplace while reducing your energy losses: Seal the flue damper. To test the damper’s seal, close the flue, light a small piece of paper and watch the smoke. If smoke quickly goes up the flue, there is an air leak. Seal around the damper assembly with refractory cement, but don’t seal the damper closed.

Install tight-fitting glass doors or an airtight fireplace insert unit. Controlling the airflow in your fireplace improves combustion efficiency by 10 to 20 percent and reduces air leaks up the chimney. Use an inflatable “chimney balloon” in seldom-used fireplaces. A properly installed balloon will significantly reduce heat loss through the flue. Ensure fresh air supply. Many fireplaces and stoves have a source of fresh air to aid in combustion. In fact, it is required for most new installations to prevent back-drafting and poor performance of furnaces, water heaters and exhaust fans. Fresh air supplies should have a well-sealed damper to prevent air leakage when not in use. Caulk or spray foam the joint where a brick or stone chimney meets the wall or ceiling to prevent unwanted airflow. For more information on fireplace efficiency and safety, check out the Wood and Pellet Heating section of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver webpage www.energy.gov/energysaver. —Information provided by U.S. Department of Energy

Labeling GMOs allows consumers to avoid them By Doug Moss & Roddy Scheer Contributing Writers Unless you only buy foods that are certified organic or marked as “GMOfree,” odds are that a great deal of the food you eat contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). But are you risking your health and damaging the environment by eating GMOs? Not according to Monsanto, the agricultural biotechnologies company that is a leading producer of GM seed. Monsanto contends that GMOs are safe to eat and that seeds with GM traits have been tested more than any other crops in the history of agriculture — with no credible evidence of harm to humans or animals. The company also points to studies that have positively assessed the safety

of GMOs, including the 2010 European Commission report summarizing the results of 50 research projects addressing the safety of GMOs for the environment as well as for animal and human health. In announcing the report, the commission stated that “there is, as of today, no scientific evidence associating GMOs with higher risks for the environment or for food and feed safety than conventional plants.” Of course, not everyone agrees. According to the nonprofit Non-GMO Project, genetically modified crops and food items can contaminate conventional crops and foods through cross-pollination and/or contamination. Also, since many GM crops are designed to be immune to herbicides and pesticides, farmers have increased their use of var-

ious weed and bug-killing chemicals to keep competition for their cash crops at bay. The resulting overuse of these chemicals has led to a rapid evolution of “super weeds” and “super bugs” that can quickly take over unmaintained or wild lands. Given the prevalence of GMOs in our food supply already, the nonprofit Just Label It asserts that labeling everything that contains GMOs would be a start, so at least consumers can choose on their own what they put in their bodies. Some 64 countries around the world — including China, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Russia and 28 nations in the European Union — currently require labeling on foods created with GMOs. Just Label It is one of many activist voices calling on the United States to follow suit.

The group has created an online petition so everyday Americans can let the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) know that they have the right to know what’s in their food, especially when it comes to GMOs. But until we have federal rules in place requiring labeling, concerned consumers will have to take matters into their own hands when it comes to ferreting out the GMO content of what they eat. Luckily the Non-GMO Project is helping make it easier by offering verified products the opportunity to display its “Non-GMO” symbol on their labels. Currently the group has verified some 35,000 food products across 1,900 different brands commonly available on U.S. store shelves as GMO-free, representing annual sales topping $13.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Whole Foods has stepped up its support of GMO labeling by instituting a new policy of “full GMO transparency” in all of its North American. Beyond just labeling, though, Whole Foods is also working with many of its suppliers to transition to ingredients from non-GMO sources altogether. Activists hope that this leadership will trickle down to mainstream grocers as well. Thanks to EarthTalk, produced by Doug Moss & Roddy Scheer, for sharing this article with us. For more information go to www.earthtalk.org.

Stay green when you clean Spring cleaning season is right around the corner. Stay green when you clean: learn about household hazardous waste — found in many household products — and ways to reduce it while keeping your home safe and clean. What is household hazardous waste? Some products we have in our homes contain hazardous materials that can harm our health or the environment if not disposed of safely. This includes unwanted chemical products that are flammable, toxic or dangerous when combined with other products. So, what products are hazardous in my home? Common household hazardous waste materials include: • Automotive fluids: antifreeze, carburetor cleaner, brake and transmission fluid, degreasers, fuels and oil • Household, lawn and garden products: cleaning products, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, paints, stains and thinners, pesticides and herbicides • Personal care products: hair spray, nail polish remover, perfume • According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only a fraction of registered products have gone through complete testing for human health concerns. You can protect your health by identifying and reducing hazardous materials in your home, storing them safely and properly disposing of them.

• • • • • •

Store products that say “prevent freezing” (such as latex paint) indoors. Never mix chemicals together (such as bleach and ammonia). Keep products away from heat, sparks, flames or other sources of ignition. Only buy the amount of product you will use. Keep products in their original containers and make sure you can read the label. For long-term storage, place waterproof transparent tape over product labels to prevent them from falling off.

Dispose of household hazardous waste properly Residents can dispose of hazardous waste year-round at Hennepin County’s drop-off facilities in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington. See what materials are accepted at www.hennepin.us/dropoffs. Hennepin County also hosts hazardous waste collection events in various cities throughout the county each year. You can find upcoming collection events at www.hennepin.us/collectionevents. Some hardware stores and electronics retailers also accept certain hazardous wastes, including electronics and fluorescent light bulbs. For more detailed information about disposal options for household hazardous waste, visit www.hennepin.us/greendisposalguide or call 612-348-3777. Do not place any household hazardous waste materials in the trash.

Identify harmful products in your home Federal law requires the labeling of hazardous products by using these signal words that you can use to determine how hazardous a product is. Look for these signal words on labels when you are cleaning and getting rid of unused or unwanted products. Signal word “caution” — hazard level: mild/moderate Signal word “warning” — hazard level: moderate hazard Signal word “danger” — hazard level: extremely flammable, corrosive or highly toxic Signal word “poison” — hazard level: highly toxic

Tips for reducing household hazardous waste: • Avoid buying hazardous products. Look for non-toxic alternatives, such as vinegar or baking soda for cleaning. • Avoid chemical pesticides and herbicides. • Avoid using aerosol containers because they contain high pressure that can be explosive. Use pump sprays, refillables or liquid concentrates instead. • Use mercury-free thermometers such as alcohol or digital ones. Take mercury thermometers to a hazardous waste collection site.

If you have hazardous products that you need to keep, use the following tips for storing hazardous products safely in your home: • Keep products out of reach of children and animals. • Store all hazardous products on high shelves or in locked cabinets away from food.

Make your own green cleaner You can also protect your health and the health of your family, pets and the environment by making your own cleaning products with simple, less-toxic ingredients. For an all-purpose cleaner for use around your home, add one-fourth cup white vinegar to a

go green!

Photo courtesy of MGNonline 16 ounce spray bottle and fill with water. Add one one-half cup anti-bacterial liquid dish soap last. Add lemon juice if desired. Find additional green cleaning recipes and tips for making your own cleaner with Hennepin County’s Green Cleaning recipes guide. Learn more about household hazardous waste by ordering Hennepin County’s How to Identify and Reduce Hazardous Chemicals in Your Home brochure. Contact environment@hennepin.us or 612-348-3777 with

questions or for additional information about household hazardous waste. —Information provided by Hennepin County Environment and Energy, Environmental Education & Outreach.

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March 1-7, 2018

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The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes and values commentary and feedback from the community. The articles found here are edited for clarity and/or space, but the opinions are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of the MSR.

Lerone Bennett, Jr. remembered Before the Mayflower author, freedom-fighting journalist dies at 89

By Stacy M. Brown Contributing Commentator

America, guns and death: 17 die in Florida THROUGH MY EYES

The Minneapolis Story Continues By Ron Edwards Contributing Commentator

The instrument that first shaped this nation and guaranteed its power was not the Constitution it was gunpowder. Chinese black powder to guns was inevitable. Europeans used it first but it is not the inventions that are bad, it is the people who put them to bad use. Democrats and Republicans must not dismiss that guns and gunpowder backed the building of this nation (and now, in turn, its defend). Neither Republicans nor Democrats, neither religious, nor educational, nor political institutions have been willing to break away from the bad use of guns. Parkland, Florida, as with Las Vegas, is another American tragedy caused by an individual with guns. Will we again just talk about school shootings? Why are the powerful institutions of this country not willing to do more, including big government, big corporations, big sports and entertainment, big labor, or big non-profits like the NRA? The NRA gave $30 mil-

lion to the Trump campaign. As this country’s school students protest gun violence, will they learn what their ancestors learned about the tragedies of guns and gunpowder? Will they learn that they can be powerful and persuasive and overcome sinister evil, if they can persuade their parents and neighbors to step forward to demand positive action from government and corporate leaders to achieve safe schools? As this newspaper headlined on February 15, we must model the wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr., and act on his advocacy of non-violent civil disobedience. We need role models to show others how to, as Dr. King said, “overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.” We can break away from the power of the gun and gunpowder, if institutions will be honest. There have been too many speakers of the House of Representatives, too many senate majority leaders, and too many presidents (not to mention governors and state legislators), who have purposefully passed up chances to make a difference, and keep kicking the can

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of chances down the road. Democrats and Republicans receive millions in contributions from gun and munitions lobbies, and ignore the calls for change, as well as ignore deeper cultural issues such as the glorification of violence, mental health issues, the disparagement of family and fathers and fatherless boys (whether due to divorce, death, imprisonment or abandonment). Doing nothing enables more shootings by refusing to effectively enhance school security across the country, whether in Florida, Texas, South Carolina or California. We need to signal our collective conscience and put action with our talk to connect and work together. Social science data demonstrates the links to school shootings. Let’s unhook the links with both action and words. Stay tuned. Ron hosts radio and TV shows. To read his solutions papers, books, and archives, go to www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.

Perhaps no other voice — or pen — captured the real life of Africans and African Americans like Lerone Bennett, Jr., the former editor of Ebony and Jet magazines who died on Wednesday, February 14 at the age of 89. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Bennett suffered from vascular dementia. Among his many hard-hitting and compelling works was the exposé, Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America, in which Bennett traces Black history from its origins in western Africa, through the transatlantic journey and slavery, the Reconstruction period, the Jim Crow era, and the Civil Rights Movement. The book was later re-issued five more times and ultimately included life in the 1990s. Bennett would go on to pen at least 10 books, including the eye-opening, 2000 book titled Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln’s White Dream, which, for some, shattered centuries-old myths about America’s 16th president’s involvement in the freedom of slaves. A description of the book on Amazon.com said: “Beginning with the argument that the Emancipation Proclamation did not actually free African American slaves, this dissenting view of Lincoln’s greatness surveys the president’s policies, speeches, and private utterances and concludes that he had little real interest in abolition.” Pointing to Lincoln’s support for the fugitive slave laws, his friendship with slave-owning Senator Henry Clay, and conversations in which he entertained the idea of deporting slaves in order to create an all-White nation, the book concludes that the president was a racist at heart — — and that the tragedies of Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era were the legacy of his shallow moral vision. “Smart man and great author. His book [about Lincoln] changed my life,” said comedian Sinbad. Before the Mayflower educated me about the need to research our true history.” Others, too, expressed their sadness and profound gratitude for Bennett. “I am personally saddened by the death of Lerone Bennett Jr. We have lost another great journalist who will be sorely missed,” said Dorothy R. Leavell, the chairman of the NNPA and editor and publisher of the Crusader newspapers in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana. “We knew him as the conscience and voice of Ebony and Jet magazines and through the many books he published. The world is richer, because of his work here on earth and we are grateful for his many contributions.” Bennett counted as an elegant scholar and freedom fighter who used the power of his pen to awaken millions of people to the true history of African people in America and throughout the world, said NNPA president and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

“Bennett’s journalistic genius will be missed, but his contributions to documenting the struggles and triumphs of Black men, women and children will continue to be cherished by generations far into the future,” Chavis said. “The NNPA salutes the living legacy of Lerone Bennett Jr. with a commitment to pick up his pen and put it into the hands of today’s freedom fighting publishers, editors and journalists.” Bennett worked for Ebony for nearly 50 years, after starting at Jet in 1951 and then moving to the sister publication in 1953. By 1958, he was the executive editor. “Lerone worked side by side with my father in establishing Ebony’s voice,” Ebony CEO Linda Johnson Rice told the Chicago Sun-Times. “He was the guiding light for the editorial vision of Ebony. Lerone was not just essential in the formation of Ebony’s historic trajectory, he was a pillar in the Black community.” The Griot reported: “In addition to being remembered as an editor for these two magazines, Bennett, a graduate of Morehouse College, is known for his books, many of which cover the Black experience in America and the Civil Rights Movement.” Bennett’s footprints are cemented at the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta and he once served on President Bill Clinton’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The veteran journalist and historian also served as an early adviser to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. In a tweet, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., praised Bennett’s work. “A classmate and biographer of Dr. King during the turbulent 60s, his was a pen that mattered. As historian, author of Before the Mayflower, editor of Ebony magazine, the most read voice of the freedom struggle, his impact will long be felt and remembered,” Jackson tweeted. From its official Twitter account, the NMAAHC (National Museum of African American History and Culture) tweeted, “it is with great sadness and profound sense of loss that we share the news of the death of Lerone Bennett Jr., a gifted historian and journalist.” On Twitter, Bernice A. King called Bennett a beloved and brilliant man. “If you haven’t read his books, I encourage you to. Even if you have, I encourage you to. Truly one of a kind historian and scholar,” King tweeted. “Grateful for what he’s meant to my family.” Thank you, Stacy M. Brown and NNPA for sharing this with us.

Revisiting Frederick Douglass By Rev. Irene Monroe Contributing Commentator Frederick Douglas is dead. Last year this time, however, President Donald J. Trump didn’t appear to know that fact. In kicking off Black History Month 2017, Trump hosted a “listening session” at the White House leaving listeners scratching their heads wondering if he knew Douglass — a self-liberated former slave turned abolitionist — died in 1895. The press looked to then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer to clarify what Trump meant regarding his comment on Douglass, but Spicer made it clear that he, too, didn’t quite know if Douglass is dead. “I think he [Trump] wants to highlight the contributions he has made. And I think through a lot of the actions and statements he’s going to make, I think that the contributions of Frederick Douglass will become more and more.” The remarks from both Trump and Spicer could have been an episode of Drunk History, a TV comedy series where an inebriated narrator fumbles recounting historical events, which illustrate why we need Black History Month and an intensive tutorial for the Trump Administration. With the election of Barack Obama as president, queries arose concerning the future need for Black History Month. Millennials, in particular, whose ballots helped to elect the country’s first African American president, revealed celebrating Black History Month seem outdated. To them, the continuation of Black History Month is a relic tethered to an old defunct paradigm of the 1960s civil rights era and a hindrance to the country moving forward. But in 2017, Trump became president. Queries about whether or not there was a need for Black History Month died down because Trump has tweeted out insults to just about every marginalized group in the country.

Since his first year in office Trump’s display of xenophobic, misogynistic, LGBTQphobic and racist remarks, to name just a few from his laundry list of bigotries, appears to have no cutoff point. Trump’s embrace of White supremacy showed itself in his statement about Black immigrants from what he depicted as “shithole countries.” And, Trump’s removal of White supremacist groups — Ku Klux Klan, Identitarians, Identity Christianity, Neo-Nazis, and Neo-Confederates, to name a few — from a violent extremist group list put out by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) highlights the Jim Crow era Trump wants the country to time travel back to when he says “Make America Great Again.” His repugnant “blame on both sides” comment about the Charlottesville mayhem that took place last summer depicted the perpetrators as victims, too. By Trump condemning counter-protesters similarly as White supremacists and swastika-wielding thugs, many of his supporters are now more emboldened than ever before to not only contest the celebration of Black History Month, but to insist now on the celebration of White history month. If Spicer was telling the truth last year that Trump’s administration will be highlighting Douglass’s invaluable contribution to America’s history, the acknowledgement should start with Douglass’s historic speech, “What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July?” delivered on July 5, 1852, to the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society in Rochester, N.Y. In the speech Douglass stated to a country then in the throes of slavery, “Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us….This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.” Douglass’s speech then, as now, highlights the fight for Black independence and

full citizenship. It informs our understanding of race relations today because it connects with contemporary themes of class and gender issues, economic disparity and the prison industrial complex, to list a few. For many years, Boston’s Community Change, Inc. Library on Racism held an annual public event called “Reading Frederick Douglass.” At this participatory reading, people took turns reading aloud parts of Douglass’s 4th of July speech. The website explains why that particular speech, “Reading Frederick Douglass,” causes us to think in new ways about our nation’s history, affords opportunities to open up discourse about race relations and citizenship (especially immediately before or after the speech), and raises awareness of the role slavery and race continue to play in our history and national discourse.” In 2012, the Federation of State Humanities Councils awarded “Reading Frederick Douglass” the Schwartz Prize for the best overall program. The program is now held in Vermont. Douglass’s indefatigable activism as an abolitionist helped end slavery, and the Thirteenth Amendment made it legal. But it’s important to remember his remarks about the Thirteenth Amendment as a country moving forward: “Verily, the work does not end with the abolition of slavery, but only begins.” In 1866, one year later, Frederick Douglass with other national African American leaders, met with President Andrew Jackson to advocate for Black citizens voting rights, which Johnson opposed. Black voting rights are still a struggle today. I hope Trump revisits Frederick Douglass. Rev. Irene Monroe is a Huffington Post blogger and freelance journalist.

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March 1-7, 2018

Shut up and listen: How the women of Black Panther empower young girls By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer

Your beauty becomes an asset and a way to put all of that intelligence into motion. So you’re not relying on your beauty even though you know you’re beautiful. You’re relying on the fact that you’re so intelligent you can create things and make things happen and be beautiful, too. SB: What was the most important theme you want girls to take from watching this movie? VP: The importance of understanding your own culture and the importance of

First of a four-part story My entire professional career I’ve been talking my butt off. Whether it’s giving my opinion on hot topics on the radio, interviewing guests on a current affairs program or waxing reflective about y’alls president on a TV show, my life, my job, and my passion has always been talking. Blabbing out of control. And I’ve made a pretty good living doing it. But then I went to Wakanda, the fictional African country featured in the movie Black Panther. I ain’t the same, y’all. For nearly three hours, I sat in awe, speechless and unable to find the words to express how I felt about the film. My husband Shawn kept checking to see if I was still awake, ’cause the only time I ain’t talking is when I’m asleep (though he says I find a way to talk and mumble then, too). Looking at this movie, I was proud of the strong female lead characters. I was encouraged by the overall theme of the Marvel flick. I was left spellbound by the Black excellence presented on the big screen, for all the world to see. I thought, “Well, of course, everybody needs to hear what I think about this movie!” I called the editors at the MSR because I wanted some of their space to talk, to write, to give myself another opportunity to share my opinion. This time, I wanted to reflect on the ways Black Panther influences the perception of African culture, and what it means to Black pride, our secret struggles and public pain, and the importance of family and friendships, mothers and their sons, and Black love. Oh, honey, I had a whole laundry list of what I was going to say — 10 pages of notes, in fact! Then God stopped me and I heard Him say, “Shut up and listen.” He wanted me, for once in my life, to close my mouth, and to hear from some other folks who have a different story to tell — a different perspective and take on this groundbreaking movie and the ripple effect it’s having on our society. For the next four weeks, I plan to take a deeper look at the movie Black Panther, unpacking it, pulling the layers off and gaining some insight about how the

take herself too seriously. She knew how smart she was but she didn’t have to act smart. There was a quiet grace and strength about her. She knew who she was and that’s important. SB: I went and shaved my hair off after I saw Danai Gurira’s character General Okoye in this film… VP: I loved the general. She was amazing. She didn’t need fake hair. I loved that. You don’t have to look White to be right. I can be my African woman self and be in-

“The women in this movie give our girls a vision of who they really are…”

(l-r) Dr. Verna Price (right) helps Sheletta fulfill her promise shut up and listen. Photo by Sheletta Brundidge world is being changed forever after visiting Wakanda. This week, I’m listening to Dr. Verna Cornelia Price. I call her Dr. Verna. She’s an award-winning motivational coach, best-selling author, and human potential expert. For the past 13 years, Dr. Verna has been the brains behind a program called Girls In Action. She and her band of women warriors work with at-risk girls in more than a dozen schools to motivate, mentor, and empower them. Her ultimate goal is to help these young ladies succeed in school and life. So, when I saw the women warriors of

Wakanda running the science lab and fighting bad guys, all the while looking FIERCE, I knew I had to shut up and listen to her perspective. An excerpt from my conversation with Dr. Verna (VP) appears below. SB: What did you see in this film as it relates to young African and African American girls? VP: I saw beauty and intelligence and what happens when those two combine. When you understand your intelligence, you understand that you can change things and your beauty becomes NOT your leading role.

what your culture holds for you as an African or African American girl. Often our girls do not fully understand who they are and from whence they have come. The women in this movie give our girls a vision of who they really are, which is incredibly beautiful, intelligent women who have a strong culture and a strong people and they can stand up on their own. SB: I gotta admit, and I’m ashamed, but I thought Letitia Wright’s character Shuri was a lab assistant. I spent half the movie waiting for the smart guy who runs the lab to come back from vacation. But this was her lab and she was running it. VP: What I loved about it is that she owned the role. She didn’t wait for someone to tell her what to do or show her what to do, she understood that the lab was hers and she knew how to work it. People were relying on her to know what to do and how to use that technology. The entire country was built on that technology and here she was running it. But more important than that, she didn’t

The marvelous women of Marvel’s Black Panther : (l-r) Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira Courtesy of Marvel/Disney

credibly beautiful and intelligent. I want our girls to take off all the stuff: the fake hair, the fake eyelashes. Just be your beautiful, intelligent, African self. SB: What do you hope girls learn about themselves after watching the Black Panther movie? VP: I want them to know they are already intelligent and creative contributors to this world. I want them to stop waiting for someone to tell them that they are okay. They need to know they are already amazing and already incredible. The universe is waiting for them to stand up and take their place in this world. I want girls to see themselves as a scientist, a general, as changing the world. I’m hoping this movie will help them see themselves at a whole other level. But the truth is, Ms. Sheletta, that is who they are. That is who they are already. It’s time for our girls to step into it. If you are a woman warrior and want to volunteer to help Dr. Verna mentor one of the more than 300 young girls in her Girls In Action program, you can reach her at 763-5355711. She’s looking for strong Black women leaders to help raise a new generation of female leaders. You can also visit her website at drvernaprice.com. Next week, I’ll be talking to Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter, whose son Melvin Carter was just elected as the first African American mayor of St. Paul. I’m gon’ shut up and listen as she explains how to raise our sons to be kings. Sheletta Brundidge welcomes reader responses to shelettab@gmail.com.

MIA exhibit reinserts African and Native Americans contributions

African Artifacts in the Charleston Dining and Drawing Room

By Nadine Matthews Contributing Writer Alex Bortelot, chief content strategist at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), explains that its Charleston Drawing and Dining Rooms, along with the 16 other interiors that the museum has on display, is “Mainly about the history of decorative arts.” Art, however, is not created in a vacuum. There are always cultural, social and political components to it. The staff at MIA are attempting to make the artifacts on display more meaningful by revealing deeper truths about the people who lived in the 18th century

Courtesy of MIA

The MIA has had the Charleston Drawing and Dining Rooms since it was donated in 1931, but this is the first time the fine art museum has attempted to render it in such a manner as to include the experiences of West Africans who were so instrumental in Stuart’s and by extension, the country’s, wealth. Stuart owned enslaved people who were strategically imported from Africa’s so-called “Rice Coast” for their deep technical knowledge in the cultivation of rice, which he grew on his plantation and sold for great profit. Professor Joseph Opala explains in the article “The Gullah: Rice, Slavery, and the Sierra Leone-American

“This exhibit now rightly positions those enslaved… as repositories of exclusive technical expertise.” home and plantation of Colonel John Stuart, superintendent of Indian Affairs for Britain’s southern colonies and owner of enslaved Africans. Says Bortelot about the exhibits prior to the upgrade, “The effect was telling stories that excluded the stories of people who didn’t happen to be of European descent and generally speaking, quite well-to-do. In 2014, we decided to do something about that.” As described by promotional materials, the Voices of Colonial America exhibit features “West African and African American objects that will tell important stories of Charleston’s dependence on enslaved West Africans’ indigenous knowledge of rice cultivation, which was exploited for commercial gain, and the West African cultural connections that persist in South Carolina today.”

Connection” that Africa’s rice coast was “the traditional rice-growing region of West Africa, stretching from Senegal down to Sierra Leone and Liberia.” Traditional narratives around slavery and slaves diminished African contributions as mere tools or extension of farm animals. But this exhibit now rightly positions those enslaved by Stuart as repositories of exclusive technical expertise. Jan-Lodewijk Grootaers, head of the Arts of Africa and the Americas/curator of African Art at MIA, explains, “Rice had been cultivated in West Africa for a long time and there has been a lot of know-how accumulated. Slave traders targeted people who had knowledge of rice cultivation.” Advertisements would add the requirement that slaves be from the so-called “rice coast so they could take advantage of their knowledge.”

In a comment via email for this article, UCLA Professor Judith Carney further observes, “Enslaved Africans were responsible for introducing many crops and farming methods appropriate to farming subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas.” The West African artifacts on display include allimportant rice baskets. The museum commissioned the baskets from South Carolina artist and basketmaker Henrietta Snype, whose family has been making them for five generations. There is also a video installation that includes Snype, along with Sierra Leonean Jonathan Rose, whose family was enslaved in North America during the colonial era, only to be sent to Sierra Leone after the Civil War; and world renowned Chef Pierre Thiam, who hails from Senegal and has made it his life’s mission to be an unofficial ambassador of Senegalese cuisine. All functioned as consultants, to a certain degree, when the museum decided to upgrade the exhibit. Snype explains that the baskets on display were used by the slaves on the plantation. “It’s called a winnowing basket or a rice fanner and was especially

made for gathering rice.” The baskets are made from natural materials such as sweet grass, palmetto, bulrush and pine needles, which are similar to what they are made from in Africa. In addition to being a plantation owner, Scottishborn Colonel Stuart was also superintendent for the southern district of the British Indian Affairs Department from 1761 to 1779. As MIA’s Jill Ahlberg Yohe, assistant curator of Native American Art explains, Stuart “Worked closely primarily with the Cherokee leaders who lived in that area.” The Charleston Drawing and Dining Rooms exhibit also incorporates Native American art, artifacts, and video installations. The Voices of Colonial America exhibit is part of Living Rooms, an initiative to present MIA’s historic interiors and decorative arts collections in new ways. The exhibit will be on display through June 2018. Visit https://new.artsmia.org for more information. Nadine Matthews welcomes reader responses to nadine@deeniemedia.com.

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The MSR thanks and celebrates contributors The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), the oldest Black business and newspaper in Minnesota, gathered contributors both new and seasoned for a meet-and-greet and to celebrate Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 23. Writers, photographers and faithful friends of the newspaper packed the 3744 Fourth Avenue South building in Minneapolis — a local historical landmark — to enjoy each other’s company and share Famous Dave’s BBQ generously provided by Dr. Charles Crutchfield Dermatology. All photos by Lou Michaels

MSR staff, contributors and friends gather for a group photo.

(l-r) Anthony Scott; Norma Williams, former MSR publisher; and Chaunda Scott

(l-r) Columnist Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald, photographer Onika Nicole Craven and contributing writer Khymyle Mims

(l-r) Contributing columnist Dr. Charles Crutchfield, III and daughter Olivia Crutchfield, a contributing photographer

(l-r) Contributing photographers Steve Floyd and Travis Lee

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March 1-7, 2018

YMCA

MArket

Continued from page 1

percent of professional staff. The obvious impetus behind this is that multi-cultural Minneapolis must be authentically represented and genuinely served. “That is what makes it important to be here,” says Frias. “You think, ‘We’re making a difference.’ Every day.” She had the credentials to effect actual evolution at the organization instead of merely passing off a cosmetic facelift. For openers, her history of commitment to the community includes, among other accomplishments, chair of LatinoLEAD, cofounder and chair of Unidos Votamos, Governor’s Council on Law Enforcement and Community Relations, and advisory committee for Minnesota Women Lawyers. Frias discusses race, identity, social justice and culture on Counter-Stories (Minnesota Public Radio). Among a long list of honors, she received the Ohtli Award from Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, distinguishing individuals in a foreign country for service to communities of Mexican origin. At the YWCA, Frias is more than simply sitting atop the food chain – she’s head strategist for public policy, racial justice, and early childhood education. For good measure, she is a frequent lecturer on implicit bias, structural racism, and immigration public policy. At the vanguard of thought for change over 20-plus years, Frias is a force, not a figurehead. “Our lens,” she states, “as women of color, as people of color, through experience informs us, informs our decisions every single day. How we execute on anything.” Frias adds she is also informed by “how I grew up in inner-city Chicago, in the barrio.” She graduated from the University of Iowa with master’s and juris doctorate degrees, eventually landing here, where at the Minnesota House of Representatives she helped draft the legislature’s sexual harassment policy and handbook. Before taking the reins at the YW, Frias was vice president of community impact at The Minneapolis Foundation. Her track record speaks for itself. Any questions? For Frias, it’s about the YWCA putting an annual $23 million budget where its mouth is. “At YWCA of Minneapolis,” she says, “we are concerned about the racial disparities that continue to intensify in severity and scope. This is not the Minnesota that we are accustomed to or the Minneso-

[l-r] Luz Maria Frias and Jacqueline Lloyd Cunningham Photo by Dwight Hobbes ta we want for our children. The racial disparities are symptoms of the systemic barriers faced by our communities of color and indigenous people. “In order to eliminate these disparities, we need to dismantle the systemic barriers through systemic change. [This] change can occur at the state, county or city level in addition to companies across our community.” When the YWCA Board brought her in, she reflects, “They perceived the organization historically empowered women but, [regarding] racism, was not balanced. The search committee was intentional in recruiting someone who’d bring parity.” The YW’s Black History Festival departed from the spirit of such duplicitous observances as previously seen in downtown Minneapolis, where 11 months out of the year department store security guards blatantly shadow African Americans as suspected shoplifters, and, in February hang Martin Luther King banners to bring in Black dollars — while still keeping a close eye on Black women and men. This empowering event, which the organization has held these past two decades, focused on encouraging kids to learn about, and thereby honor, heroes of their culture. Culled from the YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education anti-bias curriculum, each classroom had featured, in-depth, one iconic figure through art, music and books all month. The February 26 festival at the YW featured children’s work from the classes, some of them sharing what they learned about from their heroes, and preschoolers reciting an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeless “I Have a Dream.” “We always want what’s best for the next generation,” says Luz Maria Frias. For her that means advancing equity as an ongoing imperative. Dwight Hobbes welcomes reader responses to PO Box 50357, Minneapolis, MN 55403

North Memorial Health System supports the wellness portion of North Market’s services. Continued from page 1 There are wellness coordinators, no for-profit grocery store nutritionists, community health would want to come here [to the works and pharmacy liaisons on site to provide information and Camden neighborhood].” Yaseen Allah told MSR that referrals such as health assesshe drove by North Market all the ments, nutrition guidance, insurtime. “I used to work at a food co- ance and scheduling assistance, op over Northeast. She’s [Smith] and medication management. In addition, Valerie Turner really big on bringing North Side together, and I’m big on good conducts a Zumba class at the food. Bringing that over here, I market every Saturday. Mosely told Smith that North had to jump on board.” Allah’s been there since the Market supplemented other grand opening. “We were just health initiatives in North Minsetting up shelves, making sure neapolis. “In fact, we are working they looked good for the people.” with organizations like Green

ConleY Continued from page 1

Garden to get their products on our shelves.” Senator Smith encouraged Mosely to continue working with North Market’s community-oriented health and wellness initiative. “If you don’t believe you can make that transformational change, then you for sure won’t make it.” For more information, visit http:// mynorthmarket.org/ or their Facebook page at My North Market. Ivan B. Phifer welcomes reader responses to ivan.b.phifer@gmail. com.

ly for families and individuals who are low income. These are the people I work with receiving food and cash benefits who are at least 130 percent below the federal poverty guideline. We need to get people into secure, even union jobs and career tracks where they can produce and bring home a sustainable living wage — and a living wage is based on your [household] size. We want to make sure they can pay the rent. With rising rents, we want people to have positions or jobs with salaries that can increase, too… We have people coming in for emergency assistance who are facing eviction because they could not make that rent payment. We’re trying to prevent that in Hennepin County with a new pilot, which is to prevent evictions before they start. We certainly can do more in that area to help people into stable housing. MSR: How can the solutions you want to institute survive Trump? AC: I think it is imperative to pay attention to local government. Hennepin County is the second largest level of government in our state and can buffer some of the disastrous policies coming from Washington if approved. We need to understand that through counties, Hennepin being the largest county in the state, all federal dollars are allocated. This includes federal dollars for TANF, which funds our cash and food assistance programs. In my area, [we can] determine what goes in the budget toward MFIP food assistance, toward emergency assistance and our contracted providers. So, we need to be aware of these threats that are coming from the federal government and include in our legislative platforms that we want protection for our poor from the ground level. MSR: Anything you want to make sure readers know about you? AC: I want to be clear about what sets me apart in my race for the commissioner’s seat. We have had the same leadership in the fourth district for 27 years. And it’s time to bring a new perspective to the County Board, perspectives that are in touch with and representative of the community we serve. I’m somebody who’s really been in the trenches with folks for nearly 20 years and we’ve never had that on the board.

to public health, human services, [and] our corrections departments both juvenile and adult. The work I do, I work with 16 community-based agencies and each one contracts with Hennepin County to find jobs for people on cash and food assistance. I want to see the folks we’re contracting with are meeting outcomes. Are people getting gainful employment? What are the barriers stopping people from getting livable-wage jobs? What we’re finding is that transportation, child care and housing are the biggest barriers to employment. I see that up close and personal every time I walk into my job or whenever I attend a meeting. I know these barriers are continuing to rise, and we have an increasing number of folks accessing County services who are living with mental illness. So, all these barriers to employment are connected. That’s through the psychological aspect of poverty and the fact that we’ve kind of helped to perpetuate that poverty. We don’t have someone on the Board who… has lived through poverty, has come out of poverty and said, “I’m going to do something about it” and then obtained the educational credentials to be able to do that. So, I look at administering public goods and services through a social justice framework. MSR: Change we can actually believe in? AC: I’m bringing multiple perspectives to the County Board, the perspective of lived experience, of work experience. The different framework [by which] I view policy creation and policy priorities. My background also is in social justice advocacy and activism. So, I’ve been a case manager, working with families, with individuals who are homeless, [individuals] who are coming out of jail with no support for re-entry [into society]. People are homeless because they have a UD [unlawful detainer] or criminal background. Or they’re fleeing domestic violence. MSR: So you know the problems and have seen the problems first-hand. Dwight Hobbes welcomes readers’ responses to P.O. AC: For many of us, we’re one paycheck away from Box 50357, Minneapolis, MN 55403 being homeless, from losing our housing. When we talk in campaigns about affordable housing, we tend to just talk about it as an issue. We don’t go deep enough. We need housing that’s designated specifical-

DeCisionMAkers Continued from page 1

of this community.” The fourth generation St. Paul resident was elected last November as the city’s first Black mayor. “I’ve seen both the promise and the challenges in St. Paul,” he reflected. “I grew up in a community of people, surrounded by adults…who were determined to see me succeed, whether I wanted to or not.” Carter recalled as a young man, freshly graduated from college, that he had the same thought as his fellow grads at the time that they were uniquely prepared to tackle the world’s big problems. “Somebody [else] should focus on trash collection, plowing the snow, [and] we should save our minds for the big stuff,” he admitted regarding his then-naiveté about local government. Later, while Carter was working in North Minneapolis on voter registration, a 19-year-old resident told him that he wasn’t interested in voting “because nobody cares about me.” That person admitted to experiencing “a feeling of helplessness” when, during election day in Florida in 2000 he saw long lines of mostly Black folk waiting to vote but not getting the chance to do so. It

left a lasting impression on him, Carter pointed out. “I want to build a St. Paul that works for all of us,” continued the mayor as he challenged the symposium audience, which included a group of high school and college students, to get involved. “I think we are in a moment now that demands action,” he stressed, adding that adults will one day have to give the future generation “an accountability of our time.” Carter said he’s proud of being the first Black mayor “of a major city, a [majority-populated] city.” He briefly talked about meeting present and former Black mayors at the U.S. Council of Mayors conference. “We shared a meal with some of the newly elected mayors last year from all over the country,” including new city leaders from Atlanta and Baltimore, he recalled. “These mayors are so passionate. “I think it’s critical that all of our neighborhoods have their voice heard,” Carter afterward told the MSR about the importance of elected officials of color. “Absolutely, we need people who come from our communities to reflect all walks of life and similar life experience to be in those rooms” where policy decisions are made. “It really does make a difference on who’s sitting at the ta-

ble,” Sayles Belton told the MSR. “It does make a difference in the leadership position. It does make a difference [in] the knowledge and relationship they have with the communities they serve. “Idothinkitmakesadifference for African Americans, Latinos, Asians or Native Americans to have the opportunity to be able to be in elected office, to speak authentically on issues that their communities uniquely experienced,” Sayles Belton continued. She and the late Jean Harris, who was mayor of Eden Prairie 1995-2001, were the state’s only Black mayors at the time. “I knew Jean well,” Sayles Belton said of Harris, who died in 2001. “She and I talked a lot. A Black woman mayor elected in the suburbs, Jean was an invaluable leader and a good colleague.” “She [Sayles Belton] has been a mentor to me,” Carter said. In part two: Two women of color and first-time elected officials share their experiences. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

March 1-7, 2018

Legals

9

Employment

STATE OF MINNESOTA

CASE TYPE: DISSOLUTION WITHOUT CHILDREN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL COURT CASE NO: 27-FA-18-634

COUNTY OF HENNEPIN WITHOUT REAL ESTATE

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS In Re the Marriage of: Rahma Ahmed Yussuf , Petitioner and Khader Abdi Abdulahi, Respondent THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE. 1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Family Law Facilitator Program, Family Court Self Help Center located in the Family Justice Center, 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: 01/26/2018 Signed: Rahma Ahmed Yussuf

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN WITHOUT REAL ESTATE

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS In Re the Marriage of: LaConya Lewis, Petitioner and William Thomas Lewis, Sr. Respondent THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE. 1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Family Law Facilitator Program, Family Court Self Help Center located in the Family Justice Center, 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: 01/03/2018 Signed: LaConya Lewis MN Spokesman-Recorder, February 15 & 22, and March 1, 2018

MN Spokesman-Recorder, February 22, and March 1 & 8, 2018 STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN In Re: Estate of Adele Jane Swanson, a/k/a Adele J. Swanson, Decedent.

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROBATE DIVISION Court File No.: 27-PA-PR-18-86 NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS: Notice is given that an application for informal probate of the Decedent’s will dated November 20, 2013, (“Will”), has been filed with the Registrar. The application has been granted. Notice is also given that the Registrar has informally appointed Lauren Kay Swanson, whose address is: 7326 Columbus Avenue South, Richfield, MN 55423 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative. Unless objections are filed with the Court (pursuant to Minn. Stat. 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders, the personal representative has full power to administer the Estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate. Any objections to the probate of the will or appointment of the Personal Representative must be filed with this Court and will be heard by the Court after the filing of an appropriate petition and proper notice of hearing. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred ATTORNEY FOR APPLICANT Dated: February 15, 2018 BRUCE B. PHILLIPS ALONNA J. WARNS Registrar 2805 Cliff Road East #300 SARAH LINDAHL PFIEFER Deputy Court Administrator Burnsville, MN 55337 651-208-2420 MN Spokesman-Recorder, February 22 & March 1, 2018

NOTICE OF JUDICIAL SALE Pursuant to an Order of Sale entered in United States vs. Cynthia Aldrich, Individually and in the Capacity as Personal Representative for the Estate of Don C. Aldrich, deceased, et al., Civil Action No. 0:16-CV-00387-JNE-SER, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the United States will offer for sale at public auction, to the highest bidder, according to law and pursuant to the terms and conditions set in herein, the property described below: Date:March 28, 2018 Time:10:00AM Sale Location:1146 14th Avenue, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414. Title Offered:The property shall be offered for sale at public auction, free and clear of all liens and interests of the parties to this action. Description of Property:Single Family Residence with approximately 3 bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Property has an attic and an unfinished basement. Property address is 1146 14th Avenue, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414. Property May Be Inspected at:Open House on March 27 from 1:00 to 4:00PM and on date of sale from 8:30 until 10:00AM Legal Description:Lots 22 and South ½ of 23, Block 2, Elwell’s Second Addition to Minneapolis. Minimum Bid:$80,000 Information about the sale:Please call Sara Wright at 865-274-7349 The Terms of Payment:See Below Form of Payment:All payments must be by Certified or Cashier’s Check made payable to the United States District Court of Minnesota. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE: No bid (except for bids made by the United States) shall be accepted by the IRS, unless the same is accompanied by a certified check or cashier’s check, in the minimum amount of $16,000.00 made payable to the United States District Court of Minnesota. Before being permitted to bid at the sale, all bidders shall display to the IRS proof that they are able comply with this requirement. No bids will be received from any person who has not presented proof that, if he or she is the successful bidder, he or she can make the deposit required by the Order. The successful bidder shall tender the balance of the purchase price, in certified funds payable to the United States District Court, at the office of the IRS on or before May 28, 2018. In the event the successful bidder defaults on any of the terms contained in the Order, the deposit shall be forfeited and retained by the IRS as part of the proceeds of sale, and the real property shall again be offered for sale, without further permission of the Court, under the terms and conditions of the Order, or, in the alternative the real property shall be sold to the second highest bidder. The United States may bid as a creditor against its judgments without tender of cash. The sale of the real property shall be subject to confirmation by the Court. Upon confirmation of the sale and receipt of the entire purchase price, the Court shall issue and the IRS shall deliver to the purchaser, a deed conveying the real property to the purchaser. Upon confirmation of the sale, all interests in, liens against, or claims to, the real property that are or may be asserted by any of the parties to this action are discharged and extinguished. The United States reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to withdraw the property from sale. ***IMPORTANT INFORMATION*** This is not an advertisement of a sale of administratively seized property. This is an information notice only regarding a sale being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service as a result of the foreclosure of an Internal Revenue Service Federal Tax Lien by the Department of Justice. Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, March 1,8,15 & 22, 2018

Fitz Continued from page 10

the West, just percentage points behind San Antonio (36-25) for the third spot in the West. It’s bunched up behind them, however, with playoff-tested Portland (34-26), New Orleans (33-26), Oklahoma City (34-27), Denver (3327), Los Angeles Clippers (3127), and Utah (30-29) all within striking distance. It’s not likely the Timberwolves can catch Houston or Golden State. Thirteen more wins get them to 50, which I predicted before the season. Losing your best player, Butler, with no guarantee you will get him back will test this team’s resolve down the stretch because the Western Conference

is no joke and only the fittest will survive. Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 MondayFriday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold. com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larryfitzgerald.com, or visit www. Larry-Fitzgerald.com.

CASE TYPE: DISSOLUTION WITHOUT CHILDREN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL COURT CASE NO: 27-FA-18-53

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN WITHOUT REAL ESTATE

CASE TYPE: DISSOLUTION WITHOUT CHILDREN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL COURT CASE NO: 27-FA-18-848

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS In Re the Marriage of: Peter Keosya, f/k/a Petr Georgieyevich Keosya, Petitioner and Larissa Nikolyevna Desna, Respondent THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE. 1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Family Law Facilitator Program, Family Court Self Help Center located in the Family Justice Center, 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding involves,affects or brings into question the real property located at the following address 7068 Springhill Circle in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, with the following legal description Lot 8, Block z, Edenvale 10th addition. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: 02/08/2018 Signed: Peter Keosya MN Spokesman-Recorder, February 15 & 22, and March 1, 2018

SOE Continued from page 10 play. I didn’t see them too much in college. My son is a baseball player, so it has been fun to watch with him. John Anderson was here when I went to school, and he continues to do a great job with the program. 4) What are you grateful for? Super grateful to have had the opportunity to play at the U of M. People still ask me about the experience all of the time. I’m incredibly grateful for my family and all of the great friends I made back in my Gopher days. 5) What does Black History Month mean to you? I think it’s important to take time to talk about our history, and Black History Month allows you a specific time to have those conversations in schools. Last year I spoke at Minneapolis Southwest High School about the impact that Black athletes have had throughout history. 6) What occupies your time now? Family first and foremost. Broadcasting for the Lynx, Timberwolves, boys’ and girls’ high school tournaments and some women’s college basketball. I also created a platform titled “Rethink the Win” that helps athletes and parents navigate the sometimes stressful world of sports. Through speaking and interviewing athletes, I encourage athletes to get the most out of being involved in sport and to find the other wins in sport, such as teamwork, leadership and work ethic. Alena Brooks Sport(s): Women’s Track & Field Years: 2009-14 Hometown: Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago Occupation: professional athlete Twitter Handle: @blessedbrooks 1) What is it you honestly miss most about the university? At the University of Minnesota you are surrounded by a large group of people (other athletes and staff) rooting for your success and ready to assist you in any way they can. That support is what I miss most about the U of M, having a family away from

home. 2) If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be? I know this advice may seem cliché and I would have been the first one to roll my eyes at anyone telling me, but I’ve come to know it’s true so I’ll reiterate it. It’s really important to enjoy and appreciate your time as a studentathlete. The real world does not afford all the luxuries of support, treatment, facilities, food, and even coaching without a cost. The lifestyle as a student-athlete is invaluable. 3) Please share your favorite university or athletic event you’ve attended since you graduated and what made it so special to you. The University of Minnesota‘s Fieldhouse was the first indoor track I had seen, trained and raced on. After I graduated, I got the opportunity to return and compete at the Jack Johnson Classic. Beginning my professional indoor career right where it all started for me was special. I was filled with an opulence of emotion, and I reminisced on the fond memories I had as a collegiate. 4) What are you grateful for? I am thankful for so many things: life, love, health, strength, abilities, opportunities, the list goes on. Even though there may be one or two things that are not “good” to me right now (or so I believe), I’m filled with joy because I am blessed abundantly. 5) What does Black History Month mean to you? Black History Month means a lot to me. It not only allows for us to pay homage to those who paved the way, but it gives us all an opportunity to understand how far we’ve come, how we’ve sacrificed, progressed, broken barriers, achieved the seemingly impossible and more. It gives a sense of belonging, hope and confidence to the present Black student-athletes who are ready to leave their mark. 6) What occupies your time now? That’s easy – my lifestyle is pretty monotonous. Church, track, chefing, cooking, baking and reading.

Sr. Manufacturing Engineer Sr. Manufacturing Engineer for Medtronic, Inc., at its facility in Brooklyn Center, MN. Responsible for the evaluation, improvement, and coordination of manufacturing areas which provide implantable components to finished devices. Requires a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering with focus in micro-fabrication or related and two (2) years post bachelor’s progressive experience in all of the following: In a clean room manufacturing environment for electrical test, physical vapor deposition and plasma etching; Performing statistical analysis Gage R& R, ANOVA, Capability & Normality Assessments; With CFI and PFMEA; Characterizing processes using quality tools available in Minitab or JMP including DOE, SPC, hypothesis testing, regression modelling and capability studies to measure, monitor, improve and control manufacturing; With creating SPC charts and OCAP for critical processes; With experience in using SQL or Business Objects for production data analysis; Navigating through production issues, non-conforming products, root cause analysis and product disposition; CAPA (Corrective and Preventative action); Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, incorporating GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices); Coordinating technical projects related to new product introductions. Apply at www.medtronic.com/ careers, Req.17000OVW. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

Programmer Sullivan Cotter and Associates Minneapolis, MN

Requires MS in systems eng., comp. sci, or related field & 2 yrs exp. as a system eng., programmer, or related occupation. Req. 2 yrs. exp. working with: database programming, analysis & design; entity relationship diagramming, writing SQL statements, stored procedures, views, triggers, UDFs; SSIS Package development & implementation using SSIS; deploying SSIS Packages, setup configurations, SSIS Logging & deployment into SSIS Server; deploying mission critical, highly available databases in a clustered-environment. Req. 1 yr. exp: in applied development; performance tuning, query optimization, & database optimization methodologies; Visual Studio tools / ASP.NET/C# language programming, object-oriented concepts, data warehousing concepts; web development using ASP.NET Forms, MVC Framework, Entity Framework; utilizing HTML jQuery Javascript/CSS/Stylesheets, XML/XLST/ XSD/XPath, & Agile development framework and concepts. Apply at www.sullivancotter.com/careers/programmer No agencies or phone calls.

Legal Support Specialist Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. For details go to: www.mylegalaid.org/jobs.

ViEw Continued from page 10 end, has 18 team-leading scoring games this season. On Monday the 5’-9” Minneapolis native was named unanimous first team all-Big Ten (media and coaches). “She leads us and gets us to the pace we want to go,” point guard Stollings said of Bell. Minnesota is scheduled to play Friday. “We are peaking at the right time,” Stollings concluded. March on ice Minnesota plays Ohio State Saturday in the second game of the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals at Ridder Arena. The two Saturday winners play for the WCHA title on Sunday. The Gophers’ task is to win Saturday, then hopefully repeat the effort on Sunday, Coach Brad Frost stressed. “We will prepare for Ohio State, our next opponent,” he told the MSR last weekend.

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

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10

March 1-7, 2018

Timberwolves lose All-Star Jimmy Butler

M

innesota has to be snake-bit, don’t you think? Fourteen years in a row they have missed the playoffs, and a year ago Glen Taylor hired Tom Thibodeau as president and head coach. In Chicago, Thibodeau was successful five years straight in the playoffs. However, his critics dogged him with the fact that he wore his players down by playing long minutes over an 82-game schedule. Some players’ bodies started to break down. All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, who the Timberwolves acquired in trade with Chicago, has been brilliant. He has been everything the Timberwolves were looking for off and on the court and in the locker room. He is among the NBA leaders in minutes played, and last Friday, after not playing in the All-Star game in Los Angeles, he suffered a non-contact knee injury against the red-hot Hous-

ton Rockets. The injury was diagnosed as a torn right meniscus. Butler had knee surgery Sunday, and the Timberwolves are saying he’ll be out indefinitely. With only 19 games left (18 after Monday night’s game) and the Timberwolves 37-26 in a strong playoff position, this is truly a kick in the gut. All-Star Karl Anthony Towns said, “When you have one of the best, in my opinion the best twoway player in the league by far, it makes a difference [to lose him] because you have a guy who can do everything. Obviously it’s going to be different when you have Jimmy out. “We have to pick up the pieces everywhere. He’s a very talented player, a complete player. We have to be the best we need to be to fill in his gaps,” Towns said. Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists per game. He will be missed. His leadership this season has been huge in games, in practice, and in passing along Thibodeau’s message to the younger guys. The Timberwolves are now on a three-game road trip to Sacramento, Portland and Utah. Minnesota has not played well on the road all year. They are just 12-19 on the road with 10 games left. At home they are 257, but they don’t return home until March 8. They are currently fourth in ■ See Fitz on page 9

March Madness kickoff ANOTHER

VIEW Charles hallman

March Madness is college sport’s Super Bowl – its biggest stage whether on the court, in the pool, on the ice, on the mat or on the floor apparatus – at a time when so many amateur sports conclude their respective seasons in the same given calendar month at virtually the same time. This, along with high school sports, and you have a mad, mad, mad March in crowning a champion. Nebraska Coach Amy Williams called March “the third season.” She and her fellow Big Ten coaches talked to reporters on Monday, including the MSR, on the 2018 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, which begins Wednesday and ends Sunday in Indianapolis. Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer called this time of year for her team “Season Two.” “It is always an exciting tournament,” Penn State Coach Coquese Washington declared. Everybody wants to play their best ball at this time, Wisconsin Coach Johnathan Tsipis

(l-r) Gopher freshman Destiny Pitts, Coach Marlene Stollings and Gopher junior Kenisha Bell Photo by Charles Hallman

stressed. “We feel this is a brand-new season for us,” Indiana Coach Teri Moran said. “We know that the first game of the tournament is very important.” “Everybody has a chance” in this week’s tourney, Michigan Coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “I think this is the best the league has ever been…since I have been here,” she added, calling it an exciting time for both fans and coaches. “We have a season-laden group, and I think we will be ready to play” in Indy this week, said Ohio State Coach Kevin McGriff. The top four seeds – Ohio State, Maryland, Nebraska and Minnesota – get a double bye, which according to Iowa’s Li-

sa Bluder, whose Hawkeyes are seeded fifth, gives those clubs “a tremendous advantage. I wish it could be [fairer],” she said Minnesota (22-7, 11-5) posted its best regular-season finish since 2008 as they tied for third and won the fourth seed and double bye. “It has been a thrilling Big Ten season for everybody,” Coach Marlene Stollings told reporters Monday. “We like the momentum and energy we are playing with right now.” The Gophers all season have played with contagious-like confidence that first emerged from Destiny Pitts, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both coaches and media on Monday, and then

Sports odds and ends

Ibrahim Kabia

In recognition of Black History Month this year, the University of Minnesota is “Celebrating Those Who Made Us Great” by interviewing (via surveys) former Black student-athletes. In this month’s “Sports Odds and Ends” we will publish as many of these interviews as space allows. This week: Ibrahim Kabia, Lea B. Olsen, Alena Brooks Ibrahim Kabia Sport(s): Men’s Track & Field Years: 2004-09 Hometown: Freetown, Sierra Leone Occupation: Assistant track & field coach, University of Northern Iowa Twitter Handle: @CoachKabia 1) What is it you honestly miss most about the university? I miss being a student-athlete and the opportunity to compete. I miss the comradery shared amongst my teammates, coaches, and so many people on campus that were instrumental in my development as a student-athlete. I miss Roy Griak, may he rest in peace. 2) If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be? The opportunity to be a student-athlete at the collegiate level is a privilege. It is an opportunity that so many aren’t afforded; don’t take it for granted. You’re provided with so many resources to develop into a responsible adult and a productive member of society well beyond your college years; utilize them. Most importantly, say please and thank you. People appreciate that. 3) Please share your favorite university or athletic event you’ve attended since you graduated and what made it so special to

are. It also allows me to be inspired by the next generation of leaders combating complacency and making sure our voices are being heard. Black History Month allows me to reflect on the past and present and be hopeful that better days are ahead. 6) What occupies your time now? Working as an assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and jumps at the University of Northern Iowa occupies most of my time. When I am not coaching, I am spending time with family, friends, and catching up and reminiscing with former teammates and colleagues when time allows. Lea B. Olsen Sport(s): Women’s Basketball Years: 1987-90 Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Occupation: sports broadcaster, spokesperson, speaker Twitter Handle: @leabolsen 1) What is it you honestly miss most about the university? Being with my teammates on a daily basis. We worked so hard and had so much fun! 2) If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be? Be in the moment because the time flies by too quickly. Take advantage of everything the university has to offer. There are so many resources right at your fingertips. 3) Please share your favorite university or athletic event you’ve attended since you graduated and what made it so special to you. I enjoy going to watch the baseball team

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‘Fab Five’ prep stars of the week

Celebrating Black Gopher student-athletes you. I have had so many great experiences since I graduated. Dominating the Badgers in “The Dual” that started in my first year as a volunteer coach for the Women’s Track & Field program in 2014 has been amazing. Both men’s and women’s programs are undefeated, three years running. Above all, the women’s program sharing the 2016 outdoor conference title with Michigan was an outstanding achievement as the meet came down to the last event. It was incredibly exciting. 4) What are you grateful for? I am grateful for the University of Minnesota, my family and friends and mentors who have help me develop into the man and coach that I am today. I am also grateful for the opportunity to have influenced and continue to influence the young men and women in my field of work. 5) What does Black History Month mean to you? Black History Month is about acknowledging and celebrating the incredible men and women of color who dedicated themselves to causes that promote racial equality and social justices. As race issues have become more prevalent over the years, Black History Month allows me to reflect on how far we have come and understand where we

spread to the rest of the squad. She recalled telling the coaches prior to the season, “I said we are going to be a team to look out for.” “She came in not acting like a freshman and not playing like a freshman most of the year,” Stollings said of Pitts, the 5’-10” guard from Detroit. She also was a unanimous allfreshman team selection, and the media named her all-conference second team. “We consider her one of our leaders,” the coach noted. “Her level of maturity, how she handles herself, she’s an extremely humble kid.” Junior guard Kenisha Bell, arguably the conference’s quickest player from end to

This week’s “Fab Five” photos feature five girls’ basketball players – Maykayla Van Nett, Raiyne Adams, Kaylynn Ashberry Dr. mitChell Palmer mCDonalD (St. Paul Como Park), and Morgan Hill and Jade Hill (Minneapolis South) – who turned in brilliant performances in the Twin Cities girls’ basketball championship last Saturday. Como Park defeated South 80-74 to capture their fourth straight TC title. Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

PreP Scene

(pictured left) The clutch outside shooting of senior guard Makayla Van Nett led Como Park to their fourth consecutive Twin Cities girls’ basketball championship. She led her team with 27 points.

(pictured right) Senior guard Morgan Hill was nearly unstoppable, keeping South in the TC game with her consistent outside shooting and timely drives to the basket. She led all scorers with 41 points. (pictured left) Freshman guard Jade Hill kept Como Park off guard with her shooting during the TC contest. She finished with 16 points.

■ See SOe on page 9

(pictured right) Guard Kaylynn Asberry displayed unusual poise for an eighth grader with clutch basket after clutch basket in contributing to Como Park’s TC victory. She had 14 points.

(pictured left) Senior guard Raiyne Adams hit clutch three-points and was tenacious on defense during Como Park’s TC victory. She scored 19 points. Lea B. Olsen

Alena Brooks

Photos courtesy of U of M

All photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald