May 17, 2018 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

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May 17-23, 2018 Vol. 84 No. 41 www.spokesman-recorder.com

Black women firefighters face twice the flak

After 10-year lapse, St. Paul adds second Black female in the department’s history

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer The St. Paul Fire Department now has three new Black firefighters on its roster – including its first new female firefighter in over 10 years. Brittany Baker, Brandyn Springsted and Dujuan Williams were sworn in May 11 at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center as part of the 19-member graduating class of the city’s Firefighter Acad-

emy.

Gerone Hamilton, a 20-year veteran and chief of community relations, and several other Black firefighters from St. Paul and Minneapolis attended last week’s public ceremony to support their new comrades.

“We are making strides to change the diversity and the culture in the department,” Hamilton said, noting that there are currently 33 Black male firefighters. “We have

been really dedicated to get more firefighters of color, and women.”

In 2013, former St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman established a Fire Department Diversity Task Force of City officials, firefighters and community folks to look at the City’s recruiting strategies, minimum qualifications, application, and training and hiring processes. Currently, 10 percent of the St. Paul firefighters are Black, and 18 fe-

males make up the 428-member group.

Becoming a firefighter isn’t easy – one must first pass a physical performance test, then a written test, and be state EMT (emergency medical technician) certified or working toward certification. Then the individual gets put on a waiting list to be called. If finally accepted, participants go through 16 weeks of intense training.

“I’ve been striving for this for 17 years,” said Springsted.

“I was a volunteer firefighter before, but I always wanted to be a professional firefighter. I tried out at a lot of places and St. Paul was willing to give me a shot, and I am very grateful for that.”

It was almost a decadelong process for Baker, who became St. Paul’s first Black female firefighter since Toni Terry’s retirement in 2007 and the second in the history of the department. Terry became the city’s first Black female firefighter in 1995.

“I initially applied in 2010,” Baker said. “I didn’t have my ■ See FireFighters on page 5

A priority for new Minneapolis Parks commissioner: kids who need help

Housing, inclusion, ending mass incarceration also on his agenda After college, while working as a bouncer at the former Quest nightclub that closed in 2006, French learned that a lot of the peoRelocating from Milwaukee to Minneap- ple he worked with there had day jobs in the olis was a move that At-Large Minneapolis Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) working Park Board Commissioner Londel French security and other jobs. Eventually he applied to MPS himself, where he has worked said saved his life.

In Milwaukee, French grew up in the as a paraprofessional for more than 15 years.

“I got to work with kids who were like me 53206 zip code, the one with the highest incarceration rate in the country. “A lot of my years ago, and I think I just kind of felt like an homies have felonies,” he said. By moving instant kind of passion for it.”

While working at MPS, French was apto Minnesota in his early twenties to attend the now-permanently-closed Brown College, proached by a park director who asked him if he wanted to work some extra hours in the French said, “I was running from prison.”

By Keith Schubert Staff Writer

Londel French

Photo by Keith Schubert

parks. Between working in the schools and the park, French saw the disproportionately lesser benefits park employees were getting compared to MPS employees. Wanting to make sure park employees got the same benefits as other public servants was one of the first reasons for French’s park board campaign.

As park board commissioner, French said he wants to focus on affordable housing, more inclusive hiring practices, how to use the parks to help end mass incarceration, and bringing marginalized voices to the table.

“We got a $111 million budget, and I think if those resources can be directed properly they can make people’s lives better,” French said. “[S]pending it improperly or putting [resources] in places they don’t need to be going can demonstrably affect people’s lives. So, I want to make sure whatever we’re doing, we’re doing [it] the right way.”

French recalled a time when the park’s Teen Teamworks program was used to help at-risk youth get jobs for the summer. French said now the hiring for the program is geared more toward youth who are on track to go to college and don’t have a criminal record.

“I want the program to focus on kids who don’t got their s**t straight, that need the help.

I want that to come back,” he said.

By creating jobs for 400-500 youth each summer, French’s goal is to help reduce ■ See Parks on page 5

Right-wing firebrand wows American Experiment forum

She’d like to ignite an ‘ideological civil war in the Black community’

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer

C

andace Owens is an unapologetic Black conservative activist. She first rose to fame in 2017 as founder of the Red Pill Black website – her third website since leaving a private equity firm several years ago – and a YouTube channel that has amassed over 200,000 subscribers with video titles such as “Mom, Dad…I’m a conservative” and “The Left Thinks Black People Are Stupid,” among others.

iment lunch forum on May 8 at the Minneapolis City Center Marriott ballroom. The sold-out event for the conservative think tank resembled a rock-star-worthy, messianic gathering of an estimated 550 people, mostly White, who came out to hear the 28-year-old rail against “liberal indoctrination.”

“What we are selling here is individualism,” said Owens, who has served as Turning Point USA communications director and urban engagement director since last November. The conservative nonprofit national organization has over 300 chapters in col-

“Obama was just a puppet. He didn’t do anything for me.”

Photos by James Netz Rolling Stone magazine has called her a “boilerplate” for conservatives who lack originality.

Rapper Kanye West tweeted last month, one day after she called Black Lives Matter “spoiled toddlers,” that he “loves” the way she thinks.

She has since become with her controversial positions the new Black right-wing darling of White conservatives, a scorn of liberals, and a contrarian to many Blacks.

That controversy has also given her a newfound platform, evidenced during her first Minnesota visit where she spoke at a Center of the American Exper-

leges and high schools around the United States, including five Minnesota campuses: the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Morris campuses, along with St. Olaf, St. Mary’s and Gustavus Adolphus, according to its website.

She received pre- and postspeech standing ovations along with several impromptu applauses and short cheers whenever she said something controversial during her nearly 30-minute “preaching to the choir” speech. She also took ■ See Firebrand on page 5

New center aims to address racial economic disparities

By Stephenetta Harmon Editor-In-Chief The Twin Cities’ racial income gap between Whites and people of color has barely moved over the past 10 years — dropping only from 38 percent in 2006 to 37 percent in 2016, reports a new regional effort.

The Center for Economic Inclusion (CFEI) is looking to change that by creating a collective effort across public, private, nonprofit and community sectors. Aimed at closing the state’s racial and economic gaps, the new center will focus on three key areas to address those disparities: economic development,

human capital and transportation.

“We believe those three areas [are] completely interdependent,” Tawanna Black, CFEI founder, told the MSR during its launch at an Ignite Forum on May 11.

The center, which began operations in January, is comprised of three existing organizations: the Northside Funders Group; Blue Line Coalition and the East Side Funders Group.

Black, who also serves as executive director of the Northside Funders Group, said the center would amplify the work she and others throughout the state have al-

Tawanna Black

ready been doing.

“You should expect that work to continue,” she confirmed to the MSR. “You’ll continue to see ‘hearing the voice of community first,’ … [us] putting people at the center of that work and letting that drive the strategies that we have. And, to scale up so that it reaches more people in more communities and neighborhoods. And, you should expect it to be more results driven.”

She added that the center is data-driven, and will rely on metrics gathered across sectors and community engagement.

Part of keeping community at the forefront, she said,

requires “metrics accountability — meaning having that transparency of not only, ‘here’s the statistic, but then what are the results of these things’ — back out into the community and then tell us what do you see.”

The center, itself, however, is not a services organization. “It’s not a grassroots organization. It is not ‘the doing’ organization,” explained Black. Instead, she said it would work to align organizations already doing the work, to bring in businesses that can assist and provide accountability via metrics and transparency.

“One of the things that has ■ See Center on page 5

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May 17-23, 2018

UNCF Twin Cities masked ball raises more than 700K

By Stephenetta Harmon

College-bound African American students got a significant boost this weekend from fundraising efforts of the Minneapolis United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The regional office raised more than $700,000 towards student scholarships at its sixth annual Twin Cities Masked Ball hosted at the U.S. Bank Stadium, Saturday, May 12.

More than 500 business, civic leaders, public officials, alumni and supporters attended the black-tie affair, including UNCF president and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.

“The UNCF Masked Ball is one of the Twin Cities’ signature fundraising galas and premier social events of the year,” Laverne McCartney Knighton, area development director, told the MSR. “Funds raised from the gala go to support UNCF-member HBCUS and the Hope Scholarship,” she said. The Hope Scholarship specifically awards qualifying African American students from the Twin Cities metro area with up to $7,500 in scholarships towards a four-year college degree.

The event’s fundraising efforts kick off the regional office’s fiscal year, she said. “In the 2016-17 school year, UNCF awarded 130 scholarships totaling more than $1.5M to students from Minnesota,” she said.

“For more than 70 years, UNCF has been a vital partner in preparing underrepresented students to led healthy, productive and engaged lives,” Carter said in a press statement.

“Their work continues to lift members of our community to ensure that the future of our region and our nation is bright.”

The event also honored Twin Cities’ leaders for their work in education. The gala honored two Masked Award recipients during the dinner: Kaywin Feldman, Nivin and Duncan MacMillian director and president of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), and the Target Corporation.

Laysha Ward and Target staff Melvin Carter in Black Panther mask

For information on scholarships and deadlines, visit uncf.org/scholarships.

All photos by Atomic K Studios except where noted.

Jacob Frey, Sarah Clarke and Dr. Michael L. Lomax

Melvin Carter, Sakeena Futrell-Carter and Dr. Michael L. Lomax

Greg Cunningham, Demetha Sanders, Kayman Feldman Dr. Michael L. Lomax, and Laysha Ward

Gala attendee

Seizing Opportunity.

Applying education to life.

What drives you?

ccaps.umn.edu

Kezele L.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. © 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

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Photo courtesy Twitter/Laysha Ward

5/1/18 10:03 AM

May 17-23, 2018

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What is mononucleosis?

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD Dr. Crutchfield, my nephew was diagnosed with mononucleosis last week.

What is it?

M

ononucleosis (mono) is an infectious disease caused, most commonly, by transmission of the Epstein-Barr virus. It can be caused by other viruses, but that is much less common. The Epstein-Barr virus is a member of the herpes virus family.

Mononucleosis is most frequently diagnosed in teens and young adults. In fact, four out of five people in the United States are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus by age 40, but many never show any symptoms.

The virus is transmitted by saliva (kissing) and is commonly called “the kissing disease.” Mononucleosis can also be spread by sharing eating utensils, drinks, or after being exposed to a sneeze or a cough from someone who has the infection. Rarely, mononucleosis can be spread by blood or semen.

Just because you are exposed to the virus does not mean you will get it. In fact, mononucleosis is not as contagious as the common cold, but it is still considered contagious.

Mononucleosis is not generally believed to be a serious disease, but some of the complications of mo-

no that may develop can cause concern. Mononucleosis can cause anemia and serious difficulties with the heart, liver, nervous system, and with the spleen. In these cases, bed rest may be required for several weeks.

People who have mononucleosis may frequently have some of the following signs and symptoms: • Constantly tired, fatigue • Feeling uncomfortable and ill (malaise) • A sore throat • Fever • Enlarged lymph nodes under your chin, sides of neck and underarms • Loss of appetite • Sore muscles • Skin Rashes • Enlarged tonsils • A headache • Possible skin rash • Enlarged, tender spleen The incubation period is usually one to six weeks, with the time being shorter in those who are younger. Signs and symptoms like fevers and sore throats usually improve in a couple of weeks. Other symptoms like fatigue, tender spleen, and large lymph nodes may take several more weeks to resolve.

Diagnosis A doctor may make the diagnosis of mononucleosis after taking a history of your signs and symptoms, a physical examination (including your lymph nodes, throat and spleen), and a blood test that can check for antibodies to the EpsteinBarr virus and the status of your immune system (white blood cell count numbers) that suggests that you are fighting off an infection.

Treatment There’s no specific treatment for infectious mononucleosis. Antibiotics designed for bacteria do not work against mononucleosis, which is a viral infection, not a bacterial infection.

The treatment is primarily bed rest and calming any severe symptoms or problems that can occur from the disease. Doctors also recommend, along with bed rest, the following steps: • Drink lots of liquids. This can reduce fever, prevent dehydration, and calm a sore throat.

• Use pain relievers. Over-thecounter pain relievers such as Tylenol or ibuprofen are good at reducing both fever and pain.

Avoid giving aspirin to children and teens as it can cause a rare and serious condition called Reye’s syndrome. If you have any questions about what pain relievers to use, consult your doctor.

• Gargle with warm salt water.

This can be done several times

Mental HealtH MontH

HigHligHts need for crisis services

Crisis services are a critical piece of the mental health system. During Mental Health Month this May, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is highlighting services that get people in crisis the help they need, when they need it.

metro area, DHS is currently testing one phone number for crisis services: **CRISIS (274747). Calling **CRISIS from a mobile phone in the Twin Cities will connect the caller directly to local crisis services. DHS anticipates rolling this service out statewide in the near future.

One in five Minnesotans face mental illness each year, and one in 25 people live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Fortunately, there are more treatments, services and community support available, and many people with mental illness can and do recover.

To help people before they are in crisis, building a continuum of care has been a focus for the state for several years. People should receive the appropriate care in their own communities, and not be referred to more intensive — and more costly — care than required.

When mental health crises do arise, there are a range of services to help, such as mobile crisis teams, phone support lines, and suicide prevention programs.

“As with any illness, it is critical that people get the mental health care they need and get it quickly,” said Acting Human Services Commissioner Chuck Johnson. “Minnesota has worked hard to build a crisis mental health system that meets the needs of people throughout the state and is there when you need it, easy to reach, and sustainable over the long run.”

Mental health crisis services in Minnesota include:

Crisis Text Line This is a new suicide prevention service that helps people contemplating suicide and facing mental health issues. Crisis Text Line connects people who text MN to 741741 with a trained counselor who will help defuse the crisis and connect the texter to local resources. Since texting has fast become a preferred way of communication for many, texting-based services such as Crisis Text Line is an important way to reach more people.

Crisis phone lines In Minnesota, crisis services are one call away through county crisis lines. Phone numbers can be found at mn.gov/dhs/crisis. In the Twin Cities

Mobile crisis teams These teams of mental health practitioners provide psychiatric services to individuals within their own homes and at other places outside of a clinical setting. Mobile crisis services provide for a rapid response, and they work to assess the individual, resolve crises, and link people to needed services.

In recent years, Minnesota has invested in bringing these services to all parts of the state, 24/7. Last year, crisis teams received more than 54,000 calls.

For more information about crisis services in Minnesota, visit mn.gov/dhs/crisis/.

Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

per day to soothe an irritated throat. Add one teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water.

Antibiotic medications Sometimes, a streptococcal (a.k.a. strep) infection can happen simultaneously with the sore throat of mononucleosis. Infected persons may also develop infections of sinuses or tonsils, too. Both of these conditions are usually caused by bacteria. In these cases, treatments with traditional antibiotics may be required.

To relieve some of the more severe complications, like severe swelling of the throat and tonsils, a physician may prescribe an oral anti-inflammatory medication such as prednisone.

Prevention There is no vaccine for mono.

The best way to prevent getting it is to wash your hands frequently and avoid sharing drinks and utensils with others. If you have mono, you can be infectious for months after

you feel good, so don’t expose others around you by sharing drinks or utensils.

Most people with mono may feel significantly better in a few weeks, but some symptoms such as fatigue and tender abdomen or spleen may last much longer. It may take several months before one recovering from mono feels completely normal.

It is essential to rest and not return to work or normal activities too soon. In fact, it is important to avoid contact sports, intense exercise, or strenuous lifting until your doctor says it is safe to prevent severe spleen damage or rupture.

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 received his M.D. and Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology and Genomics from the Mayo Clinic.

He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States

by Black Enterprise magazine. Dr. Crutchfield was recognized by Minnesota Medicine as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx.

Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations, and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians.

4 May 17-23, 2018 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.

Memo to Republicans: I was Kanye, before Kanye

By Raynard Jackson Contributing Commentator Why do Republicans continue to be obsessed with shiny new objects when it comes to the Black community as opposed to being willing to keep their eyes on the prize with the “hard” work of coalition building?

I have had enough of the Kanye West-Donald Trump “bromance.” KANYE WEST IS NOT A REPUBLICAN, NOR IS HE A CONSERVATIVE! In my almost 20 years of being a columnist, I have said ad nauseam what Kanye has said, but my words seem to fall on deaf ears; whereas Kanye’s words are celebrated like he’s the second coming of Christ.

I have written columns, made speeches, appeared on TV all over the world and discussed how Blacks are not monolithic in their political views; that Blacks are open to the Republican Party and the conservative message; and that Blacks are not opposed to Trump’s policies, just his drama.

I have criticized Obama vociferously over his neglect of the Black community during his eight years in the White House, especially in regards to the murder rate in his hometown of Chicago.

The Republican Party reminds me of the child who can’t wait to get his new toys every Christmas, only to find them boring and unattractive within a week, because he is now looking for a new, shiny toy to keep his attention. This is repeated year after year.

Every year, the party unofficially designates someone as their flavor of the month. People like former party chairman Michael Steele (before he became the powerhouse that he now is), former congressman J.C. Watts, conservative pundit Armstrong Williams, and Starr Parker.

Unlike the more recent fla-

vors of the month, at least those listed above, one could argue, have some connections with the Black community. I don’t mean in terms of them all being Black, but in terms of their ability to stand before the Black community with some modicum of gravitas and credibility.

The more recent flavors of the month have been people like actress Stacey Dash, faux entertainers Diamond and Silk, and the latest, Candace Owens.

What do all these flavors have in common? They all appeal to an overwhelmingly White audience. None of them have any standing in the Black community, nor would they be able to fill a room with Blacks.

This does not mean they are not good people; they simply do not have any appeal in the Black community, especially in moving Blacks into the Republican Party or conservative movement.

As a matter of fact, most Blacks are repulsed that the Republican Party would even think to try to push people like Owens and Diamond and Silk onto our community.

Dash is a walking gaffe machine. She has talked about the need to get rid of Black media like BET and awards like the NAACP Image Awards, because of their emphasis on the Black community. She advocated for the elimination of these platforms, even though she has made millions of dollars in movies with all-Black casts (Mo’ Money) and has appeared on several TV shows on BET. While White folks are entertained by Diamond and Silk, most Blacks don’t find them very funny at all. They are viewed as modern day minstrel shows. Their audiences are predominately White and they have absolutely no standing in the Black community.

Owens recently blew up because she received a tweet of support from Kanye West and

met with him, recently. Again, she has no standing in the Black community and appeals to a mostly White audience.

Note to Republicans: If the goal is to appeal to the White community, then continue doing what you are doing; but, if the goal is to move the needle in the Black community towards the party, this is all a waste of time.

Unlike Republican leadership in Washington, Blacks are not attracted to these shiny, bright objects you are placing under our Christmas trees.

If the Republican Party was serious about the Black vote, they would highlight someone like real estate entrepreneur from New Jersey, John Campbell, Jr. Not only is he very successful, he also has a national network of Blacks that he has a great deal of standing with, who will listen to his arguments about conservatism. He, indeed, can help move the needle.

You also have former Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, a 24-year Navy veteran, former elected official Black woman entrepreneur from Trinidad. She is a dynamic speaker, with a very compelling personal narrative.

My point is, the party has shown how lazy they tend to be when it comes to the Black community. They need to stop it with all the bright, shiny objects and focus on building relationships with and through those who have real influence within the Black community.

After all, politics is all about relationships.

Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party.

BAFBF focuses on the Black entrepreneur. For more information about BAFBF, visit www.bafbf.org.

You can follow Raynard on Twitter @Raynard1223.

Trying My Best Why can’t Black men get paid, too?

By Frank Erickson Contributing Commentator On May 3, the Chicago Tribune said this of the Starbucks incident in an editorial: “When we started reading this sentence in Thursday’s Tribune, ”Two black men arrested for sitting at a Philadelphia Starbucks without ordering anything ...” we fig-

ured we knew how it would end. That the men, entrepreneurs Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, had filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Philadelphia and Starbucks for this injustice.

Or that they were cruising the talk show circuit to air grievances and star in rallies.

“We were mistaken.

“Instead, that sentence ended with an unexpected

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— and profoundly welcome — twist: Nelson and Robinson settled with Philadelphia for $1 each. No zeros.”

The Chicago Tribune is being racist, because they are not writing editorials about how “profoundly unwelcome” actress Ashley Judd’s approach is, because she is doing exactly the opposite of what these two Black men are doing.

She and many other women have filed multimilliondollar lawsuits against the men that had violated them — and jumped into what the Chicago Tribune calls “America’s gimme-gimme litigation-wild system.” These women are also “cruising the talk-show circuit to air grievance and star in rallies.”

Why are only the Black men seen as “gimmegimme” if they filed a lawsuit, or seen as opportunistic if they went on talk shows?

Why must only the Black men be expected to settle for a dollar? They are victims just as the women are.

We need some answers from the Chicago Tribune editorial board.

Frank Erickson lives in Minneapolis.

Fighting discrimination in the housing market takes a strong FHA

By Charlene Crowell Contributing Columnist In the classic movie, Gone with the Wind, the owner of the Tara plantation admonished his daughter for remarking that she didn’t care about her home. In a sharp rebuke, Gerald O-Hara declared that “land was the only thing worth living for, worth fighting for…worth dying for.”

For the fictional O’Hara family, Tara was their home and the source of the family’s wealth. Fast forward to the 21st century, having a home remains a rock-solid route to building wealth that grows and becomes a key opportunity to share that same wealth intergenerationally — unless you are among those who have been denied your own “American Dream.”

New research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) finds that today’s racial wealth gaps were supported and sustained by the federal government’s Fair Housing Administration (FHA). From the program’s inception during the 1930s, FHA perpetuated racial discrimination by making mortgage credit broadly available to White borrowers while at the same time, excluding Blacks and other people of color.

foreclosure and became a sustainable alternative.

Today, with much of the mortgage market recovered, unnecessarily tight and expensive credit in the conventional mortgage market often makes FHA the only option to finance homeownership for low- to moderate-income borrowers, lower-wealth borrowers, and borrowers of color. This single-option also means that borrowers — broadly denied the lower-cost, most-affordable private loans available — have a slower rate of home appreciation due to fees and insurance that accompany governmentbacked loans.

CRL’s analysis of mortgage data from 2004 to 2016 also found that: The FHA market share for Black and Latino borrowers now approaches half of all purchase mortgage lending to these borrowers: • FHA is the major source of mortgage credit for higherincome Black and Latino borrows as compared to conventional lending; • Of the top 10 FHA home purchase lenders in 2004, five were banks and five were non-depositories; by 2016, eight of the top 10 FHA lenders were non-depositories.

It is important to note that

tions, enforcement of the law can additionally include a company or representative being banned from future federal funds or contracts.

State attorneys general would counter this lender claim by pointing to the $25 billion national mortgage settlement reached with five of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers as evidence that lenders engaged in egregious conduct in clear violation of the law.

The significance of major banks withdrawing from the mortgage market is further underscored by other findings shared in a related report by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA): • Since 1988, close to $1 billion in victim compensation has resulted from lawsuits alleging redlining and discrimination by mortgage lenders; • Housing discrimination complaints grew from 2016 to 2017’s 28,843 cases; • Of 2017’s discriminatory housing complaints, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) processed less than five percent, or 1,311; and • Among the 6,896 complaints processed by state and local Fair Housing Assistance Program Agencies, the Department of Justice

“We must put an end to the many institutionalized barriers that prevent too many families in this country from fair access to housing.”

More importantly, FHA has an important role to play in leveling today’s mortgage finance field and its twotiered system.

“These homeownership rate disparities did not occur by chance,” argued Peter Smith and Melissa Stegman, authors of Repairing a twotiered system: The critical but complex role of FHA. “The homeownership rate gap between Whites and people of color is, in large part, due to historic federal housing policy choices that created decades-long impacts.”

The CRL, however, credits FHA mortgage lending as an important aid to the nation’s economic recovery following the Great Recession. As much of private mortgage lending retreated during the housing crisis, FHA increased its purchase market share to 42 percent in 2009. Prior to that economic crisis, FHA’s market share was only 8.8 percent of the market.

FHA also sustained the mortgage market and provided broad liquidity for wealthier borrowers in addition to low-to-moderate income families. FHA’s refinancing of toxic subprime loans saved many family homes from

banks leaving the FHA insured program, comes at a time of record profits, made possible in large by taxpayer dollars that provided a financial bailout of failing financial institutions during the housing collapse.

These lenders exit the program at a time when it is inadequately funded and lacks up-to-date technology that could enhance its administrative functions. Further, the exit of large banks additionally became a gateway for nondepository institutions to fill the market’s gap. Non-banks, subject to fair lending protections, are not however included in the Community Reinvestment Act. Many of the financial abuses that led to the housing crisis began with unregulated and non-bank lenders.

Many lenders will argue that the retreat from FHA was caused by actions taken by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice under the False Claims Act. This federal law allows the government to hold companies accountable for making “false claims” to the government about their products or services. Beyond being assessed damages for infrac-

brought only 41 cases.

“As the 2018 Trends Report shows, we must put an end to the many institutionalized barriers that prevent too many families in this country from fair access to housing,” said Lisa Rice, the NFHA President and CEO. “We cannot build a thriving society as long as our nation is plagued by discrimination, segregation, and severe economic inequality.”

CRL President Mike Calhoun said that in the year that marks a half-century of the Fair Housing Act it is appropriate to acknowledge the journey traveled in five decades.

It’s also the time to, “look ahead to the hundreds of miles yet to travel, before fair housing is a reality for all,” Calhoun said.

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Deputy communications director. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

Thanks to Charlene Crowell and NNPA for sharing this story with us.

May 17-23, 2018

“We get to be role models now to show everybody – people of color – that you can do it.”

FireFighters Continued from page 1

certifications. I decided to go get my EMT [training] in 2012, and I continued on to medical school.” She made the qualification list in 2014. “It’s been about eight years.”

“We are going to make sure that we are here for her,” said Minneapolis Battalion Chief Melanie Rucker, a 19-year veteran. She was promoted earlier this month to her present position after four years as deputy personnel chief. “I am across the river in Minneapolis, and I am just proud for her and to be here for her.”

According to its 2016 annual report, the Minneapolis Fire Department has 401 firefighters, 54 of them Black males. Seven of the 43 females are Black.

“We [have] got to make sure that we continue to be in the fire department and [are] making sure that our community and our young people know that this is a career for us,” said Rucker on hiring more Blacks.

“The hardest part is learning,” Williams said, because he didn’t have the prior firefighting experience that several of his fellow class members did. “Overall the academy was really tough, but it made me who I am.”

Even harder, perhaps, is the mental grind, Springsted noted. “They [the instructors] know how to bring it down to a level,” he explained. “It was mentally and physically demanding – the day-to-day.

You have to reevaluate how you approach things.”

Rucker says it is even harder for prospective Black women firefighters: “We have to push hard and to work extra hard, especially being a woman and an African American woman. It’s like a doubleedged sword. Not only [do] you have to fight because we are female, but as well as be-

Brittany Baker (l) and Melanie Rucker (r) Photo by Charles Hallman ing a Black female.

“You get a lot of bigotry, a lot of kickback. To have that tough skin and courage is big. She [Baker] had to go through her battles to be the second African American female firefighter in the St. Paul Fire Department. We all have, but she got extra over here,” Rucker stated.

“It’s definitely rough,” Baker said. “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

When times got really hard for me, I just reminisced on things one of my mentors had to go through.” She was referring to Debbie Montgomery, the first Black female police officer in St. Paul, who attended the ceremony.

“Whatever [Montgomery] had to go through was obviously way worse than whatever I would go through,” Baker continued. She added that her mother also was inspirational, and that her faith kept her strong as well throughout the four-month training. “If God didn’t want me here, I wouldn’t be here,” she said. “He has me – I don’t have to worry about anything else.”

Applications for St. Paul firefighters have closed for 2018, Hamilton reported. The next academy class is expected to start in January 2019.

The one-hour public cere-

Center Continued from page 1

always been missing — not only in the Northside work — but in all communities of color, is the private sector,” she said. “We’ve got neighborhoods, we’ve got community, we’ve got public sector, we’ve got philanthropy, nonprofits and we’re all sitting around begging, ‘Where’s the business and how do we get business and what would it take?’ This is that.

mony and cake and coffee reception afterwards was not only for the graduates but a celebration for their families and supporters as well.

“We stuck together as a group. You got to have good friends and family that support you. It’s tough to do it by yourself,” Springsted said.

“We get to be role models now to show everybody – people of color – that you can do it.”

Williams surmised, “I have no regrets at all. I want to be able to do for my kids, and be an example for my son.”

“It means something to my kids and my mom. It is definitely worth it,” Baker said. “I plan to continue to work hard and get better. I want to continue to get stronger, and I want to help other people get to this point, people that may not have the same support that I have. To be able to give back, reach back and grab other people.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ s p o k e s m a n - r e c o r d e r. c o m .

Graphic of SPFD badge and patch courtesy of the St. Paul Fire Department’s Facebook page.

CEO in a recent statement.

She said Black is “widely recognized for leading innovative, strategic, and collaborative cross-sector initiatives that drive growth and inclusion. This is a huge step forward for our region and an opportunity for our region to lead the nation.”

The community is already taking note.

“I think the center is a great idea,” said Bill English who works on the University of Minnesota’s Northside Job Creation Team. “And, I like the leadership and I think they are on target.”

English’s primary concern, however, is to ensure underserved communities get heard.

“You have to target specific communities – like North Minneapolis, like East Side St. Paul and like South Minneapolis, that somehow seems to be left out – maybe because of the change in demographics,” he said. “But, the demographics still have a lot of poor people or low-income people. So, we need to elevate this so the center will now start looking at these pockets where people of color live and are underserved.”

Black encourages the community-at-large to be vocal and active in the work.

“Sign up for the newsletter, fuel us with information,” she said. “And, continue to tell us what’s needed. Continue to drive accountability and tell us areas that need to change.”

For more information, visit the center’s website at www.centerforeconomicinclusion.org.

Stephanetta Harmon welcomes reader responses to sharmon@spokesman-recorder.com. Photo courtesy of subject.

She later explained, “Why I want to launch the ideological civil war is [that] I want Black people to start debating. When you are debating, you are thinking. If you are saying that we all think [alike], that’s a problem.”

Not unlike West, Owens recently stirred up her own controversy after saying that former President Barack Obama and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are largely to blame for the setback in U.S. race relations. “I blame Obama,” she said May 6 during an appearance on Fox News’ Fox and Friends.

“His eight years in office did a lot of damage in terms of race relations in this country... Hillary didn’t help much when she kept calling everybody racist and sexist…”

“I meant it, and you can quote me,” Owens told the MSR. “Hillary Clinton’s entire platform had no interest in the issues that meant [something] to us in the Black community. They [the Democratic Party] don’t think Black people are smart enough…in understanding the issues that are in our community.

“Obama was just a puppet. He didn’t do anything for me,” she continued. “I don’t care if he was Black, White or Spanish. I was not misquoted. It was exactly what I meant. I think Obama had very little power. If he had, perhaps he would have done something different. I am sticking to it.”

“I’ve been praying for decades for someone like you,” Earline McCauley, an older Black woman, told Owens during a Q&A session after her speech. McCauley was among the handful of Blacks at the luncheon.

“I think Candace Owens is helping to bridge the gap in conservatism and the Black community,” former Council on Black Minnesotans executive director Patwin Lawrence said afterwards. “Most Blacks are conservative. Unfortunately, we vote Democratic for some reason.

It’s because the Republican Party and conservatives seem to represent White supremacy, when that’s not necessarily true.”

Owens wrapped up the MSR interview saying, “I’m really passionate on how we’ve been duped in the Black community. I have no intention of shutting up about it. I want every Black person to hear me.”

Firebrand Continued from page 1

selfies upon request with high school students and adults of all ages before and after her speech.

“I should be a Democrat, but I am not a Democrat,” she boasted amidst loud cheers. “Racism hasn’t stopped me from being what I want to become.”

She decried Beyoncé and Jay-Z, CNN and the media, the Democratic Party, colleges and universities that don’t appear to allow conservatives to speak as freely as liberals do, and just about anything else that challenged her views. “I had girls come into my face shouting at me,” said Owens.

“A [White girl] screamed at me and said, ‘I am a White supremacist. What gave me away?’” she recounted amidst chuckles.

“Being conservative is like being gay in the 1980s,” Owens said. “It is an uphill battle for conservatives.”

She also talked about her association with West. “He will have a great impact on politics. You listen to his music… He always advocates for individualism.” She also agreed with his remarks that slavery for Blacks “sounds like a choice” during a recent TMZ interview. “I thought he was spot-on,” Owens stressed, saying that West is just misunderstood.

[West’s remarks on slavery] “came across terribly,” Owens later told the MSR during a sitdown interview after her speech. “I know what he meant because I had a conversation with him, and he did clarify [his remarks] afterwards on Twitter… But, once you say something and they can latch onto it and demonize you, they will.

“What he meant is that in 400 years, we [Blacks] went straight from having our bodies and our minds enslaved to now it [being] a choice,” she continued. “We are choosing to be mentally enslaved. We are choosing to accept the idea that we can’t overcome any obstacles, and we think there is power in that. There’s no power in being a victim.”

Owens also told her audience that “We are living in a more privileged time” than Blacks Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to did in the early 20th century. “I always wanted challman@spokesman-recorder.com. Photos by James to launch an ideological civil war in the Black Netz, courtesy of the American Experiment. community. I want us to say, ‘I am not a victim.’”

“I am a conservative and [I am] comfortable talking about that,” Owens proudly declared.

Parks Continued from page 1

violence in the city. “It’s a lot of kids that get in trouble for some dumb s**t that they do, so let’s keep their a**es busy.”

French said he has tasked himself with the job of always keeping gentrification at the forefront of his decision making. He explained that making improvements to parks can have the unintended consequence of raising property values and rents, which leads to displacement.

He used as an example the pending improvements to the Upper Harbor Terminal near North Minneapolis. “I’m really worried about the people in North Minneapolis. There’s no real affordable housing over

“This is a huge step forward for our region and an opportunity for our region to lead the nation.”

“This is us really saying this is an opportunity to pull business and have business in their lane alongside the best of what the community…the public sector has to offer and philanthropy through metrics and by driving accountability and by keeping communities centered in that work.”

If successful, the center would do more than just help close the gap, but also impact the overall economic profile of the state. In the Twin Cities alone, the percentage of people of color is expected to rise to 40 percent by 2040, true income parity could add upwards of $32.1 billion to the state’s economy.

In addition to Black, the center’s leadership includes former HealthPartners CEO Mary Brainerd, who serves as board chair, along with Kristin Beckmann, former Deputy Mayor in St. Paul, as COO. The center aims to build a staff of 30 with an annual working budget of $6 million.

“The Center fills a crucial gap by establishing a dedicated, expert, and collaborative partner for those of us committed to creating an economy that works for everyone,” said CFEI Board Chair Mary Brainerd, former HealthPartners

5

there, and they’re already in a housing crisis right now,” he said.

French said introducing more inclusive hiring practices would make the parks’ employees more representative of the communities they are serving.

As someone with a criminal record, French also said he wants to be intentional about inclusive hiring practices within the parks. “I want to make sure people who have had a felony eight, nine years ago have an opportunity to work in our parks.”

When French first moved to South Minneapolis, he said the people kids listened to the most were former gang members. “They are more effective than some White woman we bring out from Maple Grove to work in our parks,” French said. “We need to be able to hire some of those people, and

some of [them] may happen to have a criminal record.”

With the new progressive city council and parks board, French said, they need to strike while the iron is hot.

In order to make policies that lead to more racial and economic equity, marginalized groups need to have a seat at the table.

“I don’t think Black folks or just marginalized groups at all understand the power they have,” French said. “It’s time to just start educating folks and letting them know how much power they really got, and letting them know that this power that you have affects things like your schools and your housing.”

Keith Schubert welcomes reader responses to kschubert@ spokesman-recorder.com.

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6

May 17-23, 2018

Getting that first date!

Life Etiquette -according to Ms. J.

Nearly 80 percent said they like to be asked out directly. They prefer face-to-face or telephone calls. Some said an email is fine, but it couldn’t be an email that Life Etiquette, it’s all about sounds like a test message with an emoji, e.g., “wd u go respect for ourselves, out w/me.” respect for others Here are five of the top comments from those who and respect for the world around us. like a clear, direct approach to being asked out on a date: Call me or ask me in person; emails and texts are not pring is finally upon private enough.

I’m old school — ask me. Arrange the date or give me options. us, and as the weather Hanging out is hanging out; a date is a date. Make it clear if you are warms, people want to get out and connect with others. interested in a date.

Keep it casual; there’s less pressure and a better opportunity to So what better time than now to make an authentic connection. discuss dating etiquette?

Be okay with a friendship, it could blossom…or not.

I recently received a question Also, you may have noticed that, in these “modern times”, it seems from one of my male clients, asking, “How do I setup a great that people are not sure if they are on a date or just hanging out. Oftentimes, this is how it happens. date for my loved one?” How sweet.

Him: “Do you know about that new restaurant on Chicago Avenue”?

This is an awesome question because it shows that men still want Her: “Yes, I know about that new restaurant.” to get it right, or in other words, put their best foot forward in the datHim: “We should go sometime.” ing arena.

Her: “Yes, we should.”

I thought I’d be able to quickly sum up this whole dating thing in a Him: “What about Friday night?” couple of short paragraphs. It seemed pretty simple to me because of Her: “Sure, that will work.” how I like to be asked out on a date. Just ask: “Juliet, I’d love to take you Is that a date? Or, are these two just hanging out? Are they going out on a date” or “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

That’s actually how my husband of 15 years asked me. It was kind Dutch? Actually, some of the respondents said that hanging out toof old-fashioned and sweet, yet direct and confident — gentlemanly. Of gether is a more contemporary way of dating in today’s culture. Do you course, I said, “Yes!” The rest is history. There was no mystery around agree?

The respondents who took a more casual approach were less than whether it was a date or not. By the way, he’s still a gentleman and, yes, 1 percent. And as I continued to review their responses, something we still have date night.

Have you ever gone out on what you thought was a “date” only to jumped out at me that I hadn’t considered — there are many women discover it wasn’t? I have. So being vague about going out on a date out there who have not been on a date in years! Years!

Age was not a significant contributor in that there were reports from does not work for me.

After pondering this issue — the etiquette of asking for a date — I women 20 years old to 70-plus who have not been asked decided that my response may have been a little short-sighted. To get for a date in over five years — one even said 10 years.

S

“Something jumped out at me that I hadn’t considered — there are many women out there who have not dated in years! Years!” some unbiased responses, I reached out to my email buddies and Facebook friends.

I texted, tweeted and even had a few face-to-face “interviews” asking the question: “How do you like to be asked out on a date”? I covered the gamut, from millennials to super-boomers (70-plus).

I was blown away by the plethora of responses. More than 80 women from all over the country gave such a wide range of responses that B:5.5” I decided to summarize those responses and share them with you.

Therefore, this column is dedicated to the question,T:5.25” “How do you like to be asked out on a date?”

Must be 18+ to play.

Minnesota men, I’m just sayin.’

Some of the women have settled into their singleness; others who would love to go on a date but have not been asked. I know, I know, women can ask, but as you can see from some of the responses above, many women still like to be asked.

Now that we know that many women DO prefer to be asked out on a date, here are some ways to say it or to ask — in their words: “I’d like to take you out on a date to a museum or a walk around the lake.”

In a card or text: “Could I have the honor of your presence at dinner (insert date)?”

“It seems we have a lot in common. I would love to learn more about you. Do you think we can schedule time to get together over coffee desert or dinner?”

“I would love to take you out to lunch, (coffee) etc.”

“Are you available on Sunday?

There’s a jazz brunch that I think you would enjoy. Would you like to join

me?” or “Would you be my date?”

In closing, gentlemen, allow me to sum up 10 points to consider when asking a woman for a date.

Let the lady know you want to get to know her better.

You can ask her what she enjoys and what she likes to do, but you should do the planning.

Allow her to choose or decide together where to go and what to do.

Get to know her as a person. Take it slow, be low-key, and ask lots of questions and LISTEN. Pay attention. Is she attentive? Is she asking questions about you? Is she listening? Or, is she checking text messages or making calls or taking selfies?

Find out if there is a connection point and if there appears to be mu-

Courtesy of MGN tual interest and attraction. Then, take it from there.

Remember, hanging out is hanging out. You need to make it plan that it’s a date.

Be nice about it; be a gentleman.

No means no. As you can see from above, there are plenty of fish in the sea; keep trying and enjoy the adventure.

Finally, no creepiness or weirdness…a turn off! Warning, warning!

You can’t appear too eager, anxious or desperate. If you exhibit these characteristics, you may have been lucky enough to get a first date, but it’s not likely that you will get another. You should appear interested but not overly so. In other words, it’s a delicate (fine) balance between showing genuine interested and being a bugaboo.

If you don’t know, let me tell you, most women are checking you out.

They are Googling, Facebooking, looking at arrest records and credit reports; some are even going to mostwanted.com.

What’s on your social media account? If you Google yourself, what will you find? Have you dished it all on Facebook? If you have anything out there that makes you appear “suspect,” then clean it up and be willing to share about it with your date or potential date.

If you’re interested in more dating tips, make sure to keep an eye out for a future columns about the topic.

Until then, if you would like etiquette coaching please contact me at jmitchell@spokesman-recorder.com or ms.j@mannersarememorable. com.

Gabrielle Union breaks into the suspense genre

By Paige Elliott Online/Entertainment Editor

The new I’MN to Win scratch game has a top prize of $100,000.

So say I’MN and then play I’MN to Win.

T:10.5”

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5/3/18 5:42 PM

B:10.75”

A maternal instinct-driven thriller on Mother’s Day weekend may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Breaking In starring Gabrielle Union found an audience. The $6 million budget home invasion suspense flick opened at number-three behind Avengers: Infinity War and Life of the Party to a respectable $16.5 million estimate, according to industry reports.

Gabrielle Union in Breaking In Ignoring the poor reCourtesy of Universal Pictures views — it earned a 26 percent “fresh” rating on reSo what made this movie work? Gabriview aggregation site Rottentomatoes.com — I caught a Sunday afternoon showing with elle Union. She went all in. It was fun to see my mom, expecting, if nothing else, a campy, a woman in peril flip the script on her attackso-bad- it’s-good, popcorn flick. But the mov- ers. Yes, she was understandably terrified, ie ended up being a straightforward thriller but not so much that it kept her from thinkthat managed to keep me and the audience on ing, plotting and fighting. Shaun had grit, edge from start to finish. smarts, and seemed to be able to take a punch The first scene sets the tone as we’re in- better than any of the men in the film. troduced to Shaun’s (Union) doomed father The movie also boasts sharp direction (Damien Leake), who we soon learn is in a from James McTeigue, who made good use of dark and illegal business for which he is set the sprawling 25-acre estate stocked with evto testify. He never makes it to trial, however, ery high-tech device you could dream of. Aland his demise is swift and absolutely brutal. so, Shaun’s kids played by Ajiona Alexus and From there, the thin plot is set: Shaun, who Seith Banee Carr were a delight to watch. was estranged from her father, presumably It would be great to see this film propel because of his criminal lifestyle, unwittingly Union to greater movie fare and starring vestumbles into the dangerous path he left be- hicles that display her range. In the meanhind. time, if you’re looking for a fun thriller, BreakDo we know what kind of shady busi- ing In should hit the spot — just enjoy the ride ness her father is in? Not really. Is it clear and don’t ask a lot of questions. what Shaun does for a living, for that matter? Nope. Is there any real character develBreaking In opened nationwide May 11. Go opment for any of the characters? Not a bit. to www.breakinginmovie.com for more info. Check Do any of these unanswered questions local listings for show times. stop this film from being enjoyable? Not for me or the moviegoers in the theater I was in; Paige Elliott welcomes readers’ responses to applause broke out several times during the pelliott@spokeman-recorder.com. show, including the ending.

May 17-23, 2018

7

“Get Lit” aims to give young women an early start at self-care ty traumatic in turmoil. I wasn’t really taking care of myself. So, I made a priority to [attend] a self-care event each month.”

Accordingly, the purpose of “Get Lit & Let Go” is to confront, address and resolve such life issues as breaking trauma cycles, mental health, motherhood, relationship balance

women are the second highest [sufferers of] domestic abuse next to Native Americans.

“Because we put others first, we fail [on] so many levels. It’s time to start winning. You have to stop and say, ‘If I’m not well, I can’t take care of anybody else.’”

While no one can expect everything to be turned

authentic within yourself and accept yourself for who you are. Once you [do that], you’re aware that, ‘Okay, this is where I’m at. This is where I want to go, and I’m going to get there.’ You start to take yourself seriously.

“One size fits all wisdom doesn’t work. You have to find something that works for you, that resonates for

“Our biggest thing is to bring awareness of selfcare, self-love. Give these young queens the ability to transition into adulthood with a little bit more confidence.” and spiritual growth, not to mention the everyday matter of being able to manage money.

Darris underscores that it is important to dismantle the superwoman syndrome.

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer

W

hat greater investment can one make than in the young? “Get Lit & Let Go,” an upcoming event at New Rules, will provide a space for young women, ages 1518, to learn the importance of self-care in a fun environment.

The upcoming daylong event, organized by Shaundelle Darris of HerSiliency and Sierra Carter of The Zen Bin, emphasizes a vital aspect seldom promoted in the mainstream: self as a personally empowering resource.

As Darris emphatically states, “We focus holistically, organically on how important it is to build your mind, body and soul.

There’s mediation, yoga.

A lot of our things are fun with a recreation focus because a lot of people neglect that kind of self-caring.

“We have a huge healing component, [including] a faith-based series, which is a community healing experience that’s support group focused,” continues Darris. “Our biggest thing is to bring awareness of self-care, self-love. Give these young queens the ability to transition into adulthood with a little bit more confidence,

stronger aspirations.”

Forgo the assumption that something this good for you has to be dry and bordering on academia.

As Darris states, “I knew, in partnering [with] Sierra, that it wouldn’t be boring. It wouldn’t be sitting in front of someone for two hours and listening to a lecture. Both our organizations are self-care, so it was natural [that] we gravitated together.”

All too often, life for urban African American females entails traumatic ordeals. Darris recalls, “[I] was in the beginning of my healing process. The last four years have been pret-

around in one day, you have to begin by taking steps in a healthy direction, and most importantly, at an opportune time in life. “We are committed to helping to foster these young queens’

you, so you can be successful at whatever you do,” continues Carter.

The event will also offer several scholarships that recipients can use to invest in their future, be it college, trade school or their own businesses. If you want to attend for the duration, no need to worry about missing a meal as dinner and breakfast are provided.

“Get Lit & Let Go” will be held at New Rules Event Center, 2015 Lowry Ave. N. in North Minneapolis on Saturday, June 23 from 8 pm in the evening to 8 am the next morning. Admission is free.

For more info and RSVP, go to http://bit.ly/EventBriteGetLit.

“Society has programmed us to take care of others before we take care of ourselves. African American

self-care regimes early,” says Darris.

“The biggest thing for me,” says Carter, “is to be

Rapper Meek Mill calls for criminal justice reform

By Lauren Victoria Burke Contributing Writer

R

apper Meek Mill sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt to talk about his experiences in the criminal justice system for a Dateline interview that aired on Sunday, May 6.

“I had eight years of probation that turned [into] 16 years of probation,” Mill said in a preview of the interview.

“Something is not working,” in the criminal justice system.

TMZ.com reported that Judge Genece Brinkley amended the order regarding Mill’s bail conditions, “and he now has approval to travel outside of Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County for scheduled business activities.”

According to TMZ.com, “The amended order also gives Meek approval to live in Montgomery Co. The original bail conditions required him to live in neighboring

Photo courtesy of Instagram/Meek Mill/MGN Online

Philadelphia County. Meek still has to submit to at least one urine test per month.”

After being sentenced for violating probation and spending almost five months in prison, Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill was released on April 24.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered an immediate release for Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, and also instructed the judge in his case to assign an “unsecured bail.”

On Twitter, Mill thanked God, his family and his public advocates for their love, support and encouragement.

“While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, vis-

its, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive,” Mill tweeted.

Mill added that he planned, “to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.”

Mill was given a two- to four-year prison sentence in November 2017 for violating his probation stemming from a 2008 gun and drug case.

According to Pitchfork. com, when Judge Genece E. Brinkley sentenced Mill, she “cited a failed drug test, violation of court-ordered travel restrictions, and two misdemeanor arrests: for reckless driving involving a motorcycle in Manhattan and for an alleged altercation at the St. Louis airport.”

Pitchfork.com also reported that, “Charges in the New York case are set to be scrubbed from Meek’s record in April, if he avoids further violations; the St. Louis charge was reportedly dropped. Regardless, she gave him the two- to fouryear sentence.

Mill’s case garnered the attention of civil rights activists across the nation, and was cited as an example of a broken criminal justice system. Celebrities including Jay-Z, Colin Kaepernick, T.I. and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, also took interest in the case.

On the same day he was released, Mill was spotted at the Philadelphia 76ers playoff game against the Miami . Mill sat next to comedian Kevin Hart and 76ers coowner Michael Rubin, another supporter. The 76ers won the game, which marked the team’s first playoff series win

since 2012.

“We applaud the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for directing Judge Genece Brinkley to immediately release Meek Mill from prison, underscoring what we already knew, he did not deserve to be imprisoned in the first place,” stated Rashad Robinson, the executive director of Color of Change.

“This decision sets an important precedent against the unjust jailing of so many Black and Brown people for petty probation violations.”

Robinson continued: “Meek’s case is just one example of how the excessively punitive criminal justice system targets Black people every day and turns prisons into profit-generating institutions.”

Robinson noted that thousands of people are illegally detained in Philadelphia jails on unjust probation and parole violations every day without a hearing or the possibility of posting bail.

“Together with money bail, probation detainers are one of the largest drivers of mass incarceration,” Robinson said. “With the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision, we proved that when our communities hold those in power accountable, we can expose our racist criminal justice system and stop its disproportionate impact on the lives of Black people.”

This article was originally published at BlackPressUSA.com. Lauren Victoria Burke is a congressional correspondent for the NNPA Newswire.

You can reach Lauren by email at LBurke007@gmail.com and on Twitter at @LVBurke.

Thanks to Lauren Victoria Burke and NNPA for sharing this story with us.

8

May 17-23, 2018

Sister Spokesman presents the “keys to homeownership” a copy of your credit report from all three reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) by going to the government site www.annualcreditreport.com. According to Rice, most lenders pay attention to the Experian report.

For more homeownership resources, go to http://bit.ly/MPHhomesources.

For info about Urban Institute’s report, go to http://bit.ly/UIHomeownership.

Visit MSRNewsOnline.com for more photos and video from “Keys to Homeownership.”

Next up, Sister Spokesman will once again gather at the Hallie Q. Brown Center for “The Business of Beauty” on June 2. Go to Facebook/ Sister Spokesman to RSVP.

(l-r) Panelists Shawna Frazier, Cheryl Rice, Marie Martin and Dan Gerl

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ecent data from the Urban Institute shows that racial disparity in homeownership rates are highest in the Northeast and Midwest, with Minneapolis claiming the biggest divide — a whopping 50 percent difference between Black and White homeownership rates. Panelists at Sister Spokesman’s “Keys to Homeownership” on May 5 spoke on such disparities and offered information and resources for first-time homebuyers.

The panel consisted of Shawna Frazier of Real Max Results; Cheryl Rice, a representative of Minnesota Housing; and Marie Martin of Martin & Hedervare PLLC. Dan

Gerl, a Mortgage Loan Originator at American Mortgage & Equity Consultants, made an impromptu appearance on the panel upon request.

The hour-long discussion took place at Hallie Q. Brown Center in St. Paul, with panelists sharing their experiences and answering questions from audience members.

Rice reported that homeownership rates in Minnesota are at 74 percent for Whites, but only 22 percent for African Americans. Later in the discussion, Frazier lamented the low number of African American homeowners in Minne-

sota, saying, “We want everybody to win. But when it’s White, Asian, Latino and then Black [in last place] something doesn’t feel right. “It’s all because we don’t have the education. And once we have the information, we need to act on it.”

The biggest discussion takeaways: Don’t be afraid to dream and have a vision of yourself owning your own home.

Educate yourself at the start of the homebuyer process and remain proactive in seeking out information.

Know your credit score. Obtain

After the panel discussion, attendees gathered more information about homeownership and shopped with vendors.

Photos by Olivia Crutchfield

Model Cities names Kizzy Downie as new CEO Model Cities has announced that its Board of Directors has named seasoned Model Cities’ veteran Kizzy Downie as the organization’s next chief executive officer, effective August 6, 2018.

She succeeds Beverley Oliver Hawkins, who will be retiring as Model Cities’ CEO effective July 20, 2018.

Downie, 40, takes the helm with more than 12 years of experience at Model Cities. She has held four positions at Model Cities: Youth Enrichment Services program coordinator, manager of housing services, director of operations management and director of community services.

As the new CEO, Downie’s top priorities will be sustaining the organization’s performance and advancing its cache of support services.

Downie most recently served as Model Cities’ di-

rector of community services where she oversaw Family Support Services, Youth Services Programs, Homeownership Services, and Financial Literacy, the largest of Model Cities’ three divisions. Before joining Model Cities in 2006, Downie served as program coordinator of Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama.

“The CEO Search Committee unanimously recommended Kizzy Downie to the board to be our next CEO and the board unanimously approved the recommendation,” said Brenda Bailey chair of the Model Cities board.

“I am proud to say we found a great match for what Model Cities’ needs. Kizzy will be an excellent leader in the Model Cities movement.

She is smart, brave, unpretentious and has the skills the organization requires,” Bailey continued.

Photo courtesy of Model Cities “I am honored and humbled to be appointed Model Cities’ CEO. I am committed to continuing the work that has been started and sustaining the support our stake-

holders have for Model Cities,” said Downie. “As we create the Model Cities of tomorrow, I will focus on facilitating opportunities that enrich the lives of our community, while

also creating future sustainability and growth within our agency.”

Downie earned a Bachelor’s Degree and gained a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She currently serves on the boards of Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care and Cycles for Change.

She is also a member of the Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOMECo) and African American Financial Capabilities Community of Practice (AAFC-COP) collaborative groups.

Bailey praised the work of Model Cities’ current CEO, saying “Model Cities is deeply appreciative of Dr. Hawkins who has been the Chief Executive Officer of Model Cities for the past 34 years. Her leadership, Bailey said, has built this organization with integrity and a clear sense of purpose.

We will be forever grateful for her leadership and vision.”

St. Paul-based Model Cities, a private nonprofit organization, serves families and youth from the seven-county metro area at six locations. Since its founding in 1967, Model Cities has served several thousand residents in housing and human services and helped advance the community’s revitalization goals. Model Cities also provides homeownership education and counseling services. The nonprofit is developer, owner and manager of residential and commercial properties, including single family, multifamily and mixed-use properties.

For more info, visit Model Cities’ website at www.modelcities. org or Facebook/Model Cities.

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

Bethesda Baptist Church

—Information provided by Model Cities

go green!

Stay Informed on envIronmental and SuStaInabIlIty topIcS!

Obituary

J

James Samuel Jones Jr.

ames Jones, age 67, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Hennepin County Medical Center following a brief illness. James was surrounded by his loving family.

James was a retired car salesman of 30-plus years and is best known as “the car man” and “the tallest salesman on 494.” James worked for most of the car dealerships in the Twin Cities area, most notably at Airlake Ford and Farmington Ford.

James never turned off from being a car salesman.

He could tell you anything and everything about cars and always tried to sell a car to everyone he met no matter who you were. James was a man of many interests and loved to read. He was an avid sports fan and loved the Timberwolves and Gophers.

His daily routine included watching all the sports talk shows and basketball, football, tennis and golf

games. He most enjoyed calling his son Samuel and debating about sports.

James is loved by all his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He was notorious for showing up at many family events with his sense of humor and quick wit.

Each one remembers him in their own special way, especially encouraging them to pursue higher education and athletic dreams.

He never missed an opportunity to take a photo with his siblings and other family members. At every family event he always made his “famous baked beans” and always wanted to know,

“Did you taste the beans yet?”

His greatest joy in life was his wife Debra of 44 years and son Samuel, whom he loved to talk about often.

When Samuel was born he was so happy and proud.

He never lost his enthusiasm talking about Samuel and bragging on his accomplishments. He really loved his family.

Homegoing services will be held Friday, May 18, 2018 at Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church, 217 Mackubin Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104. Reviewal will be from 11 am to 12 pm with services immediately following. Burial will be at Elmhurst Cemetery, 1510 Dale St. No., St. Paul.

Please send flowers and cards in care of James Jones’ family to Billman Hunt Funeral Chapel, 2701 Central Ave. N.E., Mpls, MN 55418

Worship Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

Rev. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor 2600 E. 38th Street.

Mpls., MN 55408 612-827-7928 fax: 612-827-3587 www.greatfriend.org Sunday Morning Worship: 8 am Sunday School: 9 am Morning Worship: 10:40 am N.B.C.: 5:30 pm Evening Worship: 7pm (1st Sunday) www.greatfriend.org The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody

Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor 451 West Central St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444 Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Dr. Willa Lee Grant Battle, Pastor 1908 Fourth Ave. So. Mpls., MN 24 Hour Dial-A-Prayer: 612-870-4695 www.gtdci.org Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Prayer Daily 7 pm Evangelistic Service: Wednesday & Friday 8 pm

Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM

8 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:

Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to Mt. Olivet Baptist Church" Grace Temple Deliverance Center

At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904

www.bethesdamnonline.com email:bethesdamn@prodigy.net

Service Times: Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm Children's Bible Class 7 pm

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May 17-23,2018

Legals

9

Employment A/1 Contract No. 19-018 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 200 E Arch Street, Saint Paul, MN 55130 for FURNISHING JANITORIAL SERVICES AND TRAINING AT THE MCDONOUGH COMMUNITY CENTER, Contract No. 19-018, until 11:00 a.m., local time on June 5, 2018.

A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held in conjunction with a Pre-Proposal Tour on May 24, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the McDonough Community Center, 1544 Timberlake Rd, St. Paul. All questions arising from the pre-proposal conference and tour will be addressed by addendum, if necessary.

A complete set of bid documents are available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com . Digital downloads are no charge, contact Northstar for hard copy prices. Plans will be available Thursday, May 17, 2018.

Proposals must be accompanied by an Equal Employment opportunity form. The successful proposer will be required to furnish a satisfactory performance bond and separate payment bond.

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

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY

LARRY GURTIN PROJECT TECHNICIAN (651) 775-0226

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, May 17, 2018

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN In Re: Estate of Gary John Palmer a/k/a Gary Palmer

Decedent

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROBATE DIVISION Court File No.: 27-PA-PR-18-119 NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS: Notice is given that an Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative was filed with the Registrar herein. No Will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted.

Notice is hereby further given that informal appointment of Deborah J. Palmer, whose address is: 17672 69th Place N., Maple Grove, MN 55311 as personal representative of the estate of the above-named decedent has been made. 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 and the personal representative is empowered to fully administer the estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate, unless objections thereto are filed with the Court (pursuant to Section 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders.

Notice is further given that interested persons having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative or to the Probate Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred.

Dated: April 25, 2018 ALONNA J. WARNS Probate Registrar SARAH LINDAHL PFIEFER Court Administrator

Certificate of Assumed Name Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 N LOVE PROMOTIONS

ASSUMED NAME: PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:

317 3rd Ave SE Minneapolis MN 55414 USA

NAMEHOLDER: Nicole M. Wess

317 3rd Ave SE Minneapolis MN 55414 USA

In whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.

SIGNED BY: Nicole M. Wess EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: maurae38@aol.com DATED: 5/07/2018 11:59 PM Minnesota Spokesman Recorder May 17 & 24, 2018

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: July 16, 2010 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $40,000.00 MORTGAGOR(S): Ronald L. McNichols MORTGAGEE: SharePoint Credit Union DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded with the County Recorder in and for the County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, on September 13, 2010, as Document No. 9558503 ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to Blackstone 1, LLC, recorded April 5, 2018, as Document No. 10542273 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot 3, Block 5, Hickory Ridge First Addition PROPERTY ADDRESS: 6258 Meadowlark Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55369 COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $35,401.93 THAT there has been compliance with all pre-foreclosure requirements; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; THAT pursuant to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of Hennepin County as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: July 11, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.

PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Room 30, 350 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns.

The date on or before which the mortgagor must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property redeemed under section 580.23: January 11, 2019, at 11:59 p.m.

THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Dated: April 20, 2018 Blackstone 1, LLC Assignee of Mortgagee HOELSCHER LAW FIRM, PLLC By: /s/ Brian G. Hoelscher Brian G. Hoelscher #0238752 Attorneys for Assignee of Mortgagee 13100 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 224-9551 THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. FORECLOSURE DATA Minn. Stat. Sec. 580.025 (1) the physical street address, city, and zip code of the mortgaged premises is 6258 Meadowlark Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55369; (2) the name of the transaction agent, residential mortgage servicer, and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: – not applicable; or the name of the residential mortgage servicer and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is not a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: residential mortgage servicer – Blackstone 1, LLC, lender or broker – Blackstone 1, LLC; (3) the tax parcel identification number of the mortgaged premises is: 35-119-22-34-0042; (4) if stated on the mortgage, the transaction agent’s mortgage identification number is: - not applicable; (5) if stated on the mortgage, the name of the residential mortgage originator as defined in section 58.02 is: SharePoint Credit Union Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, May 10,17,24,31 & June 7 & 14, 2018

SUBSCRIBE by calling

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State of Minnesota County of Hennepin With Real Estate In Re the Marriage of: Steven Davis, Petitioner and Donnis Davis, Respondent

The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Operations Generalist in Minneapolis, MN. Salary range is $43,270 - $70,362. For more information visit the court’s website, www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

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Chief U.S. Probation Officer

Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, May 10 & 17, 2018

State of Minnesota

Operations Generalist

Case Type: Dissolution Without Children District Court Fourth Judicial Court CASE NO: 27-FA-18-1047 SUMMONS WITHOUT REAL ESTATE ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS

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 court administrator’s office. 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: 02/16/2018 Signed: Steven Davis

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office is accepting applications for a full-time Chief U.S. Probation Officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This position is located in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Court is seeking a Chief U.S. Probation Officer with experience as an administrator of a diverse and innovative organization, preferably in a court environment. This position has overall management authority and responsibility for the administrative activities of the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and oversees the performance of the statutory duties of the office. The position requires an individual who possesses the experience, management skills, and technical expertise necessary to anticipate and resolve complex administrative, operational, budgetary, and information technology challenges quickly and efficiently. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are required, along with a proven record of leadership and accomplishment. The Chief U.S. Probation Officer reports directly to the Chief United States District Judge, and communicates regularly with the district and magistrate judges and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office staff. The Chief U.S. Probation Officer works in collaboration with the Clerk of the U.S. District Court and the Clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of organizational, procedural, and human aspects in managing a complex organization, preferably in a court environment. Salary range is $110,256 - $202,574, depending on qualifications.

All applications will be given consideration commencing May 10 until the position is filled. For more information visit the court’s website http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

System Protection Engineer – Xcel Energy Services, Inc., Mpls, MN. Req. Bach. in Electrical Eng., or related field, & 5 yrs exp. in power systems protection, or Master’s & 1 yr.exp. Must poss. 1 yr exp. in distribution feeder relay settings; metering & relay drawings; three-phase & DC control drawings, CAPE systems software for protection coordination and short-circuit studies & models; using IEEE standards/guides to keep short-circuit model up to date; & working w/ symmetrical components/networks. To apply, visit the Xcel Energy Careers website at https://jobs.xcelenergy.com, requisition #12521.

No agencies or phone calls please.

Minnesota Spokesman Recorder May 10 , 17 & 24, 2018

View Continued from page 10

Lewis warned, “Every time you see a resistance, there will be a fall back and counter-resistance. I’m concerned about that. Change doesn’t happen without some resistance.”

Before his scheduled panel appearance, Lapchick met with Minnesota AD Mark Coyle and his senior staff, a meeting set up

by Hartmann. It was “an honest, upbeat

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• Divorce

This columnist and Lapchick first met in the 1990s at Macalester College when the late Kwame McDonald asked me to substitute for a no-show on a panel on race. It was humbling to sit with greatness between those two legendary social activists.

“I’m impressed that I know you,” Lapchick told me. But actually it is the other way around.

conversation” on diversity hiring and inclusion, areas in which Lapchick’s annual report cards have found the U of M lacking, the professor reported. “I think it helped put that on the agenda,” Hartmann said of the meeting.

Coyle, in a phone interview, told us that the Lapchick meeting was “impressive. Literally everybody walked out of that room” afterwards impressed with his work, personal history and legacy, said the AD. “This guy is doing it every day. It was a very positive meeting for us… We are grateful that Prof. Hartmann brought him over and spent time with us.”

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June 8-14, 2017

10

9

May 17-23, 2018

Tiger Woods working his way back

I

magine being 42 years old, in great condition, and one of the greatest athletes of all time and most observers thinking you’re done. That is what Tiger Woods has faced from a perception standpoint since 2015. Four back surgeries, many hours of therapy, and stretching and weight-lifting and Woods is measured only by winning.

He’s back on the PGA tour now full-time, and after starting the year as the 1,062nd-ranked player in the world, he’s climbed inside the top 100 players in the world. After finishing in a tie for 11th place in the Players Championship shooting 65-69 on the weekend, Woods has climbed to 80th in the world rankings.

He has his sights on winning again. You can feel it. The Players Championship is called “golf’s fifth major.” The winner Sunday, Webb Simpson, won by four shots. He had a seven-shot lead after 54 holes, which tied Greg Norman’s course record.

It was his first win on tour in 107 tournaments, his last being in 2013. He was forced to change his putting style because the tour banned players using anchored stroke putters two years ago.

We should not be surprised

by Woods. He has, after all, won

79 times on the PGA tour and captured 14 Majors. Only two men in history are ahead of him in the PGA career record book of golf: Sam Snead with 81 career PGA wins and Jack Nicklaus with 18 Major Championships. Woods has 79 and 14, and he’s pain free for the first time in years.

Despite making the cut on the number at -1 after 36 holes, Woods shot 65 on Saturday. That included a 30 on the front side. Sunday he was great again, closing to within four shots of the lead Sunday by Simpson before finishing with a 69.

For the first time since 2001, American-born players have won all five of the top five tournaments in golf: the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship and the Players.

How good is Woods? When is the last time it happened on tour that Americans had won all five in succession? Woods held all five titles – the Players, Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship – simultaneously. He is the only player in history to achieve it.

With three Majors left this year and many other big tournaments, Woods appears to be getting his game back to form.

Sport as a vehicle for social change Conclusion of a two-part column

“Sports is an enormous vehicle for social change,” stated Kane, the Tucker Center’s co-director.

“I think…looking at race and gender is still not focused enough,” Lewis pointed out. “I think it is critical and does reveal how we look at sport…”

“What we have now is athlete activism,” Lapchick added.

“Athletes are now talking about

Dr. Richard Lapchick’s wide, wide worldly circle of friends includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was named Lew Alcindor when they met as high schoolers at a summer basketball camp. A couple of decades later, Nelson Mandela personally invited him to his South African presidential inauguration.

“I was lucky to grow up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and later in the ‘70s [I] became good friends with Muhammad Ali until the time he passed.

I have [as friends] perhaps two of the most prominent Leo Lewis Muslims in the United States,” said The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport founder-director last month on the University of Minnesota’s campus.

Lapchick, U of M professors Mary Jo Kane and Doug Mary Jo Kane Hartmann, and forPhotos by Charles Hallman mer school associate athletic director Leo Lew- things that are important to is were panelists at “Sport as a them, and I think that is going to Larry Fitzgerald can be heard Catalyst for Racial Progress and add to the equation of pressure weekday mornings on KMOJ Ra- Gender Equity” on April 16 at to bring about positive change in dio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY- the Humphrey School of Public these areas.

“When I saw that Colin [KaeAM 740 Monday and Friday at Affairs.

9:10 am, 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.LarryFitzgerald.com.

“There are so many social issues that people have been able to resist and counteract because of the power, reach and scope of social media.”

ANOTHER

VIEW charles hallMan

Richard Lapchick pernick] for the first time [protesting], I said to my wife that he will never get signed by another [NFL] team, that his career is over,” Lapchick recalled. Only a few athletes such as Bill Russell, Jim Brown and Ali have been able to take stand, withstand the critical firestorm, and remain popular figures afterward. Others who similarly took stands didn’t, he stressed.

Social media has become a boon for activism by athletes and

others, Kane continued. “So many things have happened and people have been able to organize and go around the traditional gatekeepers of power because of social media,” she noted. “There are so many social issues that people have been able to resist and counteract because of the power, reach and scope of social media.”

■ See View on page 9

‘Fab Five’ athletes of the week This week’s “Fab Five” athletes are members of the Minneapolis North’s 2016 Class A state championship boys’ basketDr. Mitchell PalMer McDonalD ball team. Four players (Tyler Johnson, Isaac Johnson, Patrick Dembley and Jamil Jackson) are currently embarking on successful collegiate student athlete careers, while the remaining team member (Odell Wilson IV) will begin his this fall.

PreP Scene

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

Sports odds and ends

Winning’s not enough to keep an NBA coaching job

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer The NBA concluded the 2017-18 regular season with six of the 30 head coaches Black, and four of them guided teams to post-season berths. But a Black minus-plus hiring effect has recently taken place.

J.B. Bickerstaff (Memphis), David Fizdale (New York) and Lloyd Pierce (Atlanta) all were hired. Then last week, a day after he was voted coach of the year by his peers, Dwane Casey was canned by Toronto, who was the Eastern Conference’s top seed and reached the second round before being swept by Cleveland.

Casey got fired because his two stars lack heart, and you can’t teach heart. His players punked out against the Cavs’ LeBron James, who virtually singlehandedly took the Raptors out in four straight games. The team axed the franchise’s winningest coach after seven seasons, but his boss, the one who signed the players who can’t get it done, takes no blame at all.

“He was instrumental in creating the identity and culture of who we are as a team, and we are proud of that,” Toronto GM Masai Ujiri said of Casey in a statement. “We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Dwane Casey

Photos by Charles Hallman

Ujiri’s blame deflection move sent shock waves throughout the league’s coaching fraternity. Boston’s Brad Stevens called Casey “a role model for a lot of coaches.” Ty Lue of Cleveland said, “His accolades speak for themselves… He gets Coach of the Year and then you get fired the next day. That’s crazy.”

Tyler Johnson, who was a guard on North’s 2016 championship team, is about to enter his junior year as one of the nation’s top wide receivers for the football team at the University of Minnesota.

Jamil Jackson, a forward on the 2016 Polars title team, earned a basketball scholarship at Southern Utah. He was injured this season after playing in eight games.

Photo courtesy Southern Utah U

Photo courtesy the U of M

J.B. Bickerstaff Casey and Sam Mitchell unfortunately share more than the same skin color: Both are Toronto’s two winningest coaches and both got fired after winning best coaching honors. They got canned by the Timberwolves as well. Both men deserved better treatment and should be still coaching somewhere in the NBA. Bickerstaff last month was promoted from interim coach to head coach at Memphis.

“You hate to see someone I consider a great friend lose his job,” he told me about taking over for Fizdale, who was unceremoniously fired barely a month into the season. “You got to get past that emotion first, and that’s very difficult. Then you have to make adjustments on the fly without practice time.”

He came to Memphis a season ago after five seasons (2011-16) with Houston, first as assistant coach, then named interim coach early in the 2015-16 season and guiding the Rockets to a 37-34 record and a playoff berth. Bickerstaff previously was an assistant coach for four seasons in Minnesota (2007-11) and three seasons in Charlotte (2004-07), where in 200405 he was the NBA’s youngest assistant coach at age 25.

Despite the Grizzlies finishing with one of the NBA’s worst records, and no assur-

ance that Bickerstaff would be promoted, the players nonetheless played hard for him. We talked with him after a big road win over the playoff-contending Wolves.

“We need to develop an identity we want for the future,” Bickerstaff explained. “I hope

“He gets Coach of the Year and then you get fired the next day. That’s crazy.” to set a standard of the culture we want to have, the style of play we want to play, the type of people we want to have in our program. You want to finish as strong as you possibly can and lay some foundation for the coming season.”

Let’s hope Bickerstaff gets the time and tools to do his job, which is winning, getting to the playoffs, and going as far as you can once there. But as we have seen in what happened to Casey, winning isn’t enough.

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

Isaac Johnson, the sharpshooting guard for North in 2016 – and again while leading North to a second Class A title – took over the starting job as a freshman at Western Illinois near the end of the season.

Photo courtesy Western Illinois U

Isaac Johnson, the sharpshooting guard for North in 2016 – and again while leading North to a second Class A title – took over the starting job as a freshman at Western Illinois near the end of the season.

Photo courtesy Western Illinois U

Odell Wilson IV, a five-year starter for the North and member of state championship teams in 2016 and 2017, recently signed to play basketball at North Dakota State University.

Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald