THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
Trust levels plunge after Kroll embraces Trump Police Federation members that allegedly support him—may have intentionally or unintentionally sent an ominous message. They conveyed that they are not fond of Communities of Color in Minneapolis, communities that they are duty-bound
trusted to act in the best interests of immigrants, refugees, Muslims, Latinos and other People of Color? How can you call on those guys to help you when they don’t even like you?” asked local barber Brian Heron, Jr.
PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
November 14-20, 2019 Vol. 86 No. 15 www.spokesman-recorder.com
law enforcement and Communities of Color is at an all-time high. The same is true of this president and Communities of Color. He [Kroll] was a very visible polarizing force. You don’t see other groups of public employees standing on stage
“For the head of the Police Federation to be a supporter of racial profiling, of police brutality, of acts hatred towards people of color speaks volumes.”
Mpls. residents and police more polarized than ever NEWS ANALYSIS By Mel Reeves Community editor
W
hen Minneapolis Police Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation,
took the stage on October 10 at President Donald Trump’s rally in Minneapolis—he and by extension the large majority of
Proposed ‘Africa Village’ mall stirs heated controversy Many Cedar Riverside residents fear gentrification, neglect of other needs
By Abdi Mohamed Contributing writer The project, known as Africa Village, was the focal point of Minneapolis City Councilmember Abdi Warsame’s reelection campaign for Ward Six. Warsame has sought to make good on his promise of delivering a mall to the Cedar Riverside community, but he has been met with opposition from members of the community who are concerned about the development. Over the past year, Warsame has held a number of community forums to build support for his proposed Somali mall. Wars-
ame is a vocal critic of Omar Sabri, the owner of Karmel and Village Market, businesses heavily patronized by the local Somali community. He alleges that Sabri has mistreated his tenants. In order to give Somali business owners another option, Warsame proposed the development of another mall in Minneapolis. “The mall idea came about during his election and it put him over the top,” explained community activist and Cedar Riverside resident Burhan Israfael Isaaq. “He [Warsame] talked about establishing a mall, but it was assumed it would be on Hi-
The Cedar Riverside neighborhood where the proposed Africa Village will be located Photo by Abdi Mohamed
awatha, not in the neighborhood. “This is purely his idea. He has sidestepped and ignored what is already there. He is presenting himself as a savior,” said Israfael Isaaq. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has been a supporter of Warsame’s proposal and attended a forum held at Brian Coyle Community Center on Aug. 30. The pair were soon interrupted and drowned out by protesters opposed to the mall. The large crowd was made up of residents, youth, and the Somali Mothers of Minnesota, an emerging nonprofit organization dedicated to community causes. “You put the cart before the horse,” said Dave Alderson, the co-executive director of the Cedar Riverside Revitalization Program (CRNRP). His organization, along with the West Bank Business Association, have expressed doubts about the project. He sees the CRNRP as a platform for community members to have their voices amplified, especially on an issue he sees as impacting their lives directly. Alderson described the forum with Warsame and Frey as a circus. “Nobody objects to business development in this ■ See Mall on page 5
and sworn to serve and protect. “The mayor said the president wasn’t welcome, but the Police Federation of Minneapolis begs to differ,” Kroll told the rally crowd and, through media coverage, Communities of Color across the nation. The Police Federation head claimed in his speech that police were “oppressed” under the Obama administration. He said that Trump, on the other hand, “let cops do their job, put the handcuffs on the criminals instead of [on] us.” The support that Kroll said the Federation extended to President Trump begs the question: Can police who openly support Donald Trump be
“The optics were problematic,” said retired Judge Pamela Alexander. “When we as a community have to call on police, this [Kroll’s position] may give people pause. Who is coming to my door? Do they care about me as a victim or as a citizen? It sends a very poor message to the community.” Alexander served on a committee under former Governor Mark Dayton that worked on police and community relations. “How are they [Minneapolis police] going to respond to the needs of the community if they are people who agree with and follow this president’s rhetoric?” she asked. “The polarization between
with T-shirts [reading Cops for Trump].” While it’s not clear that a majority of Minneapolis police officers share Kroll’s support for Trump, he has been elected repeatedly to head their Federation and he insists that his brand of right wing politics— which is admittedly narrow, provincial and prejudiced—is backed by his fellow officers. In a recent Star Tribune article he said, “So, if the membership would come and say, ‘Listen, back out of the politics, we don’t want any of it,’ I would do that, but all I’m getting is overwhelming support.” ■ See Kroll on page 5
Launa Q. Newman and Clarissa Walker honored with their own streets erhouses. Walker saw that Sabathani Community Center provided as many services social Two of the most influential Black women in and economic as possible. In the 1990s, pracSouth Minneapolis in the 1980s and ’90s were tically every social justice organization was Launa Q. Newman, affectionately known as housed in the building along with a day care, Ms. Newman, and Clarissa Rogers Walker. food and clothing shelves and senior proBoth now have six-block stretches named for grams. them. Walker organized the Sabathani Family Resource Center, which provided a food shelf, clothing shelf and emergency help to those in need of shelter and other necessities. She worked tirelessly to make sure that the shelves were fully stocked for families in need and that the clothes being given away were presentable. She worked to ensure that everyone was treated with dignity. By MSR staff
Launa Q. Newman The City adopted a resolution on November 8 stating in part, “The Mayor and City Council do hereby honor Clarissa Rogers Walker and Launa Q. Newman for their outstanding contributions to the South Minneapolis community and residents of Minneapolis and that they are forever remembered on the 38th Street corridor.” Clarissa Rogers Walker Way will stretch from 36th to 42nd Street on 3rd Avenue South in Minneapolis, while Launa Q. Newman Way will run from East 36th Street to East 42nd Street along 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis. Ms. Newman and Ms. Walker were pow-
Clarissa Walker
MSR file photos
Walker always had a ready smile for anyone she met. She really was the community’s mom. She was a true believer in the idea that it takes a village as she lived out that ideal. Her family ■ See Honored on page 5
KMOJ taps local expertise to keep pace able to be helpful in a plan to achieve those [opportunities],” said Harris. He is managing partner for 6ix, LLC, a full-service interactive and web development agency. During his career, Harris has worked on fragrance launches and other media campaigns for celebrities like Sean Combs and Beyonce, as well as for large organizations and corporations such as Pepsi and the NBA. While Harris’s focus is brand-building and increasing revenue for the station, Dr. Hamlar wants the station to be more involved in helping young people afford an education. “I want to make sure that our kids have the opportunity to get the education they need as well as opportunity to get scholarships and work toward a are always faced with having no way to pay for it.” Inspired by his background in the medical field,
By Abeni Hill Contributing writer Eric Harris and Dr. David Hamlar are KMOJFM Radio’s newest board members. While neither has a career history in radio, they both strongly identify with the importance of strengthening the community. Harris said he hopes to be a “team player” and learn from his fellow board members as well as the organization. “[I want] to actively listen to KMOJ management issues to develop solutions and achievable objectives for both medium- and longterm.” Harris is looking forward to bringing his experience in marketing and business to KMOJ as well as assisting the board by learning the “best practices to build brand value” for the station. “My strengths are looking at what are the opEric Harris portunities to increase revenue drivers and being
Dr. David Hamlar
Photos courtesy of KMOJ
■ See KMoJ on page 5
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November 14-20, 2019
First Monitors forum targeted achievement gaps
By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing writer
S
ince its inception in 1955, the Monitors Club has had a mission to support the advancement of African Americans and other people of color. This school year it is doing so by taking a look at public education to see what they can do to improve outcomes for Black and Brown children. They began by sending out invitations to 12 schools in the Twin Cities. “Our strategy originally was to start for the central cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and try to collect as many first-ring suburbs as we could,” said Robert Doty, the event planner and a Monitors Club member. “We were also looking at where we had relationships. The superintendent in St. Cloud was an example of that.” The plan was to have several conversations among superintendents with the intent of developing strategies to improve educational outcomes for Black and Brown children. The first superintendents’ forum was held at the University of St. Thomas October 25.
Area Public Schools Superintendent Carlton Jenkins. The moderator, Senator Jeff Hayden (District 62), began by comparing the state’s ranking among the top five in the U.S. for high ACT scores to the persistent gaps in education between White and Brown and Black students. He then asked why these gaps persist and invited suggestions for closing them. Unowsky admitted some awkwardness as the only White man on the panel speaking first and telling the primarily Black audience things he felt they already know. “Let’s be honest about what the state of Minnesota is,” he said. “[If] we look at basically every indicator within the state, the systems of racial oppression are so wide that they are everywhere. So, while I am pleased to be on a panel where we are talking about this in terms of education, if we are going to be realistic and try to tackle this problem, this is a holistic problem.” He said the Metropolitan Council, the chief of police, people from the justice system and the legislature would all need to be involved in the
ing to continue to be a problem, and it’s going to continue to be pervasive.” Dr. Favor agreed with Unowsky in setting higher expectations for kids of color and making sure that they not simply meet standards but exceed them. He said it is also important to listen to students and parents and create pathways for workforce readiness. “Oftentimes we are pushing people into discussions around going to college and discussions about getting into college,” he explained. “But one of the things that I had to reflect back on, some of the mistakes I made as a leader is making sure that we are putting an emphasis on career and workforce readiness.” Mhiripiri-Reed started by referencing the play “Pipeline: Is There No Way Out?” at Penumbra Theatre. “The elephant in the room is not the achievement gap, but the fact that everybody, even our best schools in this state, are allowing or are pushing boys out of school,” she said. “[This is] a state that is mostly White, a state that has no shame for failing our kids of color. A state that has over 90% of elementary teachers [who are]
“We don’t see children of color —Black, Brown, Indigenous—we don’t see them, so it’s hard to have high expectations for what you don’t see.” Both the St. Paul and Minneapolis superintendents were attending the Council of the Great City Schools conference in Louisville, KY on that day, so they sent their assistant superintendents in their stead. Panelists included Superintendent Dr. Steven Unowsky of Richfield Area Schools, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Favor of Roseville Area Schools, Superintendent Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed of Hopkins, and Robbinsdale
conversation. Focusing on education alone would mean looking at systemic racism in the classroom, made prevalent by low expectations for kids of color and the facts that 80% of Minnesota’s school superintendents are men and 96% are White. “And I’m the one on the panel,” Unowsky said. “So, all aren’t in this conversation, aren’t acknowledging the problem. And until we do—statewide and education wide—this is go-
White and female. And so, we have a huge cultural mismatch that our students experience from the get-go.” At the beginning of the school year in Hopkins, Mhiripiri-Reed showed her staff data of the 171 students from kindergarten through second grade that had two or more office referrals. Though 71% of them were students of color, only 47% of the population are students of color. Similar to the play, the long-term negative experienc-
Sen. Jeff Hayden (forefront) moderated the forum. Photo by Demetrius Pendleton es that may begin in preschool often lead to a “strong negative orientation toward school.” Dr. Jenkins said the problem is that Black children are invisible. He referenced a report released October 11 documenting educational disparities for Black and Brown students in Minnesota. “I met one professor here tonight,” he said. “I would have thought every professor in the state would be here tonight. I would have expected that everybody who was really interested and who could see children of color would be here tonight. “Part of our problem, we don’t see us,” Jenkins said. “We don’t see children of color—Black, Brown, Indigenous—we don’t see them, so it’s hard to have high expectations for what you don’t see.” This was the first of many dialogues that the Monitors Club will sponsor in an effort to improve the school experience for students of color. Since the forum, Doty said both the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts have agreed to have a combined conversation at an upcoming
Monitor’s meeting. St. Thomas has agreed to make the forums part of their urban studies curriculum. During the forum there was also a question of what the Monitors could do to support the superintendents. One response was to partner with and support a school, a classroom, or a student. As a result of that conversation, “We have had a request from one of the schools to have the Monitors partner with their high school to come into the school and be mentors,” said Doty. “I was pleased with the relationship that we built and are building with the superintendents,” Doty continued. “Part of what the Monitors are trying to do as best we can is to be a voice for the community. We can pull the community together to have that kind of a dialogue on a recurring basis. I’m really pleased that we’ve started the first steps in doing that.” Vickie Evans-Nash welcomes readers’ responses to vevans-nash@spokesmanrecorder.com.
November 14-20, 2019
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BLOOD CLOTS: what they are and how they become problems DOCTOR’S ADVICE
for your good health
Blood Clot Diagram
Blood clots (thrombi) can occur in • Increasing age, especially after reaching 50 years of age blood vessels, specifically deep veins or arteries. The clot formation oc- • A family history of peripheral artery disease, heart disease or stroke curs from hormonal triggers that occur when blood vessels are damaged, • High levels of homocysteine (a protein component that helps build and Platelets are tiny objects within blood maintain tissue) that can group together to form a plug by sticking to walls of blood vessels.
Valve
274 people die every day from blood clots.
By Sean J. Ennevor, M.D. Guest Contributor
B
lood flows continuously throughout one’s body with the job of delivering oxygen to tissues and removing waste products created from cellular metabolism. The blood within arteries and veins clots to stop bleeding when needed, thus blocking the blood vessels. Veins return blood from areas of the body back to the heart, and arteries carry blood away from the heart. When either arteries or veins are blocked (occluded) unnecessarily, a medical intervention may be necessary that requires hospitalization. An excessive blockage, also known as a thrombus, can cause strokes, heart attacks, loss of extremities, or internal organ damage.
Clotting factors, which are proteins in the blood, cause a reaction that makes the platelets stick together with red blood cells. Finally, there are other proteins that stop the reaction so that the clot is only as big as it needs to be. When the reaction is not slowed, the clot can create problems.
Blood flow
Thrombus
Treatment goals and options The main goals of treatment are: 1. To prevent blood clots from getting larger 2. To prevent travel to the lungs (known as a pulmonary embolus) or other parts of the body 3. To prevent pain, skin sores, or swelling of extremities (known as postthrombotic syndrome Risk factors for a Deep Vein Treatment options include blood Thrombus (blockage) DVT thinners, stents, or procedures to re• Prolonged immobility • Surgery to an arm or leg, including move clots. Blood thinners (anticoagulants) casting for a broken bone don’t “thin” your blood, but they do • Trauma keep a clot from growing or break• Pregnancy ing off. This prevents new clots from • Inherited blood clotting disorders forming. Some popular blood thin• Smoking • Hormone therapy, including birth ners are: • Apixaban (Eliquis) control pills • Betrixaban (BEVYXXA) • Dabigatran (Pradaxa) Risk factors for Arterial Thrombus • Edoxaban (Savaysa) (blockage) • Fondaparinux (Arixtra) • Smoking • Heparin • Diabetes • Obesity (a body mass index over 30) • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) • Warfarin (Coumadin) • High blood pressure In the hospital, treatment may start • High cholesterol
with injections of heparin through an intravenous catheter or under the skin. Conversion to Coumadin may be done prior to discharge, since this medication can be taken orally. Blood tests will be done to determine if the right amount of the medication is within your system. Newer medications, known as Xa inhibitors, work as well as Coumadin without requiring blood tests for follow-up. The body will eventually dissolve clots, but sometimes catheters are used to break them up faster (catheter directed thrombolyis). This procedure is done particularly when clots are larger, involve the arm, or the patient is at risk for pulmonary embolism. The method spares valves that are within veins and restores blood flow quickly, but it does increase the risk of bleeding problems and stroke. If the catheter approach isn’t successful or possible, the last option would be surgical procedures. In arteries, the procedure is called an arterial embolectomy; in veins, a venous thrombectomy.
Lastly, in prior decades filters were placed in a large vein known as the inferior vena cava (IVC) with hopes of stopping further spread of clots. Filters have fallen out of favor since 2010 due to adverse events. Stents, on the other hand, are currently placed within veins and arteries. The stents open the vessel up or provide a pathway to deliver medications to the area of clot. Sean J. Ennevor, M.D. graduated with a B.A.S. in biology and economics from Stanford University, and as a Dean’s Scholar from UCLA School of Medicine where he received his MD. He completed his medical residency and fellowship in anesthesiology at Yale University, where he was chief resident and on staff. He practiced medicine in the Twin Cities for over 14 years, and presently serves as an advisor and investor for medical technology companies throughout the country. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.
Minimizing the holiday risks Emotional Wellness with Dr. Golden by
DeiDre Annice GolDen Ph.D., lP Thinking about the holidays can elicit a variety of feelings from excitement to dread. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, socializing, baking and traveling are activities that usually increase during the holidays. For some, Christmas is seen as a festive time to spend time with family, share gifts, and eat good food. For others who perhaps have unhappy memories of the holidays or have lost a loved one, there may be a sense of grief and sadness. According to the American Psychological Association, over 38% of those surveyed describe Christmas as a time of increased stress, and this can affect you in a variety of ways. Depression, financial stress, overeating and fatigue can increase during the holidays.
er. If you feel like giving up or are having thoughts to harm yourself, call 1-800-273-6255 or text 741741 for help 24/7. Asking for help is a sign of strength and an acknowledgement that you have made a decision to take steps to help yourself feel better. Make time for activities that can reduce your stress and improve your mood, such as going for a walk, exercising, stretching, playing games and listening to music. If you find yourself preoccupied with negative thinking, make a gratitude list and carry it with you. Spending time with loved ones and caring friends may be helpful during times of sadness. Many find that engaging in spiritual and religious activities also helps lift their mood.
Overeating The two months between Halloween and New Year’s Day have been referred to as “the eating season.” Many families celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas by cooking massive amounts of food. Often more cookies, candies, cakes and pies are baked during the season, and it can be very tempting. The holidays may arouse many emotions, some of them painful, and this can lead to emotional eating. People engage in emotional eating not because they are hungry, but Depression Although depression can because they are using food occur at any point during to make themselves feel betthe year, some may experi- ter. If you find that your hunence an increase in sadness during the holidays. Among ger comes on suddenly and the common factors that can you are not satisfied when contribute to depression are your stomach is full, or if you unrealistic expectations of crave certain comfort foods, yourself and others, family you may be eating emotionally. On average, people gain discord, and loneliness. With the seasonal decrease one to two pounds during the in sunlight and shortened holidays, but you can manage days during holidays, there your eating to maintain your can also be increased risk for normal weight. With portion depression. Signs that you control and moderation, you may be experiencing depres- can still enjoy your holiday sion include lack of interest or favorites, even sweets. enjoyment in activities, feeling down, depressed or hope- Financial stressors The holidays are times less, and low energy. If you have been experi- when you are at risk for overencing these signs for two spending. In 2018, the average weeks or more, you may ben- shopper spent an estimated efit from scheduling an ap- $885 leading up to Christpointment with your primary mas (Investopedia.com). Takcare or mental health provid- ing the time to make a list
and budget may help you save money and take control of your finances. For those living on a fixed income or low wages, it is particularly important to identify the amount of money that you can spend without digging yourself into a financial hole. There are some stores that have the option of layaway where you can pay for the gifts over time. Walmart, Burlington and some Game Stop, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and many jewelry stores offer layaway plans. You can also take advantage of the holiday sales that often begin before the traditional Black Friday shopping day. Next, you need to decide who is on your gift list. Once you look at available funds, you may need to reduce the number and types of gifts you plan to buy. Just because someone gives you a gift does not mean that you have to buy them one. Some have chosen to opt out of gift giving during the Christmas holidays altogether. They instead give gifts at other times during the year when they see things that they believe the person would like. This may be difficult, however, in families with small children who have come to expect receiving presents at this time of the year.
Fatigue When the holidays are approaching, people often experience a change in routine and behavior. There are a number of preparations to be made for those who decide to celebrate Christmas. Increased shopping, cooking, social obligations, and coordination of all of these activities can lead to fatigue. It is not uncommon for there to be an increase in sleep disturbances such as inability to fall asleep, waking up frequently, or waking up too early. With holiday festivities, there may be more frequent use of alcohol, which can also interfere with your ability to have restful sleep. Development of a routine where you go to bed and get up at the same time can help regulate your sleep. Reducing
screen time and sleeping in a darkened room may also be helpful.
tion of family celebrations that can continue beyond the holidays.
and Wellness Center Behavioral Health Clinic, 1313 Penn Ave. N. She welcomes reader responses to Deirdre.Golden@co.hennepin. Deirdre Annice Golden, mn.us, or call 612-543-2705. Developing your own traditions, love, and giving of Ph.D., LP, is director T:5.25” of Behavioryourself can be the founda- al Health for NorthPoint Health
Trust. Support. Choice. Our Medicare plans offer choices for a broad network of doctors, dental coverage, fitness programs, and plans that travel. And our premiums as low as $0 means you get an affordable price. Medicare Annual Enrollment ends December 7. Let’s start working together today. Contact your agent Call toll free 855-972-0227 (TTY 711) Visit us online bluecrossmn.com/medicarechoose One-on-one support at our retail learning centers bluecrossmn.com/centers
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November 14-20, 2019
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.
Chicago teachers’ strike was unique in its social justice demands By Rebecca Burns Contributing commentator
Medicare for All makes sense for us all By Jesse Jackson Contributing comentator Affordable health care for all is now at the center of the presidential debate. Two of the top three contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination—Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders— support Medicare for All. Donald Trump, who wants to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and has already added some 10 million people to the ranks of the uninsured, scorns it as “socialism,” just as earlier Republicans libeled Social Security and Medicare itself when they were under consideration. In 1984 and 1988, I made a single-payer Medicare for All plan central to my presidential campaign. As a policy, it has always made the most sense. The question has always been whether the politicians had the nerve to weather the fierce attack that insurance and pharmaceutical drug companies will unleash against the proposal and any candidate who supports it, and whether voters would be scared off by the attacks. Sanders brought “Medicare for All” back into the national political debate in his remarkable run for the Democratic nomination in 2016 against Hillary Clinton. The National Nurses Association and others have helped build a movement out of that momentum. Sanders has “written the bill,” and in the House, Rep. Pramila Jayapal has introduced a detailed complement to the Sanders bill. Elizabeth Warren, who signed onto the Sanders bill, now has produced a clear plan on what Medicare for All would cover, and how the cost will be covered.
Health care should be a right, not a privilege. No one should go without the care they need because they cannot afford it. No one should go bankrupt simply because they get sick. The U.S. population spends almost twice as much per capita on health care as other advanced nations. If you have a lot of money or a strong union, you can get excellent health care. For the rest, care is rationed by money. Twenty-four million go without insurance, up 10 million under Trump. Another 65 million are underinsured, one serious illness away from bankruptcy. Health care costs are the leading cause of bankruptcy. Undoubtedly, the insurance and drug companies and the opponents will unleash their arguments: “Government will mess it up,” “It will raise your taxes,’’ “It will take away your current insurance.” Presented with that information, people’s doubts grow. Warren has answered critics of her plan. Her plan covers the cost of Medicare for All by raising taxes on the very wealthy—largely a 3% surcharge on the wealth of billionaires—and by requiring big companies to pay almost what they now pay for providing health care to their workers. Her plan would save some $7 trillion of the $59 trillion it costs to provide health care to all over a decade, according to the Urban Institute, by reducing overhead, eliminating insurance company profits, reducing monopoly and negotiating bulk discounts for drugs. She would eliminate co-pays and premiums, returning $11 trillion to the pockets of working people, in what she hails as the largest middle-class tax cut in history.
Once voters learn that under Medicare for All they can always keep their doctor and won’t be faced with co-pays or premiums, will be guaranteed comprehensive health care, support will build for the plan. “Every candidate who opposes my long-term goal of Medicare for All should put forward their own plan to cover everyone, without costing the country anything more in health care spending, and while putting $11 trillion back in the pockets of the American people,” wrote Warren. “If they are unwilling to do that, they should concede that they think it’s more important to protect the eye-popping profits of private insurers and drug companies and the immense fortunes of the top 1% and giant corporations.” It’s over three decades since I sounded the call for Medicare for All. Since then, the naysayers say that Medicare for All isn’t popular, that voters love their insurance companies. Yet, health care costs have soared faster than wages, more companies have found ways to avoid covering more workers and more people have died or gone bankrupt, because they couldn’t pay for the care they needed. In the coming primaries, voters will have the opportunity to sort out what makes sense and what does not, and to show what is popular and what is not. This is a debate that is long overdue. Jesse Jackson writes editorials for Counterpunch.com. Jesse Jackson ran twice as Democratic Party candidate for president under what was called the Rainbow Coalition in 1984 & 1988.
Chicago teachers and staff returned to the classrooms in November after more than two weeks on strike. Their walkout lasted longer than the city’s landmark 2012 strike, as well as those in Los Angeles and Oakland earlier this year. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) strike ended with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot agreeing to restore five make up instructional days. A tentative agreement approved by CTU delegates requires the school district to put a nurse and social worker in every school within five years and allocates $35 million more annually to reduce overcrowded classrooms. Both unions (SEIU and CTU) won pay bumps for support staff, who were making poverty wages. Yet these substantial gains still fell short of what many members had hoped to achieve, given that they were fighting for basic investments already enjoyed by most suburban school districts—investments that mayor Lightfoot had campaigned on this spring.
“The union engaged in some effective popular education about the structural issues of school underfunding that it can follow up on in the future.” One of CTU’s boldest “common good” demands was for affordable housing. While the union didn’t win on housing assistance for new teachers or gain the school district’s support for rent control, one of CTU’s earliest and clearest victories was an agreement to hire staff specifically to support the more than 17,000 homeless students in Chicago Public Schools—an approach that could be a model for other school districts. Other key wins on social justice issues include new guarantees for bilingual education, including more dedicated teachers for English language learners, and a declaration that Chicago schools are sanctuary spaces. These are vital issues in a school district where nearly half of students are Latino and nearly one-fifth are English language learners. The victories are less clear-cut when it comes to the key issue of support staffing. The district
“The union engaged in some effective popular education about the structural issues of school underfunding that it can follow up on in the future.” “It took our members 10 days to bring these promises home,” CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates told reporters after an agreement was reached over instructional days. “But I want to tell my members: They have changed Chicago.” Members of SEIU 73 ratified their contract this week, and CTU members will now have 10 days to do so. But the impact of the two-week walkout is likely to extend far beyond the contracts themselves. During daily rallies that drew tens of thousands of teachers, staff and supporters, the unions repeatedly made the argument that there was plenty of wealth in the city to invest in schools and public services—it was just concentrated in the wrong hands. They also touched on what’s often a third-rail for public-sector unions, criticizing the resources lavished on police at their expense. The strike’s momentum will carry over most immediately into a budget battle with Lightfoot, with the teachers’ union partnering with a larger coalition fighting to tax corporations and luxury real-estate at a higher rate in order to fund affordable housing, public mental health clinics and other services. The two-week walkout will also likely have reverberations for teachers and other union members outside of Chicago. The CTU’s 2012 strike helped inspire a national network called “Bargaining for the Common Good” that has brought together unions seeking to expand the scope of contract bargaining beyond pay and benefits. “In many ways this was both the toughest and most visionary strike fought yet on the principals of Bargaining for the Common Good,” says Joseph McCartin, the director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University.
will begin hiring more nurses and social workers in the highest-need schools this year, but it will take five years before they’re guaranteed for every school. And while the CTU has highlighted that nine out of 10 majority-Black schools in Chicago do not have a librarian, the agreement creates a joint union-school district committee on “staffing equity” that will provide a path—but not a guarantee—for high-need schools to hire additional librarians, counselors or restorative justice coordinators. Class size remains a particular concern, while CTU won for the first time an avenue to enforce hard caps on class sizes, the recommended limits themselves remain the same: up to 31 in high school classes, depending on the subject, which can reach 38 students before an automatic remedy is triggered. Jeni Crone previously taught at Kelvyn Park High School but lost her job there in 2017 amidst a round of budget cuts. She says she repeatedly saw high class-size caps used as justification to merge two smaller classes into one larger one. Before her position was cut, her three art classes were combined into two, with 34 and 35 students, respectively. “It’s one of the easiest ways for CPS to save money,” she says. “But we should be normalizing smaller class sizes.” Still, Crone says she is “cautiously optimistic” about the contract’s wins, and is determined above all to make sure that union members remain united with students and parents to continue demanding more. Excerpted from Inthesetimes.com Rebecca Burns is an investigative journalist based in Chicago
Current Haitian rebellion has roots in its neo-colonial history Editors note: Over the last several months a rebellion has been taking place in Haiti. It is not being covered in the U.S. press but it is important that people in the U.S. understand the roots of their discontent. By Abayomi Azikiwe Contributing writer During July 2018, the Haitian government under former Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant announced a series of austerity measures, which would prove disastrous for the majority of impoverished and working people. Rather than address the structural character of the economic problems emanating from the dependency upon unequal terms of trade and international relations with the industrialized capitalist states, the Lafontant government along with President Moïse sought to address these contradictions by enacting draconian measures which only benefit imperialism. Robert Roth, an educator and co-founder of Haiti Action Committee, wrote on the situation: The protests were sparked by the government’s announcement that it would
reduce or remove subsidies on fuel, leading to a rise of 38% in the price of gasoline, and that the price of kerosene would jump 50% to 4 dollars a gallon. The uprising spread across the country and lasted three days. Port-au-Prince was brought to a standstill. Protesters set up barricades in the streets, burned tires, and attacked stores owned by the rich. Luxury hotels in the Petionville area were sacked by angry demonstrators. In the immediate aftermath, the government rescinded the price increases (for now), and Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant—the same official who announced the fuel price hike—resigned. And a squad of United States Marines was sent to Port-au-Prince, supposedly to increase security at the United States Embassy, but also to send Haitians an ominous warning of what was to come should the protests continue.” Since this time period anger has mounted. Instability within the government hampers the capacity for any coherent and consistent efforts to find solutions to the problems the masses are grappling with on a daily basis.
Historical role of imperialism in the Haitian crisis The policy of Washington towards Haiti has not fundamentally changed since the acquisition of its independence 215 years ago in 1804. Between the time of national liberation and establishment of a Black Republic, the United States has been hostile towards the people. During the time frame of 1804 and 1862, the United States government refused to diplomatically recognize Haiti. After the Civil War, the U.S. and Haiti exchanged diplomats. And after the Civil War there have been numerous attempts to recolonize the country. For 19 years (1915-1934), Haiti was occupied by the U.S., which imposed Jim Crow laws, including the lynching of Black people. Successive national dictatorships including Francois (Papa Doc) and Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier in the mid-to-late 20th century were propped up by U.S. imperialism and its allies. February represented the 33rd anniversary of the mass uprising, which led to the overthrow of the Baby Doc Duvalier in February 1986.
When Haitians elected the people’s candidate Jean-Bertrand Aristide for the first time in 1991 and later after being taken back into the country by the U.S. Marines in 1994, rightwing military coups were engineered in an effort to maintain foreign hegemony from Washington. As Haiti was celebrating the bicentennial of its founding in 2004, another counter-revolution was organized and ensured through the invasion of thousands of United States, Canadian and French troops. Aristide was kidnapped by NATO forces and taken illegally to the Central African Republic while his Lavalas party was targeted for repression. Only a campaign of worldwide outrage created the conditions for the ousted president to gain political asylum in the Republic of South Africa under an African National Congress government. The devastating earthquake of 2010 killed and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Despite grandiose pronouncements by the U.S. under former President Barack Obama that tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid would be forthcoming, the re-
construction needs of Haiti were utilized for further exploitation and financial fraud. Haitian people must be allowed to determine their own destiny outside the domination of western imperialism. The masses have proved to be
formidable opponents to the imperatives of Washington, Ottawa and Paris. Abayomi Azikiwe is a journalist and editor of the Pan African Newswire.
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November 14-20, 2019
KrOll Continued from page 1
While asserting that he is not racist, Kroll very publicly supports a U.S. president who many view as racist, xenophobic and Islamophobic. Kroll has made public assertions about Black people and Black organizations that can be found on openly racist websites like Storm Front. Kroll has called Black Lives Matter a terrorist organization and MN Attorney General Keith Ellison a terrorist. Last summer he appeared on FOX News and attributed attacks by roving teenagers downtown to an “ultra-left wing agenda.” He claimed the teenagers committed the crimes because they knew they would not be punished. The disrespect shown by the Fourth Precinct nearly a year ago with its “ghetto” Christmas tree seemed to reflect the precinct’s and, to a lesser extent, the department’s hostile attitude toward the people they are paid to serve. Add to this the killings of Jamar Clarke and Terrence Franklin over the last five years and the conclusion seems unavoidable that the Minneapolis Police Department is, at the very least, facing a grave public relations problem.
“I listened to Kroll speak at the Trump rally. He has a hateful spirit, or it seems that way. I would not trust him around me or my students, especially my Somali students. I don’t think they should be on the force if they are that hateful,” said retired teacher Janet Nelson. Alexander pointed out that Kroll’s behavior “undermines the efforts of Chief Medaria Arradondo,” who has what she called “forward-thinking ideas.” Arradondo has been on record promoting improved police relations with the community, especially the Black community. Michelle Gross of Communities United against Police Brutality saw Kroll’s role at the convention as even more insidious. She accused Kroll of “attempting to validate Trump by having his fellow cops support him.” According to Gross, Kroll is playing politics. “He knows you don’t have the right to wear your uniform at political events. He knows about the Hatch Act passed long ago to keep cops from doing that. It’s nothing new, and he knows that.” “Any supporter of Trump’s hate-filled rhetoric does not believe in criminal justice reform and can’t be trusted to believe in the justice system at all,” said Sylvia Schwartz, who works with the Minnesota BDS Movement that seeks to bring a just situation to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Ac-
cording to her, Trump’s rhetoric has included not-so-subtle support for police violence, racial profiling and xenophobia. “For the head of the Police Federation to be a supporter of racial profiling, of police brutality, of acts of hatred towards people of color speaks volumes.” To date there has been no public censure of Kroll by Minneapolis Police administration. This silence can only add to the crisis of confidence and trust in Communities of Color and Black communities in particular. “I would not feel that my neighbors, my children and I would be treated fairly by anyone who would support Kroll as their leader,” explained Mindy Barry. Barry is a member of Justice for Justine, a group of Southwest Minneapolis neighbors and activists who organized around the case of Justine Damond Ruszczyk. She was shot and killed by Minneapolis police July 15, 2017. “To be truthful, I didn’t feel comfortable with police even before Kroll’s appearance at that rally,” said student-activist and unionist Micah McKinney. “White Supremacy has a long, rich history as a partner of law enforcement.” Mel Reeves welcomes reader responses to mreeves@spokesmanrecorder.com. Facebook photo
that was fit to print, so to speak, about any and everything going on in the Twin Cities Black community. The two papers merged Continued from page 1 into what is now known as the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder (MSR). Newman and the Spokesman helped launch the writing careers of many aspiring journalists and photographers while filling the need for Blacks to have their stories told from their perspective. The institutold stories of how when they were young tion is celebrating its 85th year, and it owtheir mother would get out of her bed to es its continued existence in no small part help someone in need in the middle of the to Ms. Newman, who, like Cecil E. Newnight. man before her, now has a commemorative Walker, like many Twin Citians at the street sign dedicated to her. time, was a transplant having arrived here “I feel honored to be part of the history in the 1950s from Kansas City. After ar- and seeing this all come together,” said curriving in Minneapolis she became a social rent MSR Publisher/CEO Tracey Williamsworker, eventually landing at Sabathani Dillard, the granddaughter of Cecil and Community Center. Launa Newman. “I’m just elated.” When Cecil E. Newman died, there was Williams-Dillard warmly regarded her concern about how the two longest-running grandmother’s “steady hand on the wheel” African American newspapers serving and guidance. “She prepped me in becomMinneapolis and St. Paul would stay afloat. ing the next publisher. She paved a trail for The concerns were unwarranted because me so the MSR can continue the tradition of Ms. Newman simply picked up where Ce- amplifying and championing underserved cil left off, failing to miss a beat. voices and important stories in the commuLauna Q. Newman was a native of Iowa nity.” and moved to the Twin Cities in 1958, eventually meeting and marrying Cecil Newman. Together they were a Black dynamic duo advocating for a just and fair non-racist Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder soldiered on, printing all the news
HOnOred
KMOJ Continued from page 1
when Gov. Dayton appointed him to major general. Dr. Hamlar’s former rank was brigadier general. Harris said he is honored to be appointed by Bell. “I have a lot of respect for him,” he said. Since being appointed to general manager in 2016, Bell’s overall vision for KMOJ is becoming “a better radio enterprise.” The vision takes different shapes as each goal Bell and the board sets is achieved. “It always evolving,” said Bell. “We achieved a set of goals that colors what we would like to see at the radio station.” Bell mentioned an improvement the station has implemented recently—the ability for listeners to see the music the station is playing in real time. “No matter what device you are listening to, you can see the song we are playing,” said Bell. The phone application and website are both synced with the radio station to show the music currently playing. “We’re trying to make sure our technology keeps pace with how people consume music today.”
Dr. Hamlar wants the radio station to work with programming that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). “I’d like to see that be a big part of our kids’ abilities moving forward.” Dr. Hamlar is an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Otolaryngology is the subspecialty in the medical field that focuses on the diseases of the ears, nose and throat. Dr. Hamlar also served in the Minnesota National Guard, becoming the State Guard’s first African American General. KMOJ’s General Manager Freddie Bell appointed Hamler and Harris and said they “match the wits and expertise we find on our current board.” Hamlar and Bell connected when HamAbeni Hill welcomes reader responses to ahill@ lar was recruiting African Americans to join the National Guard while making guest appearanc- spokesman-recorder.com. es on KMOJ’s morning show, “Freddie Bell and Chantel Sings in the Morning.” Bell also attended a ceremony for Hamlar
Mall Continued from page 1
part of town. That’s not the point. The point is, couldn’t you bother to just ask anybody,” he said. Isaaq is concerned that there is not enough support for the existing businesses in the West Bank area and wonders what will become of them if the proposed mall is completed. He mentioned Al-Karama Mall Cedar Square as one example of a location in need of assistance. “That place has never got any capital investment from the City. They never really engaged with the shop owners,” Isaaq said.
“If you go to city hall or the governor’s office, there isn’t that much urgency to address issues in this community.”
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gagement direction into the process,” according to Forsyth. When asked about the community’s concern over gentrification, Forsyth pointed to their support of a mall for residents to “build a successful small business, and help them stay in the neighborhoods they made great to begin with.” Isaaq contends that rumors of forged signatures have prompted an investigation into the sources of some of the signatures. He and many other residents say they are weary of the project and believe there’s more to it than just the mall. “The market is only a small part of it,” Isaaq said. “Ninety percent of that space will be for condos, and at the bottom will be a small mini mall. The main goal is to give a private developer that space.” Warsame and Frey have shared plans for a clinic, youth center, and housing units to be a part of the development. However, residents are afraid of displacement due to a lack of affordable housing. Mohamed Salad, a youth coordinator and basketball coach at Brian Coyle, shared his view on the development and where the community stands on this project. He characterized the mall as something that is wanted by some in the community and in City government. Salad stressed the importance of addressing more pressing community priorities. In a conversation with staff at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center, Salad emphasized the need for culturally competent employees when dealing with Somali youth. He also mentioned the need for resources to combat the opioid crisis that has stricken the Somali community in the Twin Cities. Salad would like the City to tackle the problem of rising rents in the neighborhood and helping residents find paths to home ownership. “If you go to city hall or the governor’s office, there isn’t that much urgency [to address] issues in this community,” he said. City officials are still waiting to hear back on requests for proposals in relation to the development and are planning to host forums in the future. Alderson at CRNRP promised that there will also be more community demonstrations to raise awareness about the mall’s potential impact on the community.
Isaaq contended that the supporters of Warsame were mainly people from outside the community. His view is that the mall is a preconceived idea void of community input. He also lamented the lack of local media coverage providing the West Bank Somali community’s perspective and accused them of highlighting what he viewed as last-minute efforts to gain a consensus for the mall. Frey has touted a petition with over 1,200 signatures of Cedar Riverside residents including addresses and phone numbers as proof of support for the project. Frey’s press secretary Darwin Forsyth responded to criticism about the lack of community input on the proposed Africa Village by saying that any proposal will never get “unanimous support” and said this effort was no different. Forsyth described the project as the “product of deep community engagement, including meetings over several years.” Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to The mayor’s office sees still more work needed on community engagement and points to a amohamed@spokesman-recorder.com. recent request for proposals having “baked en-
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or “What’s the difference between the Minnesota Wild and frequent flyer miles? Frequent flyer miles earn points!” and “If I wanted to live in misery, I’d live in Fridley.” Hilarious! The orchestra was a little bit over the top with the dance routine, but it made the audience laugh, nonetheless. They also did a comical job of highlighting various scenes in the play, including the breaking of class tradition and custom by the Prince when he expressed romantic interest in the servant girl Cinderella. Leslie and Katurah, were a dynamic duo vocally and were believable as romantic couple finding true love and advancing the equality of classes. The
Children’s Theatre Company’s
‘Cinderella’
Ford. The lighting and props were elaborate and striking, especially the staircase and ballroom setting. The lavish period costumes made for a striking contrast against the songs performed such as Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk.” Overall, this was a comical and fun production that is sure to please the kids. “Cinderella” runs until Jan. 5, 2020 at the Children’s Theatre, located at 2400 Third Ave. S. in Minneapolis. Visit for more info.
— familiar tale gets pop makeover By Ivan B. Phifer Contributing writer “Cinderella” at the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis recently enjoyed its opening weekend. The play is a 21st century take on the classic fairytale with a twist, the main characters are Black and the soundtrack includes Top 40 hits. The production was heavy on audience participation. The central themes were the importance of shared humanity and character.
Cinderella was played by new CTC Acting Company member, Rajané Katurah. She has also appeared in “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “The Wiz,” and “Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.” Katurah played a very convincing Cinderella, effectively conveying her desire to be treated as an equal to her sisters and her undying desire to attend the ball, even if it was only for one night of magical freedom. Her attire was that of rags and a dirty dress, befitting her lot as a poor servant.
The stepsisters, Ashawnti Sakina Ford (Dorcas), Kimberly Richardson (Pearl) and stepmother Autumn Ness adeptly encouraged audience participation throughout the play. There was an amusing bit in which they asked the children and parents to stand up and scream as loud as they could when they heard the word “jelly.” The stepmother was the focal point of sarcasm and jokes poking fun at Minnesota culture, including lines like, “Maybe you can teach Kirk Cousins how to throw this Sunday,”
Photos by David Rubene Photography fairy godmother, played by Alexcia For more info, visit www. Thompson, also added some soul to childrenstheatre.org. the cast with a groovy musical number and pep talk to boost Cinderella’s Ivan B. Phifer welcomes readers’ self-confidence. responses at iphifer@spokesmanRichardson, the second stepsister, recorder.com. was often goofy and added a cornyyet-comical vibe to the cast, as did
Crooners Supper Club celebrates 5th anniversary with Twin Cities’ favorites Crooners Supper Club is reinventing the classic American nightclub experience. The spot is situated next to Moore Lake in Northeast Minneapolis, which gives it a scenic and distinctly Minnesotan flavor. Just in time for the holidays, Crooners Supper Club is ready to show off its new barlounge and upgraded MainStage as it welcomes a staple of well-known local artists. The Supper Club will ring in its fifth anniversary with a five-night celebration from Nov. 18 to 22, and will host a Thanksgiving Day performance by the Twin Cities’ “First Lady of Song,” Debbie Duncan. Duncan will also perform a Christmas show for Crooners
later in December. Lots of other holiday treats are on tap this season, as well, including veteran pianist Bobby Lyle (Dec. 6 & 7), local gospel legend and crooner Fred Steele (Dec. 8), and the vocal group Moore by Four, featuring Yolande Bruce, Ginger Commodore, Connie Evingson and Dennis Spears, led by music director Sanford Moore (Dec. 9 & 10). Crooners offers an eclectic mix of jazz, R&B, gospel, soul, funk, folk, roots-rock and country on three distinct concert stages—the MainStage, the Dunsmore Jazz Room and, in warmer months, the Lakeside Tent.
Moore By Four is among the long list of legendary local artists to headline Crooners’ 5th Anniversary Celebration. Photo courtesy of Crooners Crooners Supper Club is located at 6161 Highway 65 N.E., Minneapolis. For more info, visit croonersloungemn.com or call 763-571-9020.
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November 14-20, 2019
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Renowned composer André Thomas returns to Minnesota for ‘A Celebration of Love’
Andre Thomas
By Nadine Matthews Contributing writer “Uh oh,” was what four-year-old André Thomas heard his mother utter one day when she stumbled upon him, wearing her choir robe, playing on his toy piano, and singing his little heart out. Now a world-renowned composer of spirituals, Dr. Thomas explained that his mother was happy about his enthusiasm and loved his toddler version of “What a Fellowship,” but was upset at the realization that he was destined to be a musician. “She didn’t want her son to be a musician but she didn’t
really have much of a choice,” Thomas recalled. He began studying piano in elementary school and never stopped, receiving his Masters in Music Performance from Northwestern and his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Illinois. Thomas will conduct the Midwest unveiling of his work, “Mass: A Celebration of Love and Joy” at VocalEssence’s “What a Mighty God” concert on Nov. 17. VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers will be joined by guest soloists NaGuanda Nobles and Christian Mark Gibbs. He considers his childhood a blessed one. “My mother adored me and my two sisters always protected me,” he shared. One of those sisters taught English and German at the local high school—the first Black woman to ever teach there. “She was no great singer,” Thomas remembered of his mother, “but for me as a four-year-old going to church and hearing all that music and seeing the ladies who conducted the choir, I came home inspired.” A prodigy, Thomas as a teen became minister of music at Tabernacle Baptist Church, the largest African American church in Wichita at that time. “The minister fired the music staff and put me in charge of music.” Thomas is the author of “Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual” and recently retired as professor of choral education at Florida State University and artis-
tic director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus, where he worked for 30 years. “Mass: A Celebration of Love and Joy” is intimately connected to his experiences in Florida. “I started it back in 2016 and it was a labor of love. It reflects all that I am and all that I love,” he explained. “I so loved those people and I knew my time with them was coming to an end and wanted to give them sort of a gift. The whole mass is dedicated to them.”
I hear that song I’m right back there!” Of course, music helps during challenging moments as well. “Even [through] the loss of my mother and the loss of my sisters. To have them gone and me by myself, music is always there.” Thomas has visited Minnesota many times, performing in the Witness program for Vocal Essence while conducting the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir, among other things. His closest friend is the director of the St. Olaf Choir.
“Anyone can relate to spirituals. Everyone goes through trials and everyone looks for comfort.” Though his music is rooted in traditional Negro Spirituals, Thomas is emphatic that “anyone can relate to spirituals. Everyone goes through trials and everyone looks for comfort.” He added, “It’s just a part of everyday [life] so all my experiences include some form of music.” As an example, he pointed to Herb Alpert’s “Without Her.” “Whenever I hear that song, immediately I’m 16 years old; I’m on a plane for the first time, heading to Europe, and I’d never been out of the country. ‘Without Her’ was there at that time, and when
He said he enjoys the fact that there is always so much to do culture-wise in Minneapolis. “If you say, ‘I’m in Minneapolis and there’s nothing to do here’—you haven’t even opened the paper! There is so much stuff going on all the time!” VocalEssence Witness’ “What a Mighty God” takes place Sun., Nov. 17, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN. Tickets are $10-40. All ages welcome. For more info, go to vocalessence.org or call 612-3715656. Photo courtesy of VocalEssence.
More than turkey: annual meal brings community together By Kenneth Foxworth Contributing writer “My first Thanksgiving dinner was in my party room in my apartment,” recalled Tommy McBrayer, Jr. His annual dinners have grown considerably since then. By the third dinner, the gathering grew to event-size and the venue was changed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Minneapolis. He broadened the scope that year to add awards to give thanks to those in the community that continuously gave back. This year, the gathering takes place on Nov. 23 at Minneapolis Green Central’s gym. For the past three years, McBrayer has been working on the pre-Thanksgiving dinners with
Cynthia Wilson, park director at Minneapolis Green Central. She has been touched by how the event has blossomed and by how much McBrayer pours into serving the community at this gathering. “Tommy has been doing an excellent job bringing the families and communities together as a whole,“ said Wilson. “He has touched a lot of people’s lives in a short period of time.” But McBrayer didn’t always have a pretty story—it took losing for him to win. McBrayer said he never thought he had the potential to be great. He thought that somebody else should take the banner when it came to doing the “right” thing in commu- Tommy Mc.Brayer Jr. and Cynthia Wilson nity leadership. Photo by Kenneth Foxworth He just listened and followed
other people’s lead, thinking that somebody else could push the community forward. McBrayer bought into the thought that the only thing he could do was sell drugs. “In 2010, I just got back from college,” he shared. “I was sleeping on somebody’s couch or sleeping on somebody’s floor because I wasn’t established yet. I started up selling marijuana to make a living. In May of that year, 2010, I got shot.” Incredibly, the same Southside community that he loves so much, he once terrorized by selling drugs and getting involved in petty criminality. It seems that everything changes. Getting shot in the midst of illegal activity was a real wake up call. McBrayer said it caused him to turn
his life around. The pre-Thanksgiving dinner was not solely his idea, McBrayer acknowledged. Instead, it was inspired by V.J. Smith of Mad Dads, one of his closest mentors. McBrayer holds onto advice Smith once gave him: “The key to community is to be truthful to yourself in understanding the most important thing—to serve others. Keep your record clean… make sure that what you do helps your family. Then you can be proud of your outcome, whatever you do.” Now McBrayer, along with community partner Green Central, serves the community by bringing people together. Wilson said she supported the event when it was a 10-20 person gathering to last year’s attendance that topped 300 in attendance. “The dinner is more than a dinner but a gathering bringing a reunion of hope,” said Wilson. Tommy’s 6th Annual PreThanksgiving Dinner takes place on Nov. 23 from 5-8 pm at the Green Central gym, located at 3400 4th Ave. in South Minneapolis. This year’s event includes a bounce house, coloring contest, a drill team performance, turkey giveaways and more. The dinner is free but donations are welcomed. Ken Foxworth welcomes readers’ responses to kfoxworth@ spokesman-recorder.com.
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November 14-20, 2019
BULLETIN BOARD
Artika Roller to lead Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault GET READY FOR WINTER!
Artika Roller was chosen to lead the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA), the organization’s Board of Directors recently announced. She will take the reins as executive director in early December.Roller brings 20 years of direct service experience serving women and children in the fields of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and sexual violence. She holds a BSW from Metropolitan State University and a CPMSW from the University of Minnesota. As the former program director of Women’s Advocates Shelter and the PRIDE (From Trafficking to Promise, Recovery, Independence Dignity and Equality) program, Roller played a key role in public policy advocacy and helped lead the legislative advocacy for the Safe Harbor “No Wrong Door” model for minor victims of sex trafficking and the current “Safe Harbor for All.” Roller was most recently employed with Hennepin County Department of Health and Human Services, where she led the development and strategic planning for their child, youth, and community well-being engagement efforts. — Information and photo provided by MNCASA.
Stand up and be counted! 5 MONEY-SAVING TIPS A drop in temperature and an increase in precipitation like rain, sleet or snow can make winter costly at home. Between turning up your heat and spending money on ice melt, the last cost any homeowner wants to account for is burst pipes and the damage they can cause. It doesn’t take much of a crack to cause thousands in repairs. A one-eighth inch crack in a pipe can spew over 250 gallons of water daily, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, destroying furniture, floors and personal items. To help homeowners save this winter, Mike Pfeiffer, senior vice president of Technical Services at the International Code Council, offers the following tips: Own your thermostat Many households battle over what temperature to maintain. While the debate can get “heated,” Pfeiffer suggests keeping the thermostat setting constant. When it’s very cold and you keep changing the thermostat, it will be harder for your heating device to bring your home back up to your desired temperature. Programmable thermostats are a great way to maintain a comfortable temperature and save energy. Not only can you set them while you’re away, but smart thermostats will begin to learn your habits and gradually adapt to your desired settings. Let those faucets drip When a cold snap pushes into the area, it’s a good idea to let water drip from the faucet. “Make sure it’s cold water when you do this,” Pfeiffer advises. “Running cold water through the pipes, even a trickle at a time, helps prevent freezing.” This is especially true on exterior walls where there may be limited insulation. “Don’t forget about seldom used areas such as guest bathrooms or laundry sinks and equipment.” Insulate Hold an incense stick near potential draft sources, such as windows and doors. If the smoke blows sideways, you’ll know an air leak exists and it’s time to weatherize. Areas such as attic access openings, crawl spaces, pull-down
stairs and exterior electrical sockets are additional, often overlooked sources of air leaks. Seal up cracks and openings along the perimeter of your home where cold air can blow through and cause pipes to freeze. Insulation will maintain warmer temperatures in these areas and help lower heating costs. Be sure to check for exposed water lines in unheated areas and consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes, like an insulated pipe sleeve, heat tape or similar materials. Open Doors When cold weather is in the forecast, opening cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom can help. This allows heat to seep into cabinets and circulate warmer air around plumbing. Check Hoses and Sprinklers Before cold air arrives, its best practice to drain any water from sprinklers’ supply lines following your manufacturer’s or installer’s directions. Don’t forget to remove, drain and store hoses used outdoors. “Despite what you may have heard, don’t use antifreeze in any of these lines unless directed by a professional,” says Pfeiffer. “Antifreeze is environmentally harmful and dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife and landscaping. Not to mention that you cannot use antifreeze in any line connected to a potable supply.” Frost-free hose bibs are the best solution to prevent frozen pipes. On top of these tips, it’s always important to make sure any home renovations use the most recent building and plumbing codes, which will help keep your family safe and also help you save money down the line on unnecessary repairs and maintenance. With a few key home projects anyone can complete you can make your home more enjoyable all year long and save on energy bills in the process.
Black Census Table seeks accurate count of African heritage communities
The Black Census Table is a coalition of African heritage organizations mobilized to engage in a strategic, grassroots outreach campaign to ensure a complete count and increased participation in the Census 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau and other thought-leaders have identified 19 historically undercounted communities projected to be at risk of an undercount. Paramount among those groups are African Heritage communities, including African descendants of Slaves and African immigrants. Minnesota is anticipating 17% non-self-respondents. Over 900,000 Minnesotans are projected for an undercount—51% are in five counties: Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties. “Representation matters. Not being counted means not getting the resources and development our communities need,” said Anika Robbins, executive director of the ANIKA Foundation. “The 2010 Census resulted in the loss of a North Minneapolis City Council seat as a result of redistricting. Numbers matter, YOU matter.” Robbins convened the Black Census Table to establish a cohesive mobilization model to effectively engage and prepare African Heritage communities to participate in Census 2020. “Participating in the Census proves our existence and stakes an irrefutable claim to needed resources, representation and opportunities.” According to the Leadership Conference Education Fund, 1 in 3 African Americans lives in a hard-to-count area (HTC). African American men are historically undercounted more than men of any other racial group. Seven percent of young Black children were overlooked by the 2010 Census—twice the rate for young nonHispanic White children. Organizations in the coalition include the Minneapolis Urban League, NAACP, African Career and Education Resources (ACER) Minnesota Voice, Black Votes Matter MN, Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage (CMAH) and several other agencies.
The coalition aims to amplify the message to “Stand Up & Be Counted!”—a nod to the Civil Rights era. “Like voting, filling out the Census form is a way to exercise your basic civil right.” added Robbins. With the goal of increasing awareness across approximately 300,000 households statewide, the collective is targeting so-called “hard-to-count” neighborhoods and zip codes across Minnesota with a focus on the Twin Cities—East & West Metro— Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud. To learn more, visit: www.becountedmn. com and www.theanikafoundation.org or call 1-877-90-COUNT. To learn more about Census, visit, www.census. gov.
—Information provided, in part, by StatePoint Media
Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Worship INVITE YOU TO AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF
Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor
Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
SHOWPLACE ICON ST. LOUIS PARK, MN Bring in this week’s paper with your mailing label on it to THE MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER beginning MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 AT NOON for your chance to pick up passes to the screening (while supplies last). 3744 FOURTH AVENUE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55409 THIS FILM IS RATED R FOR VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT. SEATING IS LIMITED AND NOT GUARANTEED. PASS ADMITS TWO. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
IN THEATERS NOVEMBER 22ND @21BRIDGESMOVIE | #21BRIDGES | www.21Bridges.movie
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER
Bethesda Baptist Church
Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor
451 West Central
St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444
Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8:00 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:
Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church"
At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904 www.bethesdamnonline.com bethesdamn@prodigy.net Sunday Service Times: Early Morning Service 9 am 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
2600 E. 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 www.greatfriend.org Phone: 612.827.7928 Fax: 612.827.3587 info@greatfriend.org Sundays 8:00am Sunday School 9:30am Worship Service The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody
Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM
November 14-20, 2019
Legals
Employment
STATE OF MINNESOTA
DISTRICT COURT
ANOKA COUNTY
Sr. IT Business Systems Analyst – Mobile Applications
TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FILE NUMBER: 02-FA-19-1847 Notice of Issuance of Emergency (Ex Parte) Order for Protection by Publication (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 8)
In the Matter of Nancy Raye Schwendman vs MILAN ALLEN SCHWENDEMAN To Respondent: YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an Ex Parte Order for Protection has been issued in this case. You may request a hearing if you contact the court administrator’s office within 12 days of the date of publication of this notice. You may obtain a copy of the Ex Parte Order for Protection and the form to request a hearing from the court administrator’s office at the following address: Anoka County District Court 2100 3rd Avenue Anoka MN 55303-2489 Failure to request a hearing or to obtain a copy of the Ex Parte Order will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s order. Dated: November 6, 2019
Lori O’Brien, Court Administrator
MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 14, 2019 STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Malachi Anderson and India Smith, Plaintiff, and Geissell Reyes and The Banyan Foundation, Defendant
SUMMONS
THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant: 1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff’s Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons. 2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham Law Office 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer. 4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint. 5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case. 6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.
Principal Software Engineer
Sr. IT Business Systems Analyst – Mobile Applications for Medtronic, Inc. at its facilities located in Mounds View, MN. Provides software testing for MSuite including planning and coordinating testing tasks requiring analysis, planning, scheduling and participation in requirements and design reviews. Requires a Master’s or foreign equivalent in Information Technology or Computer Applications and two years of post-bachelor’s progressive experience with software testing and in all of the following: Software testing in a regulated environment including ISO 13485, FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 820, Sarbanes- Oxley (SOX), HIPAA and regulatory compliance of IT systems. Applications development and infrastructure technologies to include Siebel CRM, SAP, Device Registration, Mendix and HP ALM. Enterprise Change Requests (ECR’s) testing in integrated environments. SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) and STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle). Root cause analysis and investigations, CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Actions) and product defect analysis. Waterfall, Agile, Scrum and DevOps Methodology. Native mobile apps testing using IOS, Android and Windows Operating systems with manual and automation with tools to include Perfecto Mobile, XCode and Selenium. Requires International Software Testing Quality Board (ISTQB) certification. Apply at www.medtronic.com/careers, Req.19000LKT. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
A/1 Contract No. 20-070 INVITATION TO BID Sealed bids will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 200 East Arch Street, St. Paul, MN 55130 for Exchange Hi-Rise Roof Replace-
ment, Contract No. 20-070, until 2:00 P.M., Local Time, on December 10, 2019 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Complete sets of bid documents are available by contacting Northstar Imaging, at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com, public plan room under Exchange
Signed: Jeremy L. Brantingham
charge, contact Northstar for hard copy pricing. Bids must be accompanied by a 5% bid guarantee, Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Bidders Form, a non-collusive affidavit, and EEO/AAP submittals. The successful bidder will be required to furnish both a satisfactory performance bond and a separate payment bond. PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 21, 2019 AT 10:00 AM AT THE EXCHANGE HI-RISE COMMUNITY ROOM, 10 WEST EXCHANGE STREET, ST. PAUL. The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding.
JIM ROONEY
OPPORTUNITY AGENCY
Jeremy L. Brantingham MN #0299558
PROJECT LEADER (651) 292-6083
2200 E. Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700
MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 14, 2019
ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF
MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 7, 14 & 21 2019
Attention: Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE) Knutson Construction/Adolfson & Peterson Joint Venture Collaboration will be submitting a bid on the following project, and invites you to submit your subcontractor and supplier quotations to us. We seek to increase business opportunities with Minority Owned, Women Owned, and Disadvantage Business Enterprises. Minneapolis Bus Garage - REBID Bid Date: December 4, 2019 @ 5:00 PM The Work of this Project includes construction of a 575,700 GSF bus operating and maintenance facility on an approximately 11-acre site in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Functions of the building include bus maintenance bays, fueling, washing, bus parking, administrative offices, and structured employee parking. The building
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 3744 4th Ave. South • Minneapolis, MN 55409 Phone: 612-827-4021 • Fax: 612-827-0577
021
Tracey Williams-DillarD
cecil e. NeWmaN
Publisher/CEO
Founder-Publisher 1934-1976
Wallace (Jack) JackmaN Co-Publisher Emeritus
l auNa Q. NeWmaN CEO/Publisher 1976-2000
Norma JeaN Williams Vice President Emeritus
construction is comprised of pile foundation system, cast in place concrete, structural precast concrete, architectural precast concrete, concrete masonry units, structural steel, metal framing, metal bar joints, metal decking, gypsum board on metal framing, and interior finishes. Sitework includes grading, bituminous paving, concrete paving, retaining walls, utilities, stormwater, and landscaping. Work includes make ready electric bus infrastructure to support fleet electrification. The COUNCIL has established a 15% goal for DBE participation. We are required to use companies that are within the MNUCP Directory to
Senior Editor Jerry Freeman
Contributing Writers
Sports Writers
Dr. Charles E. Crutchfield III
Larry Fitzgerald
Community Editor Mel Reeves
Dr. Deirdre Golden
Charles Hallman
Aleezeh Hasan
Digital Editor Paige Elliott
Dr. Clarence Hightower
Dr. Mitchell P. McDonald
Abeni Hill
Contributing Photographers
Desktop Publisher Laura Poehlman Administrative Assistant Lannette Stewart
Dwight Hobbes
Onika Nicole Craven
Tiffany Johnson
Steve Floyd
Brandon Jones
Chris Juhn
Distribution Manuel Alvarez
Juliet Mitchell
Account Representatives Cecilia Viel John Jamison
Abdi Muhommed
Tony Kiene
Travis Lee
Khymyle Mims Monica Zorilla
MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
Minnesota Newspaper Association • National Newspaper Publishers Association The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Publications are published every Thursday by the Spokesman-Recorder Publishing Co., Inc. Editorial/Business office is at 3744 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409 POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder, P.O. Box 8558, Minneapolis, MN 55408
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INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Principal Product Engineer Principal Product Engineer – Medtronic Inc., Mounds View, MN. Req. Master’s in Biomedical, Mech. or Mfg Engg. & 4 yrs exp. wking in mfg environment. Must possess 4 yrs. exp. w/each of the following: wking in FDA regulated environment, navigating ISO 13485 & Good Mfg. Practices; utilization of dev. protocols IQ/OQ/PQ; performing statistical analysis of Gage R & R, Capability & Normality Assessments; developing PFMEA & inspection methods (variables & attribute); utilizing quality tools to incl. DOE, hypothesis testing, & capability studies; mfg systems such as JDE, FACTORYwk or SAP, Documentum; & Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control), and VOC (Voice of customer). Up to 25% travel to meet w/vendors, suppliers & co. mfg. locations. Position is elig. for telecommuting status. To apply, visit www. medtronic.com/careers, select Req. #19000LLA. No agencies or phone calls please. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Sr. IT Developer – BW Support Analyst
AN EQUAL
BRANTINGHAM LAW OFFICE
Medtronic seeks Principal Software Engineer in Fridley, MN. Req. Master’s in Soft Engineering, Comp Engineering, Software System, Comp Sci, Comp Info Sys or related field & 5 years of exp in soft engineering or a Bachelor’s & 7 years’ exp. Must also poss. 5 yrs. of exp. w/ agile software development and structured waterfall methodologies; agile tools to include CodeBeamer, VersionOne or JIRA; programming languages to include C++, Java, groovy, SQL and web technologies; android SDK, UI design principles and patterns; Object Oriented Design, layered architecture and Design Patterns; multi-site source code tools to include GIT and SVN; continuous integration environments to include Jenkins; and Android Studio, Intellij and Eclipse and various testing tools to include mockito, espresso, Appium and UI Automator. To apply, visit www.medtronic.com/careers, select Req. #19000LM9. No agencies or phone calls please. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Hi-Rise Roof Replacement, Contract No. 20-070. Digital downloads are no
Dated: October 9, 2019
ad
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be able to count towards our percentages, per the Council requirements. Please contact Amy Jansen for additional information or assistance. Knutson Construction Services, Inc. 7515 Wayzata Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55426 Phone: 763-546-1400 / Fax: 763-546-2226
Sr. IT Developer – BW Support Analyst for Medtronic, Inc. at its facilities located in Mounds View, MN. Responsible for ensuring that the data processing in SAP BW is done in a manner that meets various SLAs. Requires Bachelors’ degree or foreign equivalent in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or closely related and five (5) years’ post-bachelor’s progressive experience in all of the following: BW support and development; BW 7.4 (powered by HANA) or higher version; SAP SLT tools and SAP BW to include Open Hub, Information Broadcaster, Precalc Server; Supporting business intelligence, analytics and data ware housing solutions with multiple technologies; Data Modelling, Extractors, Bex Reporting tools and Abap; Developing and monitoring Process Chains; SAP EPM 10.1, SAP BI 7.0, 7.4, 7.5, BO Analysis for office, Bex Query Designer, Design Studio, Lumira, WEBI, Hana Modelling and BW Hybrid. Required Certification: SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP BI 7.0. Apply at www.medtronic.com/careers, Req.19000LKV. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Sr. Systems Engineer- Software Architect Sr. Systems Engineer- Software Architect for Medtronic, Inc. at its facility in Plymouth, MN. Works on next generation continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products. Requires a Master’s degree in Bio-medical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science and 2 years of work experience in software development for web or mobile applications and at least two (2) years post-bachelor’s progressive experience in all of the following: Developing applications - on modularity to allow reuse across a suite of applications; US FDA Quality System Requirements, ISO 13485, ISO14971, IEC 60601, IEC 62304 and 21CFR 820; Establishing product requirements, design and interfaces for medical software applications web and mobile applications; Waterfall and Agile Development methodologies Monte Carlo scheduling techniques in software development; Utilizing continuous build and integrations solutions to include Jenkins; Completion of Design Control Documentation to include Design Reviews, Traceability Matrix, Risk File, Verification and Validation Plans and Protocols; Applying secure coding and design practices to the existing and new products; Quality System Audits conducted by external agencies to include FDA, Notified Body and Regulatory Agency audits. Apply at www.medtronic.com/careers, Req.19000LKS. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Email: mplsbids@knutsonconstruction.com
We hope you can join Adolfson & Peterson Construction & Knutson Construction for a meet and greet to find out more about working on the Minneapolis Bus Garage Project November 20th, 2019 First Session: 2:30 Second Session: 3:30 During the sessions you will have the opportunity to meet project managers specific to your scope of work 5500 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 600 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Lower Level Conference Rooms Refreshments to follow at MyKenna’s Cafe.
MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 14, 2019
SOE
significance of my responsibility, I don’t take that lightly.” Although Black non-HBContinued from page 10 CU head coaches went 1-2 last week in Minneapolis, it still “Sometimes it’s hard to think was history-making because about big-picture things be- it’s rare these days to see Blacks cause you are so focused on the in this role. game,” Franklin told the MSR. On being the first Black coach Charles Hallman welcomes for an undefeated team to play reader responses to challman@ the Gophers in the history of spokesman-recorder.com. Minnesota football, he said it is “something obviously I take great pride in. My role and the
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November 14-20, 2019
VIKINGS SHINE IN A rare sighting of Black head coaches PRIME TIME! Sports odds & ends
S
ince 1961 the Vikings have captured the hearts and minds of fans across the state of Minnesota. Since they were born in the NFL, the Vikings slowly but surely have risen to become the most popular franchise in town. But fast-forward to 2019 and suddenly the Vikings are being challenged by the remarkable season of the 9-0 Minnesota Gophers.
NFL rushing leader Dalvin Cook Photo by Steve Floyd Maybe the Vikings were just waiting for a challenge after four lost Super Bowls and countless other nearmisses over the years, losing NFC title games in 1987-1998, 2009 and 2017 with teams that had the look of champions. Could NFL season 100 be the year of the Vikings? Sunday night in primetime on NFL NBC, the toprated program in television, the Vikings beat their longtime rival the Dallas Cow-
boys 28-24 to improve 12-12 all-time against “America’s team.” Dallas is the most valuable sports franchise in all of sports at $5.1 billion. The Vikings, now 7-3 with six games remaining, stayed in the chase for the NFC North title. Running back Dalvin Cook has emerged as the team’s star, leading the NFL in rushing with 991 yards and total combined yards of 1,415 from scrimmage. Cook has scored 10 touchdowns. The NFC is loaded again with winning teams like San Francisco (8-1), Green Bay (82), Seattle (8-2) and New Orleans (7-2) that have positioned themselves for the chase to gain the valuable top two spots in the NFC for home field advantage. The Vikings are 6-0 when they score 28 points or more this season; they are 3-0 after losses and have swept the NFC East Washington, Dallas, New York and Philadelphia. Buckle up, fans, and hold on. This should be interesting if the Vikings over the next six weeks can challenge the unbeaten Gophers for best football team in town. Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 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@larry-fitzgerald.com or visit Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
By CHARLES HALLMAN
H
istory was made last week on the University of Minnesota campus, but it was virtually ignored by the
locals. The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) has noted that Black head coaches have been in a slow but steady decline since the mid-2000s. Black male head coaches in all sports last year numbered 8%, and barely 7% for Black females in similar positions. Black male head coaches in men’s basketball are at 22%, and 17% for Black females in women’s basketball. Yet Black males and Black females in the two sports are over 53% and 43% respectively. Better numbers among Black assistant coaches (45% in men’s basketball and 28% in women’s basketball) have not resulted in more Black head coaches. The first historical milestone took place at the November 5 season-opening basketball doubleheader at Williams Arena that featured Black head coaches at non-HBCU schools. “We always want to punch first. That’s our game play,” first-year Missouri State Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton told reporters after her club’s start-to-finish 77-69 victory over Minnesota.
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton
Dennis Gates
head coach after eight seasons as an assistant at Florida State, 16 years overall in Division I. He is the school’s second-ever Black head
the past four seasons after last Saturday’s 3126 defeat at Minnesota. Afterwards, the Nittany Lions coach calmly answered post-game second-guessing questions coming from a White-filled room (save for two MSR reporters) as if he’d lost the national championship. “It’s hard to be undefeated,” Franklin simply said. “[Minnesota] played real well and executed their plan. I think we work real hard. I think we prepare extremely well, but we can get better.
“You can’t get head coaching opportunities gift-wrapped in the way that you want.” It is her first head-coaching job after spending the last six seasons at Michigan State, four as associate head coach. She has been an assistant coach since 2007 (VCU, Indiana and Old Dominion). Agugua-Hamilton now is 2-0 at the Barn— as MSU interim coach, she defeated the Gophers in January 2017. After last week’s win, she told the MSR, “Like every team right now in the country, we got a lot of things to work on.” The first Black female head coach for any sport at Missouri State, Agugua-Hamilton noted, “Having been interim head coach at Michigan State definitely helped prepare me for this job, but you are always evolving as a coach. I am learning every day.” Cleveland State in the nightcap is coached by Dennis Gates, also in his first season as a
coach and was hired in July, typically late for hiring coaches. “I didn’t look at where the state of the program was,” Gates told the MSR after his club’s 85-50 defeat at Minnesota. “You can’t get [head coaching] opportunities giftwrapped in the way that you want.” But the biggest history maker took place last Saturday. Black Division I head football coaches make up around 7% of the total, and James Franklin was the first Black football coach ever to lead an unbeaten team to play the Gophers. It was the first time in 45 years that two Big Ten teams faced each other with similar 8-0 records. Now in his ninth year as a collegiate head coach (Vanderbilt 2011-13 and Penn State 2014-present), and with 24 years of overall coaching experience, Franklin is 39-10 over
NCAA ‘not acting in good faith’ Conclusion of a two-part series P.J. Fleck last week got a multi-year contract extension worth millions to continue coaching Minnesota football. Reportedly, Fleck was the third-lowest-paid football coach in the Big Ten at $3.5 million a year. But it remains that the players, who are largely responsible for today’s bigtime college sports, still aren’t getting a dime for their efforts. “We have been looking at this for a very long time,” Drexel Professor Ellen Staurowsky said on the pay-for-play issue. The NCAA for years has stonewalled this, Staurowsky pointed out. “It is deeply, deeply troubling to me. Embedded in their message are claims that are astounding if you understand how long the NCAA has been engaged in the oppression of its workforce.”
ANOTHER
VIEW Charles hallman
players only skin deep? University of Massachusetts at Amherst Associate Political Science Professor Tatishe Nteta has found that oftentimes racial resentment is found among survey respondents, and pay-for-play is no exception. “I think on the issue of paying college players, it becomes racialized,” Nteta told us. “The assumption…is that benefit will disproportionally go to African Americans in particular.” Blacks by almost two-to-one support the issue more than Whites, he added. Robert McCormick, when asked if Nteta’s results might be different if Whites instead of Blacks were the majority of today’s college football and basketball players, said, “I think there would be a different picture for sure.” Finally, at least a dozen states, including Minnesota, are considering legislation similar to the California law that becomes effective in 2023 allowing college players to seek compensation for the use of their names and likenesses while in school. “My recommendation is that those individual [states] who are proposing Tatishe Nteta Photo courtesy of Twitter bills similar to California’s is to double down and come back at it even harder,” Staurowsky said, “because the NCAA away through the [NCAA] regulatory has demonstrated that they are not operating in good faith.” system.” Staurowsky recalled. “What they are about here is a long Charles Hallman welcomes reader game,” Staurowsky said of the NCAA. to challman@spokesman“Positioning themselves as forward- responses recorder.com. thinking is simply untrue.” But is the issue of paying college in that market. That opportunity has been systemically stripped away from athletes over the period of the 20th Century,” Staurowsky said. Once upon a time, though, college players did get paid. “There were athletes in the early 1900s and in the 1910s who had the opportunity to benefit financially. That right was stripped
“On the issue of paying college players, it becomes racialized.” There have been occasional challenges to the NCAA over the years. Northwestern University football players sought to be unionized and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled in the players’ favor in 2011, but the school appealed and the decision was overruled. Now-retired Michigan State University law professors Robert and Amy McCormick wrote in their 2010 article, “Major College Sports: A Modern Apartheid” that college players, in essence, provide free labor. Amy McCormick noted, “The players who are responsible for creating [all of it] are generating all this money for the universities, coaches, and building huge stadiums.” “What we are arguing about [is] the rights of athletes to operate within a free market and to realize their value
■ See SOE on page 9
James Franklin Photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
Tyler Johnson, Charles Adams both winners last weekend While former Minneapolis North football and basketball standout Tyler Johnson, a senior receiver, was helping the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team upset numberfour Penn State at TCF Bank Stadium last Saturday, his high school coach, Charles Adams, was preparing the Polars for a Class 2A state quarterfinal showdown against Blue Earth— which the Polars won 26-20—at Kasson-Mantorville High School that evening. Johnson, who led North to the Class A state crown in 2015 as a quarterback, caught seven passes for 104 yards and one touchdown, as the then-number 17 Gophers (now ranked number seven) remained undefeated at 9-0 and earned one of the school’s most important victories in a dominant fashion. His former team wasn’t as dominant in their victory. Blue Earth jumped out to a 14-0 second-quarter lead before quarterback Zach Yeager connected with receiver Dominic McMillan for a 40yard score to make it 14-6 at halftime. Blue Earth boosted their lead to 206 late in the third period, but North responded by scoring 20 unanswered points. Quientrail JamisonTravis recovered a fumble in the endzone right
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a veteran Minneapolis police officer—and also the police officer liaison at North—working security detail at the Target Center as the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Denver Nuggets in NBA action. “It never stops,” Adams said with a smile. “I was up late last night breaking down [game film].” When asked about his former player, Adams let it be known that Johnson remains close to the program. “He’s been to every game he could make,” Adams said. “I just talked to him last night. I’m very proud of him.”
before the end of the period. Terrance Kamara scored from four yards out midway through the final period, and Yeager connected with McMillan again for a 23-yard touchdown that put the Polars up for good. One would think that after such a win the coach would celebrate the victory with rest and Dr. Mitchell Palmer Mcrelaxation. Yet the fol- Donald welcomes reader lowing Sunday after- responses to mcdeezy05@ noon there was Adams, gmail.com.
Former Minneapolis North standout Tyler Johnson (6), catches this pass and outruns Keaton Ellis for a 38-yard touchdown in the Gophers 3126 victory over Penn State. Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald