Trapped abroad
Families speak out on two Black Americans jailed in China
By Jasmine McBride Managing Editor
ASHINGTON, D.C./Shreve -
port, La. — For more than a decade, Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Mitchell Hunt have been imprisoned in China under circumstances their families say are unjust. The two African Americans, held in separate facilities, remain largely unreachable, and their loved ones say they have struggled for years to get the U.S. government to act.
“We thought it was a scam at first,” said Nelson Wells Sr., recalling the first phone call from China in 2014. “They told us our son was in trouble, and that they were going to kill him, then hung up.”
The Wells family spent weeks confirming Nelson Jr.’s captivity and attempting to communicate with him. “It felt like the embassy was just a glorified mail carrier,” Wells Sr. said. “We weren’t getting the support we needed.”
A veteran family with a love for travel, the Wells say Nelson Jr.’s arrest stemmed from a visit to China, where he was later convicted of smuggling drugs. According to the “Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Mitchell Hunt Unjustly Detained in Communist China Act,” introduced to Congress, Wells Jr. was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, later reduced to 22 years in 2019, leaving him incarcerated until 2041. In testimony before the Congressional-Executive Commis-
sion on China in 2024, Wells Sr. described how his son had traveled to China for a necessary medical procedure. While recovering, he says, Nelson met an acquaintance who asked him to carry bags of gifts to Japan, unaware that they contained drugs. His family maintains there was little evidence supporting his guilt and that he was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself. Separated from his wife and three children, Nelson had almost no meaningful access to due process, and it took months before his parents could confirm what had happened.
Nelson Jr. has faced serious health issues during his detention, including seizures and high blood pressure. His parents describe sleepless nights ■ See DETAINED on page 5
Court orders Trump Administration to restore SNAP Benefits, but USDA halves November aid Minnesota-led lawsuit forces $5 billion contingency fund use, Ellison criticizes partial funding and refusal to tap additional resources
Trump Administration continues to double down on SNAP cuts. The USDA announced it would only provide 50% of SNAP benefits for November, despite having authority to fund full benefits using both the contingency fund and an additional Section 32 Child Nutrition fund.
By Scott Selmer Assigning Editor
hen Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued the Trump administration last week for suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), he called the move “cruel and unlawful.” Days later, a federal court agreed, ordering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use its $5 billion contingency fund to continue providing benefits nationwide. The temporary restraining order, issued October 31, restores nutrition support for more than 42 million Americans during the ongoing fed-
eral government shutdown, including about 440,000 Minnesotans, among them 180,000 children, 67,000 seniors, and 52,000 people with disabilities.
“It’s impossible for me to understand the cruelty required to use 42 million hungry Americans as political leverage,” Ellison said. “Instead of using available funding, the Trump administration tried to take food off the table of kids and families across our state and across our country.” The court determined that USDA’s suspension of SNAP payments “was based on the erroneous conclusion that the ■ See SNAP on page 5
Remembering Wallace “Jack” Jackman: A life of leadership, laughter, and legacy
By Jasmine McBride Managing Editor
allace “Jack” O’Neil Jackman, known affectionately as Jackie or simply Jack, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to community. A loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Jack’s life was a master class in combining heart, hustle, and humor.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Jack moved to Minneapolis at the age of 13, growing up in a family whose roots ran deep in service and community. The son of Launa Quincy (Jackman) Newman and Wallace O’Neil Jackman, he was also guided by Cecil E. Newman, the legendary founder of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Newman became a father figure, mentor, and model for young Jack, a bond that would later inspire him to co-publish the newspaper with his sister, Norma Jean Williams.
Jackman brought a visionary approach to the MSR. While Norma focused on writing and administration, Jack oversaw operations, modernizing the newspaper’s technology and infrastructure at a time when many Black newspapers were still using typewriters. Under his guidance, the MSR transitioned to computers and modern printing systems, giving staff the tools to produce quality journalism efficiently. He even orchestrated a major remodeling of the building, converting space that had once housed a printing press into offices equipped with the latest technology, investments that continue to benefit the MSR decades later.
“He was friendly, enthusiastic, and no-nonsense,” recalled longtime colleague Jerry Freeman. “He encouraged us to pursue stories that mattered, trusted us to deliver, and fiercely defended us from unjust criticism. Jack’s loyalty was unmatched.”
Jack’s influence extended far beyond the newsroom. Known as a connector and a bridge-builder, he helped strengthen Minneapolis’ ties with the African diaspora. His work
Families say MPD fails to protect women of color
By Scott Selmer Assigning Editor
nder gray skies on the afternoon of Oct. 30, relatives of two women, one Black, one Indigenous, gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center accusing Minneapolis police and city officials of failing to protect women of color from domestic violence.
The families came seeking justice for Mariah Samuels, a 30-year-old African American mother who was shot 10 times by her ex-partner, and Allison Lussier, an Indigenous woman found beaten to death in her home after repeatedly calling police for help.
Native women are treated as less worthy of protection than their White counterparts.
“My sister should be here today celebrating my dad’s birthday and her son’s birthday, but she’s not,” said Selina Owens, Samuels’ sister, her voice breaking as she addressed the crowd. “She called the police. She begged for help. They said she didn’t seem scared enough. What does that even mean? How scared does a Black woman have to be before anyone listens?”
Both families described a pattern of indifference and evasion from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) when handling domestic vio-
Both women, relatives said, “did everything right.” They filed police reports, obtained protection orders, and reached out for help. Yet both were killed by men they had warned police about. Their deaths, they argue, reveal a deeper truth: that Black and
lence cases involving women of color.
Lussier’s relatives said police ignored repeated warnings that her abusive partner was stalking her in the days before her death. When her body was discovered, officers initially
■ See SAMUELS on page 5
with the International Leadership Institute took him to Eldoret, Kenya, where he joined a delegation of Minneapolis firefighters to train local emergency responders and deliver muchneeded equipment, including fire trucks and an ambulance.
“Jack served as a cultural bridge,” said retired Judge LaJune Lange. “He helped the firefighters immerse themselves in African work culture, stayed in touch, encouraged donations, and ensured that our work had lasting impact. His commitment never wavered.” Colleague Michael Chaney, who worked with Jack on numerous initiatives, called him “the ultimate outreach person. Always seeking the next connection, Jack brought people together, amplified the voices of the Black community, and carried the MSR’s influence far beyond Minneapolis.”
By Clint Combs Contributing Writer
ennepin County District 2 Commissioner
Irene Fernando said the city failed to assign an investigator to the domestic violence case of Mariah Samuels before her death, despite internal claims that one had been appointed.
“The letter says that an investigator was assigned,” Fernando said at a press conference at the Hennepin County Center on Thursday, Oct. 30. “So on paper, the city has asserted that an investigator was assigned. I say all of this because they haven’t provided an explanation. I had barely been formally informed that they didn’t assign an investigator.”
Fernando said MPD’s failure to assign an investigator between the Aug. 21 assault and Samuels’ killing “represents a systemic breakdown” that may have contributed to her death. She also criticized the Frey administration for refusing, for more than seven weeks, to provide basic staffing data on MPD’s domestic violence unit despite repeated
Samuels, 34, was shot and killed Sept. 14 outside her North Minneapolis home. Her ex-boyfriend, David Wright, has been charged with second-degree murder. Earlier that morning, Samuels had called 911 to report that Wright had violated a restraining order by sending harassing text messages. According to the restraining order, after Samuels told Wright she wanted to end their relationship, he pistolwhipped her outside her home, threw her against a fence, and choked her.
Nelson Wells Jr., whose family says he is falsely imprisoned in China going on 12 years
Photo courtesy of the Wells family
Dawn Mitchell Hunt prior to her arrest during vacation allotted by a complimentary sweepstakes Photo courtesy of the Hunt family
Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando speaks with reporters on Oct. 30 about her attempts to reach Mayor Jacob Frey. Clint Combs/MSR
Scott Selmer/MSR
Remembering Wallace “Jack” Jackman, a critical part of the Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder’s legacy, gone but not forgotten (Nov. 4, 1944 - Oct. 27, 2025).
Photos courtesy of the Jackman family
By Jasmine McBride Managing Editor
The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) marked a milestone in expanding affordable housing on Wednesday, October 29, breaking ground in South Minneapolis on a new triplex in the Windom neighborhood and a duplex in Regina. The projects are funded in part by MPHA’s tax levy, with the city’s housing levy contributing $1.25 million to both developments.
The Windom triplex will replace a long-vacant singlefamily home with three new units: two four-bedroom, twobathroom apartments and one two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit. One four-bedroom and the two-bedroom unit will be fully accessible.
for real families,” he said. “Every Minneapolis family should be able to find a place that’s safe, affordable, and feels like home.”
Councilmember Emily Koski emphasized the importance of accessibility and inclusion. “Creating more accessible and affordable homes is essential to building a Minneapolis that works for everyone,” she said. “This new development expands opportunity for families in South Minneapolis and ensures neighborhoods remain inclusive and vibrant.”
ficient, featuring rooftop solar arrays.
“This project demonstrates
The Regina duplex will include a four-bedroom, twobathroom accessible unit and a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit. Both buildings will be all-electric and energy-ef-
the power of partnership in addressing our region’s affordable housing crisis,” said MPHA Executive Director Abdi Warsame. “Coupling MPHA’s federal resources
with local funding and the nation-leading 2040 Plan, MPHA continues to add the deeply affordable family housing our city needs. While five
The groundbreaking comes after MPHA reviewed its portfolio of nearly 800 scatteredsite family homes, looking for opportunities to replace single-family homes with multifamily units. The Windom and Regina properties were identified as prime candidates, following the success of MPHA’s Family Housing Expansion Project (FHEP).
velopment, three families will be able to live here. Not far away in Regina, we’re increas
ing from one family to two.”
Mayor Frey mentioned the importance of “pushing back on segregation and expanding opportunity … We want to welcome people from diverse backgrounds into these neigh-
opened its family housing waitlist for the first time in three years, receiving more than 3,300 applications in just five days. With nearly 4,000 families on the waitlist, MPHA leaders stressed the need for additional family-sized units.
new homes won’t solve the city’s housing shortage, the real success is in the replicability of these projects.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the developments as a direct result of the city’s 2040 Plan, which enabled upzoning and new approaches to housing construction. “These aren’t just new buildings, they’re real homes
“This used to be just one family living here,” Warsame said during the ceremony. “Now, after this beautiful de-
borhoods,” he said.
MPHA continues to see high demand for family housing. Last year, the agency
Construction on both projects is expected to take 11 months, with completion projected for the third quarter of 2026.
“Projects like this demonstrate Minneapolis’ commitment to addressing the affordable housing crisis,” said Elfric Porte, MPHA board chair. “Thanks to the city’s investment, innovative zoning changes, and the creativity of MPHA staff, we’re able to maximize the number of units while fitting the character of the neighborhoods.”
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Oct. 29, the Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Public Housing Authority broke ground on a new triplex and duplex in South Minneapolis, contingent with Minneapolis’ 2040 plan of expanding affordable housing. All photos courtesy of Jasmine McBride/MSR
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (center-left) with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority team.
Twin Cities Recovery Project bridges the opioid care divide
By Scott Selmer Assigning Editor
When Latricia Tate talks about addiction, she doesn’t speak from statistics. She speaks from experience.
Her parents were victims of the 1980s crack epidemic on Chicago’s South Side, a trauma that shaped her life and, ultimately, her calling. “Nobody talked about what was wrong with my parents,” Tate recalled. “It was like a secret.”
Today, Tate is the cofounder and CEO of Twin Cities Recovery Project (TCRP), a North Minneapolis-based organization tackling a public health crisis that many say still leaves Black communities behind, the opioid epidemic. She also runs a second TCRP site in South Minneapolis.
Tate’s journey began long before the phrase “opioid crisis” was part of the national vocabulary. As a child, she watched addiction unravel her family’s stability. “We went from having everything to no lights, no hot water, and my mom disappearing for days,” she said.
By her early 20s, Tate de-
cided to help families like her own. She studied human services at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, interned with Pillsbury United Communities, and began working with families affected by addiction. “That’s when I knew this was my purpose, to be a voice for people who didn’t have one,” she said.
In 2016, Tate co-founded TCRP with her fiancé, Marc Johnigan, who was later killed in a 2021 car accident. Together, they envisioned a social club for people in recovery — a space for fellowship and fun without drugs or alcohol. “He wanted a place where people could have a good time and still be sober,” Tate said.
From those humble beginnings in a church basement, TCRP has grown into an organization employing nearly 30 staff, most of them people in recovery. “All of our staff, except me, are in recovery, from one year to 30 years clean,” Tate said. “That’s what makes us different. We’re not teaching from a book; we’ve lived it.”
Despite billions in opioid recovery funding, Tate says Black communities still struggle for equitable access. “There’s one Black-led treatment center in Minneapolis that they currently work with, Turning Point,” she said. “Mainstream systems often make decisions for us without us.”
TCRP fills the gap between treatment and real life. When clients finish a 30-day program, the group connects them with peer recovery coaches, hous-
ing, IDs, sponsors, and ongoing mentorship. “We pick them up when they leave treatment and carry them the rest of the way,” Tate said.
“We’ll love you until you learn to love yourself,” Tate said of the team’s guiding philosophy.
The organization also operates the Minneapolis Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI) Safe Station, a part-
‘This work gave me purpose’ Christopher Burks, a certified peer recovery specialist with TCRP, often responds to Safe Station calls. He battled
nership with the Minneapolis Fire Department. There, anyone suffering from addiction can walk in anytime for immediate help. Firefighters trained by TCRP conduct initial assessments and contact peer recovery coaches who arrive within minutes.
In a video on TCRP’s website, Fire Captain David Carson welcomes viewers: “We’re happy you came in today to take this first step. We’ve partnered with TCRP to provide support in a judgmentfree environment.” The Safe Station is open 24/7 for anyone seeking help.
The model, born from Johnigan’s vision, is among the first of its kind in Minnesota.
addiction for three decades, surviving six overdoses. “I started shooting crack cocaine and ended up shooting meth,” he said.
Burks said recovery is often hindered by barriers like housing, employment, and criminal records. “People can’t get a job or decent housing. That keeps them stuck in addiction,” he said.
After Burks got sober, he still faced stigma as a felon. “I was still labeled a felon. So where was I going to go to get a job?” he said. TCRP trained him to become a certified peer recovery specialist, a credential that helped him rebuild his life. “That allowed me to get employment, housing,
and my driver’s license back after 21 years.”
Burks went on to earn an associate degree from MCTC and is now pursuing his bachelor’s at Metro State University. “TCRP was the key to turning my life around,” he said.
Meeting people where they are
On any given day, TCRP staff fan out across North and South Minneapolis distributing harm reduction kits containing Narcan, clean needles, condoms, and information about treatment. They visit encampments, alleys, and shelters.
Tate remembers one young man named Trey. “He was 17, living behind dumpsters and using fentanyl,” she said. “I kept going back, talking to him, feeding him. He’d say, ‘Here she comes again.’ But now he’s one year sober and a certified peer recovery specialist.”
partnerships with city and state agencies. Tate now serves on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Opioids and Addiction, where she advocates for racial equity in treatment. “We don’t recover the same way [white people] in mainstream programs do,” she said. “We recover in our community.”
Fighting for equity
Tate has seen firsthand how inequities persist. “We’ve had Black clients turned away from treatment centers that took white clients the same day,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll ask one of our white staff to call, and magically there’s a bed.” Funding disparities, she added, remain a major obstacle. “We’re out here begging for scraps while larger organizations get the money,” Tate said. “Yet we’re the ones in the streets doing the work.” Still, she remains grounded in faith, and in her grandmother’s resilience. “If she survived Jim Crow, I can survive this,” Tate said softly. “My assignment is to serve.”
For Tate, Trey’s transformation captures TCRP’s mission.
“That’s the face I see when I think about this work,” she said.
Johnigan’s death nearly broke her, and the organization. “I wanted to shut it down,” Tate admitted. “But the staff said, ‘Mr. Johnigan wouldn’t want that. We’re coming to work tomorrow.’”
That solidarity carried TCRP forward, expanding its reach through trauma-informed care, training programs, and
Tate envisions a one-stop recovery hub offering wound care, therapy, and peer support under one roof. “People can take back what addiction stole from them,” she said. “That’s recovery. Not just sobriety.”
For now, TCRP keeps showing up. “We meet people where they are,” Tate said. “And we don’t cross the street when we see them coming.”
For more information, visit / www.twincitiesr.ecoveryproject. org/.
Scott Selmar welcomes reader responses at sselmer@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Mpls BIPOC-owned businesses call city contracting unfair
By Clint Combs Contributing Writer
The Minneapolis Small Business Forum at the Mosaic Venue, originally scheduled for last weekend, was rescheduled to Thursday, October 30, after State Sen. Omar Fateh had a family emergency.
Mayor Jacob Frey, who did not attend the initial session, was also absent from the rescheduled event, citing growing campaign demands.
fice that can serve as a onestop shop that’s fully funded, fully staffed. Businesses should be kept up to date on who’s being awarded contracts, what’s being awarded, and why.”
The state senator’s proposals mirror efforts already underway in other U.S. cities. Boston has an “Equity in City Contracting Dashboard” that publicly reports contract awards to certified minorityand women-owned businesses.
transparent with practical feedback.
3. Rotate decision-makers periodically to reduce bias.
“Listen, RFPs and this procurement process aren’t meant to be like the bar exam,”
The forum underscored how the city’s contracting system remains deeply unfair for BIPOC-owned businesses.
Fateh announced that, if elected mayor, he would cre
ate an Office of Small Business Success and a real-time Procurement Equity Dashboard to improve transparency and support for underserved vendors.
“I know that there are a couple of roles within CPED [Community Planning & Economic Development], but that’s not enough,” Fateh said.
“We need to have a direct of-
Portland, Oregon publishes a “Procurement Data Dashboard” built on the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), allowing users to track solicitations through contract awards and payments.
“We need to launch a realtime Procurement Equity Dashboard so that the public can track in real time, not just contract opportunities, but where and who is getting awarded contracts, because we believe that transparency isn’t something that’s just for the end of the year,” Fateh said.
Despite representing 24% of available vendors, minorityand women-owned businesses received only about 7% of prime contracts between July 2016 and June 2023, according to the city’s 2025 Joint Disparity Study.
Moderator Lynn Pingol cited stark figures: “White maleowned firms received 84% of the city’s contracts, while Black-owned firms received just 1.2%, women-owned
firms 2.1%, Asian-owned firms 3.4%, and Native American-owned firms 0.3%. These figures do not reflect a lack of qualified vendors. They reflect a system that lacks the tools to ensure fair access.”
Jazz Hampton, attorney, mayoral candidate, and founder of Turn Signal, outlined a three-step plan to reform the procurement process:
1. Act on the data.
2. Make the RFP process
Hampton said. “Here is what you need to understand: why you weren’t chosen. If you remedied X, Y, and Z, you would be right up there with everybody else.”
Hampton also discussed balancing environmental justice concerns with opportunities for affected communities to bid on contracts.
“If we’re talking about shutting down the HERC and then
building additional opportunities to generate energy and manage waste within our city, how are we ensuring that the contracts go to members who have been displaced and mistreated in that very community?” Hampton said.
Frey described his bid for a third term as a race stacked against him, facing Fateh, Hampton, and Rev. DeWayne Davis, but maintained that voters will see through the challenge.
“It’s interesting because I see all the independent expenditures that are supporting you, sending out mailers telling people how to rank their ballot,” Davis said at the WCCO debate days earlier.
“I speak for myself, you speak for yourself,” Frey responded.
Asked what sets his approach apart from Fateh and Hampton, Davis highlighted his federal budget and policy experience along with a commitment to inclusive governance. He previously worked on appropriations for former Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer.
“I’ve spent a long time,” Davis said. “I have a lot of experience. I bring that experience to this effort. I believe that governing should be a process that everybody participates in at every level.”
The Minneapolis mayoral election is on Tuesday, November 4.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@ gmail.com.
Sister Spokesman honors the “Best of Black Businesses” across Minnesota
By Jasmine McBride Managing Editor
On Nov. 1, the Sister Spokesman community gathered at Black Business Enterprises
(BBE) located downtown Minneapolis for an afternoon filled with joy, applause, and deep pride as the Best of Black Businesses Awards honored Minnesota entrepreneurs whose creativity, perseverance, and purpose continue to uplift the Twin Cities.
The event celebrated Black business excellence in five categories: Food & Drink, Hair & Nails, Health & Wellness, Retail & Merchandise, and Professional Services. Each award recognized the innovators who not only build thriving enterprises, but also pour back into the communities that built them.
“Today, we celebrate brilliance, resilience, and legacy,” said Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder publisher and CEO, Tracey Williams-Dillard in opening remarks. “These are the businesses shaping the culture and economy of our community.”
Feeding the soul
In the Food & Drink category, Lutunji’s Palate took home first place. Owner Lutunji Abram described the award as confirmation that her mission of food, faith, and community is resonating. “It’s confirmation that I’m on the right path,” she said. “I’m cre-
ating legacy and hope during these unknown times.”
Her best-selling Peach Cobbler, she added with a smile, “has a very unique anointing on it.”
Runner-up honors went to Tender Lovin’ Chix! owned by Marques ‘Ques’ Johnson, while Wendy’s House of Soul, located inside North Market, placed third.
Beauty and self-expression Hayat Mohamed, owner of Hayat Beauty Salon, earned first place for Hair & Nails. “It’s amazing… I don’t even know how to explain it,” she said after accepting her award. Mohamed, who currently runs her shop solo, hopes the recognition will help her grow. “I’m looking forward to bringing in another stylist. It feels lonely sometimes, but this gives me more exposure.”
The category also honored Whitney of Beauty by Whitney in second place and Maurice & Marquis Laney of Twin N’nem Barber Studios in third.
Wellness from the inside out Winner of the Health & Wellness category, Kisha Triplett of Internal Beauties, said the surprise recognition moved her deeply. “I didn’t even know I was nominated,” she said. “I’m just happy the community believes in me.”
ing project in their garage has become a thriving business with its own studio and national reach. “We couldn’t be more blessed,” said Gregory. “Now we’re teaching candle-making workshops and bringing the community together.”
Harris added that Kobi Co. has partnered with major organizations, including the YMCA, Minnesota Twins, and Vikings to host self-care workshops. “It’s dope to take our message of self-care out to the community,” she said. Their signature Black Lives Matter candle continues to donate proceeds to families impacted by gun violence and police brutality.
Triplett focuses on helping clients heal both physically and emotionally. “No matter what you ask me to do externally, you have to figure out what’s going on internally that got you there,” she explained. “That’s the biggest reward, seeing people feel better when they leave than when they came.”
Second-place honors went to Luna Massage & Wellness, and ZaRah Integrated Root Center took third.
Retail roots and community reach In the Retail & Merchandise category, mother-daughter duo Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory of Kobi Co. earned first place. What began as a candle-mak-
Dr. Terresa Hardaway, owner of Black Garnet Books in St. Paul, earned second place. “Anytime you’re honored by your own people, it feels particularly gratifying,” she said. “Our bookstore is a necessary space, people can come together, educate themselves, and find community.”
Deniesha Johnson, founder
of D. Johnson & Co., rounded out the category in third. “It’s an honor,” she said. “This acknowledgment makes me feel seen. My biggest lesson has been to take the risk, go after what’s on your heart, even if you fail. It’s all part of the learning process.”
Professional excellence and legacy
The Professional Services category spotlighted community mentors and industry leaders.
Ms. Dorothy Jean BarnesGriswold, M.Ed., executive director of the Minnesota COPE Program, took top honors for decades of scholarship and mentorship work with youth.
“I feel ecstatic,” she said. “We’re doing amazing work for the community, and it’s good to be recognized.”
The COPE Program provides annual scholarships to students from high school through college, offering financial and emotional support.
One scholarship recipient, Yaseen Muhammad, said, “It meant a lot, textbooks aren’t cheap. Because of COPE, I can focus on my academics and keep achieving.”
Second place went to Willie James Rollers Jr. and his family-run company, WJRJ Electrical. Rollers, who began his career in 1990, now partners with his son. “Prayer and networking are key,” he said. “People say you can’t
work with family, but tell that to Walmart and Target. It’s a dream come true.”
His son added, “We started this company to give Black electricians opportunities. We’re not at the finish line yet, but this award shows we’re on the right track.”
Third place went to Ascend Entertainment Productions / DJ A-Quil, honored for service and community leadership.
A community that lifts as it climbs
As the ceremony closed, applause filled the room for all the nominees, whether in attendance or not. “You voted for them, and they appreciate you,” said Williams-Dillard, reminding the audience.
From soulful food to inspiring mentorship, the 2025 Sister Spokesman Best of Black Businesses Awards celebrated more than commerce. It celebrated connection, culture, and community. Each honoree, in their own way, is building a legacy that ensures Black excellence in Minnesota not only endures, but thrives. For more information on upcoming Sister Spokesman events, visit www.spokesmanrecorder.com/sister-spokesman.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
(L-R) Moderator Robert Harper, Jazz Hampton, Omar Fateh, Lynn Pingol, DeWayne Davis, and Tommy Beevas Clint Combs/MSR
Food & Drink first place award recipient, Lutunji Abram of Lutunji’s Palate.
Hair & Nails second place award recipient, Beauty by Whitney, represented by relative.
Hair & Nails first place award recipient, Hayat Mohamed of Hayat Beauty Salon.
Retail & Merchandise third place award recipient, Deniesha Johnson of D. Johnson & Co.
Retail & Merchandise second place award recipient, Dr. Terresa Hardaway of Black Garnet Books. Retail & Merchandise first place award recipient, motherdaughter duo Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory of Kobi Co.
Professional Services second place award recipient, Willie James Rollers Jr. and his familyrun company, WJRJ Electrical.
Health & Wellness first place award recipient, Kisha Triplett of Internal Beauties.
Professional Services first place award recipient, Ms. Dorothy Jean Barnes-Griswold of the Minnesota COPE Program.
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and endless worry, feeling powerless to protect him.
Similarly, Dawn Mitchell Hunt, 54, has been imprisoned for nearly 12 years after traveling to China for what she believed was a legitimate sweepstakes prize. Her brother, Tim Hunt, said the trip quickly turned into a nightmare. He says her vacation went well, until she was offered additional complimentary tickets to Australia. She arrived at the airport with her luggage, including purses complimentary of the sweepstakes, marking her last memory of freedom.
“She was detained at the airport en route to Australia
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Yet for all his vision and ambition, Jack was beloved for his warmth, humor, and signature
“Jack-isms,” quick, sharp oneliners that could ease tension or fill a room with laughter. He had a rare gift for turning strangers
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contingency funds could not be used to ensure continuation of SNAP payments.” It required the agency to use those funds immediately to keep the program operating.
Partial payments spark new controversy
On November 3, USDA announced it would only provide 50% of SNAP benefits for November, despite having authority to fund full benefits using both the contingency fund and an additional Section 32 Child Nutrition fund. According to a declaration
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ruled the case an overdose, a finding later contradicted by the medical examiner’s report citing traumatic brain injury as the cause of death.
“Beaten to death is not an accident,” one family member shouted. “Shot 10 times is not an accident. This is firstdegree murder. Yet the men who did this walk free while the police pretend they didn’t see it coming.”
MPD Chief Brian O’Hara has faced mounting criticism over his department’s cooperation with an ongoing outside audit into procedural failures in domestic-violence cases. According to an October report from the City Auditor’s Office, MPD officers declined to an-
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because the purses she carried were falsely claimed to contain drugs,” Hunt said. “She had no idea and has been in prison ever since. During this time, she has developed medical issues that require on-going treatment, and her communication with us has been extremely limited.”
Former journalist and consultant Peter Humphrey, who spent two and a half years imprisoned in China, has worked with both families. Humphrey said the Chinese judicial system is designed to crush defendants psychologically and coerce confessions, and he believes race plays a role in how Nelson and Dawn are treated.
“Being a Black prisoner in China is absolutely horrific,” Humphrey said. “The system views Blacks as the lowest on
into friends and reminding everyone that life’s challenges are lighter when faced with good humor and good people.
Those who knew him best remember Jack as a man who lived by principle and purpose. He poured his heart into his family and community, always ready to help, to mentor, and to lead. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren carry
filed by Patrick Penn, Deputy Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at USDA, the agency is allocating $4.65 billion of the contingency fund to pay half of eligible households’ benefits. The remaining fund is earmarked for administrative expenses and nutrition programs in Puerto Rico and American Samoa. Penn wrote that fully funding SNAP using Section 32 funds would create an “unprecedented shortfall” in child nutrition programs, which feed at least 29 million children daily through school lunch, breakfast, and summer food programs. USDA’s declaration filed in the Massachusetts federal court adds that the agency has
swer certain questions about their handling of recent homicides and even asked whether they could be disciplined for providing “inaccurate answers.”
Family advocates said that silence speaks volumes.
“What do you have to hide, Minneapolis Police?” one organizer demanded. “You knew these women’s names, their faces, their calls for help, and you chose not to act.”
Speakers at Thursday’s rally drew a stark contrast between the city’s swift responses to high-profile cases involving White women and the apparent neglect faced by women of color in similar danger.
“When it’s a white woman on the news, you see police chiefs and mayors at the vigil,” one family member said.
“When it’s a Black woman or a Native woman, we’re left alone to bury our own.”
That absence, they argued,
from 12 officers in 2019, according to the Star Tribune. Meanwhile, caseloads and the backlog of unassigned investigations continue to rise.
the racial hierarchy. Guards and other prisoners treat them harshly, and the judicial process is rigged. You have no real chance to defend yourself.”
As a former journalist, Humphrey says, at the time of his imprisonment he used his media connections as leverage to tell his story and draw attention to his and his wife’s detainment. He says he felt he became a liability for the prison to keep him, and so won his fight.
Humphrey now advises families with loved ones detained abroad, helping them navigate a complex legal and diplomatic landscape. Both the Wells and Hunt families say getting proper responses from political leaders has taken far longer than it should.
“We formed a team with Peter Humphrey and advocate Joi
forward his lessons in integrity, humility, and compassion.
Jackman is survived by his children, Daughn J. Jackman, Thomas D. Jackman, Christjon Jackman (wife Jennifer), and Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton (husband Phillip); his companion Ruth Ann James; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a wide circle of family and
made all contingency funds available to the states and authorized them to begin disbursements immediately. The declaration also notes that USDA stands ready to assist states as they implement the partial payments, though officials warn that adjusting eligibility, recalculating benefits, and notifying households could take weeks or even months, potentially delaying aid further.
“Donald Trump is still using hunger as a political weapon against the American people,” Ellison said. “While I am glad to see some SNAP benefits resuming as a result of our lawsuit, it is not close to enough. Trump’s USDA has the ability to provide full
reflects more than bureaucratic failure. It reflects a moral hierarchy of whose lives matter.
“Chief O’Hara shows up for other people’s losses,” said a relative of Lussier. “But not for Allison. Not for Mariah. He’s never stood with us, not once.”
Family members also called out Mayor Jacob Frey, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and city officials for what they described as a “pattern of disregard” for the lives of women of color.
“Mayor Frey, you have time to make TikToks and restaurant videos, but not to meet with grieving families,” Owens said. “You want to be famous? You’ll be famous for doing nothing.”
Samuels’ family detailed how she reached out repeatedly to police and even handdelivered evidence to their offices, including text messages and threats from her ex-
Chaney,” Wells Sr. said. “Finally, after 11 years, there’s a humanitarian release request in motion. But it shouldn’t have taken this long.”
“AfricanAmericans are often targeted overseas.”
Advocacy efforts began to bear fruit in 2023, when the Wells family received some support through strategic networking. Tim Hunt stressed the importance of public awareness and policy change. “We need local and national leaders to support the Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Mitchell Hunt Act,” Hunt said. “Call your senator, call your congressman. This is about more than our families… It’s about preventing others from suffering the same fate.”
friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace O’Neal Jackman, his mother and step-father, Luana and Cecil E. Newman; his beloved wife Lynda D. Jackman, and his sister Norma Jean Williams.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, November 14, 2025, from 1:00–4:00 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Parkway North, Saint
benefits to people struggling to make ends meet, yet they are refusing to do so because they want to use those hungry Americans as leverage.”
Historical context and lawsuit background Ellison’s lawsuit, filed October 28, argued that Congress had created a “rainy-day” contingency fund specifically to continue SNAP operations during a government shutdown. USDA’s refusal to use that fund, the suit alleges, violates both Congressional intent and the Administrative Procedure Act.
USDA’s own 2025 shutdown plan and previous guidance confirm that contingency funds were available to main-
partner. They say she was met with indifference.
“The officer wrote that Mariah felt safe… That she didn’t think he knew where she was,” Owens said, referencing police body-camera footage obtained by the Star Tribune. “That was a lie. The footage shows that conversation never happened.”
Hours later, Samuels was found dead.
The officer who responded to her final call reportedly failed to complete the department’s domestic-violence risk assessment form, a basic step in evaluating threats to victims’ safety.
“They are trained,” said Carolyn Brooks, Samuels’ aunt. “They just don’t do it. The officer who gave her a blue card came back two minutes after she was shot, trying to revive her. Why didn’t he look for the suspect? Why didn’t he check
Joi Chaney, who works with both families, highlighted racial disparities in foreign incarceration. “African Americans are often targeted overseas,” she said. “People need to be careful and know the laws of the countries they visit. Our community must be aware that support is not guaranteed, and advocacy is essential.”
Despite the hurdles, both families continue to fight. “We’re grateful for the angels who have stepped in along the way,” Wells Sr. said, naming friends, advocates, and some members of Congress. “But nothing compares to the toll of knowing your child or sibling is suffering thousands of miles away, with limited communication and no real power to intervene.”
The families have launched websites and social media ac-
Paul, MN. The program runs from 1:00–2:30 p.m., followed by grazing and fellowship. For virtual attendance, visit: https:// us06web.zoom.us/j/8307809 1649?pwd=8v7Gap0HGX8FN RzmIETJO3tXtpj9hH.1. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the American Cancer Society in Jack’s name. Wallace “Jack” Jackman’s life was a testament to lead-
tain SNAP benefits. During prior shutdowns in 2018–2019 and 2021, the agency acknowledged this authority. USDA has funded other emergency programs during the current shutdown but initially refused to fund SNAP, prompting legal action.
The lawsuit, co-led by Ellison alongside the attorneys general of Arizona, California, and Massachusetts, was joined by 19 other states, the District of Columbia, and the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
Impact of the benefit reduction
counts to keep the public informed and gather support. They emphasize that prayer, awareness and advocacy are critical.
“Please, follow our story, support our efforts, and help ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Hunt said.
“We’ve been in this fight for over 11 years, but with enough voices, maybe we can finally bring Nelson and Dawn home.”
Both families say they are waiting for a response from the Trump administration, hoping they can settle some form of inmate exchange and bring their loved ones home.
For more information, visit www.nelsonwellsjr.com.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
ership grounded in kindness, vision tempered with humor, and a steadfast belief in the power of community. He leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire, reminding us to live generously, laugh often, and lead with heart.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
written requests.
“Over seven weeks of very documented emails and letters, I was unable to even get a staffing number for 2025 compared to 2019,” Fernando said. “I had been told from other sources there was a decrease of up to 70%, and I wanted to validate that.”
The domestic violence unit
now has only five staffers, four officers and one civilian, down
Fernando said she met with Mayor Jacob Frey, Commissioner Todd Barnett, and Chief Operating Officer Anderson Kelliher but received “no data and no proactive leadership in this space.
“If this is about caseloads and resources,” she said, “then why has the City of Minneapolis chosen not to provide the necessary data to uncover systemic gaps and resolve needs?” Body camera footage from
Samuels’ final 911 call also contradicts the officer’s report, which stated she “appeared safe” and “felt safe staying at her current address.” In the footage, Samuels said the opposite, that Wright likely knew where she was staying and that she was afraid.
Fernando added that MPD’s internal reviews into Samuels’ death, as well as the
“Black and brown women are often not seen as victims. Their invisibility is deadly, and we must nameittochangeit.”
deaths of Allison Lussier and Davis Moturi in other domestic-related incidents, have not been made public, calling the refusal “a potential violation of the city charter.”
Advocates argue Minneapolis lacks coordinated systems to protect high-risk domestic violence survivors. Amirthini Keefe of the Domestic Abuse Project said the city is “one of the only major cities in Minnesota without a domestic violence High Risk Response Team,” a model that uses validated lethality assessments and information-sharing to prevent homicides.
the back of the house? Why didn’t anyone do their job?”
“We’re not asking anymore,” one family member said.
“We’re demanding. This city can either protect its women of color, or admit it never intended to.”
The Mayor’s office responded by referral to Scott Wasserman of the City of Minneapolis who issued a written statement jointly representing the Mayor, the City of Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Police Department that said, “Mariah Samuels’ death is an unspeakable tragedy. And to be clear, the man charged with her killing, David Wright, is responsible for Mariah Samuels’ death and must be held accountable. Mariah, like all victims of domestic violence, deserved to feel safe at home and in our city. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara is ordering a thorough review
Similar teams operate across the country, including DVERT in Multnomah County, Oregon; the High-Risk Intervention Panel in Nashville; the Domestic Violence High Risk Team in Harris County, Texas; San Mateo County’s HighRisk Case Multidisciplinary Team in California; and the Berkshire County Domestic Violence High Risk Team in Massachusetts.
“Mariah Samuels should still be here,” said Nikki Engel, interim co-executive director of Violence Free Minnesota.
“Caring about victims requires action, honesty about failures,
Even with the partial restoration, Ellison emphasized that tens of thousands of Minnesotans, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities, remain at risk of inadequate nutrition.
“The fact this fight was even necessary should spur every American into action, and spur Congress into forcing the release of every SNAP dollar hungry Americans are entitled to,” he said.
Scott Selmer welcomes reader responses at sselmer@ spokesman-recorder.com
The lapse in benefits would have had serious consequences for families, local food pantries, schools, and retailers that rely on SNAP spending. USDA estimates that every $1 in SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity, meaning reduced funding could deepen economic strain during the shutdown.
of the Minneapolis Police Department’s response to the Mariah Samuels case. In addition, Chief O’Hara has directed all officers to be retrained on response to domestic violence by the end of this year. He also directed that domestic violence and order of protection protocols be updated to require officers to ask the victim if they feel safe and to take affirmative action based on their response.”
Community advocates are calling for an independent review of recent domesticviolence homicides involving BIPOC women, mandatory completion of risk-assessment forms on all domestic calls, and disciplinary action for officers who falsify or neglect reports.
Scott Selmer welcomes reader responses at sselmer@ spokesman-recorder.com.
and a commitment to develop actionable plans for change.” Artika Roller, executive director of Cornerstone Advocacy Services, added, “Black and brown women are often not seen as victims. Their invisibility is deadly, and we must name it to change it.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the Day One Hotline at 866-223-1111 or text 612-399-9995.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@ gmail.com.
Eliza Winston exhibit illuminates Minnesota’s complicated history with slavery
By Binta Kanteh Contributing Writer
When researching the pivotal events of 1860, one is likely to find pages devoted to Abraham Lincoln’s election and the secession of southern states from the Union. What’s less visible in that same year’s history is how Minnesota’s quiet complicity in slavery was exposed by one woman’s fight for freedom.
A new exhibit at the Hennepin History Museum, “Winston: A Woman’s Fight for Freedom in Minnesota,” brings to life the story of Eliza Winston, a woman born into slavery in Tennessee in 1817 and sold at the age of five. Her bondage was perpetuated by President Andrew Jackson, who purchased Eliza for his niece, an early example of how enslavement persisted even among the nation’s elite.
The exhibit unfolds as a written story that wraps around the museum’s secondfloor gallery. Visitors follow Eliza’s journey north with the family who enslaved her, drawn by their promise, never kept, that she would gain her freedom in Minnesota.
Once in what was then the village of St. Anthony, Winston’s determination and the support of free African Americans and white abolitionists led to her emancipation in a Minnesota courtroom. She became the first, and only, en-
slaved person to legally secure her freedom in the state.
The exhibit’s scholarship is rooted in “It Took Courage: Eliza Winston’s Quest for Freedom,” written by Dr. Christopher P. Lehman, professor of social sciences at St. Cloud State University. Lehman, who served as co-curator, said he was honored to see his research take visual form.
proof that Minnesota was always on the right side of history, thank goodness for the white abolitionists, and that’s where it stopped.
“Eliza became removed from her own narrative. One of our goals was to make her the main character of her story again,” said Thiede.
The exhibit also sheds light on Minnesota’s uneasy rela-
“I have great respect for Eliza Winston, her life, her tenacity, her courage,” Lehman said. “I wanted people to be as inspired by her story as I was. When the museum asked me to co-curate and offered support every step of the way, I was more than happy to help bring her legacy to life.”
Alyssa Thiede, resident curator at the Hennepin History Museum and a specialist in collaborative public history, co-curated the exhibit with Lehman. She emphasized how Eliza’s story has long been overshadowed by narratives centering white abolitionists.
“There was a massive gap in public knowledge until Chris’s scholarship,” Thiede said. “The story had been co-opted as
tionship with slavery before the Civil War. During the mid-1800s, wealthy southern enslavers routinely traveled north by steamboat for business or leisure, often bringing enslaved people with them. These visitors were welcomed, accommodated, and rarely challenged by Minnesotans who benefited from their patronage.
Eliza Winston’s journey illustrates that dynamic. Her stay at a hotel that catered to southern travelers, and the outrage her self-liberation provoked among locals, underscore the state’s quiet tolerance of slavery at the time.
The exhibit’s message also resonates amid current debates about how history is told
in museums. Following recent political criticism of federal museums for highlighting the nation’s legacy of slavery and racism, the American Alliance of Museums condemned “growing threats of censorship” directed at institutions that present difficult truths.
Thiede believes Eliza’s story stands as a necessary counterpoint to such erasure. “Any
exhibit about slavery is inherently heavy,” she said.
“But we want visitors to focus on Eliza’s bravery and determination while acknowledging the harsh realities of slavery’s presence here. It’s crucial that this history isn’t whitewashed or forgotten.
In many ways, this exhibit is even more powerful today than when it was first imag-
ined.”
“Winston: A Woman’s Fight for Freedom in Minnesota” is open to the public at the Hennepin History Museum through October 2027. For more information, visit www. hennepinhistory.org.
Binta Kanteh welcomes reader responses at bkanteh13@gmail.com.
Black Deaf students face daunting challenges
By Alaysia Lane Contributing Writer
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
When Antonio “Toni” Heckstall arrived at Gallaudet University as a freshman in 2016, he quickly realized the transition would be challenging. As a hard-of-hearing student from Atlanta, he faced significant academic, social and cultural adjustments in a predominantly Deaf environment.
Heckstall struggled to fit in, feeling disconnected from both Deaf students from signing families and oral students due to his unique identity as a Black and Puerto Rican lowincome student. Despite support from friends, a series of challenges eroded his hope of staying at the university.
In 2018, incidents like white students wearing blackface and signing the N-word made him consider transferring to Howard University. When he declared a pre-med major, a dean questioned his ability to afford medical school based on his background.
“My desires and hopes were deflated, and I did not go pre-med,” he said. Heckstall often felt like the odd one out, whether due to his hearing, signing level, skin color, or faith.
Gallaudet University, the only institution globally dedicated to Deaf students, serves as a cultural and academic haven. Yet for Black Deaf and hard-of-hearing students like Heckstall, graduation remains an uphill battle.
Data show that between 2014 and 2018, the average six-year graduation rate for Black Deaf men was just 26.8%, meaning three out of four students did not graduate. Rates peaked at 33% in
2014 and 2015 but dropped below 15% by 2018. White and Latino Deaf men were nearly twice as likely to earn
Barriers to success Heckstall attended Gallaudet from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2021 to 2023. Fi-
my peers who graduated,” he said.
During his first departure, Heckstall cared for his sick
degrees within six years. Gallaudet President Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano declined to comment on these disparities. Tia Ivanko, co-director at the National Deaf Center of Postsecondary Outcomes, said colleges often lack resources to fully support Deaf students, particularly the unique needs of Black Deaf students.
“Students need support to navigate college, while institutions must create an inclusive environment where Black Deaf students can thrive,” Ivanko said.
Obituary
nancial difficulties ultimately led to his departure; federal aid ran out, and he could not sustain a job while studying full-time. “Leaving without a degree makes me feel like I’ll never be on the same level as
grandmother in Atlanta, attended culinary school, and worked at Arby’s. When he returned in 2021, he faced exhaustion balancing academics, work, and mental health, while advocating for support
“Studentsneedsupport to navigate college, while institutions must create an inclusive environment where Black Deaf students can thrive.”
A Celebration of the Life of Wallace “Jack” O’Neil Jackman
Sunrise: November 4, 1944 — Sunset: October 27, 2025
Wallace “Jack” O’Neil Jackman, fondly known as Jackie or Jack, peacefully passed away on October 27, 2025.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, and moving to Minnesota at the age of 13, Jack grew up in a family whose roots ran deep in community and service. He was the beloved son of Launa Quincy (Jackman) Newman and Wallace O’Neil Jackman, and was lovingly guided by Cecil E. Newman, who became a father figure in his life. This bond later inspired Jack to become co-publisher of the Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder, now the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR). Throughout his life, he carried a steadfast belief in the power of truth, justice, community, and storytelling, values that became the compass for his journey.
A man of principle and purpose, Jack lived anchored in kindness, hard work, and a conviction that people are always worth investing in. His career was marked by excellence, mentorship, and service. Whether contributing to publishing, supporting civic causes, or uplifting those around him, Jack was known for showing up, ready to help, ready to lead, and ready to make a difference. A lifelong people person, he loved to drive, travel, and strike up conversations wherever the road took him.
Those who knew him best will remem-
ber his quick wit and signature “Jack-isms,” sharp one-liners that could ease tension or fill a room with laughter. He had a gift for turning strangers into friends and reminding everyone that life’s challenges are easier to face with good humor and good people.
Beyond his work and words, Jack’s greatest joy was his family. He poured his heart into his loved ones, his friends, and his community, always the first to offer wisdom and the one everyone could count on. His influence endures through generations who carry forward his lessons of integrity, humility, and compassion.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents, Launa Q. Newman and Wallace O’Neil Jackman; Cecil E. Newman; his beloved wife, Lynda D. Jackman; and his sister, Norma Jean Williams. He is survived by his children, Dauhn J. Jackman, Thomas D. Jackman, Christjon Jackman (wife Jennifer), and Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton (husband Phillip); his special friend, Ruth Ann James; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a wide circle of other family members and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Parkway North, Saint Paul, MN 55104. Program: 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., followed by grazing and fellowship.
For virtual attendance: Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 830 7809 1649, Passcode: 296457.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes cards and donations to the American Cancer Society: Donation Link in his name. Cards can also be sent to P.O. Box 19054, Minneapolis, MN 55419-19054.
Jack’s life was a living example of quiet leadership, humor in hardship, and love without condition. His light will continue to guide all who had the privilege of knowing him, reminding us to live generously, laugh often, and lead with heart.
October 16, 2025
like extended test time.
Socially, microaggressions persisted. A fellow Deaf student once left a table in contempt after Heckstall mentioned being hard-of-hearing.
Foluso Adeluola, a hard-ofhearing student from Nigeria graduating this spring, said he faced discrimination based on race and hearing status. Professors often overlooked his need for interpreting support, leaving him unable to demonstrate his full potential. “It’s moments like these that make me feel invisible, that lead to stress and a lot of self-doubt,” he said.
Financial barriers compounded these challenges.
International students like Adeluola pay nearly $14,000 per semester, while domestic students pay $9,100 in-state. All students pay additional mandatory fees, bringing the total cost of attendance to over $40,000 annually.
About 77% of Black Deaf students receive Pell Grants, yet many still struggle to stay enrolled. Heckstall faced limits on federal aid, which contributed to his decision to leave, while Adeluola found the financial aid process confusing and poorly supported.
The role of BASL and identity Communication is central at Gallaudet, yet many Black Deaf male students navigate a “white-centered culture.” Franklin Jones Jr., a Black Deaf educator, noted that curricula and leadership often reflect white norms, leaving little room for Black Deaf history or culture.
Black American Sign Language (BASL), influenced by African American Vernacular English, is often misunderstood, and students face pressure to conform to standard ASL. Heckstall recalled being
told to “sign smaller” to appear calmer, while Jones said he felt criticized for his natural expressions, which led him to question his identity.
Dr. Joseph Hill, a Deaf studies professor at Gallaudet, emphasized that challenges often stem from instructors’ ability to support students linguistically. While BASL is diverse and not universally used among Black Deaf individuals, culturally responsive teaching could help students feel more comfortable and connected.
“I think the challenges have more to do with the instructors’ ability to support the students linguistically in an academic environment,” said Hill. Yet recent limitations on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts hinder these practices.
Beyond the diploma
Adeluola will graduate this May with a business management degree, crediting his friends and student groups for support. “Graduating should be the norm, not exceptional,” he said. Nationally, only 16.2% of Black Deaf people hold a bachelor’s degree, compared to 28% of Black hearing people.
Heckstall, meanwhile, has found fulfillment in the culinary world. Working full-time at a restaurant in Georgia, he is pursuing an online culinary diploma and dreams of opening his own restaurant, a space to express creativity, celebrate culture, and connect through food.
“I feel that had I had more confidence at Gallaudet, I could have flourished more,” he said. “Nevertheless, I’m very happy with where I am now.”
Alaysia Lane is a multimedia journalist and commerce writer based in Minneapolis
Black Deaf and hard-of-hearing students at Gallaudet navigate unique barriers in higher education, including cultural, linguistic and financial challenges.
Opinion
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By Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper
As Americans worry whether they’ll get their next paycheck, keep the lights on, or afford dinner tonight, an internal email dated October 31, 2025, from the halls of the U.S. Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense) lands addressed to “Policy Colleagues,” wishing them a “Happy Halloween” and announcing that the 59-minute early-departure rule is in effect so everyone can get home for trick-or-treating.
The sender?
Elbridge A. Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy. Let that sink in.
demolished the historic East Wing of the White House to build a sprawling ballroom fit for royalty.
A ballroom. While millions struggle to make rent. This isn’t just tone-deaf. It’s heartless. Leadership should model sacrifice, not spectacle.
It’s been looking more like government above the people, apart from the people, against the people, eversince#47was swornin.
or official styling, but the legal name remains the Department of Defense unless Congress changes it.
When democracy becomes a dirty word Whatever happened to “government of the people, by the people, for the people?” It’s been looking more like government above the people, apart from the people, against the people, ever since #47 was sworn in.
By Ladan Yusuf
Both Mayor Jacob Frey and State Senator Omar Fateh say they disagree on housing, yet their housing platforms are the same. Both oppose preserving and expanding Section 9 public housing.
Frey lobbied HUD to approve the privatization and demolition of Section 9 housing through Section 18 and RAD programs, a historic public land grab for developers. These programs allow the transfer of properties from Section 9 to Section 8, enabling private developers to take over and profit from “deeply affordable housing” funds from city, state and federal levels as well as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
For example, Royal Bank of Canada received a 99-year ownership deal through public financing and a LIHTC for the Elliot Twins [highrises in South Minneapolis]. As a result, Elliot Twins residents no longer pay 30% of their income for rent; instead, rent is based on Area Median Income (AMI), a market-rate model which changed the population of the buildings because it is unaffordable for Section 9 public housing residents.
Fateh lobbied at the state level to support legislation to fund Section 18, a privatization scheme converting
the entire stock of over 800 single family Section 9 public housing homes. This funded Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA)’s effort to create four LLCs/nonprofits to facilitate private developer takeovers, similar to the Royal Bank of Fateh has never proposed a bill to stop the demolition of Section 9 or build additional Section 9 public housing units and has refused to take action upon resident requests leading to the homelessness crisis.
toric designation vote, Fateh refused, stating: “I don’t think you have the votes.”
Frey has blocked the Glendale Historic Designation vote since 2016 and led the charge to end Section 9 public housing so developers and nonprofit housing corporations can make 100’s of millions on his deeply affordable housing platform.
People are being laid off. Budgets are frozen. Contractors are waiting months for payment. Air traffic controllers and TSA officers, the people who keep our skies safe and our airports functioning, are working without pay during this shutdown, trying to stay focused while wondering how to feed their families.
Morale across the federal workforce is scraping bottom. And yet, in the corridors of power, someone thought it appropriate to celebrate a secular holiday with early dismissal. The symbolism couldn’t be clearer.
The cruelty is the point
True public service calls for empathy, not excess. When government workers are going unpaid, when families are skipping meals, when the most vulnerable are pleading for relief, what message does it send to grant time off for trick-or-treating? The message is loud and clear: “Our comfort matters more than your hardship.”
Hypocrisy is easy. Indifference takes practice. But moral blindness, the kind that allows a nation’s leaders to lavish themselves with luxury while ignoring hunger in the streets, that’s something else entirely.
And now, even the word democracy itself has become suspect, quietly dropped from philanthropic mission statements and placed on “avoid lists” alongside diversity, equity, inclusion, and even Black. When the ideals that define our shared humanity are treated as liabilities, we are in dangerous territory indeed.
Fateh has also refused to support Historic Designation for the Glendale. His top aide, Chris Meyer, has circulated racist posts regarding Glendale in support of Wedge Live. These posts accused public housing residents of perpetuating Prospect Park’s 1909 Race War and of redlining and racial housing discrimination for wanting their history preserved.
How can Black/Brown lowincome tenants have the power to redline? When Glendale residents and youth asked for vocal support with the his-
Since 2019, Frey has sent political allies (including Abdi Warsame and others) to attack and spread misinformation about Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition (DG&PHC), especially targeting Black women tenant leaders. He continues to use social media and proxies to undermine DG&PHC’s credibility.
Fateh’s top aide, Chris Meyer, supports Wedge Live and similar accounts that have attacked DG&PHConline.
Wedge Live is an avid supporter of Fateh and has demeaned and undermined DG&PHC while refusing to engage directly with Glendale resident organizers.
While ordinary Americans face economic whiplash and mounting uncertainty, government insiders are handing out candy, not compassion. And even as the nation tightens its belt, #47 has already
BothFreyandFatehhave opposed Glendale’s historic designation and have targeted resident leaders. Black
Fateh surveilled DG&PHC organizing at Elliot Twins during his campaign for his State Senate seat, while ignoring tenant organizers and their requests. He watched residents protest and be harassed by MPHA staff and police. He never intervened and smirked as he saw it.
By Voza Rivers
In September, visitors who walked through Lincoln Center’s new exhibition, “Syncopated Stages: Black Disruptions to the Great White Way,” encountered more than theatrical memorabilia; they witnessed proof of an unbroken artistic resistance spanning two centuries.
From the African Grove Theater, founded in 1821 by William Alexander Brown in New York City, to today’s Broadway, Black artists have continually transformed American theater, even when the nation tried to silence them. Their resilience is not just a testament to artistry but to endurance
And let’s be clear: Only Congress has the constitutional authority to create, dissolve, or formally rename a federal department. The president’s September 5, 2025, executive order allows “Department of War” as a secondary
Bring back compassion and courage It’s time to bring compassion back into public service, and courage back into civic life. Leadership is not about privilege, but about responsibility. Until that happens, the rest of us, the people who still believe in justice, empathy and truth, will keep holding up the mirror. Because someone must remind those in power what service really means, that they exist to serve the people, not the other way around.
This commentary was originally published in the AFROAmerican Newspaper. For more information, visit www.afronews.com.
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Fateh uses social media proxies and YIMBY allies to discredit DG&PHC’s work. Just to clarify, Section 9 public housing tenant advocates are called PHIMBY’s.
In summary, both Frey and Fateh share a pro-privatization housing agenda ending Section 9 public housing and giving 100’s of millions to developers. Both have opposed Glendale’s historic designation. Both have targeted DG&PHC leaders and community members through online and in-person campaigns.
Ladan Yusuf is a member of Defend Glendale. This commentary has been edited for length and clarity. Learn more about Defend Glandale at defendglendale@gmail.com.
It lives on in the exhibition curated by the late Michael Dinwiddie, who passed on July 4. Opening this fall, “Syncopated Stages” arrives as nonprofit theaters, especially those led by artists of color, face mounting challenges. Its timing feels intentional: Black theater has always emerged from struggle, transforming limitation into liberation.
The arts prevail
The arts have long risen from hardship: the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and now a new era of cultural reckoning. As divisions deepen, we are again called to defend the power of the arts and protect the spaces where Black creativity thrives.
Our story begins with the African Grove Theatre, the nation’s first Black theater company. It nurtured pioneers like
Ira Aldridge, who became one of the world’s greatest Shakespearean actors. Their stage was not just entertainment, it was defiance.
That lineage runs through Harlem’s New Heritage Theatre Group, founded by my mentor Roger Furman in 1964; and through Karamu House in Cleveland, the oldest African American theater in the country, still thriving under Tony Sias. These institutions carried a radical idea: that theater could reflect the truth of Black life, inspire civic change, and build community.
Chicago, and Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul. Alongside them, Hispanic theaters like Pregones and the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater expanded the mosaic of storytelling. These spaces became homes for artists Broadway once rejected, yet from them came the very artists who redefined it.
The connection between these pioneers is deep. Eulalie Spence, a Harlem Renaissance playwright, mentored Joseph Papp, who later founded The Public Theater, one of America’s most influential incubators. Papp, in turn, supported New Heritage. This is how our movement has always endured: through mentorship, solidarity, and the passing of torches.
Furman once said, “Every other day I receive a notification about a play being produced, many of them supported by churches and community centers rather than traditional funders.” He said this in the 1960s, but his words remain urgent today. Our cultural spaces still fight for basic survival, even as they remain vital to our collective spirit.
Creating space, shaping legacy
Following Furman’s lead, a wave of Black arts movements flourished: Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre, Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre, Ernie McClintock’s AfroAmerican Studio, the Negro Ensemble Company, Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, ETA in
Today, as theaters led by people of color confront funding shortages and cultural erasure, our charge is clear. The arts heal, educate and activate. They remind us who we are. “Syncopated Stages” underscores this legacy, that Black artistry has always been about perseverance, visibility and community.
This is not just a Harlem story. It is an American story, one of artists who refused to disappear, who turned struggle into song, and who made the stage a sanctuary for our collective voice. As long as there are stories to tell, the curtains will rise, on our watch.
This commentary was originally published in Word in Black. It has been edited for length. For more information, visit www. wordinblack.com.
Employment & Legals
HAYWARD
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think it’s such a thoughtful building. Just well done.
“It’s great for the players,” he said. “I just feel very lucky to be here and to be at a place like St. Thomas.”
ma and Roneeka Hodges are first-year HCs and join holdovers Teresa Weatherspoon, whose Vinyl BC finished runners-up, and Nola Henry, whose Rose BC won the 3x3 league’s first championship as the only Black female head coaches.
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Andrew Wade returns and is the only Black male coach as the Laces coach.
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bench in 34 games and making Academic All-Big Ten. She finished with Tori McKinney as team co-leaders with 12 blocks.
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VIEW
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“I’m in charge of helping with recruiting, looking at guys [who] want to join the team,” said Holland. “I wear a lot of hats. I’m gonna be on the court with guys, helping them get better, doing film staff to help analyze.
“I’m just trying to help as much as I can,” said Holland. “I’m really excited to be a part of this school, be a part of this team. It’s really an honor to be a part of Minnesota.”
Gopher Assistant Coach Armon Gates also is new this season. He will be featured in a future MSR edition.
Other opportunities
uncertain
The Minnesota Twins reportedly had former hitting coach and current New York Yankees Hitting Coach James Rowson as a finalist before the team hired Derek Shelton as their new manager.
The team still hasn’t hired a Black manager in its history. It is not known if the Twins will have any Blacks on its coaching staff. Third base and infield coach Tommy Watkins since 2021 was the only Black coach on former manager Rocco Baldelli’s staff.
“I’m just trying to help asmuchasIcan.I’m really excited to be a part of this school, be a part of this team.”
While the WNBA and its players are still bargaining for a new CBA with talks extended for 30 days last week after the current pact expired Oct. 31, little is being said about how, with only one coaching opening still available (New York), there is a strong possibility that the majority Black female league will not have a Black female head coach next season.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
“The WBIT was super special,” said Holloway. “Only three teams in the nation got to end on a win. That was really cool that we were one of the teams that were able to do that. But I think that was a good stepping stone for us to get to where we want to get to this year,” which is the NCAAs, she pointed out.
The six-foot Holloway begins her first year of graduate school: “I graduated with a bachelor of science [degree] in political science, with a minor in German,” she said proudly.
“Now I’m in the Humphrey School for a master’s in urban and regional planning. It’s a two-year program.”
The redshirt junior forward has two years of college eligibility remaining.
While the other mem-
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his hometown. “A lot of people don’t know about us Detroiters — we stick together,” he said proudly.
Nehemiah Turner is with Minnesota after a season at Central Arkansas, his freshman season. The 6-10 sophomore from Auburndale, Fla. is expected to help strengthen the Gophers’ frontcourt.
“I want to bring energy,” surmised Turner, who is pursuing a degree in sociology, criminology, and justice. “I want to be a detective or
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score to seal the victory.
bers of the ‘22 four-star recruiting class seemed to draw media attention, Holloway often is overlooked. “I don’t think it ever bothered me mainly because I just love seeing my teammates shine, and I know that they have the trust in me, even if other people don’t always see that,” she said. Holloway is doubly proud of getting her degree and staying active off the court. She’s a co-president of the school’s Black Student Athlete Association: “I’ve been a part of it since I was a freshman here,” she added. She is also proud of representing Minnesota on the court. “I think that’s really important, showing young girls that they can stay where they want. They can stay home.
“I think it always helps me when I’m looking out in the arena and I just see a 41 jersey [her uniform number] on a little girl. I know that I’m doing something special.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
(work for the) FBI once I’m done playing basketball.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
North has reached the state playoff 12 times (2000, 2003, 2009, 2014, 2015 a runner-up, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023), winning the Class A championship in 2016. Ryan Galindo coaches Washburn and Charles Adams leads North. The Minneapolis City Conference is well represented.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
Courtesy of Threads
Nehemiah Turner
Photo by Charles Hallman
St. Thomas boasts college hockey’s only Black assistant coach
By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist
eon Hayward played in 132 college games at Northeastern (19982002), then played six pro seasons, led Trenton of the ECHL to the 2005 championship, and was named Finals MVP. Naturally, coaching was next, right?
“If I am being really honest,” stressed Hayward, the veteran St. Thomas men’s assistant hockey coach, while sitting in his new office at Lee & Peggy Anderson Arena, “I was ready to be done, and I decided not [to play when] my former team that I played for wanted me to play again. They said, ‘OK, coach.’
“That sparked everything else from there, and that kind of took me on my coaching journey,” he recalled. Almost 20 years later, Hayward has been a UST assistant since 2021, as the Tommies made their successful leap from
DIII to DI. “This is very unique, starting a program from scratch,” he said proudly. The Seattle, WA native formerly was a Colorado College assistant for four seasons, and coached high school hockey in Connecticut and Massachusetts. According to the latest NCAA statistics, Hayward is the only Black assistant coach in college hockey in 2025. Hayward said he attributes his coaching longevity to his ability to connect with players. “That’s a big emphasis for me,” he explained. “I think I’m demanding but also caring at the same time. I think you can really be both.
“IthinkI’m demanding but also caring at the same time. I think you can really be both.”
“So, I work really hard to do that and make sure that whether guys are at the top of our lineup or the bottom of our lineup, they get really the same attention.”
Hayward is keenly aware of his current “only one” status in college hockey today, but he’s optimistic that he soon will be
joined by other coaches that look like him.
“I’m in a program with the NHL,” said Hayward of the NHL Coaches Association BIPOC Coaches Program. “I was one of the original people in that group [since 2020], so that’s been a huge thing.
“They’re helping coaches from a number of levels continue to develop their coaching and their coaching styles, and the NHL has been a huge partner with that, to help with that.”
St. Thomas returns to action Nov. 11 against St. Cloud State at the school’s new oncampus arena. “It’s amazing,” said Hayward of Anderson Arena. “Every piece of it, they did such a good job with it. I
■ See HAYWARD on page 9
oth U of M basketball teams have coaching additions this season.
Corey Green is in his first season as basketball operations director for the women’s basketball team. He formerly spent four seasons at Old Dominion in a similar position, and served on coaching staffs at Memphis (three seasons) and Detroit (two years). He got his start as a student manager and office assistant at ODU in 2013-14 — Green is a 2016 Old Dominion graduate in sports management.
First-year Men’s Head Coach Niko Medved added four Black individuals to his Gopher coaching staff:
Joe De Ciman is the chief of staff and oversees all off-court activities, including academic success and career development. He was at Colorado State from 2018 to 2025 after he played pro ball in Spain for two years following his senior season at CSU. He earned his health and exercise science degree there in 2016, and later his master’s in education and human resource studies in 2019.
“I think my experience as a player, being in their shoes
Gopher hoopsters get new Black coaches
not too long ago” helps him in his current job, said De Ciman. “I think of me being a liaison between our assistant [coaches] to Nico, Nico to our players … I think that’s my role of overseeing the macro first and foremost — I’m here to get back to the players.”
Rachel Herndon is director
of operations, the same role she held at Colorado State, where she is a graduate. She taught elementary school for five years, was an assistant athletic director at a charter school, and coached junior high boys basketball before returning to CSU in 2024.
“I grew up playing basketball, and so when this opportunity came up, [it’s] very similar to teaching,” said Herndon. “This role helps bring sports back into my life, and I’m able to be around it. I’ve never lost that competitive drive, so this brings it all together.”
of player personnel. He was a graduate assistant at
after completing his
do
‘25-’26 U basketball players proud to be representing
t’s hard not to be cliquish as far as Niamya Holloway is concerned, but it does seem like just yesterday since she, Amaya Battle, Mara Braun and Mallory Heyer all agreed to come to Minnesota as the 2022-23 recruiting class, the most-heralded in school history.
“I just love seeing my teammates shine.”
However, after their first season, Lindsay Whalen, the coach who signed the four, was let go. No one would have blamed them if they left, but no player did.
“It was really hard, especially because Coach Whay recruited me,” recalled Holloway, the Eden Prairie native, “and that’s who I wanted to play
under. When my injury happened [during her freshman year, which caused her to miss the entire 2022-23 season], I never got the opportunity to play under her.
“That was really devastating for me,” continued Holloway.
“But I knew that staying home, and my other teammates staying home, was going to be something that was even bigger and something that we could really grow. And so, I think the decision to stay wasn’t really that hard for me at all.”
Two seasons later, Holloway played a key role in last season’s successful run for the Gophers’ first Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) championship, coming off the
innesota has 13 new additions on its 2024-25 men’s basketball team.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson played for Niko Medved at Colorado State last season. “I set the tone early for the guys on the
t’s hard to remember any time when two football teams from the Minneapolis City Conference have qualified for the state playoffs in the same year. After last Friday evening,
that concept will be etched in the memory of fans, alumni, and former student athletes who played for City Conference schools on the grid iron. Minneapolis North and Minneapolis Washburn will represent the City Conference in the state playoffs.
North, a perennial football power since the turn of the century, defeated St. Croix Lutheran, while Washburn was victorious over City Conference rival Minneapolis Southwest.
Washburn makes it to state For the first time since 2007 Minneapolis Washburn — thanks to seniors Andrew Backus, Heston Anderson
and Henry Eichten — has qualified for the state playoffs.
The Millers defeated Minneapolis Southwest 17-0 to capture the Class 5A, Section 5 championship. Anderson, a wide receiver and defensive back, ran for one touchdown (86 yards) and caught a pass for another (15 yards) from quarterback Backus, while Eichten, a running back and defensive back, added a field goal (25 yards) to complete the scoring for Washburn. Eichten also rushed for 171 yards on 26 carries.
The Millers have now qualified for the state playoffs seven times (1972, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1997, 2007, 2025)
winning Class AA titles in ’72 and ’77. Washburn will face Elk River in the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
North is back
After missing the state playoffs last season, Minneapolis North is back after a 56-44 victory over St. Croix Lutheran to win the Class 3A, Section 4 championship. The Polars will face Pine Island in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.
Logan Lachermeir threw seven touchdown passes to lead North. The senior quarterback’s passes were completed to wide receiver Anthony Deline (three for 16, 42 and 71 yards), wide receiver J’Marion Sanders
glass,” said the 6’8” junior forward from San Antonio, Texas. “I’m just trying to be a good two-way player on defense and offense.”
He offered a brief explanation of his tattoos: “Most of my tattoos was not really meaningful, but as time went on, they got more meaningful,” admitted Crocker-Johnson. “I got my grandma here,” pointing to his arm. “She passed away. My mom is right here. Me and my brother [Tony Crocker] because he played at Oklahoma, and he wore No. 5. I got a few Bible scriptures.”
Chansey Willis Jr. played at Western Michigan last season, where he led the Mid-American Conference in scoring (16.8 ppg). The 6’2” senior from De-
troit also sports a tattoo or two.
One is for his late sister, who was killed at age 19. “It has been five years since she’s been gone,” said Willis. “I got her tattooed on my shoulder, so she’s with me every day.” His other tattoos represent
(two for 53 and 4 yards), wide receiver Jeremiah Jackson (one for 2 Yards), and wide receiver Cordae Williams (one for 55 yards).
With the Polars trailing 4442 in the fourth quarter, La-
chermeir threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Williams followed by a two-point conversion pass from Sanders to Jackson, and Powell returned an interception 50 yards for a
Anthony Holland joins the Gopher MBB staff as director
Colora-
State
playing career at Washington following the 2023-24 season.
Coaching While Black
This occasional series will highlight Black coaches at all levels of sport. This week features St. Thomas Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach Leon Hayward
■ See
on page 9
Leon Hayward Photo by Charles Hallman
Joe De Ciman All photos by Charles Hallman
Rachel Herndon
Anthony Holland
at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the 2025-26
week: Gopher WBB redshirt junior Niamya Holloway; MBB newcomers soph Nehemiah Turner, junior Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, and senior Chansey Willis Jr.
Niamya Holloway photo holding WBIT trophy Photo by Charles Hallman
Minneapolis North Football Coach Charles Adams
Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson All photos by Charles Hallman
Chansey Willis Jr.