Moments in SportsSpurs’ team chemistry dominates NBA Finals

PAGE 10

BusinessA better way to do business

PAGE 8

EducationKIPP Stand Academy on the move

PAGE 11

LifestyleShawntan Howell empowers girls

PAGE 7

Levy-Pounds walks the walk for civil rights and social justice

METRO Green Line opening day

Cunningham appointed 7th MEDA CEO and president

Urban strategy: League forms unique partnership with Century College, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center

PART II IN A SERIES

Fires of the 60’s vs the deity of daddy

Lawyer, professor, scholar-activist, preacher, mom, volunteer and blogger, Nekima Levy-Pounds has a lot on her plate. The recent Star Tribune blogger (in addition to her writing for MinnPost and TC Daily Planet) is being thrown accolades left and right, but she takes it all in stride. From humble beginnings, Levy-Pounds has risen high in her career. She feels a responsibility to give back, “to try and be a driving force for change and to teach my law students that they can also be a driving force for change and thinking about the greater good instead of just oneself,” she said. “My life would be unfulfi lling

if I only focused on my only aspirations instead of what’s in the best interest of the broader community.” Levy-Pounds considers herself a scholar-activist, which she’s been throughout her career, but it came into focus when she launched the Community –—offi cially in 2007 though the work started in 2006. The program began as a partnership between the University of St. Thomas School of Law and the St. Paul branch of the NAACP. Levy-Pounds and a colleague named Artika Tyner, who had been one of Levy Pounds’ students, worked together to develop the program.

On June 14, after almost two decades of anticipation, the METRO Green Line (formerly called the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project) offi cially opened for service during a celebration at Union Depot Station in downtown St. Paul.

For only the seventh time in its 43-year history, the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) announced a new president and CEO. Northwest Area Foundation vice president of programs and chief program offi cer Gary Cunningham is the newly appointed president and CEO, succeeding Yvonne Cheung Ho who retires June 30 after helming the organization for 15 years. Cunningham will assume his duties Aug. 18. MEDA senior director of consulting services and fi nancing, Jan Jordet, will

The Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) has teamed with St. Paul’s Century College and NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center to train aspiring health care professionals right in their proverbial back yard. The unique program that began earlier this month will

The advent of the 1960s paved the way for two distinct entities within the consciousness of the notion of “father” in my life, and in the lives of my community and the world. The fi rst was the culmination of Jim Crow along with locked mental images of “White Only” signs and the word nigger said way too many times. Daddy (as I called him until his death) had done all the right things. He stayed away from moonshine and loose ladies wearing cheap perfume. He had served in World War II, despite his best efforts; his beloved country still valued Nazi prisoners of war over him and

By Azaniah Little

Courtesy of the family

Matthew Little and Azaniah Little. Inset: “My most signifi cant classifi cation as a little girl was being Matt Little’s daughter.”

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Council

Ceremonial ribbon cutting at Union Depot Station in downtown St. Paul.

Gary Cunningham

Scott Gray

LITTLE TURN TO 9 MUL TURN TO 10

By Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet

By Lydia SchwartzContributing Writer

CUNNINGHAM TURN TO 11

LEVY-POUNDSTURN TO 9

GREEN TURN TO 4

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

Courtesy of TCDPNekima Levy-Pounds

INTERVIEW

Meagan’s Mmm Mmm Good

TURN TO PAGE 5

© Glenn Francis, www.Pacifi cProDigital.com

Insight NewsVol. 41 No. 26 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comJune 23 - June 29, 2014

Page 2 • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Raise your voice before Xcel Energy raises your rates.

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Attend a public hearing on June 23 or 24 to make your voice heard.

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Tuesday, June 24

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insightnews.com Insight News • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Page 3

A father’s greatest fearAs we celebrated this past Father’s Day, it occurred to me that over the years, I have seen many fathers in my offi ce. Some of them come to see me because they are grieving the loss of their daughters to the streets. Some of them come to see me because they are grieving the loss of their ability to care for their daughters fi nancially. Finally, some of them come because they are grieving the loss of the closeness with their daughters that they had once dreamed would be theirs. Broken dreams and promises are usually a father’s greatest fear when he has the opportunity to sit and talk about his woes. Sometimes those dreams are shattered by teen pregnancy, drug abuse or poor academic standing. Sometimes they are shattered when a father’s ex-wife, ex-girlfriend or former partner hides the kids or lies to his daughters about him or his intentions for her future. In all of these scenarios, fathers envision their daughters as precious and out of reach. Some fathers do not know how to relate to girls. They believe that girls are to be objectifi ed and “stay in their places.” Some fathers deter girls from sharing feelings because when his daughter shares her feelings, that places him in the awkward position of recognizing that as a Black male he has feelings too. More often than not, fathers face the larger fear of somebody (most likely another man) taking his place or mistreating his daughter and dishonoring the spirit that he, as a dad, placed into his child. Several weekends ago, many of us participated in a rally at the Minnesota State Capitol to protest the Boko Haram’s kidnapping

of 276 school girls from their dormitories at a boarding school. We talked about the fact that those girls have been exposed to torture; some have been sold into sexual slavery, and others traffi cked for labor in other countries. Some girls have reportedly been killed due to being bitten by poisonous snakes in the bush where they have been kept. As an African-American “womanist” who is two generations from being a slave myself, my heart breaks as I see those in my adopted country of Nigeria engage in the exploitation and marginalization of these precious African girls. Last month on Mother’s Day, I took time out to hold the many mothers in my heart as I imagined the anguish they must feel while waiting for the safe return of their girls. Again, this past Father’s Day, I thought of all the dads of those near 300 girls and the unimaginable pain, anger, rage and fear they must hold for their daughters. After I said a prayer, I hoped that we, in our African-American community, can fi nd voice to address this issue and support the development of rigorous engagement strategies in securing the physical and psychological liberation of these youths and girls like them all over the world.

I’m sharing the brief speech that I gave at the rally in anticipation that it will stimulate conversation and action among us. Please see my sentiments below. “I am here today as a clinical psychologist and the grand daughter of a freed slave. I know too well the long-term detrimental impact of historical trauma and oppression on the healthy development of children and the societies in which live. Therefore, today I am not only here to complain about the egregious acts of the Boko Haram, but also to describe my disappointment, sadness and outrage at the deplorable negligence and inactivity of the Nigerian government in responding in a forceful, timely way to the kidnapping of these beautiful girls. The United States is a friend to Nigeria and no friend should ever wait to ask for help – especially when it comes to the welfare of our children. All children deserve equitable and fair access to an education – whether they are boys or girls, rich or poor, Black or white. By failing to act in a timely manner, a message has been inadvertently communicated that the plight of these girls is not worthy of our love, efforts or resources.

Yet, the spirits of Umoja (unity), of Ubuntu (sacred humanity), community and collaboration are our ways of surviving as an African people. We realize that the

Boko Haram is a terrorist group, and that their psychological intent is to elicit hate, fear and paralysis. Nonetheless, we must fi ght against such psychological

warfare and where there (is) hate, we must replace it with By BraVada Garrett-

Akinsanya, Ph.D., LPAKINSANYA TURN TO 4More often than not, fathers

face the larger fear of somebody (most likely another man) taking

his place or mistreating his daughter and dishonoring the spirit that he, as a dad, placed

into his child.

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Page 4 • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

love, where there is fear we must replace it with courage, and where there is paralysis, we must replace it with action; for truly no act of courage is without fear. Courage, itself, is the ability to act, even though you are afraid. Therefore, today, we stand with the courageous acts of these girls’ mothers and fathers who have placed themselves in the positions of imminent harm, death and risk for retaliation in order to secure the safe release of their daughters. With that in mind, we must strongly urge the United States government to act boldly and without haste in returning

these girls to safety. Although these girls are not Sasha and Malia Obama, they are just as precious to their mothers and to our world community. I close by saying that I believe that no man has the right to speak for God ... but, all of woman and mankind (have) the right to speak for justice. I believe that all children are our children, and these girls are our girls. Bring them home now.” As I review this speech today, I realize that a father’s greatest fear is that harm will come to his daughter, and because of apathy, nobody will care. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. is a clinical psychologist in private practice, serves as president of Brakins Consulting and Psychological

Services and is the executive director of the African American Child Wellness Institute SM. The mission of the African American Child Wellness Institute SM is to promote the psychological and spiritual liberation of children of African descent by providing culturally specifi c mental health services and by developing culture-based, holistic wellness resources, research and practices. Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya warns that this column should in no way be construed as constituting a therapeutic relationship through counseling or advice. To forward a comment about this article or to make an appointment, please contact Garrett-Akinsanya by email at bravadaakinsanya@hotmail.com or by telephone at (763) 522-0100.

AkinsanyaFrom 3

The 11-mile route has 23 stops and provides a much-needed link between downtown St. Paul, the Minnesota State Capitol, the University of Minnesota and downtown Minneapolis. The entire trip takes about 40 minutes, traveling on University Avenue most of the way. It begins at Union Depot Station, connecting riders to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). At the Minneapolis Downtown East Station, the METRO Green Line connects with the Blue Line, which runs along Hiawatha Avenue down to the Mall of America in Bloomington. The Green Line ends at Target Field where it connects with the Northstar Commuter Rail Line, which travels up through the northern suburbs ending in Big Lake. According to Metropolitan Council, initial planning activities for the Green Line began as far back as 1981. In June 2001, the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority started holding meetings with Central Corridor stakeholders to develop an impact statement. The report was released in April 2006 and provided information about the design, benefi ts, and costs as well as any social, economic, transportation, and environmental impacts. Susan Haigh was appointed chairwoman of the Metropolitan

Council by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton in 2011. She has been a strong advocate for the Green Line ever since the project’s early conception stages and especially during her time serving as Ramsey County Commissioner between 1995 and 2005. “This is a new beginning for our region as this Green Line forever links our two great cities, better connects thousands of workers to their jobs and attracts thousands of new residents who want to live along this line,” said Haigh. “Implementing a comprehensive transit vision makes us a stronger, healthier, and more connected region.” In June 2006, after a few months of public comment on the proposal, the project offi cially transitioned to the

Metropolitan Council, which then applied to the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program for permission to begin preliminary engineering. New Starts is the federal government’s primary fi nancial resource for supporting major transit capital investments and evaluates the project throughout the entire development process. The preliminary plans were approved in December 2006 and the Metropolitan Council almost immediately created the Community and Business Advisory Committees to provide input. Early plans for the METRO Green Line had limited stops in the lower economic neighborhoods that it travels through – the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul and Cedar-Riverside in Minneapolis.

Public outrage over these attempts at disenfranchisement caused developers to quickly add three more stops in Rondo and one in Cedar-Riverside. Seitu Jones, a resident of the Rondo neighborhood, is one of seven artists from across the country commissioned to integrate artwork along the Green Line. Jones said he was just old enough to remember the disproportionate effects on his community caused by poor planning in the construction of I-94. “Interstate 94 devastated St. Paul’s African American community,” Jones said. “Many of my elders vowed not to let that happen again without some resistance and questions. Without that same resistance, there would not be the additional stations

along the Green Line.” The Metropolitan Council says that it has been tracking almost 160 new construction and redevelopment projects within one mile of the METRO Green Line that together are worth over $2.5 billion. They expect fi gures to continue to climb in the coming months as more developers release their fi nal investment numbers. “The Green Line is an exciting and critically important new investment in our economic future that will go a long way toward creating jobs and development across our region,” said Sen. Al Franken. “It provides a much-needed boost to our transportation infrastructure that will enhance Minnesota’s competitiveness and bring new opportunities to our

state.” Even though the total budget of the entire project may seem daunting – $957 million according to the Metropolitan Council – political and community leaders understand that it was well worth the investment. “The Central Corridor is a transformative project for the Twin Cities,” said Rep. Keith Ellison (5th Dist.). “I am looking forward to riding the train between Minneapolis and St. Paul. It will be much better than sitting in traffi c on (Interstate) 94. Folks throughout the Twin Cities will now have a faster and more wallet-friendly way to get to work, visit their friends, and go to school.” The Federal Transit Administration approved the project’s fi nal design in May 2010 and construction began soon after. It took almost three years to complete and underwent extensive testing over the last several months.

GreenFrom 1

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Council

Crowds at Fourth and Sibley streets in downtown St. Paul for METRO Green Line opening day.

Seitu Jones

Event Participants will receive: Dental exam and x-rays Medical screening Behavioral Health screening Assistance applying for Hennepin Health (if not already enrolled) Complimentary refreshments Gift bag Resource information

Call 612-543-255 for more information

Hennepin Health Insurance Members’ 2nd Annual Dental Event!

June 24th, 25th & 26th, 2014 8 am — 3:30pm

insightnews.com Insight News • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Page 5

Monday, June 23

Southside PRIDE ShowcaseCafe SouthSide 3405 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis

PRIDE Week kicks off at Cafe SouthSide with a showcase of local artists performing on the new Paradise Community Garden stage. Th ere will be free barbeque and performances by Kaoz, Sankophoenix, Ken Ken Revlon, Mathias John Hertel of

Regional Dialect, Maya Avalon Weisinger, Adja Gildersleve, Rica de la Concha also known as Eric Michael Highers, Diamond Quaye, Christopher Michael Jensen and Cleo Patricx. DJ Lady Em of Versed Radio will be on the wheels and it will be emceed by Sol Ras and Tee Crosby.

Tuesday, June 24 Th e Poet’s Groove – Open MicBlue Nile Restaurant2027 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis(612) 338-300010PM - FREE

Billed as the longest running

weekly open mic in the state of Minnesota, the Poet’s Groove features a full live band including world-renowned drummer Kevin Washington. Sign up at 10 p.m. every Tuesday at the Blue Nile in Minneapolis. Th e show starts at 11 p.m.

Wednesday, June 25

Blueprint – Respect Th e Architect TourFirst Avenue/7th Street Entry 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis8 p.m.18-plus$10 advance, $12 door

Out promoting his new album, “Respect Th e Architect” Columbus, Ohio native and Weightless Recording artist Blueprint returns to Minneapolis. ‘Print combines raw rhymes, singing, and live production into his creative performances. Th e show includes performance by Cincinnati’s DJ Rare Groove, Count Bass D and RP Hooks.

Thursday, June 26“Hidden Colors 3: Th e Rules of Racism” (Screening)Lagoon Th eater1320 Lagoon Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m.$15

Th e third installment of the “Hidden Colors” series tackles racism with appearances by David Banner, Nas, Paul Mooney, Dick Gregory, Tariq Nasheed, Dr. Umar Johnson,

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@insightnews.com

June 23 - 30

BlueprintApollonia

Sol RasKaoz

TURN TO 6

Lisa Marie Brimmer

Dizzy Wright

INTERVIEW

Meagan’s Mmm Mmm Good!

Meagan Good has developed into one of Hollywood’s most sought-aft er actresses for both fi lm and television. Most recently, she starred in the sequel Anchorman: Th e Legend Continues opposite Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Kristen Wiig. Additionally, she was seen starring as the lead character Detective Joanna Locasto in the new NBC drama “Deception.” Th ese roles followed a highly successful 2012 for Meagan when she held co-starring roles in the critically-acclaimed TV series, “Californication;”

the box-offi ce hit, Th ink Like a Man, and Charles S. Dutton’s comedy, Th e Obama Eff ect. Th e versatile actress has starred in multiple genres of fi lms ranging from horror, ala Th e Unborn, to comedy, ala Th e Love Guru. In one of her fi rst major fi lm roles, the eerie 1997 drama Eve’s Bayou, she delivered a powerful performance opposite Samuel L. Jackson for which she landed her fi rst NAACP Image Award nomination. Meagan actually began starring in commercials at age 4, and has shot over 60 national TV ads to date.

By Kam Williams

GOOD TURN TO 6

© Glenn Francis, www.Pacifi cProDigital.com

Page 6 • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Frances Cress Welsing and more. Th e fi lm will screen in Minneapolis for one night only. Th e screening is resented by 4Seen and Perfect Noize Entertainment. For More information call (763) 447-8788.

Friday, June 27Dizzy Wright: Th e Golden Age TourCaboozeAll ages6 p.m. $15 advance, $17 door

Possibly Las Vegas’ biggest hip-hop act ever, Dizzy Wright returns to the Cabooze. Wright is both XXL Magazine Freshman and signee to Funk Volume Records. Show also features Emilio Rojas.

“Queertopia: A Cabaret Celebration of Queer Love”Intermedia Arts2822 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis10 p.m.$12 advance, $15 door(Show runs June 25-28)

Join local queer artists for an eclectic evening of performance that’s determined to put a little more love and celebration into your PRIDE. Curated by Jeff ry Lusiak and Nastalie Bogira, “Queertopia” features local performance artists Chitra Vairavan, Chris Garza, Chrys Carroll & Tantrum Art Collective, Deja Stowers, Emily Zimmer and Jim Domenick, Katie Burgess,

Lisa Marie Brimmer, Nicole M. Smith, Stacy Schultz and Hector Chavarria and more. “Queertopia” is hosted by Go Go Pimp Tif

Saturday, June 28

Book Release of Dr. Joyce Bell’s “Th e Black Power Movement and American Social Work”Ancestry Books2205 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis6 – 8 p.m.

Relying on extensive research

and oral history interviews, this study follows two groups of Black social workers in the 1960s and 1970s as they mobilized Black Power ideas, strategies and tactics to change their national professional associations. Joyce M. Bell is an assistant professor of sociology at the

University of Pittsburgh. Her research deals with race, work and organizations, and social movements. She studies the wide reaching impacts of the Black Power Movement on Black professionals in the U.S.

3rd Annual Benefi t To Celebrate Life w/ Bobby Z

and FriendsFirst Avenue701 1st Ave. N., MinneapolisFeat. Sounds of Blackness, Paris Bennett, Apollonia 8 p.m.21-plusGeneral admission $50, VIP $100

Bobby Z and Friends return to the stage at First Avenue. Oscar and Grammy winning former drummer for Prince & Th e Revolution, Bobby Z partners with the American Heart Association to raise heart-health awareness on the third anniversary of Bobby Z’s near-fatal heart attack. Hosting the VIP reception, “Purple Rain” actress, Apollonia, will return to Minneapolis for fi rst time since “Purple Rain’s” release 30 years ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefi t Z’s organization, My Purple Heart, and the American Heart Association.

Sunday, June 29Lauryn HillFirst Avenue 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis8p.m.18-plus$65

Eight-time Grammy Award winning singer Lauryn Hill returns to Minneapolis. With classic albums such as “Th e Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill” and Th e Fugees, “Th e Score” under her belt she has plenty of nostalgic tunes to share.

IT!From 5

Lauryn Hill

Her first major television role was as the character Nina on the Nickelodeon hit series “Cousin Skeeter.” In 2001, she transitioned to prime-time television with a recurring role on the show, “Raising Dad.” Good’s other television credits include “Moesha,” “The Steve Harvey Show,” “The Division,” “The Parenthood,” “My Wife & Kids” and “All of Us.” Additional feature film credits include: the box-office hits Jumping the Broom and Stomp the Yard; the cult film, Brick with Joseph Gordon Levitt; the features You Got Served and D.E.B.S; Waist Deep with Tyrese Gibson; Queen Latifah’s The Cookout; Biker Boyz; Deliver Us From Eva; and the horror film Saw V. In addition to acting, Meagan’s ambitions have led her to produce her own independent films, including the 2006 feature, Miles From Home, which she starred in opposite actor/director Ty Hodges. She produced and starred in Video Girl, too, a “Gia”-esque film that depicts the sordid and misunderstood life of a music video superstar. Meagan resides in Los Angeles with her husband, DeVon Franklin. Here, she talks about reprising the role of Mya in Think Like a Man, Too.

Kam Williams: Hi Meagan, thanks so much for the time.Meagan Good: Oh, thank you, Kam. How’re you doing?

KW: Great! Great! I’m honored to have another opportunity to speak with you. MG: Of course. I was looking forward to chatting with you.

KW: What was it like shooting the sequel? Everybody came back! MG: I know. We got the whole shebang! It was a lot of fun. Everyone really gets along, and the chemistry is just right with this group. And it’s not always like that on a project. So, this was kind of a treat for all of us to reunite… play…

hang… and do what we do for a living, and to have fun doing it.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: You’ve achieved success in so many media. Which is your favorite and makes you feel the most comfortable?MG: Assuming she’s asking about TV versus movies, I’d say I enjoy both for different reasons. I like the freedom that comes with film where you work for a couple of months and then are off for a few months. With TV, there’s much more of a commitment, since you work for six months straight and, potentially, if the show does well, you’ll be doing it every year for as long as the show runs. That longer commitment can be a little scary at first. Still, it’s hard to say which I prefer, television or film.

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I loooove the soundtrack for Think Like a Man. You have appeared in numerous music videos over the course of your career. Are there more music videos in your future?  MG: It’s probably been about ten years since I‘ve done one. The reason is that I do want to wait to collaborate with someone I’m really excited about. I’d be interested in doing a cool video where we get to do something cinematic for a song with universal appeal, maybe with Justin Timberlake or Prince.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?MG: Light. KW: What sort of fashion has been appealing to you lately?MG: I’ve been wearing a lot of vintage. I do like Oscar de la Renta, Giuseppe Zanotti, Michael Costello, and a lot of other designers. But more than anything, I’m a vintage girl.

KW: The Harriet Pakula-Teweles question: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in?MG: Oh, gosh! I’d love to do Thelma and Louise or Pretty Woman. [Giggles]

KW: Let’s say you’re throwing your dream dinner party—

who’s invited… and what would you serve?MG: Barack and Prince, and I’d serve oxtail soup. KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?MG: Not much besides the hair, makeup and gown. I’m really the same person, I just have to get dressed up for events which, to be honest, is not really my favorite thing. I don’t mind wearing a dress once in awhile, but I’m really more of a jeans and t-shirt girl.

KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend the time? MG: Helping somebody in need.

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Is there anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?MG: Yeah, visit Africa again.

KW: Terry Crews recently told me that he was very moved when he went to Africa for the first time to shoot Blended in South Africa. MG: I can believe that. So was I. I’ve been to Nigeria once and while I was there I spent some time at an orphanage in a very poor area with a little, 3 year-old girl who’d lost both of her parents. She had an older sister, and a couple of younger sisters. You could tell she was very sad and traumatized, because she was very quiet and didn’t make many facial expressions. She perked up after awhile, but then she started crying and I started crying when it was time for me to go. It was heartbreaking. The people who worked there actually told me I needed to go outside and stop crying. When I apologized for getting emotional, they said that that it was a problem because the girl sensed that I was about to leave her and return to my regular life far away, whatever that was.

KW: That happened in

Nigeria which is now also dealing with the kidnappings of young girls, as well. MG: Yes, and that’s another reason why I definitely want to go back. I want to get

more involved and make a difference by raising my voice in opposition to all of the abductions and sex-trafficking.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Meagan, and best of luck with both the movie and your efforts in Nigeria.MG: Thank you so much, Kam.

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insightnews.com Insight News • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Page 7

I have exciting news to share with you! Today is the fi rst day of the rest of your life! This is another day to fi nish what you started and be the person you want to be. It’s all about identifying your goals and sticking to them. I use this because it works for me. I fi nd that if I am excited and looking at my goals as another opportunity to be the best person I can be, then the goal won’t seem like another daunting chore that I must complete. I also like to look at sticking to goals as another way to show that I am in control of my life and my journey belongs to me. It is so important to know where you are going and what exactly you want out of life. Think about it for a moment, what does your life look like fi ve to ten years from now? Will you be the person you want to be or will you still be trying to fi gure that out. Believe me I know how it is and there are many people still trying to fi gure out what road to take and how they will achieve their goals. Now believe this, this used to be me. Then one day something happened to me that changed the way I perceived life. I fi nally fi gured out that nothing was going to happen for me if I didn’t take charge and decide what I wanted for me. This sounds so simple right? Well to many of you it may be and to others it could be very diffi cult when you are at a crossroad in your life and you have no clue as to which direction to head toward. In taking charge of my life I had to set some goals and stick to them. Here is why sticking to my goals helped me and I am sure this will do the same for you.

They keep you focusedOne of the main reasons that many people set goals is for the simple

reason that goals keep them focused. There are people who know exactly what they want and exactly how they plan on making things happen for them. Sure they probably get sidetracked sometimes, but the key is that they keep their eyes on the prize. They are always focused on making their goals a reality.

Something to strive forWorking on goals is a way of life for many people. It is what their lives are made of. Many individuals live their lives waiting on the next goal, or adventure, to achieve. I love this! They look

at life as an adventure. Nothing stands in their way and they don’t stop until they have mastered yet another goal.

A Feeling of accomplishmentWhen you set goals and you achieve them, there is a feeling of accomplishment that can come over you. This is such a great feeling! This feeling makes you stick out your chest and hold your head up. This feeling can make you feel like you can conquer the world. Nothing is impossible for you. But to keep this feeling going, you must continue to set goals and see them through.

Something to believe in I met a person once that didn’t believe in much of anything until she started believing in herself. She set goals and made a plan to achieve them. She also worked hard to make them a reality and with this new found faith, she learned to believe in her dreams and herself. With ever step she took toward each goal, she gained more strength to believe she could do anything she set her mind to. Now she writes about setting and achieving goals! And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness.

Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www.thequeensproject.com or email at penny@thequeensproject.com.

Shawntan Howell empowers girls

The 2014 Happiness Calendar

The four most important reasons to stick to your goals

Shawntan Howell strives to empower young girls through teaching them that they are unique, and that makes them powerful. “In order to be powerful you have to know that you are different from other people and once you believe that and understand that being different is good, you become powerful,” said Howell. Howell is the founder of Girls are Powerful, an organization dedicated to empowering, uplifting and encouraging young girls through self-awareness and refl ection. The message is presented by a product line of motivating slogans and statements that the young girls can take with them to be inspired at any time. “Girls Are Powerful is a movement designed to create change in the way girls and young women view and feel about themselves by changing the way they think and act one step at a time,” said Howell. “Girls Are Powerful goal is to celebrate girls’ naturally unique qualities, but also encourage girls to embrace their qualities unconditionally – qualities such as being determined, confi dent, smart and beautiful.” The idea for her organization began last summer while collecting t-shirts that had inspirational

sayings on them. While looking for more inspirational t-shirts online, the entrepreneur explored programs that would support the message she wanted her daughter

to believe in. When she was not able to fi nd anything that relayed the exact message she wanted to convey she decided to design her own motivational shirts and other supporting products. She began to collaborate with her daughter. Howell and her daughter experimented with positive words

to describe her daughter. The encouraging mother said to her daughter, “If there is one thing that I want you to know about yourself, it is that you are powerful.” Howell created taglines that coincided with the power words. One example is “Believing in

myself and showing the world”. The t-shirt line is called Inspire Me Tees. Each tee has the confi rmation “That’s Me.” “I added the tagline because I want the girls to embrace it,” said Howell. All of the messages on her

t-shirts are messages that support empowering the young girls, and according to Howell are attributes that, once understood and defi ned, can bring out the most infectious and delightful personality traits in any person. “The young girls need to

know that no matter what others may say, think or feel about you the power to shape your mind, feelings or even your day begins with you owning who you are and believing in yourself,” said

As you continue in your pursuit of happiness, remember that happiness is an intentional creation. Every day things happen that work contrary to your joy and contentment. As

you move forward into 2014, you must be deliberate in your pursuit of happiness. Earlier this year, I shared the fi rst half of the calendar, and with permission from the author, I would like to share with you an excerpt from the second 6 months of the happiness calendar written by Henry S. Miller, author of “The Serious Pursuit of Happiness.”

July: A Month of Spirituality Studies have proven that people who have spirituality in their lives –are happier. I believe it is

because of the combination of the fellowship of a caring group of like-thinking people and the spiritual beliefs themselves. This month, make a conscious effort to spend some moments each day – perhaps during lunch – praying at least one “prayer” or declaration of faith.

August: A Month of Health, Fitness, SkillSummer is a great time to focus on increasing your health and fi tness – and on using your skills and abilities to their max. This month, begin some daily fi tness

regimen (check with your doctor fi rst if needed) – even if it’s only walking. In addition, make a list of your top skills, talents, and abilities and assess if you are using them to their fullest. If not, take one step per day to begin doing so.

September: A Month of ContributionMaking a meaningful contribution to make the planet a better place is one of the longest-lasting, happiness-increasing

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

MotivationalMoments

By Penny Jones-Richardson

Shawntan Howell

By Abeni HillContributing Writer

HOUSTON TURN TO 10

GIRLS TURN TO 10

LIFESTYLE

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11:30 - 2 Monday through Friday

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Come have lunch at the Dakota

Page 8 • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Evan told me he has a pet peeve. “When people say ‘that’s above my paygrade’ it drives me nuts! I hear it all the time. Why do they say that?” Evan knows why they say that. Someone says it because they are too busy to take on something new, too timid to accept more responsibility, or too insecure to take the

initiative. If it’s “above my paygrade” it’s somebody else’s problem. In a way, it’s a shield, a kind of protection from risk and, consequently, a protection from reprimand or career-ending mistakes. What Evan might really be asking is, Why would anyone say that? Evan senses that the phrase is a cop-out. He’s a guy who knows his place, but who looks for opportunities to expand his knowledge and experience. He accepts a challenge and takes a risk when it makes sense to do so. He asks for guidance as he treads through new waters. He participates in growing his own career by stepping up when other people are backing away. The paygrade phrase is usually preceded by some

request: a problem needs to be solved or a project needs to be managed or the surly customer has to be escorted out. The person who is in a position to refuse the challenge is also in a position to take it on. And this is the line that divides people from goals, it separates the kids from the grown-ups and, while it does shield someone from getting into trouble, it also shields him or her from a shining moment, a chance to save the day, or at least to make something easier on someone else. A friend of mine was feeling frustrated because her manager left and she had no one giving her team direction. “Give yourself direction,” I suggested. She tried it and it worked out. Eventually, she was promoted

into the position her manager had vacated, and it fell within her paygrade to give direction to others. Evan’s instinct is good. He already knows that for the person who says, “It’s above my paygrade,” everything always will be above his paygrade. The person who gets the promotion, the person who continually moves forward in his career, the person who moves up is the person who doesn’t say that.

Julie Desmond is IT & Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Send your career planning questions and comments to jdesmond@georgekonik.com

A better way to do business

What’s above your paygrade?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Blacks have to look at entrepreneurship and business differently to develop and grow successful companies. This reality was a central theme presented by various panelists and presenters at this year’s Black Enterprise Conference and Expo held in downtown Columbus. Over 1,000 established and budding entrepreneurs and business leaders attended the three-day gathering to gain

valuable information, sharpen their business acumen and more importantly, to network with one another. “We believe that African American businesses need to partner with one another so that they can grow in size and scale. One to gain corporate contracts but two, to serve our community better,” said Derek T. Dingle, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise. Small business is big business, he added. “Join the Small Business Revolution,” was the theme of the 2014 conference. Another part of this “small business revolution,” Dingle told The Final Call are Black businesses doing business with one another and Black consumers leveraging their money. Over $1 trillion in “Black spending power,” should translate into “reciprocal trade” meaning more contracts, employees and executives he added. There are approximately two million Black owned businesses in the U.S., but 95 percent of those companies are sole proprietorships and only 100,000 Black businesses employ more than two people noted Dingle. While the numbers of Black businesses have increased, the struggle continues to be growth and sustainability. According to fi gures released in 2011 by the U.S. Census in a survey of Black businesses from 2002-2007, only 3.1 percent of Black-owned fi rms made more than $250,000 a year in receipts. The majority or 26.5 percent made $10,000 – $24,999 and 21.4 percent grossed between $5,000-$9,999. “We need to think differently because if we partner, grow our businesses and scale up then we can have a greater impact in terms of employment,” said Dingle. The Black community is still in the midst of an employment crisis, one that successful Black businesses can help address. But as one presenter pointed out, “Would you rather own 100 percent of a grape or 25 percent of a watermelon?” meaning partnering up with one another as opposed to sole proprietorships is an option Black entrepreneurs should be willing to consider. “What’s going to make the difference are going to be African American businesses of size and scale that can employ large numbers of African Americans,” said Dingle. This will translate

into building wealth and creating opportunities throughout the community as well, he added. Teaching entrepreneurs a better way to operate more effi ciently through the use of technology, whether it is marketing goods and services via social media or delving into business ownership through franchising, were among the various breakout sessions at this year’s conference. Successful and multi-million dollar Black business owners and executives presented on topics at the mid-May conference on, “Mastering Multiple Franchise Ownership,” “Wealth Management: How to Grow, Protect and Distribute Your Assets,” “How I Used Social Media to Brand My Company”, “20/20 Business Forum: Get On the Shelf” and multiple sessions on raising and accessing capital. The popular Elevator Pitch Competition in which entrepreneurs got the opportunity to present their business plan and idea to a panel of judges was back this year in

addition to auditions for the popular network show Shark Tank. Founded by Earl Graves Sr. in 1970, Black Enterprise is a multimedia resource hub providing information, training and tools for Black business owners and executives. Its signature publication, Black Enterprise Magazine highlights and promotes Black owned businesses. In 2006 Graves Sr., handed the reigns over to his eldest son, Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., who is now President and CEO. Guest presenters throughout the conference included author and multimedia businessman T.D. Jakes, longtime civil rights pioneer Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. who spoke on the ongoing fi ght for Blacks to gain entrance into Silicon Valley’s tech industry and Valerie Daniels-Carter, co-founder, president and CEO of V & J Holdings, one of the largest Black and women owned fast-food franchise operators in the country. There must be a total

transformation of the traditional Black entrepreneur mindset, said Rodney Sampson, author of Kingonomics and Executive in Charge of Diversity and Inclusion for Shark Tank in a presentation during the fi rst night of the conference. Sampson said Blacks not only need to start, build and sell companies but another method of business is to invest in companies. “Everybody wants to be an entrepreneur but that’s a mindset, a process and a commitment that most people are not willing to make…we must see ourselves as investors fi rst,” said Sampson. Investing in startup businesses provides different opportunities to build wealth, become an entrepreneur and help others, he said. “Culturally, we start companies that have a nice lifestyle. We have lifestyle businesses whereas other communities they are passionate about ideas but they’re not so much connected to the company itself,” said Sampson.

Selling a company to a larger or more strategic fi rm is a way to create wealth, a job for yourself and others he pointed out. “Are you in business simply to create a livelihood for yourself or are you creating something that’s so disruptive that it will change the past, present and future and someone will eventually want to purchase or buy this from you because they have to have it. And guess what, now that you have the money, you’re also free to innovate again and again,” said Sampson. Attendees gained a wealth of knowledge during the conference they hoped to take back home to implement into their businesses. Ellis Still, owner of The Burning Bush Christian Bookstore travelled from Newark, N.J. to attend the conference and said it was well worth it. “Coming to the Black Enterprise Conference you really get a chance to hear from people that have either done it at a very high level in terms of their success. So it’s good to hear from a diversity of people that have done what you’re trying to do,” Still told The Final Call. Manual Washington, owner and CEO of two companies based in West Virginia, Groves Cleaning Services, LLC and Janitors Closet, had previously attended several Black Enterprise Conferences but had not been to one recently. Though he has been in business 28 years, Washington said this year’s conference brought him up to the 21st century. “I had become somewhat complacent with the marketplace thinking that everything’s still to a point where it’s fair. It’s not a fair market but listening to Rev. Jakes and Rev. Jackson, I’ve found that we still have a fi ght and a struggle to get a better part of the market regardless to whatever type of business we’re in,” he told The Final Call. “To do that we must be persistent and have got to continue to persevere to the struggles of being entrepreneurs. By doing that, we must work together as a people and these types of conferences that forms a networking and informational stage for us, we must be a part of that and try to be stronger in our struggle to be owners or entrepreneurs.”

By Starla MuhammadSpecial to the NNPA from The Final Call

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Plan Your Career

Private/public partnerships are promoted as a collaborative way to bring people and resources together across sectors. A recent example is the development of senior housing in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point community. We are proud to be affi liated with this project and have witnessed the many twists and turns it has taken over the years. We asked Cathy Davis,

executive director of the Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services, Inc. (BHPMSS) in San Francisco, CA to share the specifi cs of her partnership so you imagine what a partnership could look like for your organization or institution. Her story is specifi c to her community: your story

will be specifi c to yours. We started our interview asking Davis to share the importance of the senior housing being built. “The new senior housing will make it possible for seniors to age in a secure and familiar place -- their own community -- close by to friends and family. The housing is part of our vision for an Aging Campus, a concept that is already refl ected in many of our current programs,” she began. “When fully completed, our new supportive housing and state-of-the-art senior center will offer Bayview seniors everything necessary to make their lives comfortable and fulfi lling,

Creating a nonprofi t/private/public partnership

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

FUNdraisingGood Times

Cathy Davis

Starla MuhammadL-R, Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., President and CEO of Black Enterprise and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Bishop Jakes spoke on his business success and was one of many presenters at the Black Enterprise Con-

ference in Columbus, Ohio.

SHAW TURN TO 10

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As founder and Director of CJP, Levy-Pounds works with students who learn to use the law “as a tool to advance the cause of justice in our society,” Levy-Pounds said. The students engage in legal research and writing, advocacy, negotiations with government stakeholders, and hold town hall forums and produce reports, making them a partial think-tank. Recently, CJP has been doing a lot of work around the school to prison pipeline, “trying to raise awareness about some of the systemic patterns and practices of discrimination that are impacting kids of color and kids with disabilities,” Levy-Pounds said. Other issues CJP has been involved with include juvenile justice initiatives with Ramsey County and Hennepin County as well as economic justice work. Jazz Hampton, a law student at St. Thomas, says the students all refer to her as PLP (Professor Levy-Pounds). Hampton says his professor has gone above and beyond — helping with a particularly diffi cult paper or just being there for students. As an African American man who grew up in the Twin Cities, he says Levy-Pounds is an inspiration to him. “She has so much knowledge,” he said. “She’s so well versed and so well spoken.” Through CJP, Hampton has become involved with Brotherhood Inc., a nonprofi t organization that CJP helped found and supports. Based in the

Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, the organization helps young African American men ages 16-24 who have been involved or are at risk of being involved in the criminal justice system or gangs. Hampton said he has worked with Brotherhood Inc. on legal issues, helping, for example, with a trademark issue for the coffee that the young men sell. Students of CJP do legal research and writing on behalf of the board and organization, draft business plans, and have redesigned the space and negotiate on behalf of the organization, Levy-Pounds said. Sidiq Abdullah, who is part of the Brotherhood Inc. program, joined as a favor for a friend, coming only once a week at fi rst. Discovering that “they actually cared about us,” Abdullah found himself gaining a whole new mindset on life. “I have more hope and motivation to do better,” he said. Abdullah strives to be like Levy-Pounds. “All the stuff that she’s done — she’s awesome,” he said. “She’s the one person I know I can count on if I needed help.” Abdullah credits Levy-Pounds for pushing him to graduate from high school, as she sat in the offi ce with him as he fi nished his last packet. Now, he said, she’s pushing him to get back into college. “She has such a big heart,” he said. “Any time I need extra motivation, I can give her a call.” Levy-Pounds says that her colleagues at St. Thomas have been extremely supportive of CJP. “They know I’m venturing into dangerous territory, particularly when talking about racial justice

and equity,” she said. “However they allow me to be myself and to speak truth to power and to speak in my own unique voice based on my knowledge, experiences and expertise. That’s refreshing to be in a place where I can openly talk about civil rights issues and faith and justice and have that be supported.” Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Levy-Pounds moved to Los Angeles when she was eight years old. When she was nine, she decided to become a lawyer, in response to the inequitable conditions she saw in her community in Los Angeles. “What I saw were high rates of unemployment, low rates of educational attainment, high rates of poverty, gang violence and just general hopelessness and limited access to upward mobility and economic opportunity,” she said. “And I just thought that there has to be something that can be done about the conditions in the community. I saw lawyers on televisions on shows and I thought — I want to do that.” Though she was living in a poor neighborhood, she felt nourished and supported by the adults in her community, particularly her teachers. “I had very strong African American female teachers who provided me with access to opportunity and who pushed me to be the best that I could be,” she said. When she was 14, her teachers nominated her to be in the Better Chance program, a scholarship program that gave her the opportunity to go to boarding school in Massachusetts. Her teachers “recognized my circumstances being surrounded in poverty, but they didn’t see

that as a limiting factor in terms of what I could accomplish,” she said. “That’s the problem that I see today within our public school system. Too often we use poverty as an excuse for why children are not able to gain access to high quality education. I think that is a false barrier that has been put into place because some of our most brilliant children are growing up in poverty.” Eventually, Levy-Pounds went to the University of Southern California, becoming the fi rst in her family to earn a bachelor’s

degree. Then she went to law school at University of Illinois. “I didn’t realize all the hurdles I would have to overcome, but this is defi nitely my destiny and my calling, and it’s a way for me to give back to the community,” she said. A mother of fi ve children (two of whom are adopted), Levy-Pounds takes their education very seriously. Two of her daughters attend the same boarding school she attended, and her two sons attend Harvest Prep and Best Academy. Her eldest daughter

just graduated from Park Center High School, and will attend North Hennepin Community College next year. Having fi ve kids on top of all the community and professional work she does wouldn’t be possible, she said, without her husband, who’s an integral part of the work she does and raising the kids. As if all of the above weren’t enough, Levy-Pounds also serves as chair of the board for both Everybody In — whose

Levy-PoundsFrom 1

other Black soldiers. In the eyes of America, my father and men of his generation were “boys” and white men were their fathers … no matter how illiterate or backwards these so-called fathers were. The other was the emergence of the revolutionary 1960s that challenged the very forces that dared call my father “boy” and denied access to employment at institutions like the Minneapolis Fire Department and branded

and limited the destinies of his six children, even before they were born. Looming invisibly and specter like over Daddy was an unseen entity that he, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks or anyone else could have possibly predicted. When its winds of change began blowing, transformation leaped from its unseen belly, with many consequences he could never have imagined – not in 10 lifetimes. The winds came from the north, east, west and south, toppling orders and institutions, Old Money and familiar alliances. When the winds ceased

after madly spiraling – somebody lit a match and shouted, “Burn baby burn” and uniform clusters of fi erce raging fi res were ignited everywhere. The fi res lapped away at feelers of the monster of racism; however they also cleared the ground for a harvest that architects of the Civil Rights Movement had not included in their strategy meetings. Soon an east wind began gently blowing the fi res whose scorching tongues began violently and rhythmically lapping upon everything in its path and jumping course and began lapping things not in their path.

Soon everything was on fi re. In Minneapolis, Plymouth Avenue burned from one end to the other – 38th Street in south Minneapolis was ablaze, schools were torched, institutions fi red up – even bras were set on fi re. But it was the unseen fi res that began to burn in my father’s personal life that burned insidiously right along with the visible fi res. The unscrupulous fi res began feasting upon the beautiful middle class home that he had so meticulously built. The unseen fl ames worked their way into our home from the outside, and worked their way in beginning with the recalibration of the

English language as everything began being redefi ned. Stokely Carmichael and others in unison chanted, “What do you want” with the group of students and Mississippi sharecroppers responding “Black power. Black power.” A different light was shed upon men like my father. No longer was the Black community interested in clasping arms and singing “We shall overcome.” Daddy had told me and my brother and sisters that we were Negro … or colored. You could take your pick – they were used simultaneously. However, my most signifi cant classifi cation as

a little girl was being Matt Little’s daughter. Until the fi res of change began, I had never thought much about the Negro or colored part of my identity for they were insignifi cant in light of my being Matt Little’s daughter.

Azaniah Little lives in Seattle. She works as a freelance writer, minister and consultant, and is currently seeking publication for her fi rst book, “Purpose for Your Pain...” She is the proud mother of Namibia Little who lives in Minneapolis.

LittleFrom 1

LEVY-POUNDS TURN TO 11

Collage for daddy

The City of Bloomington does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its

Freedom Riders

June 26, 2014, 6:30-8 p.m.

Exhibit

For more information and event registration, contact:

June 23-July 6, 2014 Music through the Struggle:

in commemoration of the 50th anniversary

The Bloomington Human Rights Commission hosts

Bloomington Civic Plaza Lobby

Schneider Theater

Free Event

of the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

Page 10 • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Classifi eds Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: info@insightnews.com

Spurs’ team chemistry dominates NBA Finals

In the 2013 NBA Finals, the proverbial “fat lady” stepped to the mic at the close of game 6, smiled and waved at the crowd, then opened her mouth to belt out the closing tune. Miami Heat veteran guard Ray Allen then proceeded to cover her open mouth with the leather from a basketball shot for the ages. In the 2014 NBA Finals the fat lady was woken from a leisurely nap and rushed from the green room to sing before she could warm up. An epic battle was expected from this year’s fi nals rematch, yet a sound, steady (4-1) series beat down was the result. The San Antonio Spurs doused the Heat with the basketball version of fresh water – ball movement and teamwork. That teamwork was evident on both offense and defense, spelled out in the form of a 104-87 series clinching

victory on Father’s Day. The early exit put a temporary crimp (or cramp) in the projected greatness of Lebron James. While James remains the most impactful player in today’s NBA, stories of sitting out early in fi nals’ 4th quarters due to cramps and hopelessness seem incongruent with the folklore of the NBA’s historic alpha males. It was particularly disappointing to see James exit the fi nal game with over six minutes left, and a solid, but not insurmountable 18-point defi cit. A comeback of that sort would have been exhilarating, but not unheard of. What was

heard from James in the pre-game huddle was, “Follow my lead.” Whether baseball, boxing, badminton or any other sport, the alpha male wisdom says to go down swinging, not sitting on the bench with arms folded and fi ve minutes left in the game. On balance, James’ teammates delivered a supporting performance reminiscent of his former Cleveland Cavalier teammates; as no other Heat player scored more than 13 points in the fi nal game. Yet even more on balance, the Spurs were completely dominant. That dominance came

from all phases of the game, including coaching. It was previously silent reserve guard Patty Mills that took the fi nal game over in the 3rd quarter with 14 points during a seven-minute span. Strategically it seemed that Mills outburst was ideally timed to ultimately counteract the opening game onslaught of energy by the Heat, who led 22-6 with fi ve minutes left in the 1st quarter. By halftime that energy faded to reality, with the Heat staring down a seven point defi cit (47-40). Then Mills’ 3rd quarter barrage put the game away. The reality was that the Spurs were a better team. While

none of James’ supporting cast followed him in great play – James ended with 31points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists – the Spurs danced the ball around for high percentage shots, from starters and role players alike. Defensively, solid rotations were steadily made to disrupt the Heat’s ability to display their own offensive fl uidity. Spurs small forward, Kawhi Leonard, played the role of “emerging young star” in this tale of redemption, which also saw him awarded with the Finals MVP trophy. And while his 17.8 point, 6.4 rebound averages in the series were fairly unspectacular by

typical MVP standards, it was his lead role in defending James that tipped the spotlight in his direction. During ceremonial interviews, rather than proposing his leadership, Leonard embraced thanks for how the entire team pushed him to be his best. The Spurs were poised at all points during the season and playoffs following their shocking loss one year ago. Championship teams often display the greatest overall chemistry, but the Spurs have also been the most consistent organization from top to bottom, for the past decade and a half. I believe that has something to do with their Hall of Fame forward/center, Tim Duncan, whom just completed his 17th season, with his fi fth championship (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). While his teammates have mildly fl uctuated, it is Duncan at the center of the franchises success. Duncan’s mother died from breast cancer in 1989, but her hum of encouragement for young Timothy went as such. “Good better best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better is your best.”

Moments in Sports

By Ryan T. Scottryan@insightnews.com

have trained 20 individuals to be certifi ed as health unit coordinators by the end of the fi rst session and applications are already being processed for a second session to begin this fall. Scott Gray, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League said this program benefi ts the residents of north Minneapolis in a multitude of

ways. “Century College is in St. Paul and it is bringing this wonderful education opportunity to 2100 Penn Ave., North,” said Gray, referring to the address of the Minneapolis Urban League where classes are taking place. “This is the fi rst time the Minneapolis Urban League and Century College have partnered to create a wonderful employment opportunity to get a world-class education and credentialing, and get students on the path to a career in health

care.” Gray said the other component that makes this program so attractive is the partnership with NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center. A community leader in wellness, NorthPoint – located across the street from the Minneapolis Urban League – will offer 40-hour internships once students successfully complete the program. “The beautiful thing about that is when people intern they get the opportunity to

make a positive impression with an employer and have a great opportunity to land a permanent job,” said Gray. “It’s always unique when you have an employment partner, an educational partner and a nonprofi t come together to make sure that not only do individuals gain training, but make sure they are able to get a job at the end of their credentialing.” So what is a health unit coordinator? “They are the pivotal connector in the unit,” said

Bridgett Backman of Century College. “They’re the ones you see at the front desk (of a medical care facility), they’re the ones in charge of inventory. When a patient goes into cardiac arrest and hits the nurse button, they’re the ones who fi rst gets the call and dispatches the proper personnel.” Gray said the three-way partnership with Century College and NorthPoint will start paying immediate dividends for the residents of north Minneapolis. “The more our participants

learn about healthcare, the more they take back to their families and community,” said Gray. “These future healthcare workers will become health ambassadors and promote positive health throughout the community.” To learn more about the Health Unit Coordinator program or to enroll in the coming fall session, visit the Minneapolis Urban League online at www.mul.org or call (612) 302-3100.

MULFrom 1

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Bergstad Properties is accepting applica-tion for Seniors 62 and older. Applicant must be income eligible and must qualify for Sec-tion 8 Housing. Please visit our web site at www.bergstad.com for a virtual tour and application.

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RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Author-ity has rental units available in Cass County, MN. Please call 218-335-8280. Must meet certain qualifi cations.

Vacancies Cokato Apts, Cokato, MN (a seniors complex 62 or over or handicapped) has vacancies on 2nd Floor for one BR apts. Waiting list open. Contact Don at 320-286-2758. E-Mail cokapts@embarqmail.com

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Of adjusted income Call Patricia Brown At 218-283-4967

TDD 800-627-3529

Office Manager/Legal AssistantCentral Minnesota Legal Services-St. Cloud Office Full-time position in our Saint Cloud office. Duties include: maintaining filing and storage sys.; com-piling reports; client intake; drafting legal docs; referrals to com svcs; other duties as assigned. Microsoft Word a plus. Salary: D.O.E. up to $32,816. Excellent benefits. Resume, references, and cover letter by 06/16/14 (late applications ac-cepted until filled), Terri S. Thorson, Managing At-torney, CMLS, 110 6th Avenue South, Suite 205, 56301. No calls please. EOE.Administrative Assistant

HENNEPIN COUNTY Department of Human Resources Hennepin County Government Center300 South Sixth Street Minneapolis, MN 55487

http://hennepin.jobs INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF:

Administrative Assistant

SALARY: $38,906.40 - $60,251.36 Annually

OPENING DATE: 06/09/14

CLOSING DATE: 06/20/14 5:00 PM Central Time

JOB TYPE: Full-time

LOCATION: North Minneapolis, Minnesota

DEPARTMENT: NorthPoint Health and Wellness

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Operations Generalist – DuluthThe U.S. District Court, District of MN is ac-cepting applications for a full-time Operations Generalist in our Duluth location. Salary range is $38,334 - $62,307. For complete job description, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Howell. The next step for the company is to develop empowerment workshops.

“Currently, we are developing an empowerment program for girls to help develop and improve their self-esteem and body image,” said Howell. “The program is relayed through positive dialogue centered around power principles such as smart, beautiful, determined and powerful.”

Howell’s organization has six power principles and the logo is the pinwheel. Each pin on the pinwheel represents a power word. “I chose the pinwheel because while watching one spin, I thought that is how life can be for young girls – always spinning. I began

to research the symbolism behind a pinwheel. In some cultures it is believed that whenever a pinwheel spins, change is occurring in your life,” said Howell. While Howell strives to reach and empower young girls through many mediums, she always brings it back to why she started

the movement. “Everything that I am doing is confi rming and supporting the positive message that is on my t-shirts, and showing and inspiring my daughter and others to embrace her uniqueness. The ultimate message I want to convey is that everyone is unique, and once we own our

unique attributes we become more powerful and can positively affect the world around us,” said Howell. For more information about Girls Are Powerful visit www.girlsarepowerful.com.

GirlsFrom 7

including: affordable housing, a safe and nurturing environment; a wide choice of planned activities (recreational, spiritual and educational); special events; preventive healthcare services; and excellent daily nutrition. We will continue the exceptional

level of care for which BHPMSS is already well known.” The project had multiple partners. It was initiated by long-term BHPMSS executive director Dr. George Davis – Cathy Davis’ husband –who was a community organizer, gerontologist and political strategist. He had a vision for what he wanted and was willing to tell everyone about it. He enrolled the board of directors,

staff, all the city offi cials, politicians and the community at large in creating the “Aging Campus”. Cathy Davis shared the details with us: “Our developer became our partner because of their respect for community building. As a for-profi t developer they work with community nonprofi ts, rather than compete with them. Our relationship with the City is

one of advocate and funder. We attended meetings, workshops and listening sessions to advocate for what was needed in our community. City funders utilize a community process and you have to be willing to play the game, the way it is played. The City benefi ts from a large community process that includes stakeholders and points the way. They want to fund popular ideas that have widespread support

and solve a problem.” Just a reminder: “A private/public partnership benefi ts all parties working together for a common purpose that ultimately benefi ts the intended clients,” Davis extols. “Each party has their own interest that has to be served in order to move forward. Collectively you have to be able to work as a team.” Next week: Accountability and trust

Learn more about BHPMSS at http://bhpmss.org/

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofi ts, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your campaign visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

ShawFrom 8

strategies known. What are you contributing? This month is your chance to decide what difference you’d like to make in the world. Spend a few minutes each day at lunchtime and write down ideas about how you can make a positive difference in the world. At the end of the month, decide on a plan of action – and begin! The world needs you and your

contribution!

October: A Month of SavoringFall is a season to enjoy the changing foliage in many parts of the world. Consciously spend at least fi ve minutes each day focusing your attention exclusively on something of beauty outside – changing leaves, trees, clouds, sky – something. Five minutes of complete attention to savor the beauty of life around you – each day, every day.November: A Month of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a powerful, although a slightly more complicated, happiness strategy. We forgive others to make us feel better. This month, examine your life and see if there are any lingering resentments you are holding on to that are holding you back from joy. If so, do two things: First, write the apology letter you would have liked to have received from the person who has wronged you. Second, rise above your desire for revenge, and write your letter of forgiveness to them.

No need to mail it, just recall the hurt or violation, write about your feelings. End the letter with your statement of forgiveness. Just this simple act of writing a forgiveness letter can often grant you freedom from your negative thoughts and give you increased happiness.

December: A Month of GenerosityThe end of the year is a time for giving – a time to donate your time, your money if you can, your skills, your positive energy, your attention – to

others to help make their life a little better. Each day, fi nd one opportunity to give something of yourself to help another – and notice your feelings. The happiness calendar is a great tool to help you focus on the things that are in your circle of infl uence and control. Save this article and cut out the activity for each month. Attach them to your 2014 calendar and build action items around each month’s theme. Remember, happiness is an intentional

creation, and 2014 can be a great year if you stay focused on the things that bring you happiness.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. To get a copy of his books, or for questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

HoustonFrom 7

insightnews.com Insight News • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Page 11

EDUCATIONKIPP Stand Academy on the move

Students challenged to keep learning this summer

KIPP Stand Academy is on the move. The school has decided to move into Minneapolis’ Shingle Creek Elementary School. KIPP’s current location is behind the Basilica of St. Mary at 1601 Laurel Ave. in Minneapolis. KIPP Stand Academy is a charter school that prepares middle schools students for college. KIPP is an acronym for Knowledge is Power Program. KIPP as an organization is a national group of open-enrollment public charter schools that emphasize college prep. KIPP Stand Academy principal Alvin Abraham said the move would allow growth. “We have been here for six years at the Basilica,” said Abraham. “We love location and we love the building, but we are growing out of it.” The school currently serves students entering grades fi ve

through eight, but KIPP plans on expanding to more grade levels. “Ultimately our goal is to be a community of schools that serves children from pre-K all the way up to the 12th grade.” Currently, just over 200 children attend KIPP and the goal is to have enrollment near 400. The next immediate step after the transition will be the development of an elementary school that is set to open in fall

2016. “It is an actual school. There is something cool about revitalizing that space and utilizing it for what it was built for,” said Abraham. Abraham said more than 50 locations were considered but the

Shingle Creek School location will provide better access for KIPP families. Abraham said the school is more centrally located to north Minneapolis. Eighty percent of KIPP students live in north Minneapolis.

“We had to stay close to the community we currently serve which is the Northside,” said Abraham. “The Basilica is a great space and everyone knows where it is, but it is not that easy to get to.”

Another opportunity the new location provides is what Abraham called green space and more space for the students to be active. “This space has a huge beautiful gym. We are going to be able to have two P.E. (physical education) classes,” said Abraham. “We know kids have to be active and in engaged in order to lead healthy lifestyles.” Green space includes places including parks, bike trails and softball fi elds. “We will have access to the outdoors,” said Abraham. At the Basilica, there is little space for the students to be active and enjoy the outdoors. When the weather was nice, Abraham said students would take a walk to Loring Park, but it signifi cantly cut into class time. “The fact that we can open the door and be at a soccer fi eld or the bike trail is huge,” said Abraham. “We even discussed ideas of creating a community garden and understanding where food comes from.”

As districts across the state wrap up their school year and release students for the summer, the Minnesota Department of Education is challenging students to keep exercising their brains.Research shows that students can lose important math and reading skills over the summer months, so it is essential that students fi nd ways to further their learning during the summer.

The department has partnered with MetaMetrics® to provide tools that make summer learning easy. These tools offer exciting and fun challenges to help students retain the math and reading skills they learned during the school year, while ramping up their skills for the fall. From creating a summer reading list that is tailored to expand a child’s reading comprehension to daily

math puzzles and activities, these challenges are free, self-directed opportunities that parents and students can have fun with together.

Summer Reading Challenge:• Visit Find a Book,

Minnesota (http://lexile.com/fab/MN) to sign up.

• Enter your child’s Lexile measure, or let the system

easily walk you through determining the right level of books for your child.

• Help your child select categories of interest.

• View and refi ne your search results, and add books to your child’s reading list.

• Some lucky readers will win $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards.

Summer Math Challenge:

• Visit Summer Math Challenge (http://quantiles.com/summer-math) to enroll your child.

• Starting Monday, June 23, check your inbox for daily emails with fun math activities and resources.

• Check back every day to read about the weekly math concept and earn badges.

• When the program ends on Friday, August 1, print an

award certifi cate to celebrate your child’s summer accomplishment!

For more resources and information about summer learning, visit the department’s Summer Learning website at http://bit.ly/MNsummerlearning or visit your local library.

By Abeni HillContributing Writer

Alvin Abraham

KIPP Stand AcademyCornelius and Jayon

act as interim president and CEO starting July 1. “MEDA is primed for transformational change, and with this appointment, the Twin Cities’ business community is stepping up to the plate to address racial disparities through MEDA” said Doug Eden, MEDA board chair and CEO search committee chair. “Gary is the leader who will take MEDA to the next level in its ongoing mission to strengthen the minority business community in Minnesota and beyond.” Eden said the issues of racial disparities are complex and will require a multifaceted sustainable approach to be successfully addressed and one key element in addressing the disparities throughout the country is the development of business opportunities. Currently MEDA’s clients hire

minority employees at an average rate of more than 40 percent and over the past 43 years, Eden said MEDA has provided thousands of jobs through its assistance of approximately 19,500 entrepreneurs of color. “I’m thrilled to join an organization so greatly committed to providing business development solutions and resources to help narrow Minnesota’s racial economic disparities,” said Cunningham. “MEDA recognizes that the sustainable growth of even a single high-performing minority-owned company can bring jobs and signifi cant economic opportunity to an entire community.” Prior to his work at Northwest Area Foundation, Cunningham served as the president and chief executive offi cer for NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center. He also served as the director of planning and development for Hennepin County, where he supervised policy development and strategic planning and directed the Hennepin County Housing and

Redevelopment Authority. In addition, Cunningham served as county administrator and chief executive offi cer for Scott County and associate superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. MEDA’s incoming CEO has held leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the City of Minneapolis. A current member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives, he also sits on the Humphrey School Dean’s Advisory Council, the Center of Policy Studies at Hamline University, the Metropolitan Council’s Community Development Committee as chair, and the board of GenerationNext, a collective impact model to improve student achievement. Cheung Ho’ said in her departure she is confi dent the Twin Cities business community is in extremely capable hands. “For more than 40 years, MEDA has successfully worked

with the private, public and nonprofi t sectors to support entrepreneurs of color to build

their businesses and create employment opportunities for their communities. I’ve no

doubt MEDA will continue to aggressively pursue that mission for 40 more years to come.”

CunninghamFrom 1

goal is to help close the gaps in unemployment between Blacks and Whites and Native Americans and Whites in the region by 2020, — and the African American Museum and Cultural Center. “It’s a lot to handle,” she said, but she never feels like it’s too much. “I draw strength and inspiration from my ancestors and freedom fi ghters from the past who had to work under even more challenging circumstances,” she said. Every other month, Levy-Pounds preaches at First Covenant Church of Minneapolis. She calls her faith the driving force for what she does. “I believe that faith without works is dead,” she said. “So if I say I’m a person of faith that should mean something.” In addition to preaching, she’s also the chair of a group she formed at the church that addresses racial and economic justice. “The goal is to get the faith community more involved on social justice issues because right now I feel that there’s a disconnect,” she said. “Most of the time we’re in a charity based mode. And we need to move towards a justice-based mode of thinking and doing.” Recently, Levy- Pounds has won awards from the Hennepin County Bar Association, as well as the 50 Under 50 Most Infl uential Lawyers of Color. In 2012, she won the Profi les in

Courage Award from the MN Association of Black Lawyers. “I’m constantly amazed and humbled when I receive an award because I don’t think about the work that I do from that angle,” Levy-Pounds said. “I just think that I’m walking out my calling. So I’m always surprised when people are taking notice and paying attention and it gives me hope in the sense that these issues are being elevated by a group of people that I didn’t know were focused on that.” In addition, Levy-Pounds has blogged for TC Daily Planet, MinnPost, and most recently the Star Tribune. She sees her writing as “a platform to engage a broader audience on racial justice and social justice issues and to contextualize current events and issues that impact communities of color, because I feel that there’s a dearth of focus in the public arena on issues that impact the poorest, most underserved communities and putting those issues in a broader context.” As someone who grew up in poverty, Levy-Pounds feels it’s important to “be a voice who’s helping shed light on those issues but also offering solutions.” Seeing most problems that face underrepresented communities as solvable, she fi nds it’s a matter of a lack of political will that these problems aren’t addressed. “We demonize and place blame on those who don’t run the systems that impact their lives and who have very little political representation, so it’s no wonder that they are constantly facing

marginalization and oppression,” she said. “So I want to see poor people in power to lead and to use their voices and to contribute ideas on how to address the issues that actually impact them.” Levy-Pounds wants see people thrive. “I’m constantly rooting for the underdog,” she said. She also loves to laugh. “I have an interesting sense of humor and I fi nd humor in the strangest things,” she said. “So my students will fi nd me laughing until I cry.” She loves poetry and spoken word, and through CJP engages young people through poetry and spoken word, starting a forum called Uncaged Voices, which is a poetry slam on youth justice. They’ve held two events so far at Intermedia Arts. Finally, Levy-Pounds strongly believes in the power of entrepreneurship to address issues of economic injustice. “We have so many entrepreneurs in inner city communities, but they are rarely given the chance to legitimatize their trades and to gain access to type of capitol that’s needed in order for them to build a strong business that helps them to support their families and also create jobs for others in the community,” she said. “So I want to see us focus more on entrepreneurship and building a stronger economic infrastructure in our poorest communities. I know charity is important, but our focus on charity right now is too heavy. We need to focus on economic justice and teaching people how to build wealth and venture into the business arena.”

Levy-PoundsFrom 9

LEARN�TO�TEACH�� �Share the gift of learning.

Master of Arts in Teaching

It’s never too late to go back to school. In fact, students entering the Master of Arts in Teaching program have life experience and work experience, but they want more. The MAT prepares you for your initial teaching license while you are earning your master’s degree. It’s an ideal program for working adults who want to make a difference in the lives of children in grades K-12. Learn more at hamline.edu/learntoteach

Page 12 • June 23 - June 29, 2014June 23 - June 29, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Since 1993, the Twins Community Fund has partnered with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation to bring the

opportunity to play baseball and softball to youth in the Twin Cities.

Every year, the Twins Community Fund donates more than $75,000 each to Minneapolis and Saint Paul to operate the Twins Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program. The Twins Community Fund grants go towards covering the cost of uniforms, fields, umpires, equipment and other game essentials. There are many metro locations in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul that participate in the RBI league. The Twins RBI program is part of a global effort by Major League Baseball to increase the number of kids playing baseball and softball in urban areas.

More than 5,000 youth participate in the Twin Cities RBI program each summer with 18% self-identifying as African American. The

Twins RBI ProgramReviving Baseball in Inner CitiesTwins RBI Program

program includes players from T-ball through 18U boys baseball division and 18U girls fast pitch softball. All participants play under the team name Minnesota Twins.

RBI players have the opportunity to not only play games, but also attend free skills clinics, attend Twins games at Target Field® and meet Major League players. Through the RBI program participants are also learning off the field skills and values that will assist them in becoming positive citizens. The program has grown throughout the years in both overall numbers and skill level. In 2014, the Twins RBI Program had its first ever alumnus drafted by a Major League Baseball organization.

The program also includes an All-Star program which hosts tryouts for three teams, 15U boys baseball, 18U boys baseball and 18U girls fast pitch softball. These three All-Star teams participate in the RBI Central Regional Tournament, hosted this season by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Greater Milwaukee Boys and Girls Clubs, July 25 – 28, 2014. Participants on each of the All-Star teams must submit a Breaking Barriers essay, based upon Jackie Robinsons nine values; Courage, Teamwork, Determination, Persistence, Integrity, Citizenship, Justice, Commitment, Excellence.

In addition, the RBI World Series has been played in the Twin Cities 3 years in a row. The World Series is host to over 300 youth baseball and softball players from around the world. The RBI World Series gives players a chance to meet current and former professional players, workout with Major League scouts and volunteer with local nonprofits. Though the Twins RBI All-Stars have yet to win a World Series, they have competed in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

To learn more about the program, including how you can participate, visit www.mplsstpaulrbi.org.

This is a paid advertisement

Onas Farfan –RBI Alum drafted by the Twins in 2014