Sick payNew report details statewide access to earned sick time benefi ts in Minnesota

PAGE 2

Momentsin SportsHigh quality competition boosts WNBA, fans

PAGE 9

HealthMinnesota Health Commissioner tapped to lead national health coalition

PAGE 3

LifestyleSmile, you are altogether beautiful!

PAGE 7

Medtronic, United Way team up to reduce health disparities

Ferguson—A tipping point for national Black youth voter turnout?

Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy: Disaster inequality

The Greater Twin Cities United Way and Medtronic Philanthropy recently ann ounced a joint-initiative aimed at improving engagement with community leaders and organizations to build a coalition aimed at reducing healthcare disparities. “We’ve had a long standing partnership with Medtronic so we came together on this to fi gure out what can be done to reduce healthcare disparities,” said Meghan Barp, senior vice president of Community Impact at Greater Twin Cities United Way. “Medtronic has been able to utilize their specialty – which is chronic

WASHINGTON, D.C. (New America Media) - A week before National Voter Registration Day Tuesday, September 23, civil rights leaders hope to increase African American youth voter turnout by citing the police shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., a city where only 12 percent of registered voters turned out to vote in the last city council elections. Community organizers in New Orleans and Houston -- two cities with a long history of confrontations between African-Americans and the police -- have mixed views on whether outrage over Ferguson will translate into voter participation.

Ferguson may be a rallying call in New Orleans, but it won’t be the dominant theme for staff and volunteers as they work voter registration tables around the city on Sept. 23, says Erica Buher of VAYLA-New Orleans, a multi-ethnic community organization focused on youth empowerment. Big Easy youth are attuned and empathetic to Brown’s killing on August 9, but, according to Buher “what happened in Ferguson happens frequently in New Orleans.” Young people have their own Michael Browns to focus on. Their names, Buher says, are virtually unknown outside the city. Buher remembers when the

Geneva, Switzerland – A United Nations (UN) human rights committee composed of human rights laws experts from 18 countries and charged with monitoring U.S. compliance with its obligations under the racial

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Just before Labor Day 2005, the world was stunned as images of Gulf Coast citizens, trudged through chaos and stagnant fl oodwaters, strewn with the debris of wrecked buildings and storm-tossed earth. The sights seemed to replay just before Halloween 2012, as coastal New York and New Jersey waded in icy waters and picked through the rubble of their destroyed property. The incidents were separated by more than 1,300 miles, seven years, and

two extreme weather events: Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. But a new Web media project titled, Katrina/Sandy, juxtaposes the storms to suggest that disastrous scenes like these may be on repeat, as extreme weather becomes a new global reality. “We’re not trying to say they’re the same event…. But it’s defi nitely a worthy thing to put [them] in context with each other when we think about, how do we respond better, how do we prepare better?” says Rachel Falcone, fi lmmaker, co-founder of Sandy Storyline (along with multimedia artist, Michael Premo),

By Jazelle HuntNNPA Columnist

INEQUALITY TURN TO 3

Michael Brown

By Lydia SchwartzContributing Writer

By Khalil Abdullah

HEALTH TURN TO 7

TURNOUT TURN TO 3UN TURN TO 5

Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, and Ron Davis, father of Jordan Davis, testify

during the grass-roots portion of the UN review in Geneva.

UN criticizes US on racial justice issues raised by Minnesotans

Jacob GayleMeghan Barp Sarah Caruso

Selby Ave Jazz FestMORE ON PAGE 10

Insight NewsVol. 41 No. 40 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comSeptember 22 - September 28, 2014

Page 2 • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

New report details statewide access to earned sick time benefi ts in MinnesotaSt. Paul, MN – TakeAction Minnesota and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research released a new statewide analysis recently, detailing access rates to earned sick time leave across the state of Minnesota. The new report breaks down data by gender, race and ethnicity, occupation, hours worked and earnings level. Overall, the report concludes that 41% of Minnesota workers lack access to even a single day of earned sick time off. On the morning tele-conference briefi ng with reporters and policymakers, Jessica Milli, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, reviewed key fi ndings from the statewide analysis. Milli said, “This data indicates that Minnesota workers who are least able to lose pay when they are sick are also the least likely to have employer-provided earned sick days. Earned sick time gives workers the ability to seek health services or stay home with sick children or other family members, helping reduce the spread of illness in schools and workplaces. It provides more economic security for families across the board, but most especially for those struggling in lower-wage and part-time jobs.” The analysis found that while 59% of all workers in Minnesota

currently have access to earned sick time benefi ts, access is not uniformly distributed across populations. Key fi ndings include: 41%, just over 1.1 million Minnesota workers lack access to earned sick time benefi ts including a full 40% of private-sector workers (only 18% of public-sector workers lack access); 60% of Latino workers in the state lack access to earned sick time benefi ts, signifi cantly less likely than workers in any other racial/ethnic group, followed by 47% of African-American workers who lack access; Access to earned sick time varies substantially by occupation, with 71% of those in full-time positions having access while only 26% of those working part-time having access to earned sick time benefi ts; Service workers in particular are least likely to have access to earned sick time benefi ts, with only 35% having access. This includes food service and hospitality workers who work in close contact with the public; 80% of full-time workers in the highest earnings brackets, making over $65,000 annually, have access while only 34% of full-time workers in the lowest earnings brackets, making $15,000 or less, have access to earned sick time benefi ts.

Greta Bergstrom, Communications Director for TakeAction Minnesota, believes the state of Minnesota can improve the economic security of families by instituting earned sick time policies that ensure that all workers have the opportunity to earn time off to care for themselves, a sick child or a loved one. “Workplace policies haven’t kept up with the realities of 21st century Minnesota families. People shouldn’t have to choose between being a good parent and being a responsible employee earning a paycheck. Having access to earned sick time gives individuals the ability to take care of their own health or the health of a loved one by using the time they have earned working hard every day.” The report, developed by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, details access rates for individuals 18 years and older, living in Minnesota regardless of their work. Data was culled from the 2010-2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the 2012 IPUMS American Community Survey (ACS). The new report can be downloaded here: http://www.iwpr.org/publications/pubs/access-to-paid-sick-days-in-minnesota/

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There are lots of beautiful greens in season! Head to your local farmer’s market or grocery store and seek out greens such as collards, swiss chard, spinach and kale!! Green veggies are the most missing food in the modern diet and they benefi t our health in so many ways!

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In large skillet over medium heat, saute garlic and leek in olive oil until soft. Add greens and mirin and saute until greens are bright green and tender. Remove from heat, drizzle lightly with ume plum vinegar, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve. (Serves 4) **Recipe from “Clean Start” by Terry Walters…a cookbook I highly recommend!! Julie McMahon, Founder/Owner of Sound Nutrition, is a Certifi ed Holistic Health Coach and Raw Food Nutrition Educator who is passionate about Nutrition, Health and Wellness. Julie believes in the power of whole foods to create optimal health and is certifi ed by the American Academy of Drugless Practitioners. Contact Julie today and set up your complimentary initial consultation at mysoundnutrition@gmail.com.

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insightnews.com Insight News • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Page 3

Minnesota Health Commissioner tapped to lead national health coalition

PreferredOne grabbed market share, then jumped ship

Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger has been elected to be president-elect of the Association of State and Territorial Health Offi cials (ASTHO), the national organization representing the lead state health offi cials from all 50 states and other jurisdictions around the country. Dr. Ehlinger will serve as president-elect for one year and become the ASTHO president starting at the organization’s autumn 2015 annual meeting. ASTHO is the national nonprofi t organization representing state public health agencies in the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, and more than 100,000 public health

professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health offi cials of these jurisdictions, formulate and infl uence sound public health policy and ensure excellence in state-based public health practice. ASTHO’s primary function is to track, evaluate, and advise members on the impact and formation of public or private health policy which may affect their states and to provide them with guidance and technical assistance on improving the nation’s health. “I congratulate Dr. Ehlinger on his election to this leadership position,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “I am confi dent he will be a strong advocate in this role for improving public health

across the country.” Commissioner Ehlinger was elected president in a vote taken at the organization’s annual meeting and policy summit, held recently in New Mexico. In addition to continuing the organization’s work of building stronger ties across state and local health departments, he said he intends to use the post to build awareness of the importance of a strong public health system to protect, maintain and improve the health of all Americans. “It is a tremendous honor to be asked to lead ASTHO as we enter a key period in the evolution of our public health system,” Commissioner Ehlinger said. “As a country we have a lot of work to do

when it comes to creating the conditions in which everyone has an opportunity to be healthy. To accomplish that goal we have to step up our efforts to fi ght chronic disease and reduce health disparities. Minnesota has made progress in these areas under the leadership of Governor Dayton, and I look forward to applying what we’ve learned from those efforts with my ASTHO colleagues. We are all working toward the same goal of protecting, maintaining and improving the health of individuals and communities around the country.” For more information about ASTHO, visit the organization’s website at www.astho.org. -MDH-

TakeAction Minnesota, a statewide people’s network of individual and organizational members working together to motivate people to act publicly in order to advance economic and racial equity in our state released this statement following the

announcement that PreferredOne is severing its relationship with MNsure: “Today’s decision by PreferredOne to pull out of MNsure should serve as a reminder that depending on private, for-profi t insurers for one’s health care

is like building a house on shifting sand. We doubt it comes as a surprise to health care consumers that a big carrier would jump onto a vehicle like MNsure in order to grab signifi cant market share only to jump ship a year later. Families and small businesses are all too

used to annual rate increases and getting left high and dry by big health insurers. This is standard operating procedure for corporate insurers and one signifi cant challenge to providing stable and reliable health care for Minnesota families.

“This year, however, consumers can face these kinds of unpredictable changes knowing they have new protections like tax credits and out of pocket spending limits, no denial or overcharging for pre-existing conditions, and basic preventative care benefi ts

whatever plan they choose. Many more Minnesotans qualifi ed for MinnesotaCare and are even further protected from this kind of behavior.” TakeAction Minnesota has offi ces in St. Paul, Duluth and Grand Rapids.

Dr. Ed Ehlinger

and co-creator of the Katrina/Sandy project. “We’re trying to tell stories that can impact and improve the recovery after Sandy, or at least improve it so that…we learn from the mistakes we made during Sandy and especially during Katrina. And also the successes…not all the stories are sad stories. Communities are coming together to meet needs successfully and create solutions.” Katrina/Sandy is the joint endeavor of two award-winning projects, Land of Opportunity and Sandy Storyline. Sandy Storyline is a crowd-sourced collection of Hurricane Sandy experiences, solicited and curated by a team of fi lmmakers. Land of Opportunity is a New Orleans-based multimedia project from a team of fi lmmakers that explores issues around housing; the Katrina/Sandy timeline is hosted as part of this larger project. Created from donated footage and testimony from scores of local fi lmmakers and citizens around the country, Katrina/Sandy blends fi lm, photography, and fi rsthand audio accounts into a powerful timeline before, during, and after the storms. Viewers click points along the line and journey through footage of ravaging winds, relentless fl oodwaters, weatherworn residents, and weary homeowners. As the short fi lms and accounts play, viewers can also segue to compelling documents, articles, and interviews that explore related issues. In one scene from the Sandy accounts, a mother walks through her home, surveying gutted walls and detailing the bureaucratic ordeal of beginning the rebuilding process, as her young daughter wanders around calling out memories. In an accompanying scene from the Katrina footage, a father refl ects on the 18 months he and his family have lived in a trailer on his property, waiting for the city to demolish his crumbling house so he can rebuild, as his young son plays nearby. The similarities continue to unfold in straightforward, powerful vignettes. Notably, low-income residents share similar experiences of isolation and neglect. In Sandy’s wake, it is elderly and disabled people stuck in high-rise public housing

units without electricity, heat, or medications. Post-Katrina, it is mostly Black people slogging through hazardous fl oodwaters, searching for food and dry clothing. Scientists and researchers almost unanimously agree that extreme weather events like these have become and will continue to be commonplace, as a result of climate change. Low-income and underserved communities, often home to people of color, will continue to bear the brunt of the effects. “Folks who don’t have resources are the hardest hit at every stage of disaster. Katrina continues to be an ongoing disaster for a lot of people, and that’s clearly the bulk of what’s going on on the ground in Sandy,” says Luisa Dantas, fi lmmaker, director of Land of Opportunity, and co-creator of Katrina/Sandy. “When we talk about looking ahead, and learning, and preparing, it’s mostly around ensuring that folks who don’t have access to resources are protected, and cared for, and able to recover and rebuild their lives just like everyone else can.” Marginalization of these communities continues in debates about land use, rebuilding, and

the right to return in the aftermath of disasters. Outside this project, both Dantas and Falcone work on issues around housing rights; Dantas points out that this scenario plays out often around the country. “Crisis isn’t just a disaster on the scale of Katrina, but we’ve been looking at stories all over the country of crisis being used as a real excuse for policies that displace people, that put a premium on development agendas that aren’t necessarily inclusive, and aren’t necessarily being directed by the communities where they’re set,” she says, citing Detroit’s economic crisis as an example and Katrina as an extreme case. Sandy survivors are at the beginning stages of these issues. “Right after the storm there was all these meetings the mayor convened around policy that were shocking,” Falcone says. “There were town hall meetings, there’s been a lot of discussion around policy…and around buyouts, and development, and who has a say in what’s happening to different areas that are trying to rebuild. So we defi nitely see similar issues. But for us we feel like it’s not yet written, so we wanted to invite people to help us tell that story.” Viewers are invited to

share their post-Sandy stories at Sandystoryline.com/participate/share-your-story, and the Katrina/Sandy timeline can be viewed at http://beta.landofopportunityinteractive.com/#/compare. Dantas and Falcone hope the timeline will help inform how people and offi cials prepare for this new normal. “One really important thing to talk about with Katrina and the relationship to Sandy…is when a natural disaster becomes a manmade catastrophe. In the case of Katrina, the storm itself did not cause the lion’s share of damage. It was the epic failure of manmade infrastructure. And similar situations happened in Sandy recovery,” says Dantas. “The Sandy anniversary is coming up and the decade of Katrina coming up in a year. The value of refl ection isn’t just looking at what’s happened but also thinking about how what’s happened can be applicable to your own community. We’re really hoping that this work is driving home to people that this could happen to them, and if it were to happen to them, could they be better prepared?”

InequalityFrom 1

police offi cer -- convicted of shooting Ronald Madison on Danziger Bridge in Hurricane Katrina’s wake -- was freed after a court upheld his appeal in September of 2013. James Brissette, 17 years old, also died on the bridge from police gunfi re. Henry Glover was killed in a separate Katrina incident. The police offi cer charged in his death was also acquitted on appeal last year in December. “The court’s reversal hit the community hard,” Buher says of the Glover case. Just weeks ago, Armand Bennett, a 26-year-old African-American man, was shot twice in the head during a NOPD

traffi c stop by an offi cer who allegedly turned off her camera before the confrontation. The incident initially went unreported to the public by the police superintendent’s offi ce. Buher says it reminds people all over again of the NOPD’s lack of transparency. “We will work to register voters through National Voter Registration Day up until October 6 which is the last day for us,” Buher says. Some 23 sites include college and university campuses as well as organizations like Covenant House and Liberty’s Kitchen, which offer services to the homeless and formerly incarcerated juveniles, respectively. “We work hard to reach that 18 to 24-year-old transitional age group because they’re such

a critical age and they’re the hardest to reach,” Buher explains, adding that In Louisiana, “you can actually register to vote when you’re 16. A lot of that under-18 age group is pushing back on the concept that voting is the only way you can be civically engaged.” Yet, in Houston, Christina Sanders, the director of the Texas League of Young Voters Education Fund, is convinced that Ferguson has been an “aha moment” for some of her city’s youth and a catalyst that may yield an increase in voter registration rolls. “This is a time when I’ve seen more young people connect to the power of the ballot,” Sanders said. She attributes increased interest to social media. “Social media, like Facebook, and the ability to connect with people around the country who are saying the same

thing, feeling the same way, that changes the conservation.” Sanders concurs with Buher that voter registration is not a panacea or silver bullet to foster change, but the Houston native sees voter registration as the gateway for young people to become more involved in determining how to defi ne and address critical concerns within their communities. “Youth should not expect everything to happen overnight, because things didn’t get the way they are overnight,” Sanders said. “Voter registration isn’t sexy, but if you connect with young people about Ferguson and how it affects people’s lives on so many different levels, you have the capacity to build on the fi re in people’s bellies. You can build these small fi res into a fi restorm.

What I say to young people is that voting is an opportunity, but your job is to constantly participate.” Sanders maintains that Ferguson has brought out a higher level of interest among African American youth in Houston than any single recent incident, an observation about other cities that is shared by Hazel Trice Edney, former Editor-in-Chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and current president of the Capital Press Club in the District of Columbia. After a visit to Ferguson before the funeral of Brown, Edney says she had intense discussions with the media writing class she occasionally

teaches at Howard University as an adjunct professor. “The students are extremely interested in what’s going on in Ferguson. They wanted to know about the disposition of the people, about the next steps the community plans to take. Even more than the Trayvon Martin shooting almost two years ago, Michael Brown’s death has been a wake-up call to many communities.” Edney found the stories Ferguson residents told her about police abuse to be appalling, but Brown’s death seems to be a tipping point. “People are in a mood for action. They feel it’s time to do something.”

TurnoutFrom 1

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Page 4 • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

If you need to hire a fundraising professional you are in good company. This is one of the hardest positions to fi ll. It is even harder to retain a talented fundraiser. We have written extensively on these topics over the years because they are a major issue confronting the nonprofi t sector. The number of experienced fund development and fundraising professionals is

much smaller than the pool of organizations that need such people. The pool of talent gets even smaller when looking for people who have experience with a diversity of fundraising methods. It is most challenging when looking for an individual who can manage the fundraising function for your organization or institution. This is coupled by a structural challenge: good fundraisers are not necessarily good fundraising managers. Yet the pathway to professional success is often tied to a move from fundraising to management. This is not always a good idea as the strengths of fundraisers are not always the strengths of fundraising managers. To help you make the right hire, we suggest asking

some out of the box questions. Whether you need someone to manage your fundraising, or someone to raise money the questions you ask can infl uence your hire. Try some of the following: What is your history of volunteerism and community involvement? This lets you know a candidate’s appreciation for the nonprofi t sector and her understanding of the challenges faced by organizations and volunteers. Mentorship and training – who has she been mentored by? Worked under? Which seasoned professional or volunteer has shaped her career? Formal training is hard to come by, but good habits are learned from respected professionals. Project development

and management – what has your candidate created from scratch? What did she start and manage? Don’t worry about success: you want to learn about her initiative and how she approaches a goal. How well has she prepared for the interview? What types of questions does she ask in the interview? Do those questions refl ect creative research of your organization? How a candidate prepares for an interview is a clue to how she may approach work with a donor. What is her work history and track record? Ask about growth with an organization or within a position; impact of her work; and length at previous positions – has she stayed long enough for organizations to benefi t from her tenure? Was

she a team player or a loner? Listen to language: do you hear “I raised $99 million in 90 days” or “Together our staff, board and volunteers exceeded our goal.” Does she mention working from a plan? Engaging and supporting volunteers? Consider these suggestions as you prepare to make your next hire: out-of-the boxquestions can help you learn what you need to know. 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.

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

FUNdraisingGood Times

Should I cancel other interviews?

Five out-of-the-box interview questions

Penny writes, “I just got a job offer! Should I cancel the other interviews I had scheduled for this week?” Yes! Or maybe not. First, Congratulations. Landing a job offer is fun, exciting and not always easy to do, so here’s to you, Penny. Now, about those other interviews…

If the job offer is solid, if you have a start date and you’ve signed something or otherwise indicated that you are solidly accepting the job, then cancel your other interviews. You’re good to go. If the job offer is tepid, if someone said you’d be great for this job or they told you they are “putting together” an offer, keep the other interviews. Offers can fall apart after they’re signed, but they are more likely to fall apart before that. Budgets change, needs change, the boss’ daughter-in-law steps in. These things can happen, and you’ll want the other interviews as back-ups, just in case. If the job offer is solid, but

it’s not quite the title or money or responsibility you hoped

for, keep the other interviews. Respectfully ask the offering

manager for some time; ask, Do you mind if I sleep on it? Or, Do you mind if I discuss this with my spouse? Ask, When do you need me to get back to you with a decision? This should buy you time to attend the other interviews and get a sense for whether one of those other positions is preferable. If the job offer is good, but not good enough, you might be able to use a second offer as leverage. The timing here has to be uncanny. You need to have multiple offers at once and you need to be extremely confi dent and polite so that you don’t offend anyone. You also have to be honest; when you tell Manager #1 that Manager

#2 offered more money for the same position, you must be prepared for the possibility that Manager #1 might say, sorry, and send you off to Manager #2. Finally, if you do choose to skip the other interviews, make sure you cancel them. Don’t be a no show. Remember, offers fall apart and job changes happen; you just might need to interviewwith these people again someday, so you’ll want to leavethem with a good impression. Julie Desmond is IT & Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates,Inc. Send your career-related questions to Julie at jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

With many consumers still onshaky fi nancial footing after theGreat Recession, some chooseto explore payday loans, be itfrom a brick and mortar storeor through an online paydaylender. While there are certainlyinstances where payday loanscan help bridge small fi nancialgaps, Better Business Bureauof Minnesota and North Dakota(BBB) is warning consumersthat it’s important to have aplan in place to pay off suchloans quickly and to be sureto research the payday lenderbefore agreeing to such loans. “Though some payday loan companies are making smallsteps towards self-regulation,overall it’s still a problematicindustry,” says Dana Badgerow,president and CEO of BBB ofMinnesota and North Dakota. Payday loans are small, short-term unsecured loans,which – ostensibly – are tobe repaid when the borrowerreceives their next paycheck.Historically, in regard to paydayloans, exorbitant interest rateshave been a problem, with someloans running in excess of 500percent annual percentage rate(APR). In some cases, borrowersfi nd themselves unable to payoff these loans, leading to addedinterest and often resulting ina debt spiral that is diffi cult tostem. All payday lenders offering loans to Minnesotans –including online payday lenders– must be licensed with the Stateof Minnesota. Minnesota lawalso caps the amount of fees thatcan be charged on payday loans.According to the MinnesotaAttorney General’s Offi ce, forpayday loans less than $350,Minnesota rates are capped on asliding scale. For loans between$350 and $1,000, paydaylenders cannot charge more than33% annual interest plus a $25fee. The AG’s Offi ce encouragespeople to avoid payday loanswhich fail to meet these caps. In some cases, desperate individuals seek out loans fromonline payday lenders thatclaim they are not beholden to

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Plan Your Career

If the job offer is good, but not good enough, you might be

able to use a second offer as leverage.

Payday loans can lead to debt spiral

LOANS TURN TO 9

BUSINESS

Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

CFOAdrianne Hamilton-Butler

Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

Assistant to the PublisherShumira Cunningham

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Vice President of Sales & MarketingSelene White

Culture and Education EditorIrma McClaurin

Director of Content & ProductionPatricia Weaver

Sr. Content & Production CoordinatorBen Williams

Production InternSunny Thongthi

Distribution/Facilities ManagerJamal Mohamed

Receptionist Lue B. Lampley

Contributing WritersHarry Colbert, Jr.Julie DesmondFred EasterTimothy HoustonPenny Jones-RichardsonAlaina L. LewisDarren MooreLydia SchwartzRyan T. ScottToki Wright

Photography Michele SpaiseDavid Bradley

Contact Us:Insight News, Inc.Marcus Garvey House1815 Bryant Ave. N.Minneapolis., MN 55411Ph.: (612) 588-1313Fax: (612) 588-2031Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC),Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

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branch

insightnews.com Insight News • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Page 5

justice treaty issued a report (“Concluding Observations”), critical of U.S. performance in 18 areas, many of which had been raised in Shadow Reports fi led by Minnesotans. The UN report was based on a review of extensive written and oral arguments at the Palais des Nations in Geneva presented by United States government representatives and grassroots human rights advocates from across the country. Despite a vigorous defense by a high-level U.S. government delegation the UN committee was persuaded by the documentation and oral presentations by grassroots voices organized by the U.S. Human Rights Network and their own review of the record that systemic inequities throughout the U.S. warranted creation of an independent national human rights institution and a national plan of action to comprehensively combat systemic racial discrimination by coordinating implementation of the racial justice treaty at all levels of government – federal, state, and local. In addition to calling for concerted action to implement the racial justice treaty throughout the United States, the UN committee gave special focus to the abuse of the rights of indigenous peoples, human rights abuses in connection with immigration law enforcement and on-going criminal law enforcement issues having a disparate impact on people of color and Native-Americans, including racial profi ling, criminalization of homelessness, excessive force and racial disparities at all stages

of the criminal justice system for adults and juveniles. The UN report substantiates the main charge brought to Geneva by Minnesota human rights activists in a Shadow Report entitled “A Human Rights Perspective on The Land of 10,000 Lakes Disparities”. “While the (racial justice treaty) provides U.S. governments at all levels (federal, state, and local) with direction and guidance to combat the 21st century institutionalized burdens that are experienced disproportionately by persons and communities of color, the persistence of uncorrected disparities shows how poorly the U.S. has done in fulfi lling the pledges it made in ratifying the ICERD to combat disparate impact discrimination,” the UN report read. Further, the UN report offered impetus to the advocates’ contention that “Based on the systemic conditions for persons of color and American Indians in Minnesota that reports like the Minnesota Department of Health have documented and that this Shadow Report has highlighted, it is clear that the ICERD’s approach must begin to be implemented and incorporated into operations at every level of state and local government, as envisioned in the ICERD itself and pledged by the US Senate to be ‘fulfi lled’ when it ratifi ed the ICERD nearly 20 years ago.” Shadow Reports fi led by three Minnesota groups made substantive contributions to the UN review and were refl ected in the committee’s concluding observations. A Shadow Report fi led by Southside Pride focused on discriminatory and predatory lending practices of mortgage

bankers in north Minneapolis illustrated and raised the profi le of the racial dimensions of the

foreclosure crisis. In its concluding observation on housing, the committee expressed concern for,

“discriminatory mortgage lending practices and the foreclosure crisis which disproportionately affected

and continues to affect racial andethnic minorities.”

UNFrom 1

Left to right during the grass roots portion of the UN review at the Palais Des Nations in Geneva: Chandra Bhatnagar , ACLU; Robin Toma, Commission on Human Relations, Los Angeles County;

Peter Brown, Minnesota Tenants Union; Efi a Nwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination; Jotaka Eaddy and Leon Russell, NAACP; Wade Henderson and June Zeitlin, , Leadership Conference

on Civil and Human Rights

Crista Noel, Women’s All Points Bulletin, one of the

grass roots participants tes-tifying during the grass roots

portion of the UN review at the Palais Des Nations in Geneva.

In its Concluding Observa-tions, the UN’s review commit-

tee asked the US to formally report progress within one year on all excessive force

cases including the prosecu-tion of the offi cers involved

and restitution awarded to the survivors. Concluding Obser-

vations, Paragraph 17.

Page 6 • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

COMMENTARY

Racism is not a card game

What makes white folks think their child rearing methods are so great?

Whenever someone accuses an African American of playing the “race card,” I cringe. Racism in America is not a card game. There is no such thing as “playing the race card” when it comes to making an accurate or rational evaluation of the socioeconomic and political plight of 45 million Black Americans. A routine disingenuous tactic of those who want to justify the systemic racial oppression of Black Americans and others is to accuse the articulate victims of racism of “playing the race card.” If it were a card game, it still would be strange to get that kind of criticism from people who, as the late Johnnie Cochran would say, deal from the bottom of the deck. Depicting racism as a card game is an attempt to keep us silent and not to disturb a false peace. During the horrible days of lynching, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) launched its national public anti-lynching campaign. In fact, the NAACP was formed in 1910 in large part to resist the wholesale lynching of Blacks. At fi rst, the White-owned media was very negative toward the NAACP’s public “agitation” that exposed the horrors of lynching. In a sense, the NAACP was accused of being counterproductive by “playing the race card.” To its credit, the NAACP persisted and was ultimately successful in combatting such gross and inhumane behavior. Even though for some of the crowds of White Americans who would attend a Black lynching as a form of entertainment and pleasure – often immediately after attending church – it was no game or entertainment for Black America. Racism was then and continues today as a deadly reminder of the violent

and ruthless consequences of centuries and decades of racial oppression. Yes, these are hard facts and a reality today for too many people who rather see less and hear less about racially motivated police brutality or other forms of racial hatred and violence. The slogan “No Justice, No Peace” is more than a chant for Black Americans and others who yearn for freedom, justice and empowerment. Just as we did during the days of widespread lynchings, we will not be silent. We will not kowtow to those who would oppress us because of our race. We will not be idle spectators to the recent resurgence of racial hatred and vile violence toward our men, women and children. We have come too far against horrifi c odds to even consider going backwards. We will not be distracted by false accusations of “playing the race card.” There was even a book published in 2005 titled, “Playing the Race Card.” It was written by George J. Sefa Dei, Nisha Karumanchery-Link and Leeno Luke Karumanchery. They said, “Playing the Race Card refl ects and engages the dynamic nature of racialized experience in Western contexts. So that the privileged and the oppressed alike may refl exively examine their own subject positions, this book identifi es and addresses the need to develop a working model for anti-racism strategies.” While I appreciated what some academic types are proposing concerning this issue, I know better from more than a

half-century on the front line of the Black American struggle for freedom and justice. It is ahistorical to posit that people who are oppressed have to somehow wait for the so-called “privileged” people who economically and politically benefi t from racial oppression to change their hearts and minds. Racism is not a mind game or card game. It is real and it can be fatal. Racism is the real time power to systematically deny justice, fairness and opportunity to people based on their race or ethnicity. Racism is beyond racial prejudice and hatred. It is the power to forcefully enslave, negatively defi ne and physically subjugate a person’s or a people’s life based on race. We should never permit the trivialization or denial of our long struggle for freedom. Let’s stay focus on what we all need to do to advance the quality of life in our communities. The fact is change has happened and social change will continue to unfold, in particular, if we stay vigilant, active, aware and committed to end all forms of racism and racial injustice. Those looking for a card game are at the wrong table. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the Interim President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http://drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc.

Nobody asked me, but the NFL has gotten on my last nerve. I have never hit a woman and I am the father and grandfather of four wonderful females. If any of them walked into a hook, I would consider going happily to jail for murder. Though, I must admit that if they got hit while, themselves, in full attack mode, it would undermine my indignation. But, while I still had my Glock trained on my son-in-law, I might require that he take a “time out,” which brings me to Adrian Peterson. The Adrian Peterson thing is a whole different kettle of fi sh. Here, the league seems to require that “white” cultural norms are applied across all cultures represented in the 50 states or in the league. In the projects where I grew up, kids who misbehaved got whipped. Mothers and kindly grandmothers were often heard saying, “Bring me a switch.” Ironing cords, those pink tubes that were part of the hot water bottle thingy that hung in the bathtub were also favored whipping tools. My grandfather even made a cat-o-nine tails for my mom to threaten us with. In school, when a parent was called in to receive an in person report on a recalcitrant child, the class and teacher often witnessed a beating right there. We bit our lips to keep from laughing. I know, fi rsthand, that it is possible to smile broadly with one’s lip held fi rmly between one’s teeth. Black kids got whipped back

then. In fact, my buddies and I used to go to the train yards, across the street from Yankee Stadium and steal fruit from half unloaded rail cars when the workers broke for lunch. About every third time, the “yard cop” would sneak up and catch one of us. They used their Billy club to tattoo our rumps and thighs. On the way home, we’d practice walking like nothing hurt. If a parent asked “Why are you limping” you were in line for another beating on your aching parts. I will stipulate, here, that I don’t remember ever bleeding from any of those whippings. Pains seemed to be taken to keep from marking us up. And we had to stand still and not cry so loud. Black kids got spanked, whipped … beaten. It kept to a minimum the number of us who got into trouble later in life. We were raised with a healthy respect for our elders, neighbors and

authority in general. And anyway, what makes white folks think their childrearing methods are so great? Timeouts seem to me to have bred a generation or two of entitled folks who think nothing of bringing their semi automatic weaponry to school or the movies to redress perceived wrongs. If they get horny, they have no compunctions about capturing some girls and chaining them in the basement. It seems to me that some traditional, mom and pop families are “broken” in the important ways; and no one has connected the dots. If Peterson’s son grows up to be a delinquent, the NFL would be quick to blame his absentee parenting and presumably cavalier role modeling as the root cause of the numbers of young Black males who fi nd themselves incarcerated. Let us raise our kids. You raise yours.

Opinion

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Interim

President, NNPA

Depicting racism as a card game is an attempt to keep us silent

and not to disturb a false peace.

Nobody Asked Me

By Fred Easter

Arvee5.0 / Creative CommonsAdrian Peterson

insightnews.com Insight News • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Page 7

We have all heard the saying “Beauty is more than skin deep,” and it is true. What we see on the outside must also be refl ected on the inside for it to be true beauty. Modesty, humility, compassion, and consideration must be inwardly present as well. A pretty face and an ugly soul are not attractive. This is partial beauty at best. To be all

together beautiful, you must possess inner and outer beauty. Inner and outer beauty is a gift from God. Like height, speed, talent, and brain power, it is an asset to the person that possesses it. When used in the right context, inner and outer beauty combined can bring the person in the presence of greatness. But this must be done with decorum and unpretentiousness. Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the beholder’s perspective must also be considered. Flaunting ones beauty can be perceived as unattractive, conceited and pretentious. For the gift of beauty to be shared, the possessor of it must be warm, welcoming, and inviting. This can be

demonstrated by the simple act of smiling. A smile is more than a mere

response to a hello. It is the soldier’s salute or the offer of a handshake that serves as the

fi rst step to sharing ones gift. Because beauty, at times, can be intimidating to others, a smile says that you are welcome to approach me. A smile is a visual acknowledgement to those in your sphere that they are free to enjoy your gift. This removes the perception of any arrogance or pretense that many people believe attractiv e people possess. When you smile, you eliminate this misconception. Real beauty comes from within. One will never appear more beautiful than when their smile, eyes, and soul are all in alignment. “You are altogether beautiful.” These words found in the Song of Solomon 4:7 are spoken from a groom to his

bride. The sweet humility and modesty of the bride kindles his love anew. He praised the loveliness of her bodily form, and she responds by showing the loveliness of her soul. This person is altogether beautiful, and her beauty is more than skin deep. So smile! Let the sweet humility and modesty of your soul show forth, and you too will truly be altogether beautiful! Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed toguiding positive life changes infamilies and communities. For copies of his books, questions,comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

The weather around here has started to change and the leaves

on the trees are changing into such beautiful colors. Autumn is a wonderful time of year and a great time to start working on new goals and changing some things for the better. This time of year can be considered a new beginning for lots of people. School starts over, summer ends, and many individuals are headed back to work. I like to start this time of year with small goals that lead to

bigger ones. If you have a goal of starting your own business next year, maybe one of your small goals could be to research and complete you business plan. Most goals have steps associated with them in order for you to complete them. My goal of completing my next book will take small goals of completing my outline and developing my characters fi rst. Also, another advantage of setting small goals is that each

time you complete one goal it gets you closer to the big one. Completing small goals can also give you the confi dence to keep working toward the other goals that you have set for yourself. For instance, if your goal is to buy your fi rst home next year, maybe your small goals could be to make sure your credit is worthy and that you have the your budget set for what you can afford. Setting and achieving goals

can take time and effort. If you are serious about doing things to better yourself and your family, then identifying what that takes should be your fi rst priority. Like I say quite often, achieving what you want out of life takes time. Nothing happens over night, but it will happen if you believe in yourself and never give up! You don’t want to end up being that person who gave up too soon and didn’t follow their dreams.

For your dreams can be a light showing you how great your future could be! Keep dreaming! 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.

LIFESTYLE

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

MotivationalMoments

By Penny Jones-Richardson

Smile, you are altogether beautiful!

Time of year for new beginnings:

Start with small goals that lead to bigger ones

Let the sweet humility and modesty of your soul show

forth, and you too will truly be altogether beautiful!

care – and bring it together with ours; improving access to the best health care. It’s a new way for us to do business and we’re really excited about it.” It is a fi ve-year, $2.5 million commitment that will pool Medtronic and United Way’s resources to give people in medically underserved communities a better chance to understand and manage their health, and to see a doctor or healthcare professional in their own neighborhood. “We have a worldwide commitment of supporting and recognizing community-based organizations and initiatives that expand healthcare access, with an emphasis on helping people with chronic disease liked diabetes and heart disease,” said Rich Fischer, manager of Corporate Public Relations for Medtronic Philanthropy and Community Affairs. “That commitment starts in Minnesota.” Together they hope to reduce health-related inequities by signifi cantly increasing the number of community healthcare workers who will function in lower-income neighborhoods to help people better manage their health and navigate the resources available to them. “We’re especially excited for the local jobs that this initiative will create in the community,” said Barp. “And for making sure that people are as healthy as they can be.” Unfortunately, life expectancy within Minnesota often depends on one’s zip code. A person born in an affl uent suburb of Minneapolis or St. Paul has a life expectancy of 83 years or higher, while a person born in an inner city neighborhood only has a life expectancy between 70 and 75 years. “(We’re) motivated by the knowledge that while Minnesota has one of the healthiest state populations in the United States, it has one of the largest health disparity gaps,” said Fischer. “The time to turn this knowledge into action is now. We know that Greater Twin Cities United Way understands broad health issues, and has ability to connect communities in need with real-world services that make a difference.” Medically underserved communities traditionally include those who cannot afford their healthcare, those who cannot travel to a care facility because of distance or health, have a limited

knowledge of their condition or how to navigate their local healthcare system, or simply do not know how to advocate for themselves. “There are signifi cant inequities in healthcare access,” said Sarah Caruso, president and CEO of the Greater Twin Cities United Way, in a press release. “Immigrants, people of color and people living in poverty are the populations that experience this at higher levels and are particularly at risk.” Across the Twin Cities, chronic, non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer continue to disproportionately affect people in medically underserved communities. “Increasing the number of healthcare workers who refl ect the cultures and languages of communities in greatest need is a critical component to improve health equity,” said Jacob Gayle, vice president of Medtronic Philanthropy, in the same press release. “(It) is crucial for delivering cost-effective, localized interventions to meet the health-related needs of our entire region. By investing in community healthcare

workers, we hope to bring care to the door of the underserved, including racial and ethnic minority populations. This will not only yield a high return in the form of reduced cost of care, but with improvements in individual health, we can expect increased contributions from family members, friends and coworkers. That means a stronger Minnesota.” As part of the initiative, Medtronic and United Way say they are currently working on an assessment to identify

neighborhoods with the greatest need for access to community-based care within the Twin Cities. The results are expected to be released next year. “Everybody deserves a fair opportunity to take ownership of their health,” said Gayle. “But if for any number of socioeconomic reasons you don’t have access to seeing a doctor or healthcare professional, then that fair opportunity is elusive. We are hopeful our approach

will make a difference, and hope others will join in the

advancement of healthcare access.”Health

From 1

Page 8 • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Photos courtesy of CHSCooper High School celebrated 50 years as a school. The school turned 50 years old on Sept. 8, 2014. Members of the alumni

association sent cakes, cookies, and balloons to the school for the students to have a party. Above:

Student leaders at Cooper. Right: Alumni’s Al Puder and

Suzanne Kelley are members of the fi rst Cooper graduating class

in 1965.

EDUCATION

Cooper 50th Birthday PartyEmebet Fantahun selected Metropolitan State University outstanding student

Fox, Wallis help launch Northport arts program

Grant supports paid internships for Metropolitan State University students

An Eagan woman and Ethiopian native has been selected a spring semester outstanding student at Metropolitan State University. Emebet Fantahun has been chosen outstanding graduate student in the university’s School of Nursing. She was one of 985 students earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees at Metropolitan State’s 94th commencement exercises on May 5. Fantahun, a member of the university’s Student Parent Center, is a part-time nursing assistant at The Commons on Marice, an Eagan assisted living center. Before arriving in the United States in 2008, Fantahun was a junior agricultural researcher at the Ambo Plant Protection Research Center, Ambo, Ethiopia. Active in community service, Fantahun has volunteered for several years for Mahibere Kidusan Association, a nonprofi t that promotes children’s education

in Ethiopia. She won an award from the organization for her contributions. She also helps with Sunday school at Debreselam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox church in south Minneapolis. Fantahun graduated in 2001 with a degree in crop science from Alamaya University, Harar, Ethiopia. She attended Normandale Community College and received academic honors there before enrolling at Metropolitan State. The married mother of two eventually plans to return to Ethiopia and assist underserved women and children, perhaps providing education and/or social services. Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is America’s premier university for lifelong learning, providing unsurpassed, competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels while maintaining affordability.

Northport Elementary students launched their Turnaround Arts program with a huge surprise. Students were surprised on Sept. 10 with a visit from fi lm stars Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis, who are starring in the upcoming movie “Annie.” Additionally, the fi lm director from “Annie” and the White House Director of Arts and Humanities were in attendance to promote the arts in schools and answer questions from the students. Northport students knew “Annie” was going to be their fi rst school-wide musical but had no idea they would be visited by the Hollywood actors. Northport is one of four

schools in Minnesota that was selected to participate in Turnaround Arts. This program is a national initiative designed to narrow the achievement gap and improve student engagement through the arts. “I’m so excited that Northport students will receive intensive and

integrated education in the arts. I believe through art enrichment, all different types of learners are reached,” said Northport principal, Leona Derden. “We know that years of research show that art is closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools – academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement and equitable opportunity.” In addition to producing the musical “Annie,” the school is gearing up to integrate comprehensive arts offerings throughout the school. The affi liation with Turnaround Arts will bring added resources to the school through arts supplies, musical instruments, teacher training, school-wide strategic planning, principal coaching and community arts partnerships. The surprise event was fi lmed by ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Metropolitan State University’s Institute for Community Engagement and Scholarship (ICES) has been awarded a $150,000 grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation (Great Lakes) to create paid internships for university students. This award comes as Great Lakes expands its Career Ready Internship program, awarding $5.2 million

in new grants to 40 colleges and universities in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Funded through its Community Investments program, Great Lakes’ Career Ready Internship Grant provides funding for Metropolitan State to create 100 paid internships for students that pay at least $10 per hour. A signifi cant portion of these internships will be created

in partnership with the East Side Area Business Association. The grant’s underlying principle is to help students with fi nancial need reap the educational and career-boosting benefi ts of paid internships. Students gain meaningful work experiences in their fi eld of study, and are more likely to stay enrolled in college until graduation.

Unpaid internships pose achallenge for Metropolitan State students. “In order to earn creditfor an internship, a student must successfully complete 40 hours on site, with supervision and submission of assigned deliverables, for each credit

Principal Derden gives Jamie Fox and Quvenzhané Wallis a tour of the school Northport boys say a pledge during the assembly

Emebet Fantahun

GRANT TURN TO 9

insightnews.com Insight News • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Page 9

Across many regions including these Twin Cities, the WNBA is establishing a root that is growing. As proof, look no further than the exciting three-game Western Conference Final (WCF) series between the Minnesota Lynx and eventual WNBA champion, Phoenix Mercury. With central young stars Maya Moore and Britney Griner at the root of the rivalry, both the Twin Cities and Phoenix can lean back and look forward to a decade of should-see-TV. The Phoenix Mercury were simply too good this year. The Lynx, defending their 2013 championship trophy, provided

the most considerable resistance to the Mercury’s historic year-long run. Game 2 of the WCF was a classic for the future WNBA ages, with Lynx duo Moore and Seimone Augustus sealing the Lynx victory in dramatic fashion. The Mercury combo of Griner and Finals’ MVP Diana Tuarasi, are greatly fl anked with length and scorers including forward DeWanna Bonner. The team polished off Eastern Conference champion Chicago Sky with a three game sweep in the fi nals series. Having won relatively recent championships in 2007 and 2009, the Mercury’s balance of veteran and youth leadership will drive a strong run for the next few seasons. The Lynx have a similar situation, yet certain player upgrades will be needed to overcome the future prospects of the Mercury. Across the WNBA, several franchises have attractive, successful rosters that are drawing profi table crowds. The

Lynx were one of six WNBA franchises that turned a profi t

in 2013, and at minimum, the same is expected of fi nal league

returns for the 2014 season. The balance of talent and

championship winning teams since the leagues’ inception hasprovided most fan bases with a reason to support and believe, and the talent keeps gettingbetter. Since the beginningof time people have always fi gured out ways to do things better. WNBA basketball andall women’s sports will dothe same. There will be morewomen that dunk, and playerslike Moore will improve upon the greatness she’s alreadydisplayed. As this happens, themedia and advertisers will be forced to focus a more prominent light on WNBA stars, and theircompetitions. Minnesota Lynx fans know that WNBA basketball is here to stay, and as the league nearsits 20 year anniversary in2017, sports fans can look bothbackward and forward at thegrowing success of the WNBA. There is signifi cant value for the league and franchises,from a fan perspective when competition measures up to itsbilling.

COMMUNITY

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

Moments in Sports

By Ryan T. Scottryan@insightnews.com

High quality competition boosts WNBA, fans

North High prevails in Como Park, South-west gridiron matches

Football teams do not begin their offi cial season playing only the fi rst half. On Aug. 29, however, just before the beginning of the second half of the game between the North Minneapolis High School Polars and St. Paul Como Park, a loud and heavy thunderstorm demanded the head offi cial make the game … offi cial. With North leading

14-0, on their home fi eld, the game was called and the rains continued to fall in soaking fashion. On Sept. 5, again on the Polars home fi eld, they took on the Minneapolis Southwest Lakers and demonstrated the efforts of their offensive power by coming away with a 44-6 victory. Typical of North’s offence, quarterback Tyler Johnson connected with wide receiver Malik Matthews for three touchdown passes.

s/he requests/requires,” said Victor Cole, Metropolitan State community engagement coordinator and Academic Internships and Study Abroad advisor. “The average student at Metropolitan State University is about 35 years old, working full time, with familial/community obligations and taking up to a full

load of courses per semester. To add a 120-hour, on-site learning strategy such as an internship can seem daunting, and even more so when it is unpaid.” “The Great Lakes internship grants program may help students make choices that they may not have been able to before,” Cole continued. This is the fi rst time Metropolitan State has received a grant for developing paid internships for its students. Strong preference for the

grant is given to institutions that are most proactive in coordinating with the business and nonprofi t community to create new paid internships. Metropolitan State’s receipt of the Great Lakes Career Ready Internship grant illustrates the university’s commitment to being the partner of choice in helping meet the workforce and community needs of the Twin Cities. Since its inception in 1971, Metropolitan State has continued to partner with area

businesses, working together to identify current business needs and develop matching programs to fulfi ll those needs. An important part of the university-local business partnership is ICES. Begun in 1996 as the Center for Community-Based Learning, ICES coordinates an academic internship program where staff act as liaisons for the local businesses and university, providing information to students and potential business

participants. Faculty liaisons in each academic discipline oversee the academic component of the internship. More information about the Career Ready Internship Grant can be found at:h t t p s : / / c o m m u n i t y .m y g r e a t l a k e s . o r g / w e b /community/grants/career-ready-internship.html More information about the Institute for Community Engagement and Scholarship may be found at: http://

www.metrostate.edu/msweb/community/ices/ Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is America’s premier university for lifelong learning, providing unsurpassed, competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels while maintaining affordability.

GrantFrom 8

North High Polar Nathan Hampton # 28

By Nolan Cramer

Sphilbrick / Creative CommonsBrittney Griner

West Falls Estates

International Falls, MN. 56649

Rent based on 30% Of adjusted income Call Patricia Brown At 218-283-4967 TDD 800-627-3529

RENTALSTapestry Management, LLC has various sized apartments/townhomes for rent in the following locations: St. Paul, Golden Valley, Mankato, Red Wing, N. St. Paul, Rochester, Plymouth, Jordan, Winona, Olivia, and Redwood Falls. Rental as-sistance is available to qualifi ed applicants in all locations. Please contact the appropriate location for availability and additional information.Birmingham Townhomes – St. Paul952-854-8800Calvary Center Apartments – Golden Valley 763-546-4988Colonial Square Apartments – Mankato507-345-1321Cooperidge Apartments – Red Wing651-388-1500Franklyn Park Apartments – N. St. Paul651-770-1504Innsbruck Townhomes – Rochester 507-289-1319Mission Oaks Townhomes – Plymouth763-559-5770Newbridge Apartments – Rochester507-282-8284Northgate Community Housing – Rochester507-289-1319Oakridge Apartments – Rochester507-281-1031Schule Haus – Jordan952-492-2084Wapasa Apartments – Winona507-429-9261Westcourt Apartments – Olivia 320-523-2101Westfalls Townhomes – Redwood Falls507-641-5933

Section 8 Housing for Seniors 62 and olderBergstad Properties is accepting application for Seniors 62 and older. Appli-cant must be income eligible and must qualify for Section 8 Housing. Please visit our web site at www.bergstad.com for a virtual tour and application.

The following sites are currently accepting application.Park Street Apartments 321 West Park St. Cannon Falls, MN. 55009 507-263-4773

200 Levee Drive Apartments200 Levee DriveShakopee, MN. 55379952-445-2001

Church assistant and pianist/singer

Wanted! Church assistant and pianist/singer needed for Sunday morning worship at One Love Ministry, 750 N. Milton in Saint Paul. Please contact Pastor Love at 651-489-4350.

LOVE PEOPLE?

The Wilder Foundation seeks Client Services Specialist for Twin Cities Mobile Market. FT with Benefits, $13-$16/hr, apply online at www.wilder.org Candidates of color encouraged to apply

EOE/AA

XXXXX

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XXX

XXXXXXXX

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INFORMATIONAL MEETINGWoman-Owned, Minority-Owned, and Veteran-Owned businesses are invited to an informational meeting regarding Technology sub-contracts for the Minnesota Multi-Purpose Stadium. Sponsored by Parsons Technologies, the event will be held on Monday, October 6 at 3:30 pm at 479 Hayward Ave. N, Oakdale, MN. For additional information, call Karen Boosalis at 763-528-2270.

state or federal laws regarding licensing requirements, debt collection practices or caps on interest rates. This can lead to a number of issues for consumers, including: Being subject to exorbitant interest rates and hefty or hidden fees Unauthorized withdrawals from bank accounts

Possibly even identity theft Better Business Bureau is aware of many situations in recent years where people explored online payday loans before deciding not to go through with them. Still, simply providing some of their personal information online with unscrupulous entities later led to harassing collection calls threatening some individuals – who had ultimately never taken out payday loans – with arrest unless immediate payments were made.

Before seeking out a payday loan, BBB recommends the following: Consider all your options. Payday loans can be extremely expensive if you are unable to pay the loan off quickly. The Federal Trade Commission recommends looking into a short term loan from your bank, contacting your current creditors to explore payment options, working with a credit counseling center or at the very least, shopping around for the best interest rate and terms. Because

of concerns with some online lenders, try to fi nd a brick and mortar location before settling on a lender. Know the facts. Be aware that loans from Sovereign nations may not be subject to state law or loan caps. Make sure you understand all the terms of conditions of any payday loan. Look for the red fl ags. Unscrupulous online lenders are often not forthcoming about their location or contact information. Also be leery of any lender that doesn’t ask you

for any background information outside of your bank account number. Research the lender with BBB. Always research payday lenders – whether they’re brick and mortar locations or online – at bbb.org before you hand over any personal or bank account information. BBB Business Reviews are free and will tell you how many complaints BBB has received, how the company responded to those complaints as well as their overall letter-grade rating.

The mission of Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in building marketplace trust by promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct, and to instill confi dence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, assist and protect the general public. We are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact BBB at bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222.

LoansFrom 4

Page 10 • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

SELBY AVE JAZZ FESTSt. Paul was the place to be this past week as the 2014 Selby Avenue Jazz

Fest once again brought together jazz enthusiasts from across the region to experience top national and local traditional and contemporary jazz performers. Above: Harvey Mason. Bottom (l-r) Jason Weismann, Maurice Jacox, Mahmoud

El-Kati & Wenso Ashby.

DEARBORN, Mich. –  As fall arrives and new shows debut on the small screen, one television show in particular will allow viewers to learn more about the heritage and ancestries of 30 of today’s leading entertainers, athletes, chefs and media personalities, including hip-hop superstar Nas and author Stephen King.   Ford Motor Company has joined forces with Public Television to bring the second season of “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” Th e 10-part series fi nds Henry Louis Gates, Jr. continuing on his quest to – as he puts it – “get into the DNA of American culture.” By

weaving a group of celebrity stories together, each episode takes viewers on a journey through layers of ancestral history, uncovering familial secrets. “Th is is one of the most fascinating ways history is uncovered … a true example of the signifi cance our past plays in where we are today,” said Shawn Th ompson, manager, Ford multicultural marketing. “Th e role Professor Gates is undertaking to show how all Americans are connected is something we as a company can stand by. Ford is thrilled to be a part of this project.” Each hour-long episode will

highlight three celebrity guests bound together by an intimate, sometimes hidden link. With the help of a team of genealogists, Gates travels thousands of years

into the past to discover the origins of today’s game changers.In addition, each episode will feature a 30-second spot that looks back at the history of

Henry Ford and his company. For Gates, one of Henry Ford’s lasting contributions was his willingness to pay a fair wage to African-American workers employed in his factories, which led Southern sharecroppers to Detroit as part of the early 20th century’s great migration. Ford set to launch original digital content series tied to program

As part of Ford’s support, the Ford brand has created an original digital content series that will launch on YouTube on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Th e 10-part series will highlight individual user stories as the featured guests share the impact their family

history has had on their lives. Gates kicks off season premiere with live Q&A in Detroit Gates was joined journalist Ed Gordon on the stage for a live question and answer session tied to the program and a book signing at the 9th Biennial Awards for Excellence Legacy Dinner, which took place at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Th e event took place this past Saturday. “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. CST and will run until Nov. 25.

Second season of ‘Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’ to air on PBS

Nas

Photos by David Bradley

insightnews.com Insight News • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Page 11

Monday, Sept. 22 WORLD

Raul MidónDakota Jazz Club1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis7 p.m.$30

Last time he was in town, guitarist Raul Midón blew audiences away playing alongside Lizz Wright at the Ordway and performing a special set at Sabathani Community Center. Midón has collaborated with Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. He has contributed to recordings by Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, and was featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s “She Hate Me.” Midón is of mixed African-American and Argentinean heritage and has been blind since birth.

Tuesday, Sept. 23 OPEN MIC

Th e Poet’s Groove – Open MicBlue Nile Restaurant2027 E Franklin Ave., Minneapolis

(612) 338-3000www.bluenilempls.com

Th e longest running weekly open mic in the state of Minnesota, the Poet’s Groove is an open mic hosted by Chadwick “Niles” Phillips that 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. Show starts at 11 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24 POETRY/HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

SHUT IT DOWN: A Night of Music, Poetry, and Action to Disrupt Street HarassmentHoney205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis7 p.m. – 9 p.m.18-plus$5

BdotCroc, Guante, Anna Binkovitz Poetry, Ollie Schminkey and MAMADU perform at this event to speak out against street harassment, while making the connections between catcalling, rape culture, and gender-based violence. Th ere will be an interactive photo booth and more. All proceeds go to the local Sexual Violence Center

Thursday, Sept. 25

POETRY/FOLK/PERFORMANCE

Sounds of Justice With David Rovics, Keno Evol and moreWalker Community United Methodist Church3104 16th Ave. S., Minneapolis$6-$20

Sounds of Justice is a night of music and politics on prison abolition and ending the use of the U.S. criminal justice system. David Rovics is a musician, activist, and songwriter for peace, justice and revolution. He has shared the stage with a veritable who’s who of the political left in two dozen countries, and has had his music featured on “Democracy Now!,” BBC, Al-Jazeera and other networks. His essays are published regularly on “CounterPunch” and elsewhere, and the 200-plus songs he makes available for free on the web have been downloaded more than a million times. Th e night also features poet/designer Keno Evol.

Friday, Sept. 26 HIP-HOP/SOUL/PERFORMANCE

Toki Wright & Big Cats - Pangaea Release Party w/ P.O.S.Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis$10 advance/$12 door21-plusAlso Sunday at Intermedia Arts

Toki Wright & Big Cats celebrate the release of their new album, “Pangaea,” with a very special release party at

Icehouse with P.O.S. and DJ Willie Shu.

Th e debut collaboration from Toki Wright & Big Cats, “Pangaea,” is due out Sept. 23, but the duo’s inventive new sound has already been garnering critical acclaim following the release of several singles, a tour with Atmosphere, and a performance at Soundset. Th e album takes a more experimental approach to hip-hop, blending live instrumentation, intricate synthesizer work, and programmed sounds to create lush, constantly evolving backdrops to showcase Wright’s impressive range as an MC and poet. Th e album features guest appearances from P.O.S., BJ Th e Chicago Kid, Caroline Smith and more.

Saturday, Sept. 27 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Ab-SoulFine Line Music Cafe318 1st Ave N., Minneapolis16-plus

8 p.m.$25 advance, $28 door

Last in town playing to 30,000 at the sold out Soundset Festival, TDE member Ab-Soul (with Kendrick Lamar, SZA, J Rock, Schoolboy Q) returns to play at the Fine Line.

Sunday, Sept. 28 REGGAE/R&B/PERFORMANCE

J BoogTh e Cabooze917 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis$13 advance, $20 door

Reggae and R&B vocalist J Boog was raised in Compton, and is now based in Hawaii. His solo album “Hear Me Roar” peaked on Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums at No. 8.

HIP-HOP/SOUL/PERFORMANCE

Toki Wright and Big Cats Album Release Party w/ Greg Grease and Voice of CultureIntermedia Arts2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis6 p.m. – 10 p.m.All ages $10

Also Friday night at Icehouse.

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

Raul Midón

BDotCroc

Toki Wright & Big Cats

Ab-Soul

Keno Evol

Sept 22 - 28

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Page 12 • September 22 - September 28, 2014September 22 - September 28, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

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