Rabbi Amy Eilberg struck aresponsive chord when shedescribed the fear and pain Israelisand Jews around the world feelwhen people make pronouncementsabout wiping Israel off the face ofthe earth. The largely AfricanAmerican audience connected withher description of a mindset createdin response to incessant, unrelentingglobal hostility.

"When I hear negative wordsabout Israel, it feels like my familyand my being is under attack. Sowhen you hear Jewish leadersrefuting such attacks andresponding to physical threats, theyare feeling their family has beenattacked," Eilberg said in abroadcast of "Conversations with AlMcFarlane" Public Policy ForumMarch 3 at the Glover SudduthCenter for Neighborhood andCommunity Development.

Eilberg joined US Rep. KeithEllison, D-MN, and Father MichaelO'Connell in a program thatexplored the local community'sstake in the brutal and costlyconflict in the Gaza Strip in theMiddle East. Ellison recentlyreturned to Twin Cities following avisit to the region. He said he wasthe first Congressman to visit thearea in over three years. Ellisonwas in January appointed to theHouse of Representatives ForeignRelations Committee.

Eilberg's powerful testimonyfollowed a session in which BlackMinneapolis residents passionatelydefended the purpose and need foran aggressive and effective CivilRights Department. WhileMinneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybakattempted to assure the Blackcommunity that Minneapolis wasnot abandoning its commitment tocivil rights and enforcement of civilrights laws, Black residents saidthey view public pronouncementsabout the need to reduce the size

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2GAZA TURN TO

Fear fueled by years of oppressionConnecting Gaza and Minneapolis

Courtesy Keith EllisonWhile on a recent trip to the Middle East, US Rep. Keith Ellison, D-MN (L) had an opportunity to visit with people in Gaza whose liveshave been impacted by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Ellison traveled with US Rep. Brian Baird, D-WA. This was the firsttrip to Gaza made by a Congressional delegation in at least four years.

Promoting Brand JamaicaAt a time when Barack Obama'sUS government is injectingtrillions of dollars of taxpayermoney into efforts to salvagecollapsing financial institutionsand jumpstart the atrophiedAmerican economy, GeneiveBrown Metzger, Consul Generalof Jamaica, New York, remainshardnosed in her core belief thatthe free enterprise system andentrepreneurial muscle hold thebest solutions for the world'ssmall- and medium-size businesssectors. And it is these businesses,Brown-Metzger says, that willmean the most in saving andgrowing national economiesworldwide.

Brown Metzger was in TwinCities at the end of last month fortalks with state international tradeofficials, area corporate leadersand Jamaican and Caribbeannationals who live in Twin Cities.In meetings organized byMcFarlane Media Interests forJamaica Minnesota Organization,the Consul General said, "Jamaicaoffers a fine example of a nationalfinancial policy and infrastructureproviding a backbone aligned witha robust small business network.

"Government can't do italone," she said. "But we canfoster and promote thedevelopment of the small businesssector. Our Minister of Financesays despite the turndown in theeconomy, the government iswilling to support small businessdevelopment."

Brown Metzger was appointedJamaica's eighth Consul General,

New York, on February 21, 2008.Prior to her appointment sheworked in public relations andmarketing establishing the firmGeneive Brown Associates in1984.

Brown Metzger met with TonyLoRusso, Executive Director ofMinnesota Trade Office andAmelia Goeppinger, with the USdepartment of CommerceCommercial Service.

She said her mission was toencourage business investment inJamaica and in Jamaican productsthat could be purchased by USconsumers. She spent an afternoonintroducing Minnesota consumersto a boutique of Jamaican frozenfood entrees, being sampled at a

Cub Foods store in Bloomington.Cub and its parent corporationSuperValu have aggressivelypursued acquisition of Jamaicanfood products on the strength ofthe popularity and value of sales ofCaribbean foods to Caribbeancustomers and to sophisticated"foodies" consumers who enjoyglobal food palattes. Cub Foodshas been a leader in acquiring andmarketing ethnic brands reflectingworld cultures, from Asian,Latino/Hispanic, European, andCaribbean/African markets. Indoing so, the company expands itscustomer base, strengthenscustomer loyalty, provideexpanded choice for all customers.

Brown Metzger said Cub

Foods' refined and successfulmarketing prowess creates aperfect platform for what shecalled, "Brand Jamaica."

Brown Metzger hoisted theBrand Jamaica flag again at asampling booth at the sold outTwin Cities Food and Wineexperience at the MinneapolisConvention Center. "We had greattraffic. People who had been toJamaica were happy to discoverthey could now find the foods theyenjoyed in Jamaica in their localCub Foods", said Dr. KarleneSilvera, President of JamaicaMinnesota Organization.

"National pride is at an all time

3JMOTURN TO

WASHINGTON (NNPA) -President Barack Obama toldsupporters in the waning weeks ofhis election campaign that once hegot to the White House he would hitthe ground running in order tostabilize the economy and put thenation back on solid footing.

He also said he was all aboutbringing people together andengaging them in the process ofrestoring the country’s reputation asa super power, while eradicatinglongtime partisan differences.

Not only has Obama kept hisword, says Valerie Jarrett, a senioradviser and assistant to thepresident, but he is the onlypresident in recent memory toaccomplish as much as he did thepast two weeks. All totaled, the

president tackled eight priorities,she said.

‘’It’s been an exciting time . . .it’s been a busy week,’’ Jarrett toldreporters during a mediateleconference March 6, beforerattling off a list of activities inwhich the president was involved.The list included a fiscal summit,followed by meetings with nationalsecurity teams of Afghanistan andPakistan governments and a highlysuccessful healthcare summit thatengaged people from across thecountry and several walks of life.

However, since assuming theleadership helm six weeks ago,Obama, in addition to dealing withthe mounting deficit, also inheritedtwo wars as well as ongoing issuesinvolving housing, health care,public education and energy - all ofwhich have had a disparate impacton the African Americancommunity. Many of the concerns

http://www.whitehouse.gov/President Barack Obama

President Obamadelivers speedily oncampaign promisesBy Dorothy RowleySpecial to the NNPA from the Afro-AmericanNewspapers

2STRATEGY TURN TO

By Al McFarlane & B.P. Ford, the Editorseditors@insightnews.com

By Al McFarlane & B.P. Ford, the Editorseditors@insightnews.com

Suluki FardanGeneive Brown Metzger, Consul General of Jamaica

12-Year-oldbowler has the lanesin his genes

13PAGE

A Weekin the nation’sCapital

9PAGE

EFNEP celebrates40 years of food andnutrition education

8PAGE

Beyond churchwalls, delivering thepeople’s stimulus plan

7PAGE

A look at race,incarceration, andAmerican values

4PAGE

Making Blackhistory by investingin the future

2PAGE

THE COLOR PURPLEFirst National Tour: MysteriousWays featuring Trent ArmandKendall (Preacher) andBridgette Bentley (ChurchSoloist). At the Ordway March17 thru March 29. Photo credit Paul Kolnik.

and or scope of the Civil RightsDepartment by transferring parts ofits responsibility to the beleagueredState Human Rights Department, inmuch the same way Rabbi Eilbergsaid Jews see publicpronouncements that amount toattacks on Israel and Jewishidentity.

"Because of a 2,000 yearhistory of persecution, genocide andsuffering, the psyche --collective

memory-- of Israeli people is veryscared with memory of being hurt.When someone says we want towipe your country off the map,some news analyst might say 'that isjust rhetoric. Don't believe it. He isjust mouthing off....' As Jews, wehave to believe they intend to try todo what they say. We areprofoundly afraid. It may not looklike that when you read thestatements made in the press, butIsraelis see themselves at the Davidin a David and Goliath scenario,"Eilberg said. "We have a lot to beafraid of when Hamas is ruling nextdoor."

Eilberg's passion matched thatof the Rev. Randolph Staten, who inthe preceding interview told MayorRybak that the mayor's plan to

downsize the Civil Rightsdepartment amounted to retreat bythe City of Minneapolis from itscommitment to protect Blackpeople.

Staten said because of thehistory of blatant racialdiscrimination, and persistentefforts to deny and derailopportunity and civil rightsadvancements and protections, theBlack community looked at plans todismantle or reduce theresponsibilities of the MinneapolisCivil Rights Department as anattack on Black people.

Eilberg said rockets from Gazainto Israeli towns cause fear andtrauma in children and families. "Iwished they had respondeddifferently," she said, referring toIsrael's overwhelming militaryresponse to the rocket attacks."Understand there is so much fear.We thought we could make peace.Then there was an election and theguys who got elected are those thatwon't even recognize Israel. Theywon't even say Israel's name. Thatfeeds fear in Jewish populations."

Staten said Minneapolis has ahistory of serious problems in racialdiscrimination and he said publicpronouncements that won'trecognize the legitimacy of Blackpeople's protestations againstdiscrimination and illegal treatmenteven by city government feeds fearand distrust in the Blackcommunity.

"Even the Black police officershave filed race discriminationlawsuits against the City ofMinneapolis," he said. "Blackpeople didn't get genuine access toFire Department jobs until weprotested and filed lawsuits againstMinneapolis City Government," hesaid.

"Minneapolis continues theillegal practice of awardingconstruction contracts to companiesthat are not meeting therequirements in law for inclusion ofBlack sub-contractors and Blackworkers," he said.

Congressman Ellison, in thepanel on the Gaza Strip and

Palestine/Israel conflict,emphasized real connectionsbetween US policy in the MideastRegion and what happens locally incommunities across America.

"We may think the Mideastconflict is far away and doesn'tmatter to us," he said. "But if youlook at the trouble in the MiddleEast, you'll see it is driving so manythings that affect us directly. In 2001the US military budget was $290billion. Now it's $690 billion.Martin Luther King, Jr., said'defense of war is the enemy of thepoor.' It deprives us of domesticexpenditures that we have to have.So peace is in the interest ofeverybody, not just those directlyinvolved in the conflict.

"The fact that we don't havepeace in the region drives so muchof American foreign policy, whichcommits dollars and soldiers to theregion. Between the Persian Gulfand the Mediterranean Sea there are200,000 American soldiers invarious deployments. And billionsof American dollars follow themand support them there. The conflictbetween the Israelis and thePalestinians needs to be solved sowe can try to reshape our wholeworld. It is not the only conflict inthe Middle East. But it is theconflict that everybody points to. Soit is in our interests to try to solveit," Ellison said.

Ellison said he visited Gaza,Jordan, Israel and Doha, Qatar, "the

heart of the Arab world." He said hevisited Israeli towns that weregetting bombed by rockets everyday, and he visited Gazacommunities where he saw bombedout hospitals, schools, and factories.

"One guy had a factory thatemployed 250 people. His familyhad owned the factory for threegenerations. It was bombed out.Those families lost their income.Gaza has been renderedinaccessible to the outside worldduring the Israeli blockade of thepast 18-24 months. People havesurvived by creating a network oftunnels to move consumer goodsfrom across the border into thecountry," he said.

"Israel has legitimate concernsabout security," Ellison said. "Asmall percentage of Gaza residentsbelong to Hamas, which the USgovernment calls a terroristorganization. But they have theguns."

That notwithstanding, Ellisonsaid, "I stand for opening theborders, now."

"I don't want people blamingonly Palestinians or only Israelis.There is plenty of blame to goaround. We need people standingwith us for peace in the region, sowe can have our money put to workhere at home to solve our housingcrisis," he said.

Father O'Connell said he isworking with interfaith groups ofChristians, Jews, and Muslims who

want to bring peace to the MiddleEast. "There is a peace group that iscourageous and that has foughtopposition on both sides. It has beenable to stand up and do the rightthing," he said.

"I have less sympathy withreligious groups that choose to pointfingers at one side or the other,"O'Connell said.

Eilberg said she agreed with theanalysis that the conflict was not

fundamentally a religious conflict."But religion gets hijacked to fuelwhat is, at base, a political conflict:two peoples struggle over a land,"she said. "We know the answer. BillClinton negotiated the border. Laterwritten accords defined borders andwhat sharing Jerusalem should looklike. The only question is how manyon both sides must die before wecan put the solution in play."

Page 2 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

were denied funding in previousadministrations.

Jarrett noted, in particular, thatwhile the unemployment rate hasskyrocketed, African Americanshave been most affected.

‘’Today, we saw that theunemployment rate has generallygone up 8.1 percent,’’ she said.‘’However, before today, theAfrican American unemploymentrate was 12.6 percent.’’ Further,‘’over 95 percent of public schoolkids are African American, sofocusing on public education is[just as] critical.’’

An Ebony Magazine reporterqueried Jarrett on what policies theadministration has in place to helpAfrican Americans ‘’come out of ahole.’’

Jarrett responded that since thebulk of the African Americanpopulation can be found in cities, alarge portion of stimulus funding,such as the $800 million earmarkedfor Washington, D.C. - which is

more than 90 percent Black - wouldbe directed for that purpose.

‘’If you look strategically athow the dollars are going to beallocated, a lot will be going toprojects that are in cities, and mostof those are going to beconstruction projects,’’ said Jarrett.

‘’We’ve had several meetingswith unions that have nottraditionally been as open andinclusive in their memberships,who now realize that if they’regoing to do projects in cities,they’re going to have a mechanismfor training and bringing inpeople.’’

White House Chief of StaffRahm Emanuel added that at thistime, having passed the EconomicRecovery Act within Obama’s first30 days in office, the administrationremains primarily focused on theeconomy.

‘’It’s the most essential effortthat we have,’’ Emanuel said,emphasizing that the recovery actalso dealt with providing tax creditsfor the middle class, building roadsand bridges, laying broadband andestablishing medical technologyinformation to control costs.

‘’It was the crux of the first legof the president’s economicstrategy,’’ said Emanuel, who wenton to say that the Obamaadministration is now in the

economic agenda’s second phasewhich leans toward the budget.

The third and final phase dealswith comprehensive financialregulatory reform, of which the aimis to ensure that another bailoutcrisis doesn’t occur.

But Emanuel said the main goalof the overall (economic) agenda isto see how passing the budgetreflects Obama’s five-yeareconomic plan.

‘’The president has assembleda terrific cabinet…he has taken onmore than any other president inour country,’’ said Jarrett.

She said people are asking whyObama is taking on so much; hisresponse has been, ‘we have nochoice,’ said Jarrett, adding,because healthcare, publiceducation, energy andunemployment are all tied to theeconomy, everything has to betackled at once - rather than insequence.

StrategyFrom 1

Black History Month 2009 is nowhistory itself, but new Blackhistory is made every day byAfrican Americans who arewilling to share their time, talentand resources with the largerBlack community. Everyone getsthe opportunity sooner or later,sometimes in surprising ways.

I was fortunate to come of ageduring a dramatic period in thehistory of both African Americansand the United States. My highschool years in the small,segregated North Carolina townwhere I grew up coincided withthe climactic years of the CivilRights movement. I'll never forgetmarching with my classmates

down our main street past the localbranches of retail store chainswhere I wouldn't have beenallowed to sit at the lunch counteror use the rest room.

Fast forward through thedecades, and today I, an AfricanAmerican woman, work as anexecutive with Wal-Mart, a retailerwith a commitment to promotingdiversity and a philosophy ofgiving back to the communities itserves. Wal-Mart exemplifies thisphilosophy through its support ofendeavors that highlight the legacyof African Americans.

Wal-Mart is the presentingsponsor of Tavis Smiley's"America I AM: The AfricanAmerican Imprint," a mobilemuseum and exhibit thatcelebrates the impact AfricanAmericans' actions, innovations

and teachings have had on nearly400 years of American history. Wewere also able to provide a $12.5million letter of credit through theWal-Mart Foundation to startconstruction on the Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. NationalMemorial in Washington, D.C. Weare proud to be a part of a projectthat will help future generationsuphold the legacy Dr. King stoodfor by studying his work, idealsand vision for America.

It's personally gratifying to bepart of efforts that help make acorporate investment in thecontinuing history of BlackAmerica. I'm constantly aware,though, that whatever I'veachieved in my own life is theresult of investments others havemade in me.

My family had more love than

money, but my father and motheralways made it a point to giveback. There were seven children inour family and my father workedas a janitor, but my parents saw toit that we all went to college.

Like most children in ourtight-knit community, I alsobenefited from the investment of older African Americans who wereour role models. They ranged fromthe highly motivated teachers inour schools to the elderly "porchladies" who watched over thecommunity's children from theirfront porches. They delivered themessage that we were the future,and our future would only belimited by our own goals andcommitment.

You can't directly re-paypersonal investments like that, butyou can make investments of your

own in those who need it most. It'ssomething we all can do on somelevel. We can help a motivated, butfinancially needy, young personattend college. We can share ourtime and experience by acting asmentors to students or youngpeople finding their way in thebusiness world. It can be as simpleas providing an elderly neighborgood company or perhaps a hotmeal.

No matter who you are, or howyou do it, giving back is one of thebest ways to honor and exemplifythe spirit of black history andmake a big difference at the sametime.

Esther Silver-Parker, as seniorvice president of Corporate Affairsat Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., ischarged with the strategic

planning and execution of Wal-Mart's relationships withcommunity- based organizationsand leaders in the United States,and in countries around the world,where Wal-Mart does business.

Making Black history by investing in the future

Esther Sliver-Parker

By Esther Sliver-Parker

www.uchicagokidshospital.orgValerie Jarrett

GazaFrom 1

Suluki FardanThe Rev. Randolph Staten

Suluki Fardan(L-R) Rev. Michael J. O’Connell, Rabbi Amy Eilberg

and US Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Courtesy Keith Ellison

http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Page 3

high," Brown Metzger said. "Thespirit of the people and ourpenchant for creativity means weknow how to do more with less.But we recognize there are realopportunities especially forJamaicans and other smallbusiness owners who can engagetheir knowledge of Jamaicanassets and culture to developbusiness opportunity."

"Jamaica is working hard toreduce bureaucracy, reducecorruption and remove waste inthe economic and business system.The Jamaica Trade and InvestmentAgency realizes the need to buildpartnerships and is creatingprocesses that are investorfriendly."

She said the country isdiversifying tourism offerings toexpand visitor traffic andopportunity and to promotegrowth despite the gloomyeconomic situation. Jamaica ispromoting investment opportunityin manufacturing, agribusiness,mining, renewable energy, sports,faith-based tourism, creativeindustries, like film and music,and knowledge services.

Brown Metzger said Jamaicahas embarked on a program tocreate 24,000 jobs with anaccompanying expenditure of $70billion over the next three years.

Brown Metzger is a foundingmember of the CaribbeanAmerican Chamber of Commerceand Industry (CACCI), theJamaican Association of AlumniAssociations (UJAA), and hasserved on several trade andinvestment Boards

Brown Metzger has also beena Director of Policy andGovernment Relations at theNational Council of Negro

Women, Senior Administrator atNew York Civil Liberties Union,and at the NAACP Legal Defenseand Education Fund. She was thenational Managing Director of the50th anniversary commemorationof the U.S. Supreme desegregationcase, Brown vs. Board ofEducation. In 1977, she also wasthe administrator of the 25thanniversary celebration of thesame case.

Her very successful consultingpractice was merged with theworldwide public relations firmRuder Finn in 1990, where sheestablished the Emerging Markets

and Caribbean Business division.Ruder Finn currently manages thepublic relations account for theJamaica Tourist Board and AirJamaica Limited.

She is an amateur classicalviolinist and a devoté of the arts,serving over the years on theCaribbean Steering Committee of

the Brooklyn College Center forthe Performing Arts, the Board ofDirectors of the Paramount Centerfor the Arts and special committeeof the Brooklyn Academy ofMusic. She's the founder of theAmadeus Circle, and the OneWorld Arts and Culture Fest, amulti-day cultural celebration on

the Hudson River in northern NewYork.

Brown Metzger holds aBachelors from CUNY and aMasters from ColumbiaUniversity. She is married toeconomist Dr. Stephen Metzger,Phd. They have two daughters.

JMOFrom 1

WASHINGTON (NNPA) -"Astounding" is how PresidentObama, speaking March 6 inColumbus, OH, characterizedthe nation's new unemploymentfigures - a staggering 8.1percent, the highest since 1983as employers pick up the pace oflayoffs.

Just as disconcerting is thesharp rise in unemploymentamong African Americans - awhopping 13.4 percent inFebruary. The last time theBlack monthly unemploymentrate was so high was in February1994, as the nation was diggingout of a recession, according to

the Labor Department.The latest figures continue to

show job losses are large andwidespread across nearly allmajor industry sectors. InJanuary, the overall nationalunemployment rate was 7.6percent. For Blacks, it was 12.6percent.

Bureau of Labor Statisticsindicate the Blackunemployment rate hastraditionally far exceeded that ofother ethnic groups, especiallyWhites whose joblessness isnormally half that of AfricanAmericans.

Reasons for the disparitycited by experts include a gap ineducation between Blacks andWhites, marginal ties by AfricanAmerican households to thelabor market and a failure bypolicy-makers to equate Blackunemployment to a crisisneeding urgent attention.

The BLS Web site, whichmaintains Black unemploymentdata dating back to 1972, alsostates that the Black jobless ratereached its lowest level onrecord in April 2000, when itdropped to 7.0 percent.

While the agency's latestfigures highlight a growinggender gap between Black menand women in the workforce, italso shows that theunemployment rate for Blackmen in February was 16.3percent compared to 10.8percent for Black women.

The Washington, D.C.-basedEconomic Policy Institute'sRace, Ethnicity and EconomyProgram reported recently thatBlacks are typically impacted byrecessions and that it comes asno surprise that there is asignificant increase in Blackunemployment during suchtimes.

Program Director AlgernonAustin offered in a recentChicago Sun article that lack ofjob opportunities for Blacksultimately trickles down toteens, making it doubly hard forthem to find work, particularlywith summer on the horizon.

''We really want teens towork,'' Austin said. ''Getting jobexperience now helps people intheir employment.''

The jobless rate for teens ingeneral is just over 21 percent.However, Austin noted that therate among Black teens hasalready surpassed 38 percent andthe figure could be as high as 44percent for teens still looking forwork.

''The sad and troubling partof this is most likely these aren'tthe peak numbers,'' Austin saysin the article, suggesting that thepeak will come in a year's time,''unless the stimulus comes in

and works.''The latest figures continue to

show job losses are widespreadacross nearly all major industrysectors. Construction andmanufacturing jobs have beenamong the hardest hit, acontinuing concern for suchgroups as the Coalition of BlackTrade Unionists.

The organizationperiodically blasted the Bushera, saying unemploymentamong African Americans hadbecome so dismal during hisadministration that it was wellon its way to becoming asocially explosive issue, mainlybecause a growing segment ofthe Black community, includingits youth, had begun to feelpermanently disconnected fromthe economy.

Now, with President Obamaat the helm, his administrationmaintains he has made a

considerable thrust at providingjob training programs in innercities where the largestpopulations of AfricanAmericans tend to reside, aswell an increase in governmentjobs through the recentlyenacted $787 billion economicrecovery plan.

''The president is going to dohis job, but needs to get the wordout [to city and state agencyheads about] how high the stakesare,'' Obama senior adviserValerie Jarrett said last weekduring a teleconference withBlack journalists.

Meanwhile, even as Obama'srecovery strategy was created tosave more than 3 million jobs,the country continues to losejobs quickly, with 651,000 lostin February, and keeping theadministration racing to keep up.

Unemployment rate nearly double for Black workersBy Dorothy RowleySpecial to the NNPAthe Afro-AmericanNewspapers

Suluki Fardan(L-R) Demonstrator, Geneive Brown Metzger, Consul General of Jamaica; and JMO volunteers

Suluki Fardan(L-R) Mark McDermoth, Jamaica Tourist Board; Geneive BrownMetzger, Consul General of Jamaica; and Jeff Long, Cub Foods manager

I was watching the periphrasticpundit, actor and neo-economist BenStein on CBS Sunday morningpontificating.

He said that if President Obamaoffered more happy talk, moreconviction that times would getbetter, then they would.

I was watching him just a fewminutes after I had a conversationwith a sister who lost her job thesame week her husband did. Theywere confident that they could makeit through three months, thanks tosavings, but didn’t know what wouldhappen to them after that. Steinwants happy talk, sister wants a job.

The real deal is that the jobs arehard to come by. To be sure, at anypoint in time, some folks are hiringeven as the market is hemorrhaging

jobs. Eight hundred fifty thousandpeople lost their jobs last month – or851,000 to fully accurately reflectthe report that was released by theBureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate shot up,not unexpectedly, to 8.1 percent.That is only one measure ofunemployment. If we add up thepeople who have dropped out of thelabor market, as well as those whoare working part time but need fulltime work, we are really talkingabout a rate of 14.8 percent. Thatmeans one in seven Americansdoesn’t have the work she needs.

When we break it down, we aretalking a rate of 7.3 percent forWhites, and 13.4 percent, almostdouble, for African-Americans.When we make the appropriateadjustments for those who arestopping out, dropping out, orunderutilized, the rate for African-Americans is 24.4 percent.

That means that one in four

African American people cannotfind work! That means for all the talkof recession, the African Americancommunity is in depression. Therehas been precious little recognitionof this fact in this era that somewould describe as “post racial”.Instead, there is much talk of the boatwe are in, the same boat. Some folksare riding, and some folks arerowing.

This high African-Americanunemployment rate translates intomultiple layers of misery. Somechurches see their collections off.People are giving, but they are givingless, because they have much less togive. Some nonprofit organizationssee giving off, for the same reasons.People are inclined to be generousbut you can’t get blood from a stone.From a college perspective, whenunemployment rises, parents findthemselves in distress that tricklesdown to students.

Bills go unpaid, graduations are

imperiled, and colleges juggle theirtendency to collect on unpaid billsand provide some compassion tothose students who need a break.America needs a break! Perhaps thestimulus package provides some ofit, but if the truth is to be told, thosebest prepared to benefit from thestimulus are those least hurt by thisdepression.

We need to call it like it is for theAfrican American community. Themajority community may feel ourpain one of these days, but in theshortest run, we remain twoAmericans. When we unpackstimulus, too many are relying ongoodwill to have benefits trickledown to the African-Americancommunity.

Even in stimulus, there must besome discussion of affirmativeaction and equal participation in the$787 billion that is being spent onjump-starting our economy. Can wejump start the economy and leave

some people out? If we are notcareful, we will see bettermacroeconomic numbers and littlerelief in the African Americancommunity.

The United Negro College fund(www.uncf.org), the organizationthat supports the 39 private HBCUsin our nation, has taken steps to helpour colleges weather the storm. Theyare raising money to provideemergency scholarships to ourstudents with greatest need.

Of course, they are asking folksto help, and of course, those of uswho are able to help will do so.UNCF just celebrated its 65thbirthday, lifting up Black Enterprisepublisher Earl Graves and New Yorkeducation booster Caroline Kennedy,as honorees. The organization is oneof the many attempting to buffer thedepression that is brutalizing theAfrican American community.

Still, this depression is real anddevastating, and any gathering of our

people brings tales of economicdistress – joblessness, foreclosure,homelessness, and more. While thisnew stimulus package is not perfect,it is the largest we have seen. Will theAfrican American communitybenefit from the billions of dollarspumped into the economy? Are weprepared to fight for our share of thestimulus package, and of thisbudget?

Julianne Malveaux is President ofBennett College for Women. Shecan be reached atpresoffice@bennett.edu.

Glenn Loury, a professor in theDepartment of Economics atBrown University, has long beenone of the nation’s mostoutspoken Black intellectuals.

For many years he was aleading conservative voice ontopics like affirmative action, andwhenever he focuses on a policyissue affecting the Blackcommunity, people pay attention.In his title essay in the recentbook, Race, Incarceration, andAmerican Values, Professor Lourysounds the alarm on some of thesame concerns the Children’sDefense Fund has been raisingwhen we talk about the pipeline toprison crisis.

Professor Loury begins thebook by pointing out just how out

of proportion prison rates havebecome in our country, citing datalike a 2005 report from theInternational Centre for PrisonStudies in London that showed theUnited States had five percent ofthe world’s population, but 25percent of the world’s inmates.

As he says, ‘’Ourincarceration rate (714 per100,000 residents) is almost 40percent greater than those of ournearest competitors (the Bahamas,Belarus, and Russia). Otherindustrial democracies, even thosewith significant crime problems oftheir own, are much lesspunitive…. We have a correctionssector that employs moreAmericans than the combinedwork forces of General Motors,Ford, and Wal-Mart, the threelargest corporate employers in thecountry.’’

This dramatic increase inincarceration rates wasn’t inproportion to an equally dramaticincrease in crime, as ProfessorLoury goes on to explain, but wasinstead tied to a shift in ournation’s thinking about thepurpose of incarceration—awayfrom rehabilitation and towards

punishment. He argues that‘’[d]espite a sharp nationaldecline in crime, Americancriminal justice has becomecrueler and less caring than it hasbeen at any other time in ourmodern history. Why? Thequestion has no simple answer,but the racial composition ofprisons is a good place to start.’’

Professor Loury describeshow incarceration trends in theUnited States are connected to ourcountry’s legacy of slavery andsegregation. He reminds hisreaders that cultural phenomenalike lynching, Jim Crow, and legalsegregation were all part of adeep-seated pattern of racialsubordination in America thatlasted long after slavery ended.Scholars are now noting that inthe post civil-rights era, raciallyskewed incarceration rates havebecome a new way of continuingthe same old pattern. ProfessorLoury argues that the UnitedStates is unique in the wayhistorically marginalized groupsare disproportionally ‘’bearing thebrunt of order enforcement.’’ Ashe puts it, ‘’Crime andpunishment in America have a

color.’’The current incarceration

crisis is creating a cycle too manychildren and youths are findingdifficult to escape and that isravaging Black families andcommunities. As an example,Professor Loury talks about alarge group of Black men whohave been devastated by the risein incarceration rates—the nearly60 percent of Black male highschool dropouts born in the late1960s who were imprisonedbefore they turned 40. This is thegeneration that should be thehusbands and fathers at thecenters of our communities rightnow. But even after some of thesemen have gained release, they andtheir families continue to beaffected by lasting consequences. Professor Loury says, ‘’Whilelocked up, these felons arestigmatized—they are regarded asfit subjects for shaming. Theirlinks to family are disrupted; theiropportunities for work arediminished; their voting rightsmay be permanently revoked.They suffer civicexcommunication. Our zeal forsocial discipline consigns these

men to a permanent nethercaste… [and] we are creating asituation in which the children ofthis nether caste are likely to joina new generation ofuntouchables.’’

Professor Loury then takes aphilosophical look at the idea ofjustice to talk about whether anyof this is consistent with oursociety’s ideals of fairness.Ultimately, he reminds readersthat we still live in a countrywhere there is an undeniableracial gap in all kinds of lifeoutcomes. Poor children of colorsimply aren’t born with the samechances! He explains: ‘’Oursociety—the society we havemade—creates criminogenicconditions in our sprawling urbanghettos and then acts out rituals ofpunishment against them as someawful form of human sacrifice.This situation raises a moralproblem that we cannot avoid.

“We cannot pretend that thereare more important problems inour society, or that thiscircumstance is the necessarysolution to other, more pressingproblems—unless we are alsoprepared to say that we have

turned our backs on the ideal ofequality for all citizens andabandoned the principles ofjustice.’’

There is no more urgentpriority for our nation thanensuring every child a levelplaying field from birth tosuccessful adulthood. Ournational soul and future depend onit.

Marian Wright Edelman, whoselatest book is The Sea Is So WideAnd My Boat Is So Small:Charting a Course for the NextGeneration, is president of theChildren’s Defense Fund. Formore information about theChildren’s Defense Fund, go towww.childrensdefense.org.

COMMENTARYA look at race, incarceration, and American values

High unemployment rates translates into multiple layers of misery

Page 4 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

Children’sDefense Fund

By Marian WrightEdelman

In January alone, 598,000 jobswere lost. More than 200,000 ofthose jobs were lost in themanufacturing sector. Theemployment rate now stands ata staggering 7.6 percent. The

global credit crunch has, finallyand decisively, thrown the gearsof growth into reverse.

This global recession is likea runaway tractor-trailer.Downshifting works, once in awhile. But if the incline is toosteep or the load too heavy,downshifting destroys the

gearbox. Momentum does therest. When the rig comes torest—and it will, eventually—the wreckage is foundeverywhere.

The just-passed stimulusbill will repair some of thedamage done to America’seconomy. But a second stimulus

package is needed. Andrevitalizing America’smanufacturing sector must beits highest priority.

America’s trading partnerswill not buy a trillion dollars inU.S. Treasury notes to financeour recovery while their owneconomies sink deeper intorecession. They’ve already beenburned badly once. Yankeetraders sold them the toxicdebt—the subprime mortgages,credit default swaps andcollateralized debtobligations—that triggered thisglobal recession. Selling themmore commercial paperstamped “Made in America” isnot a viable option. Our onlyrecourse is to make things othernations will buy. So to stimulateour own economic revival, wemust renovate our plants, installnew machinery and hone theskills of our workforce.

America needs a 21stCentury version of FranklinRoosevelt’s Works ProgressAdministration. Roosevelt putmillions of Americans back towork on an emergency basis in1935. He did so by creating jobsthat would produce “permanentimprovements in livingconditions or that create futurenew wealth for the nation.”

Roosevelt’s basic strategycan be re-engineered for themodern manufacturing sector.Today’s unemployed can be putto work renovating factoriesand installing new equipment;devising new financing,marketing and sales packagesfor local businesses; andreinventing our decaying skills-delivery system. We can jump-start depressed local economiesby letting counties andcommunities hire theunemployed with federaldollars. An effectivemanufacturing sector stimuluspackage cannot stop there.

In the recession of the1980s, then-Sen. HowardMetzenbaum (D-OH) proposeda 10 percent investment taxcredit for the rehabilitation ofexisting stores and businesses.Crafted to encourage businessesto renovate older downtownbuildings, his legislation used

$40 billion in tax expendituresto generate nearly $400 billionin private investment.

Likewise, a 10 percentinvestment tax credit for therehabilitation and renovation ofexisting manufacturingfacilities could pump billions ofdollars into modernizingAmerica’s plants. With anadditional investment tax creditfor new equipment, businessescould retool their factories. Ifthose two investment tax creditscould be banked to offsetdownstream profits, millions ofnew jobs would be created.

As America revitalizes itsindustrial base, it must do thesame for its technicalknowledge base. Two years oftechnical training should beoffered to recent high schoolgraduates and recentlyunemployed adults. Tuition atcommunity colleges,universities and high-techinstitutes should be heavilysubsidized by the federalgovernment as it was afterWorld War II.

We tend to forget that FDR’sGI Bill covered more thancollege tuition. The GreatestGeneration got a chance to honetheir skills for careers of theirchoice. A similar investment inAmerica’s newest generation ofworkers and the recentlyunemployed will pay dividendsfor decades.

America’s manufacturingjobs are worth fighting for.These jobs are the key to amiddle-class life for millions. Asecond, targeted stimuluspackage will give America’smanufacturing sector—and allthose whose livelihoods are tiedto it—the fighting chance itdeserves. And it will ignite thelong-term growth and sustainedjob creation that our nation sodesperately needs.

R. Thomas Buffenbarger ispresident of the InternationalAssociation of Machinists andAerospace Workers.

American jobs are worth fighting forBy R. Thomas Buffenbarger

By Julianne MalveauxNNPA Columnist

politicstheoryphotography.blogspot.comGlenn Loury

INSIGHT NEWS

www.insightnews.com

Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday byMcFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

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PublisherBatala-Ra McFarlane

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Contact Us:Insight News, Inc.Marcus Garvey House1815 Bryant Ave. N.Mpls., MN 55411Ph.: (612)588-1313Fax: (612)588-2031Member: MinnesotaMulticultural MediaConsortium (MMMC)Midwest Black PublishersCoalition, Inc. (MBPCI)National NewspaperPublishers Association(NNPA)

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IRS Offices Open in Twin Cities The Internal Revenue Serviceand community partnersnationwide will open hundredsof locations on Super Saturday,March 21, in an effort to reachAmericans who may bestruggling through difficultfinancial times and low- tomoderate-income taxpayers whoneed help preparing tax returns.

In the Twin Cities, IRSoffices will open their doors forSuper Saturday from 9 am - 2 pmin St. Paul at 30 E. Seventh St.(nearest entrance is across thestreet from Walgreens) and inMinneapolis at 250 MarquetteAve. Volunteer tax preparationsites will also be open at selectlocations throughout the state.

More than 250 IRS officesnationally will be open on SuperSaturday to help taxpayersearning $42,000 or less preparebasic federal tax returns. IRSemployees can also answer basictax law questions, resolve taxissues and help establishpayment agreements forqualifying taxpayers struggling

to pay their taxes or assist thosehaving a hard time keeping upwith tax payments.

“We want to go the extra mileto help – especially for taxpayerswho have been compliant in thepast and may now beexperiencing a hardshipsituation,” said IRSSpokesperson Carrie Resch.“These are tough times for a lotof people, and we want toprovide services when it’s moreconvenient for people who areworking or busy during theweek.”

On Super Saturday, taxpayersalso can learn if they qualify forthe Earned Income Tax Credit.Difficult times may mean morepeople than ever could qualifyfor the EITC because of changesin their income last year. TheEITC could mean as much as$4,824 for some families, butpeople need to file a return to getit, even if they aren’t normallyrequired to file. Single filers,grandparents caring forgrandchildren or taxpayerswithout children also may

qualify. About 286, 450 workersin Minnesota received more than$502 million in EITC last year,but the IRS estimates that one infour households eligible for thecredit never claims it.

Some Volunteer Income TaxAssistance (VITA) and TaxCounseling for the Elderly(TCE) sites also will offer freeSuper Saturday services to low-to moderate-income (generallybelow $42,000) people andseniors. Trained communityvolunteers help taxpayersprepare returns. Most sites alsooffer free electronic filing. Tolocate the nearest VITA or TCEsite, call United Way at 211.

“What makes this Saturday‘super’ is the large-scale effort tohelp people experiencing hardtimes,” said Resch. “We areopening far more IRS locationsthan are typically open on anyother weekend and combiningthat with our partner sites whichare also opening their doors.”Super Saturday services:

• Federal tax return

preparation including freeelectronic filing that can speedrefunds within 10 days • Payments or paymentarrangements• Assistance with letters,notices and levies on your wagesor bank accounts• Copies of tax returns andtranscripts • Basic federal tax forms

Whether taxpayers visit an IRSTaxpayer Assistance Center, afree income tax preparation siteor a professional tax returnpreparer, they should bringcertain documents with them,including:

• Valid driver’s license orphoto identification (self andspouse, if applicable)• Social Security cards anddates of birth for all personslisted on the return• All income statements:Forms W-2, 1099, SocialSecurity, Unemployment, orother benefits statements, self-employment records and any

documents showing taxeswithheld• Dependent child careinformation: payee’s name,address and SSN or TIN• Routing and accountnumbers for direct debit ordeposit

• Prior year tax return (ifavailable)• Any other pertinentdocuments or papers

The Wedge Co-op, a Minneapolisnatural and organic foodcooperative with almost 14,000member-owners, last weekannounced the 13 2008WedgeShare organizations thatreceived a total of $50,000 infinancial grants from the WedgeCo-op.

Grants went to a range oforganizations that combat hunger,promote food safety and fosterrenewable energy and sustainablecommunities. They include: theEmergency Foodshelf Network,Cornucopia Institute, Youth Farm& Market Project, Farmer’sAction Legal Group, Universal

Healthcare Action Network ofMinnesota, Great PlainsWindustry Project, CommunityDesign Center of Minnesota,Southside Family Charter School,Institute for Agriculture & TradePolicy, Local Fair Trade Network,Gardening Matters, Women’sEnvironmental Institute at

Amador Hill and Urban ArtsAcademy.

Since 1997, The Wedge’sWedgeShare charitable givingprogram has awarded grants tocommunity non-profits whosework aligns with the cooperativeprinciple that co-ops “work for thesustainable development of their

communities.”WedgeShare awards grants to

organizations that work in one ormore of the following areas:environmental quality, protectionor beautification; natural healthand wellness; natural food andsustainable agriculture;community involvement; and/or

cooperative-related activities.This year, 13 organizations

that applied for WedgeSharegrants made the final ballot.Wedge Co-op members voted todistribute the grants during the co-op’s annual election in October2008.

Wells Fargo announced last weekthat with the National UrbanLeague it will co-sponsor a newedition of The ForeclosureWorkbook: The Complete Guideto Understanding Foreclosure andSaving Your Home. Theworkbook, written by foreclosureauthor Carla Douglin, will befree-of-charge to at-riskcustomers across the nationthrough Wells Fargo’s Leadingthe Way Home initiative.

Our vision has long been tohelp our customers succeedfinancially by helping themachieve and sustainhomeownership, said CaraHeiden, co-president of WellsFargo Home Mortgage. Webelieve in doing what is right forour customers, and that includesworking with them to findsolutions to keep them in theirhomes when they face financialdifficulties.

The hands-on guide will helphomeowners experiencingchallenges making their mortgagepayments and who may facepotential foreclosure. Copies ofthe workbook will be distributedat Wells Fargo home preservationworkshops held across thecountry and at all 101 UrbanLeague affiliate offices.

The workbook was officiallylaunched during the February 28State of the Black Union addressat the Los Angeles Convention

Center, staged by Tavis Smiley.Wells Fargo served as the titlesponsor for the event for the thirdconsecutive year.

Earlier this year, Wells Fargointroduced Leading the WayHome, a multi-faceted initiativeto stabilize housing, advancehomeownership and revitalizeneighborhoods in cities hit hardby foreclosure. In addition toproviding financial literacy tools,Wells Fargo is helping real estateagents, nonprofit housingorganizations and city officialsunderstand how to sell vacant andforeclosed properties to newowners. The company also offersfinancing to new buyers of vacantproperties, and provides loaneducation that reinforcessustainable homeownership.

The National Urban Leaguehas long held economicempowerment as one of itsfundamental programs. Throughthe distribution of the workbooks,it will continue to providehomeowners at-risk of losingtheir residences with informationto help them preserve and sustainhomeownership.

This workbook complementsthe National Urban League’soutreach efforts to homeowners indistress to help them stay in theirhomes, said Marc Morial,president and CEO of theNational Urban League. Theopportunity to own, and the

ability to pursue and preservehomeownership, are corecomponents of the Urban LeaguesOpportunity Compact, and aredeeply embedded in the UrbanLeagues EconomicEmpowerment Agenda.

Over the past year and half,Wells Fargo has provided morethan 706,000 foreclosureprevention solutions for at-riskhomeowners, said Heiden. “Theworkbook we are announcingtoday is yet one more way we canimprove on our 94 percent contactrate to help customers who are

two or more payments past due ontheir mortgage loans,” she added.

The Urban League assistsmore than 400,000 people a yearwith home ownership issues byproviding important housingcounseling and financial literacyservices in an effort to improvethe financial situation forminorities with respect securinghomeownership, maintaininggood credit and obtainingmonetary savings.

Wedge Co-op announces 2008 WedgeShare grants recipientsBUSINESS

Foreclosure prevention resource book

http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Page 5

Get free tax help from Internal Revenue Service

Wilmington, DE --In troubledtimes people search for answers,guidance, and, spiritual renewal.Today, millions of people areturning to Bishop Gregory M.Davis, Sr., one of the country'snext generation of emergingministers. What makes Davis,who founded the River Of LifeChurch (Wilmington, DE) and

Ebenezer Full Gospel BaptistChurch (Downingtown, PA) standout is not merely his message ofempowerment and communityrevitalization, but the way hedelivers it. "We want to be thechurch of the new generation,"said Davis. If that means utilizinghip hop as a backdrop to hissermons to attract younger

believers, then Davis may use aKayne West or T.I. song toinspire. If it means going beyondchurch walls, then Davis will bein the community--addressing itsneeds and concerns directly. It'sthe personal touch that Bishopshas.

While furthering his mission,Davis has created a successful

brand. His television show,Rejoice In The Word, on the WordNetwork is currently seen in 65million homes in 120 countriesand reaches 120 million viewersworldwide. The program, whichhe hosts and produces, is thenetwork's only live premiereshow seen weekly. Also, hehosted one of the most historicaltelevision shows on the WordNetwork Voices of The BlackChurch, which featured topspiritual leaders from across thenation. In addition, his daily radioshow, Let the Healing Begin hasnearly 5 million listeners and canbe heard on Radio1000.org.

Davis is tuned into to theneeds of the masses. So it is onlyfitting that his Greg DavisMinistries International (GDMIntl.),www.gregdavisministries.org, hasannounced it is taking directaction to help people in need.Davis has launched his ownversion of the People's CampaignStimulus Plan. GDM will host anall-encompassing career fair onEaster Sunday entitled"Resurrection WeekendResurrecting the TotalMan...Mind Body and Soul."

"We're going to have aresurrection of the mind, bodyand soul," said Davis. "We willoffer tangible help on how to geta job, how to be inspired toentrepreneurship and we will alsooffer spiritual guidance." The fairwill not only include potentialemployers seeking new workers

in a job fair but also resume andemployment skills workshops andeven a "work-attire" fashionshow. Additionally, Davis plansto distribute boxes of groceries tohelp attendees in need of food."In these challenging economictimes, it's important for thechurch to play a very active rolein meeting the immediate needs

of the community," said BishopDavis, who runs GDM with hiswife of 18 years, Pastor Kim A.Davis, who is also co-founder ofRiver Of Life Church (andEbenezer Full Gospel BaptistChurch).

The Career Fair is expected tobe a standing room only event--especially when you considerGDM's previous job fair hadpeople lined up for blocks, and,the fair will be offered duringEaster service. For Davis,community activism meansbringing the church to the people."You have to be seen in thecommunity. You have tounderstand the issues thecommunity is dealing with. Andeach community is different andthe church has to reflect that,"Davis said.

Being truly multimedia, Davishas also authored a number ofbooks, offers his sermons online,and has recorded several CDs.His first CD was Let the HealingBegin, followed by Let theHealing Begin Part 2, acompilation of healing scripturesand meditation, in 2008. He hasalso released Today is your Dayfor a Miracle Live, showcasingtraditional gospel music. In all,Bishop Davis has written 11books. His latest, The Dreamersare Coming, is a series ofsermonic texts designed tochallenge readers to turn theirdreams into realities.

Davis established GDM, forwhich he serves as President andCEO. He also hosts, throughGDM, the popular Seven Days ofGlory Conference andDeliverance Now Crusades. Hisministries aren't only done frominside church walls, Davisbelieves in the human touch. Thespiritual stimulus is on its way.

Beyond church walls, delivering the people’s stimulus plan

FULL CIRCLEPage 6 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

Be The ChangeBy Aaron Stephenson

Welcome home.Today is a new day.Today is the people’s day.From “yes, we can”To “yes, we will”To “yes, we did”Full names and bloated titles on the tongues of dignitaries.

The crowds roar and jeer and cry. The sacred oaths begin. Endless repetition and so help me gods.Somewhere a cannon fires. The crowd erupts. This man-our man-stands before us. A sea stands assembled. People united by a common goal and purpose. We will get

this great nation back up on it’s feet. We have the strength to dedicate ourselves once more. We are one. One people.One nation. A land of the free built on blood and sweat and tears. But we can do it. Yes, we can.

BlackNews.comBishop Gregory M. Davis, Sr. takes his ministry to the people—

Millions hear his message of hope, inspiration & salvation

Last Friday night, March 6, 2009,my mom and I had the pleasure oflistening to the "Men in Gray," alsoknown as the Jazz at Lincoln CenterOrchestra, led by Pulitizer prizewinning music director WyntonMarsalis. Their tribute to Thelonious

Monk, performed at Minneapolis'Orchestra Hall, highlighted the rangeand genius of Monk's contribution tojazz. Born in 1917 in Rocky Mount,North Carolina, Thelonius SphereMonk lived in New York City withhis family from the age of fouronward. He attended StuyvesantHigh School, but never graduated;and while his sister took pianolessons, Monk's affinity for musicand the piano were essentially self-taught, and began as early as agenine, signaling him as a musicalchild prodigy.

Monk is considered a standardbearer by jazz aficionados, and oneof the innovators of "bebop." Thisstyle of music gained popularity inthe 1940s, replacing the then-popular"swing." Bebop, sounding like itsname, consisted of fast tempos,improvisation, and emphasized thedifferent pitches and chords(harmonic structure) over melody.Other bebop giants included CharlieParker, Dizzy Gillespie, KennyClarke, and later Miles Davis.

In his heyday, Monk was knownas a virtuoso improvisational, butdifficult to follow, jazz musician.His style included a heavypercussive style, punctuated bysilences and hesitations, playfullydubbed "Melodious Thunk." TheMen in Gray captured this uniquestyle of Monk, when playing someof his standards such "Epistrophy,""Light Blue," and their own tribute toMonk.

What marks Wynton

When harmony took a ride withspirit and soul the result of this uniongave birth a sensation known asSweet Honey In the Rock (SHIR).Born from Psalm 81:16, "He shouldhave fed them also with the finest ofthe wheat: and with honey out of therock should I have satisfied you,"and timelessly regenerated throughthe vocal throws of five amazingsongstresses, this Grammy Award-winning ensemble, founded byBernice Johnson Reagon, nowproudly celebrates their 35th year ofcommitment towards music andimpacting the community.

On March 7, SHIR vocallyshook the foundation of St. Paul'sO'Shaughnessy Theater, givingmore than just a roof raising andstanding ovation-worthyperformance for its eager audienceof listeners and audio impairedfollowers. The audience was ledthrough their choral message by thehands of SHIR's ASL interpreterShirley Childress Saxton.

Members Ysaye MariaBarnwell, Louise Robinson, CarolMaillard, Aisha Kahlil, and NitanjuBolade Casel easily led the audiencethrough the powerful messages thatalways emerge from their Rock.Leading the audience in an intensejourney of politics, heritage, moralresponsibility, love, and spirituality,the a cappella quintet, who openedthe show with their 1985 hit, TheOther Side, continued to offer abreathtaking array of vocals, scats,light percussion and harmonicmelodies through a mix of genre'sincluding, jazz, gospel, folk, reggae

and African hymns.The glimpse at our heritage is

fought by the story within themelody and won by a briefinterruption nothing shy of amazing.Lyrically offering a celebration ofour Freedom Fighters like RosaParks and sounding off on theiroutrage of injustice and greed at thehands of our national government,they generated a feeling not quitelike any, that took you from a regularconcert to the front row of a showlike VH-1 Storytellers. Eachoffering, laced with a promise ofunderstanding, left its listeners witha renewed vision of hope and spiritas their lecture through harmony andlyrics uplifted the quiet cornerwithin your soul as you indulged ina peaceful celebration of musicthroughout the phenomenalevening.

SHIR, who were nominated foranother Grammy Award for

Experience 101, recently partook inan a fortunate invitation by our FirstLady, Michelle Obama, to performat the White House for a group of7th and 8th Graders in celebration ofBlack History Month. Currently,alongside Alvin Ailey and theAmerican Dance Theater, they haveproduced an incredible soundtrack,Go In Grace. This piece of workexpresses their timeless messagerich in African American traditionsthrough the choreography of HopeBoykin and the Alvin Ailey dancers.

SHIR, and their commitment tomusic, community and the TwinCities, participated in a number ofevents surrounding their 35thAnniversary weekend via theircommunity initiative Sweet Honeyin the Rock Project (SHIRP).SHIRP, alongside their longtimeproducer, Arlana Vaughan offered aweekend of workshops, lectures,and a poetry and poster contest

around the theme, "Peace Begins atHome- How Can I Change TheWorld?" Their continualinvolvement with the unrecognizedblessings that exist within theminority, hearing impaired andsocially impacted individuals in ourcommunity are made possiblethrough their partnership withIluminadas Performing ArtsOrganization and several othercommunity sponsors that work inunison to project their importantmessage.

It was a weekend of music,heritage, peace, and possibility.We're always touched by a SweetHoney experience because throughtheir music, they continue to be thegift that keeps on giving. They arethe imprints on the water that kissthe surface of a ripple. Sweet ashoney and always solid as a rock,they make us proud to have them asour Sweet Honey In the Rock.

AESTHETICS

Artspeak

By Irma McClaurin

Spirit and soul : Sweet Honey In The Rock

Suluki FardanSweet Honey In The Rock performed at St. Paul's O'Shaughnessy Theater on March 7.

http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Page 7

Men in Gray…Monknificent

By Alaina L. Lewis

9JAZZ TURN TOwww.flickr.com

Thelonious Monk

The Minneapolis City CouncilCommittee on Health, Energyand Environment last weekapproved a resolution to jointhe Earth Hour program for thesecond year. For one hour, from8:30 to 9:30 pm on Saturday,March 28, the City will turn offall uses of electricity inmunicipal buildings that are notrequired for life, safety oroperations. The decorativelighting on the underside of theStone Arch Bridge will beturned off for the night, andCity Hall’s clock tower neonlights will be turned off as well.

According to the State ofMinnesota, electricity use in thestate accounts for 35 percent ofgreenhouse gas emissions,which contribute to globalclimate change. Participatingindividuals, businesses,governments and organizationsaround the world turn off theirlights for one hour – Earth Hour– to make a global statement ofconcern about climate changeand demonstrate theircommitment to findingsolutions.

“Even though it’s asymbolic call to action, EarthHour had actual energyreduction results last year,” saidMayor R.T. Rybak, “It was a10-percent drop – double whatorganizers had expected. This

points to the good we can do forour environment if we practiceenergy conservation every day.As City government, there aremany ways we’re working to bemore green, but this is a greatreminder that each of us canfight global climate change bymaking smart energy choices inour daily lives.”

“We’re very proud toparticipate in the Earth Houreffort for the second yearrunning,” said City CouncilMember Scott Benson, whochairs the City Council’sHealth, Energy andEnvironment Committee.“Raising awareness is anotherway we can help reduce ourimpact on the environment, inaddition to our other initiatives.Last year we passed a newordinance limiting vehicleidling in the city, we are usingmore and more renewableenergy in our buildings andfleets, and we are making majorinfrastructure and planningimprovements around betterbiking, walking and publictransportation that allows ourresidents, workers and visitorsto drive less.”

“By participating in EarthHour and urging all businessesand members of the public to dothe same, we’re sending a clearmessage that the people of

Minneapolis are passionateabout doing our part for theplanet,” said City CouncilMember Cam Gordon, ViceChair of the Health, Energy andEnvironment Committee. “Westand with the rest of the worldin seeking solutions and actingimmediately to take measuresthat will help fight globalclimate change.”

In 2009, organizers expectmore than 1,000 cities in 100countries to participate. InMinneapolis, in coordinationwith the City, 20 buildings aresigned up already, from the RedStag Supper Club to many ofthe tall lighted buildingsdowntown including IDSCenter, Wells Fargo Center andTarget headquarters. The listcontinues to grow. Volunteershave hosted fundraisers, passedout flyers and worked onvarious online social marketingefforts. Many employers aresending out notices to theiremployees. City leadersencourage businesses andindividuals to participate andsupport the effort to fightclimate change.

Earth Hour began in 2007 inSydney, Australia. During EarthHour 2008, more than 50million people in 400 cities onall seven continents turned offtheir lights. Learn more, sign up

and share your ideas athttp://www.earthhourUS.org.

The resolution to participatein Earth Hour will go before the

full City Council March 27. Tolearn more about sustainableMinneapolis and find out howyou can practice a more

sustainable life, visitwww.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.

WASHINGTON D.C —USDA’s Cooperative StateResearch, Education, andExtension Service (CSREES)recently celebrated 40 years ofhelping limited-resourcefamilies and youth make soundnutrition and health choicesthrough the Expanded Food andNutrition Education Program(EFNEP). At the 40thanniversary celebration held atthe University of CaliforniaWashington Center inWashington, DC, Nimo Yusufof Minneapolis was recognizedfor her integral support to theprogram.

“The community-basedwork which Nimo Yusuf and allour Nutrition Educationparaprofessionals so skillfullydo across the state of Minnesotais extremely important,especially now in these tougheconomic times,” said Dr. PatTschida, State EFNEPCoordinator. EFNEP addressesnational priorities, such ashunger, health and obesity.Participants learn to make foodchoices that can improve thenutritional quality of the mealsthey serve their families, gainnew skills in food preparationand safety, and learn to bettermanage their food budgets andrelated resources from federal,state and local food assistanceagencies and organizations.They also learn about relatedtopics such as physical activityand health. EFNEP annuallyhelps more than 500,000individuals.

“Ms. Yusuf’s ability toreach audiences is enhanced byhow closely she pays attentionto learners’ needs and presentsinformation in a manner theycan easily understand,” saidFay McLain, Community

Program Specialist and Yusuf’ssupervisor at University ofMinnesota Extension inHennepin County.

“Yusuf teaches food andnutrition education to youth andadults. She uses USDA dietaryguidelines in her lesson plans.She was nominated in the areaof reaching new audiences,particularly the Somaliimmigrant communities of theTwin Cities,” said McLain.

In 2008, 94 percent of adultsgraduating from EFNEPreported improved dietaryintake, including an increase ofabout 0.8 cup equivalents offruits and vegetables.Additionally, 73 percent ofyouth graduating from theprogram reported eating avariety of foods from all groupsin their diets.

The hands-on, learn-by-doing approach allowsparticipants to gain the practicalskills necessary to makepositive behavior changes.Through EFNEP, participantsalso experience increased self-worth, as they recognize thatthey can improve the health ofthemselves and their families.

County Extension familyand consumer scienceprofessionals provide trainingand supervise peer educatorsand volunteers who teachEFNEP in their localcommunities. Methods forprogram delivery include directteaching in group or individualsituations; mailings andtelephone teaching tocomplement other teachingmethods; mass media efforts todevelop understanding,awareness and involvement inthe educational program; anddevelopment and training ofvolunteers to assist with direct

teaching of adults and youth.CSREES distributes

Congressionally-appropriatedfunds annually to supportEFNEP at the state level

through land-grant universitycooperative extensionprograms. Through federalfunding and leadership forresearch, education and

extension programs, CSREESfocuses on investing in scienceand solving critical issuesimpacting people’s daily livesand the nation’s future. For

more information, visitwww.csrees.usda.gov/efnep

HEALTHEFNEP celebrates 40 years of food and nutrition education

Page 8 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

WASHINGTON, DC -Tocoincide with Women's HistoryMonth and InternationalWomen's Day, US Rep. BettyMcCollum (D-MN) last weekintroduced the Newborn, Child,and Mother Survival Act of2009 (H.R.1410), a bipartisanbill which seeks to restoreAmerica's leadership through aglobal health strategy to keepmothers and children in theworld's poorest countries aliveand healthy-before, during, andafter childbirth. Every year,more than 9 million childrenunder age five, and 536,000women, die from pregnancy-related causes and othertreatable diseases that arepreventable with simple,affordable interventions,including antibiotics, vaccines,bed nets, exclusivebreastfeeding and vitamins.

"Making motherhood safe

and keeping children alive is aglobal health priority for me,and I want to make it a priorityfor this Congress and theObama Administration. TheNewborn, Child, and MotherSurvival Act is an importantstep toward restoring ournation's commitment to reducechild mortality and maternaldeaths. U.S. leadership isessential to save the lives of themillions dying needlessly. Acommitment to the survival,safety, success of women andgirls is necessary to reshape ourbilateral relationships andredefine our nation's foreignassistance investments,"McCollum announced whiledelivering the keynote addressat the U.S. Agency forInternational Development'sInternational Women's Daycelebration.

The Newborn, Child, and

Mother Survival Act calls for aU.S. strategy, puts forth goals,outlines interventions needinginvestment in order to save thelives of children and mothers.Former U.S. Senate MajorityLeader Bill Frist and advocacygroups, like Save the Children,are among the early supportersof the bill.

"No parents should have tobear the pain of seeing a childdie from illnesses like diarrhea,pneumonia and malaria, all ofwhich can be prevented ortreated inexpensively," saidformer U.S. Senate MajorityLeader Bill Frist, M.D., chair ofSave the Children's childsurvival campaign, Survive to5. "This legislation will meansimple, cost-effective tools tosave more than 5 millionchildren each year are withincloser reach of familiesthroughout the world."

"U.S. leadership andinvestments in global childsurvival programs have helpedto decrease under-5 childdeaths dramatically in manycountries. Despite thisprogress, more than 25,000children under-five still dieeach day of highly preventablecauses," said David Oot, headof health and nutrition at Savethe Children and chair of theU.S. Coalition for ChildSurvival. "This House actionwill help save the lives ofmothers and babies by bringingproven, affordable healthmeasures to families incommunities that need them."

The Newborn, Child, andMother Survival Act of 2009has been endorsed by the U.S.Coalition for Child Survival,Save the Children, U.S. Fundfor UNICEF, and the GlobalAction for Children. The bill

will:• Commit to proven,

low-cost, highly effectivetechniques for life-savinginterventions that will save thelives of newborns, children, andtheir mothers.

• Develop acomprehensive, integrated U.S.strategy for reducing child andmaternal mortality.

• Establish a Newborn,Child, and Maternal HealthTask Force to maximize U.S.ability to leverage investmentsto reduce child and maternalmortality.

• Authorize funding forchild survival and maternalhealth programs to help savethe lives of hundreds ofthousands of newborns,children, and mothers, in 60poor countries.

Congresswoman BettyMcCollum serves on the HouseAppropriations Subcommitteeon State and ForeignOperations.

McCollum introduces the Newborn, Child, and Mother Survival Act

Minneapolis goes dark in observation of Earth Hour

Photo: University News ServiceNimo Yuse

US Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

Marsalis' directorship of theimpressive Jazz at Lincoln CenterOrchestra is its immense diversity-orchestra members, all wearing graysuits, represent almost everyracial/ethnic spectrum of therainbow; the age range reflects theorchestra's commitment tointergenerational musical dialogs;and every member is given theopportunity to shine in soloperformances. There is a playfulcamaraderie and appreciation ofeach other's talent that was reflectedin the orchestra's musical style andgroup interaction. One can only hopethat in the future, women musiciansmight be added to this powerfulAmerican treasure; notwithstanding

this one oversight, for surely thereare powerful jazz women musicianswho'd love to join, the Men in Graywere nothing short of impressive.

If you didn't get a chance tolisten to the group this time around, aword of advice: the next time they'rein town RUN, don't walk, to hear theMen in Gray laying down the coolaction of jazz, swinging the coolaction of jazz, improvising the coolaction of jazz-and that folks, is anepistrophy!

For more on Thelonious Monkor on Marsalis playing Monk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelonious_Monkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2s6LZUdYaUhttp://www.monkzone.com/silent/biographyHTML.htmhttp://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=3941

Irma McClaurin is an anthropologistand also Associate Vice President forSystem Academic Administration, aswell as Executive Director of theUrban Research and OutreachCenter at the University ofMinneapolis. Her latest essay,"Walking in Zora's Shoes or'Seek[ing] Out de Inside Meanin' ofWords': The Intersections of

Anthropology, Ethnography, Identity,and Writing," was just published inAnthropology Off the Shelf:Anthropologists on Writing (Wiley2009). The views expressed areentirely her own. ©2009 McClaurin SolutionsUpdated 3/12/09 7:10pmUpdated 3/8/09: 10:25 am3/7/2009: 11:52am

Kmart recently announced theexpansion of its Jaclyn SmithHome Collection --just in time toshake off the winter blues. Areflection of the continuedpopularity of Jaclyn's signaturedesigns, coupled withaffordability, the expanded linewill most notably include patiofurniture along with tabletop anddecor. Soft home collections willget an updated look with freshflorals and elegant patterns, allfeatured in two distinctive designsensibilities within the Today andTraditions collections. Refreshingyour home for spring is madeeven easier through theconvenience and practicality ofKmart layaway.

For the past 20 years, JaclynSmith and Kmart have teamed upto create apparel and other homecollections that are both budget-friendly and style savvy. Now,with Jaclyn Smith's affordabledesigns for the lawn and garden,Kmart shoppers can create acontemporary patio space that tiesinto their entire home effortlessly,including:

• Kingston Collection - 5pc tallDining Set $649.99; 7 pc DiningSet $699.99• Winfield Collection - 4 pcSeating Set $499.99• Elmhurst Collection - 5 pcDining Set $299.99

Ever mindful of value thelawn and garden line ranges frompatio umbrellas to complete patiosets and everything from décor tobedding for interior homedecorating.

Additionally, customers canuse the Kmart layaway plan topurchase the larger ticket items onan installment basis, payincrementally, and pick up theirpatio furniture just in time forwarmer temperatures.

"Jaclyn Smith's appeal has

only increased over time and hercollections have never been morerelevant," said Doug Wurl,VP/GMM of Home Fashions atSears Holdings. "When JaclynSmith introduced a cashmeresweater for less than $30 duringthe holiday season, it became thenumber one seller of all productsoffered online. That was a strongsignal to us that customers willcontinue to respond positively toexceptional products if they arepriced right. Adding layaway to

the mix only strengthens ourability to help customers during achallenged economy."

The Jaclyn Smith HomeCollection was introduced inAugust, 2008 and includedbedding and bath. Theintroduction coincided with theexpansion of Jaclyn Smith'sfashions in apparel to includejewelry, footwear and handbags.Shoppers can find the latest Kmartshopping news by visitingKmart.com.

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About four Sundays ago, myhusband and I decided that wewould take our three children tothe downtown Minneapolis publiclibrary after church. After circlingthe block a couple times wefinally found a free parking space--my husband will drive aroundforever to avoid paying forparking! Because it was such ablustery day, we broke into a lightjog to get into the building asquickly as possible. I was the firstto approach one of the four glassdoors and was about to open it.Just inside of the next door, stooda man-apparently struggling just abit-trying to get the door open forme. Noticing his kind gesture, Ireleased my grip on the doorhandle and let him hold the dooropen for me. While entering Ilooked him squarely in the eyes,and with a smile on my face, andin my voice, I said, "Thank you somuch, sir!" He respondedsomething like, "You are verywelcome, Miss Lady!" In that

very brief exchange, two peoplemade each other feel valued.(Note: Cost of good manners-free)

Now, let's contrast that withwhat happened next. My threechildren come busting through thedoor and that same gentlemanoffered them the courtesy he hadextended to their mama. After thefirst child entered, withoutacknowledging his kindness, Ilooked at her and said, "Thankyou, sir!" (my way of remindingmy child to express gratitude.)She responded promptly, butsomewhat dryly (not the way Itrained her). Well I'll be doggoneif my second daughter didn't rollthrough that same door, held openby the same gentleman, withoututtering a word of thanks. "Thankyou, sir!" I snapped at her. With anabsent-minded tone, she promptlyresponded. The rest gets fuzzy inmy mind, but all I know is thatsuddenly, as I was telling mychildren to turn around, make eyecontact, and then say "thank you"the gentleman became upset. Hebegan, "Oh no, don't bothersaying thank you, because they dothat to me all the time!" When Iattempted to have the childrenrepeat themselves with eyecontact and tall voices, the manrefused them the opportunity. "Goahead on, I am used to that, don'tbother!" he repeated, as he usedhis hands to shoo us away.

Feeling ashamed of my girls'

behavior and also sensing that weshould probably not pursue thisfurther, I took my kids on into thelibrary. They immediately (andquietly) received a scolding fornot properly acknowledging theman or clearly expressinggratitude for his simple kindness.You never know how a fewwords-or lack of words-can affectanother human being. Not only dowe need to teach our children thevalue of good manners andrespect, we also need to rememberits value. Common courtesy goesa long way in every situation,whether resolving conflicts,interviewing, meeting newpeople, or just being a bright spotin another's (otherwise rough)day.

Please say, "Please (And ThankYou)"Do: Teach your child theimportance of expressingappreciation when others are kindto them-whether in small ways orbig ways.Don't: Allow the kids to say,"Give me that!"

Phone MannersDo: Train your kids to say, "HelloMs. or Mr.____. This is____. MayI please speak to____?"Don't just say: "Is___there? OrCan I speak to_____?"

Meeting New People

Do: Train your children to makeeye contact, say hello by name,and shake hands whenappropriate, during introductionsto adults.Don't: Allow your kids to ignoreadults (or anyone) when beingspoken to.

Our family highly valuesconsideration and courteousbehavior. In fact, the mostconsistent comment that we hearfrom others about all three of ourbabies is that they have reallygood manners. Their brains musthave frozen that Sunday duringthat dash into the library! Trainingour children to be conscientiousand caring members of societytakes persistence. Of course, theywill not always get it right (I knowI don't). However practice createsexcellence (not perfection). Thereis a Bible verse that states itplainly: Don't forget to showhospitality to strangers, for somewho have done this haveentertained angels withoutrealizing it! Don't let the looks ofa person determine how you willtreat him. Let your interactionwith your brothers and sistersreflect the respect due them anddue our Creator. Courtesy never,never goes out of style. So friend,let your inner-style-light shine andEnjoy the results!

P.S.To the Kind Sir at the library who

held the door for us on that coldSunday: Please accept oursincerest apologies.

Marcia Humphrey is an interior

decorator and home stager whospecializes in achieving high styleat a low cost. A native ofMichigan, she and her husband,Lonnie, have three children.

Please and thank you still go a long way

By Marcia Humphrey

Style on a dime

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http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Page 9

Kmart makes creating the perfect patio space effortless

www.kilmerwares.com/2fanbackcombo.JPG

JazzFrom 7

www.entroporium.comWynton Marsalis

Page 10 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

Admission Possible, the nonprofitorganization providing collegepreparatory programming to low-income high school students forfree, is recruiting now throughmid-April for sophomoresinterested in obtaining a collegeeducation. Applications are beingaccepted from eligiblesophomores by AdmissionPossible staff at each of the 19Greater Twin Cities partner highschools, including two newpartner schools. Students inattendance at other high schoolsmay contact Admission Possibleheadquarters to apply at (651)917-3525 orinfo@admissionpossible.org.

“This is an extremely excitingtime of year for us at AdmissionPossible because we get to meetour class of 2011,” saidAdmission Possible founder andCEO Jim McCorkell. “Thesesophomores may not completelybelieve it today, but two yearsfrom now college will not only bewithin their grasp, they will be ontheir way! I really encouragesophomores to go ahead andapply, even if right now they areunsure college is for them.”

In Admission Possible’s eight-year history, 99 percent ofparticipating students have earnedadmission to college; 95 percentwent on to enroll and nearly 80percent of those students are stillworking toward their collegedegree or have already graduated.The program currently serves1,300 low-income juniors andseniors in the Greater Twin Cities.

Admission Possible studentscommit to two after-schoolsessions a week during theirjunior and senior years of highschool. Students join a smalllearning group and are assignedone Admission Possible collegecoach who works with them insmall groups and individually foreach year of the program. During

these two years, students areprovided free ACT/SAT testpreparation, intensive guidance inpreparing college applications,help in obtaining financial aid,and guidance in the transition tocollege.

“Admission Possible reallysupports me and helps me a lot,”said Admission Possible junior,Tia’Lana Hunter, who attendsMinneapolis’ Edison High School.“I like meeting in a small groupbecause I can express myselfmore.”

Three requirements for entryinto the Admission Possibleprogram are: 1) income eligibility

– a student’s family income is ator below the median income forthe city of residence; 2) a studentis a high school sophomore ontrack to be a junior in 2009-10; 3)a student is willing to commit toafter-school sessions, andSaturday ACT practice exams,college campus visits andcommunity service outings overthe two years. Additionally,students admitted to the programtypically have a GPA of 2.0 orhigher and a solid record of schoolattendance.

More than 700 sophomoresacross the Twin Cities will benotified of admittance to the

program by late April and willbegin Admission Possible after-school programming in the fall ofthe 2009-10 school year at one ofthese 19 partner schools:Arlington, Central, Como Park,Harding, Highland Park,Humboldt and Johnson highschools in St. Paul; Patrick Henry,Roosevelt, North, and Edison highschools in Minneapolis;Armstrong and Cooper highschools in Robbinsdale, Minn.; St.Louis Park High School;Columbia Heights High School,Coon Rapids High School (newpartner) and charter schools,Higher Ground Academy, Ubah

Medical Academy, andCommunity of Peace Academy(new partner).

Students, parents and othercaring adults interested in learningmore about the program orwishing to refer a student may

visit the Admission Possibleoffice at a partner high school, orcall (651) 917-3525, or visit theorganization’s websitewww.AdmissionPossible.org/Student_Recruitment

EDUCATION

WE WIN Institute has beenworking for the last 12 years tobring educational excellence tothe lives of children inMinnesota. With a mission of theacademic and social success ofall children, WE WIN hasfocused on students who havehad the greatest difficulties beingsuccessful in school and in life.

When WE WIN learned only38 percent of Minnesota’sAfrican American students weregraduating from high school ascompared to 83 percent of whitestudents, we knew something hadto change. We have called for aBlack Excellence Movementwhich says that all Black childrencan be successful in school. WEWIN sponsored a BlackExcellence contest. AfricanAmerican students explainedthrough artwork or essays whatBlack Excellence meant to them.The first place winners in middleand high school went toWashington D.C. andexperienced the inauguration ofthe first Black president of theUnited States, Barak Obama.What an appropriate prizebecause President Obama is theepitome of Black Excellence.

WE WIN Institute discussedthe vision with US Rep. KeithEllison in the summer of 2008.The plan was to spend a week inD.C. and have the winnerspresent their essays to membersof the Congressional BlackCaucus. We wanted our winnersto be surrounded by AfricanAmericans who representexcellence. Far too often themodels given our children aremediocre or less; excellence mustbe the only stance we take withour children’s education.

After Barak Obama won thepresidential election, Rep.Ellison’s office was bombardedwith requests to the inauguration.Some of the most important andinfluential Minnesotans in thestate inundated his office withrequests. I can only imagine howthey reminded him of theirfinancial commitments to hiscampaign and how much “they”do for the party. Rep. Ellison hada finite amount of tickets and Ididn’t know if we would beincluded in the number. When hisassistant called and said therewere tickets to the Inaugurationfor our group, I was ecstatic.Jaleice Johnson and EstrellaSeals were the first place winnersof the Black Excellence contest.

Being in Washington, D.C.during the inauguration week wasone of the highlights of my life.Even greater than being in theCapitol for the swearing in of thefirst African American president,the spirit, the hopefulness, andthe complete and utter joy of allwho participated in this historymaking event is what made beingin Washington so exhilarating.

Everywhere we went, we saw

people smiling, and we sawpeople sticking out their chests,standing tall, feeling good andfeeling proud. The majority ofthese people were AfricanAmericans. Everywhere we went,we were represented. When wewent to hear the Rev. JeremiahWright, at Howard University, itwas overflowing with Blackfolks. They filled five differentvenues and there were still peoplewaiting to hear his words.Contrary to what the media hasmade the public believe, Rev.Wright was proud of the successof his prodigy.

We went on the National Mallto see the mega concert of starsfrom Stevie Wonder to Beyoncé.There were so many people; itwas difficult to see the hugemonitors throughout the park.Again, we saw thousands andthousands of African Americans.

The morning of theInauguration, we were at theMetro station at 4:30 am. It was acold, brisk morning, but theexcitement was throughout theair. When we made it down to theCapitol area, there were so manypeople, I had wondered if weshould have come earlier. Withour silver tickets, we were threeor four blocks from the start of

the line for our designated spot tostand; and the gates didn’t openuntil 8 am. Everyone was cold,but happy. We became instantfriends with people we had neverseen before.

When the line finally moved,we had to go through metaldetectors before being let in.Being checked by the detectorsbecame a way of life during oursojourn in the nation’s capitol.

We were one of the first to claimour spots by the gate to have agood view of the jumbo-tron.One of the girls had to go to therestroom. It was literallyimpossible to get back to ourplace; people weren’t hearingthat we had been there before.The girl’s were practicallyfrozen, and we had another 2hours before the inauguralfestivities began. My firstthoughts were: “No, we have tostay out here.” But looking atthem shivering, fearing theywould lose a foot or hand as aresult of frost bite, led us to findrefuge.

We worked our way to theCongressional Offices, whichwere two blocks away, where aplush room was reserved forMinnesotans, by US Rep. JamesOberstar. Because so much ofD.C. was barricaded and blockedoff during the Inauguration, ittook us over an hour to arrive atthe Congressional offices.Everywhere we turned, therewere either people or barriers thatprevented our forwardmovement. When we finallyarrived at the Rayburn OfficeBuilding, we ran into our familiarfriend, the metal detector.

The accommodations for

Minnesotans were first class. Thechairs were oversized and leather.There was a plethora of drinks,pastries, fruits and vegetables,free for the taking. Hugetelevision screens were on thewalls giving second by secondaction of everything leading up tothe swearing in of Barak Obama.We met people we didn’t know,but we also were surrounded byfriends who had taken the longbus trip from Minnesota for oneday, just to experience being inD.C. during this historic time.

First to arrive on stage werethe Obama children and theirgrandmother. A feeling of prideand satisfaction came over me asI saw the new first familycarrying on the African traditionof the extended family bywelcoming, appreciating andloving “Mama Robinson” whoagreed to join them in the WhiteHouse to continue in her help inraising her two granddaughters.

Walking out next wasMichelle Obama in her simple,but eloquent greenish-yellowdress with matching jacket. Aftercoming in from the freezing cold,I kept thinking, “Where’s herOvercoat?” If Mrs. Obama wascold, it never showed.

Barak Obama walked outwith a gait like only a self-assured Black man has. He wasconfident with his head heldhigh, showing the world he wasready to be president. During theclassical performance of cellistYo-Yo Ma, violinist ItzhakPerlman, pianist GabriellaMontero and clarinetist AnthonyMcGill, Mrs. Obama put aloving, reassuring hand on herhusband’s shoulders whichseemed to be just what heneeded. Once Mr. Obama tookthe oath of office, the cheering,screaming and intense vivacitynever ended.

After the swearing in ofPresident Obama, we hit thestreets. There was totalexcitement everywhere weturned. It was astonishing. It wasincredible that the vast majorityof people were Black folks. Farand wide, there were people ofAfrican descent. For the first timein so many years, we had a reasonto come up, to celebrate to be partof a change that will make asignificant difference for ourpeople and for our country.

Two days after the swearingin, we toured the United StatesCapitol. In telling the history,although only a couple ofsentences, it told how Africanslave labor built the structure that

Americans so adore. After takinga tour, we had lunch and headedto Congressman Ellison’s officeto present the Black Excellenceessays.

As we arrived, Ellison’s aideswere rushing him to the floor fora vote. He told us to follow him.We were able to ride on theexclusive elevators used bymembers of Congress. He led usto the lounge where electedofficials relax and confer witheach other. As we waited, welooked up and all the members ofthe Congressional Black Caucuscame in. It was exciting to seethese brilliant African Americanswho represent and fight for therights, needs and aspirations ofBlack Americans. These areofficials who do not apologize forinsisting that our needs areincluded; they consistentlyremind their colleagues of ourlong arduous history and thesacrifices we have made to makeAmerica – America; and that wetoo pay taxes.

When our illustriousrepresentative, Rep. Ellisonwalked in the room, he treated uslike dignitaries. He took usaround to members of the CBC,explained that the students werewinners of the Black ExcellenceContest and pointed out to thegirls that all these representativeswere examples of BlackExcellence. The girls readexcerpts of their essays to Rep.Ellison and other members of theCaucus and they were able totake pictures with variousmembers.

Rep. Ellison proceeded togive us a personal tour of theCapitol. We toured areas that thepublic usually are not allowed seeand he pointed out statues andindividuals who worked hard tomake America great. He talkedabout the importance of BlackExcellence and why the girls hadto work and give their best inschool and in life for benefit ofthe African American community

and the country. He sent us awaywith copies of books on AfricanAmericans and Women inCongress. Each book weighedover 20 pounds. Not only did heautograph them, but had hisassistant take our addresses andsend them to our respectivehomes.

On our way back to our car,we saw eight or nine motorcyclelights flashing. We didn’t have aclue of what was going on; andthen suddenly, the presidentiallimousine appeared. PresidentObama waved at us and wewaved back.

In addition to arranging ourCapitol tour, Rep. Ellison’s officearranged tours to visit all themonuments and memorials. Itwas a full day adventure. Wevisited the WashingtonMonument and went to the topwhere we were able to see D.C.,Virginia and Maryland. We wentto the Arlington Cemetery, wherewe saw the graves of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy, his wife,Jacqueline, and his brother, Sen.Robert Kennedy. We went to theWorld War II, the Viet Nam, theKorean, the Franklin D.Roosevelt, Jefferson, and LincolnMemorials; we also saw the sitewhere the Martin Luther King Jr.Memorial will be built.

Everywhere we turned whilewe were in the nation’s capitol,we were exposed and inundatedby those who modeled BlackExcellence. It may be yearsbefore Jaleice Johnson andEstrella Seals can fullyappreciate the extraordinaryexposure and the historicsignificance of the trip. But, whatwill always be most memorableis being in the nation’s capitolduring the swearing in of the firstAfrican American president ofthe United States and theexample of Black Excellenceshown to us by our Congressman,Keith Ellison.

A week in the nation’s Capital

Courtesy Keith EllisonJaleice Johnson, Titilayo Bediako, US Rep. Keith Ellison

and Estrella Seals

College preparatory program recruits candidates for scholarships

http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Page 11

By Titilayo Bediako

Courtesy Keith EllisonUS Rep. Keith Ellison showing Estrella Seals (center) and

Jaleice Johnson the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Young girls from Minneapolisspent a recent Saturday gaininghands-on experience in trades andnontraditional job fields. Part ofthe 9th annual YWCA Power

Girls events, more than 50 girlsparticipated in the day-longworkshop at Dunwoody Collegeof Technology.

New this year, the event

started with a fashion show thathighlighted women in careerfields ranging from firefighters tohigh school science teachers, frommillwrights to a young trade

school student. Saidone youth, "Thefashion show wascool. I learned a lotof things aboutpeople in differentjobs, and what theyhad to learn inschool, and whatthey earn, and whatthey like about theirjobs."

S a t i y aSolomon, event co-organizer andBoard President ofWomen in theTrades, shared, "Wewanted to have funand highlight thetrade clothes and

tools that are important tosucceed. People are still shockedby seeing women in tradeclothing, and toting around tools."

Throughout the day, girlsattended educational and hands-on sessions where they were ableto learn from firefighters, a K9police officer, women engineersand a range of skilledtradeswomen. "How many yearsof college does it take to become apolice officer, because my sisterand I want to do that!" questionedone young participant aftermeeting the Minneapolis K9police officer and her caninecompanion.

For another nine-year-oldparticipant, the firefighters made abig impression. "The firefighterswere amazing. When we saw thetruck and stepped inside, it feltlike we were firefighters rightaway."

Her 10-year-old sister agreed:

"Meeting the firefighters was myfavorite part. We got to try on theuniforms - they were big andheavy."

Representatives from theSociety of Women Engineers ledthe girls in an Egg-mobile activity.The women engineers said theevent "helped expose girls tomany disciplines and careers thatmost people don't understand."They see Power Girls as an"especially great opportunity forgirls because women areunderrepresented in theengineering field."

The Power Girls event hascontinued to grow every yearsince its inception. Most of thegirls who attend are participants inyear-round YWCA of

Minneapolis Girls & Youthprograms including Girl Power,an all-girl after-school math andscience program, and DiscoveryLeadership, an all-girl leadershipdevelopment program.

Christa Perkins, event co-organizer and Girls Inc. Managerat the YWCA of Minneapolis,summed up the event. "Womenwho work in the trades and jobswhere women are stillunderrepresented are great rolemodels for girls because they havechallenged stereotypes in pursuitof personal and professionalsuccess. Girls gain hands-onlearning beyond what they receivein the classroom. They buildskills, confidence and a curiosityfor new experiences."

While enjoying that shorter commute towork, you have less time than ever tocontemplate your unique situation: stillemployed. But "The Economy" isimpacting you, too, and the sooner youacknowledge your new challenges, thebetter off you will be long term. Typicalsymptoms reported by those still workinginclude increased stress at work,survivor's guilt and anxiety. Ironically,these are the same problems your formerco-workers are facing. Now what?

Companies are cutting employees atbreak-neck pace. Some are truly strappedfor cash, and some are shedding excesspounds. In better times, companies couldkeep staff on hand to address fluctuationsin workload. Now, employers must runlean, deleting redundant roles and

ensuring that everyone on board iscontributing. Survivors of a mass lay-offwill likely experience a shift in dutiesand, inevitably, a heavier workload. Youmight be relieved to have a job, but thatdoesn't mean you're happy.

Additional stress comes fromsurvivor's guilt: you pass someone'sempty cubicle on your way to the copierand wonder why them, why not you.

Anxiety is another ongoing problem.When the owners of one companyaddressed those remaining after a majorcut, they offered a message ofreassurance: these reductions areessential to the long term success of thecompany, they said. We'll be moreprofitable this year than last, andeveryone will share in this success, theyadded. The owners were cheerleading,but the employees were unmoved. Theywondered whether they were hearing onlypart of the story. The employees'understandable sense of powerlessnessmade it difficult for them to know what tothink about their futures.

What to do? Of course, acknowledgeyour feelings. But after that you need totake your career into your own hands.Even well-meaning management can besurprised sometimes, and forced intoadditional (albeit unanticipated) cuts.

Now is a good time to be skeptical.Accept the added workload like the

lucky employed person you are. Butrecognize you are still only one person.Discuss new projects thoroughly withthose involved and gain a clearunderstanding of everyone's expectations.Be upfront about your ability to meetdeadlines and keep others informedregarding your progress, your challengesand any additional resources you need.Be quick to ask questions. Allow for alearning curve when taking on new tasks.Once you know what's expected, geteverything in writing. If your boss issuddenly let go, you will want the nextguy in charge to know where you stand.

For networking and friendship, stay intouch with former co-workers throughLinkedIn or Facebook. You're only oneclosed-door conversation away fromjoining them. Start networking now, andspend some time every week positioningyourself for something new. If a betterjob comes along? Don't be afraid to takeit. The working world is changing now.Be open.

Julie Desmond is Senior Talent Consultantwith the Walstrom Group in Minneapolis.Write to Julie@insightnews.com.

I have access to hundreds of foreclosed properties in Minneapolis-St.Paul and surrounding suburbs. Let me help you take advantage of this real estate market.

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Planyour

career

Girls learn about trades, nontraditional career options

Still there? Working wheneveryone else is gone

Assumed Name1. State the exact assumed name underwhich the business is or will be conducted:

All & All Transportation

2. State the address of the principal place ofbusiness: 2311 Thomas Ave No, MinneapolisMN 55411

3. List the name and complete street addressof all persons conducting business under theabove Assumed Name: Carlos Carter, 2311Thomas Ave No, Minneapolis MN 55411

4. I certify that I am authorized to sign thiscertificate and I further certify that Iunderstand that by signing this certificate, Iam subject to the penalties of perjury as setforth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 asif I had signed this certificate under oath.

Signed by: Carlos CarterDate Filed: 2/13/2009Contact Person: Carlos CarterDaytime Phone Number: (763) 377-5040

Insight News 3/16/2009, 3/23/2009

Courtesy of YWCAMore than 50 Minneapolis girls attended the YWCA Power Girls event on February 21 to learn about careers in which women aretraditionally underrepresented. Girls talked with firefighters, built and raced egg-mobiles, and completed hands-on trades relatedprojects.

Page 12 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

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http://insightnews.com Insight News • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Page 13

SPORTS

Lawd, here we go again! TerrellOwens got dropped by the DallasCowboys recently, and was thenquickly snapped up by theBuffalo Bills. But this does giveme the opportunity to drop somevital information on the footballfans (and those perhaps trying tounderstand for the sake ofsurprising their man).

See, there is this funnyphenomenon in football where itseems that it is always players ina certain position that are causinglots of problems by running theirmouth. Consistently thatposition is the wide receiver

position. Wide receivers are theone's that the quarterback throwsthe ball to (Sorry fellas. I gottamake occasional communityservice tutorial statements likethat for the greater good).Running backs are the ones thatthe quarterback hands the ball offto (lol).

Now it makes perfect senseto me that the wide receivers,like Owens, are the ones whoyou can count on to consistentlybump their gums indissatisfaction. The fact of thematter is that they are the onlyones on the field who areconsistently put into the positionof having to call for the ball. Theother part of that equation is thatthe more balls a wide receivercatches, the more money he islikely to make in the future. Thethird part of the equation is that ifthe quarterback doesn't throw theball to the wide receiver, then thewide receiver likely just did awhole bunch of running aroundwith no direct reward (thoughthere are plenty of things they

can do besides catch the ball).For an office person, that wouldbe like the boss sending you outfor coffee, and then when yougot back to the office they saythey don't want it anymore. Youjust might cuss him/her out underyour breath…of course you'renot making $6.5 million either.

Owens, Chad Johnson, andretired player KeyshawnJohnson, are a few of the namesthat come to mind as receiverswho have stirred things upimmensely by their provocativemeans of calling for the ball to bethrown their way.

The natural side effect of allthis is that the other players andcoaches wish that those widereceivers would just shut up andwait their turn. The footballanalysts have gone so far as topin the word "Diva" to playerslike this.

Owens is considered "Diva#1" in today's NFL landscape.Owens' diva ways have nowgotten him kicked off of his thirdteam in his 12-year career. The

Dallas Cowboys releasedOwens, but it only took about 48hours for another team (theBuffalo Bills) to pick him up andoffer a one-year contract for $6.5million dollars. In the meantime,since the Cowboys cut Owensbefore his contract ended, he stillgets about $9 million from hisprevious contract. In otherwords, the Cowboys werewilling to give him $9 millionjust to go away! Now that's adiva!

Keyshawn Johnson wrote abook called Just Throw me theDamn Ball. Terrell Owensshould write one called Damnthe ball! Throw me off the teamso I can collect two checks!

There is no doubt that TerrellOwens has issues. I gave him achance until he got on televisioncrying and quivering becausesomebody talked mess about hisDallas quarterback Tony Romo.I've never seen somebody cryabout a mama-joke, much less acotton-pickin quarterback.Instead of waving his hand so the

quarterback will throw him theball, Owens just figured hewould take it to the tilt and cryon national television for someattention. Oh the brilliance! It'salmost…uh…infantile. At the

some time, there ain't nothininfantile about Owen'spocketbook.

Crazy, or crafty? You makethe call. I say both…with astrong lean towards crazy.

The Terrell Owens saga continues…

By Ryan T. Scottryan@insightnews.com

Mr T’sSportsReport

www.helmet2helmet.netTerrell Owens

ST. LOUIS (NNPA) - It wouldnot be a stretch to say that JessieMapp III was born with abowling ball in his hands.Bowling has been a big part ofMapp’s family for fourgenerations. Young Jessie couldnot help but get involved in thefamily legacy. He started bowlingat the age of one.

“At first, he started rollingapples and oranges around thehouse,” said Mapp’s father, JesseMapp II. “He was always aroundthe sport. When he started

bowling, he never wanted to usethe bumpers as a child. He wouldcry if he had to use the bumpers.He wanted to use the same lanesthat the old people used.”

At the age of 12, Jessie MappIII can now be considered abowling prodigy. On Feb. 4, hebowled a perfect 300 game at theGateway Classic Youth BowlingTournament at the St. CharlesLane. It was quite anachievement for a talentedyoungster who has not reachedhis teenage years yet. Althoughofficial records are not kept,Mapp III has to be one of theyoungest African-Americanbowlers to achieve a 300 game.

“It was like watching amiracle,” said Jessie Mapp II. “It

was unbelievable to watch,especially since I’ve never doneit. I had tears in my eyes. I was soproud of him because I knowhow hard he’s worked.”

Said Mapp III after hisperformance, “I wasastonished...It had been a goal ofmine to bowl a 300 game beforemy father. It was real exciting forall of us.”

A seventh-grade student atCross Keys Middle School inFlorissant, Mapp III is part of afamily that enjoys an incrediblepassion for bowling.

It all started with his great-grandfather John Mapp, whobowled in leagues until he was inhis 80s. His son, Jessie Mapp, Sr.picked up the sport and passed it

down to his son, Jesse Jr., andtwo daughters Kendra MappWorsham and Kerri MappCunningham. Kerri was a two-sport standout at Pattonville Highwho earned a bowlingscholarship to Missouri Baptist.

Joining Jesse Mapp III in thebowling family are his brothersLonnelle Washington, 15; ShaunMapp, 12; and sisters CassieWilliams, 12; and Jaya Mapp 8.

Jessie Mapp keeps all of hischildren active as director ofYouth Leagues at the Crest Bowlin Florissant.

“It’s fun to be part of a familythat bowls, because we all kind ofhelp each other,” said Mapp III.After taking up the sport for thefirst time, it did not take long for

him to establish himself as a topperformer. At the age of six, hewas featured in the United StatesBowling Congress Magazine forbowling a game of 147. Hecompetes in travelling youthleagues in Missouri and Illinoison Sundays. Among hisnumerous accomplishments arehis two Gateway Classic YouthTournament championships.

When he gets older, Mapp IIIis pretty clear about his futureaspirations. He wants to becomea professional bowler.

“I’ve had the dream tobecome a professional bowlerever since I was six, maybe evenbefore that,” Mapp III. “I alsowant to bowl in college.”

12-Year-old bowler has the lanes in his genes

NNPAJessie Mapp II

By Earl Austin Jr. Specialto the NNPA from the St. Louis American

Page 14 • March 16 - March 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

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