HealthBreast feeding: An amazing gift

PAGE 3

Moments in SportsThe Vikings may surprise in 2014

PAGE 9

BusinessWhat’s so great about Millennials?

PAGE 4

LifestyleFerguson, Missouri: A change is going to come

PAGE 7

PROFILE IN EXCELLENCE

Kimberly Smith-Moore: Restoring home equity

The goal:Equality and justice for all

U.S.-Africa relations: Beyond the summit

A Black mother weeps for America: STOP KILLING OUR BLACK SONS!

Some monthly mortgage payments are less than what some pay in rent. But with that being said, for many the dream of owning a home is still just that … a dream. One major hurdle to home ownership, even for a person with a qualifying credit score, is coming up with the money for a down payment on a home. Through Wells Fargo and the nonprofit, NeighborWorks America – a leader in affordable housing and community development, native Northsider, Kimberly Smith-Moore, is offering many homebuyers the chance to get into their new home with down payment assistance grants of up to $30,000. “There are people out there who are hard working people who have decent credit, but just don’t have the money for a down payment,” said

Smith-Moore, vice president of customer grants programs with Wells Fargo Mortgage Servicing. “We want to show that home ownership is still alive.” Wells Fargo introduced the LIFT programs to help housing markets recover in the wake of the housing crisis, and to support homeownership and advance neighborhood recovery through a commitment to home lending, homebuyer education, and homebuyer support. According to Smith-Moore, to date, more than 7,600 new homeowners have been able to achieve the dream of homeownership with the support of LIFTprograms. In the Twin Cities, the cooperative for profit and not for profit partnership has poured in more than $9 million to support moderate to middle income home buying. Nationwide that dollar amount will reach $215 million spread across 29 markets

With multiple examples of extreme police force used in encounters nationwide, highlighted by advanced community connectivity through technology, the vast communication generated by these events provides a watershed platform for discussion, and thus solutions.

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The recent conference of African leaders convened by President Obama in the nation’s capital demonstrated that the U.S. is fi nally recognizing what China, the European Union, India and the rest of the world have known and acknowledged for years: The future of humanity is increasingly African. A report issued earlier this month by the United

Nations, titled, “Generation 2030: Africa,” made that unmistakably clear. “Africa’s population will double in just 35 years to 2.4 billion in 2050, and is projected to eventually hit 4.2 billion by 2100. About half a billion will be added already by 2030. More than half of the 2.2 billion projected rise in the world’s population between 2015 and 2050 will take place on this continent alone. As a result of changing global

No Domestic Tranquility for our Black sonsThey are not insurgents. They are not enemy combatants. They are not hostile enemy forces. They are not terrorists. They are our Black sons. And I beg you America to stop killing them in their own backyards, in the streets outside of nightclubs, on the phone talking to their girlfriend, and a few blocks from convenience stores from which they may or may not have stolen cigars. They do not deserve to die for such trivial incidents. Stop it. Stop killing our Black sons. They are the babies whom we carried in our wombs for nine months and birthed them into a world we thought was fi lled with hopes and dreams, and promises of a better future,

and a better life. Stop killing our Black sons. America, the young Black men you kill are our future and potential scientists and doctors,

lawyers and entrepreneurs; they are our future bus drivers, train conductors, teachers, garbage men, mechanics, cable TV guys, the clerk at the

neighborhood grocery stores. Whatever their roles in the future, large or small, they do

By Irma McClaurin, PhDCulture and

Education Editor

Justspeak

Bill HudsonErvin D. Fowlkes Sr. in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, on May 3rd, 1963,

being attacked by police dogs during a civil rights protest.

SONS TURN TO 5 AFRICA TURN TO 7

GRAY TURN TO 5

Photo (c) Roy LewisCongresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Tx.) shakes the hand of President H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, Federal Republic of Nigeria,

at a dinner held in his honor at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, August 6th 2014 in Washington, DC.

By George E. CurryNNPA Editor-in-Chief

By Ryan T. ScottContributing Writer

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

SMITH-MOORETURN TO 6

Scott Gray

Kimberly Smith-Moore

Urbane Exposure uses concert to attract African-

Americans and African-American volunteers to

Minneapolis Parks;Goapele, Martin Luther,

Th eresa Payne to headlineMORE ON PAGE 10

Insight NewsVol. 41 No. 37 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comSeptember 1 - September 7, 2014

Page 2 • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Fall Fitness Challenge begins Saturday, September 13th

insightnews.com Insight News • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Page 3

Breast feeding: An amazing gift

August is National Breastfeeding Month. World Breastfeeding Week was Aug. 1 – 7, and Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25 – 31. In honor of this important month I realized that as an internationally board certified lactation consultant and midwife, I had not seen any

articles in our local papers about this amazing gift that mothers can give to their children. What better gift to give to your children than the gift of health. Breastfeeding helps protect a baby’s health long after he or she has been weaned. Breastfeeding has been linked to lowering a baby’s risk of future health concerns such as allergies, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure as adults. This should be exciting news for African-Americans who are

more at risk for these chronic conditions compared to any other ethnic group. In fact, this should make us want to embrace breastfeeding even more, since we cannot fully actualize good health without reclaiming this cultural practice. Think about it … breast milk is our first food. It prepares newborn stomachs for food and colostrum – the first type of milk a mother produces – contains antibodies that help protect a baby from disease. It’s like administering a 100 percent safe vaccine. Because of these antibodies, a baby has protection against many illnesses such as colds, ear infections and diarrhea. Plus, breastfeeding helps the health of the mother. Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer and osteoporosis (which is a thinning of the bones) and yes African-American women do get osteoporosis. Plus, breastfeeding encourages emotional bonding between the mother and baby. Also, it releases hormones called oxytocin in the mother that trigger nurturing behavior and a sense of relaxation, promoting a loving attitude towards children that is protective and caring. The parenting upside is that breastfed children are more social, less aggressive and easier to parent. With so many children being labeled with behavior disorders such as ADHD, ADD and autism; the ability for breastfeeding to heal neurological pathways that may have been damaged during fetal development in the womb by a woman’s chemical

use in pregnancy or during the birthing process makes breastfeeding not only good medicine but the best option for a community over diagnosed with these conditions. Breastfeeding really is the best choice for feeding our babies. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way we brought into the myth that it’s a primitive practice and/or something only poor women do. So, it will require a cultural

shift and re-education of our community because you hardly see women breastfeeding anymore. But actually, it is natural for babies, although not always for mothers because of their lack of exposure so we have to relearn it. However, the more African-American women breastfeed the more it will become the cultural norm again. So, the next time you see a woman in our community breastfeeding encourage

her and thank her for being courageous enough to dothe most important thing she can do for her and her babies health.

Dr. Lavonne Moore is CEO and owner of Chosen Vessels Midwifery Services a subsidiary of Kemet Circle, LLC that provides home based lactation support and wellness services for women. She can be reached at www.kemetcircle.net.

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Save the Date!September 13, 2014

NorthPoint’s 3rd Annual Fit-4-Fun Event features a family oriented 1 or 3 mile walk

or run as well a bike ride through the Northside neighborhoods.

Other Activities Include:

• Aerobic Exercises • Line Dancing• Yoga• Zumba• Music• Activities for Kids• Healthy Food to Sample

For more info call 612-543-2500 or Visit www.northpointhealth.org

Page 4 • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

What’s so great about Millennials?

Ice Bucket Challenge: It’s contagious

Black journalists select Minneapolis for 2015 convention

Millennial, noun, meaning person reaching adulthood around the year 2000. There are about 80 million of them and although they are working for you now, you just might be working for them someday soon. Are you open to the

changes this generation is bringing to the workplace? Do you wish they were more like you? Maybe other generations should strive to be more like them. Here are a few of their highlights. Millennials dance. People of all ages dance, but Millennials are a confi dent bunch, whether or not they can keep the beat. Brought up with social media and, especially, selfi es, Millennials have no problem with public performance: most will try anything once, and many are as likely to broadcast their failures as their achievements. In an era when change is the only constant, this kind of risk-taking is the most direct path to success. Calculated risk-taking is good for every generation. Millennials are optimistic. One study shows that as many as 37% of Millennials are

unemployed at the moment. Yet, 90% of them say that they have enough money or expect to meet their fi nancial goals in time. This suggests that if you’re a Millennial, you have hope and plans for a better future. Hope and plans are

good for every generation. Trust, from Millennials, has to be earned. Blind dates and handshake deals are not a part of the Millennial lifestyle. This generation has never gone to the gate to meet an airplane without a ticket and

a security scan. Locker checks and drug screens and fi ne print are commonplace, and should be, according to this group. Maybe they don’t have the privacy their parents had, but they don’t trust people blindly, either. As anyone who has been cheated or had a deal go bad will tell you, contracts and background checks can be a very good thing. Millennials are diverse. Ethnic and racial diversity is accepted by this group. This group backed Barack Obama’s fi rst presidential bid more than any other generation. Technology and world events have provided this generation with a global view. With media coming from all corners of the earth, it is (arguably) impossible to live in an ethnic bubble today. Millennial culture is “mashable” with restaurants, music, social

media and real-life encounters bringing people of all races and ethnicities together constantly. Millennials are accepting and adoptive of diverse people and ideas. Accepting and adoptive… these are good for every generation. If you are a Millennial, do you see yourself much differently than the way media portrays “you”? If you are not a Millennial, do you see the value in adopting some of their attitudes and habits? Not that you should run out and get tattoos (as many Millennials have) but being open and accepting is a good idea, no matter which generation you hail from.

Julie Desmond is IT & Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. Write to Julie at jdesmond@georgekonik.com.

In the heat of summer having a bucket of ice water thrown on you may not be a bad thing. It’s a phenomenon that’s sweeping the nation – contagious fundraising spurred on by social media, sports celebrities, television hosts, movie stars and international performers. Everyone – it seems – is in on it. Well, except for the two of us. We are enjoying the summer

heat with no ice water – but we’re giving to ALS anyway. Here’s the reason: we want to be “in with the in crowd.” We’ve known of ALS – otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease – for decades. But no one has ever asked us to give to The ALS Foundation. There are so many worthy non-profi ts to give to, and like most people we have a limited budget. But, how could we not give when the nation is gripped with the ice bucket challenge? In case you don’t know, here’s a quick overview of the challenge: someone challenges you to give to ALS. If you don’t, you have to have a bucket of ice cold water dumped on you. Even better: have it video-taped and

posted on social media. Once you complete the challenge you have to challenge others to give or get wet. Here’s the thing: many people are doing both. It’s fun. The videos are hysterical. And the money is pouring in. The numbers from their recent press release are astounding. “As of Tuesday, August 19, The ALS Association has received $22.9 million in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 19). These donations have come from existing donors and 453,210 new donors to The Association.” And ALS knows receiving gifts is just the beginning. “Our top priority right now is acknowledging all the gifts

made by donors to The ALS Association,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association. “We want to be the best stewards of this incredible influx of support. To do that, we need to be strategic in our decision making as to how the funds will be spent so that when people look back on this event in ten and twenty years, the Ice Bucket Challenge will be seen as a real game-changer for ALS,” she continued. The ALS Association is committed to communicating with donors and the public about future plans to spend the unprecedented amount of money it has received over the past few weeks. So, should your nonprofit

or college go viral with a“gimmick” to raise millions?Here are our thoughts: put thefundamentals in place first.If you can’t track and thankyour donors, you don’t wantthousands of donors: that canbecome a viral disaster insteadof success. Next week: more about the fundamentals. Learn more at www.alsa.org. #IceBucketChallenge

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

Boston National Association of Black Journalists President Bob Butler recently announced that longtime member Rod Hicks will serve as chair of the 2015 Convention and Career Fair, to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, next summer as the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary. Hicks, an editor for The Associated Press, previously served as chair of NABJ’s conventions in Philadelphia in 2011 and New Orleans in 2012. He served as deputy chair of this year’s convention, which

ended this morning in Boston. “Work on the 40th anniversary convention has already started. Rod has the experience, vision and energy to make sure it is a rousing success,” Butler said. Hicks works at AP’s Philadelphia-based East Regional Desk, which manages news coverage in 10 states. He earned a master’s degree in newspaper management from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the

University of Alabama. “We’re going to make sure our programming isinformative, relevant and helpful, but we’re also going to honor the work of our brave founders who made the last four decades possible,” Hicks said. “You can look forward to an exciting and memorable event.” Hicks joined NABJ 25 years ago and has attended every convention since 1989. He served on the organization’s national board in the early 1990s as a regional director representing members in six Southern states. His wife, Velvet S. McNeil, has served as chair of NABJ’s annual photo auction for the last four years. They have a 2-month-old daughter, Zori. Butler also announced that Deirdre Childress Hopkins,programming chair for the Boston convention, will return in that role for the Minneapolis convention. Hopkins is strategic communications manager for the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Hopkins served on the NABJ board as vice president-print during the 2009-2011 term and previously served as national secretary. “Deirdre pays great attention to detail and I’m pleased she has agreed to return as programming chair for2015,” Butler said. The 2015 convention will be held Aug. 5-9, 2015 at the Hilton Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Plan Your Career

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

FUNdraisingGood Times

Deirdre Childress HopkinsRod Hicks

One study shows that as many as 37% of Millennials are

unemployed at the moment. Yet, 90% of them say that they have

enough money or expect to meet their fi nancial goals in time.

From Chef Derik Moran, find daily specials, salads, sandwiches and more, and never forget dessert by Pastry Chef Katie Elsing. Prices starting at $8

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BUSINESS

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insightnews.com Insight News • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Page 5

CommonBond Communities announces new CEOCommonBond Communities announced the hiring of the organization’s third CEO in 43 years. Deidre Schmidt, currently principal owner of One Roof Global Consulting, will take over the leadership role beginning in early October. Schmidt brings with her over 20 years of experience in affordable housing on a global scale with emphasis on increasing quality, access and affordability of housing for people around the world. “I am thrilled to be joining CommonBond Communities,”

said Schmidt. “The board and staff, as well as individual and institutional supporters, have focused both on the organization’s capacity to deliver on its mission and the strength of enterprise. That combination is critical for organizations that want to continue to provide housing and critical services in our changing environment.” Schmidt’s career includes leadership roles with Brighton Development Corporation, the National Equity Fund, A rtspace Project, Inc. and the Affordable Housing Institute in Boston. She is a lecturer on

housing and urbanization at Harvard University and in her most recent role as professional consultant has helped global entities develop policies and strategies regarding housing development and management, rental subsidies, urban planning and risk assessment. “CommonBond is poised as a regional and national leader with a great reputation in the affordable housing industry. Our board of directors is very excited to have Deidre Schmidt as CommonBond’s new president and chief executive offi cer,” said Tom Jasper, chairman of the

board of CommonBond. “Ms. Schmidt has a prolifi c career bringing together individuals, organizations and corporations to develop solutions regarding affordable housing. In addition, she is highly regarded for her industry expertise both locally and globally. Ms. Schmidt is the perfect choice at this unique time in the industry to steward CommonBond’s signifi cant legacy of service to the regional community.” During the past seven years, CommonBond has expanded its work in the upper Midwest signifi cantly. Jasper

said CommonBond is one of the top 50 affordable housing developers in the nation and has increased the size of its 43-year-old housing portfolio by 46 percent in seven years. “It is a profound honor and responsibility to be joining CommonBond Communities,” said Schmidt. “I’ve watched, and even formally studied, CommonBond my whole career. In my view, the organization has never been stronger and better positioned for the changes and challenges ahead.” Schmidt will assume her role as CEO on Oct. 6Deidre Schmidt

not deserve to die. We believed, when we birthed them into this America of promise that has now become our nightmare, that they could be anything that they or we, their mothers and grandmothers, their girlfriends and aunties, their teachers and friends might dream for them. All they really needed was access to the same quality education that America delivers to the doorsteps of most white young men in white communities, but seems to have a hard time delivering the same quality product with equal resources to Black communities. Stop killing our Black sons. It is true. Some of our young Black sons are misdirected and misguided, to be sure. But doesn’t every society have those disaffected youth who may follow the path to crime and violence? A few of them may deserve to be labelled thugs and hoodlums, but this is not every Black male child born, and our country says they are innocent until proven guilty. Even the “bad apples” don’t deserve to be gunned down and die like animals in the streets. Stop killing our Black sons. Do we condemn every white young disaffected 21 year old male because of Columbine; Aurora, Tucson, Fort Hood, and most recently Newtown? No. In their article, “White Men have much to discuss about mass shootings, Charlotte and Harriet Childress point out that white boys and men are often given a pass and attention turned to mental health issues, rather than the fact that disproportionately, white men have been involved in mass shooting sprees. Yet, they are not racially profi led.

The Militarization of American PoliceYou would never know it from the images of Ferguson, but this is not Iraq. We are not living in Afghanistan. This is not the Gaza Strip. This is the United States of America and Ferguson, Missouri. So who gave ipso facto permission? In other words, what powers that be authorized today’s policemen, living in small town America in the heartland, to function like trained military and to treat our young black sons as if they were terrorists and the enemy without justifi cation or evidence? Why is the Pentagon providing domestic policemen military weapons, and without training? That’s like putting dynamite or a grenade in the hands of a child. They have no boundaries or understanding that such weapons kill far beyond their intent. As a nation, we lament

those circumstances of war that allow our military weapons to fall into the wrong hands. Well, the Pentagon has placed the wrong weapons in the wrong hands right here at home, and should bear responsibility for arming domestic policeman as if they were patrolling in combat zones. Scholars and activists Tamara K. Nopper and Mariame Kaba, in their article “Itemizing Atrocity,” point out that mainstream newspapers and magazines like the Economist and Business Insider have published on the that fact that “America’s police have become too militarized.” Their point is that focusing on these excesses of militarized police obscures the reality that policeman in urban areas violently police black people as a matter of course, and that such “policing” of black bodies is acceptable (whether you are in the ghetto or the suburbs), because it has come to be viewed as the norm that all Black people must be approached as if they were guilty (https://www.jacob inmag .com/2014 /08 /itemizing-atrocity/). Only after the fact is there an investigation or any attempts made to determine if the resulting deaths of Black men actually fi t a specifi c crime or the circumstances. Often, they do not. Stealing a cigar is not a heinous crime and does not warrant death by being executed. Stop killing our Black sons. Today’s policemen are under tremendous stress complicated by the individual backgrounds of those in uniform. The proliferation of racial profi ling, the ongoing killing of young Black men point to an epidemic of violence in which white police offi cers (and some troubled men of color) use their uniform and their role as police offi cers not to protect society and its citizens but to mete out discipline to those Black male bodies they have come to associate with violence. Who turned society’s peacekeepers into judge, jury and executioners that can shoot the unarmed in the back and use petty crimes to justify their horrendous actions? Stop killing our Black sons. A Failed Justice for Black Men in AmericaBlack men in America have been targets of institutionalized racism from moment they set foot in the Americas as enslaved labor. Throughout our new world history, Black men have endured injustices yet still fought with valor and conviction in the military for the United States of America, a country that expected them to die fi ghting for a liberty they could not experience. Stop killing our Black sons. America has failed Black

men because it has not lived up to its promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all its citizens. America has decided that Black men’s lives are disposable, and so it has built a prison industrial complex that privately profi ts from mass incarceration instead of spending that money on better public schools, on salaries for teachers who believe in their students, on job training and a youth service corps for unemployed urban and rural youth, and on inner city youth programs that encourage success and courage and instill pride, loyalty and respect. Stop killing our Black sons. Throughout our history Black men in America have been enslaved, lynched, used as strike breakers, incarcerated for petty crimes, discouraged from having big dreams, unemployed at three times the rate of white men, hired last and laid off fi rst, paid lower wages for the same work as white men, incarcerated longer and receiving harsher sentences for the same crimes as white men, ten times more likely to be stopped by the police for bogus reasons, stopped repeatedly and harassed for minor traffi c violations, and now they are routine target practice for police who take out their own white supremacy rage, their racism and sense of vigilante justice under the guise of protecting the public. Stop killing our Black sons. In Search of Domestic TranquilityFor the 60 something years I have lived, law enforcement or the police have never been viewed by the Black community as a source of protection. In truth, Black communities have felt the need to be protected from the very forces sworn to uphold justice. Police don’t respond to violence in Black communities with the same degree of commitment as they do to their own white communities. Too often white policemen have historically terrorized Black men whom they considered “uppity” through lynching and other means of regulating Black male bodies.

Lest you forget, not too far in the past it was policemen who upheld and reinforced segregation and sanctioned lynching. Lest you forget, it was policemen who occupied the highest ranks of the Klu Klux Klan and it was policemen who turned fi re hoses and unleashed dogs on peaceful Black civil rights demonstrators. Why should Black America trust the police? Their hands are soiled throughout history. Even recently with Black and Latino policemen among their ranks, there is no equal justice for our Black sons. Stepping into the police uniform renders these policemen of color senseless and they adopt the crowd mentality that all Black men are suspect, suspicious, thugs, druggies, anti-authoritarian hip hoppers, and in need of police control-- translation: they need to be beat down like beasts.

And so they kill our Black sons. The American Dilemma: A Divided America—Still“…if ever freedom is lost in America, that will be due to the omnipotence of the majority driving the minorities to desperation and forcing them to appeal to physical force.” Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1840 (my emphasis) Almost one hundred and seventy four years after de Tocqueville published his observation on America, we still see the desperation of which he spoke. Black men are thrown in jail for carrying small amounts of recreational drugs while white men in suburbia are sent to rehab. Police follow Black men around the streets without probable cause because they assume that all Black men are up to no good. Policemen even kill their own (a Black policeman) for fi ring a weapon when out of uniform because there is no such thing as a Black man with a legitimate reason for having a gun. Police routinely racially profi le Black men as a group, yet have not developed a profi le of the type of young white men most likely to commit mass murder at their schools. Stop killing our Black sons. Doing this kind of profi ling might require that they look in the mirror and acknowledge that there are a lot of angry white men wearing badges who resent the legislation and

changes in the country that they believe have reduced their white privilege and sense of entitlement. Many of these angry white men wear badges and may have been socialized from childhood to believe that the only good Black man is a dead one. No amount of Police Academy training can erase years of pent-up racism, white supremacy thinking, a sense of entitlement to white privilege and uncontrollable rage that it is a Black man who now holds the highest offi ce in the country. And while those white men who hide behind their Republican politics can refuse to speak to or respect this Black president, nothing can disguise the fact that they are acting out of white self-righteousness and a fundamental belief in Black inferiority that dates back to slavery. They would prefer to bring this country to its knees politically and economically than acknowledge and respect our Black president. Today is a day of mourning. Unfortunately, Michael Brown is not the fi rst, and he will not be the last Black son of America who dies. Michael Brown of Ferguson, Missouri has become an iconic symbol for the injustices that Black boys and men face, just as Emmett Till became almost sixty years ago. And Ferguson is not an anomaly as Dr. Kesho Scott,

SonsFrom 1

Minneapolis Urban League President Scott Gray delivered a well-balanced response in his Insight News exclusive interview, concerning the view from inside this national struggle. Repeating a quote from Gray in Part I of this series is key in noting his overall vision of solution – “There needs to be this new generation, where there truly is equality and justice for all. That is the goal; to get to that place.” Gray especially acknowledged the opportunity available in Minnesota to work towards that solution. “ ( A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n s ) should be embraced as a people in every city and every state, not in spotty pockets,” said Gray. “And part of that frustration is in our own community. We should be appalled as Americans (at the many cases of excessive force). In this town there is so much

possibility. So the question is, are we going to engage up front in this world class city?” The MUL CEO continued, “We’ve got a lot of work to do. Racial equity has to involve more talk outside of the norm. There are enough resources in this town to accelerate (efforts), but people have to stop worrying about having to give something up.” Speaking at length about past and present examples of engagement and training between the police and various levels of community leadership, Gray stressed, “We have to change the culture. We have to build a bridge to all communities. We have to love all communities like we love our own, and do things people can see. But it has to be intentional and authentic, and built on trust … we’re not going to fall for anything.” Noting the feelings within the community Gray said, “We have ownership in this community as well. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We’re a very patient community, but I don’t want to be a 70-year-old

man, still scared of the police or seen as intimidating. Nobody should be disrespected. And the sensitivity to our needs always comes late. Whether 68 (years old), or 16, we’re all human.” Harkening back to his days growing up in Milwaukee, Gray suggested the practice of community policing to cut down on community mistrust. “Somehow we’ve gotten away from that. I had all these eyes watching over me to stop situations like Ferguson, Mo.,” recalled Gray. “We need everybody to have a hand in that.” With regard to the specifi c local police brutality claim involving community organizer Al Flowers, Gray laid out a specifi c set of concerns to begin an overall agenda moving forward. “I hope (the incident) is investigated to the fullest,” said Gray. “I want to know what happened. I want to know about the policies and procedures, to understand what was appropriate. And I hope it brings about new ideas to build trust.”

GrayFrom 1

SONS TURN TO 6

America has failed Black men because it has not lived up to its

promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all its

citizens.

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Page 6 • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

COMMENTARYPolice the police with surveillance

From ‘hands up, don’t shoot’ to ‘hands up, vote’

Except for the Good Lord, everybody has someone or something to “check” him or her. Unfortunately, President Obama has an unresponsive Congress to check him, and Supreme Court to do the same. Elected offi cials are checked by voters (when they vote), and the Securities and Exchange Commission usually checks corporate crooks. Reputable media sources correct their errors and plagiarists lose their jobs. Everybody has to answer to somebody. There are consequences for everyone – except the police. At least that’s part of the story Sunil Dutta tells in an article he wrote for the Washington Post: “If you don’t want to get shot,

tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you. Don’t argue with me, don’t call me names, don’t tell me that I can’t stop you, don’t say I’m a racist pig. Don’t threaten that you’ll sue me and take away my badge. Don’t scream at me that you pay my salary, and don’t even think of walking aggressively walking towards me. Most fi eld stops are complete in minutes. How diffi cult is it cooperate for that long?”’ This is the police mentality — I have the power and you don’t so just shut the hell up and submit to any outrage. I have a badge and you don’t, so I have the right stop you while driving because you are too black and too young to have this new car. I have a right to stop you while you are running for the bus because you might, just might, have been running from a robbery. I have the right to harass you while you are standing still, just because. I have a right to talk to you rudely and belligerently. My badge gives me the ability to violate your rights.

Dutta, who served on the LAPD for 17 years and is now a professor of homeland security, acknowledges that cops can be wrong, and suggests that those who have “a beef” – “ask for a supervisor, lodge a complaint, or contact civil rights organizations. Feel free to sue the police!” he writes. Did he spend his LAPD years assigned to the Disneyland precinct? Given his demand that

people should just shut up and put up, Bugs Bunny would be sitting in the back of a blue and white. People of color have been gagged by the put up or shut up form of police brutality for far too long, being forced by fear to close eyes and ears to the beatings and killings of our people for any reason. Law enforcement offi cers moonlighted as Klan members (or is it the other way around)

from the post-Reconstruction era until the end of the civil rights era. People, don’t forget that. When African American southerners came west during World War II because work was plentiful, Oakland was among the cities that looked south for their new White police offi cers, people so adept at harassing Black people without reason that they didn’t need to be trained. One of the reasons the Black Panther Party was started was in resistance to police brutality. At one point, Panthers and others legally armed citizens with books of law, chose to help them evaluate police offi cers by following them as they so-called patrolled the streets. This did not stop police harassment, but it put a spotlight on it. It didn’t put enough of a spotlight for a group of rogue offi cers to beat and frame more than 100 people, and to cost the city millions to settle lawsuits that resulted from their actions. In 2003, the Oakland Police Department agreed to reforms, but they have come so slowly

that a federal judge is now supervising them. Ten years after a reform agreement, a judge has to step in? Oakland is not theonly police department that is defi cient, but what ties Oakland, Calif. to Ferguson, Mo. is policementality, not just brutality. How to stop the mentality that leads to brutality? Require every police offi cer to have a body camera, andinvalidate the arrests of those who do not wear one. Require every police vehicle to have a video camera. I can already hear people objecting to regulationsand requirements. I can hearothers saying we need to talk. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “the law will not make you love me but it will keep you from lynching me.” Talk later. Stop this madness by requiring electronic police supervision now. The police should be policed, they should have a system that checks them and protects us.

Julianne Malveaux is a D.C.- based economist and author.

Out of every momentous national tragedy that Black Americans have continued to endure in the United States, there has always emerged a redeeming moment to push harder and further on the long journey toward freedom, justice and equality. The continuing unrestrained fatal police killings of Black American males in St. Louis County, Missouri is now described as part of a national “open season” to kill Blacks in America. What should we do now? What is the redeeming action that should be taken? In the aftermath of the murders of Michael Brown, Eric Gardner, Trayvon Martin,

Jordan Davis and so many others, what should be our next course of action? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing in his last book, pointed the way. Writing in “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” Dr. King stated in 1967: “The persistence of racism in depth and the dawning awareness that Negro demands will necessitate structural changes in society have generated a new phase of white resistance in the North and South.’’ Dr. King’s prophetic words, written 47 years ago, are equally true today. With the “browning of America,” there has been a steady increase in racially-motivated police violence against Blacks and Latinos. The tragic murder of Michael Brown by police offi cer Darren Wilson in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson has reverberated around the world. It is just the latest example of a society that refuses to end racial oppression or acknowledge its racist past. I remember that Dr. King

responded to police brutality in the 1960s by telling his followers: “I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.” As we say of faith-witnessing in the Black church tradition, “Lord, have mercy, we sure have received a lot of unearned suffering…… now it is time for us to get some redemption.” This bring me to my central point. With all that is going on in Missouri, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, New York, California, Louisiana, Illinois, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere, we must transform our anger over police brutality,

poverty, and economic inequality into a massive voter turnout. We should be preparing right now in every voting precinct in every congressional district and in every state where we live to have an unprecedented high voter turnout this November. We did it in 2008 we did it in 2012 and we can do it again in 2014. Too often we live in communities where we have the potential margin of victory for local, congressional, statewide and national elections, but we simply do not go to the polls and vote, even though so many of our people died, bleed, went to jail, and “suffered” for us to get the right to vote. Having a right to vote is not enough. We all must exercise the right to vote not once but in every election. It’s extremely important that we do so this year because people expect us to because Obama’s name will not be on the ballot and mid-term voting is traditionally lower than in presidential

years. Voting our political, economic and spiritual interest is not only “redemptive,” it is also the right thing to do. Very often police offi cers are not prosecuted for acts of racial violence against Black Americans because locally “elected” prosecutors and district attorneys get elected and stay in offi ce because we do not vote at the rate that we should. Citizens in Ferguson, Mo., a community that is at least 2/3 African American, only vote at a rate of about 12 percent – about a third of their representation in the population. That is a terrible reality that must now change. Understand, I am not saying that voting in record numbers will solve all the problems that we face in America. But what I am saying clearly is that our failure to understand the power of the vote holds back our progress in the United States. I was so proud to see thousands of people marching nonviolently every day in

Ferguson in protest to Michael Brown’s murder. The unifi ed chant, “Hands Up, Don’tShoot,” captured the energy and aspirations of millions more throughout the country and indeed around the world. Let’s keep that energy going strong. Let’s remain vigilant, vocal and visible. As we move forward over the next 60 days, let’s also organize and mobilize to register to vote and to massively turnout the vote everywhere. Election Day should be Pay Back Day. Let’s also begin to chant “Hands Up, Vote!” Let’s make the difference.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the Interim President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached fornational advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http://drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc

Opinion

By Julianne Malveaux

Opinion

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

President, NNPA

Require every police offi cer to have a body camera, and

invalidate the arrests of those who do not wear one. Require every police vehicle to have a

video camera.

American Studies Professor at Grinnell College, reminds us; it can happen anywhere (http://iowapubl icradio .org/post /what-s-happening-ferguson-could-happen-anywhere) . Stop killing our Black sons. As the mother of a Black son, I weep not only for the mother of Michael Brown, I also weep for Trayvon Martin’s mother, and the mothers of all those young Black men who unjustly have fallen at the hands of America’s police. When will it stop? When will America regain its sanity as a society, and stop? Until there are answers, I will let my tears fall and mingle with those of the many Black mothers here and all over the world who have but one request: Stop killing our Black sons. Stop it. Now! Read More:http://w ww.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2357217/Time-change-Remarkable-black-white-pictures-1960s-bring-life-historical-events-intimate-moments-civil-rights-era.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080926105029.htm

http://www.newsweek.com/2014/08/29/why-militarized-police-departments-dont-work-265214.html

©2014 Irma McClaurinIrma McClaurin is the Culture and Education editor for Insight News. She is an activist anthropologist, writer and proponent of diversity leadership. She currently resides in Charlottesville, Va.

SonsFrom 5

including, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Oakland, Miami and other major metropolitan areas. Locally, eight nonprofit organizations received grants through the NeighborhoodLIFT Program for a total of $1,150,000. Beneficiaries include Home Ownership Center ($200,000), Minneapolis Urban League ($80,000) EMERGE ($80,000) Neighborhood Development Alliance ($80,000) Resource Inc. ($80,000) Build Wealth ($80,000) Hmong Partnership Group ($80,000) Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio ($80,000) and Twin Cities Public Television, which received the largest grant ($390,000) for financial education. In addition to providing down payment assistance … up to $30,000 depending on the market … LIFT requires program participants to attend home buying classes to better prepare buyers for the process of home buying and to help budget and maintain the home once the sale is closed. Participants in LIFT are obligated to remain in the home for a minimum of five years – a requirement that Smith-Moore said was put in place to achieve neighborhood stabilization. Home ownership and neighborhood stabilization are ideals very important to Smith-Moore. “I was born and raised on the Northside (of Minneapolis) and my mother (Kay Smith, a retired teaching aid) was a first generation home owner and she was able to purchase her home using a down payment assistance program,” said Smith-Moore, who now makes

her home in Brooklyn Park.” Smith-Moore, a graduate of Metropolitan State University, has been with Wells Fargo for 15 years,

rising from a customer service representative to vice president. In addition, the married mother of two sons in college is a licensed realtor

and has started a nonprofit, Positive Influence Mentoring, with the goal of mentoring teenage girls. Recently Smith-Moore was

featured in Black Enterprise for her work with the LIFT programs.

Smith-MooreFrom 1

insightnews.com Insight News • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Page 7

LIFESTYLEFerguson, Missouri: A change is going to come

Four steps to self-empowerment

Ferguson, Missouri is a community on the cusp of change. The shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African-American male killed after being shot multiple times by a Ferguson police offi cer, may be the catalyst for that change. I witnessed fi rst-hand what happens when people use their collective energy to enact change. I moved to Albany, Georgia in March of 1994, unaware of the revolution that was

about to happen. But in July of that year, a devastating fl ood hit Albany, a city of 80,000 people. Thousands of homes were destroyed, mostly in the Black community. Many in the Black community alleged that city and county offi cials deliberately diverted fl oodwater to their neighborhoods in order to save northern areas where affl uent white people lived. Local offi cials strongly denied this. But in an African American community molded by a history of powerlessness and perceived neglect, the rumors spread with the relentlessness of the fl oodwater. With 2/3 of the city composed of African Americans, we used the power of our numbers to enact change. We took to the streets and to the polls and that year won a majority of the seats on the city

commission. Albany did not stop there. Two years later, Janice Jackson was appointed by the majority Black city council as city manager. She later appointed a Black police

and fi re chief. In 2004, Albany voters chose their fi rst Black mayor, Dr. Willie Adams Jr. He defeated incumbent Mayor Tommy Coleman by garnering more than 60 percent of the vote,

which was equal to the number of its registered Black voters. This was revolutionary. Without violence or the aid of anyone outside of city, Albany, in one decade used their power at the polls to transform the mayor, city manager, police chief, fi re chief, and city council to people of color. Today, according to the 2010 US Census data, Albany is 71.6% Black. The demographics of the Albany Police Department are almost identical to the demographics of the city as a whole. 70 percent of APD’s sworn offi cers are African American. This revolutionary experience can be true for Ferguson as well. For Ferguson, a change is going to come, and they are primed for the change. Like Albany, the city is 2/3 Black, and like Albany,

statistics were revealed that the city’s racial makeup was not refl ected in its police department. Only 3 members of Ferguson’s 50+ police department is African American. Ferguson has the power to transform its future. When they take to the streets as well as the polls, they will revolutionize their city. In one decade, we should be able to use Ferguson, Missouri as an example that when people use the p ower that they already have, they gain more power. Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. To get copies of his books, for questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

What would it take for you to believe that all of your dreams could come true? What if I told you that with hard work and determination that it’s possible to become anything you set out to be? I want you to imagine for a moment being so powerful that every goal you set for yourself becomes a reality. Changing your

mind set is how you empower yourself to move beyond your current situation into a life of Self Empowerment. How often do you hear that “You are in charge of your own destiny?” If you never believed it before, I am going to show you how to make this a true fact for you. I would like to share with you the four steps that I use with my clients to help with their transformation from Self Pity to Self Empowerment.

1. Speak empowerment statements over your life.The way to change any situation is to first admit that it needs to be changed. It starts with a positive statement of what you want your life to

look like. You have to envision yourself being in complete control of your future. Say it often, write it down and repeat it until you believe it whole heartedly and you are not afraid to say it out loud. Speaking life into any situation brings it into reality. What you believe about yourself is who you become.

2. Surround yourself with positive people.If you want to be positive, you have to hang around positive people. That’s the bottom line! These are the people who are about taking control and making positive things happen. These individuals are not wasting time talking negative

and putting others down. They are the ones who always have a positive and encouraging word for you. They tell you to hold on when you are about to give up. They share their stories with you of how they achieved their goals and their success. If you don’t know anyone like this in your circle now, then it’s time to make a new circle.

3. Set short term attainable goals.Sometimes we need to start with goals that we can reach without much effort at all. (I shared this before) These are those goals that are small and won’t take long to achieve. These goals help to give us strength and the power to

move on to the larger goals without fear. What happens during this process is that we are building faith in ourselves and believing that anything is possible.

4. Beware of people and situations that promote negativity.As I spoke earlier about being around positive people, there is also negative energy that you must avoid. Negativity comes in many shapes and forms. It can come in the form of friends and loved ones. It could be on the job, or it could be the way you have looked at life for many years. Negative situations can draw you in and make you lose focus

of everything you’ve been working on to achieve. Keep your eyes open and beware of those people and situations. When you are trying to empower yourself, you need to know how to move away from those situations and how to be ready to fight when those situations arise.

And as always, stay focused, stay determined and keep striving for greatness.

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

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

MotivationalMoments

By Penny Jones-Richardson

population dynamics, and with Asia’s population growth set to slow markedly, Africa will increase its share of the world population to almost 25 per cent by mid-century and 39 per cent by the end of the century, up from just 9 per cent in 1950 and 16 per cent in 2015.” And as capitalists, U.S. business leaders see dollar signs. “I think they should have called it the US-Africa Business Summit, that’s what they should have called it,” said Bill Fletcher Jr., former president of TransAfrica, the nation’s oldest African American policy organization dedicated to a fair U.S. policy for Africa and the Diaspora. “If they had called it that, they would have been honest.” At the summit, held Aug. 4-6, President Obama announced that the federal government and U.S. companies are investing $33 billion in Africa – $12 billion in new commitments – as part of an overall plan to “take our trade with Africa to the next level.” There are enormous needs on the continent. According to a research brief by the African Development Bank:• 40 percent of the population

lacks access to safe water;• 60 percent of the population

lacks basic sanitation;• Only 30 percent of the rural

population in Sub-Saharan Africa has access to all-season roads;

• Transport costs in Africa are among the highest in the world;

• Only 30 percent of African population has access to electricity;

• Africa has the lowest telephone penetration – 14 percent (the world average is 52 percent).

• Africa has the lowest Internet penetration – 3 percent (the world average is 14 percent).

Coupled with those enormous needs is the realization that Africa has six of the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the world: Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique, and Rwanda. Moreover, from 2011-2015, Africa is expected to hold seven of the top 10 spots: Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Congo, Ghana, Zambia and Nigeria.With China investing more

than twice as much annually in Africa as the United States – $200 billion versus $85 billion – the U.S. has some major catching up to do. “Africa cut a deal around infrastructure – we need railroads, we need highways, we need ports, we need airports and the Chinese have no problem delivering this stuff,” said Mel Foote, president of Constituency for Africa, an Africa support group founded in 1990. “They delivered billions of dollars in development dollars that we were reluctant to do. They built the African Union headquarters, which is the most spectacular building on the continent. We’re sitting back twiddling our thumbs while China is looking out for China’s interests.” Fletcher said there is another aspect of the relationship between China and Africa that needs to be understood. “While there is a different Chinese foreign policy than existed under Mao [Zedong] versus today, one of the things that helps explain some of the relationships between China and Africa is China knows what it means to be raped,” he said. “Many of the African countries understand that. China experienced the brutality of the West. The United States is not standing on moral high grounds when it waves it’s fi nger at China. “Don’t get me wrong, I am not excusing a whole series

of things that the Chinese are doing there. But the bottom line is the U.S. does not stand in a position where it can preach to anybody. I don’t think Obama gets that.” Both Fletcher and Foote agree that Obama should not have excluded tyrannical leaders from the summit on Africa while inviting other dictators. “I thought he made a mistake by not inviting [Zimbabwe’s Robert] Mugabe,” Foote said. “I haven’t heard of him massacring his own people. I haven’t heard of him enriching himself. He just stayed too long and didn’t do what we wanted him to do.” Fletcher stated, “I’m no fan of Robert Mugabe – I lost faith in him a long time ago. Yet my attitude is that he is a leader on the continent and if Mbasago of Equatorial Guinea was represented, Zimbabwe should have been there.” In addition to not inviting Mugabe, Obama also refused to invite Omar al-Bashir, president of Sudan; Catherine Samba-Panza, interim president Central African Republic and Isaias Afewerki, president of Eritrea. Fletcher said, “I felt like the African nations – the entire AU – basically should have said, ‘Either all of us are going to be there or none of us are going.’” Mel Foote, president of the Constituency for Africa, said the summit will forever alter

how America views Africa. Even more important, he said, was U.S. support for emerging leaders of African countries. “This generation that’s coming up clearly wants to see good governance, clearly wants to see market-based economics, clearly wants to see science and technology deployed,” said Foote. “In the long term, it’s going to be these young people coming up – folks 20 to 40 – who will not put up with the foolishness that we’ve seen since these countries emerged from independence. “Other presidents had the opportunity to call such a summit but they didn’t,” Foote said. “He [Obama] will be seen as the guy who transformed relationships with Africa. That will be his legacy.” Bill Fletcher, who said the gathering should have been called the US-Africa Business Summit, sees it differently. “There should have been broader objectives,” he said. “There remains signifi cant issues of confl ict and resolution in the Great Lakes region of the continent, like the eastern

DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo]. There remains a confl ict in South Sudan and in Dafour. There’s the continued Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. These are all things around which there really could have been some interesting discussions and possibly some off-the-record

negotiations. “If the U.S. really wanted to be the honest broker, it could have helped begin some type of mediation exchanges. But that’s not really what happened.” [NEXT: Issues in Africa beyond trade]

AfricaFrom 1

Ferguson has the power to transform its future. When they

take to the streets as well as the polls, they will revolutionize

their city.

Page 8 • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) continues to see positive trends in MCA results for almost all student subgroups in reading, math and science. One of the more notable academic improvements was among students who participated in last school year’s mid-year strategies, an increase of six percentage points. Additionally, student gains in both reading and math at grades fi ve and eight signifi cantly outpaced those at the state level. District-wide math and science results increased one percent, while reading results remained steady. “We are hopeful that this trajectory of growth will continue as we redouble our efforts to accelerate student achievement through proven

strategies,” said Dr. Bernadeia H. Johnson, superintendent of schools. “We have set a strong foundation through our focused work in recent years, and as we embark on a new school year with a new strategic plan (Acceleration 2020), we must instill more of a sense of urgency across the school district. We need more than incremental gains.” MPS remains confi dent and optimistic about the research-based plans and strategies that have been implemented over the past couple of years. As an example, the school district experienced six percent greater growth for students that participated in last school year’s mid-year academic and social emotional strategies than non-participants with similar

characteristics. This includes the school district’s fi rst-ever Spring Break Academy, which was implemented in spring 2014 to increase learning time for students. Many factors contributed to the students’ success in this program, including highly skilled teachers; a strong emphasis on identifying defi cits and academic skills; and a deliberate focus on social-cognitive skills, such as persistence, grit, motivation and belief in self. “It is critical that we learn from success stories and work with urgency to replicate proven practices across the school district,” Johnson said. “We are expanding successful strategies, like the Spring Break Academy, co-teaching

and more reading and math specialists this school year.” Among the school district’s investments to accelerate growth is a $9.4 million commitment to increase the number of specialists and

interventionists in schools k-12 from 63 to 104, including reading and math at every high school. From 2009-12 (reading) and 2011-14 (math), MPS experienced solid growth associated with the work of

content-based specialists. Expanding successful models of coaching and intervention in reading and math will deliver direct service to students and/or coach other teachers in accelerating growth.

EDUCATION

All-day kindergarten across Minnesota

Minneapolis school district shows positive trends in reading, math, science

School districts across Minnesota are getting ready this week for all-day kindergarten. For the fi rst time in the state’s history, all school districts can now offer all-day kindergarten for every student, free of charge. In 2013, Gov. Mark Dayton and state lawmakers invested $134 million in an effort to offer free all-day kindergarten statewide. Thanks to new investments made by the governor, every Minnesota kid will be able to attend all-day kindergarten free of charge. Parents in some school districts will save as much as $4,200 this year. Proponents of all-day kindergarten say it has a proven trackrecord of success, preparing young learners for success in school, and cite numerous studies done over the past two decades that show all-day kindergarten programs consistently lead to better preparedness for students and higher achievement over

the long term. Proponents also say all-day kindergarten will help narrow the achievement gap saying the program leads to higher academic achievement and reduced achievement gaps between students of different socioeconomic groups. Studies suggest, students who benefi t from all-day kindergarten have a lesser need for additional help in later years and face a decreased likelihood of having to repeat a grade, receive remedial support or be referred to special education programs. Further studies suggest, children who complete all-day kindergarten are better-prepared to learn when they get to fi rst grade and have a stronger grasp of appropriate behavior and learning skills, and the transition to grade school is much easier for them. Last school year, all-day kindergarten was only available for free to 54 percent of Minnesota students.

Tips to make playtime educational and fun(StatePoint) Playtime should be fun, but who says it can’t also be benefi cial to kids? From imaginative play that expands creativity to toys that develop crucial motor skills, kids’ play can be a time when learning and fun go hand in hand. “Children don’t need to be in a classroom for quality learning to take place,” says Dr. Lise Eliot, early childhood development expert and author. “In fact, opportunities to promote mental and physical development can happen anywhere, anytime.” Here are a few ideas for maximizing playtime: • Make Music: Playing music can help kids be creative and expressive, as well as promote coordination. But some kids may be reluctant to participate if it feels like work. If there’s resistance to formal music education, don’t nix the idea entirely. Stock your playroom with a keyboard, tambourine and other kid-friendly instruments and let kids explore music on their own terms. • Cool Toys: “Look for fun toys that encourage problem-solving, engage children in imaginative play and develop fi ne motor skills

and spatial reasoning,” says Eliot. For example, VTech’s Go! Go! Smart Wheels and Go! Go! Smart Animals capture the best of both worlds: traditional role-play infused with modern technology, for engaging, imaginative learning. Each playset features SmartPoint locations that can be recognized by every vehicle and animal. As a vehicle or animal is rolled over a playset’s various SmartPoints, it will fl ash and play greetings, fun sounds, short tunes and sing-along songs for a multi-sensory learning experience that evokes kids’ imaginations. More information can be found at www.VTechKids.com. • Outdoor Games: For some fresh air, and at the same time to encourage hand-eye coordination and learning number fun, get outdoors to play some classic games like hopscotch, jacks or marbles. Encourage kids’ creative side, by having them come up with an idea for their own game, complete with rules and a scoring system. When it comes to playtime, there’s no need to put learning on the back burner!

Family Day Parade 11:00 a.m.(Route: Golden Valley road from Xerxes to Girard, heading south on Girard to Plymouth Avenue, and turning right onto Plymouth Avenue and ending at Logan.)

Featuring:

“March of Solidarity” to promote peace and unity as a final commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of

the Civil Rights Act

SATURDAYSATURDAYSeptember 27September 27thth

20142014

EventPartners:

Want to be a Sponsor? Contact Erica Carver at Erica@cJAIevents.com

Plus EEvening Concert with surprise performance from national recording Group!

2014 SPONSORS*

Vendor Fair and Main Stage 12-8:00 p.m. Featuring:

Food, merchandise and resource vendors Local talent performancesChildren’s playground with live animals, inflatables

and family activitiesHealth, wellness and fitness exhibitions

PARENTING

insightnews.com Insight News • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Page 9

COMMUNITY

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

The Vikings may surprise in 2014

99 West: New discount clothing store in St. Paul

Twin Cities to host ‘Rail~Volution’ conference

The Vikings have Adrian Peterson. The organization has a history of breaking hearts, but they have Adrian Peterson, so it ain’t all bad. Prognosticators have already revised their previous 2014 Vikings predictions, due to the impressive way the team has performed in the pre-season. But while most are being non-committal to say just how good the team might be, I’ll call out the Vikings to be one of the big surprises in the NFL this season – not surprise as in Super bowl surprise, but surprise like, go ahead and blow that Viking horn and enjoy a winning season kind of surprise. Teams such as the Baltimore Ravens of 2000 and 2012, or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 2002, have proven that defense does indeed win championships. Incredible offense establishes dynasties, but defense can get the championship monkey off the

back of a long failing franchise. Besides defense, balance wins championships. Offense, defense, and special teams are needed to win in NFL playoff games. Great Viking teams such as that of the 15-1 record 1998 team had these qualities. In the upcoming 2014 Vikings campaign, it goes something like this for offense, defense and special teams: Offense – While I would love to repeat the name of Adrian Peterson and drop the microphone, so to speak, at the very least, two other offensive players deserve mention. Second year wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson looks to be a young Viking phenom like many before him (see Percy Harvin, Randy Moss, and yes, Peterson). Finding these types of talents is part of the consistent attraction of the Viking franchise; it’s what they do. But besides fl ashy running backs and game-changing wide receivers, a tight end is often the saving grace of winning teams. Kyle Rudolph quietly made the Pro-Bowl in the 2012-2013 season, and then proceeded to win the Pro-Bowl MVP award that year. Quarterback inconsistency and spotty injuries have hampered Rudolph’s full potential – though in life there is generally a hard road to achieve

one’s full potential. New offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, has championship pedigree, historic respect within the league, and is known to make tight ends shine. If veteran quarterback Matt Cassel – who was recently anointed as

the starter versus rookie Teddy Bridgewater – can protect the ball and take advantage of the team’s talented trio, then the remaining talent on the squad should be more than enough to keep the offense moving.

Defense – New Viking Head Coach Mike Zimmer is known for defense. He is also known to develop a successful culture for his players to thrive. We’ll see about all of that, but Zimmer certainly has the pieces on

defense to produce a successful campaign. Though several players on the Vikings defense deserve a nod of confi dence, including rookie linebacker Anthony Barr, it is the team’s pick up of veteran cornerback Captain Munnerlyn that may tip the scales in favor of the team’s defensive fortunes. Munnerlyn possesses the type of savvy ability that makes plays when plays need to be made. If the Vikings defensive line can surprise by producing a successful pass rush, in spite of losing perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to the Chicago Bears, then the players on the back end of the defense are the types that make plays; and that’s a very good thing. Special Teams – Interestingly, besides the Superman talent of Patterson, it is the quietly steady production from former Minnesota Gopher, andRochester native Marcus Sherels that ensures a steady return game. Kicker Blair Walsh has a strong and generally accurate kicking leg. The Vikings’ bases are covered. All together the Vikings are well balanced in 2014 … and they have Adrian Peterson. If good health is on their side, I’m calling their record to be 11-5. We’ll deal with the playoffs when they get there.

99 West, a clothing liquidator featuring brand new department store apparel & shoes with steeply discounted prices opens in St. Paul. Shortly after the Walgreens closed at 99 Maryland Avenue West (the corner of Rice & Maryland), the building owners, two retired elementary school teachers, began remodeling the retail space for a new tenant – 99 West. The owners’ research indicated that there is a large

need for apparel & shoes within a 2 mile radius of this location. With the only signifi cant options in this market being stores selling used clothing, the plan was to offer a distinct alternative. So... on July 2, 2014, they opened 99 West with an abundant inventory of heavily discounted brand new overstock family apparel & shoes from 4 national department store chains. Since opening, they have expanded even further

with additional suppliers and a more diversifi ed inventory – now including bedding, gift cards and some jewelry. The inventory will be continually tailored to more closely meet the needs and desires of its shoppers. 99 West has 11 employees, most of whom live in the immediate neighborhood. Highland Bank has provided SBA funding to assist with this startup.

The transit-rich Twin Cities will further bolster its dedication to multi-modal transit by hosting the 20th annual Rail~Volution conference, Sept. 21 – 24. Organizers say the national conference will provide a space for citizens and elected offi cials to share knowledge, spark ideas and encourage discussion surrounding transportation and how it can connect and enrich communities across the nation. More than 300 communities from across the nation will

meet to discuss equitable and environmentally sustainable transportation and economic development that accompanies it. The four-day Rail~Volution event will feature more

than 80 presentations and discussions by such notables as Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon congressman and founder of Rail~Volution; Therese McMillan, acting administrator for the Federal

Transit Administration and Rip Rapson, president of the Kresge Foundation in Detroit. At workshops, city planners from around the nation, including Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco,

will provide insights into how they are transforming livable communities via transportation options. Organizers say a highlight of the conference will be 24 mobile workshops where attendees

will travel throughout the TwinCities to get an upfront and personal encounter with TwinCities people, neighborhoods and cultural attractions.Workshops will showcase the local urban farming movement, transportation equity, integrating transit into sports facilities and hospitals and many other transit and development features uniqueto the Twin Cities. For more information about Rail~Volution and visit www.railvolution.org.

Moments in Sports

By Ryan T. Scottryan@insightnews.com

Mike MorbeckAdrian Peterson

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

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

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

RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE

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

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

FOR RENT2 bedrooms, Hiawatha neighborhood, 1100 sq ft, hardwood fl r, great for roommates, call 612-559-1043.

This position, located in the Department of Human Services’Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, oversees the development andimplementation of statewide methodology for reimbursable ratesfor addiction treatment services. The incumbent will provide con-tinued oversight and monitoring of the Consolidated ChemicalDependency Treatment Fund, assure conformity with Federal andState law, and make sure that the implemented methodology pro-vides accountability for levels of patient acuity and complexity.

A Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, plus 3 years of manageri-al or supervisory experience required. Advanced degree in a job-related field preferred.

STATE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR DIRECTOR

St. Paul, MN$28.27-$40.72 hourly

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Full details at: www.mn.gov/careersposting 14DHS001662

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly Employer

APARTMENT OPENINGSDelton Manor located in Bemidji, MN is ac-cepting applications for future 1, 2, & 3 Bedrm apartment openings. Delton Manor has 3 two-bedrm handicapped accessible units located in the building. Delton Manor promotes equal housing opportunities for all perspective resi-dents regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual preference, religion, handicap, mari-tal status, familial status, national origin or source of income. For applications and quali-fi cations, contact NANCY at 218-759-2523. AN EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

TownhomesAvailableFieldcrest inMoorhead, MN

Rent based on 30%of income

2 & 3 bdroms open

MetroPlainsManagement

701-232-1887

www.metroplains-management.com

FOOD SERVICE Volunteers of America, MN

Line Supervisor for Senior Dining. Serve the noon meal to Seniors

M thru F -3110 Blaisdell Ave S, MplsHours 8:30-1:30 Pay $11.79Apply: clarew@voamn.org

Church assistant and pianist/singer

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

Minnesota Council of ChurchesDATABASE AND COMMUNICATIONS

ASSISTANT, 20 hoursMaintain database and coordinate users. Assist in coordinating web, email, social media, and printed communications. OPEN UNTIL FILLED http://www.mnchurches.org/about/employment.html 612-230-3204

Courtroom Deputy The U.S. District Court, District of MN is ac-cepting applications for a full-time Courtroom Deputy. This position will be located in St. Paul. Salary range is $44,713 - $79,899. For com-plete job description, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Operations Generalist – MinneapolisThe U.S. District Court, District of MN is ac-cepting applications for a full-time Opera-tions Generalist in our Minneapolis location. Salary range is $40,617 - $66,019. For com-plete job description, visit the court’s web-site www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Hiring Executive Director for Small Non-Profi t

A Minnesota without Poverty (AMWP) is seek-ing a seasoned, strategic and forward think-ing individual to be Executive Director as the organization moves into the next phase(s) of its strategic plan to end poverty in Minnesota.

AMWP is a statewide leader in the movement to end poverty in Minnesota, using the power of collaboration, diverse constituencies, and volunteers. The ideal candidate is a non-profi t leader with substantial experience directing advocacy organizations for policy change with statewide impact. The ability to raise funds and develop a sustainability plan for the organization is key, as well as the ability to positively interact with diverse groups, both urban and rural, facilitate collaborations, man-age volunteers, and think strategically. This is a full-time position beginning October 1, 2014.

To apply, please view the full posting with contact information on our website at www.mnwithoutpoverty.org/resources/documents.html.

LOVE PEOPLE?

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

EOE/AA

Page 10 • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

Urbane Exposure uses concert to attract African-Americans and African-American volunteers to Minneapolis Parks Goapele, Martin Luther, Theresa Payne to headline

Minneapolis is home to some of the most beautiful, scenic parks in the nation. Th e parks operated by the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board … 197 in total … off er hiking, biking, golfi ng, fi shing, boating and yes, the occasional concert. But for whatever reason, all of the area’s residents aren’t taking advantage of what the Parks Board has to off er. Although the data isn’t clear and the reasons unknown, many African-Americans are not utilizing the parks, and even fewer are volunteering with the many programs – several geared towards youth – which the Parks Board oversees. With Urbane Exposure, the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board hopes to change all of that. Urbane Exposure, a collaborative eff ort between the Minneapolis Parks &

Recreation Board and Th ee Urbane Life – a lifestyle company geared towards area urban professionals – takes place on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Father Hennepin Bluff s Park, 420 Main St. SE, just east of downtown Minneapolis and connected to the iconic Stone Arch Bridge. Th e family oriented event features soul/neosoul/R&B stars Goapele, Martin Luther (formerly of the Roots) and Th eresa Payne. In addition to the concert there will be an infl atable play area for kids, face painting and food and merchandise vendors. Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board hopes to sign up 500 adult volunteers during the four-hour event. Goapele With her eagerly anticipated forthcoming new album, “Strong As Glass,” Goapele is once again at the forefront of the soul/neosoul music scene. Oakland-born Goapele burst onto the scene

in 2002 with her smash hit, “Closer.” “Closer” has endured as a fan favorite and remains in heavy rotation on radio stations throughout the globe. Goapele, who has collaborated with Dwele, E40, Hieroglyphics and Eric Benet (whose label she’s now signed to), is blazing urban airwaves with her new single, “Hey Boy.” Additional hits from Goapele include “Romantic,” “Catch 22,” “Change it All,” “First Love,” “Tears on My Pillow,” and “Play.” Martin Luther When the legendary group the Roots brings you in as a member, you must be pretty darn good. Martin Luther is pretty darn good. Also from the Bay Area – San Francisco – Martin Luther debuted in 2004 with his album, “Rebel Soul Music,” which spawned the single “Daily Bread.” A talented guitarist and soulful singer

CONCERT TURN TO 12

Photos courtesy of the artists

Theresa Payne

Martin Luther

Goapele

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

insightnews.com Insight News • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Page 11

Douglas R. Ewart & Quasar premiere new concert series at The East Side Freedom Library

Flow Art Space presents Merrill Steiger “Dreamland”

Th e East Side Freedom Library, a new Twin Cities research library and cultural venue located in a historic St. Paul Carnegie library will launch a performance series with composer and instrument builder, Douglas R. Ewart. Ewart and his multi-disciplinary ensemble, “Quasar, Songs of Tranquility” will be presented on Sunday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m., at 1105 Greenbrier St., St. Paul. Th e East Side Freedom Library (ESFL), founded by scholar and educators Peter Rachleff and Beth Cleary will focus on working class history, immigration history, African-American history and ways of representing those histories — in performance through music and visual art. First in the ESFL concert series, “Quasar,

Songs of Tranquility” willembody the sonic creationof quiet environments. Th eperformance will featureancient instruments such asthe didgeridoo and mbira aswell as movement and soundscreated by new technologies.Th e concert will combinethese ancient, present andfuturistic sounds. “We will off er a departure from the anxiety-ridden ratrace – a respite from alwaysbeing pressed for time, anda release from the constantwrestling with security, desireand the acquisition materialthings,” said Ewart. Featured artists include Mankwe Ndosi, Leah Nelson,Jacqueline Ultan, Carei Th omas, Stephen Goldsteinand Ewart. For more information, call (651) 774-8687.

In September Flow Art Space presents in its main gallery the paintings of world traveler Merrill Steiger in her solo exhibition Dreamland. Steiger’s Dreamland is an amalgamation of places and cultures that explore the dualities of science and religion. As an admirer of Buddhist teachings and philosophy, Steiger has visited many countries and observed their places of worship. New places and mental spaces envision worlds colliding and melding together in

unexpected ways. You can preview several pieces in this show at www.fl owartspace.com. Sendero Flamenco will perform at Flow Art Space Friday, September 5 at 8 pm during the First Friday event. http://sendero-fl amenco.com/Also featured in the foyer and entry galleries – a selection of work from Lowertown artists. Kristi Abbott, Winna Bernard, Dolan Cyr, Rene Ellis, Barbara Evan, Ann Larson, Todd Peterson, and Stephen Workman will be on view in

the entry and foyer galleries. Flow Art Space is located in the Northern Warehouse in Lowertown at 308 Prince St., Suite 226 St Paul MN, 55101. Entry to the gallery is free. Metered street parking is free after 5 pm and paid parking lots surround the building and are an easy 1- block walk. A passenger elevator is available. On Saturday and Sunday only during this exhibition, Metro Transit is offering free rides to and from St Paul Art Crawl venues. Go to www.artcrawl.

org to print your free passes. Dreamland will be on view Wed - Fri 12-5 pm, Sat 11-4 and by appointment by calling 612-564-3569. Flow Art Space is closed between exhibitions. FAS opened in Northeast Minneapolis in October 2011 and moved to Lowertown St Paul in 2013. Th e space presents a variety of juried group and solo exhibitions. For more information, contact Melissa Metzler at FAS 612-564-3569 or art@fl owartspace.com

Courtesy of the artistDouglas Ewart

“Watching from the Other Side” 36” x 48” acrylic on canvas

Monday, Sept. 1Chillwave/Electronic

Washed Out First Avenue 701 1st Ave. $16 advance, $18 door

Blurring the genre lines chillwave artists heavily process their voices and instruments using loops and more. Chillwave is infl uenced by hip-hop but in it’s own category. Washed Out gained much notoriety providing the theme song for the television program “Portlandia.”

Tuesday, Sept. 2

World

Salif KeitaDakota Jazz Club 1750 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis7 p.m.$50

Salif Keita has an amazing story. Salif Keita gave up a lot to pursue his dreams of a career in music. Born albino, he was cast out by his family and ostracized by the community. In Mandinka culture albinism is seen as a sign of bad luck and there are beliefs that it’s a mark of the devil. Stop down to the Dakota to hear his extensive catalog.

Wednesday, Sept. 3 NEO SOUL

Soul Beautiful Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis8 p.m. – 1 p.m. $521-plus

Soul Beautiful is an indie neo-soul band that represents Awareness. Th e group’s songs refl ect peace, intention, positive vibrations, presence,

victory over the struggles of everyday life and balance.

Thursday, Sept. 4 COMEDY/AWARENESS

Giant Steps Pre Party w/ Katrina Pope, Danami and Th e BlueIcehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Celebrate the kick-off for the 5th Annual Giant Steps creative entrepreneur conference.

“Th e conference consists of many creative entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial creatives including a mix of chefs, designers, dancers, architects, photographers, artists, playwrights, fi lm-makers, inventors, hip-hop artists and more. Th is is the perfect opportunity to network or re-connect. Guest performers include Atlanta based comedienne, Katrina Pope, Danami and the Blue and DJ Kevin Beacham.

Friday, Sept. 5

DANCE/HIP-HOP

Retirement/Blowout for J. Love the Soundsmith Honey205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis10 p.m.

Aft er several decades of spinning, battling, and mixing, J. Love the Soundsmith, or Jeff Love, as known to some friends and family, is bringing his professional DJing career to an end aft er 30 years. Celebrate his many contributions to the music scene along with King Otto and Espada.

Saturday, Sept. 6 NEO SOUL/R&B

Goapele, Martin Luther and Th eresa Payne Father Hennepin Bluff s Park 420 Main St. SE, Minneapolis 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. All agesNo Cover

Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board along with Th ee Urbane Life proudly present Urbane Exposure

featuring Goapele, Martin Luther and Th eresa Payne. Th is free event takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Father Hennepin Bluff s Park at the corner of Main Street and SE 6th Avenue (just east of downtown Minneapolis in historic St. Anthony Main). In addition to the concert, there will be vendors, face painting, infl atable playground for the kids and much more. Th e goal of this historic event is to introduce (or reintroduce) urban professionals to the many wonderful amenities provided by the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board. In addition, Parks & Rec. is looking to recruit several volunteers to work with youth via the Park Board.

REGGAE/DANCEHALL

Mr. Vegas Th e Cabooze917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis9 p.m. 18-plus$20 advance, $25 door

From “Heads High” (1998) to the newest “Party Tun Up” (2013) and “Bruk it Down” (2014), Mr. Vegas has assembled an unshakable string of international classic reggae and dancehall

releases including Billboard hits highlighting his career progression for the last two decades. DJ Don Dadda will also be DJing

Tickets are available at www.ticketfl y.com/purchase/event/649585?utm_medium=bks

Sunday, Sept. 7

HIP-HOP

Lil Bibby Fineline Music Café 318 1st Ave N., Minneapolis 8 p.m. $20 GA, $40 VIP

Chicago rapper Lil Bibby was recently featured on XXL’s “Freshman” cover, and his debut mixtape “Free Crack” features production from Hit-Boy and Young Chop.

BLUES

Buddy Guy w/ Robert Randolph and Th e Family BandState Th eater 805 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis7 p.m. $48.50 – $58.50

Buddy Guy, the Grammy award-winning blues guitarist from Chicago, known for his boundless guitar talents and passionate vocals, will be accompanied at the State Th eater by pedal steel guitarist, Robert Randolph, and his rock soul group Th e Family Band. Th e two musicians have collaborated in the past on two of Guy’s albums; “Bring ‘Em In” in 2005 and “Skin Deep” in 2008. “Skin Deep” debuted at number one on the Blues Albums chart and remained at the top for three weeks. Th is fall they bring their talents back to the Midwest for a show that is sure to impress and inspire.

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

Sept. 1- 7

Robert Randoph and the Family Band

Katrina Pope

SalifKeita

MrVegas Goapele

Page 12 • September 1 - September 7, 2014September 1 - September 7, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

A gas station is transformed, West Broadway enlivened by more public art

If one takes transit, walks or drives down West Broadway in north Minneapolis, one may have noticed a change at the corner of Fremont Avenue North. Over the course of eight days in July, Broadway & Fremont Food and Fuel at 1120 West Broadway was transformed from a nondescript white building into a bold piece of public art. Coinciding with the 9th Annual FLOW Northside Arts Crawl, local artist Chris Williams painted a colorful abstract mural that spans the building walls, doors and station canopy. Fitting in well with the neighboring Juxtaposition Arts campus, the mural-covered gas station strengthens the West Broadway block’s standing as perhaps the most striking public art gallery in the Twin Cities. Th e exciting project came together thanks to the artist’s creative energy, business owner Nabil Aladimi’s enthusiasm and fi nancial and logistical support from the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC), which leads initiatives to bring businesses, non-profi t organizations and neighbors together to create an inviting and vital West Broadway corridor. “Right when I moved to North (Minneapolis) I saw the (Broadway and Fremont) gas station and thought it would be awesome to paint a mural on it … I knew I could bring it life,” said Williams, an artist that works in various mediums. A Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduate, Williams has lived throughout Minneapolis

for a decade and moved to the Northside over a year ago. “We’ve been planning to do a full remodel, but waiting to get the funds together,” said business owner Aladimi. In July, WBC staff introduced Aladimi and Williams and encouraged Aladimi to take advantage of the Façade Improvement Program, a matching grant program funded by the city of Minneapolis and the McKnight Foundation. “We fi gured we could do this fi rst step,” said Aladimi. Erin Heelan, executive director of the WBC, spoke of the organization’s ongoing work to use art as a community and economic development strategy. “One of the most exciting things we do at the WBC is help connect local artists with business owners,” said Heelan. “Small business owners are incredibly busy; it can be hard to fi nd the time and budget to make updates to their storefront, or they don’t know where to start. With the Façade Improvement Program, we can help them overcome those obstacles, and everyone benefi ts.” Sami Alabed, Aladimi’s associate and manager at Broadway & Fremont Food and Fuel, worked with the artist during the project. “It’s great, something we never thought we would do, but it looks a lot better. Th e art grabs people’s attention. Some customers take pictures in front of the walls,” said Alabed. Aladimi, Alabed and Williams all remarked that working together and the grant process went very smoothly. “Usually the biggest obstacle is working with the owner of a building because they are more cautious,” said Williams. “But everyone at the gas station was

really cool. At the end I gave everyone that works there a painting.” Neither Alabed or Aladimi was interested in micromanaging William’s design for the gas station.

“I said, ‘Go for it.’ He knows what he’s talking about and I don’t want to interfere with his professional work,” said Alabed. Williams said the fi rst day he began work on the completely white building, some people

passing by were skeptical of what they saw as random splashes of paint. “When I outlined the colors in black, people started to get it.” Th e community’s response to Williams’ completed transformation of Broadway & Fremont Food and Fuel has

been overwhelmingly positive according to the artist, business owner and WBC staff . Refl ecting on this work, Williams said, “People respond to colors and shapes. With this mural, there are lots of diff erent ways to get it; that’s what I love about abstract art.”

Before, in process and complete mural

Photos: Rob HansonCompleted 1120 West Broadway Mural

By Shaina Brassard, West Broadway Business and Area Coalition

with a mellow, raspy voice, Martin Luther was recently featured on the Queen Latifah Show, where she raved about his new song, “Finally” – a song that reunites Luther with Roots drummer, Questlove – saying, “His (Luther’s) smooth, strong and sensitive voice will have you pressing the replay button on this feel-good track.” Th eresa Payne Minnesotans may not yet know who Th eresa Payne is, but they’re soon about to learn. Payne may not have a name in Minnesota, but in her hometown of St. Louis, Payne is the queen. A two-time R&B/Soul Artist of the Year (Riverfront Times), and Budweiser Superfest winner, Payne has performed with Jill Scott, Eric Roberson,

Anthony David and N’Dambi.Payne, who recently appearedon NBC’s “Th e Voice” has asound that transcends genres.Blending soul, gospel, hip-hopand even opera, Payne is one ofmusic’s true treasures. Also on the bill are DJ DanSpeak, Lia Renee Dior andnewcomer, Chirch. Area childdance troops will also entertainthe crowd. Father Hennepin Bluff sPark, 420 Main St. SE, is justeast of downtown Minneapolison historic St. Anthony Mainand connected to the StoneArch Bridge. Nearby parkingis available and a free shuttlewill run from DeLaSalle HighSchool to and from the park. Urbane Exposure issponsored by Insight News,Lupient Kia/ Bargain Lot Northand KMOJ Radio. For more information, visitwww.facebook.com/events/1502875053283078/?ref=br_tf

ConcertFrom 10