Insight News ::: 01.12.15

Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) members accompanied by the head of Minneapolis Branch NAACP (January 6) participated in shareholder consideration of the merger of Medtronic and Covidien. In a meeting Tuesday morning shareholders of Medtronic, a global medical technology company based in Minneapolis, voted to acquire an Irish-based fi rm, Covidien. Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak

Part II As to this point, one more time, “race” as we know it in our language and perception is a modern idea (spread wide and rapidly within the last 350 years). It begins almost imperceptively with the Columbus myth of discovering

America in 1492. “Race” is a European social invention, which passed for “science” until quite recently in human history. The idea of “race” grows out of the thinking of modern Europe, which uses skin color and a combination of other physical traits to determine the “race” and worth of human beings. It goes thusly, groups of people uniformly inherit certain traits or characteristics; physical, intellectual, spiritual and emotional according to “race.” Furthermore, such traits are transmitted by genes, which are static and

Insight News Editor-in-Chief Al McFarlane calls Senator Jeff Hayden and Senator Bobby Joe Champion the “Dynamic Duo”. They are the only two African-American senators of the 67-member Minnesota Legislature. Despite facing numerous challenges in an otherwise all-white arena, the distinguished gentlemen from districts 59 and 62 are true representatives of the communities they serve demonstrating quality and integrity in all they do. Hayden (DFL-62) has advocated and fought for progressive political change

HealthMaking fi tness a new year’s resolution

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CommunityWE WIN scholars research harm caused by tobacco

PAGE 9

LifestyleThis year, resolve to get in the way

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CommentaryEd Brooke doesn’t get his due

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Mshale urges expansion of Kenya embassy services

Rainbow Push: Medtronic merger should include U.S. infrastructure investment incentives

Repatriating corporate capital

RaceA modern idea

Kenya’s new ambassador to the United States, Robinson Njeru Githae, held a high level discussion with Mshale founder and publisher, Tom Gitaa, at the embassy last week. Ambassador Githae presented his letter of appointment from President Uhuru Kenyatta to US president Barack Obama last month. Gitaa was in town for meetings at the Smithsonian and Newseum. The two institutions for the fi rst time launched an exhibit called “News for All” at the Newseum and named Mshale among “100 Most Infl uential Ethnic Media in America.” In reaffi rming the embassy’s commitment to serving all Kenyans in the United States, Githae noted that the Embassy/US Kenyan community relationship has deepened

following recent initiatives such as the issuing of Kenyan identity cards. “There is room for improvement and we are working hard on it,” he said. Githae is a former Finance Minister in president Mwai Kibaki’s administration. Gitaa urged the ambassador to continue building on the capacity of the embassy to serve Kenyans in a timely manner and to build ongoing relationships with them around the country. “This might need more resources than is currently allocated to the embassy,” Gitaa said, adding Githae’s predecessor Ambassador Elkanah Odembo had worked hard on the engagement aspect and it will be critical to build on it. “How best to serve the

Diaspora here in the US is very important to me and we defi nitely want to do what is best according to your needs,” ambassador Githae said. Jane Miano Mugweh who is the Head Chancery at the Kenya Embassy also attended the meeting.

ConsulatesOn the establishment of new consulates that has been in discussion for many years particularly in states with a high concentration of Kenyans, the ambassador reiterated president Kenyatta’s promise that this is in progress and “will happen.” The president while visiting the US during the White House US-Africa Summit in the summer

Year end review: Politics in MinnesotaBy Carmen RoblesAssociate EditorAfrodescendientes

Senator Bobby Joe Champion Senator Jeff HaydenPOLITICS TURN TO 9

Notes on the

struggle

By ProfessorMahmoud El -Kati

Courtesy Embassy of Kenya, Washington.

Mshale founder and publisher, Tom Gitaa (left) on December 19, 2014 met with Kenya’s new ambassador to the United States, Robinson Njeru Githae, to welcome him and to discuss the Kenya

Diaspora Policy Paper launched in the Summer of 2014 by the ministry of Foreign Affairs. KENYA TURN TO 3

MEDTRONIC TURN TO 5

RACE TURN TO 8

Alfred SeawrightEllis GaryOmar Ishrak Janis L. Mathis Rev. Jerry McAfee

By Al McFarlane, Editor-in-Chief

Freez: Minneapolis MC talks new album and the fi ght for fair wages

MORE ON PAGE 10

Insight NewsVol. 42 No. 2 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comJanuary 12 - January 18, 2015

• January 12 - January 18, 2015January 12 - January 18, 2015 • Insight News insightnews.com

insightnews.com Insight News • January 12 - January 18, 2015January 12 - January 18, 2015 •

INSIGHT-2-HEALTH FITNESS CHALLENGE

Making fi tness a new year’s resolution

I’m taking the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge’s (I2HC). It begins Saturday Jan. 17 and guides participants through steps towards lifestyle changes that are sustainable and will enhance your quality of life. Al McFarlane, founder of the challenge, believes we can harness the combined energy of the community to solve our health disparities. Typical of his “walking the talk” mantra McFarlane has taken the challenge head on with excitement and enthusiasm. At 67 he is preparing his path to quality health through his 100th birthday and beyond, and he’s taking us with him starting the tradition that changes lives. This challenge is a partnership with Tyrone Minor owner of The F.I.T.(Fitness, Innovation, Transformation) Lab. McFarlane and Minor are writing a book documenting this model, creating a curriculum, a step-by-step guide on how to take control of health within the African-American and diverse, multi-cultural communities. “Two-thousand fi fteen will be the year that everything comes together for you and I might be biased but it starts with transforming your body, mind and spirit” said Minor, owner of The F.I.T. Lab located at 1565 Como Ave., Suite 102 in St. Paul. The kick off challenge starts on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 9 a.m. sharp. Participants will meet, greet do weigh-ins, measurements and choose a teammate. There will be representatives from the Mayo clinic who will be conducting a voluntary survey that will assess relevant health history/risk factors, barriers to change assessment, spirituality, physical activity habits, beliefs, support assessment, dietary habits, beliefs and support assessments. In addition, they will do at least one educational seminar during the challenge and they will also be available during the kick-off for private questioning.

This is how the challenge works. A team of highly qualifi ed accomplished, certifi ed professionals together with participants work out a personal plan outlining a group of services that specifi cally address and meet your individual needs. Workouts are usually one hour to an hour and 15 minutes and take place on Mondays and Wednesdays (7 p.m.), Tuesdays and Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (9 a.m.). A nutritionist is available for events on and off sites and on certain dates to share general ideas and help modify existing family recipes and a licensed therapist is also available. These culturally competent experienced professionals help guide individuals through the process of adjusting their way of thinking so it can energized overall life goals beyond exercise

and health. These professionals will give tools to help navigate through internal messages that may hinder success beyond the 10 weeks. Challenge teams consist of two people. Minor believe this will increase the accountability for each of the participants as well as add some fun to the challenge. Prizes are awarded at the end of the 10 weeks. The award is based on 50 percent life style change and 50 percent based on physical fi tness. There will be one male winner, one female winner and one team winner (one of which has to be female) and it is possible to be both the individual winner and a member of the winning team. I2HC targets traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations in the Twin Cities including

women and individuals of color by offering a “fi nancially friendly” rate for the 10-week session with a central location and schedule that considers a

busy lifestyle. Information and registration is available at www.Insight2HealthChallenge.com. Stay tuned to follow-up

articles as I chronicle my experience and those of my team members through weekly updates.

By Carmen RoblesAssociate EditorAfrodescendientes

Alaina Lewis

Tyrone Minor

had committed during meetings with Kenyans in Washington and Texas that more consulates will be established in places like Dallas and Minneapolis. Gitaa advised in the case for a consulate in Minneapolis “Minnesota for sure has more Kenyans than in Chicago but the latter might make more sense for Kenya as a consulate location as it will allow for the servicing of Kenyans in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest and also address the country’s commercial interests.” He added Chicago already has other African consulates including South Africa’s and “it does not hurt that it is the home of Barack Obama.” Establishing the consulate in Chicago instead of Minnesota might not go down well with Kenyans in Minnesota “but will be the right strategic move,” Gitaa said.

Kenya Diaspora PolicyAmbassador Githae and Gitaa discussed at length the ‘Kenya Diaspora Policy’ that Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, launched in June 2014 with the support of the president. (The policy paper can be found here). “That policy now informs a lot of what we do at the embassy plus some,” Ambassador Githae said. “I would appreciate your help (Gitaa) in making the policy work for the Kenyans here.” Gitaa on his part said he is in support of much of what is contained in the policy paper and is willing to engage the Ministry in implementing it with the Kenyans in the US. “I will be happy to work with the embassy and the ministry as regards Chapter 4 of the policy paper (Institutional and Implementation Framework) which has media owned by Kenyans abroad as one of the

key partners in implementing the policy.” Gitaa said he has the capacity to work with the handful of Kenyan-owned media in the US to assist the ministry in that regard “as long as it is ready to engage the Kenya-owned US media entities in the same footing and seriousness they do with Kenya based media.”

Madaraka DayGitaa also brought to the attention of Ambassador Githae that back in 2009 then Ambassador Peter Nicholas Rateng’ Oginga Ogego had committed the embassy to having Minnesota be the offi cial site of Madaraka day celebrations with the ambassador in attendance. Ambassador Ogego had kept that promise and his successor Ambassador Elkanah Odembo

had continued the tradition. Madaraka Day (June 1) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule from the British in 1963 in the run-up to full independence on December 12, 1963 Gitaa who chaired the Kenya @ 50 Committee in Minnesota in 2013 told the ambassador the Kenyans in Minnesota would like to see the tradition continued to which he responded “I don’t see a problem with that as long as everyone understands Jamhuri Day (Independence Day on December 12) will remain in Washington, DC.” He requested Gitaa to ask the current Minnesota Madaraka Day Committee to make a formal request to the embassy to that effect. “I look forward to my fi rst visit there (Minnesota) in June,” Ambassador Githae concluded.

KenyaFrom 1

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Urban-rural partnerships may advance transportation goalsKenya McKnight is leading efforts to ensure that Black community interests are front and center in the current campaign to help secure full investment in transportation and transit. McKnight serves on Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board. McKnight says Minnesota spends billions of dollars on transportation which includes creation of thousands of jobs. She echoes pronouncements of Governor Mark Dayton that transportation will be the #1 issue in the 2015 Legislative session. In a Town Hall meeting on transportation last month, McKnight said Minnesota’s Legislature is gearing up for a robust discussion on transportation policy issues and will make hard decisions on how transportation and transit will be funded. The meeting, at Summit Academy OIC, was co-sponsored by Summit Academy and Move MN, a transit advocacy organization. McKnight said it is critical for the African American and other communities of color participate in the 2015

transportation legislative discussion “to support our transit needs.” Community and political leaders say long term sustainable transportation funding will be required to build and maintain safe roads and bridges, effi cient transit options and better access to bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Studies suggest that by 2040 the Twin Cities metropolitan area will grow by nearly one million residents and that the region’s current road system cannot support that growth. Move

MN projects that fully funding transportation projects required to handle population growth, would result in a budget shortfall exceeding $50 billion, based on current revenue models. Move MN is calling for stable, dedicated revenue streams so projected improvements can be effectively planned, designed, built and operated. Charlie Zelle- Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner, said Minnesota needs complementary transportation strategies that address access and growth.

He said framing the issue to promote and pursue access and growth is Governor Dayton’s top issue. However, there is a serious funding gap that has to be fi lled over the next 10 years to accomplish transportation goals. He said the funding gap is about $6 billion. Zelle said the incoming split Legislature means the Republican controlled House of Representatives will not be really interested in new taxes, user fees or dedicated funding. “The Senate thinks differently.” He said the path to compromise

would be like a three act play. Act 1, he said, will be a House proposal that says transportation funding should come from the State’s General Fund. That won’t work because it is short term, covering each biennium, while the transportation issues are long term. Act 2, he said, a Senate proposal will likely offer long-term dedicated funding that the Republicans will not like, he said. Act 3, he said, will be Governor Dayton’s leadership, bringing long term sustainable approaches to the table. Louis King, CEO Summit Academy OIC, said our community needs to step back and see what and who are driving transportation policy. He said, before coming to Twin Cities, he lived in Europe, where commercial and passenger rail systems work really well. But in Minnesota some legislative leaders are saying transit “needs to be mothballed” and that we “don’t need more rail. Others say we need more transit in suburbs and exurbs,” he said. “In Europe, rail is everywhere. I ask, ‘who is making money off the roads?’ Somebody was making big money off roads while they were

in charge. That is why we don’t have rail,” he said. Importance of Transit Infrastructure jobs and job access Adam Duininck, a Metropolitan Council member, said, “We have been operating in a resource scarce environment for so long now, it is how we think about things. We trade-off between expanding the transportation system versus improving the system we have. But we need to do both. We need to get something done this year. We need to build out the system and then improve all the parts like bus stops, added security and public safety.” “Transportation does not have the same citizen advocacy as education and health, but it is important for groups like this to weigh transportation policy and guide transportation development,” he said. Gary Cunningham, also a Metropolitan Council member, said “we may have a unique opportunity. There is a false choice between transit and growth. With a DFL Senate and

“From Prison to Ph. D:” Jason Sole’s memoir tells a harrowing story

Jason Sole realized he had become a statistic when he was convicted for a felony for the third time. Since then, after a life of selling drugs, gang activity and losing close friends, Sole decided to turn his life around. Originally from Chicago, Sole tells his story in the compelling memoir “From Prison to Ph.D.: Memoir of Hope, Resilience and Second Chances,” which is up for a Minnesota Book Award. The raw storytelling follows Sole’s

By Sheila Regan, TC Daily Planet

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TOWN HALL MEETINGWith Senator Bobby Joe Champion

Minnesota has moved out of a decade of budget deficits and towards a more stable economy. Now that our state has a budget surplus, it is time to address some of the issues important to our communities. I urge citizens to attend my Town Hall Meeting and hear about some 2015 legislative topics such as the budget, education, transportation and more.

-- Senator Bobby Joe Champion

“ “


Have you decided to do something that has been on your mind for awhile now? Is it part of the new journey that you have decided to take with this New Year? If so, then you

are probably not alone. I have talked to so many people who have decided that 2015 will be the year that they make changes that will affect not only them but also their friends and family. I spoke with one young lady who has decided that this year she will focus more on her spiritual journey than any year before. Her only concern is that she may lose friends and family along the way. She stated that she is surrounded by those who are use to her partying and hanging out. Although she said it was great for her at the time,

but that is not where she wants to be anymore. She said that she is not interested in that type of lifestyle anymore. She wants to understand God’s love and how His love pertains to her. She stated that she feels like she will fi nd this at church and by reading her bible more. If doing something to better yourself makes the people around you uncomfortable, then maybe you should fi nd more positive people to be around. When people see that you are trying to better yourself and they are not, then you may have to

deal with some negativity. Not because your friends or family don’t want you to succeed, but maybe it’s that they are not ready to change themselves. There are some people who may feel like if you change your lifestyle, then they will have to change too. However, that’s not the case. Never force your changes on anyone. Those who care about you and truly want to see you do great things with your life will rejoice with you and appreciate what you are doing. You never know, your change could be the motivating factor

for the change in the people around you. So stay positive and stick to your goals no matter what. Remember your journey belongs to you deciding to take the journey! 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 [email protected].

LIFESTYLE

MotivationalMoments

By Penny Jones-Richardson

Stay positive and stick to your goals

BOOK REVIEW“The Lawyer as Leader: How to Plant People and Grow Justice”

“The social challenges of our time are enormous. About one in seven U.S. residents live in poverty, and the disparity between the haves and have-nots is wider than at any point since the Great Depression… Imagine if community members across the world began planting seeds of social change, justice, and freedom. Could you be the one who plants the seeds for the promotion of access to affordable housing, fair sentencing, educational equity, or racial justice? This is your beckoning to lead—will you answer the call? [This book] is an inspiring roadmap designed to help you become an effective agent for social change and transformational

leader. ” -- Excerpted from the Introduction (page vii) Most people think of ministers like Dr. Martin Luther King and Reverends Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, when it comes to iconic, African-American civil rights leaders. However, black attorneys have played a critical role in the movement, too, most

notably, Thurgood Marshall who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice. But since you can’t major in “Black Leadership” in law school, how is it that an aspiring African-American attorney might be groomed for such a calling? That is the concern of Dr. Artika R. Tyner, former professor with the Community Justice Project, an award-winning clinic designed to train law students “to serve as social engineers who create new inroads to justice, freedom and equality.” In “The Lawyer as Leader,” Dr. Tyner chastises law schools for omitting leadership development from the curriculum, before attempting to fi ll that void with her seminal ideas. While the book is admittedly designed with of the bar in mind, it nevertheless has much to offer future torchbearers in any line of work. After all, she defi nes leadership as simply, “an individual’s ability to exercise infl uence by organizing others

around a shared vision.” Perhapsmore importantly, she goes on tooffer a new defi nition of leadershiprepositioning the role as a sharedcollective responsibility ratherthan hierarchical or positional. The author’s game plan restson these three pillars: (1) SocialJustice Lawyering; (2) Lawyersand the Exercise of Leadershipand (3) Facilitating Social Changethrough Public Police Advocacyeach of which is discussed atlength in its own chapter. Theultimate goal? To plant seedsof change that will bear fruitby galvanizing generation aftergeneration of civil rights leaders. “The Lawyer as Leader:How to Plant People and GrowJustice”by Dr. Artika R. TynerForeword by Marian WrightEdelmanABA Publishing Paperback, $59.95238 pages, IllustratedISBN: 978-1-62722-664-6

This year, resolve to get in the wayTimothy Houston’s recent article in Insight News talks about getting in the way. What a humble, yet potent concept. He says, “Sometimes you have to fi nd a way to get in the way.” And he suggests we can do this as we “speak, march, stand, write or vote.” Houston’s is a wide angle view, a long range plan to solve age-old problems in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

It’s a plan that just might work. Starting now, with a new year, a new page on the calendar, before you, try keeping Houston’s words in mind. Take courage from his suggestion that getting in the way is something you can do, while keeping in mind that getting in the way requires – requires – the courage to take a broad view. Have courage to Speak Out: speak up against injustice, and choose your personal narrative thoughtfully. What language do

you use in your home or at work that excludes, berates or judges others? When you hear others taking sides, speak up and ask questions, consider other points of view, explore new ideas and solutions. Have courage to March, Stand, and Write: Walk with those who you believe to be right and good and just, not only at the protest, but in your daily life. Stand with those who share the values you stand for, not only on the streets, but in your work and

home life, as well. Write blogs, letters, posters and postcards that express your beliefs, your values and your ideas, so these values and ideas can take hold in the greater community. And if you do none of the above, at the very least, have the courage to Vote. Vote at the polls, for candidates who share your views. Vote with your time, choosing to be in places and with people who share your values. Vote with your wallet, supporting the local community in its efforts

to make positive change. If you need a compelling reason to get to the polls, consider that juries are selected randomly from lists of registered voters. So, Vote. For one year, resolve to get in the way, in a good way.

Julie Desmond is with George Konik Associates, Inc. in Minneapolis. Send your comments and career planning questions to Julie at [email protected].

By Kam Williams

By Julie Desmond

said that the purpose of the merger is to free up capital to invest in medical technology in the United States. The merger will also have the effect of reducing Medtronic’s U.S. tax burden and will result in relocation of the company’s legal headquarters to Ireland. The vote passed by more than 90 percent. Medtronic operates in more than 140 countries. The company employs 49,000 people, including 5,800 scientists and engineers, pursuing research and innovation that has led to more than 28,000 patents. When questioned by RPC executive director, attorney Janice L. Mathis, Ishrak responded that measures already were in place to assure that any U.S. employees who lost jobs as a result of the merger would receive company assistance in fi nding new work. Ishrak also indicated that Medtronic

expected to create 1,000 new health sector jobs in Minnesota over the next fi ve years as a result of the merger. Earlier in the year, Rainbow PUSH president, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. wrote to Ishrak to request that Medtronic complete RPC’s Corporate Diversity Survey Questionnaire. The survey covers employment, supplier diversity, board composition, philanthropy and recruitment, among other areas. RPC is also requesting that Medtronic release its EEO-1 form, required by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Similar requests have resulted in public releases by more than 20 Silicon Valley fi rms, including Intel, Microsoft and Google, said Mathis. She said Medtronic CFO, Gary Ellis, affi rmed that diversity, both inside of Medtronic and in its Irish partner, was a priority across the board and agreed to engage in further talks with RPC to consider its suggestions for bolstering diversity in the new company. The proposed talks began

Tuesday afternoon, according to Fernando Vivanco, Medtronic’s senior director, Global Communications, who said a meeting between Rainbow Push representatives and Medtronic senior leaders resulted in “good communications” that likely would be the fi rst of many around issues raised by Rainbow PUSH. The Rev. Jerry McAfee, NAACP president and pastor, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in north Minneapolis attended the Medtronic meeting, along with Mathis. “We need 6,200 jobs in Minneapolis for lower income families to close the poverty gap. Medtronic could contribute to that equation. We are glad to see Rainbow PUSH in Minneapolis and will continue to work closely with them to achieve a measure of economic stability in underserved communities,” said McAfee. Montgomery, Ala. businessman, Dr. Alfred Seawright, also accompanied Mathis as part of the Rainbow PUSH delegation. Seawright is CEO and president of Medical Place, a veteran-owned service-oriented small business that distributes medical, laboratory, respiratory, scientifi c, and telemedicine equipment and supplies to hospitals nationwide. “We are here because

Rainbow PUSH is reaching out to minority businesses making sure they get a chance to do business with big companies like Medtronic, a company with more than $17 billion in annual revenues. Black America already has a relationship with Medtronic as consumers. When you’re sick or hospitalized, nine times out of 10, you will be utilizing products created and manufactured by Medtronic,” said Seawright. “We can build on that for the benefi t of the company and for the benefi t of our community in terms of jobs and economic development. We are looking to be considered as strategic partners and vendors for companies like Medtronic that have embraced diversity as part of their business and growth strategy.” For many months, Jackson, founder of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has urged U.S. lawmakers and corporate executives to fi nd common ground to bring capital back from overseas markets to the U.S. Jackson’s proposal specifi cally ties tax rate reductions as an incentive to investments in U.S. crumbling urban infrastructure. This vote by a major U.S. fi rm to call Ireland home should be a wake-up call to policy makers to take Jackson’s infrastructure investment proposals seriously,

said Mathis. She said Medtronic’s merger with Irish fi rm is proof that the U.S. needs plans to repatriate corporate capital. She further went on to say that in exchange for investment in U.S. infrastructure, global fi rms should receive tax consideration. McAfee said RPC’s presence at the Medtronic shareholders’ meeting may signal an expanded presence for the organization in Minnesota. Mathis confi rmed that while there are RPC members in the market, it may be time to create an active affi liate and local offi ce. McAfee said he was impressed that Medtronic executives acknowledged the persistent disparities in wealth, health and education despite the state’s stellar reputation as a good place to do business and a good place to live. He said he hopes some of the proposed workforce growth promised by Medtronic could be targeted against the high unemployment in north Minneapolis. “What if Medtronic would build a plant in north Minneapolis? What if 500 of the new jobs were made available in north Minneapolis,” said McAfee. McAfee said Rainbow PUSH’s economic and business development skill set and relationship building capacity with Twin Cities based multinational corporations could lead to collaborative innovation and covenants that eliminate the job gap for north Minneapolis. “What if 30 companies each committed to 200 jobs for north Minneapolis residents? That would eliminate the 6, 200 job defi cit that is crippling our community right now,” said McAfee.

MedtronicFrom 1

Artika Tyner

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

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

Assistant to the PublisherShumira Cunningham

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INSIGHT NEWSwww.insightnews.com


Ed Brooke doesn’t get his due

Sandwiched between the deaths of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and popular ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott, the passing of former Massachusetts Senator Edward W. Brooke III at the age of 95 did not get nearly the attention it deserved. Though two African Americans were elected to the U.S. Senate during the Reconstruction Era by the Mississippi legislature – Hiram R. Revels and Blanche K. Bruce, both Republicans – Brooke was the fi rst Black elected to the upper chamber by popular vote, beginning his term in 1967. What made his election remarkable at the time was that a Black Republican Episcopalian could be elected statewide in Massachusetts, a predominantly Democratic and Catholic state with a Black population of less than 3 percent. It would be another 25 years before another African American – Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois – would win a U.S. Senate seat (1992). Prior to his election to the Senate, Brooke served two

terms as attorney general of Massachusetts. When he came to Washington, he declined to join the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and told Time magazine: “I do not intend to be a national leader of the Negro people. I intend to do my job as a senator from Massachusetts.” While doing his job, Brooke showed that – as did several Black Republicans who would later follow him in public service, including Assistant Secretary of Labor Arthur Fletcher in the Nixon administration and William T. Coleman, Jr., Secretary of Transportation under Gerald Ford – he could be a Black Republican without selling out his principles or abandoning the fi ght for civil rights. When Barry Goldwater won the party’s 1964 presidential nomination, for example, Brooke, the state attorney general, refused to be photographed with Goldwater or endorse the Arizona ultraconservative. In the 1966 book titled, The Challenge of Change: Crisis in Our Two-Party System, he asked, rhetorically: “Where are our plans for a New Deal or a Great Society?” Though fellow Republican Richard Nixon was in the White House, Brooke opposed Nixon’s attempts to abolish the Offi ce of Economic Opportunity and the Job Corps and weaken the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC). And when Nixon nominated Clement Haynsworth and Harrold Carswell to the U.S. Supreme Court, Brooke was part of a bipartisan coalition that blocked the appointment of the two nominees who were considered hostile to civil rights. On Nov. 4, 1973, Brooke became the fi rst Republican to call for Richard Nixon’s resignation after the famous “Saturday night

massacre” that took place when Nixon ordered the fi ring of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox after Cox issued a subpoena for copies of Nixon’s taped conversations recorded in the Oval Offi ce. Brooke assumed an offensive posture as well, particularly on housing issues. He co-sponsored the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion or ethnicity. It was signed into law

by President Lyndon B. Johnson a week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He continued to work on strengthening the law and in 1969, Congress passed the “Brooke Amendment” limiting public housing tenants’ out-of-pocket rent expenditure to 25 percent of the resident’s income, a percentage that has since increased to 30 percent. With the Voting Rights Act up for renewal in 1975, Brooke engaged in an “extended debate” with John Stennis (R-Miss.) on the Senate fl oor that resulted in the landmark measure being extended and expanded. He was also part of the team of legislators who retained Title IX that guarantees equal education to females and the Equal Credit Act, a measure that gave married women the right to have credit in their own name. In 1967, Brooke served on the 11-member President’s Commission on Civil Disorders, better known as the Kerner Commission, which was established by President Johnson to investigate the causes of the 1967 race riots and to provide recommendations for the future. At various points during his career, Brooke was at odds with civil rights leaders and liberals. As attorney general, he opposed the NAACP’s call for a boycott of Boston’s public schools to protest the city’s de facto segregation, saying the law required students

to stay in school. In the Senate, he opposed a program to recruit teachers to work in disadvantaged communities and opposed amending Senate rules to make fi libusters against civil rights legislation easier to terminate. Brooke also faced personal health challenges, including being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. He underwent a double mastectomy and was declared cancer free. Brooke spoke publicly about the illness, which strikes about 1,500 men each year, a disproportionate number of them Black. In his 2006 autobiography, Bridging The Divide: My Life (Rutgers University Press), Brooke said, “My fervent expectation is that sooner rather than later, the United States Senate will more closely refl ect the rich diversity of this great country.” Throughout his life, Brooke did that exceptionally well.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook

Opinion

By George E. CurryNNPA Columnist

Let your voice be heard: End the high costs of prison phone calls

Did you know that more than 15,000 children in Minnesota may not have the chance to send holiday greetings to their parents? This is because these children have an incarcerated parent. Due to the high costs of prison phone calls, it is diffi cult for many of these children to remain in contact with their

parents during the holiday season. The harsh reality is that a 15-minute collect phone call received from a loved one who is incarcerated can cost roughly $6.45. Further, these children may also miss the opportunity to visit and spend quality time with their parents, since prisoners are incarcerated an average of 100 miles away from home and their families. As you can see, phone calls are truly a vital source of communication in order for

families to remain connected. The Campaign for Prison Phone Justice seeks to ensure that children and families can remain in contact with their incarcerated loved ones by advocating for the costs of prison phone calls to be capped at a reasonable amount. The high cost of prison phone calls is due to the associated commissions

By Artika Tyner, Planting People, Growing Justice

Senator Edward Brooke

PHONES TURN TO 8


By Mel and Pearl Shaw

FUNdraisingGood Times

Media coverage: More than a press release

Will 2015 be the year your nonprofi t is highlighted in news stories and feature pieces? Will those who could benefi t from the work of your organization read about you in the newspaper, see a story on TV, or listen to an interview on the radio? The media could “somehow” fi nd

out about your organization and decide to cover it. Or you could dedicate time and resources to cultivating media. Here are four things to consider when engaging the media in 2015 Meet with the editorial board of your local paper. If you are looking for TV or radio exposure, meet with the station’s management. To secure this meeting, call the editor or station manager and request a time to meet. If your organization has a marketing person on staff, he or she should secure the meeting. If you don’t, ask a member of the board who has marketing experience or a relationship with

the media to make the call. If you are without this resource, the executive director should request the meeting. During the meeting make the case for your organization, share your impact, and your plans for the coming year. Ask about their guidelines for how to share news about your nonprofi t. Request assistance in creating awareness for your organization, its programs and events. Ask for their criteria when covering an organization such as yours. Who should you contact? How much lead time is required? What constitutes a good news story and what types of feature

stories are they looking for? Be prepared to honestly answer questions they may ask of you, especially those that may be uncomfortable. Bring your media kit. Your kit should contain your case for support, annual report, program highlights, testimonials, and an annotated board list. It should also include a calendar of upcoming events such as fundraisers, lecture series, performances, receptions, and visits by people of note. As appropriate, include a list of the businesses and organizations you partner with, and any honors and awards.

Be prepared. The executive director, board chair, top development person and top marketing person should attend the meeting. All should be prepared. Create an agenda and determine what role each person will play. Follow up. Keep your media contacts apprised of key staff changes and promotions, new board members and upcoming events. If you have expertise on a topic in the news, let them know you are available as a resource. Invite reporters to visit your organization to learn more. Building media relationships takes time. You have to build a

relationship with the media same as you would with a potential donor or board member. Get organized and integrate media relations into your work plan. Build a partnership that creates awareness and provides accountability.

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw

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

MN ranked #2 in listing of the worst states for Black Americans

Racial disparities in social and economic outcomes exist in all parts of the United States but they are particularly bad in Minnesota according to one study. Black Americans make about 62 cents for every dollar earned by white Americans. Black Americans are also twice as likely to be unemployed and considerably more likely to live in poverty. In some places, these disparities are even more pronounced. In many of the worst states for Black Americans, there are opportunities to get a good job, earn good pay, and buy a home in a good community. However, these opportunities are not uniformly accessible across racial lines. Based on an examination of a number of socio-economic measures, 24/7 Wall St. identifi ed the worst states for Black Americans.

According to 24/7 Wall St., the worst states for Black Americans in descending order are Arkansas, Kansas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Minnesota, with a state population of 5.4 percent Black, has a Black homeownership rate of 25.7 percent (5th lowest), a Black incarceration rate of 2,321 per 100,000 people (22nd lowest), a Black unemployment rate of 15 percent (tied-11th lowest) while the unemployment rate for all people is just 4.9 percent, ninth lowest in the nation. According to the fi ndings, a typical black household in Minnesota earned less than half the median income of white households in 2013, well below the 62.3 percent nationwide. Low incomes among the Black population are likely due in part to a high unemployment rate. While 15 percent of Black workers in the state were unemployed in 2013, fewer than 5 percent of the total workforce did not have a job, a gap nearly twice as large as the national gap. While only 6.9 percent of

white residents in the state did not have health insurance in 2013, nearly 33 percent of Blacks were uninsured. Additionally, Black Minnesotan households were three times less likely than white households to own their homes, a rate nearly twice as high as the rest of the nation. In 2013, more than 7 percent of Minnesota’s Black population was barred from voting as a result of felony convictions or imprisonment. Nationally, less than one in

fi ve black adults had attained at least a bachelor’s degree as of last year, versus a rate of nearly one in three among the white population. While the percentage of black adults with at least a bachelor’s degree in some of the states on our list was relatively high, the education gap between Black and white state residents was larger than the national gap in nine of the worst states. The unemployment rate among college-educated black Americans

is still about twice that of college-educated white Americans. Inequalities in economic outcomes also persist. Nationally, a typical Black household made just 62.3 percent of the median income of white households in 2013. Among the worst states, differences in income and poverty were nearly all worse than the national difference. In some states, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota, the median income of Black households was roughly half that of white households. In fact, less than 42 percent of Black households were homeowners, while more than 71 percent of white households owned a home as of 2013. Differences in rates of homeownership are often far more extreme in the worst states for Black Americans, the study found. In Minnesota, for example, three out of four white households owned their homes. Meanwhile, only one in four black households in the state owned their home. Nationally, Black Americans were more than fi ve times as likely to go to prison than their white peers as of 2013, and the problem

was considerably worse in all 10 states on the list. To determine the 10 worst states for Black Americans, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of 12 measures from a variety of data sources. The index was designed to assess race-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities in each state, rather than measure the availability of resources and opportunities in those states. It ranked the size of the race gap for each measure, with the largest gap receiving the worst score and excluded states where Black residents comprised less than 5 percent of the population. To construct the index, it considered data from the U.S. Census Bureau on median household income, poverty rates, educational attainment rates, homeownership rates, and the percentage of people without health insurance. Unemployment fi gures came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on incarceration rates and disenfranchisement came from The Sentencing Project and are for the most recent available year.

By Thomas C. Frohlich, Alexander Kent, Alexan-der E.M. Hess, Douglas A. McIntyre and Ashley C. Allen24/7 Wallstreet - online A typical black household in

Minnesota earned less than half the median income of white

households in 2013.

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LEGENDARY PICTURES AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENT A LEGENDARY PICTURES/FORWARD PASS PRODUCTION A MICHAEL MANN FILMCHRIS HEMSWORTH “BLACKHAT” TANG WEI VIOLA DAVIS RITCHIE COSTER HOLT MCCALLANY YORICK VAN WAGENINGEN AND WANG LEEHOM

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life chronologically from a bright kid with a troubled home life to his dissent into crime, followed by his journey out of the system to where he is today. Now, Sole teaches as an adjunct professor at Metro State University and runs a fi rm that offers training to help with at-risk-youth and criminal justice agencies in Minnesota. In an interview, Sole said he wishes he could go back and choose not to sell drugs when he was young. With a father who was a heroine addict and a mother that tried to make ends meet, Sole was angry and saw selling drugs as a way to obtain things in life he couldn’t otherwise afford.

“I chose to sell drugs because I was tired of being poor,” Sole said. “I was tired of not having things, and it was material things. My mom provided but I wanted more than just the basics. I wasn’t a kid that went hungry. I wanted to shine.” It wasn’t long after Sole started selling drugs that he eventually joined the Black Stone Rangers, a gang in Chicago. In a particularly harrowing passage of the book, Sole describes the day he was joined, when he saw the gang members beat up a young woman who had gotten pregnant from a rival gang. At fourteen years old, his mother caught him with a kilo of crack, and sent him to live with his aunt in Iowa. It was there that he experienced overt racism for the fi rst time, having previously

grown up in Chicago’s segregated South Side, where nearly everyone in his community, including his teachers and school principals were Black. He excelled in basketball, held down a job and did well in school, but his tumultuous relationship with his Aunt led to him getting kicked out of the house, sometimes for a month at a time. Finally as a senior, Sole saw a way out by joining the Air Force. He was accepted but it was not to be, because of the Asthma he had when he was a child. “It just ruined me,” Sole said. He threw himself into drug dealing and gang life full force and moved to the Twin Cities. Soon after, he got caught with a fi rearm “because I pretty much had checked out,” he said. Sole’s book details how he

ended up in prison three times and how he eventually was able to fi nd the strength within himself to re-enter society, fi nd housing and go back to school. Today, Sole has found a way not only to excel in his own life, but to help ensure other young people don’t get caught in the system. Last year, he was awarded a Bush Fellowship for a two-year project aimed at reducing recidivism for juvenile offenders. The problem, Sole said, is that the juvenile justice system separates young people from their communities. “A lot of kids get released from a correctional setting and all too often end up in a system,” Sole said. “Too many kids with potential and great abilities are not given a chance when they are released.”

As a Bush fellow, he wanted to reduce that number of repeat offenders. One of his projects included having Family Night at the Juvenile correction center in Red Wing, where only fi ve percent of young people receive visits. Sole rented a 14-passenger vehicle and picked up families, and provided cars as an incentive to come out to the event. They held a barbecue and allowed families a chance to connect. “Even with small changes you can see a difference,” he said. Sole has long had a passion for activism. Even as a kid, he was socially conscious, giving speeches of the fi rst Black Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington at competitions. As a student back in 2004, he used to volunteer for Angela Davis and for years has been active in breaking the

school-to-prison pipeline, giving trainings with the Children’s Defense Fund and working as a Freedom School Teacher. More recently, he has been involved in the response to police brutality, traveling to Ferguson and participating in activism here in the Twin Cities. “When I see something that’s not right, I speak about it,” he said. Part of his reason for putting out his book is that despite mistakes he’s made in the past, what’s on his record doesn’t show the person he is today. “In putting out the book, I wanted to show my humanity,” he said. “People look at someone with a felony background and see them by their worst deed. What’s on paper doesn’t match who I am.”

© 2014 Sheila Regan

SoleFrom 4

paid to prisons from phone companies. Prisons and phone companies enter into contracts for phone services. As a result,

these phone companies pay commissions to the prisons. In Minnesota, state prisons receive 59% commissions on phone calls made from prisons, which generates over $3 million dollars in revenue each year. In turn, families must bear the burden of choosing

between accepting a loved one’s call from prison and meeting their basic budgetary needs, like food and shelter. Many families will be forced to make these diffi cult decisions over the holiday season and throughout the upcoming year. The Federal Communications

Commission has opened a period for public comments in order to hear from families and community members who have been impacted by the high cost of in-state prison phone calls (calls received from loved ones in state prisons and county jails). Let your voice be heard by submitting your

comments today! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MIpUMsj7O5Lj3ZwibJQpr_iGc70vB3FN8NW3RK0xOZ4/viewform By lifting your voice, you can promote strong families and safe communities.

Dr. Artika R. Tyner is a speaker, writer, and change agent. At the University of St. Thomas School of Law, Dr. Tyner serves as Clinical Law Faculty and Director of Diversity. She teaches in the Community Justice Project, an award-winning civil rights clinic.

PhonesFrom 6

determined by DNA as a racial group. The major indicator of “race” is color, as in Black, white, yellow, red and so forth. Thus, skin color is perceived to be intrinsically linked to a person’s intelligence, morality, behavior, and spirituality. Common sense observation and historical experience should tell us that people don’t exist with clear delineated colors. These are arbitrary defi nitions imposed by power and pseudo-science or by false science. According to a “race” thinker, every “race” is born with a predisposition to do certain things; white people to be scientists, black people to play basketball, dance, sing and make people laugh at best, certain yellow people, Japanese for instance, are predisposed to do well in science and mathematics. According to “race believers,” history, culture, or environment plays no real role in shaping a people’s destiny. Experience is always subject to a certain set of genes. The argument over genes is the most recent tenet to be added

to “race” thinking. The study of genes is a recent additive science, which did not exist until barely 100 years ago. A well-trained medical doctor of the 1890s had little or no knowledge of genes. Now, we have the science of Eugenics that surfaced in the laboratories of England and the U.S. after World War I. Eugenics was later used by scientists in Hitler’s Germany. The conspicuous reality of systematic and instinctual oppression, subjection, or isolation from ongoing progress never enters the equation when discussing the achievement or lack thereof, of a given group of people e.g. why people who were enslaved read less well than people who were free, or why human beings who are segregated know less science or math or any given thing called knowledge than people who are not segregated or isolated by legal apparatus, which leads to a caste system. A caste system is when a person’s social class is determined by birth into a particular cultural/ethnic group. That cultural group is positioned or caste on a particular hierarchal rung, which is a “race”/color-based system.

Social mobility for all individuals in that group is frozen, no matter how brilliant or not, gifted or not, or even endowed or not; he or she may be. To view “race” as an unscientifi c idea is now gaining wider public acceptance. More and more freethinking people are beginning to rethink and understand that “race” violates the fi rst two laws of science-observation and consistency. Most of what we think we know about “race” is either too simple-minded or complicated nonsense. People cannot exist as just a “race.” Ability is random among populations. There is a genius here, or an idiot over there, but most of us are just ordinary people. Frederick Douglass said it best – “The mind does not take its complexion from the skin.” Suffi ce it to say, that “race” is nothing more than a powerful myth, a modern superstition, a belief that is widely shared to which the facts of the matter is no match. People not only see with their eyes, they also see with their beliefs. While “race” is a myth, it is just as true that racism, the by-product

of fallacious “race” thinking, is a reality, which manifests itself in every department of American life. Racism functions around power. Racism is rooted in economics, politics, and control of other powerful social institutions, such as controlling the sources of information. Racism is driven by aggression, domination and greed. Racism, in order to be racism, must have some operative relationship to oppression, exploitation and the institutional expression of power. Individual racism and cultural racism, while alive and well, does not affect the lives of victims as comprehensively as does institutional racism over many generations. Slavery was a racist institution based on the doctrine of white supremacy. Segregation was a racist institution. These two kindred institutions are divided by time and space yet they are from the same foundation – “white supremacy.” The modern phenomenon springs from modern Europe; it is international in scope and is the result of European exploration, conquest, colonialism and imperialism. What follows are powerful structures of domination imposed differently on different

people encountered by modern Europeans in the wider world. The idea of whiteness evolves from this experience. Finally, again, it must always be born in mind that the idea of “race” was invented by very clever people, and not the simple-minded hangman, Klansmen, militant groups or storm troopers. They do not cause racism, they are its most visible expression of it. The intelligentsia of Europe invented all of these categories that we are bound to … Caucasian/white, Negro/Black, mongoloid, half-breed and indigenous people. And further, Mulatto, Quadroon, Octoroon, Mestizos, Zambos, etc. All of the data, all of the many books, tracts, treatises, and major papers propagating the idea of “race” can be traced to the European and by extension the American intelligentsia. Every “race” law, or social policy, or governmental regulation, regarding “race” can be traced from the academy to the legislators and then to the masses. “Race” laws were mostly written by lawyers in America or Nazi Germany, the Republic of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc. “Race” was fi rst

conceptualized by the intellectual and passed down via cultural institutions to the common “non-thinking” masses. Academic writers, yesterday and today, setup the violence, psychologically and physically, by shaping ideas, which ultimately promote “race” hatred. Of all people, believe it or not, Adolph Hitler once acknowledged that, “I know as well as those pointy-headed intellectuals at the universities that in a scientifi c sense, there is no such thing as race. But I need a conception to recast the world.” He went on to exploit the powerful Aryan, “master race” myth so widely shared by critical masses of German people. The rest is history. One could argue that the likes of “Cotton” Ed Smith, “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman, Theodore “The Man” Bilbo, Strom Thurman, Bull Connor, Lester Maddox and George C. Wallace, and other more recent notorious “race” baiters are America’s Nazi’s or next of kin. The temperament is the same; only the scene and the means are different.

Part 3 next week.

RaceFrom 1

ELECTIONS 2016 ‘Whites-only’ strategy demographically doomed

Washington, D.C. — The political implications of the nation’s changing demographics are already being felt in many states across the country. These implications are addressed in a new issue brief, “The Changing Face of America’s Electorate,” released today by the Center for American Progress, which examines 2016 election trends and patterns for voters of color. The CAP analysis identifi es what the electorate is projected to look like in 2016 for key battleground states—including vital states such as Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Virginia, and North Carolina—and estimates the racial and ethnic makeup of the 2016 eligible voting population. Based on those projections, the brief demonstrates the potential political impact of electoral

demographic changes through two election simulations. “Demographic changes have only become more acute in the United States since 2012,” said Vanessa Cárdenas, Vice President of Progress 2050 at the Center for American Progress. “As people of color become a larger share of states’ electorates, the political implications for both political parties are evident: To win the presidency and many of the U.S. Senate races in the 2016 election, candidates will need to substantially engage voters of color.” The fi rst simulation explored in the CAP analysis looks at how the demographic shifts will affect the 2016 election if voters across all racial and ethnic groups turn out and have the same party preferences as they did in 2012. In the second simulation, CAP holds voter turnout rates constant from 2012 but assumes that racial

and ethnic groups revert to party preferences they showed in 2004. This second simulation highlights that a Republican presidential candidate will have to make even greater inroads among voters of color than President George W. Bush’s high-water mark in 2004 in order to win a number of key states. “Already by 2016, demographic shifts will be infl uential in states such as Florida, where voters of color are an increasingly signifi cant share of the electorate, as well as in states such as Ohio, where elections are close and growth among voters of color is rapidly outpacing the growth of the non-Hispanic white electorate,” said Patrick Oakford, Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress and author of the brief. Key fi ndings for the fi rst election model illustrate that if Democrats are able to maintain

high levels of support among voters of color in 2016, as they did in 2012, they will more easily win swing states such as Virginia and Colorado and fl ip other states, such as North Carolina, from red to blue. Additionally: Demographic changes alone could increase Democrats’ margin of victory in Virginia by more than 30 percent. Under the fi rst election simulation, Democrats would win Virginia 52 percent to 46 percent. By 2016, people of color will make up 31 percent of eligible voters in North Carolina, up from 29 percent in 2012. If the 2016 Democratic candidate is able to retain the level of support that President Barack Obama secured in 2012 among voters of color, then these demographic changes would translate into enough support to overcome the Republicans’ hold on white non-Hispanic voters and fl ip the state blue.

Key fi ndings in the second simulation highlight that even if Republicans are able to make inroads with voters of color and regain the levels of support that President George W. Bush obtained in 2004, that would still not be enough for the GOP to win back the following states: Ohio, Nevada, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Furthermore: By 2016, people of color will make up more than 17 percent of eligible voters in Ohio, a noticeable increase from when President Bush won the state in 2004. In 2004, President Bush won Ohio by a margin of 2 points and with noticeable support among voters of color. Even if the 2016 Republican presidential candidate is able to regain the level of support among voters that Bush obtained in 2004, the GOP would still lose the state by 3.6 percentage points. In what might be the GOP dream

scenario, if the 2016 Republican candidate is able to maintain the high level of support among white voters that former Gov. Mitt Romney received in 2012 and regained 2004 levels of support among voters of color, the GOP would still lose the state. “The demographic shifts that are changing the face of America are also rapidly changing the composition of the electorate,” said Marshall Fitz, Vice President of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress. “The ‘whites-only’ strategy of trying to squeeze even more votes out of a shrinking portion of the electorate is demographically doomed, not to mention morally bankrupt. Politicians who want to lead this country must recognize and embrace the demographic shifts under way by pursuing inclusive policies that promote prosperity for all Americans.”

By The Center for American Progress

612.333.7309www.fctyler.com

Worried that your past will determine your future?A new law may help you to make a fresh start.

Recent changes in Minnesota’s Expungement Laws may allow you to have yourrecords sealed from public view. The newly expanded eligibility for a legalexpungement of some misdemeanor and felony convictions may apply to you.

New rules mean new options.The new Minnesota law also requires that background check companies promptlyremove the record of a case once they know it has been expunged. Expungement ofrecords can bring new options for employment, housing and other opportunities.

Time to put your past behind you? Call us today to learn more.

STRAIGHT TALK. HONEST ANSWERS. PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.


COMMUNITY

Classifi eds Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: [email protected]

‘Story Circle Stories’ booksigningStory Circle Stories by Rose McGee and Ann Fosco takes place Friday, Jan. 16 and features stories of 32 diverse voices and visual artists.

Gathering in story circle is an ancient approach to educating, celebrating, and solving issues by sharing stories. “Story Circle Stories” is a collection of stories

from everyday people doing work that involves listening, sharing and using circle as the most effective approach to creating change and strengthening community.

Magers and Quinn Booksellers will host the offi cial launch of this unique and timely book. The authors, McGee and Fosco, along with several of the

contributing writers and visual artists will be available for book signing. When: Friday, January 16, 2015 @ 7:00pm;

7:45pm Book Discussion; Location: Magers and Quinn Booksellers 3038 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55408

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North Memorial Needs Volunteers to Help Victims

of Domestic AbuseSafeJourney, a program serving North Memorial Medical Center and Maple Grove Hospital, helps patients and individuals in the community who are experiencing domestic abuse. Volunteer advocates are needed to provide a listening ear, support, safety planning, information and referral. You do not have to have previous knowledge or experience, but rather looking for people who are sensitive to the issue, caring, and non-judgmental. Advocates sign up for 2 on-call shifts per month. Flexible scheduling - daytime, overnights, and weekends. Training is provided. Deadline to apply and schedule a short interview is January 26. Please call Suzy at 763-581-3942.

WE WIN scholars research harm caused by tobaccoTobacco use does great damage in the African-American community. Lung cancer is a major killer of African-Americans, only second to heart disease. Forty percent of all African-Americans live with a smoker, and 70 percent of African-Americans have family members and loved ones who smoke tobacco. Seventy-fi ve percent of African-Americans smoke menthol cigarettes verses 23 percent of Whites. WE WIN Institute partnered with the Minneapolis Health Department Tobacco Free Minneapolis Campaign to inform and educate the African-American community how much harm tobacco is doing. A group of WE WIN junior leaders, whose ages range from eight to 13 years, researched the harms of smoking tobacco and fl avored products that include cigars and cigarillos. They also learned about the dangers of e-cigarettes, which are battery-operated devices that contain a mixture of liquid nicotine and other chemicals. The device heats this mixture, called e-juice, producing a nicotine vapor that is inhaled. The group also learned about hookah, which is a pipe fi lled with a mixture of tobacco, sweetener (honey or molasses) and fl avorings. Smoking hookah for 30 minutes is like smoking 200 cigarettes. Junior leaders learned that the tobacco industry focuses on children because it knows if they can get them hooked at an early age they will have lifelong customers. WE WIN youth were surprised when they went on a fi eldtrip to visit various community stores, where they saw tobacco displays that looked like candy. The colorful tobacco displays, were products that have the same fl avors as popular candy and drinks such as Kool-Aid and Jolly Ranchers. WE WIN calls this “sweet deception,” because the industry has created cheap, fl avored

tobacco, such as wild apple, peach, white grape, strawberry and watermelon to seduce young consumers.

Dangers of E-cigarettes and Tobacco

Cigarettes and tobacco products are so bad for our community. It causes heart disease. The nicotine and all the chemicals cause cancer. Nicotine was once used to kill bugs. It only takes 10 seconds for the nicotine to get to your brain. It turns your lungs black. Most adult smokers started before they were 18. We know if a young person does not use tobacco by the time they are 25, they will likely not smoke at all. Most teens only smoke because “it looks cool.” The tobacco industry targets low income communities and people of color. They try to

get kids to smoke more so that they will buy more cigarettes and keep the companies rich. “Smoking affects me because someone that I love very much smokes cigarettes,” said one youth interviewed for this piece. WE WIN youth leaders also want our community to know how bad e-cigarettes are. The tobacco industry controls and profi ts from e-cigarettes. The fl uid in e-cigarettes is sold in fruit, candy, and dessert fl avors that appeal to kids. Young people are at higher risk because they don’t regulate

how much nicotine goes in the e-cigarettes. The levels of nicotine is different depending on what e-cigarette product a person uses. The nicotine in the e-liquid can cause kids to get addicted and start using regular cigarettes. “My dad used to smoke e-cigarettes. He tried to kick his habit but went back to smoking cigarettes,” said one youth. Cigars are bad too. The sale of cigars has doubled between the years 2000 and 2012 from six billion to more than 13 billion cigars. The big jumped happened

because they started making cheap, sweet small cigars that attract kids. “Smoking affects me because I do not like the smell of the smoke. If you smoke too much, you eventually will die from it. If you smoke you can get lung disease. My uncle sometimes chews snuff. I don’t know the fl avor but the color is green. It turns black in his mouth. What an ugly scene. It is fl avored like candy but it’s doesn’t look like candy. What I know is that this is addictive and some teens think it is cool to use tobacco products that is candy fl avored,” said one youth. The youth leaders of WE

WIN Institute would like our city leaders, our parents and other caring adults to make changes regarding the use of tobacco in Minneapolis. We think that the price of tobacco should be really expensive so it will be harder for people to buy. We also think that tobacco products should be locked up behind counters so kids can’t get to them. This is supposed to happen in Minneapolis right now, but in many stores it doesn’t. We went to 10 different stores in north and south Minneapolis and we saw tobacco products on the counters. That is against the law. We want leaders to make sure that all these stores follow the rules, just like we have to do. In Chicago, if citizens report stores that break the tobacco laws, the informer gets $100. That would be a great way to get kids in Minneapolis involved in tobacco prevention. “I’m glad my parents do not smoke. My parents know that tobacco products are bad for their health. My parents set a good example for me because I’m not around to smell the stinky cigarette smoke,” explained one person interviewed for the piece.

The quotes in the article do not have the children’s names because of their youthful age and the topic being discussed.

Elannah Wright

Elannah and Jaylen Wright

Shalom Ametor and Elannah Wright

Shuan Washington & Ashantae Braxton

in his community for decades, covering issues on economic justice; enacting a single payer health care system to cover every Minnesotan with quality affordable health care; authoring bills to ensure all children have access to school lunch, regardless of ability to pay; the HOME (Housing

Opportunities Made Equitable) bill; and enacting the fi rst increase to the minimum wage in nine years. In 2014 he co-founded the Select Committee on Disparities and Opportunities to fi nd practical solutions to Minnesota’s racial disparities. Elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008 and to the State Senate District 59 in 2012, Champion is a practicing attorney with a skill set of negotiation,

extensive legal and business analysis and advocacy. “We are members of a whole with all parts to move the community forward” said Champion, stressing the importance of grassroots involvement to support those at the decision making table where money allocations are being decided. “If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu.” When asked what were the highlights for 2014 and what is on the plate for 2015 both

senators agreed 2014 has been a productive year. A year of surplus, Minnesota is fiscally sound, more Minnesotans are getting covered by health care and utilizing services, all-day kindergarten is helping lessen the achievement gap and Hayden’s comprehensive minimum wage bill were at the top of the list of achievements. Among the issues identified as priorities for 2015 are criminal and correction reform, creating

a child protection taskforce and funding appropriations for kinship extended family initiatives to raise community awareness. The two public figures encourage the community’s hands-on involvement through phone calls, emails, letters or visits to legislators. They say this civic participation sends a clear message that they are not alone when legislating on their constituents’ behalf. Both senators applaud the

organizing of the recent protests of Black Lives Matter and encourage protesters to take that vigor and resources to the political arena and keep moving this issue forward. The 2015 legislative session began Jan. 6 and will go through late May. Constituents can contact Champion at [email protected] or (651)296-7809. Hayden can be reached at [email protected] or (651) 296-4261.

PoliticsFrom 1

By Elannah and Jaylen Wright, Shalom Ametor, Shuan Washington and Ashantae Braxton

House and a DFL governor we didn’t get it done. We may be in better position to get things done now. Rural electeds have to bring some bacon home.

That may be a basis for a grand bargain. If the metro area is united, we can strike a bargain with rural legislators. We are in a better position. With own party,

we fi ght among ourselves,” Cunningham said. Nieeta Presley, Executive Director of Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development

Corporation in St. Paul, stressed the importance of organizing and informing the community about transportation alternatives and impacts. “If you are not at

the table, you are on the table,” she said. “It is really important that our voices are heard. It is about our people participating in the democratic process.”

TransportationFrom 4


Freez:

Minneapolis MC talks new album and the fight for fair wages

Bruce Henry & the Bruce Henry Jazz Ensemble in “Afro Blue: The Drum, The Journey, The Song”

In December Freez went from being another working MC (rapper) to a trending topic on Twitter and thrust into the national spotlight. While canvassing to get a bill passed to give sick days to all Minnesotans with a job he reported that an off duty police offi cer told him he wasn’t welcome “in her neighborhood,” followed him and threatened that he would be shot. In the middle of a national conversation on police accountability this story struck a nerve locally. Little did anyone know that the man in the middle of this fi asco was one of Twin Cities hip-hop’s most respected artists and was directly connected to thousands of people listening through

social media. As Freez prepares for the Jan. 13 release of “Freez’s Frozen French Freys” with producer Mike Frey (pronounced ‘fry’), Aesthetically Speaking sat down for an in-depth interview. AS: I hear you fi rst got your name in high school. What’s the story behind the name “Freez?” Freez: Freez is an acronym for For Real (it’s) 2EZ. It means that it’s too easy to write good bars when you are a real person. A lot of people were calling me “Freezaburna” trying to make fun of me and I just took it and took ownership of it. Cats were like, “He’s using it so we can’t make fun of him.” A lot of my name and a lot of the stuff I do came from people clowning me and I turned it into a positive. AS: Tell our readers about where you started in music. I started in music class

at Seward Montessori with a teacher named Barb who used to sing songs in class, and taught us music theory, but I didn’t pay attention too much. Th en I started getting into hip-hop around the age 11, 12. I had this Spanish class that I never paid attention to. I used to sit there and write rhymes. I met back up with Rafael (Tufawon/Mavin MC) he introduced me to Franz Diego. Franz is the one who came up with our group name Illuminous 3. AS: Why have you been fi ghting for a living wage and vacation time for workers? Freez: It’s like I’m always the broke one. It’ll seem like I have a good job but they’re paying me funny or I’m not making enough. I’ve worked up to two to three jobs and still had to beg

A fascinating musical journey exploring African drums, spirituals and jazz comes to the Capri Th eater in Bruce Henry’s upcoming Legends concert, “Afro Blue: Th e Drum, Th e Journey, Th e Song.” Th e concert runs two days, Feb. 7 show at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 8 show at

the Capri Th eater, 2027 West Broadway in north Minneapolis. Tickets are $25 or $20 each for groups of 10 or more and are available online at www.thecapritheater.org or by calling TicketWorks at (612) 343-3390. “Th ere’s a very strong and undeniable link between the African drum, spirituals

and jazz,” said Henry. “In this concert we tie those elements together to present an evening of exciting and diverse music and history. Th e audience will leave with a greater understanding and appreciation for America’s greatest cultural gift to the world – jazz.” Henry has an astounding

three-octave range, and a versatile voice that few can match. His musical infl uences include legends such as John Coltrane, Leon Th omas, Al Jarreau, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye. Henry is also passionate about education. He authored and has taught his interactive multimedia

program, “Th e Evolution of African American Music,” in schools throughout the Twin Cities and in Chicago. “Th ere are not many jazz performers who are as equipped as Bruce to master a performance such as this,” said Dennis Spears, artistic director for Legends. “In this performance, we will clearly

see and understand the linkage of the African drum, spirituals, fi eld hollers, gospel and jazz.” Joining Henry on stage are Peter Schimke on piano, Jeff Bailey on bass, Kevin Washington on drums and Daryl Boudreaux, percussion.

By Toki Wright Twitter - @mrwrighttc

FREEZ TURN TO 12

File photo

Bruce Henry, Jay Young

Jason Larkin


Monday, Jan. 12 FESTIVAL/APPLICATION DEADLINE

Northern Spark Festival

Each year thousands of Minnesotans gather each summer for the all day and night Northern Spark Festival. During Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people gather along the Minneapolis riverfront and throughout the city to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces and under bridges.

To put together a presentation, project or installation, proposals must be submitted by 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan.12.

For more information visit www.northern.lights.mn.

Tuesday, Jan. 13ECLECTIC/PERFORMANCE

Th e House of Dosh: A month-long residency/recording sessionTurf Club 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 10 p.m.21-plus$6 advance, $8 door

Martin Dosh in known around the world for blending multiple genres of music into his own. At any given event you will fi nd a stage full of gear and instruments intertwined. Th is special month-long residency will feature players including DeVon DVRG Gray, Ryan Olson, Andrew Broder, Ryan Francesconi, JT Bates, Kristoff Krane, Nona Marie Invie, Joe

Horton, Paul Dosh, James Everest, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Dennis Conrad, Cory Healy, Joey Van Phillips, James Buckley, Mike Lewis, Jon Davis, Chris Th omson, Erik Bolen and more.

Wednesday, Jan. 14CHIOR/PERFORMANCE

Edison’s Choir ConcertEdison High School 700 22nd Ave. N.E. – Minneapolis7 p.m.

See the Edison High Schools choir live in concert tonight in northeast Minneapolis.

Thursday, Jan. 15JAZZ/ELECTRONIC

NatanYael feat. Lavender Daughter and JustcallmehugOAcadia329 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis9 p.m.18-plus$5 suggested donation

NatanYael (pronounced Nah-tahn-yah-el) is a Twin Cities based singer-songwriter who uses her eclectic styling to create and mold a genre of music that is entirely her own. Utilizing jazz and musical theory, NatanYael incorporates everything from

folk, to electronic, to rap into her songs. Once described as “butter and vibe” by Lauren Kinhan from the New York Voices, this upcoming singer-songwriter has proven herself to be a powerhouse force to be reckoned with.

Friday, Jan. 16SOUL/NEOSOUL/CONCERT

Th eresa Payne and Proper-T Mattie’s on Main43 Main St. S.E., Minneapolis9 p.m.21-plus$15 advance, $20 door

Featured on NBC’s “Th e Voice,” Th eresa Payne is a winner of the Budweiser Superfest New Artist Search and a multi-year winner of the Riverfront Times’ “Best R&B/Soul” artist award. Payne was one of the featured performers during this past September’s Urbane Exposure concert featuring Goapele. Proper-T, a native of south Minneapolis, is a rising star in the Twin Cities soul music scene. An accomplished pianist and vocalist, Proper-T is known for his smooth vocals and soulful artistry.

Th e event is part of Th ee Urbane Life’s Northern Exposure performance series. Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1104854.

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

MN Heavy Hitters

Club Underground at Spring Street Tavern355 Monroe St. N.E., Minneapolis9 p.m. – 2 a.m.$10-$12

Uncle J Entertainment, Long Doe Records, Big Jess Music and Th a Bassmint Entertainment team up for a night of Minneapolis hip-hop at Club Underground with performances by Carnage the Executioner, (Long Doe, Anchormen) Big Wiz aka Nic Swisher, AquaFresh aka Aqf Ebnzr, T La Shawn, Big Jess aka Jesse Semanko and more. DJ North Star is on the turntables.

Saturday, Jan. 17

HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Freez’s Frozen French Freys Album Release PartyIcehouse2528 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis10 p.m.21-plus$5

If you’ve ever heard Freez you know what it sounds like to hear an offi cial MC. His debut album produced in full by Mike Frey, “Freez’s Frozen French Freys” is a look at the everyday life of a fast food worker through humor, triumph and tragedy. See Freez live along with Greg Grease, Sophia Eris, and Vision the Kid & Tru.

For more information go to www.icehousempls.com/events/freezs-frozen-french-

freys-album-release.

Sunday, Jan. 18 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Th e Audio Scrapbook Album Release PartyMinnesota Music Cafe499 Payne Ave., St. Paul21-plus$5 advance, $10 door

Gary, Indiana’s T.A.Y.E. and Riverside’s Rob-1 take over the Minnesota Music Cafe to celebrate the release of their joint album, “Th e Audio Scrapbook.” Th e show features performances by DE-CAP, Beasly, Quay, S.M.Y.L.A.D.O.N, Studio the Kid and D.Bries.

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 [email protected]

Jan 12 - Jan 18

Freez’s Frozen French Freys Album Cover

King Fuvi

Natan Yael Sophia Eris

T.A.Y.E. and Rob-1

Theresa Payne

Northsiders embrace nordic skiingAnthony Taylor and Louis Moore are on a mission to help our community better connect to our own geography. People don’t oft en say they live in North Minneapolis because they love to be outdoors and that North Minneapolis is uniquely positioned to give them the best access to great park and trail resources, Taylor says, but that can change. Founders and leaders of the storied Major Taylor Bicycling Club of Minnesota, Taylor and Moore both ride through the winter and turn their attention of other winter outdoor activities as well. Taylor is program director of the Minne-Loppet Programs of the Loppet Foundation of Minneapolis. He runs ski programs for North Minneapolis elementary schools. Th e foundation works with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to maintain

a second-to-none urban trail network in Th eodore Wirth Park and supports year-round trail work to ensure that the ski trails are ready for the winter. Th e Minne-Loppet program reintroduces children and families to Nordic Skiing. At 5pm Wednesday, January 14th, Middle School students from Nellie Stone Johnson School, Northeast Middle School and Anwatin Middle School compete in the Minne-Loppet Farview Sprint competition at Farview Park. Th e Minne-Loppet program project is funded through grants from the organization’s community partners the Huelsmann Foundation (Nellie Stone Johnson), the Medica Foundation (Anwatin) and UCare (Northeast). Last year, Middle

Schools participated in the fi rst all-North Minneapolis cross country ski race on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Th e format of the ski race was called a “ski cross,” which is a timed competition where skiers compete on a short course and winners advance to subsequent rounds. Th e top three boys and top three girls from the overall competition all received medals as did the top athlete from each grade and the top boy and girl from each school. Th e Loppet Foundation holds the event at Farview Park, which has spectacular views of downtown Minneapolis and a number of hills that provide a good challenge to the young athletes, according to Jon Miller, the head coach of the Nellie Stone Johnson Ski & Bike Team. For further information call 612-875-7803.

Don’t Miss the First Twin Cities Production of this Soul-Stirring Musical!

A Celebration of Life, Resilience and Love

651.291.7005 | parksquaretheatre.org Historic Hamm Building | Downtown Saint Paul

Based upon the novel written by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment Motion Picture; Book by Marsha Norman; Music and Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray; Directed and Choreographed by Lewis Whitlock III; Music Direction by Gary Hines and Denise Prosek in photo: Regina Marie Williams* and Aimee K. Bryant* *member, actors’ equity association

sponsored by

JAN 16 – FEB 15 on the Proscenium Stage


King Holiday offers time to reflect, serveSeveral area events are taking place to celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Th e following are some events taking place in the metro area.

MLK Holiday BreakfastNine neighborhood locations

Monday, Jan. 197 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Each year, the General Mills Foundation and UNCF present an annual MLK Holiday Breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center to celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Vernon Jordan, an attorney, civil rights leader, and business consultant is this year’s keynote speaker. Jordan has held many prominent offi cial and advisory roles in the UNCF, the NAACP and politics. Yolanda Adams, a multi-platinum selling and Grammy Award winning gospel artist, is a special guest this year.

Adams will be performing during the breakfast and sharing some of her thoughts as well. Th e Saint Paul Area Council of Churches hosts breakfasts at nine neighborhood locations, featuring a live broadcast of the event as well as a hot breakfast and local programming. Breakfast Locations include St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church, 1757 Conway St., St. Paul; House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Ave., St. Paul; Faith United Methodist Church,

1530 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul; White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple St., Mahtomedi; Brooklyn United Methodist Church, 7200 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center; First United Methodist Church, 230 E. Skyline Pkwy., Duluth; United Th eological Seminary, 3000 Fift h St. N.W., New Brighton, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul and St. Bridget Catholic Church, 211 East Division Street, River Falls, Wis.

It Does Matter: Dream With Us Activate a New CanvasA refl ective service honoring the legacy of King, Jr. Th e 14th annual event includes a speaker, youth presentations, music and more. Th e event at Calvary Baptist Church, 2608 Blaisdell Avenue South, Minneapolis, begins at 6:45 p.m. and is free. More information is available at

www.calvarychurchmpls.org or by calling (612) 872-7855.

MLK Day of Service volunteer opportunitiesTh ere are several King Holiday volunteer opportunities. Arc’s Value Village is hosting volunteers at its Brooklyn Center, New Hope, Richfi eld, St. Paul and Bloomington

locations. Volunteers will work to unpack, sort and tag donations at Arc’s Value Village in support of Th e Arc Greater Twin Cities and its programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Go to www.arcsvaluevillage.org/volunteer to sign up.

Serve breakfast on MLK Day with AARPAARP is seeking volunteers to cook and serve a breakfast for people experiencing homelessness at Our Saviour’s Housing emergency shelter, 2315 Chicago Ave. S, Minneapolis. Th ere are 40 men and women at this south Minneapolis shelter every day. A warm breakfast is a treat for the residents, as they normally just have a cold cereal bar when there are not groups of volunteers there to make a warm meal. Th e time commitment is 5 a.m. – 7 a.m.

and borrow and owe people though the narrative is that we don’t want to take care of our kids. I’m just done with that. My dad right now is working at a warehouse now at 55. How long do you have to keep working? He just started that job last year. Before that he was out of work. It’s hard to fi nd work when you look like us. I’m just trying to get away from that. AS: You have a well documented history as a battle MC. How did that start? Freez: Th at started in high school. It would be my brother (Delko and Tattered Life Clothing Co. owner/designer) Scott McDonald (also in the room for the interview). McDonald: It’s funny though because that was my introduction to Minneapolis hip-hop. It turned into a big

deal. It got to a point where the teachers and staff would try to shut us down. Th e rules on policing the school changed because of those battles because they didn’t understand hip-hop. Th ey looked at the energy as a potential fi ght when everything we were doing was the opposite of promoting negative energy. We were giving everyone an outlet for their energy. A cop snatched me up one time, cuff ed me, pulled me into an offi ce alone, and beat me behind a closed door. He said “look at your face, I didn’t leave any bruises. I know what I’m doing. It’s going to be your word against mine.” Him and the principal got fi red over that incident. Freez: It really happened at that battle. Everybody saw him come out of that room roughed up. Th ey’ve been coming at us for years, bro, for the same problem. McDonald: To this day no liaison offi cer can go into a room without staff .

AS: How does it feel to fi nally have an album? It feels like relief man. I fi rst started this album before my daughter was born and she’s six (year’s old) today. I’m so aggressive about it because it’s been six years coming. It’s kind of a shot at all my doubters and haters. Everybody always told me I wouldn’t make it and I don’t know why. Maybe they couldn’t follow their own dreams? When I apply myself I excel every time. Th e “Freez’s Frozen French Frey’s” album lands in stores Tuesday, Jan. 13. Fans can also listen to and buy the album on several online platforms including iTunes and www.freezandmikefrey.bandcamp.com. Freez’s album release party takes place Saturday, Jan. 17 at Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, with Greg Grease, Sophia Eris, Vision the Kid and DJ Willie Shu. Th e show is presented by Soul Tools Entertainment.

FreezFrom 10

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents CONTRA-TIEMPOTh e Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced it will present urban Latin dance company, CONTRA-TIEMPO, for a one-night-only performance on Saturday, Feb. 7. Th e company will perform its work, “Full Still Hungry,” as part of the Ordway’s World Music and Dance Series. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at (651) 224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket offi ce. Los Angeles-based

CONTRA-TIEMPO fuses elements of Salsa, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop, urban and contemporary dance to create an invigorating performance. Founded and directed by Cuban-American choreographer and artistic director, Ana Maria Alvarez, CONTRA-TIEMPO pushes the boundaries of Latin dance as an expressive cultural and contemporary form, using dance to communicate the struggles of the working class. “CONTRA-TIEMPO is

known for their dynamic and expressive dance pieces, but what really sets them apart is their dedication to using dance as a tool to reach communities and bring to life voices not traditionally heard on the stage,” said Dayna Martinez, Ordway’s artistic director of World Music & Dance. “CONTRA-TIEMPO excels at using physical movement to inspire social movement, and that is very evident in the piece they’ll be performing at the Ordway.”

“Full Still Hungry” is a powerful performance that explores how food, race, privilege and overconsumption impact everyday lives. Set to an original score by Cesar Alvarez, the piece features a live fi ve-piece band, eight dancers, vibrant costumes and dynamic, high-energy choreography. “Food is not just the material I put in my body to sustain life, but a web of relationships, histories, choices and decisions that all impact the world around us,” said Alvarez.

“Full Still Hungry” premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles in September 2011, and has been captivating audiences since. C O N T R A - T I E M P O ’s performance will also be a part of “Raíces y Sueños: the Artistry of Cuba,” a series of arts-based learning and community engagement events hosted by the Ordway. Translated as Roots and Dreams, “Raíces y Sueños” celebrates the rich cultural

heritage of Cuba through master classes, cultural conversations, workshops, lecture demonstrations and a visual arts exhibit that will open new doors for artists and audiences alike. “Raíces y Sueños” began in October 2014 with the performances of Nachito Herrera and his Cuban Orchestra and the Creole Choir of Cuba, and will conclude on Feb. 7. For tickets and more information, visit www.ordway.org.

Brant Brogan

Insight News ::: 01.12.15

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Transcript of Insight News ::: 01.12.15