In a game that will go down as one of the greatest in Minnesota high school history, Park Center High School won its fi rst ever girls basketball state championship in the most dramatic fashion in a triple overtime thriller. And while superstar senior Cayla McMorris scored 21 points and played outstanding defense, when it was all said and done, four freshmen and a sophomore brought the title home to Brooklyn Park with a 73-71 victory over Marshall High School. With junior all-conference forward McKenna

DuBois having fouled out late in the second half, McMorris took what many believed to be a charge, but was called a blocking foul, her fi fth, and turned the standout into the team’s highest profi le cheerleader for the remaining action. McMorris’ foul came with just 20 seconds to play in regulation and with the Pirates of Park Center down two after having been down by nine with just over fi ve minutes to go in regulation at Williams Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota. With Marshall’s Sarah Buysse at the line and a chance to ice the game, Buysse, who

PAGE 2

Insight 2 HealthDiabetes in middle age: May lead to brain cell loss later in life

PAGE 4

LifestyleSelf-discipline: The power of the second creation

CommentaryFood insecurity: A disgraceful reality

PAGE 10

BusinessKelly Can: Leveraging strengths across the team

PAGE 11

Mike Wynne, President and CEO of EMERGE Community Development, accepted an award on behalf of EMERGE for Non-Profi t of the Year at the Minneapolis Chamber’s Best in Business luncheon earlier this month. EMERGE, dedicated to “creating a community where people have the freedom and mutual support to thrive,” was recognized by the Chamber for the non-profi t’s success in four focus areas: community development, staffi ng, villages (housing), and workforce development.

When the Southwest light rail line (SWLRT) is built, a Northside station will bear the name of Van White. Van White, the fi rst African American to serve on the Minneapolis City Council, provides the kind of example we need to do what is right for our entire community. Van White worked hard to overcome barriers, and in so doing he provided inspiration and real opportunities for residents of North Minneapolis and throughout the City. His life tells us that we can surmount the obstacles we face in reaching consensus about the route of the rail line. His life reminds us that we must build the rail line to provide more economic opportunity. Van White knew it was tough to keep a job if you couldn’t afford to get to it. It’s fi tting that the LRT station named to honor him will connect people from every community seeking work to the places where jobs are available. We face signifi cant income gaps between communities in our region. Minnesota has one of the largest racial employment gaps in the country. The Southwest line will support increased economic equity for our community. Communities of color make up the fastest growing populations in our state, but are often concentrated in areas with the fewest number of public

By Shaina Brassard, West Broadway Coalition

Mike Wynne and EMERGE latest caretakers of 120 year-old North Minneapolis cultural asset

Chamber applauds non-profi t developer

EMERGEMike Wynne, President and CEO of EMERGE Community

Development

SWLRT TURN TO 4GAME TURN TO 9

Southwest light rail train a must for our community

Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05)

State Senator Bobby Joe Champion (MN-59)

EMERGE TURN TO 10

Shaina BrassardThe future EMERGE Career

and Technology Center

Op-ed by Representative Keith Ellison and State Senator Bobby Joe Champion

Park Center girls basketball brings home state title in triple overtime thriller

Harry Colbert, Jr.The team from Park Center shows of its fi rst ever girls Minnesota State 3AAA Champion trophy.

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

MORE ON PAGE 5

Lalah Hathaway and Ruben Studdard set for six shows at the Dakota April 6-8

Vol. 41 No. 14 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comMarch 31 - April 6, 2014

Page 2 • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

DIABETES IN MIDDLE AGEMay lead to brain cell loss later in life

ROCHESTER, Minn. — March 11, 2014 — People who develop diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age are more likely to have brain cell loss and other damage to the brain, as well as problems with memory and thinking skills, than people who never have diabetes or high blood pressure or

who develop it in old age, according to a new study published in the March 19, 2014, online issue of Neurology. Middle age was defi ned as age 40 to 64 and old age as age 65 and older. “Potentially, if we can prevent or control diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age, we can prevent or delay the brain damage that occurs decades later and leads to memory and thinking problems and dementia,” says study author and Mayo Clinic epidemiologist Rosebud Roberts M.B., Ch.B. For the study, the thinking and memory skills of 1,437 people with an average age of 80 were evaluated. The participants had either no thinking or memory problems or mild memory and thinking problems called mild cognitive impairment. They then had brain scans to look for markers of brain damage that can be a precursor to dementia. Participants’ medical records

were reviewed to determine whether they had been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure in middle age or later. For diabetes, 72 people developed it in middle age, 142 in old age and 1,192 did not have diabetes. For high blood pressure, 449 people developed it in middle age, 448 in old age and 369 did not have it. Compared to people who did not have diabetes, people who developed diabetes in middle age had a total brain volume average of 2.9 percent smaller. In the hippocampus area of the brain, the volume was 4 percent smaller. They also were twice as likely to have thinking and memory problems. Compared to people who did not have high blood pressure, people who developed high blood pressure in middle age were twice as likely to have areas of brain damage. “People who developed diabetes

even in old age also were more likely to have areas of brain damage. Conversely, there were not many effects from high blood pressure that developed in old age,” Roberts says. “Overall, our fi ndings suggest that the effects of these diseases on the brain take decades to develop and show up as brain damage and lead to symptoms that affect their memory and other thinking skills. In particular, diabetes has adverse effects regardless of the age at which diabetes develops.” The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, Robert H. and Clarice Smith and Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program, Rochester Epidemiology Project, National Institutes of Health,Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and European Union Regional Development Fund.

-Mayo Clinic News Network

Rosebud Roberts

insightnews.com Insight News • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Page 3

HEALTHHealthCare.gov answered my prayers

I am a Hmong-American woman, an entrepreneur and a medical interpreter. I’m a single mom of six children, ages 12 through 25. For the past eight years, my children and I were uninsured because we could not afford health insurance. Living in the one of the richest countries in the world without health coverage can be very stressful. Every night I prayed that my children wouldn’t get sick because we did not have health insurance. I would tell my children not to run around too much to avoid getting injured because we did not have health insurance. When my children participated in school sports, I told them not to play too hard for fear that they might get injured

and I wouldn’t have the money to pay for the medical bills. Can you imagine, as a mother, telling your children not to play? But when President Obama’s Affordable Care Act went into effect on October 1, 2013, my fear vanished. I hesitated to apply for health insurance, but one of my daughters urged me to enroll for the health of our family. So, on December 27, 2013, I went to HealthCare.gov and located the Health Insurance Marketplace program for my state, Minnesota. I was impressed that the application process was so easy and fast – I was approved right away. And I was so excited that I called everyone I knew who did not have health insurance and encouraged them to apply! Receiving health insurance has been a blessing. As a mother without health insurance, my

own health had taken a backseat. About two months before I enrolled for health insurance, I started to experience unusual bleeding. My blood level was so low, I would get extremely tired and have fainting episodes. However, I couldn’t go to a doctor because I couldn’t afford the expensive medical bills. But, just a week after my family was approved for health insurance, I made an appointment to see a doctor, who ordered an ultrasound exam. When the results came back, my doctor told me I had abnormal cells. I needed a biopsy to determine if the cells were cancerous, and my doctor recommended immediate surgery to stop the abnormal bleeding. A few weeks after my surgery, I learned that my biopsy results were negative for cancer! My abnormal bleeding stopped

completely. If I had gone without health insurance, the bleeding would have continued and could have caused anemia. Now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I’m healthy and my children can play just as children should. If you or someone you care about is uninsured, it’s not too late to sign up for quality, affordable coverage – but you’ll want to act today and before March 31. If yo u don’t enroll by March 31, you can’t enroll again until November 2014. Sign up today online at HealthCare.gov; over the phone with help available in 150 languages at the 24/7 call center at 1-800-318-2596; or directly through an issuer, agent, or broker. You can also fi nd in-person assistance in your community at localhelp.healthcare.gov.

By Maly Xiong, 47, Oakdale, MN

Bringing Black men into public conversations

“He is missing from the health care system. He is less likely to hold a job that provides health insurance. Otherwise, he is underinsured. Despite chronic poverty that cries out for relief, he often slips through the cracks of a frayed social safety net. Medicaid, focused on pregnant women and children, rarely includes him. He bears a disparate burden of disease. He dies early and struggles frequently against structures that render him invisible.” That refl ection, delivered by Dr. Keith Elder, fl ows from the shared mission he and his colleague Dr. Keon Gilbert have embraced – bringing Black men into public conversations about health, health care and health reform. They say their goal is to spotlight the dire need for more resources focused on Black men. Elder chairs the Department of Health Management and Policy at Saint Louis University’s School of Public Health. His work moves beyond disparities and dysfunction, expanding the research to expose the breadth and depth of Black men’s health issues from cradle to grave. Gilbert, an assistant professor in the department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, focuses on outreach, education, and interventions that increase Black men’s access to social capital in order to improve overall health outcomes. Gilbert’s goal is to redefi ne Black men’s health. “Black men should embrace the broadest defi nition of health, including how health can fuel their educational and economic

ambitions, their dreams and their well-being,” said Gilbert. The pair are co-authors of two recent studies: “Men’s Health Disparities in Confi dence to Manage Health,” published in the fall 2013 issue of the International Journal of Men’s Health, and “Trust Medication, Adherence and Hypertension Control in Southern African American Men,” which appeared in the American Journal of Public Health in December 2012. They both credit New Connections – a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) initiative that works to expand the diversity of perspectives informing RWJF program strategy – with helping to enhance their research agendas, and deepening their network of scholars and support. Elder (a 2009 New Connections alumnus), whose research marked some of the seminal data on Black men’s health status encouraged Gilbert to seek RWJF support. A current fellow, Gilbert is using his New Connections grant to engage Black men around access to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The goal is to understand how to help those without insurance obtain it, and to persuade those who have it to use it more often by seeking routine and preventive health care services.

Black men missing from health care conversationOne of the fi rst hurdles confronting Black men is health coverage. Second, and more fundamentally, many Black men do not readily access health care even when they

are insured. Elder notes that Black men with health insurance are two times less likely to use it than other groups. “Black men are one of the hardest groups to reach. No one is looking to engage them, and they are just not plugged into the systems,” said Gilbert. Education and outreach, vital to improved health status, are not isolated from the other challenges to advancing Black men’s health. “We have to expand the science when it comes to a myriad of processes, from access to health care outcomes,” said Elder, whose research focused on predictors, perceptions, and evaluation of health care quality by Black men in non-emergency medicine. “Our published research is important, but the people we need to reach aren’t in the academic world. They are in the barbershop, on the basketball court, and in communities that are medically underserved.”

Health disparities’ effect on Black menThe health disparities suffered by Black men are stunning. According to studies, the death rate from heart disease is 30 percent higher than that of white male counterparts. From stroke, it is 60 percent higher. The diabetes death rate is 200 percent higher for Black men, and the death rate from prostate cancer is also more than 200 percent higher. Gilbert notes that the disparities exist in specifi c outcomes, such as chronic disease and unintentional injuries. “These are the barriers men face starting early in life, when those diseases begin and

then manifest over time,” said Gilbert. “The question becomes, what can we do in the realm of prevention? And what can we do to address social determinants that may limit opportunities for access to care, education, and quality

employment?” He suggests encouraging young men to complete high school and go to college may be one answer. Paying attention to their health at an earlier age is another solution.

Gilbert points out that another impediment comes from Black men’s sense of self-perceived masculinity and gender identity. He added that Black men are not socialized to go to the doctor on a regular basis. Research shows that men younger than 18 years of age tend to go to the doctor when prompted by a parent, or because they are active in sports, but after the age of 18, health care utilization drops off dramatically. Moreover, according to Gilbert, there is a history in America of rendering Black men invisible, which puts them at greater risk. He believes engagement has to start on parallel tracks, in small, incremental and systemic measures.

Dr. Keith Elder Dr. Keon Gilbert

INVISIBLE TURN TO 9

At Medica, you’re not just part of a health plan. You’re part of a community that believes in better health for all.

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Page 4 • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

LIFESTYLESelf-discipline: The power of the second creation

In last week’s commentary, I wrote about the Relationship 101: the power of the fi rst creation. I shared that all things are created twice, the mental or the fi rst creation, and the physical or the second creation.

Although the fi rst creation is a function of your vision, goals and dreams, it will not come into fruition without personal management. You cannot have a healthy relationship with others without fi rst having a health relationship with self. Self-discipline is the medium needed to transform your dreams into reality. Self-discipline is your second creation. The power of the second creation begins by you developing a personal management plan. Your life is too important to just work off of memory. You must write your vision statement. This will

serve as your “yes statement” to the people and things that come into your sphere. If you take life as it comes, you will spend your day on less important matters. By saying no to people and things that do not support your dreams allows you the time needed to put the important things fi rst. To harness the power of the second creation, you must discipline yourself to plan the work, and to work the plan. The power of the second creation requires you to be proactive. Procrastination

will get you nowhere, and it is a big waste of the most valuable resource of all – time. Healthy relationships require actions. Your heart and hands must both be engaged. Time waits for no one so by taking action, you swing the pendulum of time in your favor. Your action will allow you to correct assumptions, miscommunications and misdirection. Each step in life taken can be evaluated, repeated or corrected if needed. Actions create actions. When you are proactive, you multiply your time by getting others involved. Direct action gives you the power to improve your relationship and update your life’s plan. The power of the second creation also requires you to manage yourself against time. Relationships can be very time consuming, and you need time to build a healthy one. But there is really no such thing as time management. You cannot move hours from one day to the next. Each day you are given a gift of 24 hours to build on your relationship and accomplish your dreams. You must develop a personal plan that outlines the

steps needed to accomplish your goals. Then you must begin each day working on your dreams and your relationship. If you wait until the end of the day, you will be too tired and drained to maximize your brainpower. By devoting time for your vision at the beginning of the day, you set the priority needed in that day to accomplish your goals. You can harness the power of the second creation. The fi rst and second creations are both needed for success in life. The fi rst creation sets the stage for what will be manifested, and the second creation is the self-awareness, imagination and independent will needed to bring the fi rst creation into reality. If you are proactive, have a plan, and are willing to manage yourself against time, nothing will be impossible to you.

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

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

transportation options. This limits access to jobs, health care, and even amenities like grocery stores. The Southwest line will bring mobility and access to jobs to people who sorely need it. The areas surrounding the Northside stations have a signifi cant percentage of low-income families. One-third of the families near the Van White and Royalston stations have incomes that are barely above

poverty—nearly twice the rate of the region as a whole. The Southwest line will connect these communities to job centers in St. Paul (72,000 jobs), Eden Prairie (24,700 jobs), the University of Minnesota (15,000 jobs), St Louis Park (11,200 jobs), Minnetonka (11,000 jobs), and Hopkins (8,500 jobs). Increasing access to jobs is key to helping narrow the economic gaps in our region. In addition, light rail will bring development around the station areas themselves. The Harrison Neighborhood, for example, has worked to revitalize the area around the Van

White Station, which led to the city zoning the area for the kind of neighborhood development Van White envisioned. What’s more, the SWLRT will create thousands of much-needed construction jobs. Current estimates project at least 4,000 construction jobs will be created during the building of Southwest line, with a goal of 32% minority hiring. The total payroll for these jobs will be at least $330 million over three years during the heaviest construction.

SWLRTFrom 1

If you are proactive, have a plan, and are willing to manage

yourself against time, nothing will be impossible to you.

SWLRT TURN TO 9

WE’RE BUILDING A NEW STADIUM.YOU’RE INVITED TO HELP.

Training & Job Opportunity Fair This Thursday, take your first step toward a well-paying career in construction.

Whether you are a skilled trades worker or want to get training in only 20 weeks, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and its Employment Assistance Firm (EAF) is recruiting interested construction candidates. Learn more about the opportunities available and speak to trade union representatives.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME - BRING YOUR RESUMEStadium Training and Job Opportunity Fair

WHERE:

WHEN:

For schedule and details, call 612-377-0150 or visit www.saoic.org and click on EAF.

Sabathani Community Center310 East 38th StreetSouth Minneapolis

Thursday, April 3rd4:00 - 6:30 pm

EAF

MinneapolisSchoolFinder.org

Find the right schoolfor your child.

This new tool highlights high impact schools to make your search easier and

gives you the power to SEARCH for free public schools, COMPARE academic

performance and DECIDE on the best option for your family.

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Visit us atMinneapolisSchoolFinder.orgto learn more.

Developed by Charter School Partners to provide parents with an easier way to access academic performance data for all public schools, district and charter, in Minneapolis.

APRIL 6-8 Lalah Hathaway and Ruben Studdard set for six shows at the Dakota

What do you get when you put the 2003 “American Idol” winner and a 2014 Grammy winner together on the same stage? Well the fi rst thing you

get is Ruben Studdard and Lalah Hathaway. But aft er that … “You get a really organic experience,” said Hathaway, who won her fi rst Grammy for Best R&B Performance, singing with the band, Snarky Puppy. “We don’t really know what’s going to

happen yet. You’ll have one of us on stage and then the other and then both of us together, so people get to experience a great show.” Residents of the Twin Cities will be the fi rst to see the duo together as they

As an active member of the arts and culture scene in Minnesota you oft en hear complaints, mostly from musicians, about their careers. Most of the time the responsibility for one’s own success is placed outside of the person. Musicians say, “a certain radio station won’t play my music,” a certain venue won’t book them for a show, or a specifi c act is getting all of the shine. As valid as those statements may be, very few times do you hear the same artists being critical of their own work. Have they truly analyzed how they present themselves or their music?

Monday, March 31 Bang Bang PoetryHoney205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Button Poetry is proud to announce the return of BANG BANG Poetry! The Twin Cities is home to one of the most accomplished, talented and diverse spoken word scenes in the country. Join Button for an eclectic evening of poetry roulette featuring Da Black Pearll, IBé, Keno Evol, Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria, Desdamona, Thadra Sheridan, SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE and more.

$5 suggested donation.

Tuesday, April 1 The Poet’s Groove – Open MicBlue Nile Restaurant2027 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis(612) 338-3000www.bluenilempls.com

Billed as the longest running weekly open mic in the state of Minnesota, the Poet’s

Groove is an open mic hosted by Chadwick “Niles” Phillips that features a full live band including world-renowned drummer Kevin Washington. Sign up for performers is 10 p.m. every Tuesday at the Blue Nile in Minneapolis and the show starts at 11 p.m.

No cover.

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.

IT! TURN TO 8

By Toki Wright Twitter - @mrwrighttc

SCOTT TURN TO 7

Musical agitator Jon Jon Scott talks about choosing sound

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

DAKOTA TURN TO 7

Courtesy of Dakota Jazz Club

Ruben Studdard and Lalah Hathaway

SSOOUUNNDD VVEERRIITTEE

March 31-April 6

Page 6 • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Aesthetically Speaking insightnews.com/aesthetics

Crowe portrays Noah in novel adaptation of popular parable

Anybody with even a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible is undoubtedly familiar

with the story of Noah and the Ark. Th at scriptural passage, found in Genesis, revolves around a righteous patriarch recruited by God to build a big boat before the arrival of a

fl ood being meted out as divine punishment for man’s many wicked ways. Heeding the word of the Lord, he proceeded to construct the mammoth vessel before

herding two of each species of animal into the hold. It subsequently rained for 40 days and 40 nights, with water covering the entire Earth’s surface, thereby drowning all of humanity except for his family. So, until now, the tale of Noah was basically a simple one about God’s decision to completely wipe the planet of sinners and start over. Leave it to Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky (for Black Swan) to come up with a novel and intriguing reinterpretation of the popular parable recasting Noah as a complicated soul wrestling with inner demons during his quest to do the Lord’s bidding ahead of the impending deluge. Th e movie also has an ecological angle, plus some computer-generated monsters ostensibly designed to holds the kids’ interest. Th e fi lm stars Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe (for Gladiator) in the title role, and features a talented supporting cast which includes fellow Oscar-winners Jennifer Connelly (for A Beautiful Mind) and Anthony Hopkins (for Th e Silence of the Lambs), three-time nominee Nick Nolte (for Warrior, Affl iction and Th e Prince of Tides), as well as Emma Watson and Ray Winstone. Th e picture opens with what is essentially a Sunday school lesson, a refresher course about the creation of Adam (Adam Griffi th) and Eve (Ariane Rinehart) who begat three sons: Cain, Abel and Seth. Th e evil one, Cain, slew his sibling Abel, and those descending from Cain’s demon seed continued to do the devil’s work by generally exploiting the planet’s natural resources. Noah, by contrast, as a son of Seth, learned how to live in harmony with nature. He and his wife (Connelly) raised their sons, Shem (Douglas Booth),

Japheth (Leo McHugh Carroll) and Ham (Logan Lerman), with the same eco-friendly philosophy. Eventually, of course, Noah gets his marching orders from God, and the plot thickens when the steady drizzle develops into a neverending downpour. Suddenly, his nosy neighbors no longer see constructing an ark as such a nutty idea anymore, and it’s going to take a miracle like an army of animatronic angels to keep the desperate hordes from climbing aboard. Meanwhile, a visibly-anguished Noah agonizes over what’s about to transpire, and consults his sage, berry-imbibing

grandfather, Methuselah (Hopkins). But anticipatory survivor’s guilt ain’t about to alter God’s plan one iota. An alternately introspective and breathtaking Biblical epic, every bit cerebral as it is panoramic!

Excellent

Rated PG-13 for violence, suggestive content and disturbing imagesRunning time: 138 minutesDistributor: Paramount Pictures

Paramount PicturesRussell Crowe as Noah

By Kam Williams

NOW – APRIL 20

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The Guthrie Theater presentsa Penumbra Theatre and Arizona Theatre co-production of

NOW – APRIL 19

A bold re-imagining of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s

last night.

THE GUTHRIE THEATER PRESENTS

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IN THE

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insightnews.com/aesthetics Aesthetically Speaking • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Page 7

Have they thought about how they can contribute to the music scene with something new and out of the box? Ultimately do they make music that moves a group of people to support that sound? These were a few of the questions I had in mind when I sat down with Sound Verite Records head Jon Jon Scott. Sound Verite means “choosing sound” a play off of Cinema Verite’s “choosing

cinema.” Scott has built a career around discovering unique sounds and presenting it to the masses. “All I want to do in my own space is develop artists and find artists who I think are going to be respectable and lasting,” said Scott. Scott has helped to develop the careers of Graph Nobel (of Idle Warship with Res and Talib Kweli), Villa Rosa and most recently breakthrough MC/producer Greg Grease. Scott speaks with the speed of someone who has

a lot of valuable information but not a lot of time to play around. When I asked him about his path to the Twin Cities he name checked stints living in Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto and New York City. He’s always struck me as a person I knew from one of those locations that had a different way of looking at music than most of the people in the room. The influences of these locales help you to understand why he takes music so seriously. “Sound Verite strives to deliver, with each new edition, a dynamic and satisfying work of art,” said Scott. Scott made a transition from working with major labels to focus on his own. “With a lot of money and a lot of energy behind it my

biggest record with Graph Nobel on Sony never came out. We spent three or four years working on it. When I got back to Minneapolis the music scene was starting to change. I’m out here trying to chase labels and I’m realizing that everyone that’s winning is doing it themselves. I thought, ‘I want to be a part of this.’” Long time collaborator Doc McKinney (The Weeknd, Esthero) gave Scott some key advice. “What I learned from Doc is to work with an artist that wants to do as much as he can for himself so you are not babysitting,” said Scott. Our interview was fi lled with gems of insight that would not fi t in the confi nes of this article but there was one

key idea I wanted to grasp. My fi nal question was about Scott’s vision of the Minnesota music scene in the years to come. He noted his appreciation of support from KMOJ and the importance of having programs solely dedicated to emerging music on Black radio. He also stated that he looks forward to seeing, “a colorful playground of people all making music without limitation to genre and category. Genres and categories will wash away each year. A rapper gets on a rock song. An electronic kid plays at a rock show. As the scenes

of music become more inverse the kids all become one,” he said. Look out for these upcoming projects from Sound Verite Records in 2014 including Greg Grease’s “Born to Lurk Forced to Work” (with River Life Media), Muja Messiah’s “God Kissed It the Devil Missed It,” and a new project from ZULUZULUU. You can find new music from the Twin Cities and around the world daily on Sound Verite’s blog, www.soundverite1.blogspot.com.

Film screening: “The Abolitionists”Metropolitan State University hosts film screening of the film “The Abolitionists” at two university locations. The screenings are a part of the series “Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle,” made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “The Abolitionists” vividly brings to life the struggles of the men and women who led the battle to end slavery. Through the use of reenactments, this film series puts five faces on the anti-slavery movement: New England newspaper editor William Lloyd Garrison; former slave, author and activist Frederick Douglass; Angelina Grimké, daughter of a rich South Carolina

slaveholder; Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin; and John Brown, executed for his armed seizure of the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. A partial film screening and panel discussion takes place on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m., in the Library and Learning Center, Room 302, 645 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul.

Full-length film screenings are scheduled for: • Monday, April 7, 6 p.m.

at the Saint Paul Campus, Founders Hall, Room 118,

• 700 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul

• Thursday, April 17, 6 p.m. at the Midway Center, Room 9, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Saint Paul.

Attendees may RSVP or request more information by calling the Institute for Community Engagement and Scholarship at 651-793-1285 or by sending an e-mail to community.engagement@metrostate.edu. Additional resources and related materials are available through the Metropolitan State University Library Guide, Created Equal at http://libguides.metrostate.e d u / c o n t e n t . p h p ? p i d=511978&sid=4212585 Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is America’s premier university for lifelong learning, providing unsurpassed, competitive academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels while maintaining affordability.

ScottFrom 5

kick off a multi-city tour throughout the country. Th e two are set to perform two shows nightly at the Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis, April 6-8. Show times are 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$45 and are on sale at the Dakota Box Offi ce, (612) 332-5299 or online at www.dakotacooks.com. Hathaway said the pairing came about aft er the two worked on a couple of songs

together. “Ruben was working on a record with David Foster and we covered a Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell classic, ‘If Th is World We’re Mine,’ and it seemed like a really cool thing to do to go and take that vibe live,” said Hathaway. More than two decades aft er Hathaway’s fi rst release, the self titled album, “Lalah Hathaway,” the daughter of soul icon, the late Donny Hathaway, fi nally grabbed the previously illusive Grammy for the song “Something” on Snarky Puppy’s “Family Dinner, Volume One.”

“It only took 23 years,” joked Hathaway. “To fi nally be a Grammy Award winner is surreal. It’s amazing how many times people have said, ‘Grammy nominee’ (Hathaway had been previously nominated) and now it’s Grammy winner. Th at’s the icing on top of the cake.” Following her recording with Snarky Puppy, Hathaway said she’s committed now more than ever to putting out her own live, full-length recording. “I’m really interested in capturing that live

experience,” said Hathaway. “What I do is really about the live experience.” Th e classically trained Chicago-raised singer who graduated from Berklee College of Music said she’s eager to share the Dakota stage with Studdard. “Expect to have a great time,” said Hathaway about the upcoming April shows. “It’s going to be some great soul, R&B and as many parts of my music that I can off er.” Studdard, who is currently on tour in Asia, will join Hathaway at the Dakota for six shows, April 6-8.

Th is will be Studdard’s fi rst performance at the Dakota. Hathaway graced the Dakota stage for a couple of dates two years ago. Following “Idol,” Studdard had a huge hit with the song, “Sorry 2004” and went on to later put out a gospel album before returning to R&B. In February, Studdard released “Unconditional Love,” where he collaborates with Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and Eric Benet to cover songs by Paul McCartney, Peabo Bryson, Marvin Gaye and Lalah’s father, Donny Hathaway. Studdard was

recently a contestant on “Th e Biggest Loser” where he dropped almost 120 pounds.

Lalah Hathaway and Ruben Studdard at the Dakota Jazz Club

April 6, 7 and 87 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightlyDakota Jazz Club – 1010 Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis$35-$45(612) 332-5299www.dakotacooks.com

DakotaFrom 5

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

11:30 - 2 Monday through Friday

View our complete menu at dakotacooks.com

Come have lunch at the Dakota

Page 8 • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Aesthetically Speaking insightnews.com/aesthetics

International Reggae All-Stars Bunker’s Music Bar & Grill761 Washington Ave. N.(612) 338-8188www.bunkersmusic.com

Every Tuesday have a Caribbean getaway right at home in the Twin Cities. With band members hailing from Venezuela to Trinidad, and Ghana to Kingston, the International Reggae All-Stars are truly a global band. Featuring vocalists and Kingston native Lynval “Golden Voice” Jackson, the International Reggae All-Stars play reggae, dancehall and all the Bob Marley classics.

9 p.m. Cover: $6

Wednesday, April 2Othello Guthrie Th eater

Directed by Tony and Drama Desk award nominee and Obie Award winner Marion McClinton, best-known for his Broadway productions of plays by August Wilson, this classic story by William Shakespeare “examines issues of cultural diversity, race and betrayal.”

Admission: $20-$71 Runs through April 20.

Thursday, April 3Mahmoud El-KatiSubText: a bookstore165 Western Ave. N, St. Paul (beneath Nina’s Coff ee Café)

Author, activist and community pillar El-Kati discusses his new book “Th e Myth of Race, the Reality of Racism”

7 p.m. No cover

Th e Bungalow Th e Record Room/First Ave Nightclub701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis(612) 332-1775www.fi rst-avenue.com

DJ Verb X leads the weekly dance night specializing in reggae, dancehall and hip-hop. Always with a low cover charge and a loose dress code.

Friday, April 4Youth O Rama: Project MEScience Museum of Minnesota120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul

www.smm.org

Need something to do with the young people on spring break? Come check out a one-day exhibit developed by Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center youth staff (middle and high school students). Th ey will use multiple forms of creative expression and museum exhibit development knowledge to create an interactive exhibit experience that explores youth

identity.

One adult admission gets up to four youth in free

Saturday, April 5Bun B with Kirko Bangs: Trillest Tour Fineline Music Café

318 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis

Rapper Bun B (born Bernard Freeman) rose to fame in the legendary duo UGK with Pimp C. Bun has been had top 10 billboard success as a solo artist with a string of guest appearances. His album “TRILL” is also one of the only Southern albums to receive “5 mic” status in Th e Source Magazine. Bun B is also an assistant professor at Rice University co-teaching hip-hop and Religious Studies.

Admission: $25. 18-plus

Sunday, April 6Lalah Hathaway and Ruben Studdard Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis (612) 332-5299www.dakotacooks.com

Join Lalah Hathaway and Ruben Studdard for an evening of classic soul coupled with R&B hits – an elegant show with a seamless blending of classic duets, fan favorites, and selections from each artist’s respective catalogs. Daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway, Lalah is a trained pianist, vocalist, and a graduate of the Berklee School of Music with a career spanning more than two decades with multiple solo releases and a Grammy Award. Ruben Studdard was crowned 2003’s “American Idol” after pulling in 24 million viewer votes. He has followed up television success with gold and platinum selling records. His latest project features a duet with Hathaway.

Six shows, April 6, 7 and 8. Tickets:$45-$35

IT!From 5

International Reggae All-Stars

Dom Brady from Atlanta, Georgia / Creative Commons

Bun B

BMA Multicultural Channel 937 on Xfinity/Comcast service is Minnesota’s exclusive 24 hour urban video, music, arts and news channel.

Tune in for:Minneapolis Sounds Video Show Monday,Tuesday “Titans of Soul,” “Women Who Rock” Wednesday, Thursday “Old School Video Show,” 100 Black Music America Hits Friday, KMOJ TV Show Saturday,Conversations with Al McFarlane,Backstage at The Dakota, Gospel Vision Sunday.

Experience the Cities Best Looking Sounds on Xfinity/Comcast BMA Channel 937

Watch What We Play.find us online: www.BlackMusicAmerica.com follow us on social networks:

insightnews.com Insight News • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Page 9

Send Community Calendar information to us by email: info@insightnews.com, by fax: 612.588.2031, by phone:( 612)588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411. Free or low cost events preferred.

EVENTS

The Mountaintop - Mar. 28-Apr. 19

The Mountaintop by KATORI HALL directed by LOU BELLAMY, March 28-April 19, 2014 at the Guthrie Theater. On April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a large crowd gathered to glean hope from his boundless optimism. He told them he’d gone with God to the mountaintop; he’d seen the Promised Land and assured them that they would

get there. In 24 hours, he would be dead at the age of 39-struck down by an assassin’s bullet. Winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for New Plays and a Broadway sensation, “The Mountaintop” is an intimate, fi ctional portrait of Dr. King on the eve of his death. This Penumbra production will be presented at the Arizona Theatre and at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in

Charlotte, North Carolina before its regional premiere at the Guthrie. Tickets for “The Mountaintop” must be purchased through the Guthrie Theater Box Offi ce at (612) 377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

Complimentary Pediatric Orthopaedic Screening - Mar. 31Does your child have a bone, muscle, or joint problem or

need a second opinion? Come to the Complimentary Pediatric Orthopaedic Screening on Monday, March 31, 2014, 10 AM – 2 PM at the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Twin Cities, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis. Your child will be evaluated by a Shriners Hospitals for Children® medical provider. Shriners Hospitals for Children provides comprehensive

medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care for children with orthopaedic conditions regardless of insurance coverage or their ability to pay. If a child requires follow-up care at the hospital, complimentary transportation is available upon request. Call for Appointments: (612) 596-6105.

COMMUNITY

Community Calendar Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: info@insightnews.com

Community input needed for Northside bikeway plansOnline survey, door-knocking begins now

Eighth Annual Facing Race Ambassador Awards celebrate Minnesota racial equity leaders

Community input needed for northside bikeway plans Online survey, door-knocking under way The City of Minneapolis is continuing to explore the possibility of converting low-traffi c streets in north Minneapolis to a greenway with a safe, accessible route for bicyclists and pedestrians. Residents can take a new online survey (www.s u r v e y m o n k e y . c o m / s /NmplsGreenway) through June 15 to weigh in on the current greenway concept, including the proposed route

and greenway types. Neighbors and neighborhood organization representatives will also knock on doors in the Near North, Jordan, Folwell and Webber-Camden neighborhoods to solicit input from a broad group of Northside residents including people who might not be likely to take an online survey. City offi cials said people who completed similar surveys in 2012 and 2013 provided valuable input into the current concept and are requested to complete the new 2014 survey as well. According to offi cials, based

on input from the 2012 and 2013 surveys and using what was learned from the community through a broader engagement process, a proposal has been developed for a greenway route that travels mostly on Irving and Humboldt avenues North. The 2014 outreach program is a cooperative effort of the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Health Department, the Minneapolis Department of Public Works, and the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability (the Alliance). The Alliance is contracting with

neighborhood and community-based organizations to conduct door-knocking and other engagement activities in the area leading up to the May 31 Open Streets event. Other neighborhood events begin soon and continue throughout the summer. Details on the proposal and planned community events can be found at the project website, www.minneapolismn.g o v / h e a l t h / l i v i n g /northminneapolisgreenway.

About the proposed greenwayA “greenway” is a park-like trail that people can use for

biking, walking, transportation and recreation. According to city offi cials, studies show that the closer people live to parks, the more likely they are to get exercise, especially for children and teens. The greenways may also be used to offer additional amenities, such as community gardens or public art. The greenway would be a north-south route starting at the Shingle Creek Trail in the north and ending south of Plymouth Avenue. It would primarily follow Humboldt and Irving avenues and connect the Crystal Lake Cemetery, three schools

and four parks. Future planning efforts will explore possible additional connections to the south, such as the Cedar Lake and Bassett Creek trails. If built, the bikeway would be the second of its kind in north Minneapolis. Funding for the project is provided in part by the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, as part of Blue Cross’ long-term commitment to tackling the leading root causes of preventable disease including tobacco use, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating.

The Saint Paul Foundation will honor fi ve anti-racism advocates at the eighth annual Facing Race Ambassador Awards on April 7 at the Crown Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel, 11 Kellogg Blvd. East. The Facing Race Ambassador Awards program was created in 2007 to recognize anti-racism leaders and promote the need for productive community-wide conversations about race. “Reducing racial disparities is one of the critical challenges facing Minnesota,” said Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of The Saint Paul Foundation. “We are committed to this cause and honored to celebrate the hard work and dedication of individuals fi ghting for racial equity.” This year’s celebration will honor two racial justice

advocates with Ambassador Awards – Justin Terrell, Justice4All program manager for TakeAction Minnesota and Jada Sherrie Mitchell, a Tartan High School senior and community youth leadership council member in Oakdale. Mitchell is the youngest individual to receive an Ambassador

Award. “Jada and Justin have demonstrated tremendous leadership in addressing disparities in education and employment,” said Rhodes. “We are honored to recognize the accomplishments of these courageous community leaders.”Three additional individuals

will receive honorable mention recognition for their efforts to end racial disparities in Minnesota. They are Jennifer Godinez, Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Bukata Hayes, Greater Mankato Diversity Council and Dr. Cecilia Martinez, Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy.

The awards celebration also features a keynote address by photographer Wing Young Huie whose award-winning work has included “The University Avenue Project” and “Looking for Asian America.” A reception with appetizers begins at 6 p.m., followed by the one-hour program and awards

ceremony. Tickets are free but seating is limited. RSVP at www.saintpaulfoundation.org or call (651) 325-4265. The St. Paul Foundation is the state’s largest community foundation. The Facing Race Ambassador Awards, celebrates individuals working to create racially equitable communities.

The clock is ticking. The Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) passed a

resolution on February 19 to withdraw its 30 percent funding share from the project on June 30, 2014, unless there’s an agreement in place. Without CTIB funding, the Southwest line is history. Half of the funding for the

project will come from the federal government. With the current Congress, transportation funding is fl at or declining, and there are many competitor cities that would be eager to take our funding should we fall behind. Minnesotans directly

impacted by the project must have their views carefully considered. We must make every attempt to mitigate the impacts of the project. But the time is now for our leaders and communities to come together. If we succeed, then

generations will know that in the Twin Cities you can get where you are going quickly and affordably using light rail. To achieve our vision of a vibrant, equitable region we must extend our metro transit system and build the Southwest rail line.

Representative Ellison will host a community forum on transit equity on March 31st, 2014 at the Summit Academy OIC at 915 Olson Memorial Highway, Minneapolis, MN 55405

SWLRTFrom 4

Justin Terrell Jada Sherrie Mitchell Jennifer Godinez Bukata Hayes Dr. Cecilia Martinez

“When men have the opportunity to talk about things that are important to them and participate in decision-making, it almost always makes a difference. It increases their engagement and the chances of improved outcomes,” said Gilbert. This spills over into policy as well. Gilbert noted that the states choosing to expand Medicaid provisions under ACA now include people with felony

convictions, who previously were ineligible for Medicaid coverage. This provides an important opportunity to introduce and expand access to a large segment of the excluded and marginalized population.

Familiar settings, fresh dialogue Gilbert said men have to be part of the discussion in varied situations. “The conversation has to happen at the dining room table … in churches, barbershops, fraternities and other settings,” said Gilbert. “There’s a need to really focus and dig deep, to expand the defi nition of manhood

– your need to be healthy, eat a good diet and get exercise and health screenings. It’s not just taking care of your families and communities, but understanding that you must be a healthy participant in your family and community.” Elder underscored the importance of access, coupled with trust in the medical system. “From a medical encounter and management perspective, we need to make sure the experience is good and fruitful,” said Elder. “That’s what the Affordable Care Act can do. Men need a good medical home.”

According to Elder, a good medical encounter includes every interaction. “From the time they enter the door, with the fi rst person they meet, that fi rst interaction has to be positive. The encounter with the physician should be participatory,” said Elder. He explained physicians should offer information, but also listen and engage the patient, adding that patients need to be active in the encounter. “I know I have to take the lead in my health,” said Elder. “I take a detailed approach during my doctor visits, and I always plan to do a lot of

talking and ask questions during the medical encounter.” He emphasized the importance of recognizing that good health practices need not be restricted to a doctor’s offi ce.

Ending disparities, building a culture of healthElder believes the answer is to take steps in the right direction. “Health disparities are not going away in our lifetime,” said Elder. “Even men who know better don’t do better. Black men still don’t have a 100 percent adherence rate to medical advice.” The challenges can be

combated by a national and sustained commitment to researching Black men’s health throughout the lifespan. Elder advocates for more funding and support at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He said this will build a pipeline of students who will increase their educational achievement and expand the cadre of scholars devoted to Black men’s health. “If we don’t have the science, we can’t change the policy and how we deliver care. Who are you going to compare Black men to,” questioned Elder.

InvisibleFrom 3

had nine points, missed the front end of a one-and-one and Park Center’s freshman center Mikayla Hayes pulled down the rebound and the team called a timeout with 14 seconds to play. Trailing by two, Park Center coach put the ball in another freshman’s hands, point guard Danielle Schaub. Schaub – who took over the starting role late in the regular season when her older sister, all-conference junior, Hannah Schaub, went down with an ACL injury – drove the lane and with just two seconds on the clock put up a mid-range fl oater that tickled the twine tying the game at 60 and sending the game into an improbable overtime.

“I knew Danielle was going to make that shot; she’s made it hundreds of times before in games and in practice,” said fi rst year Park Center head coach, Chris VanderHyde. “For her it’s just instinct.” In the fi rst overtime, Marshall took the tip and just fi ve seconds in scored on a bucket by Callie Graff. Marshall held that lead until the 1:23 mark when Pirate freshman guard Ann Simonet scored an inside basket. Simonet, who along with Hayes and McMorris, was named to the all-tournament team, fi nished with a game high 26 points. With 1:07 to go in the fi rst overtime, Marshall’s Hannah Bennett was fouled and went to the line hitting both free throws and putting Marshall up once again by two. But with just 30

seconds left on the clock, Hayes hit an inside bucket to again tie the contest and send the game to its second overtime. In the second overtime each team managed just three points apiece with Simonet scoring all the points for the Pirates, who played lockdown defense most of the session. In the third and fi nal overtime, again Marshall scored fi rst but Park Center came right back to tie the game and with 2:04 left, Hayes drove to the bucket and scored while being fouled giving the Pirates its fi rst lead since late in the fi rst half. Hayes fi nished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and was credited with two blocked shots (Hayes appeared to have had fi ve blocks, but was not offi cially credited with such). Marshall again tied the

contest, but two Park Center free throws – one by Somonet and one by Schaub – put the Pirates up for good and a steal by Hayes with one second remaining on the clock sealed the victory for the Pirates, who fi nished with a 26-5 record and the Class 3AAA crown. VanderHyde said he knew he had a special team early on. “I knew Cayla (McMorris) was pretty good, but I didn’t know if she could lead the team all the way to state,” said VanderHyde, who came to Park Center after being the top assistant for the men’s squad at Bethel University in St. Paul. “But I can say this, I don’t think I’ve coached anyone as good as Cayla McMorris. She could have easily been all-American or all state, but she sacrifi ced that for the team. She

made me look good as a coach. And Danielle (Schaub) and Ann (Simonet) play well beyond their years. And the biggest contribution of Mikayla (Hayes) was the way she defended. That made a huge difference in every game. Every shot (of the opposing team) on the inside was going to be a tough one because of her.” “One of my goals early on was to get better on defense and I worked really hard at it and it paid off in the state tournament,” said Hayes, who is considered one of the top players in her class. Hayes fi nished the state tournament averaging a double-double in points and rebounds and posted a triple-double during the sectional fi nals against DeLaSalle, where she scored 10 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked 10 shots.

According to Hayes, the team never got rattled on the big stage because of two reasons. “Having Hannah, McKenna and Cayla, they really showed great leadership throughout the whole year,” said Hayes. “And me and all my other friends (the freshmen who brought the title home) have played together since the 4th grade and we just play really well together.” VanderHyde said he looks forward to defending the state crown with everyone returning except McMorris who will be playing next year for the University of Wisconsin. “This year was rejuvenating as a coach and I owe that to these girls,” said VanderHyde. “I defi nitely want to be around for the 8th grade class to come through the program.”

GameFrom 1

Page 10 • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Insight News insightnews.com

After witnessing the national media coverage of the Chicago Public Schools teachers’ strike of 2012, one distinct and disturbing image still haunts me. I clearly remember many parents asking; in fact begging

city offi cials to keep the schools open, as it was the only way to ensure their children received a hot, healthy meal. Of course, the issue of school lunches has been a hot topic locally as we have learned that in several instances Minnesota school children, including those eligible for reduced-priced lunches, were being denied a hot lunch if their account had insuffi cient funds. This story caused an uproar among parents, politicians and advocacy groups forcing several school administrators to explain such policies. Just this past week, Sen. Al Franken proposed that the federal government step in to cover the full cost for students eligible for reduced-priced lunch. However, when considering both the situation in Chicago and Minnesota’s school lunch dilemma, I contend that the crisis is much deeper and relates to the larger issue of food insecurity. Food insecurity, which is defi ned

as limited or uncertain access to nutritious, affordable food, has increased signifi cantly in America during the past decade. Many low-income families suffering from food insecurity don’t often know where their next meals will come from. Some families make the tactical decision to skip meals in order to stretch their budgets. Food shelves do help and food shelf usage in Minnesota alone has nearly doubled in the past two decades. Still, they only provide limited and temporary assistance to low-income households. Around the same time of the Chicago Public Schools strike; University of Minnesota researchers published a study in the American Journal of Public Health that revealed nearly 40 percent of Twin Cities households had experienced food insecurity during the previous 12 months. A follow-up story posted by the nonprofi t online news service

MinnPost noted that this fi gure, “is almost four times higher than previously believed and more than two-and-a-half times the national average.” There have been a number of strategies both locally and nationally to address this emergency, including outreach initiatives designed to help eligible households secure benefi ts from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. In 2009, the New York Times utilized data from state agencies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Census Bureau, to develop an interactive web map illustrating food stamp usage across every county in America. In Ramsey County for example, it was determined that only 60 percent of eligible households were receiving SNAP benefi ts. During the past few years, a partnership between

the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Greater Twin Cities United Way, and local community action agencies helped to signifi cantly increase the number of households receiving SNAP, including thousands more in Ramsey County alone. Notwithstanding such efforts to fi ght hunger and food insecurity, Congress passed a new farm bill in February that will reduce SNAP benefi ts. In response to Congress, the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities stated that this farm bill, “will mean a benefi t cut for nearly all of the nearly 48 million SNAP recipients – 87 percent of whom live in households with children, seniors, or people with disabilities.” In Minnesota, more than 550,000 will be directly affected including 239,000 children and 114,000 who are elderly and/or disabled. Three states – New York, Connecticut

and Pennsylvania – have boldly announced plans to mitigate SNAP cuts to their eligible residents, and other states coul d still follow. Still, the outlook is bleak for far too many of our fellow citizens The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “a budget is a moral document.” It is a refl ection our society’s core values and allows history to judge how we have and continue to treat one another. I fi nd it unconscionable that today, in 2014, we can still tolerate a young, or for that matter any of citizens, having to go to bed hungry.

Clarence Hightower is the executive director of Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties, part of a national network of more than 1,000 organizations and the largest community action agency in Minnesota.

COMMENTARY

By Clarence HightowerExecutive Director, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties

The Anti-Poverty Soldier

Food insecurity: A disgraceful reality

Established in 1995, EMERGE got its start as an independent nonprofi t on the strength of its innovative alternative staffi ng enterprise that combines a temporary staffi ng business platform with supportive services to help people enter and advance in the workforce. Beyond working to build

careers for people with barriers to employment, Wynne’s board and staff have also taken on projects that promote neighborhood revitalization through the renovation of historic buildings on the West Broadway corridor in North Minneapolis. Wynne explains that the “community” referred to in its vision statement is made up of places as well as people. In 2007, EMERGE acted as a co-developer of a highly successful commercial

redevelopment of a long abandoned property at 1101 West Broadway, which now serves as EMERGE headquarters along with the very popular neighborhood cafe, Avenue Eatery. After an ambitious multi-year $6.5 million capital campaign that began in 2008, EMERGE is preparing to launch the EMERGE Career and Technology Center (ECTC). The Career and Technology Center is envisioned fi rst and foremost as a community space, and will include training classrooms, meeting and conference facilities, offi ce space and a digital access center equipped with computers, WiFi, printing services, and other amenities. “We want it to be very open on the fi rst fl oor especially, so when you enter and sign in, you feel at home. We want people to feel like it belongs to the community,” said Wynne. The historic former North Branch Library was chosen as the site for the ECTC and extensive renovations are well underway. The historic building, which sits just to the southeast of EMERGE headquarters, has been a valuable community asset for over a century. The North Branch Library opened in 1894 and was not only the fi rst community library in Minneapolis, but is recognized by many as the nation’s fi rst open shelf library, meaning patrons could browse open shelves of books on their own without having to ask librarians to retrieve

them. While it doesn’t seem very signifi cant now, what made the transition to an open shelf system so important was that it empowered people to explore all of the library’s resources, not just those they already knew of. At the turn of the century, the North Branch Library set a precedent for the expansion of the Minneapolis Public Library system. Upon its closing in 1979, the North Branch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places given its cultural signifi cance. It was then occupied by a local arts group into the late 1980s. During that time Fred Keller, the owner of a boiler repair business that had serviced the building over the years, noticed that it was falling into some disrepair. As a neighborhood resident, he much admired the building and knew from professional experience that such structures require a great deal of upkeep, likely more than the arts group had the capacity to oversee. As Wynne relates, Mr. Keller spoke with members of the arts organization and “offered to take it off their hands,” and look after the historic building that residents, preservationists, artists, and others came to be so fond, and also protective of. After purchasing the library around 1990, he used it for storage for his business while maintaining building upkeep and preservation. In the early 2000s, Vernon and Alean Burks, two other residents who had grown up visiting North

Branch Library, bought the property from Keller and took on caretaking duties out of the desire to protect what they saw as an irreplaceable asset. “All three of them were African American and longtime members of this community; they live only blocks from here, and wanted to see the building kept up enough until it could eventually be returned to the community,” says Wynne of Keller and Mr. and Mrs. Burks. They replaced the roof and attended to other vital issues, and with their care and presence prevented it from incurring the devastating weather damage and copper theft that render so many vacant properties beyond saving. After observing the revitalization of 1101 West Broadway, the Burks approached EMERGE in late 2008 about doing a similar project with the library. Shortly thereafter, they sold the property to EMERGE at a profi t, proving that investing in one’s community can also be a sound fi scal investment. There is a satisfying full circle quality to the North Branch Library’s life as a community asset. EMERGE plans to have a broad range of training offerings at the ECTC, from fi nancial literacy to specialized courses on healthcare and construction-related careers. Wynne explained, “We’re really excited to have a space where partners can come and do training,” as opposed to sending EMERGE clients to different locations all over the metro area. Many of EMERGE’s clients lack access to transportation, so having these resources close by helps to eliminate another obstacle to reaching their employment and career goals. When 1834 Emerson Ave N opens its doors again this autumn as the EMERGE Career and Technology Center, a beautiful historic structure and symbol of everyday Northsiders’ devotion to community will once again be a bustling hub of knowledge and collective growth.

EMERGE Community Development1101 West Broadway Avenue, Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55411(612) 529-9267emerge-mn.org

EMERGEFrom 1

EMERGEWynne speaks with Frank Vascellaro at the Minneapolis Chamber Best in Business Awards

prginc.orgsince 1976

Start your journey to home ownership on the right foot!

Through June, get FREE admission to a HUD-approved

homebuyer workshop (usually $35) when you meet first with a homebuyer counselor. Call for a free

appointment: (612) 721-7556.

New Homebuyer Special

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

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

CFOAdrianne Hamilton-Butler

Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

Associate Editor & Associate PublisherB.P. Ford

Vice President of Sales & MarketingSelene White

Culture and Education EditorIrma McClaurin

Director of Content & ProductionPatricia Weaver

Sr. Content & Production CoordinatorBen Williams

Editorial InternAbeni Hill

Production InternSunny Thongthi

Distribution/Facilities ManagerJamal Mohamed

Receptionist Lue B. Lampley

Contributing WritersHarry Colbert, Jr.Julie DesmondFred EasterTimothy HoustonPenny Jones-RichardsonToki WrightAlaina L. LewisDarren MooreAlysha Price

Photography Michele SpaiseCorey Collins

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

Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

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insightnews.com Insight News • March 31 - April 6, 2014March 31 - April 6, 2014 • Page 11

BUSINESS

Strengthsfi nder is a personality-test-slash-life-management-tool that focuses on playing from strengths, rather than training hard in areas where a person is not truly wired to succeed. Someone who competes in Olympic curling, for example, might also enjoy a game of ice hockey with friends, but winning a gold in both sports is pretty unlikely. People who want to take home a medal in anything know they need to focus their time

and efforts developing talents they already possess. Carrie Cunnington is founder of Cunnington Shift, an executive coaching fi rm, and she stopped into our offi ce recently to conduct some training with our large group. We had all been assessed and knew what our strengths were, according to the Strengthsfi nder system. I was already a believer, and my mind hasn’t changed on that. For starters, the assessment is uncannily accurate. Taking the same test year after year, my top strengths don’t change, even though I feel I have grown and developed new skills and uncovered new talents over time. During the training, Cunnington helped us all to understand each other’s inherent strengths, putting our team in

a position to capitalize on our diversity. The goal is to become

a stronger force not by working harder but by passing the work

around in a smarter way. The benefi ts of operating this way became apparent immediately. I told Cunnington about an idea I had for an event (one of my strengths is Ideation: I am an idea machine. Let me know if you need one). I asked her, “Looking over my list of strengths, do you see anything there that says I can make this event happen the way I envision it?” Cunnington thought a while and then said, “No.” Sigh. Then she added, “But Kelly can. Kelly does this stuff in her sleep.” I’ve known since day one that Kelly and I have rose colored

glasses with very different prescriptions. She likes details and parameters and policies and guides. In tech-speak, she’s more waterfall than agile; she probably checks off her task list in order. Usually, I don’t. Have a task list. And I was extremely grateful to have a co-worker around whose talents were different from mine. When I explained my concept to Kelly, she was immediately all-in. “No problem,” she said. “I can do that in my sleep.” Julie Desmond is IT and Software Recruiting Manager with George Konik Associates, Inc. www.georgekonik.com and on twitter @MNCareerPlanner

Calling all nonprofi t board members: Do you sometimes wonder what value you bring to the nonprofi ts you serve? Do you wish you were more engaged, or that “they” took more advantage of the talents you bring to the board? We have the solution for you: take initiative! Don’t wait for someone to ask you to get involved. Here are six things you can do between now and the next board meeting to energize yourself and your fellow board members. Choose one or more that sounds like fun to you. Each can help engage new supporters, increase awareness and raise money. These tips work if you are involved with university, a grassroots organization, or any size nonprofi t in-between. First, write a thank you note or personally call a donor to thank them for their gift. Allocate fi ve minutes for the conversation. Ask what encouraged them to give and what attracts them to your organization. Listen. Respond to any questions they may have. Thank them again. Second, invite a potential supporter to visit the organization’s facilities and observe its programs. Agree on a date and time to meet at the nonprofi t and tour together. Request that a staff member join you – one who can share information and answer questions. Third, visit staff members to get to know them and ask “what can I do to help?” Follow through on what you learn.

Fourth, have lunch with a fellow board member to discuss how the two of you can work together to increase awareness or raise funds. Hatch a plan that can be implemented without staff involvement. Follow through on your ideas. Fifth, make arrangements to speak before a local organization to share information about your nonprofi t. It could be your church, the rotary, or your book club. Keep your comments brief and engaging. Sixth, host a small fundraising event. Invite a few close friends and associates to your home or offi ce for coffee or an evening glass of wine. Spend fi ve minutes sharing information about the nonprofi t you serve and ask each guest to make a gift equal to or greater than your gift. Before implementing these suggestions, take a moment to identify the three things you want to communicate about why you give your time and talent to serve on the board. Share these in conversation or through your presentation. Let people know you are accessible if they have questions in the future, or if they want to get involved. Share your contact information. Bring a simple brochure to share. Anyone of these activities will extend the reach of your nonprofi t. They will energize you. You will have something new to report at the next board meeting. Don’t wait for someone to “assign” you to a task. Jump in!

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw

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

Kelly Can: Leveraging strengths across the team

Six things you can do as a board member

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Plan Your Career

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

FUNdraisingGood Times

People who want to take home a medal in anything know they need to focus their time and

efforts developing talents they already possess.

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