Insight News ::: 04.25.16

UROCUROC and its valueto community

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HealthOpioid use: A public health crisis

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LifestyleEat me, I’m Irish… sea moss

Commentary‘Bill O’Racist’ at it again

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NeighborhoodLIFT program returns to the Twin Cities

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE

Justin Shepherd living up to his moniker, ‘Shep Sells’

There are more than 20,000 real estate agents in Minnesota – some are doing better than others … Justin Shepherd is doing better than most. Shepherd, a third year real estate agent with Edina Realty, has ascended the ladder of seller success to become one of the top agents in the company, selling more than 20 homes in his fi rst year, and is now on pace to sell more than 30 homes in 2016 – just as he did last year. Averaging a sell every 10 days or so, Shepherd is living up to his moniker, “Shep Sells.” For Shepherd, real estate

isn’t a job, it’s a life’s passion. “I have always wanted to get into real estate,” said Shepherd, who said it was his grandfather who helped make sure his entry into to profession was a successful one. “Once I got to high school my grandmother and grandfather cared for me and I told my grandfather I didn’t want to go to college, I wanted to get my real estate license and start selling. He said, ‘OK, write me a two-page report about real estate to see if you know what you’re doing.’ I wrote the report and gave it to him and he said ‘You’re on the right track.’ Then he said, ‘Alright now within the next

Twin Cities will get a $5 million infusion of fi nancial support from Wells Fargo to help working families and individuals become homeowners. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), NeighborWorks® America

Photo courtesy Wells FargoJoe Ravens

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

Minnesota mourns the death of its

favorite son,

Prince

Obama on Prince

One of the most iconic artists of our time and a favorite son of Minneapolis, Prince, was found dead in Chanhassen at his Paisley Park compound April 21. The entire state of Minnesota seemed to be in shock and mourning once news of Prince’s passing spread. Tributes began sprouting up almost immediately with fans heading to Paisley Park (his Chanhassen, MN recording studio) and First Avenue – the Downtown Minneapolis club

Prince made famous in the classic movie, “Purple Rain.” That shock may have been felt hardest by those closest to the man who created what is now known as the “Minneapolis Sound.” “The reason I came to Minneapolis was because I heard Prince’s music and I said I want to go there and be in a band,” said Ricky Kinchen, bassist for the soul/funk band Mint Condition. “As a kid I heard Prince play the bass and I was blown away. He’s the reason I’m funky.

The reaction to the passing of Prince Rogers Nelson; more commonly simply known as Prince, has come from all reaches of society. Prince was found unresponsive at Paisley Park – his home and entertainment compound – early Thursday (April 21) morning. He was 57. The death came as a shock to most, even after word spread that

the prior week his plane had to make an emergency landing due to what was said to be fl u-like symptoms. But Saturday before his death Prince hosted a party at Paisley and reportedly told fans he was in good health. Statements from around the globe fl ooded in, with dignitaries and celebrities expressing their condolences. Even President Obama issued a statement within hours of Prince’s passing.

LIFT TURN TO 4SHEPHERD TURN TO 4 Justin Shepherd



PRINCE TURN TO 9

REACTIONS TURN TO 9

Yves Lorson/Creative CommonsPrince (1986)

Insight NewsVol. 43 No. 17 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comApril 25 - May 1, 2016

• April 25 - May 1, 2016April 25 - May 1, 2016 • Insight News insightnews.com

insightnews.com Insight News • April 25 - May 1, 2016April 25 - May 1, 2016 •

UROC and its value to community

Mayor Coleman delivers State of the City address at historic Penumbra Theatre

Champion and Hayden call on Target Field vendor to keep it local, hire Minnesota workers instead of bringing in out-of-state workers

For more than 30 years some of us have worked as colleagues and friends in our community’s struggle for freedom. We have witnessed over those years many victories and many poor outcomes. However, we remain confi dent that as a community we will survive and the “good” in all who engage in the struggle for our rights will prevail. This past summer we witnessed a historic event for our community. That was the renaming of the University of Minnesota’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) as the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center. This is historic since there are very few facilities at the university named for many deserving African-Americans. We can only think of the Huntley House named for Dr. Horace Huntley, one of the leaders of the Morrill Hall takeover. That takeover forced the university to create the African American Studies Department at the university. It is the renaming of UROC that caused us to refl ect on what the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center has come to mean to our community. Many readers will remember the controversy over whether to accept this center

in our community. It was only after many hours of community engagement and a vote conducted by Northside Residents Council that the community accepted the concept of this center in our community. Jones and his staff worked many hours and months to take input and counsel from the community on their expectations for such an engagement center. To Jones and their credit they listened well and with the support of then president, Robert Bruinicks, UROC became a reality. It was during that refl ection that we decided we needed, as elders, to remind our community on the extraordinary added value UROC has brought to our community. It is now certain when we refl ect on what stood on that site before, compared to what is there now, that UROC has brought a valuable asset to the heart of our community and so much good has been done to uplift our community. First it should be noted that the construction of the facility met its entire minority hiring and sub-contracting goals. While not the fi rst for the university it was of the very few public projects at that time to achieve the same level of success. We can use that as an example when the new athletic practice facility on campus is built. During the period beginning in 2005, a tremendous amount of thoughtful planning and community engagement occurred. In 2007 the Board of Regents approved the purchase of the

property at 2001 Plymouth Ave. to house UROC. It should be noted that Archie Givens, a two-time University of Minnesota alum and CEO of Legacy Management and Development Corp. assumed responsibility of the owner’s representative for overseeing the renovation of the UROC facility. Management of the total rehabilitation of the facility was the responsibility of the UROC executive director at that time, Dr. Irma McClaurin, a great community leader. On Sept. 23, 2009 UROC opens its doors to the community and the region. One of the more important and fi rst events during that period was a conference convened by UROC. There, more than 50 north Minneapolis residents and university staffers gathered around the theme of “Coming Together to Create a Shared Future for North Minneapolis” (and other urban communities in the metro area). UROC is tied to north Minneapolis as a place-based institution, but

their partnerships and connections span the breadth of the metro. There have been other signifi cant events, conferences and community dialogue sessions over the past six years. Here we highlight a few that underscore the value this institution has added to north Minneapolis and the entire city. In May of 2010 UROC’s grand opening is celebrated by the community with an overfl ow of participants and visitors. University Senior Vice President Robert Jones appoints three university faculty members to UROC’s interim executive team. Those individuals were Postsecondary Teaching and Learning Professor Heidi Barajas, Education Psychology Professor Geoffrey Maruyama and African American and African Studies Professor Rose Brewer. UROC’s Violence Prevention Action Research Team was formed at the request of north Minneapolis-based community service leadership working with

at-risk youth. Barajas was named to the ongoing post of UROC executive director after a thorough search coordinated by a joint community-university committee. UROC held its inaugural Community Day event, a celebration of university/community urban partnerships and a vehicle for dissemination and UROC commitment to accountability and transparency. In response to the deadly May 22, 2011 tornado, UROC partnered with the north Minneapolis Community Response Team and served as volunteer coordinator post, communications center, and post event evaluator. In our humble opinion these actions and other highlights listed would not have happened without strong, committed and engaged leadership. We have observed and worked with Barajas over these years and have come to greatly appreciate her integrity, her willingness to be totally transparent and her continuing commitment to engage our community at all levels and in every event. Of course she did not accomplish this alone. Her excellent staff of faculty, researchers and community liaisons have contributed greatly to the success of UROC. In partnership with the College of Education and Human Development, UROC launches a two-year Faculty Fellowship Initiative aimed at supporting publication and professional development of early career

faculty doing engaged work with people and organizations in north Minneapolis. Twice yearly since 2012 UROC holds the “Critical Conversations” public discussion series that brings together scholars, historians, artists and community leaders on urban issues and ideas. UROC publishes its fi rst annual report – “The Journey Report” – documenting UROC’s progress toward its goals of discovering breakthrough solutions to critical urban challenges. Milestones included 45 documented partnerships, 22 of which are research-based. UROC developed and launched the Northside Job Creation Team with a goal of attracting 300 sustainable living wage jobs to north Minneapolis by 2016. This goal was increased to 1,000 jobs by 2019. So much more has been accomplished by UROC than can be included in this commentary, but perhaps one of the greatest accomplishments happened in 2015 – the re-naming of UROC to the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center, now president of State University of New York at Albany. So beloved community, as we approach 2016 we are honored to submit this review of this important institution in our community. We have so much work to do to continue our struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman delivered his 11th State of the City address at the Penumbra Theatre in the heart of the historic Rondo neighborhood. With scenes from August Wilson plays interspersed throughout his speech, Coleman focused on a commitment to equity, and what the city – along with community partners – are

doing to ensure St. Paul can be a city that works for everyone who calls the city home. “The state of our city is strong, but we have work to do to become better,” said Coleman. “By working together, we will lift up all of our communities and address the persistent and pernicious inequity experienced by people of color in St. Paul.”

The St. Paul mayor talked about the dramatic change in the city’s population – with approximately 40 percent of the city now comprised of people of color, compared to 33 percent in 2009. He stressed that this demographic change necessitates a continued focus on equity, including within his administration and among everyone who works, lives and

employs people in St. Paul. He emphasized the importance of partnerships and working together to bring about needed change. Coleman also discussed the increasing role cities are playing in addressing major policy challenges, including addressing the economic disparities in the region where unemployment and poverty

rates remain highest for African-American residents and median household income remains lowest. Touted successes included jobs pipeline initiatives such as Right Track and the EMS Academy. Coleman stressed the key to tackling inequities is a continued focus on education,

Two Minnesota senators take issue with a service company busing in workers from other states to work Twins games. It has been reported that Target Field concession vendor Delaware North Sportservice had been busing in 150 workers to work for Twins games from Green Bay, Milwaukee and Chicago as well as providing temporary accommodations. Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis) and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) said they have been working with community organizers and leaders to address this new revelation and are calling for this practice to end. “When a publicly subsidized stadium and large employer is

sitting in the backyard of one of the most economically depressed parts of the state and at the main intersection of our transit-ways, it is hard to understand why workers would be in short demand,” said Hayden. “At a time where Black unemployment in Minnesota

is at 13.6 percent, Target Field managed to add insult to injury by busing in out-of-state workers from Illinois and Wisconsin to fi ll jobs that could be fi lled by local and ready workers from north (Minneapolis) and surrounding neighborhoods.”

Hayden called on Delaware North Sportservice and Target Field to resolve what he labeled an injustice by improving community outreach, working with community advocates and hiring local workers. “To be frank, Delaware North’s strategy to fi ll these empty positions is ridiculous,” said Champion. “With the costs of busing in workers from out of

state and housing them in hotels, it’s clear the company has the money to pay Minnesotans a living wage to provide for their families. Why not make the job more attractive to the public, who has subsidized the very stadium in need of employees? Champion questioned what kind of outreach was carried out by the staffi ng agency hired by Delaware North.

“When you have disproportionate unemployment numbers in a stadium’s own backyard, how are these jobs left unfi lled? When a supply of people wanting to work clearly exceeds demand of positions of employment, something doesn’t add up. If I could fi nd 100 people in my district willing to work for a living wage, why can’t Delaware North?” asked Champion.

Pastor Alika Galloway

By Pastor Anika Galloway, Kwanzaa Church and Bill English

studiotobechiBill English

Senator Jeff Hayden(DFL-Minneapolis)

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman

Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis)

COLEMAN TURN TO 4

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Introducing HWMR a lifestyle brand whose mantra is Excellence, more specifically, Black Excellence.

HWMR was born out of the barbershop in the Camden section of North Minneapolis. It’s founder, Houston White, believes the barbershop is the mecca for black men across America.

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Photo: Rebecca Rabb

“It is both delusional and stupid to think that clothes don’t really matter and we should all wear whatever we want. Most people don’t take clothing seriously enough, but whether we should or not, clothes do talk to us and we make decisions based on peoples appearances.”

— G. Bruce Boyer

“It feels like the men of my generation have dropped the ball when it comes to the way we as a whole present ourselves to the world. As stated by G. Bruce Boyer, we make decisions based on peoples appearances.”

— H. White


EDUCATIONDebate camp offered for high school students this summer

Education-equity experts discuss the income-driven degree divide

The Minnesota Urban Debate League is hosting a week-long camp focusing on advocacy and social justice debate.

The day camp on the campus of Augsburg College runs from July 11 – July 16 and takes place from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The cost of the camp is $425 but need-based scholarships are available. While there is no hard deadline for scholarships, applications received by April

30 will be given priority. Lunch is included and transit passes are provided to those who qualify. The camp is open to all high school age students who apply, regardless of GPA. Middle school students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Geneshia Williams, camp director and program assistant with the Minnesota Debate League, said she hopes to attract nontraditional debaters. “We want to reach a wider swath of students – not the typical kids who go into debate,” said Williams. “We

want to create a new generation of agents for social change in this post-Trayvon (Martin), post Mike Brown world.” Martin and Brown were both unarmed African-American teens killed in instances of law enforcement and pseudo law enforcement

encounters. Williams said the camp will be facilitated by educators and community activists and artists. Interested debaters can apply by contacting Williams at (612) 330-1730 or email [email protected].

Education is the great equalizer and a college degree is the surest path to prosperity, yet a growing share of Americans are being left behind. In 1970, six percent of low-income students earned a college degree, compared to 40 percent of upper-income students. Fast-forward 40 years and college degree attainment among upper-income has nearly doubled, while

low-income students have made meager gains. Today 73 percent of upper-income students earn a college degree—nearly 10 times the rate of low-income students (Postsecondary Education Opportunity, 2013). Research from the nation’s top education-equity thinkers points to fi nancial, academic and social factors that determine

who earns a college degree, and who doesn’t. Each of these barriers amount to a vast degree divide, and the consequences for America’s economic future are dire. Projections from Georgetown University show that the American workforce will fall millions short of the total educated workers needed. In Minnesota, 74 percent of jobs

will require postsecondary education by 2020. “Creating a level playing fi eld for our low-income students is not only the right thing to do, it’s the only way to maintain our strong Minnesota workforce in a competitive economy,” said Sara Dziuk, College Possible Minnesota Executive Director. “Every student deserves the

opportunity to go to college, regardless of their family’s income.” Tuesday, April 26 at 10 am (Central) College Possible brings together researchers and change-makers for a live podcast recording exploring the history and future of the persistent, income-driven degree divide, and what can be done to close it.

Chronicle of Higher Education reporter Beckie Supiano will moderate the conversation featuring Dr. Susan Dynarski, Dr. Chris Avery, Dr. Ben Castleman, College Possible CEO and Founder Jim McCorkell, Todd Penner and Traci Kirtley. Visit CollegePossible.org/podcast to listen. A brief, live Q&A will follow the discussion.


which the city supports through its emphasis on afterschool and out-of-school-time programming. He featured the Sprockets out-of-school-time network, which provides coaching and data sharing to more than 90 organizations across the city that serve more

than 50,000 young people. He also highlighted the successful St. Paul Promise Neighborhood – which has helped more than 2,000 children in the Frogtown, Rondo and Summit-University neighborhoods with everything from early education programming to youth jobs to housing. “In its fi rst summer, the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood reached 127 kids. Now the initiative reaches over 2,000

kids each year,” said Coleman. The initiative’s programs specifi cally aimed at preventing summer learning loss have also seen strong success. According to Coleman, over the past four years, more than 90 percent of children who have participated in these programs have either maintained or improved their reading scores during the summer months. Coleman also praised the bravery of the city’s

fi rst responders – including fi refi ghter/medics and police offi cers. “Every day our police offi cers leave their loved ones to head off to work, pulling on their bullet proof vests and facing the challenges of policing in a large urban environment, where guns are far too prevalent and everything from routine traffi c stops to incidents involving domestic violence can turn

volatile without a moment’s notice,” said Coleman. He said that because the city is focused on equity, it hasn’t run from the national dialogue about policing, particularly in communities of color, which has put offi cers under what he called “intense scrutiny” and talked about changes to the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission. The east metro mayor also stressed the need to tackle gun

violence. “This past week, we have seen an explosion in gun violence across the city,” said Coleman. “While we have worked hard to stem this increase in violence, we need to increase our efforts to prevent it. While the best long-terms strategy continues to be our investment in the education of our children, we must also meet this challenge with a strong and immediate police response.”

ColemanFrom 3

and its network member NeighborWorks Home Partners will hold a press conference on May 10 in the Twin Cities to officially announce the 2016 NeighborhoodLIFT® program for Minneapolis and St. Paul. The press conference will be the official kick-off to the 2016 NeighborhoodLIFT

program expansion, a $5 million commitment by Wells Fargo to help boost homeownership in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“Making homeownership more affordable will help hard-working families and individuals achieve homeownership and strengthen Twin Cities neighborhoods,” said Joe Ravens, Wells Fargo’s Community Banking Minnesota regional president. “While mortgages are available at relatively low interest rates, the NeighborhoodLIFT program can help families overcome the barrier of coming up with a sufficient down payment to buy a home.” The NeighborhoodLIFT program is the single largest

corporate philanthropic effort investment by Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo first launched the NeighborhoodLIFT program in the Twin Cities in 2012 which created 422 homeowners through homebuyer education and down payment assistance grants. Wells Fargo has committed more than $292 million to LIFT programs with 42 homebuyer events in communities across the United States to support the revitalization of communities. The 2016 Twin Cities NeighborhoodLIFT program is estimated to create 450 additional homeowners with

matching down payment assistance grants up to $7,500 for eligible homebuyers. Interested homebuyers will have an opportunity to attend a free homebuyer event on June 10-11 in Minneapolis to determine eligibility and reserve matching down payment assistance grants ranging from $2,500 up to $7500. Registration will open in early May at www.N e i g h b o r h o o d L I F T. c o m where homebuyers can learn more about the matching down payment assistance program and eligibility requirements.

About NeighborWorks Home Partners and NeighborWorks AmericaNeighborWorks Home Partners is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 240 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.neighborworks.org or www.nwhomepartners.org to learn more.

About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy.

two weeks fi nd two people who are able – right now – to buy a house from you.’ And of course I couldn’t. He told me real estate is about relationships and networking. He told me to go to school and build my network.” That’s what Shepherd did, attending the University of Minnesota and then going on to work for General Mills – building his network along

the way. Shepherd also built a following as a DJ and event producer with the promotions company, The Cool & Co. With his network in tack, Shepherd’s real estate business instantly took off. “When I jumped in real estate I had to quit General Mills three weeks after because I was so busy,” said Shepherd, who is a 2016 Edina Realty President’s Circle awardee. “I started living real estate. I’m up ‘til midnight checking listings trying to match buyers and sellers.”

Shepherd has thrived by having a diverse customer base, but he said he would love to get more African-Americans into homeownership. According to a report by the Minnesota Homeownership Center, in Minnesota just above 25 percent of African-Americans are homeowners. Comparatively, 77 percent of whites own their homes. Shepherd said the disparity has a lot to do with credit misnomers. “A lot of people don’t fully understand how credit works and what lenders are looking

for,” said Shepherd, a recent homebuyer himself, and who admitted he didn’t have the best credit when he started the buying process. “With my clients I focus on their current situation and moving above and beyond.” According to Shepherd many people don’t think they have good enough credit to buy a home and they stop before they even start. He said lenders are understanding of certain debt, such as student loan debt and medical debt. He said some simple maneuvers can have a buyer creditworthy in a short period of time. “In my situation, I had a department store card with a balance. I was going to pay off the whole balance and I was advised by a credit specialist to pay a certain amount. I did it and my score jumped 14 points,” said Shepherd. “I advise anyone to speak with a credit adviser fi rst. Sometimes paying a credit card off is less favorable than paying into the balance.” The fast-rising real estate agent said there are several buyer assistance programs based on neighborhoods, income, fi rst time buyers and more. “There’s a lot of information out there and a lot of opportunity out there and we don’t take full advantage of what’s available,” said Shepherd. “I just want to give the people the real on real estate.”

LIFTFrom 1

ShepherdFrom 1

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G. K. Butterfi eld (NC-01) and Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday commented on Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced plans to replace President Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill: “It brings me great joy to learn that the United States will honor abolitionist Harriet Tubman by placing her image on the $20 bill,” said Chairman Butterfi eld. “An African American woman, former

slave, freedom fi ghter, and leader for women’s rights, Ms. Tubman was a true visionary who is most deserving of this recognition. Ms. Tubman was dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans until her death in 1913. Her legacy continues to impact all Americans to this day and will live on for generations to come. “Furthermore, the $5 and $10 bills will also feature new historic images that remind us of the activists that have made America a more perfect union,” said Chairman Butterfi eld. “These designs will represent

a more inclusive America by fi nally representing women, many of whom have been absent in important historical accounts of American history. They made strides towards voting rights and more freedom for Americans. Brave leaders such as Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, and Alice Paul are symbols of our democracy that deserve much needed recognition amongst many others.” “I applaud the Treasury Department’s decision to feature Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, women’s suffrage leaders including Sojourner

Truth on the $10 bill, and civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. and Marian Anderson on the $5 bill,” said Rep. Maxine Waters. “These depictions on our nation’s currency are long overdue and will show the world the remarkable progress our country has made on the road to equality. The Secretary’s decision recognizes the important contributions of women and people of color to our society. I look forward to the circulation of these bills so that we can all feel the weight of history in our hands.”

CBC leaders laud Treasury placing Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill

Harriet Tubman

Class of ’29 & ‘27

Love chapterbooks

Aspiring astronaut& businessman

Harvest Network

of Schools

The Harvest Network of Schools is a group of high-performing K-8 public charter schools, which include the The Mastery School, Harvest Preparatory School, and Best Academy.

Our Schools

HARVEST PREPARATORY SCHOOL is the flagship school of the Harvest Network of Schools. Harvest was established by Eric and Ella Mahmoud in 1992, after the success of their SEED Academy preschool. Initially a private school, it was chartered in 1998 to give more north Minneapolis children a great education.

THE MASTERY SCHOOL leverages the strengths of boys and girls in single gender classrooms. Boys will learn in an atmosphere that encourages self control and focus on achievement. Girls will learn in an environment that gives them confidence to shine.

BEST ACADEMY is a national award-winning school. Opened in 2008 with an initial focus on educating boys, today it has both single gender and co-ed classrooms.

All Harvest Network Schools are tuition free.

Area Schools

City View 7

WISE 10

Lucy Laney 15

Bethune 17

Nellie Stone Johnson 19

Hall 19

Hmong Int’l 20

Sojourner Truth 24

New Millennium 29

Jenny Lind 33

Bryn Mawr 33

Noble 44

Loring 45

State 58

Best Academy 80

Harvest Prep 82

K -8 Sc h o o l s i n No rt h Mi n n eap o l i s 3-yea r Avera ge MMR f o r 2011-2013

100806040200


HEALTHOpioid use: A public health crisis

In response to concerns about overdose deaths in the U.S. due to prescribed opioid pain killers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines to help primary care doctors determine when and how best to prescribe them to patients, particularly those with noncancer-related chronic pain. The CDC recommends

physicians avoid prescribing opioids such as oxycodone and morphine to most chronic pain

patients because the risks of possible overdose or addiction may outweigh the benefi ts.

However, the CDC says the limits on opioid use should not apply to patients with pain due to cancer or end-of-life issues.Mayo Clinic addiction specialist Dr. Jon Ebbert refers to the opioid situation as a public health crisis. He says, “We must balance the need to develop innovative ways to control this public health crisis with the need to provide patients with chronic pain adequate pain control. Unfortunately, medicine is in desperate want of cost-effective nonopioid pain control

modalities.” Dr. Ebbert believes the new treatment guidelines are necessary, but not suffi cient to address a public health crisis of the magnitude seen with prescribed opioids. He adds, “Addressing the epidemic by modifying the behavior of primary care clinicians can only be effective if accompanied by substantial changes in national policy.”To be successful, Dr. Ebbert recommends these changes:

• Challenge the need for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for newer and more powerful opioids

• Increase health insurance coverage of nonopioid modalities for pain control

• Broaden the coverage of addiction treatment and mental health services

• Liberalize the requirements for offi ce-based addiction treatment

• Expand the number of front-line clinicians with training in addiction medicine

Courtesy of Mayo Clinic

By Vivien Williams, Mayo Clinic News Network

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

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

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Assistant to the PublisherShumira Cunningham

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COMMENTARY

Child Watch

By Marian Wright Edelman

‘Bill O’Racist’ at it again

End summer child hunger now!

I have written about Bill O’Reilly, a/k/a “Bill O’Racist,” in the past and his proclivity to distort the facts when discussing African Americans. Well, he’s at it again. On one of his recent shows on Fox News, he asked, “Don’t you think most African-Americans know there are super predators among their ethnic group? Don’t they know it?” Earlier in the year, he said, “Well, Sanders says he is a

straight talker but not, not on this issue. Here’s the truth. African-Americans make up 13 percent of the total population in the U.S.A. but commit 37 percent of all murders. And 90 percent of black murder victims are killed by other blacks. You will never ever hear either Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton say that. Republican candidates will not likely point it out either because it’s politically incorrect. It’s much easier to decry racism than actually address the root causes of violent crime which are a corrosive culture and collapse of the traditional family.” For the record, every racial and ethnic group has predators among its ranks, just as they have members who are positive forces. In his rush to blame everything on “corrosive

culture” and “collapse of the traditional family” among African Americans, Bill O’Racist conveniently ignores some basic facts. He should have learned last November from Donald Trump’s re-tweeting an erroneous post that claimed that 81 percent of Whites are killed by Blacks. Not only was that fi ction, the supposedly source for the fi gure --”Crime Statistics Bureau - San Francisco” - did not exist. As fact checkers pointed out at the time, only 15 percent of Whites are killed by Blacks. “Trump cast blacks as the primary killers of whites, but the exact opposite is true. By overwhelming percentages, whites tend to kill other whites. Similarly, blacks tend to kill other blacks. These trends have been observed for decades,”

Politifact observed. Indeed, FBI stats show that few homicides are committed outside an assailant’s race. In fact, 8 percent of Blacks are killed by Whites and 90 percent of African Americans are killed by other African Americans. According to the FBI, 82 percent of Whites are killed by other Whites. Clearly, there is no “corrosive culture” factor among African Americans at play here. A report titled, “Black Homicide Victimization in the United States: An Analysis of 2013 Homicide Data” by the Washington, D.C.-based Violence Policy Center, provides further insight into Black homicides. The typical Black homicide

Spring is almost in full swing and summer is just around the corner. Millions of children in America can’t wait for summer vacation, but for millions of

poor children who rely on school meals it’s a mixed blessing. “I qualify for free and reduced lunch. I can get a free breakfast, I can get like a muffi n, juice, anything like that, in the morning, and then lunch, I don’t have to pay, so I can get whatever I wanted for lunch. So I’ve always been able to eat at school for lunch and breakfast.” Linda Ransom is a Columbus, Ohio high school senior and the winner of a Children’s Defense Fund Beat the Odds® scholarship

whose family struggles to make ends meet. When Linda was seven her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and the medical crisis led to a family fi nancial crisis. Linda’s mother lost her job, and with a mountain of medical bills is still trying to catch up ten years later. They’ve been homeless for stretches of time. Food has often been beyond their means. Linda says, “If we didn’t have any food at home, I knew I could get some at school, and sometimes I could

take a couple things from the breakfast line and I could just save it for later, so when I got home, if I was hungry, I could eat it.” Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation and poor children like Linda who rely on free and reduced price breakfast and lunch during the school year to keep the wolves of hunger at bay face a long summer of food deprivation. “It was hard without school

George Curry Media

By George E. CurryColumnist

World Affairs Council of PhiladelphiaBill O’Reilly O’REILLY TURN TO 7

HUNGER TURN TO 7

Many more sites are needed to fi ll the summer hunger gap for

millions of children.


victim was 31 years old; 7 percent were younger than 18 years old and 2 percent were 65 years old or older. Most - 87 percent - were male and 13 percent were female. The report notes that 84 percent of all Black victims (4,960 out of 5,891) were killed with guns. Of those, 73 percent were killed with handguns. Signifi cantly, 72 percent (2,002 out of 2,766) of Black victims were killed by someone

they knew. Only 764 were killed by strangers. Moreover, 51 percent of the homicides grew out of an argument between the victim and the assailant. Approximately 15 percent were reported to be gang-related. Instead of dwelling on Bill O’Reilly’s ignorant diatribe, the stats should point us in a different direction if we want to reduce homicides in Black America. First there is the larger issue of gun control. “Blacks in the United States are disproportionately affected by homicide. For the year 2013, blacks represented 13 percent

of the nation’s population, yet accounted for 50 percent of all homicide victims,” the Violence Policy Center report stated. “... For black victims of homicide, like all victims of homicide, guns - usually handguns - are far and away the number-one murder tool. Successful efforts to reduce America’s black homicide toll, like America’s homicide toll as a whole, must put a focus on reducing access and exposure to fi rearms.” Equally important, we most focus on young Black males. That’s not to say we should ignore Black females - we shouldn’t - but 87 percent of

Black homicide victims are male. No other group is close. “The homicide rate for black male victims was 30.59 per 100,000. In comparison, the overall rate for male homicide victims was 6.87 per 100,000. For white male homicide victims it was 3.71 per 100,000. The homicide rate for female black victims was 4.36 per 100,000. In comparison, the overall rate for female homicide victims was 1.72 per 100,000. For white female homicide victims it was 1.39 per 100,000,” according to the report. Finally, we must discard the stereotype that most homicides

are a result of random violence. As the fi gures show, 72 percent of Black victims were killed by someone they knew. And just more than half of those deaths began with an argument. With 15 percent of the deaths attributed to gangs, they also cannot be ignored. Teaching Black men to successfully resolve confl ict nonviolently has to be a top priority, if we are going to be successful. And this must start early in the life of boys. There are many reasons to be concerned about homicide in Black America. But Bill O’Racist and other right-wing

nuts totally miss the point.

George E. Curry is President and CEO of George Curry Media, LLC. He is the former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine and 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, georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at twitter.com/currygeorge, George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook, and Periscope. See previous columns at http://www.georgecurry.com/columns.

during the summer, but being able to qualify for something like food stamps or having a food pantry near us, that helped a lot,” Linda says, but at the end of the month, “it was kind of like a hit-or-miss kind of situation.” Hit or miss. No child in rich America should go hungry this or any summer, especially when 100 percent federally funded summer feeding programs are available if local offi cials and communities apply for or use them. But more than 1 in 4 families with children are food insecure and struggling to keep food on the table. The federal Summer Nutrition Programs could help millions more children escape hunger this summer by providing meals if responsible adults act now. The need is urgent. Although 19.7 million children received free or reduced price lunches during the 2013-2014 school year, only 3.2 million children – 16.2 percent – participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs. If local school boards, community groups, faith congregations, mayors, and county representatives act now, they should be able to get 100 percent federally funded Summer Nutrition Programs in their area or add more if there already are some summer food sites. The federal Summer Food Service Program and the

“Seamless Summer” option offered through the National School Lunch Program are designed to replace the regular school year breakfast and lunch programs. Meals provided through the Summer Nutrition Programs also can link children without summer learning opportunities, camps or other costly options to educational and recreational programming to keep them learning, active and safe during school vacation. Summer feeding programs also create jobs for food preparers, servers, bus drivers and others. Schools, community recreation centers, playgrounds, parks, places of worship, day and residential summer camps, housing projects, migrant centers, and Native American reservations are among places that can serve as summer feeding program sites. Many more sites are needed to fi ll the summer hunger gap for millions of children. Far too many communities have no sites at all or have sites diffi cult for children without transportation to reach. Check in now with your school offi cials, mayors and county executives to learn what they are doing to prevent childhood hunger. Some questions to ask include:

• How many children receiving school year breakfasts and lunches will be served by Summer Food Service Programs? What steps have they taken or will they take

immediately to get more summer feeding sites up and running?

• How are parents notifi ed about free summer food options?

• Are there district school buses that could be outfi tted to deliver summer meals to inaccessible rural areas?

• How many weekend and holiday meal backpacks are provided to children within the Summer Food Service Programs? Has your school district reached out to seek community support for these backpacks?

• In districts with large percentages of children in housing projects, have you or local offi cials asked housing authorities to make sure they get food to hungry children?

• Are faith communities and service organizations with kitchens in your community aware of the 100 percent federally funded resources and planning to provide summer meals this summer? Do they know about the Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools® program that provides summer reading enrichment and food to stop summer learning loss and hunger among low-income children?

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been working very hard to reach more children and is testing exciting new

ways to help overcome barriers blocking summer meals for hungry children. Some communities are using mobile vans to transport meals. Others use electronic benefi t transfer (EBT) cards to transfer money to help families purchase extra food for children in the summer. When 4.9 million households, including 1.4 million with children, had no cash income in fi scal year 2014 and depended only on food stamps to stave off hunger, every public offi cial, congregation, and school system needs to use every tool available to help keep children from going hungry over three long summer months. Check the Summer Meals Toolkit on the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s Summer Feeding Service Program website to learn more about becoming a Summer Meal Champion in your community or call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-348-6479. There is no reason why there should be a single hungry child in America. Please act now before the school year ends to allow millions of children to take a real school vacation without hunger pains.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families

and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org. Mrs. Edelman’s Child

Watch Column also appears each week on The Huffi ngton Post.

HungerFrom 6

O’ReillyFrom 6


LIFESTYLE

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

Eat me, I’m Irish… sea moss

The power of daily evaluations

Black best-selling novelist’s newest book reaffi rms resiliency

In my very personal opinion, Irish Sea Moss is indeed THE most powerful food supplement on this planet. Irish moss is thought to

contain 92 of the 102 essential vitamins and minerals that make up the human body. This includes calcium, iodine, sulfur, and potassium as well as Vitamins A, D, E, F and K. This is why this most amazing seaweed is thought to be able to cure everything from bladder disorders, bronchitis, halitosis (bad breath), intestinal disorders and glandular problems to swollen joints, lung difficulties, thyroid conditions, tuberculosis, tumors, and ulcers.

Irish moss also offers great benefit to the skin. This power

seaweed is known to smooth out skin complexion and assist battling skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, sunburn and rash. Irish moss can also protect the skin against signs of aging, such as the development of wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes. Irish moss is sold whole, in flakes and in powder form, and it is actually the mucilage (gel) of the plant that is most important when using topically. The gel can be used to

condition and soften your skin, and can also be used to calm, cool, and cure outbreaks and infection. Apply the gel to your skin as you would any moisturizer or conditioner for a period no less than 1 week, and you will see an improvement in your skin. How do you prepare and use this wonder-food? Well, you can ingest it or use it topically and experience great results. Rinse Irish moss and soak in room temperature water for up to 12 hours. (The moss will

swell and become translucent). Strain the moss, then blend with about 1/2 cup of water for every 1 cup of moss. This will create a smooth paste. Store the blend in the refrigerator, and the gel will set. Once the gel is set, you can apply the blend topically anywhere you desire – except your eyes. This same gel/paste may be used in tea, shakes or any other method you wish to ingest it safely. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup to taste.

It is easy to get overwhelmed. Life often comes at us fast and furious. Every day, a little more pressure is added to our emotional reservoir. Every day it gets closer to capacity. This can lead to stress that if prolonged, can lead to other health issues. What do you do when you get

overwhelmed? How do you deal with the stress and the pressure that each day brings? Here are a few tips you may fi nd helpful. First, make your request to God for peace. This is your daily self-to-God evaluation. We all need quiet time with God because it is easy to get overwhelmed. Men often carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and women often carry the immediate needs of the family on hers. Without God’s help to sort through the spiritual and emotional baggage, men and women will explode emotionally and physically, and the whole world will suffer. Daily quiet time with God will provide the

guidance and direction needed to remain spiritually whole. Secondly, seek to reset your emotional clock. This is your daily self-to-self emotional evaluation. I like relating our brain to a computer because they function the same way. When we turn on our home computer in the morning, it goes through a series of bleeps and fl ashes which it does every time it starts up. It checks to make sure all of the drives and the cylinders are operating correctly. It also checks the main memory to make sure none of the data has been corrupted since it was shut down the night before. The computer then makes the minor

adjustments necessary to keep it running smoothly. We are more complex and complicated than a computer. Daily self-evaluation and adjustments keep your life’s hard drive running smoothly. This self-to-self emotional evaluation will keep in harmony with God and others. Finally, make adjustment to your schedule. This is your daily self-to-time evaluation. There are only so many hours in a day, and unexpected things will come up. If you are too rigid to a schedule, you will become overwhelmed with these minor changes. Schedules should be developed weekly, adjusted daily, and changed as needed.

When you take the time in the morning to slow down and adjust your schedule, you also give your heart and emotions the opportunity to calm down. Rush, rush, rush, will only lead to frustration. Frustration leads to bad choices, and those choices lead to unwanted consequences. You should be in control of your schedule and never allow it to control you. Daily evaluation is needed now more than ever. Road rage is on the rise, and frustration is at an all-time high. The need to calm down and slowdown is all around us. The daily adjustments that we make will have an impact. When

you take time to reset your spiritual clock, you reset your emotional clock as well. Inner peace produces outer peace. You are able to face the world and the things in it without losing perspective on what is important. Our families benefi t from this evaluation and our communities are safer because of it.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For questions, comments or more information, go towww.tlhouston.com.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary this year of her national bestselling novel, Tumbling, Diane McKinney-Whetstone returns to her Philadelphia roots to bring us a new Black historical novel. Set in 19th Century post-Civil War era, it is laced with secrets, love, loss, and healing that intersect at the legendary Lazaretto—America’s fi rst quarantine hospital. Lazaretto, McKinney-Whetstone’s sixth novel released this month, touches on racial prejudice, social justice, and gender equality—issues still debated today. Like all her previous works, McKinney-Whetstone writes from the place that she knows best, setting this story in “the City of Brotherly Love.” As noted by Essence magazine editor Patrik Henry Bass, Lazaretto is a novel “quite unlike anything McKinney-Whetstone has done or anything you’ll read – in wonderful ways.” The author uses “poetic language and graphic depictions of the injustices suffered by African Americans in the post-Civil

War period,” as told by Booklist. Isolated on an island where two rivers meet, the Lazaretto quarantine hospital is the fi rst stop for immigrants who wish to begin new lives in Philadelphia. The island is the venue for a wedding for a member of the hospital’s Black live-in staff. On the eve of the ceremony, celebration is interrupted by intrigue and tragedy. Intertwined with the drama unfolding at the Lazaretto are deeply textured characters forged by family, fate and the twists of peril and fortune. More than a page-

turner, the elements move you beyond the moment back into history and then forward to the contemporary challenges of race, rights, family and addiction that still confront us. M c K i n n e y - W h e t s t o n e has primed her faithful and newest readers to anticipate her masterful storytelling and creative blending of fl awed characters. One fl awed character in Lazaretto, portrays a false life to separate from their painful past.

“This is probably something unconscious,” says McKinney-Whetstone, referencing the character development. “We all walk around with all of our different selves. In one situation we are one person, in another someone else. We all just want to be known and to hide simultaneously.” Says McKinney-Whetstone of her newest work: “In my latest novel, Lazaretto, I return to doing what I most love to do: telling stories

of everyday people existing in families and communities; characters faltering, yielding to their desires, falling, fi ghting, climbing, reaching for their better selves.” Through her previous novels and newest, McKinney-

Whetstone reaffi rms that in spite of injustices we have suffered as a people, resiliency is our story. Lazaretto is available from Amazon.

By Nicole D. Hayes

The OrangeMoon

By Michelle Mitchum, MPH. HHP


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

Barack and Michelle Obama, public leaders mourn Prince

Child Care Assistant Volunteer/Volunteer Drivers

Make a difference in the life of a child. The Mothers First program provides prevention and intervention services for pregnant women who are abusing chemicals. Mothers First is seeking a Child Care Assistant volunteer to help agency staff in providing supervision and care for the children with our Mothers First program while mom is attending counseling sessions. Volunteer Drivers are also needed to provide transportation to mothers in recovery to/from groups with our Mothers First program. Reimbursement for mileage is provided. Contact Ramsey County Health & Wellness Service Team — Volunteer Services at 651-266-4090 for additional information or e-mail to [email protected].

E. SHANELL SALONIS NOW HIRING!

E. SHANELL SALON

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For more informationn

Foster Care Volunteers of America, MNWould you like to gain 140 pounds after the Holidays? Not physically gain this weight, but weight in the sense of another person! Volunteers of America-MN is looking for skilled, dedicated parents to provide care for at-risk youth, ages ranging from infants to teenagers. We provide foster parents with lots of friendly training, 24-hour support, and a monthly stipend.

For more information, please contact Brittani Walker at 952-945-4064 or visit our website http://www.voamnwi.org/foster-care

Communication and Outreach Specialist

Capitol Region Watershed District seeks a full-time Communication and Outreach Specialist. Performs complex professional work serving as the District’s spokesperson, raising awareness about the District’s work and the importance of water resource protection, working with all District programs to coordinate outreach activities, media relations, organizing special events, presenting to community groups, writing for local publications and related duties. Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of fi ve (5) years professional work experience in journalism, communications, marketing, or related fi eld is required. The salary range for the position is $49,800 - $74,800, depending on qualifi cations and experience, plus benefi ts. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume by April 29, 2016 to: Michelle Sylvander, Capitol Region Watershed District, 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4, St. Paul, MN 55108, [email protected] (651) 644-8888. For a full description contact our offi ce or visit our website at www.capitolregionwd.org. Position Closes: April 29, 2016.

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTSThe University of Minnesota is looking for African American cigarette smokers who are interested in quitting smoking. This study requires 12 visits. Participants will receive up to $390.00. For more information, call 612-626-5981.

MINSTER OF MUSIC & MUSIC DIRECTOR Two Positions Avail. Mt. Olivet Baptist Church -St. Paul, MN Visit our Website for Info: mtolivetbaptistchurch.org

The Mint Condition bass player said in many ways he and his bandmates owe their careers to Prince. “There probably is no Mint Condition without Prince. Prince signed The Time, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (of The Time) signed us, but that doesn’t happen without Prince.” Kinchen said a close friend called him from outside of Paisley Park and told him there was a death at the compound. Immediately Kinchen speculated it was Prince. “At that point I just started tearing up. I was just hoping it wasn’t him,” said Kinchen. Mint Condition played multiple shows with Prince, including shows in Paris, Belgium and as part of the 21 straight shows in Los Angeles at the Forum in 2011. Kinchen said one of his biggest regrets is he never got a picture together with the icon. Of his fondest memories of Prince, Kinchen said it was watching and hearing him play guitar. “When he hit the guitar … man. And he got better each time. Nobody could play like that … nobody,” said Kinchen. “He was close to 60 and he was better than most in their prime.” Paris Strother, producer and singer with the Grammy Award-winning band KING, said she was devastated to hear of the passing of Prince, who mentored the group for the past fi ve years. Paris Strother, along

with her twin sister Amber Strother and Anita Bias came under Prince’s wing following the release of their 2011 EP, “The Story.” Prince heard the three-song set and reached out to the group, inviting them to a show in Charlotte, N.C. The group would later work and record out of Prince’s studio. “To work with him and knowing how he wanted the world to hear us was such an honor,” said Paris Strother. She said KING remained in close contact with Prince and just two days prior to his passing they agreed to play a show at Paisley Park in August. The trio recently played an intimate sold out show at the Ice House and Prince came to hear the group. “We didn’t know if he was coming or not but he came and had an area set up for him and a girl near him told us that he said, ‘Wow, did you hear that? Did you hear that,’ talking about something we did during our song ‘Hey.’ He seemed to be blown away and a fan saw him and started talking loud because she was so excited to see him and he told her, ‘Shut up and listen.’” Paris Strother said her phone was deluged with text messages alerting her of Prince’s death. She said Amber Strother was with her when she got the news and Bias came to join them so they could be together to comfort one another. “We affectionately called him Dad,” said Paris Strother. “We’re taking it as a family loss.”

“The world lost a creative icon,” said the president. “Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince. Few artists have infl uenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent. As one of the most gifted and prolifi c musicians of our time, Prince did it all – funk … R&B … rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer.” Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement that Prince made Minnesota a better place. “Prince, and his music, defi ned an era,” said Dayton in a statement. “His tremendous talent was matched only by his generosity and commitment to improving his community. Minnesotans and our nation mourn the loss of a great artist today; one who has left an unforgettable mark on music history, and whose contributions to the betterment of our state will be remembered for years to come. “Prince, and his music, defi ned an era. His tremendous talent was matched only by his generosity and commitment to improving his community. Minnesotans and our nation mourn the loss of a great artist today; one who has left an unforgettable mark on music history, and whose contributions to the betterment of our state will be remembered for years to come.” Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said Prince was a city treasure. “For the residents of Minneapolis, the loss of Prince is too large to describe. His music brought untold joy to people all over the world. But in Minneapolis, it is different. It (his death) is harder here,” said Hodges in her statement. “Prince was a child of our city and his love of his hometown permeated many of his songs. Our pride in his accomplishments permeates our love of Minneapolis. “From his youth in the

Minneapolis Public Schools, to his graduation from Central High School, to his breakthrough performance at the Capri on Broadway Avenue, to his worldwide success, he was one of us. He gave us more opportunities to hear his music than anyone else. What a blessing. Only now may we realize how lucky we were.” Rep. Keith Ellison said April 21 will be remembered as a dark day in history. “My heart is heavy with the news of Prince’s passing. To the people of Minnesota, Prince was a cultural ambassador. He inspired countless others around the world with his music and theatrics. Prince showed us it was okay to be different. He showed us that the best way to be cool was to be yourself,” said Ellison. “Prince wasn’t merely a pop star – to many of us, he was much, much more. The world will be a little less bright without Prince in it.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar thanked Prince for being the state’s top ambassador. “I grew up with Prince’s music. He was a superstar composer, an amazing performer and a music innovator with a fi erce belief in the independence of his art. He made ‘Purple Rain’ a household name, First Avenue a landmark, and brought international fame to Minnesota’s music scene. I was always so proud to say ‘Prince, he is from Minnesota.’”

PrinceFrom 1

ReactionsFrom 1

James TaylorPrince (1997) then going by the name

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.

L-R: President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Mark Dayton, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)


Monday, April 25 R&B/SOUL/PERFORMANCE

Dr. Mambo’s Combo

Bunkers Bar and Grill761 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis9:30 p.m.21-plus$7

Dr. Mambo’s Combo is a legendary soul and R&B group that has been playing at Bunker’s since 1987. The band includes Michael Bland, who was discovered and hired by Prince while playing with the Combo.

Tuesday, April 26 SPOKEN WORD/PERFORMANCE

Saul Williams and Mivos QuartetJames J. Hill Library 80 W. 4th St., St. Paul6:30 p.m.$15

Multidimensional spoken word artist Saul Williams returns to Minnesota with the Mivos Quartet.

Wednesday, April 27 HIP-HOP /PERFORMANCE

Just Wulf Presents: Hip-Hop U-NiteNomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.21-plus$5

Hip Hop U-Nite is an intentional concert that commemorates the beauty of unity through hip-hop music. Performances include Just Wulf, Genesis Music, Mike Dreams, and Willy ARQ Music. There will be a DJ Set by Tornado Jally.

Thursday, April 28PLAY

“Sunset Baby”Penumbra Theatre 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul7:30 p.m.

Directed by Lou Bellamy and written by Dominique Morisseau, this play centers around characters Ashanti and Kenyatta who met in the prime of their youth and at the pinnacle of their political consciousness.

Friday, April 29HIP-HOP/PARTY

Doowatchyalike Spring FlingClubhouse Jäger923 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis10 p.m.$10

Your hosts Superbrush 427 and J. Love the Soundsmith will take their combined 40-plus years of musical knowledge down to Clubhouse Jäger and play what we like, so you can “Doowatchyalike.” Boogie

down to hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk, house, disco and more.

Saturday, April 30JAZZ/SPOKEN WORD/PERFORMANCE

“Angry Black Woman & Well Intentioned White Girl”Intermedia Arts2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis7:30 p.m.

Amoke Kubat and Jennifer Johnson “go there” by expressing the daily “unsaids” between Black and white women, as the historical stereotypes.

Sunday, May 1PLAY

“The Candidate”Bedlam Theatre Lowertown 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul2 p.m.$16

Dangerous Productions presents “The Candidate,” a spoof on the 2016 presidential race.

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]

April 25 - May 1

Liz WrightSaul Williams

Jazz all-stars Steve Lehman Octet comes to the Walker

Rising jazz stars, The Steve Lehman Octet, is coming to the Walker Art Center Saturday, May 7. The “big sound” of the eight musicians captured the ears of the jazz community with the 2014 project, “Mise en Abîme.” The album was ranked No. 1 by NPR Music and the Los Angeles Times. The May 7 performance at the Walker, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, will be the group’s first Minnesota performance. Show time

inside the McGuire Theater at the Walker is 8 p.m. and tickets are $25 ($22 for Walker members). Philip Bither, curator of the Walker said his excitement for this show is hard to contain. “These are some of the hottest young cats on the contemporary jazz scene; these are going to be the voices of the next generation,” said Bither. “This CD has such a unique, innovative sound.

The record is great, but you’ve gotta hear it live for the full experience.” Lehman has collaborated with a host of premier jazz artists including Anthony Braxton, Jason Moran and Meshell Ndegeocello. His octet includes leading jazz artists Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Mark Shim (tenor saxophone), Tim Albright (trombone), Jose Davila (tuba), Drew Gress (bass), Chris Dingman (vibraphone) and

Tyshawn Sorey (drums). In addition to the octet’s May 7 performance, Lehman will team up with musician/DJ, HPrizm for a mini concert/walking tour of the Walker on Thursday, May 5. The Thursday event is free to the public as a part of the Walker’s Target Free Thursday Nights. The May 5 event takes place at 6 p.m. Tickets for the May 7 performance are online at www.walkerart.org.

Photo courtesy of Walker Art Center

Steve Lehman Octet


Last month, I traveled with a friend to Havana, the realization of a lifelong dream of visiting our tropical island neighbor, frozen in time since 1959. Since I’ve been a fan of all things Cuban for so long, it felt like returning to a familiar place, not like an alien land I was seeing for the fi rst time. Th anks to the Cuban people, who embraced us like family, the Cuba of my dreams will forever be the Cuba of my heart.

1. A lineup of gleaming drop tops near the Capitol. Most of the better preserved cars are used for shuttling tourists around Havana. Th ey are quite expensive to maintain and not cheap to hire, costing about the same or more as a cab ride in Minneapolis. Tour guides earn more than doctors, I heard. 2. Havana has a small Chinatown, developed by immigrants brought over to work the sugarcane fi elds aft er slavery was abolished. 3. Th e Hotel Nacional is the jewel in the crown of Havana and the hub of many historical events. It was built in 1930 and its stately elegance has been impeccably preserved. Th rough the decades, it has hosted countless Hollywood luminaries and heads of state, most recently President Barack Obama during his March 2016 visit. 4. A celebration takes place every Sunday in Callejon de Hamel, an artist’s enclave in Central

Havana created to perpetuate Afro-Cuban art and culture, off ering various art and dance

classes to children. Rumba drumming and dancing is performed to summon

Dreaming of CubaPhoto Gallery by Monique Dubos

CUBA TURN TO 12

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byM A R Y

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the Orishas, saints of the Santeria religion, which has emerged from the shadows in recent years as religious prohibitions have been lift ed. 5. Th e bandanas on these school kids indicate they are on a fi eld trip, which they do in the aft ernoon several times a week, oft en to cultural or historical sites in the city. All children must attend school until the age of 18 and wear uniforms, which

are color-coded, with red worn by grade-schoolers. 6. A crumbling portico in Old Havana. Because of the U.S. embargo, construction materials, such as cement and metal, have to be imported from far off countries, making them rare and dear. Th ere is some hope (and an equal amount of skepticism) that the American trade embargo will be lifted and improve economic conditions. 7. Revolutionary hero Ernesto “Che” Guevara is treated as something of a deity, his image displayed

inside and outside homes and buildings, often accompanied by slogans such as this famous one: Until victory, always! 8. The view from the front seat of a “colectivo,” a taxi that follows a fixed route and picks up as many people along the way as will fit. Many of them are 1940s and ‘50s American cars, few in great shape but kept running through ingenuity and will. Colectivos are cheap to use, a fraction of

our Metro Transit bus fare. 9. Dogs roam freely and seem well cared for. This one is wearing his Cuban pride, which was evident in nearly everyone we met. 10. Mural or graffiti? The line between art and vandalism is blurred in Old Havana. 11. Cubans have a passion for chess, which is taught in school. Cuba has produced many chess champions, including Fidel Castro, who beat Bobby Fischer in an

exhibition game in 1966. 12. Police women stand watch at a free concert in front of the newly-established American Embassy, featuring the

E.D.M. group Major Lazer, attended by half of Havana, it seemed: teenagers, adults, families with children — and lucky tourists, such as me.

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Insight News ::: 04.25.16

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Transcript of Insight News ::: 04.25.16