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JournalismThreeSixty Journalism awards Matthew Little

PAGE 8

LifestyleMarcus Hill teams up with youth to fi ght childhood obesity

CommentaryOccupy Wall Street is a rebellion, not a protest

PAGE 5

AestheticsFootloose: Fighting for what you believe

PAGE 9

October 7, 2011—The Occupy Minnesota Movement (OccupyMN) has established a permanent, peaceful encampment at the Hennepin County Government Plaza on South 6th Street in downtown Minneapolis, now dubbed The People’s Plaza. Sparked by solidarity with Wall Street occupiers in New York City, OccupyMN consists of local activists from across the political spectrum, radical to traditional, who desire a space for all voices to celebrate America’s democratic process together. Organizers say they have had several meetings with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Offi ce, The Minneapolis Police Department, and with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s Offi ce, who all assure that occupiers will be allowed to

sleep in the plaza without fear of arrest. Daily general assemblies are held at 1:00pm and 7:00pm. All Minnesotans are welcome to speak out against a system designed to make the wealthy richer and the poor more desolate. OccupyMN, part of the larger ‘We are the 99 Percent Movement,’ is trying to create an open forum and democratic process for the people to recreate America’s economy. LaDonna Redmond, a co-organizer of OccupyMN, says that she stands in solidarity with peaceful occupiers on Wall Street in hopes of resolving the severe economic disparities both domestically and around the world. She asserts that general assemblies are a process from which the actual voice of the people emerges because they promote participation in a horizontally-organized public force that can function within, and against, the economic crisis.

“If you are struggling;” Redmond says, “if have lost your job, or your home; if you have seen your child unjustly incarcerated; if you are homeless, living without healthcare, or drowning in debt; if you work full-time but are still unable to afford food to feed your family; if you feel that no one is listening to you; if you are fed up with the direction this country is going in—then you are one of the 99%!” Supporters of United States Representative Ron Paul (Republican-Texas) are also showing a strong presence at The People’s Plaza to discuss The Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act. Rep. Paul, Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, is sponsoring the bill (House Resolution 1094), which

Tru Ruts’ Freestyle Theatre presented an evening of provocative Spoken Word, Jazz and Dance Saturday, October 15th at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. They even presented E.G. Bailey’s adaption of Amiri Baraka’s Wise Why’s Y’s, an epic journey through the history of Africans in America, and a perfect blend of avant-garde poetry with the griot consciousness. Paying homage to Langston’s Ask Your Mama, William Carlos William’s Patterson, and Melvin B. Tolson’s Liberia alike, the production articulated the history of people and places through questions and answers about broad themes of history and cultural identity.

Radicals, fi scal conservatives say Federal Reserve must go

Marcus Garvey House hosts Amiri Baraka

By Lydia SchwartzContributing Writer

Suluki FardanGathering at the Hennepin County Government Plaza in Downtown Minneapolis OCCUPY TURN TO 11

Amiri BarakaPhotos: Suluki Fardan

Above: Rapper M.anifest and Baraka. Bottom: Blues Guitarist Paul Metsa and Wain McFarlane improvise.

BARAKA TURN TO 12

Family PreservationDunnings seek to adopt grandchildren

Dorothy Dunning is begging for help. She wants somebody, anybody to step up and help her gain custody of her biological granddaughters, Princess Knox, 2, and Dorothy Faith Knox, 1. Right now, the infants are in foster care at the direction of Hennepin County Court. Dunning has contested the efforts of Steven and Liv Grosser to adopt Princess and Dorothy Faith. The Grossers are foster care providers and have custody of the girls. Hennepin County’s Fourth Judicial District Juvenile Court Division last month denied Dunnings petition to adopt her grandchildren, in favor of a petition to adopt by the Grossers.

Dunning said she was devastated by the email from her attorney, Don M. Lattimore, containing the court’s decision, a document entitled Contested Adoption Trial Findings and Order, Phase Two. He wrote:” Attached is the Court Order on the Adoption. Unfortunately, the Court found in favor of the foster parents….” Dunning, who lives in Gautier, Mississippi, says she is bewildered and frustrated that the Court has ignored her request for legal custody of her own grandchildren, despite recommendations of Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health staff, and of Hennepin County Attorney staff that the children should be adopted by the family member. Insight reached out to the Hennepin County offi cials seeking the Court’s side of the

story. The judge in the case is Judge Kathryn Quaintance. Insight’s effort to speak with her was rerouted to Angela Willms in the County Attorney’s offi ce, who said neither the Judge nor other offi cers of the court could discuss the case because policy forbids discussion of adoption matters. Asked where could the family or interested public persons could get information about the process that resulted in the children not being placed with blood relatives, Willms cited Minnesota Statute 260C.212 as the basis for any actions by the court. What jumps off the page in even a cursory read of the statue is the following: (6) documentation of steps to fi nalize the adoption or legal guardianship of the child if the court has issued an order terminating the rights of both

parents of the child or of the only known, living parent of the child. At a minimum, the documentation must include child-specifi c recruitment efforts such as relative search and the

use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges to facilitate orderly and timely placements in and outside of the state. A copy of this documentation shall be provided to the court in the review

required under section 260C.317, subdivision 3, paragraph (b); The law goes on to say:

Courtesy of Aubrey KnoxLawrence Dunning, Princess Knox II, Dorothy Faith Knox I, and Dorothy Dunning

By Al McFarlaneEditor-in-Chief

DUNNINGS TURN TO 8

Joe Sample & The Jazz CrusadersOctober 17-18

The Crusaders are one of the most successful bands in the history of jazz. Founding members Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder hit on a brilliant idea in the mid-1960s: Blending inventive jazz and get-down rhythm-and-blues.

Tickets: 612/332-5299, www.dakotacooks.comThe Dakota | 1010 Nicollet | Downtown Minneapolis

October 17 - October 23, 2011 • MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 42 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.comOctober 17 - October 23, 2011 • MN Metro Vol. 37 No. 42 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

INSIGHT NEWSINSIGHT NEWS

Page 2 • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Insight News insightnews.com

BUSINESS

When the State of Minnesota tests schoolchildren each fall,

they break down the results in numerous ways in order to determine who is learning and which schools need to step up their programs. According to Michelle Deziel, the results consistently show that educational resources are not getting to the kids who need them the most. And educating children, according to Deziel, is a key to long term success in bridging the achievement

gap between cultures and overcoming racism in everyday life. Deziel is a licensed school teacher and Director of Diversity Education for Cultural Perspectives and Associates, an organization whose goal is to bring cultural awareness to work and school settings. Through the extensive research of owner Verona Mitchell and the Cultural Perspectives organization, along

with her personal experience, Deziel explains that the achievement gap in schools has a wide range of contributors. One of these is cultural; in many schools, the group labeled “English Learner” has the most diffi culty scoring well on these tests. Educating children seems like an obvious place to start closing the fi ssure between those who achieve and those who

fail. But what about changing the attitudes of people already set in their ways? Can people from diverse cultures truly work together and succeed in school, careers and life? The answer is yes, of course. According to Deziel, there are ways even adults can break out of racist patterns and move toward a better understanding of the people we work and learn alongside. “Immerse yourself in various

cultures,” says Deziel, who describes herself as a person of color. She uses the Hmong New Year celebration, which is open to everyone, as a good example of people sharing their traditions with others. People tend to stay in the comfort zone of the familiar: with people who look, think, behave alike. But there’s a rich world of culture

In beauty salons and barber shops across the nation, at summer barbecues and holiday dinners, African Americans have a long tradition of indulging in rich conversation. So much so that we’ve created our very own cultural vernacular, or way of speaking. No matter the venue, when we come together we are ready to talk about it all, from current events and politics to music and relationships. Nothing is off limits. Well, almost. Our conversations often turn to silence when it comes to personal fi nances. The subject of money has traditionally been a very private matter within our culture, most likely because of our strong sense of self-reliance and pride. Whatever the reason, it’s time to get comfortable and candid when talking about money matters. So here we go. I’ll start with my mother. Never a banker, my mom (like many mothers in our community) had a way of managing household fi nances that made it look relatively simple, at least to my brother and me. She didn’t involve us in the day-to-day of household budgeting, so I never knew exactly how she was able to manage it all. What I do remember is that bills were always paid on time, period. When my mother refl ects today, she shares that there were times when she needed to “rob Peter to pay Paul.” However, she never failed to write down all of her bills (a practice she’s continued since retirement) and manage her budget to make sure that everything was paid in full. One reason she succeeded is that she was diligent about reviewing her list, regularly assessing exactly where we were with our family budget. There were specifi c objectives for stretching the family’s funds, including, setting aside money for college, Christmas, tithing,

vacations and savings. I’m always impressed when I think about her generation, and those before her, and how they somehow seemed to have acquired so much with so much less than we have today. They attained what they did largely because they had a strategy that they were committed to -and this was long before on-line banking. They believed in controlling their money rather than it controlling them. I’ve kept this example top-of-mind as I matured. Today, I am very up front with my children when it comes to fi nancial planning and management. We talk about it. My boys understand the concept of managing money and realize that they have to save (savings account), before discretionary spending (pulling money from the piggy bank for a Wii cartridge). Despite today’s challenging economy, things really haven’t changed much when it comes to the basic fundamentals for achieving economic independence. The same way our parents managed every dime with purpose, we should model that behavior. Mastering your fi nances starts with organization and goals. Whether you are thinking about purchasing a home or an investment property, saving for college, building wealth, or simply going on a vacation, you have to start with a plan. To begin, clearly lay out what money you have coming in, and what you have going out. A simple technique

I’ve used is writing down every dollar you spend for a month. That helps you see where the money is going so you can prioritize and, perhaps, make adjustments. For me, that was limiting that daily trip to the coffee shop for a chai tea latte to once or twice a week (saving myself $50 each month) - and I didn’t wait for Lent to make that change. Once you have this insight, create an itemized budget. Next, be deliberate about thoroughly combing through your expenses and transactions, and regularly reconciling your budget. If you fi nd that you have more disposable income than projected, resist the temptation to reward yourself. Instead, consider applying more funds toward paying down debt, or to your savings or 401(k) plan. And fi nally, enrich yourself. Study. Take advantage of resources designed to help you to become savvier about things like budgeting, saving, investing and building wealth for life after retirement. Wells Fargo offers a variety of free, online tools that can help you along your journey toward fi nancial success. Visit www.wellsfargo.com/aspirations for more information. Most of all: Don’t be afraid to talk about fi nancial matters, because we all know that “money talks!”

Michelle Thornhill is senior vice president, Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo & Company. Visit www.wellsfargo.com/aspirations for more information.

Bridging the achievement gap through education and risk taking

Have you had your fi nancial checkup?

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Plan Your Career

PersonalFinance

By Michelle ThornhillSpecial to the NNPA

EDUCATION TURN TO 12

insightnews.com Insight News • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Page 3

On Nov. 11, the fi rst African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism, Isabel Wilkerson, will speak at the annual dinner and fundraiser for ThreeSixty Journalism, a non-profi t program at the University of St. Thomas that trains Minnesota teens from diverse communities in the skills of journalism and publishes their work on-line and in print. At the event, Al McFarlane, founder and CEO of Insight News, will receive ThreeSixty Journalism’s Widening the Circle Award, given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the next generation of journalists. In her latest book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration,” Wilkerson chronicles the decades-long movement

of blacks out of the Jim Crow South into the North in search of opportunity and freedom. It was named the year’s top nonfi ction book by the National Book Critics Circle, and one of the 10 best books of 2010 by The New York Times. The book critics’ group called it “magisterial.” Three local African American elders who made their journey to Minnesota will be honored. In this excerpt from a longer interview, Matthew Little, a long-time civic leader and head of the Minnesota chapter of the NAACP, descr ibes the discrimination he found in the South and North and the vast changes he has witnessed in America’s attitudes about race. Matthew Little, who recently turned 90, was born in North Carolina in 1921 and moved to Minnesota in 1948. He was a post offi ce employee, ran a landscaping business in Minneapolis and served as head of the Minnesota

NAACP for 15 years. In the South, where I was born and educated, it was an established mores that African Americans, and to an extent, other minorities too, were basically inferior human beings. To cite a very simple example -- a Black person, even though they had the same religion, could not go to the same church as whites. The same thing was true of education. In World War II, I was in the service. Of course the service at that time, like other parts of America, was segregated. You had your Black units and the regular units. I was with the 364th Infantry, all Black infantry, except for the offi cers, of course. The offi cers were white. I happened to be in college, Agricultural and Technical State College in Greensboro, North Carolina. I was hopeful of becoming a doctor. They called

us into action, and the college president asked that they spare us until our graduation and then we all go as a unit, and we did. After I got out of the service, I tried to get into medical school. I had the requirements, but there were only two African American medical schools and after the war they were so crowded. When I got out, they said they had all they could take. The next year they had the same story. I got so disgusted, I said ‘To heck with this!’ and decided to go elsewhere. I had no idea where I was going to go. But while I had been in the service I had been assigned to a troop train outfi t that shipped soldiers from the west coast to the east coast. We were given a voucher to use on transportation, and we had fi ve days to get back. We stopped in the Twin Cities, because it was a transportation center at the time. So it was between the Twin Cities and Denver. And I couldn’t make up my mind. They asked me where I wanted a ticket for. I still couldn’t make up my mind. And so they said, ‘Tell me soldier, where do you want to go?’ and I said, ‘Well, just a minute.’ And I fl ipped a coin. Minneapolis heads and tails Denver. The coin fell on heads. And so ‘Give me a ticket to Minneapolis.’ And I’ve been in Minneapolis ever since. First thing I looked for was the YMCA, and I got lodging there. I remember walking around downtown and I didn’t see any other Black people. I began to wonder if I made the right decision. Finally, I asked a policeman, ‘Where are the colored people in this place?’ And he said, “Right on Third Avenue, there’s a bar called Cassius Bar, and I’m sure you’ll fi nd them there.’ And indeed, it was loaded. I thought my degrees and my army service would help me fi nd a job within my capabilities. No one seemed to say that we don’t want to hire you because you are Black, but they said, ‘I will give you a notice if there is a vacancy.’ And that was the end of that. During that time I had a lot of multicultural experiences. The 28th of August in 1963 was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. I was a leader of the

Minnesota branch of the NAACP, and the leaders of the planned march particularly wanted Minnesota representatives, and I agreed to do that. Each member that was to come would have to sign an agreement that under no circumstances would we participate in any kind of violence. Regardless of what kind of provocation was enacted upon us, we would not retaliate. We lost a couple of our best members because of those requirements. They said, ‘What you are saying is that I’m not going to hit someone back if they hit me? I can’t commit myself to that.’ And I said ‘Well, you can’t be a member then, because that is a requirement.’ Everything seemed to dim completely when Martin (Luther King) spoke. He and his speaking style had a way of just completely drawing you to it. There were 250,000 people there, and there

was not a sound when Martin King gave that “I have a dream” speech. I will never forget it as long as I live. That people would be converted without violence -- that was a kind of accomplishment for America. And though there are certain inequities that we still face, I’m convinced that this country is the best in the world. And I feel very patriotic about that, and certainly I feel absolutely no bitterness whatsoever. Hear more from Matthew Little and other African American honorees, Betty Ellison-Harpole and Annie Baldwin, at ThreeSixty Journalism’s dinner and fundraiser on November 11 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.threes ix ty journal ism.com/celebratethejourney or call 651-962-5225.

ThreeSixty Journalism awards Matthew LittleBy Mariya Khan

Dymanh ChhounMatthew Little poses with a picture of himself when he was the

leader of the Minnesota chapter of NAACP.

Page 4 • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Insight News insightnews.com

EDUCATION

“I can’t wait for winter,” remarked Anwatin Ski Team member Adia Froehle-Baker. Those aren’t the words you hear from every middle schooler with the impending cold months to come. But if you talk with the 18 kids who participated on the Anwatin Ski Team last winter, you would quickly see how fun the snowy season can be. Centered on cross-country skiing, the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation has worked in partnership with Anwatin Middle School to establish a middle

school ski team, the fi rst of its kind in Minneapolis. For the past three years, students have been invited to tryout for the year round program that focuses on cross-country skiing in the winter and other trail sports in the summer such as mountain biking, roller skiing and trail running. Participation in the program is free, and all are encouraged to try out. Capitalizing on the wealth of trails Theodore Wirth has to offer, the Foundation provided coaches

that met the team 2-3 times a week throughout the year to build strength and skills while exploring the woods outside Anwatin’s back door. And that’s not all. The team also made the trek to the ski trails of northern Minnesota for an overnight training trip, and celebrated the end of the season with a self contained bicycle powered camping adventure. Loading up their bikes with gear, the team rode 25 miles from Theodore Wirth Park to Culver Park and immediately engaged in

swimming, summer ski training exercises before indulging in homemade campfi re pizzas and s’mores. “What we really want to do is impart a lifelong love for outdoor activities,” said Nordic Ski

Foundation director John Munger. “Zooming down a hill on skis or on a mountain bike is better than any video game. Our goal is to not only introduce kids to these sports, but to provide a structure that allows them to pursue these

activities for the rest of their lives regardless of their backgrounds.” Instilling that lifelong passion is exactly what the Foundation does. This year, as part of their reward for attending practices throughout the summer, the Anwatin Ski Team was awarded mountain bikes so they can begin to explore the park on their own and appreciate the freedom bicycles bring. “I love skiing,” remarked Anwatin skier Muaj Xiong defi nitively. Now he and the other Anwatin skiers will have some competition on the trails. The Foundation is excited to announce it will be expanding its programming to include Nellie Stone Middle School as well. Students interested in participating should look for information during the lunch hour in mid October. Tryouts will be held at the schools at the end of the month. For more information on joining either the Anwatin or Nellie Stone Ski Teams, please call Program Coach Allie Rykken at 612- 604-5333 or email rykken@cityofl akesloppet.com.

In an effort to give back to the community, members of Branch 9 of the National Association of Letter Carriers presented Melanie Sanco of the Minneapolis Public Schools with school supplies and cash donations at the Lowry Post Offi ce on Wednesday, October 12th. The total value of the

donations was approximately $2000. These donations were made by Letter Carriers who work in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. They will be targeted toward helping elementary school aged Northside children who were impacted by this summer’s tornado. The school supply

drive was the brainchild of the letter carriers Olin Moore, Pete Wilson and Don Grunnes from the Lowry Station. With the support of carriers and postal management from around the city, these supplies will help provide the children with the tools they need to attend school.

It’s time to clean-up the trails and get them ready for winter! Join the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation on Saturday October 29th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we begin pruning, seeding, mulching, raking and removing buckthorn - all in preparation for the upcoming ski season. Wear boots, work pants and gloves to protect you for a hard days work. Please bring your favorite saws, shovels, rakes, wheel barrows, loping sheers as we prepare the trails for snow. Come with your friends and family and have a hand in helping to maintain the ski trails you enjoy. Register in advance so you can join us for a free lunch provided by REI. REI will also provide free wicking volunteer t-shirts while supplies last,

sizes are limited. For questions or more information, please

call The Loppet offi ce at 612- 604-5334.

In October of 2010, North Community High School, one of the oldest public schools in Minneapolis, established in 1888, was at threat for closure due to low enrollment. Over a six-year period from 2004 to 2010, North experienced a 75% decrease. There were rallies at the 807 West Broadway Minneapolis School District headquarters. Community members, alumni students and staff, crowded the rallies to display opposition of closing North High School. A year later, not only is North High still open, it has exceeded the number of students required to keep the school open. “Our projections are 12% over what we thought they would be,” said Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson. “We have 225 students here. I’m proud of that and you should be proud of that.” The North High School Redesign Advisory Committee held a community forum from 6-8pm on Tuesday, October 4 at North Community High School

1500 James Ave. N. Last year, the situation was a complete 360 from the forum held on October 4. “This time last year, I made a decision to close North High,” Johnson said. “Exactly 12 months ago, you would have heard a roar that could be echoed across the state. Other people asked me, how could you do this.” Johnson reports that since that time, there have been several initiatives. “We have taken one huge step in recommitting to North High, building trust with the community, and creating a better learning environment for students,” Johnson said. The Institute for Student Achievement (ISA), the fi rm hired to support the development of a new academic program in 2012, is working with North High staff to strengthen academic programming for current students. ISA is a New York based non-profi t organization and a comprehensive school redesign partner for public school districts. Gerard and Lilo Leeds founded ISA in 1990. ISA attempts to improve high school education for at risk schools. ISA currently partners with 70 different schools serving 20,000

students in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Maryland, Louisiana and Georgia. At risk schools are those traditionally known for low graduation rates of 35%-50% maximum. Gerry House, former Superintendent of Memphis City Schools, has headed ISA since 2000. “Our credibility comes from working in many different spaces and understanding your desire to have excellent equitable schools for your students,” House said. Since the implementation of ISA, graduation rates for at risk schools have improved signifi cantly. “Those schools now have graduation rates of 79% as an average, which means some schools have graduation rates as high as 90%,” House said. ISA also focuses on getting students college ready. “94% of students from ISA schools who went to college were into their third semester, a major indicator that students will graduate,” she said. “These were the same students who came to high school in 9th grade two or more grade levels behind in reading, writing and mathematics.” The school implemented a

new advisory program to ensure that every student has a strong connection to an adult. The Offi ce of Family Engagement is also recruiting volunteers for a new mentoring program with the goal of having a community mentor for every ninth-grade student in place by mid-October. Marcus Owens, a North High alumnus and active member of the North High Redesign Advisory Committee coveys the goals of the program; increase the number of students ready for college and career paths academically; gain social awareness of life after high school and strengthen student commitment to leaders in the community. “I’m really excited about this,” said Owens “It’s a pilot program. We are starting with the 9th grade class and hope to expand,” he said. The new advisory program focuses on two initiatives. The fi rst one is what House refers to as the laser focus on teaching and learning. “The school has to have a rigorous, academically challenged instructional program that focuses on helping children problem solve, and write analytical papers. North Community High School is

focused on high academic achievement, which is the major role of a school,” House said. The second initiative focuses on relationships. “Schools thrive and are successful because of the relationships they develop,” House said. “Structures is created in the school so every student has an adult mentor. Teachers and students meet on a regular basis. You get to know your students, not just as students, but as people.” Even with these efforts, North High cannot do it alone. “There is a broader community as well,” House said. “There are non-academic gaps in students lives. They may need food, health care, internships, or parent support. The community is a major driver in helping schools provide those kinds of services.” If approved by the superintendent and school board, the program would open to 120 freshmen next fall, adding a grade each year. In between the forum, small focus groups were created to discuss future plans for the future North High vision. One person said a lot of the Northside students attend St Paul Performing Arts, and would

like one at North High. Other suggestions included poetry in academics, feeder schools to infl uence recruitment to North, and parent assistance in science and technology programs. An issue of quality and dedicated principals hit home for students and staff. Since the 2009-2010 school year three different principals, Ellen Stewart from 2007-2010, Birch Jones who came back from retirement to intern from 2010 until March of 2011, and the current principal Peter Christenson have supervised North High. One student in the focus groups reported “we want a principal who actually wants to be at North High School, and will stay at North High School, not use it as a stepping stone to a bigger position.” Scott Red, Executive Director of the Offi ce of Family and Community Engagement, has been a liaison to the community to assist with the efforts in keeping North High Open. “It has to be something that respects and refl ects the community,” he said. “Minneapolis North High School will be a strong school where families are choosing to be apart of, and it will be better than it was 15 years ago.”

Anxiously awaiting winter: Anwatin ski team

Letter carriers help Northside schools

North High exceeds fi rst year goals

Mary LuomaAnwatin Ski Team members enjoying the enchanted winter trails

on a training trip to Maplelag Resort in Northern Minnesota.

By Ivan B. PhiferStaff Writer

Ingrid RemakNordic Ski Foundation volunteers hard at work mulching and

planting trees in Theodore Wirth Park.

Don Grunnes (white hat), Olin Moore, Pete Wilson, and Melanie Sanco

insightnews.com Insight News • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Page 5

AESTHETICS

We’ve all heard of banned books and even certain music being labeled distasteful for specifi c audiences, but Paramount Pictures remake of the fi lm Footloose, out Friday October 14, goes further than creating a moment for us to bat eyelashes at the prudes. It brings back the idea that in some towns deep in the outskirts of the world, dancing is labeled the gateway to all things wrong. For the residents of said place, you’d hate to be the one caught on the downside of a Do-Si-Doe. If you remember the original Footloose, you’ll agree that it is indeed a cult classic that still remains near and dear to our hearts since we fi rst cut a rug to its title track after those Kenny Loggins vocals commanded our attention. There’s been a lot of skepticism about the remake; babyboomers will be the fi rst to admit they’ve turned a side eye at Hollywood executives since the fi rst instance they heard this version was on the horizon. However, with writer/director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan) attached, and more than able to get his hands in the crop and rearrange the soil, you should know that he’s doing more than just pulling up daisies with this remake, rather he’s created a botanical masterpiece. Having Brewer on

deck helps the latest Footloose stand on its own as an entirely new fi lm altogether. Its clever, witty and unwilted awesomeness, prove that it’s defi nitely not a fi lm that should be compared with yesterday. The fi lm goes a little something like this: it’s the 21st Century, the era of So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), but for Ren McCormick, played by newcomer Kenny Wormald, a crash course in breaking the rules proves to be his welcoming wagon when he arrives at his new home in small town Bomont, Georgia and is pulled over for playing his music too loud. For a dancer, the thought of being worm-holed and force-fed the rules isn’t something McCormick can stomach. It’s no surprise when he becomes infatuated with one of the towns biggest rebels, a gal named Ariel Moore played by DWTS alumni Julianne Hough, who also happens to be the Reverends daughter— a Reverend (Dennis Quaid) who is also the culprit behind Bomont’s latent fuse. The death of Reverend Shaw’s eldest son, an incident resulting from a night of teenage drinking and dancing, forces Shaw to spear head a campaign to put a town wide ban on music and dancing. “At the beginning of the movie, you think it’s all this joy and celebration— you see all this dancing feet and for that moment, I just want the audience to go, ‘Okay, this is what

I thought it was going to be,’ which is kind of a silly, dance-spoof of the original one and then I want to just punch them in the face with reality,” director Craig Brewer shared, “If anyone remembers the fi rst Footloose, all these laws were put into place not necessarily because they were worried about their kids going to hell, but because there was a car wreck.” One incident, changed the rules of the land, but together McCormick and Moore along with the rest of their posse conjure up a foolproof plan to get the Reverend and other local powers to rescind their fear based rule on boogieing down. Whether it’s dancing or

pogosticking in the park, Footloose is a catalyst for proving that if you don’t fi ght for what you believe in, you’ll stop believing in the fi ght. “I think it was a great decision to fi lm in Georgia,” Kenny Wormald shares with Insight News, “The original was fi lmed in Utah, and there was only white people in it, there was nothing else. Our director Craig Brewer is from the south, and he is very in-tune with the south. To have it in Georgia, and have it include the multiple cultures and tons of different people was great.” Footloose ‘11 explores diversity moreso than any other remake I’ve seen that has been

revamped for modern audiences. The fi lm fl irts with the impact of the Hip Hop culture as well as illustrating the world of pop, rock and country. It also incorporates modern day slang while also mixing in cultural humor for all audiences. Like the original, it openly explores the religious envelope, but it does so in a manner that respects our individual faith and values. Brewer, who grew up in the heart of the south prior to fi lmmaking, isn’t afraid for his characters to mingle hand in hand with classmates from other races/backgrounds, nor does he present a fable ridden love story where all

the chosen actors are as unnaturally beautiful as the main characters; these kids are real, they look and sound like everyday people. These attributes make it easier to follow these characters into their fantasy world and identify with the struggle that Brewer is presenting to us— a struggle that easily correlates with the problems we face in our own worlds. “What I liked about moving this fi lm and setting it in the south, is that it plays into my passions and my strengths,” Brewer offers, “I kind of have an agenda to represent southern Black and white characters against a type that has been perpetuated. I believe the south is more integrated in spirit than we give it credit for. I think it’s kind of a usual ‘dog’ for people to kick their strife at all the time. I’m not saying there’s not struggle, strife and racism, but I see a much more supportive community that has a lot more in common when it comes to family, faith, and kids. By moving it to the south, not only could we have a different complexion make up, but also in size. I wanted these teenagers to look like teenagers today. I was very particular on that. Usually actors are the pretty kids, but I like real looking kids and that’s what I went after.” Footloose is in theaters Friday, October 14th, 2011. You defi nitely don’t want to miss this one. For more information: www.footloosemovie.com

“Life is too big to walk it alone,” that’s the tag line for the new fi lm entitled The Way, a piece written and directed by Emilio Estevez, about a doctor named

Tom, played by Martin Sheen, who ventures over to Spain to bring back the remains of his son Daniel, a wanderer who was killed in a storm while walking the famous Camino de Santiago on his fi rst day out in the laborious journey. Like one’s own personal

walk towards faith or a faith like existence, this fi lm explores the awakening we all have when faced with adversity or the need for inner change. For Sheen’s character Tom, a life of practicality and staunch professionalism causes him to live life encapsulated in a bubble

of his own making. It’s no secret that Tom disagrees with his son’s choice to give up his profession to wander the earth smelling coffee beans and bathing in hot springs at leisure, but it isn’t long before Tom fi nds himself doing the unthinkable— considering the beauty of taking time to live so free. After learning about the Camino and its meaning to the thousands of “pilgrims” that come from world round to walk the 800 km journey through the beautiful Spanish countryside until they arrive at the Cathedral in Santiago— a place where the remains of the apostle St. James are said to be, he opts to cremate his son, and place his ashes in a container. This decision allows Tom to do what many of us wish someone would do for us— walk a mile in our shoes or see the world through our eyes. With his son’s trekking gear on his back, and his ashes tucked close to his heart, Tom sets foot on the Camino de Santiago, alone, in an effort to continue his son’s journey for him. “In most father and son movies, the son becomes the

father,” Martin Sheen shared with Insight News, “In this case, Emilio wrote a fi lm where the father becomes the son, and then eventually becomes himself. This fi lm is about an interior journey or the transcended journey; the pilgrimage inside all of us.” No matter how hard he tries to avoid the world around him, throughout the movie,

Tom fi nds himself sharing the journey with other pilgrims, 3 of which become a permanent fi xture in his life even though he does everything he can to push them away. Joost (Yorick van Wageningen) is a Dutch gent who is walking the trail in an effort to lose weight before his brother’s wedding. Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger), a hard-edged Canadian is hoping that by the end of the road she will have buried her smoking habit along with the mountains of hurt she’s endured in her marriage. Jack (James Nesbitt) is a travel writer who somehow has lost his voice— or rather confi dence, as we later learn, and he hopes to fi nd himself on this journey so that he can put to paper all the wisdom he has to offer the literary world. Although this quad seems unlikely when paired together, their effortless dance throughout the fi lm illustrates the beauty in differences and the need to let others in. It is over the passing of landscapes and fading of time, that these 3 new friends help Tom realize that “alone” is only a theory— true friendship is actually all around him. “The Camino is actually marked in yellow,” Director Emilio Estevez offers, “ And after a while it became self evident that this fi lm was in fact was like the retelling of the ‘Wizard of Oz’. The tornado in this fi lm is actually an emotional tornado in Tom’s life that picks him up and transports him to Spain, a place he would never go. He meets the Tinman in the Canadian, the Cowardly Lion in the Dutchman, and Jimmy who is suffering from writer’s block. He has no brain, like the Scarecrow.” The Way is a wonderful movie set to the incredible backdrops of faith, beauty and inner peace. You will laugh, cry and be inspired, but one thing’s for certain, this fi lm does little to disappoint. It hits theaters in Minneapolis on October 14th, in limited release. For more information about The Way or the Camino de Santiago, please visit: www.TheWay-TheMovie.com

Footloose: Fighting for what you believe

The Way explores awakening amid adversity

By Alaina L. LewisContributing Writer

By Alaina L. LewisContributing Writer

Paramount Pictures

Courtesy of The Way Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez

Page 6 • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Insight News insightnews.com

HEALTH

In last week’s article, I began to address the psychology of racism and the “stupid” decisions that people make because of their adherence to pro-racists beliefs. In Part Two of this article, I will continue to discuss the psychology of how racism is created, destructively maintained, and overcome in our personal and political lives. Racism is defi ned as the belief that there are inherent differences among people based on traits and capacities that can be entirely attributed to their race. As a consequence, different treatment of ‘those people,” is both socially and legally justifi ed. Racism, in my opinion is just plain stupid. Unfortunately, as my husband would say --it is our American- right to be stupid. Most researchers have demonstrated that racism begins to form between the ages of fi ve to seven, but tends to crystallize around age eight. Racist beliefs become more deeply entrenched by the time one reaches early adolescence. Like other types of mental illness, life events can serve as protective factors against the development of racism. Additionally, life events can create risk factors that increase the likelihood of someone developing racist attitudes. For example, if you grow up in a home where you have multicultural friends and neighbors who are loved and respected by you and your family, that experience would be protective in nature—and obviously bolster your ability to fi ght racism. On the other hand, if you grow up in a home where

everybody you know is racially similar and the exposure that you have to culturally different people is negative, then you are more at-risk of becoming a racist. One of the fi rst indicators of racism is how, if given a choice, people will use their power to make decisions that deny opportunities to others based on race. Often, as has been proven by researchers such as Dr. Judy Devine (at the University of Wisconsin) or Dr. Jack Dovidio, (at Columbia University), people openly make those decisions when it is socially safe or palatable to do so. If people can “hide” behind other more socially acceptable explanations to provide cover for their racism, they will make pro-racist statements and decisions. These trends and patterns are known as “micro-aggressions” and occur to racial minorities on an insidious, daily basis. For example, when the shock-jock radio talk-show host “Imus” called the black girls from the Rutgers basketball team “nappy headed hoes,” that was a micro-aggression. He was safe to spew out racial epithets for years—unchecked. Consequently, he expected no ramifi cations to his statements when he made them. Recently, Republican presidential hopeful, Rick Perry, was called out on his (and his family’s) lifetime patronage of a camp named “N---er head.” Someone painted over the sign when the social climate no longer permitted this micro-aggression to be acceptable. Another sign of racism is that we tend to make negative attributions about ethnic minorities, but make exceptions when the same behaviors are committed by non-ethnic minority groups. For example, let us discuss raising the ceiling limit for the national debt. When President Obama made the proposal to do so, his decisions were perceived by some to be “unreasonable and inexcusable.” Nonetheless, when a similar action was requested by - and

granted for his predecessors - (George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan) who were all white, those same people assumed the request by these “white” presidents as being “reasonable and excusable.” Thus, the pattern of accepting one decision as being “alright” and the other similar decision as being “not alright” is indicative of racism. Finally, when we attribute negative traits

to a black person, but turn around and attribute positive traits to a white person--that is racist --plain and simple. There is also an aspect of racism that is held within minority groups. This construct is known as “internalized racism.” Internalized racism is the personal (conscious or subconscious) acceptance of the dominant society’s racist views, stereotypes, and biases towards one’s own group. In a future article, I will discuss the stages of ethnic identity development and their impact on racism, but for the sake of this conversation, it is important to realize that in America, there is a general pressure to concede, “all white people are superior.” This belief is recognized fi rst in early childhood when children begin to see “white” as better. Most of us are familiar with the work of psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark, whose famous “doll studies” were used in the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court Decision, to prove that racial segregation did not lead to separate, but equal rights or outcomes. In the study,

children were given a choice of playing with one of two dolls (one was white, the other black). Most often, the children selected the “white” doll. The study was recently replicated in a 2005 award-winning documentary fi lm entitled “A Girl like Me” by a young woman, Kiri Davis. Again, 17 out of 21 black children preferred the “white doll.” The belief that “white is superior” is in our language and

our rhetoric. We say “black-mail” to indicate a negative type of mail, or “black magic” to indicate evil or sorcery. In our society, even a lie becomes all right if it is a “white lie”. Additionally, the belief in white superiority becomes even more entrenched during adolescence and early adulthood. Thus, the development of pro-racists beliefs are later seen in a stage of ethnic identity development call “Conformity” or “Pre-Encounter” when folks (ethnic minorities and white majorities alike) hold perspectives that white American, majority culture values, appearances, practices, perspectives, and lifestyles are indeed “preferred” and “better than” those held by other groups. Politicians such as Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, and Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas are often put into this category. The dissonance or confusion lies in the fact that although their skin is dark and they are physically black, Herman Cain and Clarence Thomas hold value systems that are predominately shared by the white affl uent majority—not the poor, working class, or ethnic minority groups from which they may have come. Thus, these leaders are often perceived as “conservative or conformist”-- which, of course, is a code word for “racist.” Therefore, when these politicians are “conveniently black,” they use their blackness to make white racists feel “alright” about being racist. Ironically, Herman Cain’s recent rise to fame in the Republican party debate is fascinating because although he has out-polled his competitors, he continues to be “invisible” when it comes to getting props as a legitimate, viable presidential candidate. While on one hand he is “acceptable,” on another hand, he is not. Those of us who are struggling to recover from racism, especially our white brothers and sisters, must not fall into the trap of using racial reasoning to validate our endorsement of stereotypes. The trap goes like this: “I agree that

the poor are lazy and that there is no racism in America because black guys like Herman Cain and Clarence Thomas said it-- so I must not be racist.” To avoid the trap, we simply must remember what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “Don’t judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Unfortunately, determining an individual’s character is not very easy. We do not always know a person’s character until their character is tested. When it comes to racism, people can “say” one thing and “do” another. Psychologists have identifi ed processes that are referred to as “implicit” and “explicit” biases. Implicit bias is the type that is covert, under-cover and not fully recognizable- even to the individual. Explicit biases are those to which you hold full awareness. Psychologists Anthony Greenwald and Mahzarin Banaji, proposed that as human beings, some of our memories, beliefs, and associations are not accessible to our own awareness, yet can infl uence our attitudes and behaviors. Thus, they developed a measure (Implicit Associations Test) that allows us to understand those attitudes that cannot be measured through explicit self-report methods. They contend that due to a lack of self-awareness or a due to a desire to appear “socially unbiased,” using their test, people who would normally say that they aren’t racist (or sexist, or classist for example), can fi nd out that they actually hold strong biases against people based on their race. To check out how you fare in the areas of implicit (unconscious)bias, you may take the tests at home by logging into a website: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/ Because of the destructive nature of unconscious and conscious racism, many multicultural mental health providers have even gone so

far as to purport that “racism” should be classifi ed as a mental illness in our Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM-IV) -- the book we use to defi ne all types of mental disorders ranging from schizophrenia to bipolar disorder! In this case, racism would be comparable to other types of mental disorders. As is the case of most severe mental illnesses, people who have them, often do not always know that they are not well at the time. For example, if you are experiencing a delusion that you are Jesus, it is unlikely that someone can convince you otherwise. Thus, racist people rarely recognize that they are racist. Just as all other mental illnesses have a course, an age of onset, a prognosis, and a set of diagnostic criteria, so could we describe and classify racism. Knowing how racism begins and how to identify racism in oneself are among the fi rst steps to letting it go. In Part Three, I will conclude the discussion of this topic by further addressing the factors that maintain racism and how they may be eliminated.

BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice and serves as President of Brakins Strategic Initiatives Consulting and Psychological Services. Brakins Strategic Initiatives (BSI) Consulting & Psychological Services has the mission of “providing excellent, culturally competent consulting and mental health services to meet the needs of children, adults, families and organizations.” Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya warns that this column should in no way be construed as constituting a therapeutic relationship through counseling or advice. To forward a comment about this article or to make an appointment, please contact Dr. Garrett-Akinsanya by email @ bravadaakinsanya@hotmail.com or by telephone at 612-839-1440.

The psychology of racism and the right to be stupid (part II)

By Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya,

Ph.D., L.P.

Murua(Swahili for ‘Respect’)

“One of the fi rst indicators of racism is how, if given a choice,

people will use their power to make decisions that deny opportunities

to others based on race.”

insightnews.com Insight News • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Page 7

At a 400-person public meeting Tuesday, six city council members agreed to several community demands to address the housing crisis in St. Paul. All six agreed to take steps to hold banks accountable, including signing onto a letter calling for lenders to engage in best practices for foreclosure prevention. The meeting, organized by ISAIAH, was held to combat the housing crisis through a platform of policy initiatives around foreclosure mediation, raising vacant home fees, strong zoning policies, and holding banks accountable. “In the last three years something very evil and bad has happened with this country, said Councilmember David Thune, who endorsed the three-point affordable housing and anti-foreclosure platform presented by ministers, neighborhood leaders and foreclosure victims. “The economy got wrecked in the halls of banks and fi nancial institutions.” Last Tuesday’s public meeting, held at St. James AME church in St. Paul, included testimonies from city residents, the Frogtown Neighborhood Association, and the Housing Preservation Project on the devastating effects this crisis is having on their lives and neighborhoods. “My grandma taught me you always pay your bills

on time, your word is all you have,” said St. Paul resident Sheronda Orridge. “Wachovia Bank [now Wells Fargo] kept changing the rules on me. When I couldn’t pay, I cried for weeks. They made me stoop down and then threw dirt in my face. They took away my dignity.” Council President Kathy Lantry and Councilmembers David Thune, Dan Bostrom, and Russ Stark agreed to explore ways to require banks to enter into mediation with homeowners before foreclosing. Several also agreed to raise the vacant home fee and providing an incentive for banks to engage in mortgage mediation—a face to face conversation between a bank representative and distressed borrower that has dramatically reduced foreclosures in other parts of the country. “You cannot allow vacant homes to stand in your neighborhood and expect other homeowners to invest in that neighborhood,” declared Bostrom. Additionally, Council-members Stark and Thune agreed to support a requirement that all publicly subsidized housing developments include affordable units, or payment into an affordable housing trust fund. At the meeting, ISAIAH released a study on St. Paul’s housing crisis that showed

that minority neighborhoods have suffered from an extreme concentration of housing problems -- subprime lending, foreclosures, declining home values, and vacant buildings. Among the studies key fi ndings:• Wells Fargo Bank provides prime loans, while its subsidiary, Wells Fargo Financial, makes higher-rate subprime loans. Only 15% of Wells Fargo Bank’s loans in St. Paul were made in minority neighborhoods, while 28% of the loans made by Wells Fargo Financial were in minority neighborhoods.• There are over 1,300 vacant residential buildings in St. Paul. Almost half of them are located in a minority

neighborhood, although minority neighborhoods contain just 20% of the housing units in the city. • Minneapolis has 802 vacant homes and buildings and charges over $6,700 a year to the owners. St. Paul has 1,452 vacant properties and charges only $1,200.• Homes in the Dayton’s Bluff, Payne-Phalen, and Thomas-Dale neighborhoods experienced the greatest loss of value since 2006, whereas homes in the primarily white Mac-Groveland, Highland, and St. Anthony Park neighborhoods lost the lowest percentage of their value. “The housing crisis is being felt in every neighborhood in the city,” said Eve Swan from

Save Our Homes. “If the City doesn’t use all its power and resources to address the crisis city-wide now, efforts to protect low income and minority residents from losing their homes in Central Corridor neighborhoods will fail.” Other organizations supporting this effort include Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation, Frogtown Neighborhood Alliance, Housing Preservation Project, Jewish Community Action, and St. Paul Black Ministerial Alliance. ISAIAH is a coalition of over 100 congregations across the state working together for racial and economic justice.

Council members commit to press banks for foreclosure reduction, mediation

ISAIAHCouncilmembers Kathy Lantry, Melvin Carter III, David Thune, Dan Bostrom, Lee Helgen, and Russ Stark

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Page 8 • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Insight News insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE

Since third grade, leading a healthy lifestyle inclusive of nutritional eating, a regular exercise regimen, and basketball has been second nature for newly signed NBA D-League player Marcus Hill. In contrast to Hill’s formative years, U.S. Obesity rates continue to rise in our youth and necessary measures to circumvent this silent killer must be put in place to send tomorrow’s leaders on a promising path today. Youth Determined to Succeed (YDS), a program founded in 1999 by Melvin Anderson, a former Pittsburg Steeler, was created in an effort to guide our progeny through the fundamental steps of health and wellness and teach

them how to combat childhood obesity on a day-to-day basis. On October 1st, YDS kicked off an 11-week activity packed program entitled “Kids 4 Health“ (K4H) in Minneapolis. Alongside Anderson this past weekend at the K4H camp, Hill was on hand to offer his wisdom and guidance on how to transition into a healthier way of living both mentally and physically. Hill, who has been gearing up for the NBA D-League Draft this coming November, after signing his contract for the draft on August 19th, 2011 has spent his post graduation from Minnesota State University-Mankato (MSU), dedicating a substantial amount of

time to positioning himself as a voice for today’s children and one of many leaders in the fi ght for generating positive changes in the lives of urban youth. Adhering to his personal motto, “It’s not where you start, it’s where you fi nish,” Hill is on a quest to use his accomplishments throughout his career in basketball as a model for evolution and why it’s necessary for one to look past their current circumstances and instead look upward to their potential chances. As a teen Hill was always smaller than the other members of his basketball team and wasn’t certain where fate would take him in the game. Continuously perfecting his craft

and staying sharp both on and off the court led the 5’9 ballplayer to MSU where he graduated from the university ranked amongst the schools all time best and heavily awarded for his accomplishments, some of which include: MSU 1,000 Points Club, sixth on the school’s career free throw percentage list at .880, fi fth in career assists (394), 14th on All-Time scoring list as well as having lead his team to the NCAA Final Four Tournament 2011. Currently, Hill is partnering with organizations like Youth Determined to Succeed and will be speaking at different inner city programs and schools about health and wellness, education, and

beating the odds, under a program title he calls, “The Evolution of ‘YOU’ Tour.” His speaking engagements kicked off in Chicago, Illinois this past September 23rd, at Inner City Impact, a Christian Organization that provides after school programs, sports leagues, mentoring, tutoring, and opportunities for inner city children and teens to explore their potential in self and through Christ. For information on the tour or how you can schedule Marcus Hill to speak at your organization please visit: www.theevolutionofmarcushill.com

NBA D-League player Marcus Hill teams up with youth determined to succeed in the fi ght against childhood obesity

Rich Peterson /13 Twenty-Three Photography

Marcus Hill

Subd. 2. Placement decisions based on best interest of the child.

(a) The policy of the state of Minnesota is to ensure that the child’s best interests are met by requiring an individualized determination of the needs of the child and of how the selected placement will serve the needs of the child being placed. The

authorized child-placing agency shall place a child, released by court order or by voluntary release by the parent or parents, in a family foster home selected by considering placement with relatives and important friends in the following order: (1) with an individual who is related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption; or (2) with an individual who is an important friend with whom the child has resided or had signifi cant contact.

The law is specifi c about reaching out to blood relatives for placement: Subd. 5. Relative search. (a) The responsible social services agency shall exercise due diligence to identify and notify adult relatives prior to placement or within 30 days after the child’s removal from the parent. The county agency shall consider placement with a relative under subdivision 2 without delay. The relative search required by this section shall be

reasonable and comprehensive in scope and may last up to six months or until a fi t and willing relative is identifi ed. The relative search required by this section shall include both maternal relatives of the child and paternal

relatives of the child, if paternity is adjudicated. The relatives must be notifi ed: (1) of the need for a foster home for the child, the option

DunningsFrom 1

DUNNINGS TURN TO 11

insightnews.com Insight News • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Page 9

COMMENTARY

Let’s get something straight: this movement has issued no demands. It is not a protest. It’s an occupation. Rebellions don’t have demands. As we wrote in the editorial that appeared in the second edition of The Occupied Wall Street Journal on Saturday: “We are speaking to each other, and listening. This occupation is fi rst about participation.” That said, take a look at the largest support base that has thrown its muscle behind Occupy Wall Street during the past week—organized labor—and the direction of this movement becomes somewhat clearer. America’s unions have been so sidelined and mismanaged in recent years that Tea Partiers last winter thought they could run them off the cliff altogether. The workers’ revolt in Wisconsin showed that wasn’t about to happen—and what we’re seeing now in Manhattan is further proof that labor is retooling, its ambitions sharpened and emboldened by the participatory assembly in Liberty Park.

“The occupation movement [in America] was started by labor in Madison when they occupied the capital, and that has given labor the go-ahead to do more, to become more active, more militant, and to support things like this,” said Jackie Di Salvo, who teaches English at Baruch College and is a member of the Professional Staff Congress, a union of faculty and staff representing 18 colleges in the CUNY system. Since Occupy Wall Street began more than three weeks ago, Di Salvo has been instrumental reaching out to organized labor and gaining institutional support; the unions that have endorsed the movement are many, and they are growing. National Nurses United. United Federation of Teachers. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. Laborers’ International Union of North America. Amalgamated Transit Union. United Steelworkers. Industrial Workers of the World. Transport Workers Union Local 100. The list goes on. What we saw last Wednesday, Oct. 5, when 30,000

people fi lled Foley Square before marching en masse to Liberty Square, was the unions’ fi rst visible show of solidarity with the occupation, and it counted. Alongside thousands of students (with many teachers) who engaged in a citywide walkout that afternoon, their voices added power to the call resonating across the nation: that big fi nance and big politics need to gear up for a big change. Cementing that support, two days later AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka visited Liberty Square where he stated his support and his

union federation’s unanimous decision to back Occupy Wall Street. Feeling betrayed by free trade agreements that hobbled domestic manufacturing (under Clinton) and a false promise to allow workers to unionize via “card check” (under Obama), organized labor has been on the ropes; the assault on pensions and collective bargaining diminished it further. What Trumka’s endorsement of the occupation means is that unions, with millions of members and a formidable political apparatus, now have

the green light to make noise. The responsibility is on their shoulders along with ours to grow this movement nationally. As we wrote in the latest OWS Journal: “The exhausted political machines and their PR slicks are already seeking leaders to elevate, messages to claim, talking points to move on. They, more than anyone, will attempt to seize and shape this moment. But how can they run out in front of something that is in front of them? They cannot. For Wall Street and Washington, the demand is not on them to give us something that isn’t theirs to give. It’s ours. It’s on us. We aren’t going anywhere. We just got here.” The occupation, which has now spread to more than 100 cities across America, grew from the desire to reshape a criminal and bankrupt fi nancial-political landscape that favors the 1% over the 99%. Where precisely is this movement going? Perhaps that isn’t as important as the question about where it’s not going. Said Di Salvo: “We’re not going to settle for one reform demand that can be conceded and then lets us shut down the movement—no one demand

could meet the goals that have been set by this group for readjusting the balance of power in this country. “The other place we’re not going is we’re not going to go into electoral politics, weighed down into waiting for the next election when everything will be okay. We’re going to keep engaging in direct action, the marching, the occupation.” Labor’s traditional power is mobilizing bodies in the street and in the ballot box. How much they’re engaging in support for the movement—and how much they’re becoming it—has yet to be seen. The next date to circle on your calendar: this Saturday, Oct. 15, when new encampments and occupations spring up across the nation, and across the world. Some are calling it a global day of revolution. One that will, it appears, be televised.

Michael Levitin is the managing editor of The Occupied Wall Street Journal, and former assistant news editor at the San Francisco Public Press. He was a Berlin freelance correspondent for Newsweek, the Daily Telegraph, the L.A. Times and others.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Abdul Fattah Jandali, a young Syrian Muslim immigrant in Wisconsin, never met his son Steve Jobs. When a baby was born to the 23-year-old Jandali -- now known as John -- and his 23-year-old German-American girlfriend, Joanne Schieble, in 1955, there was no chance he’d be able to grow up with his

biological parents. Joanne, who belonged to a white, conservative Christian family could not convince her parents to marry an Arab, a Muslim, according to Jandali, who called her father “a tyrant” in a New York Post interview in August 2011. In fact, according to Jandali, she secreted off from Wisconsin to liberal San Francisco to sort out the birth and adoption without letting either him or her parents know. And so it was that a

nameless Arab American baby was adopted by an Armenian American family. Clara Hagopian and her husband Paul Jobs had been married around seven years and had not been able to conceive. The little bundle that would be Steve, was very much wanted in the Jobs household. Steve Paul Jobs, as they named him, grew up without ever knowing his biological father. It seems he had no interest in knowing him later in life,

either. When, in August 2011, the London tabloid The Sun, contacted Jandali, he publicly reached out to Steve saying, “”I live in hope that before it is too late he will reach out to me. Even to have just one coffee with him just once would make me a very happy man.” But Steve never replied. Less than two months later, he has passed away. Jandali says it was his “Syrian pride” that kept him from reaching out to his famous

son. In a September 2011 interview with the Reno Gazette -- Reno, Nevada being the city the 80-year-old Jandali lives and where, having never retired, he is the Vice President of a casino. “The Syrian pride in me does not want him ever to think I am after his fortune. I am not. I have my own money. What I don’t have is my son...and that saddens me.” One wonders what Jobs knew of his background. His biological father was no ordinary Syrian. According to

an interview he gave to the Al Hayat newspaper in February 2011, he was born in French-mandated Syria in 1931 in the town of Homs to a “self-made millionaire” father with no university education who owned “several entire villages” and a homemaker, traditional mother. He was one of fi ve children – the only son of a family with 4 daughters. He left Syria at 18 to study

Occupy Wall Street is a rebellion, not a protest

Steve Jobs was an Arab American

By Michael LevitinNew American Media

By Shirin SadeghNew American Media

JOBS TURN TO 11

Wikimedia Commons (David Shankbone)Day 18 of Occupy Wall Street

Page 10 • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Insight News insightnews.com

North Minneapolis Neighborhood beat...By Ivan Phifer, Staff Writer

Lind-BohanonThe Lind-Bohanon Neighborhood Association is celebrating a 10-year anniversary of the Creekview Park Haunted House from 7-9:30pm Friday, October 28, Saturday October 29 and 6-8:30pm Monday October 31 at the Creekview Recreation Center 5001 Humboldt Av. N. The cost is $5 for kids ages 6 and up, $3 for kids 5 and younger. For more information: 612 370-4965.

Webber-CamdenTree Planting in Folwell ParkFolwell Park lost over 200 trees in the May tornado. To help restore Folwell Park to its former beauty, a tree-planting event is planned for October 26. This tree-planting event is the kick off to planting new, replacement

trees across the tornado-affected areas of North Minneapolis. Help the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board at Folwell Park on October 26. For more information: Roberta Englund 612-521-2100 or info@webbercamden.org

Senior Leaf Rake On Saturday, November 5, WCNO residents will rake leaves for senior homeowners and homeowners with disabilities. Leaves are raked, bagged (bags provided) and put at the alley line for pick up. Call 612-521-2100 to register for this free service.

JordanThe Jordan Area Community Council (JACC) will hold an annual board meeting 6:30-8pm Thursday, October 20 at Parkway United Church 3120 Washburn Av. N. For more information:

Lynn Riskedal 612-886-4539 or info@jordanmpls.org

Public Safety Block Club CommitteeThe Jordan Area Community Council will hold a Public Safety and Block Club Committee meeting 6:30-7:30pm Wednesday October 26th at the JACC house 2009 James Av. N. For more information: Lynn Riskedale 612 886-4539 or info@jordanmpls.org

HarrisonThe Harrison Neighborhood Association will hold a crime and safety committee meeting 6:30-7:30pm Thursday October 20, at the HNA offi ce 503 Irving Av. N. For more information: Larry Hancock 612 374-4849 or info@hnampls.org

Get Paid Helping Northside Seniors & Disabled Adults

The Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) and the Neighborhood Involvement Program (NIP) serve North Minneapolis as two senior chore service agencies. CEAP serves seniors north of 44th Av. N. and NIP serves seniors south of 44th Av. N. Both agencies have opportunities for individuals to earn $15 an hour doing snow removal and responsibilities as independent contractors. Both programs require individuals to be 18 or older and go through a criminal background check. Participants must also have their own shovel, or snow blower and provide own transportation to job sites. For more information: Jon Burkhow at (612) 374-3322.

VictoryThe Victory Neighborhood Organization will hold a neighborhood meeting

7-9pm Wednesday October 26th at StJohn’s Missionary Baptist Church 4301Thomas Av. N. For more information:Debbie Nelson 612-529-9558 or info@victoryneighborhood.org

Breast Cancer AwarenessIn honor of Breast Cancer Awarenessmonth, the Heritage Park NeighborhoodAssociation is partnering withCommunity Health Source to provideinformation on lowering the risk ofbreast cancer. The Breast CancerAwareness informational takes place6pm Thursday, October 20th in theHeritage Community room 1000 OlsonMemorial Highway. Tips for detectionand prevention will be provided. Formore information: Community LiaisonAlecia 612-767-1055.

Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, andrew@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Andrew Notsch. Free or low cost events preferred.

EventsMulticultural Senior Health & Wellness Fair - Oct 19A community health fair that focuses on prevention and wellness will be held Wednesday, October 19th, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Park ElderCenter, 1505 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Admission to the fair is free.

Metropolitan State hosts preview days - Oct 20 & 22Metropolitan State University’s Undergraduate Admissions Offi ce invites those who are thinking about returning to college to take a closer look during Undergraduate Admissions Fall Preview

Days on Thur., Oct. 20, 11:30am-3pm, and Sat., Oct. 22, from 8:30am-noon, at the university’s Saint Paul Campus, 700 E. 7th St. Come visit the campus, receive program information, learn how credits transfer and how Metropolitan State University can help you succeed in your career and life. The $20 application fee is waived for attendees who apply for admission on or before Preview Days. For more information and to RSVP, visit http://www.metrostate.edu/apply or e-mail admissions@metrostate.edu

Honoring former Vice President Walter Mondale - Oct 22Temple Israel, will honor Walter Mondale for his life work advancing women’s rights, civil rights and bi-partisanship at their annual Voices of Inspiration speaker series on Oct. 22 at 8pm. Tickets for the tribute event start at $36. Contact Temple Israel at development@templeisrael.com or 612-374-0313. @ Temple Israel - 2324 Emerson Ave. S. Mpls.

Everything You Need to Learn Before Your Child Turns 3 - Oct 22PACER Center is offering a free workshop for parents of young children with disabilities. Sat., Oct. 22, 9-11am, at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, Minn. Advance registration is requested. To register, call PACER at 952-838-9000. In Greater Minnesota, call 800-537-2237 (toll free)

or visit PACER.org

Reach Out & Read (Volunteer Opportunity) – Oct 24-Nov 2 Give your time to help children to become better readers! No special skills are needed. During this afternoon service project, you’ll be reading one-on-one or working in small groups with children. Space is limited. Please RSVP at http://ywreads.eventbrite.com. @ YWCA St. Paul 375 Selby Ave., St. Paul.

Classifi eds/Calendar PHONE: 612.588.1313 FAX: 612.588.2031 EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com

Townhomes For Rent

2 Bedrooms - $500/month

3 Bedrooms - $575/month

For more informa-tion contact: Fergus Falls HRA 1151 Fri-berg Ave, Fergus Falls, MN218-739-3249 • fergusfallshra.com

LEGAL NOTICESTATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURTCOUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT FAMILY COURT DIVISION Court File No. : 27 FA 11 4907

In Re the Marriage of Faduma A. Ibrahim, Petitioner and SUMMONS Esse Alasow Hussein, Respondent

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT.

WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE, FADUMA A. IBRAHIM HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTOR-NEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE.

1. The Petitioner, Faduma A. Ibrahim, has fi led a lawsuit against you asking you for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this summons.

2. You must serve upon Petitioner and fi le with the court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the re-quired fi ling fee. Answer forms are available from the Court Administrator’s Offi ce. You must serve your answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and fi le your Answer, the Court may give your spouse ev-erything he is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

This proceeding does not involve real property.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS UNDER MINNESOTA LAW, SERVICE OF THIS SUMMONS MAKES THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO BOTH PARTIES TO THIS ACTION, UNLESS THEY ARE MODIFIED BY THE COURT OR THE PROCEEDING IS DISMISSED:(1) NEITHER PARTY MAY DISPOSE OF ANY ASSETS EXCEPT:(i) FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE OR FOR THE NECESSARY GENERATION OF INCOME OR PRESERVING ASSETS,(ii) BY AN AGREEMENT IN WRITING, OR(iii) FOR RETAINING COUNSEL TO CARRY ON OR TO CONTEST THIS PROCEEDING(2) NEITHER PARTY MAY HARASS THE OTHER PARTY; AND(3) ALL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INSURANCE COVERAGE MUST BE MAINTAINED AND CONTINUED WITHOUT CHANGE IN COVER-AGE OR BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION.(4) PARTIES TO A LEGAL SEPARATION PROCEEDING ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEMPT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA LAW. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLU-TION INCLUDES, MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, AND OTHER PROCESS AS SET FORTH IN THE DISTRICT COURT RULES. YOU MAY CONTACT THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA. IF YOU CANNOT PAY FOR MEDIATION OR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESO-LUTION, IN SOME COUNTIES ASSISTANCE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH A NON-PROFIT PROVIDER A COURT PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OR THREATS OF ABUSE AS DEFINED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES CHAPTER 510B, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TRY MEDIATION AND YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED BY THE COURT IN LATER PROCEEDINGS.IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT.

Dated: September 19, 2011 __________________________________Signed by Petitioner: Faduma A. Ibrahim11275 Westwind Dr., #EEden Prairie, MN 55344

TOWNHOME RENTALSNewer 2 and 3BR townhomes next to park and walking trails available for immediate occupancy in the heart of Farmington. Townhomes feature attached garages, laundry in apartments (machines provided at no charge), on site play area, on site manager and maintenance.

Income guidelines apply. Please contact Claudia at (651) 460-3686. Professionally managed by Hornig Companies, Inc. www.hornigcompanies.com

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Assumed Name1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Beauty Express

2. State the address of the principal place of business: 3505 Penn Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412

3. List the name and complete street ad-dress of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered offi ce address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: Destiny’s Expressions Inc., 3315 River Bluff Dr. Eagan, MN 55121

4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certifi cate and I further certify that I under-stand that by signing this certifi cate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certifi cate under oath.

Signed by: Petite PowellDate Filed: 08/24/2011

Insight News 10/10/2011, 10/17/2011

Assistant County Administrator – Public Works Join us in our continuing goal to lead the region in public works. Hennepin County is seeking a dynamic and innovative public works leader to join the senior executive team. This position has overall responsibility to provide leadership for county transportation, environmental services, housing, economic development, transit planning, and management support services.

The candidate should possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, seven years of related managerial/supervisory experience, experience establishing and maintaining a network of partnerships, and the ability to anticipate future trends.

To view the complete posting and apply online by Wednesday, October 25, 2011, visit:

www.hennepin.jobs

Strong careers. Strong communities.

My passionshapes the future.

RENTALS IN NEAR NORTH MINNEAPOLISDignifi ed and Quality 3 & 4 bedroom units available for rent in Near North Minneapolis, starting at $715 per month.

One 3-bed ADA unit available.

Tenant responsible for electricity, gas, and water heater.

Applicants subject to monthly income requirements of $2200, back ground checks and rental references.

Section 8 Welcome!

For inquiries and applications, call Anna at 612-808-6501.

The Sounds of Blackness CD Release - October 18This Event Is Free and Open To The Public In Support of Sabathani Community Center.An Evening of Great Music & Fun For All! Please Bring Canned Goods For The Food Shelf.Tue. Oct. 18 6-8pm at The Mall of America!

insightnews.com Insight News • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Page 11

to become a placement resource for the child, and the possibility of the need for a permanent placement for the child; (2) of their responsibility to keep the responsible social services agency informed of their current address in order to receive notice in the event that a permanent placement is sought for the child. A relative who fails to provide a current address to the responsible social services agency forfeits the right to notice of the possibility of permanent placement. A decision by a relative not to be a placement resource at the beginning of the case shall not affect whether the relative is considered for placement of the child with that relative later; (3) that the relative may participate in the care and planning for the child, including that the opportunity for such participation may be lost by failing to respond to the notice; and (4) of the family foster care licensing requirements, including how to complete an application and how to request a variance from licensing standards that do not present a safety or health risk to the child in the home under section 245A.04 and supports that are available for relatives and children who reside in a family

foster home. Dunning and her son Aubrey Knox, of Minneapolis say they will continue to seek legal advice and community support for their family. The children’s parents, Aubrey’s brother, Princeton Knox, and Javille Sutton, both struggling with chemical dependency, relinquished parental rights. But according to Aubrey, who said he is married with three children, gainfully employed, and willing and able to support his nieces, the County never reached out to him in a relative search. Dunning said her efforts to get custody of her granddaughters have been thwarted all along. She said it was she that alerted county child protection offi cials that her son Princeton and the children’s mother were using drugs. Aubrey Knox said when the parents surrendered their parental rights, they intended to do so asking the court to place the children with his mother, Dorothy Dunning. Somehow, he said, the surrender of rights was just that, and nothing more. The fi rst phase of the contested adoption trial was scheduled to occur in June. The County Human Services and Public Health Department at that time said it was not willing to consent to the adoption of the children by either party at that time. The second phase of the trial was set for August and September. Trial records indicate that

Princess has been under the jurisdiction of Hennepin County Juvenile Court since October 2009, when Javille Sutton and the infant tested positive for cocaine. As a result, Princess was removed from Sutton and placed with Steven and Liv Grosser in foster care. The younger child, Dorothy, was removed from Sutton and placed in foster care with the Grossers in September last year. Sutton also has two older children, who in 2008 and 2009 were place with other family members by the court. In March 2011 the Grossers fi led to adopt the girls. In April, the grandmother and step-grandfather, Dorothy and Lawrence Dunning fi led their petition to adopt the children. The Grossers obtained their foster care license in August 2008, court records show. They have six children, four biological children and two adopted children. A friend of a teenage daughter also resides with them. Court records show the Dunnings are licensed by the State of Mississippi as a “Resource Home” for the Jackson County Division of Family and Child Services. Princess and Dorothy’s placement with them was authorized under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). Interestingly, the court document details a line of reasoning suggesting the Statue’s requirement for “individualized” determination of the needs of

the child and of how the selected placement will serve the needs of the child being placed, was disregarded in favor of the “generally held belief within the Department (of Human Services) that placement with biological relatives is best…..” The court document said Minnesota law does not require children to placed with relatives fi rst, only that relatives be considered fi rst. The Court document goes on to say “the way the Grossers were treated by the Department is unconscionable. The Grossers have raised Princess and Dorothy from birth. When they were fi nally asked to adopt the girls and the Department abandoned the ICPC, they agreed, and began a three-bedroom addition on their home in anticipation of the adoption. They also discussed whether to change the girl’s names via the adoption (as was suggested to them by Department employees), which is why Dorothy is now called ‘Hanna’ in the Grosser home.” Dunning said she has until this week to appeal the court’s decision. She said she was aware of Minnesota’s fi nancial crisis. She said she and her husband are not seeking tax payer money for the care of their grandchildren. And she wants help that can enable her to do what Black grandparents do: love their children and their children’s children.

at the American University in Beirut, where he was “a pan-Arab activist”, a “supporter of Arab unity and Arab independence” who organized with some of the most famous activists of his time. After university, he moved to the United States, and the rest is history, though he regrets leaving his homeland. “If I had the chance to go back in time, I wouldn’t leave Syria or Lebanon at all. I would stay in my home country my whole life. I don’t say that out of emotion but out of common sense,” he told Al Hayat. “Of course I miss the social life and wonderful food [in Syria], but the most important thing is the outstanding cultural attributes which in general you don’t fi nd in the West,” says the non-practicing Muslim, who nonetheless “believe[s] in Islam in doctrine and culture.” His nostalgia aside, millions worldwide would no doubt disagree with Jandali. Surely a Steve Jobs of Apple Computers could only have been possible in America. The estrangement of a father and son is made even more tragic by the fact that not only did each know of the other, but they shared more than a father-son biological connection.

Jandali and Schieble eventually did marry -- just ten months after she gave their baby boy away to adoption, and just a few months after Joanne’s father died. And they had another child -- a daughter with whom Steve eventually had a relationship. Mona Jandali -- now Simpson -- is a world reknowned author who was, in her own words, “very close” to her brother Steve once they established a relationship as adults. According to Jandali, he had no idea until just a few years ago that the baby his then-girlfriend secretly gave birth to in San Francisco was the man the world knew as Steve Jobs. But Steve must have known for decades, through his relationship with Mona. In the August New York Post interview, Jandali tried to let his son know that he didn’t know of Joanne’s San Francisco plans. That he was saddened when he learned of it. “I honestly do not know to this day if Steve is aware of the fact that had it been my choice, I would have loved to have kept him,” he said. And unless Jobs’s upcoming November authorized biography addresses the issue, Jandali may never know. Instead, with news of Jobs’s death, Jandali has refused any further interviews about his long lost son and will always wonder what could have been. In that, he will not be alone.

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Wikimedia CommonsSteve Jobs

completely repeals the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. The Federal Reserve was originally founded by Congress to serve as a ‘lender of last resort’ in times of crisis and to provide a national currency that would expand and contract as needed. After the district lines were drawn, each Federal Reserve Bank became an independent franchised corporation. Over time, conglomerate banks with bad reputations have become the majority of the reserves’ stockholders. Rep. Paul agrees that abolishing the Federal Reserve will restore fi nancial stability to America’s economy. Since the reserve’s creation, he argues,

working-class Americans have been victimized by its unstable infl ationary policies, which have steadily eroded the purchasing power of all American people. Almost every economic downturn suffered in this country, over the past century, has been caused by the Federal Reserve fl ooding America’s economy with easy money, leading to an artifi cial ‘boom,’ followed by a recession when the bubble bursts. The Constitution mandates that America’s currency is backed by stable commodities, such as silver and gold, to be used as legal tender. This keeps the value of money consistent and is the basis of a true free-market economy. “With a stable currency,” he says, “American exporters will no longer be held hostage to an erratic monetary policy. Stabilizing the currency will also give Americans

new incentives to save as they will no longer have to fear infl ation eroding their savings.” The benefi ciaries of a system based on artifi cial capital are those who already have access to the infl ated market, before the effects of the policy impact the rest of the economy. Pro-war politicians also use infl ated currency to hide the true costs of America’s overstretched international warfare. The Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act will return the constitutional authority of Congress to coin money and regulate the value of the currency. “The Constitution does not empower the federal government to delegate control of the United States’ currency to a central bank,” Rep. Paul argues, “nor erode the American standard of living via an infl ationary monetary policy.” Local Minnesota activists

had originally intended to hold their occupation at the United States’ Ninth District Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Plaza (90 Hennepin Avenue North). However, since it is the private property of the bank and not of the American people, it would have been impossible to maintain a public presence over a long period of time. While not the ideal location for making a bold statement, The Hennepin County Government/People’s Plaza remains a safe and legal space for Minnesotans to camp out and share a vision for America’s economic future.

If you are unable to join The People’s Plaza, please consider making a much needed donation. For more information, visit www.OccupyMN.org.

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Page 12 • October 17 - October 23, 2011 • Insight News insightnews.com

SPORTSOh what a win! Minnesota Lynx 73, Atlanta Dream 67With their win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 3 of the 2011 WNBA Finals on Friday, October 7, the Minnesota Lynx completed the series sweep to capture the franchise’s fi rst-ever WNBA Championship and Minnesota’s fi rst professional sports championship since the 1991 Minnesota Twins. The Lynx defeated the Atlanta Dream 73-67 behind a balanced team effort featuring six different players with seven or more points. After the game, Seimone Augustus was named the 2011 WNBA Finals MVP, averaging 24.7 points per game during the three-game series. Governor Mark Dayton released the following reaction on the Minnesota Lynx WNBA Championship victory last week. “Tremendous Victory! Tremendous Championship!! Tremendous Team!!!” Suluki Fardan

Seimone Augustus

out there. Deziel suggests trying out a Mexican grocery store in St. Paul, or attending a cultural event.

In the workplace, an open mind – and stomach - can go a long way toward connecting cultures. People enjoy eating, Deziel points out. Planning a pot luck where co-workers bring a favorite dish can launch a dialogue about families and

traditions and more. Socializing with co-workers outside the workplace is another effective way to move toward a better relationship across all kinds of divides. Deziel recommends people take small steps and take chances

sometimes. “It can take time to feel really comfortable,” she says. “But it is worth the investment.” Deziel will be leading a conference, Overcoming Racism, in November at Metro State University. To learn more

about Cultural Perspectives and Associates, visit www.cultural pa.com. Julie Desmond is a recruiter for a Fortune 500 company in Minneapolis, MN. Write to julie@insightnews.com.

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Internationally renowned poet, playwright, musician, jazz critic and novelist, Amiri Baraka, along with a collective of dancers, musicians, and spoken-word artists, performed at the Southern Theater in this fresh adaptation by Bailey of his book Wise Why’s Y’s, a provocative yet honest conversation about race, class and identity. Baraka is widely recognized as one of the most important artists of the 20th century, contributing to not only poetry, music, theatre and fi ction but also as a tireless activist for change. Insight News hosted a special wine and cheese reception for the Tru Ruts Freestyle Theatre ensemble and special guest, Amiri Baraka at the Marcus Garvey House earlier in the week.

“When you look at the scope of his work, what is apparent is the constant moving, the constant evolution of thought and technique. He has crafted masterful works, creating as fl uidly within the foundations of the Beat movement and the fi res of the Black Arts Movement, as he does now within this synthesis of jazz and poetry.” Bailey said. Bailey’s all-star ensemble included choreographer Aneka McMullen, who threads movement as an essential element that transforms the language of the text into an added character. The dance ensemble also included Leah Nelson and Julie Warder. The musicians included Kevin Washington, who leads an ensemble of Chris Cox (Trombone), Anthony Cox (bass), Truthmaze (percussion) and vocalist Jamela Pettiford. Set design contributions were provided by Twin Cities visual artist, Ta-Coumba Aiken and production/directing

assistance by Sha Cage. Also performing with Baraka was J. Otis Powell, a stalwart of the spoken word community. This highly experimental evening is a work-in-progress that Bailey has envisioned with plans to develop it into a multi-layered spoken word theater work. Though unique in its own right, the project carries infl uences of the Langston Hughes Project’s Ask Your Mama, Sekou Sundiata’s 51st (dream) state, Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, and Bill T. Jones’ Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Hopes are to develop it into a large scale project seeking to cross boundaries and help ignite a dialogue around race and class in this 21st century. “The reason that we are celebrating Baraka in the new millennium is that he is a poet who not only knows how to hunt, who shoots straight to the heart, but who also understands that the poems he gives us are only glimpses

of something that has already happened…That when reading Baraka’s work, we must take perhaps the most potent play of language he’s given us to heart. Imamu suggests, “I’m am You”--Imamu--”I’m am You.” Whether we are white, black, brown, red, or yellow, we must read his work as if we wrote it, say it like we mean it, and sing it like we think it should be sung.” - Joseph Heithaus This project was supported in part by the General Mills Foundation, The Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of HRK Foundation, and the Jerome Foundation. It is also funded, in part by the McKnight Foundation’s Next Step grant, and by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

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