July 5 - July 11, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 30 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

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Motivation:Capitalize on strengths and good humor

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T. Williams:Helping ensure positive school reforms

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Zulu DistrictPreparing youth for leadership

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Mr. T’s Sports Report Some debate over the Timberwolves 2010 draft

“Imagine a community where a riot of warm colors, feelings and sounds with sight would make one from the rural portions of the South feel at home, or a person from Harlem or State Street feel at ease. Then call it Rondo.” That’s how Roy Wilkens, who

grew up in the Rondo community, and later rose to prominence as head of the NAACP described his beloved neighborhood in 1927. And while the name of the community has changed, the

From the Hunts Point Community of South Bronx to Plymouth Avenue in North Minneapolis, Majora Carter, environmental justice advocate and urban development activist, presented the urgent message of “Greening the Ghetto” to community stakeholders spanning urban areas of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area to their counterparts representing greater Minnesota, at a forum on environmental justice and the role of communities of color in sustainable practices and enterprises. She presented her vision to an engaged audience at UROC, the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center, on Friday, June 21. She was joined by candidate for governor Matt Entenza and his running mate Robyne Robinson. Carter emphasized the potential Minnesota has in embarking on the green economy movement. She said, “of all the states in the Union, Minnesota has some of the greatest potential to be a major player in the clean energy economy-especially in its urban areas. Its great diversity of people and perspectives has fostered the kind of creative environment in which policy

and economic innovation fl ourish. When I see areas such as North Minneapolis I see so much possibility. Greening this community would create good-paying jobs and make a cleaner, healthier place to live for everyone.” Carter referenced the dire statistics of the United States of America being ranked as 5% of the world’s population, yet responsible for 25% of greenhouse gases. She said, “what a lot of folks don’t know is that we also produce 25% of the world’s incarcerated……[Green jobs] provide real jobs with dignity…Environmental services that any municipality can actually put a price tag on, sometimes a big one. You know I don’t know if there are very few counties, cities, whatever, around this country that aren’t dealing with aging sewage treatment systems and storm water management systems. “Imagine if we put the type of people to work that are also costing our cities money; people who are going through that revolving door of our so called correction system. Think about training people to do this work, to do the environmental services that we need to get done, so that we can provide access into a legitimate economy as opposed to people fi nding work within the illegitimate one. Let’s make it easier for people to get out of

that revolving door of justice and be real active contributors to people and to our own communities, and help stabilize families that are here as well.” Greenery, or lack there of, was a common denominator in a study from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Carter referenced. She said, “just the act of being close to, or working with, greenery

is something that has such powerful social benefi ts. One of the Caprini Green studies that really moved me helped me think about this green stuff as a real course for change in this world was that study. It was a study where they looked at two different parts of the housing project. One that looked at people who had no access to any kind of greenery and the

other part was people in the same projects who had access to see some greenery, such as street tree outside their window or in their courtyard. They discovered that the people who had access to greenery literally had, for the adults, lower stress and depression rates; kids’ test scores were higher in school; and there was less crime in those areas because people came

outside more so that means there was more community pride. And this was one of my favorite ones….. they discovered that girls’ self esteem was higher. How did they fi gure that out? Because they looked at teenage pregnancy rates and discovered that girls who felt they had something to look forward to

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2010 – St. Paul Ward 1 City Councilmember Melvin Carter III has been selected by The American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) as a delegate to Algeria for a 7-day political exchange program beginning on July 9, 2010. He will join six other young political and policy leaders from across the United States to study Algeria’s political system, engage in dialogue on international issues, and forge professional relationships and friendships. The program is arranged by ACYPL and made possible by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State. “ACYPL has the unique mission of proving select young leaders with an opportunity to travel internationally and engage fi rsthand in public diplomacy,” said ACYPL Chief Executive Offi cer Linda Rotunno. “Our delegates have access to key leaders in the nations they visit. They engage in dialogue on sensitive issues, gain a unique perspective on the country’s politics and its relations with the US, and, most importantly, forge professional relationships and friendships that can last a lifetime.” Carter will join other delegates, each between the age of 25 and 40, in Washington, DC for briefi ngs by the United States Department of State and other Algerian regional experts

before fl ying to Algiers. The program will provide the delegates opportunities to travel within the country and to interact with key national and local leaders, business representatives, and civic and community groups. “I am honored to have been selected to participate in this ACYPL exchange to Algeria,” said Carter “This will be an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the current political and social dynamics there and help the Algerian people better understand the United States.” Recognized by the U.S. Congress as a pre-eminent catalyst for introducing rising political leaders and policy makers to international affairs and to each other, ACYPL is a bi-partisan, not-for-profi t international exchange organization based in Washington, DC. Since its founding in 1966, ACYPL has, with generous support from the U.S. Department of State, corporations, foundations and individuals, conducted programs and exchanges with 100 countries, producing a global network of over 7,500 alumni. Former ACYPL participants include over 40 sitting members of the U.S. Congress, 6 sitting U.S. governors and ambassadors, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians around the globe. For more information on ACYPL, please visit http://www.acypl.org.

All of us have a responsibility to honor the leaders who came before us and paved our way. We have a special obligation to preserve the homes and other physical places that serve as a tangible connection between history and the next generation. Thousands of people who never had the privilege of meeting

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in person visit Atlanta every year to walk along Auburn Avenue, step inside the Heritage Sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church, and tour the house at 501 Auburn where Dr. King was born. When they do, for a little while they have the chance to feel as if they were walking in Dr. King’s footsteps. There are many

Healthy changes in store for Rondo Avenue Festival

Honoring our legacies

“Greening the Ghetto”

Melvin Carter participates in political study program

Elliot Stewart-FranzenWard 1 City Councilmember Melvin Carter

Suluki Fardan

By Marian Wright Edelman

By Maya BeechamContributing Writer

Suluki FardanMatt Entenza, Majora Carter and Robyne Robinson

RONDO TURN TO 7

CARTER TURN TO 9

LEGACY TURN TO 2

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INSIGHT NEWSINSIGHT NEWS

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African American boys are in a single-fi le line and stand focused, uniformed, and serious. They are in the middle of a Cub Scouts fl ag ceremony in their regular meeting place at Harvest Preparatory School in North Minneapolis. The boys, ranging in age from 6 to 10, are a part of Cub Scouts Pack 694 under the Zulu District, in the Northern Star Council of Boy Scouts of America. A quick glance of the room’s periphery shows a handful of supportive men and women, including parents and relatives who encourage the boys to live by principles of the organization. By participation, each Cub Scout universally pledges, “I promise to live my best, to do my duty to God and my country, to other people, and to obey the Law of the Pack.” Pack 694, led by Cub Master Jonathan Jones, is a new and burgeoning group that started in September 2009. The Pack is divided into groups based on age, grade, and achievement. Tiger Cubs are 1st graders, Wolf Cubs are 2nd graders, Bear Cubs are 3rd graders, and Webelos Scouts are 4th and 5th graders. Jones said the boys learn the, “African history specifi cally of the Zulu Nation and how some of the history is connected to the whole aspect of development of young boys into men.” Various meetings and activities are structured around:• Helping build character and encouraging spiritual growth. • Developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship.

• Encouraging good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body. • Improving understanding within the family. • Strengthening the ability to get along with other boys and respect other people. • Fostering a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills. • Showing how to be helpful and to do one’s best. • Preparing them to become Boy Scouts

This pack is an example of efforts made by Boy Scouts of America to fi ll a void by diversifying its constituency, Jones said, “The Zulu District is a district that is specifi cally designed to attract African Americans, primarily African American boys to scouting. They found a few years back, doing research, that there was a lot of disparity within scouting and scouting was not reaching out as much as it could to African American males. So they designed the Zulu District with that specifi c purpose.” Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has collaborated with Boy Scouts of America for nearly 30 years in a strong alliance to realize the goal of developing scouting units in urban communities and promote the organizations aligning principles of community, values, and leadership. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. national website notes that Alpha Chapters and Brothers actively work to charter scout units; serve as direct, council, regional and national leaders; refer promising and credible individuals for careers as volunteer and professional leaders in the Scouting program; and develop special relationships and programs in conjunction with established units and levels of leadership. Jones, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., knew that working with Cub Scouts was the perfect opportunity for him to explore. “I am a classroom teacher and I love working with kids. What attracted me is that I defi nitely saw and knew that there were a lot of opportunities within scouting that would be very benefi cial to young Black males, specifi cally. Working with youth, that’s the real draw for me. I love planning activities with my den leaders, but I love more, sitting down and doing activities with the kids.” Cub Scouts is dependent on the active engagement of families, in order for students to advance through the ranks and to help provide structure to meetings and activities throughout the year. Some parents volunteer to take pictures and bring snacks. There are also parents who serve as den leaders and receive training similar to trainings for teachers. Den leaders are trained in the EDGE, an instructional and empowering approach that stands for explain, demonstrate, guide and enable. Additionally, the training provides information on safety and abuse reporting information. Floyd Ballentine, parent to six-year-old Cub Scout Dallas, serves as a den leader. When Ballentine learned of Pack 694 starting at

his son’s school, he made a point to get him registered because he recalled the values instilled in his life when he served as a Cub Scout. “Yes I was a Cub Scout. I started at seven. I was in there from ages 7 to 9. When I went through Cub Scouts it was down in Minneapolis in the projects and it was under Cub Master Louise James, an elderly woman who put a lot of passion into what she did. We did a lot of things within the community like cleaned up, picked up trash, and just prided our community.” Ballentine credits Cub Scouts for part of his success as an adult. Despite the infl ux of violence and drugs in the neighborhood he grew up in, his mother made sure to keep him active and surrounded by positive role models. Now as a professional commercial pilot, Ballentine wants to be a role model to other young boys. “The reason why I became a den leader and the reason I want my boy to be in Cub Scouts is it’s time for me to give back. And I think a lot of kids nowadays need a positive infl uence. They just need the presence of someone being positive, because there is so much negative happening over in Minneapolis. If they see men of color being positive and being good role models I think it will have a great impact on their lives and they will have a better chance of being successful as they get older.” Dallas couldn’t be more thrilled about being a Cub Scout. Ballentine said, “he loves it. Jonathan has let him do the fl ag ceremony three times and he feels like he works for the President of the United States. He runs home and tells mom and younger brother, students at school and even at church …he tells people about what he did in the fl ag ceremony. He is very excited about being a Cub Scout.” Some of the students were brought to Cub Scouts without knowing fully what to expect, but once they became involved with activities they were sold. Brian Graves, Sr., a single father of two children, commits to driving from work in St. Paul, to home in Albertville, to Cub Scout meetings in North Minneapolis. He makes sure his son, Brian Graves, Jr., is an active participant in the meetings twice a month. Graves said, “I brought my boy here because he doesn’t get a lot of

interaction with little boys his age and particularly with his cultural background. And so I wanted to expose him to an atmosphere where he wouldn’t be the only one that looks like him plus he is learning and growing at the same time. I felt this would be a good opportunity and so far he really enjoys it.” While the organization is making efforts to recruit African American males, at times it can be attached to the stigma of being for Caucasian boys only.

Jones attributes this to a, “fear factor of being unknown. There is a perception sometimes that Boy Scouts is not for African Americans but people learn that this is not true. Once they go camping they are more than nine times out of ten hooked. And the main reason is because Cub Scouts provides very engaging activities that are fun, capture the kid’s imagination, and capture the things that they are interested in. And then on top of that it provides learning opportunities that are fun

for the kids. Once they experience it they want it more. I feel Black youth in general need exposure to a variety of opportunities to become more successful. Just having opportunities for more things they may not necessarily be exposed to.” Malik Bush is a den leader and father of eight-year-old twin boys Angelo and Orlando and fi ve-year-old Wisdom who occasionally tags along for Cub Scout meetings. Bush believes his duties along with other parent volunteers, involves developing young boys to become respectable citizens for a lifetime. Bush said, “one of the big things we want to stress to people is that this is not aftercare, it’s not daycare, it’s not hanging out with the kids, it’s a family event. It helps develop the boys into the men who we want them to be. And I think for me, probably the biggest thing is I want to hear them say when they are 35-years-old and someone is marveling at their capability of doing something, they will say I learned to do that in scouts. And that’s what I really look forward to.” For more information on the Zulu District, in the Northern Star Council of Boy Scouts of America, visit http://zulu.nsbsa.org/.

Zulu District preparing youth for leadershipBy Maya BeechamContributing Writer

Suluki FardanMaik Bush, Den Leader with Cub Scouts

similar historical sites that play a key part in our shared story, and we need to support ongoing preservation attempts to keep these places—and the memories they hold—alive for our children and grandchildren. One is the W.E.B. DuBois Boyhood Homesite in Great Barrington, MA. Many people know Dr. DuBois’s name and know he was one of the fi rst great Black Civil Rights and intellectual leaders. He was the fi rst African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University, a founding leader of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP), and the founding editor of the NAACP’s journal The Crisis. He wrote many infl uential books and articles, including the classic The Souls of Black Folk, and remained a tireless crusader for the rights of Black people around the world until his death in Ghana at age 95 on August 28, 1963, the same day as the famous March on Washington, when Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. But not everyone knows that Dr. Du Bois grew up in New England. His childhood home in western Massachusetts, which was on property that had been in Du Bois’s mother’s family for 200 years, tells its own stories about the legacy of free Blacks in that region. Sadly, even though Du Bois treasured the property and was thrilled when he gained ownership of it as an adult, the house fell into ruins

after his death. But happily the site is now a National Historic Landmark, and the group Friends of the W.E.B. Du Bois Homesite is working with the Du Bois Center of the University of Massachusetts Libraries to restore and maintain it. We need to support and champion their efforts. It was too late to save Dr. Du Bois’s actual home, but an example of an ongoing successful drive to restore a key historical site is the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, New York. Tubman bought land in Auburn in 1857 with the assistance of abolitionist

LegacyFrom 1

LEGACY TURN TO 5

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

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

CFOAdrianne Hamilton-Butler

Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane

Associate Editor & Associate PublisherB.P. Ford

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Page 4 • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Insight News insightnews.com

EDUCATION

The joyful sounds of kids spending their summer days in the parks or down the street tell us school’s out for the summer. The primary election is August 10 this year, and what happens in August may very well determine the November general elections and beyond. A large fi eld of candidates are vying for two at large seats for the Minneapolis School Board. For us that means we must be clear on who represents the best choices for those two seats. It is with a sense of urgency that we have found ourselves jumping onto the campaign team to support T. Williams’ re-election bid for School Board. We are compelled to help T. get re-elected because we have witnessed a number of positive changes taking place in our Minneapolis Public Schools. We need to keep those changes going in the right direction because they are good for our children. We do not believe our children will be adequately served without quality, experienced African American representation on the board. It is our sincere opinion that T. Williams, with his four years of board experience, is the very best candidate to ensure stability and forward momentum as we continue to head into turbulent territory. Regrettably, we just can’t

seem to get away from talking about public education without also bringing up challenging and turbulent conditions. Uncertain and delayed funding by the State, changes in needs by new and divergent incoming populations, demographic shifts that reduce the number of children and thereby funding, more open choices

and competition available to families, imposed unfunded and punitive No Child Left Behind federal mandates, stresses within the working ranks through periods of negotiating large employment contracts; these are but a few challenges that affect the Minneapolis Public Schools function.

There are also important internal changes within the school district itself. With this next election, we’ll see the departure of three board members who decided not to run for re-election. In addition to two open seats for citywide representation, this election cycle will see the fi rst three new board members come onto the board who represent the interests of their geographic-specifi c communities. This year the new Directors are being elected from the east side of the city. In two years, the city’s west half will elect its representatives. Another change will be incoming superintendent Bernadeia Johnson. The advantage of her selection is that we can expect signifi cant staff continuity. Certainly the new Superintendent’s style is different, but the demands on her to continue progress is uniquely different than those on the previous superintendent. That’s a lot of change. It’s a lot of change at a time when we’re starting to see some turnaround. Therefore some measure of stability is critical given that there can be as many as fi ve new members joining the Board. Re-electing T. Williams is a substantial contribution to that stability. By many measures our kids are starting to do better. That’s not to say we don’t have a long, long, long way to go! But a journey starts with a step, and we believe our fi rst steps are

going in the right direction. There’s general agreement that what is most needed right now is to stay committed, stay the course. We must let the improvements being put into place take on traction. The work was planned. It’s now time to work the plan. Further changes and reforms can take place within the context of the overall plan, but we must not lose the focus of our strategic plan. We believe T. Williams is just the kind of leadership the district needs at this time. We’ve witnessed him be straight up, thoughtful, rational and a big picture thinker. We have seen that he’s been effective at building relationships with fellow board members to understand their passions and agendas. It’s important to channel that energy behind individual board agendas into reaching the collective good and we have witnessed T. lend his skills to accomplish that objective. We know he’s been courageous, making hard and sometimes unpopular, but good decisions. We have discussed T.’s style with other board members and know that T. walks the walk as a committed, experienced, often behind the scenes leader. T. Williams’ long history in North Minneapolis as a Community Servant/Leader as the Executive Director of Phyllis Wheatley, his service to our community citywide as President/CEO of the Urban Coalition at the time our community was in turmoil and later as the fi rst

State Ombudsman his record of impeccable service to community has no parallel among any of the candidates for election to the school board this election cycle. T.’s challenge is that while he’s been busy “walking the walk,” he has been known not to take credit for his work on behalf of students. An introvert at heart T. has quickly noticed that at campaign time, simply walking the walk will only get him just so far. And that pretty much explains why we have jumped in. T. has yet to do enough to let the public know who he is and why he’s the candidate we all very much need. It’s my opinion that T. is our best choice to help keep the board stable, calm and focused towards progressing towards a stronger Minneapolis Public Schools system. And to get there means doing a lot of work while sounds of kids playing summer games in the parks and the smell of freshly cut grass is in the air. It also means our community in general and the African American Community in particular cannot be complacent and uninformed on those candidates that offer the best opportunity that direct our schools on the path of continuous and sustained improvement for our children. T. Williams is clearly one of those that stand heads and shoulders above the rest. Stay tune for further information on the importance of this school board election.

For many high school students, choosing the right college has always been a tough decision to make. There are so many questions to consider: What do I want to major in? Which colleges are known for my major? Do I want to go out of state or in state? Do I want to go to a large school or small school? What can I do to stand out of the crowd and get into the college I want? As a rising sophomore

in high school, I am fi nding that it is not too early to start answering the questions listed above. The hard part is where to begin. The easiest place to start is the Internet. This place is also one of the hardest spots to fi nd information. The problem that arises is that you are given an infi nite number of websites to explore and not all of them will have the answers you are looking for. Some of the websites may even give the wrong information. Through my own internet

research, I have found three great websites to explore; they will give teens a great head start on knowledge of college. The fi rst place to check out is www.collegeboard.com, a website that feeds high school students and any other people going into college the information they need to get into college and how to choose the right college for them. The most useful part of this website is the College Matchmaker. It uses a series of questions to match you up with a school that fi ts your major, price range, size and location

of where you might want to go to school. After I took my fi rst College Matchmaker questionnaire I realized that the tuition my family was willing to pay was too low and I came up with “No Results”. My family and I realized that college is a little more expensive than we thought. Another cool thing about www.collegeboard.com is that you can sign up to receive the Offi cial SAT Question of the Day via e-mail. It is a great way of preparing for the SAT. Another great college site to explore is www.gocollege.

com. This website offers many articles that will help you prepare for college and survive college as well. The most helpful section that I found is the College Survival section. This section includes many helpful articles and tips from staying healthy in college to creating your own personal budget, to what you need to pack before you take that car-ride-trip to college. A good website for fi nancial assistance is www.scholarshiphelp.org. This website is a great site that gives

you a lot of information on scholarships, how to get them, and what kinds of scholarships are out there. This website also navigates you to other websites that have a lot of information on other scholarships available.Even though there is a lot of information on these websites, there are still some questions you may have. In that case, it is a good idea to talk to your school counselors and ask them the questions. When it comes to college, preparation is a must, even in your freshman year.

Several area schools, including Seward Montessori and the Barton Open School, have recently signed up to collect used Malt-O-Meal cereal bags, along with other non-recyclable trash items, as part of one company’s mission to eliminate waste. That company, TerraCycle, pays the schools for their used cereal bags through their free, nationwide program called the ‘Brigades’. TerraCycle then uses waste to make new products, from pencil cases to kites, thus keeping the trash from ending up in a landfi ll. The New Jersey based

company, TerraCycle, and the Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal Cereal Company have partnered in order to create 1,250 Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigades in elementary and secondary schools across the country. Malt-O-Meal makes over 25 varieties of ready-to-eat cereal including some of the country’s most popular cereals. All Malt-O-Meal cereal varieties can be collected and upcycled by Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigades. “Bags create 75% less packaging to dispose of than comparable cereal box packaging that includes both a

box and an inside bag(1),” said Paul Reppenhagen, Director

of Marketing at Malt-O-Meal. “Now, for every Malt-O-Meal

cereal bag that is collected and returned to TerraCycle, we can

reduce that packaging waste to zero.” As a member of the new Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigade, schools like Seward and Barton will functions as a collection site for post-use Malt-O-Meal cereal bags in order to help prevent a signifi cant amount of the packaging waste from going into landfi lls. There is no cost to the schools to participate with the Brigade and TerraCycle pays for all shipping costs. Additionally, for every Malt-O-Meal cereal bag collected and upcycled through TerraCycle, the schools will receive $.02 per bag as an incentive to encourage collections. Other schools in Minneapolis that are participating with the program include: South High School, St. Helena School, Friendship Academy Of Fine Arts, Hope Preschool, Dunwoody Academy, Burroughs Community School, Lake Harriet Community School. To learn more about TerraCycle or to sign up to sponsor a Malt-O-Meal Cereal Bag Brigade, go to www.terracycle.net/brigades.

T. Williams: Helping ensure positive school reforms

Online resources help students make college choices

Minneapolis students earn cash for trash through recycling

By William “Bill” Englishand Rev. Randolph Staten

By Julian Butler

File PhotoTheatrice “T.” Williams

Photo courtesy of TerraCycle, Inc.

insightnews.com Insight News • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Page 5

In 1980 the spotlight shined brightly on the Minneapolis music scene. The Minneapolis sound was born and rocketed into music stardom. Prince, and a secession of artist and producers, created a unique style in contemporary music enjoyed and emulated worldwide. The 2010 MBMA celebrates the 30th anniversary of the artist and music of the famed Minneapolis Sound. Emmy award winning actor and vocalist T. Mychael Rambo will host The Minnesota Black Music Awards July 16, 8 p.m.

at the Pantages Theatre. The awards show returns after a 12-year hiatus. The awards program was fi rst held on May 12, 1982 at the historic Prom Center in St. Paul Minnesota, and from 1982-1999, over 50,000 music patrons attended the MBMA program. The MBMA program is considered the upper-Midwest’s premiere stage for Black music recognition and super-star performances. Major artists from the Twin Cities who have performed or participated with the awards include Prince, Rockie Robbins, Morris Day & The Time, Alexander O’Neal, Marzarati, The Jets, Jam and

Lewis, Next, Ann Nesby, Sounds of Blackness, The Steeles, Excelsior Chorale, Bobby Lyle, Cherelle, Janet Jackson, The Girlz, Andre’ Cymone, St.Paul Peterson, IRM Crew, Big Walter Smith, Jack McDuff, world beat group Ipso Facto, Mazarati, Jesse Johnson, Shelia E., Herb Alpert and many others. This year’s program will feature performances by Mint Condition, The Sounds of Blackness, The New Congress, Hieruspecs, Jamecia Bennett, Timotha Lanae, Kathleen Johnson, Debbie Duncan and Thomasina Petrus The Ladies of Jazz. In addition, the 2010

MBMA will present a free music workshop to discuss management, fi nances, health, production and marketing. A special red carpet event will open the evening at Seven Ultra Lounge Sky bar. The 2010 MBMA is presented by Minnesota’s fi rst 24-hour African American owned cable music channel, Black Music America Channel 937, Comcast, U CARE, KMOJ and Insight News. For schedules and tickets visit www.blackmusicamerica.com or to RSVP for the music workshops call (612) 341-2447.

T. Mychael Rambo hosts Minnesota Black Music AwardsBy Pete Rhodes III

Ann MarsdenT. Mychael Rambo

Senator William Seward, a few years before her fi nal rescue mission trip South as “Conductor of the Underground Railroad.” Her house and several other buildings on the property became a haven for her family and other friends, boarders, and guests. Like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, Tubman was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church, and near the end of her life she deeded her property to the church so it could carry on her work there running the John Brown Home for the Aged. The home closed a few years after Tubman’s death in 1913, and the property fell into disrepair over the next several decades. But in the late 1940s the AME Zion Church, women’s clubs, and the city of Auburn began raising money to restore the house, which was dedicated in 1953. The AME Zion Church was still supporting

the Harriet Tubman Home when Reverend Lula Williams began working there in the early 1970s. As Reverend Williams looked through a few pieces of Tubman memorabilia on display during her fi rst visit to the house, her eye was drawn to several 19th-century newspaper clippings folded up in an old Bible, and she decided to see what she could do to preserve the articles properly. That fi rst preservation work eventually grew into a drive to refurbish the entire house as a memorial to Tubman, supported in part by fundraising from AME Zion congregations across the world. From restoring the wood fl oors to searching for period antique furnishings to planting gardens on the property, Reverend Williams was involved in every effort. She founded the Harriet Tubman Memorial Library at the site and eventually became the curator when the restored house became the Harriet Tubman Museum. Tubman’s property is now designated as a National Historic Landmark. Reverend Williams remembers what a joy it

was to be involved in recreating Tubman’s life in Auburn and how deeply she continues to be moved by Harriet Tubman’s legacy: “She showed that a purposeful life keeps on giving and can inspire people beyond your lifetime.” Sacred places like these help all of us to keep a connection to these leaders and our legacy of struggle for freedom and justice. As these leaders continue to live on and inspire us, they also remind us that freedom is not free and that we must constantly be vigilant. We all need to do what we can to preserve and support these special sites for generations to come.

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

LegacyFrom 2

Page 6 • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Insight News insightnews.com

HEALTHNew law sets toughest standards for lead exposureST. PAUL, MN— Cody Oesterreich and her family moved into a house in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis late last year and as a concerned mother she eventually took her then-seven-month-old daughter, Ila, in for a test to make sure she was not being exposed to lead in the old house. “The doctor told me, ‘we won’t call unless it’s elevated,’ ” Oesterreich said at a Monday news conference in Richfi eld. “But I called them and the nurse told me, ‘it’s fi ne, it’s only eight.’” Oesterreich knew better and she and Ila moved out for a week while the house was cleaned. Thanks to a law that went into affect Thursday, July 1, other parents will have an easier time fi nding out their child’s lead levels and what to do. The law, which was conceived by Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy’s Public Health Scientist Samuel Yamin, makes Minnesota one of the leaders in fi ghting lead in children’s blood. The law requires the Minnesota Department of Health to establish guidelines for doctors and other medical personnel when a child’s blood is between fi ve and 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood. The federal standard is 10 and above. “Our society has made great progress in reducing children’s exposure to lead,” Yamin said.

“But they are still exposed to what was once thought to be safe levels and which we now know are hazardous. The federal government set its level 20 years ago, but we know from research around the world that at these lower levels, lead can have an impact on the brains and on the development of children.” Dan Newman, executive director of Sustainable Resources Center in Minneapolis, was the group that helped Oesterreich determine that there was lead on the fl oor where Ila was crawling and that the lead probably came from the soil in the yard and from paint on the old windows and sashes. They helped her replace the windows and excavate the top six inches of soil in the yard. Newman said that while only about a quarter of Minnesota children have been tested, of those tested in 2008, 9 percent or 8,857 of them had levels between fi ve and 10 micrograms per deciliter. “Lead is a poison and it is all around us,” Newman said. “It’s not limited to the urban core or to run down housing. Richfi eld, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, whenever we have tested we have found it. Any home built before 1978 might contain lead paint. Lead in the soil comes primarily from exterior paint and leaded gasoline. Lead can also come from water, food, candy, toys, cookware and makeup.”

While the guidelines still must be established by the health department, the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support already takes action with children found with the lower levels, said Angela Hackel, a family support specialist with the city. Her department will follow up with parents and suggest they look at where their children are crawling and playing and keep it as clean as possible. She will explain in detail how to clean

some areas with two buckets of water. They also recommend a diet high in iron, calcium and vitamin C because that prevents the body from absorbing lead, Hackel said. She also tries to fi nd money to help families make their homes safe from lead, Hackel said. Rep. Jim Davnie, a Minneapolis DFLer, said he was honored to carry the bill and “we came together for a more aggressive standard” so that Minnesota children have

the best chance to succeed in life and education, and not have their abilities diminished by lead. “Lead takes away their opportunity to contribute,” Davnie said. “We also are justifi ably concerned that not all children are succeeding in the educational system.” Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, the Minneapolis DFLer who carried the bill in the senate, was passionate about how this tougher standard could make

children better students in school. The new guidelines will likely rely heavily on medical personnel explaining to parents the hazards of lead and what they can do about it in the home. “I’m really pleased we could pass this bill and we need to educate the parents,” Torres Ray said. “We must be a voice for these children because we want every child to have a healthy environment and we want to make sure they can succeed in their education.”

For the second consecutive summer, the Minnesota Lynx will partner with the Minneapolis Public Schools, General Mills, The Wedge and Farmer’s Hat Productions through ‘Lynx Fit,’ a fi ve-week program designed to educate today’s youth about the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle. With the help of Lynx

players, staff and General Mills employees, the students enrolled in the summer programs at Bryn Mawr Elementary School and Seward Montessori School will learn about healthy eating, physical fi tness and the importance of reading and education. “We’re honored to continue our partnership with

Minneapolis Public Schools and General Mills on this wonderful and powerful program to educate youth about the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Conrad Smith, Lynx Chief Operating Offi cer. “Eating healthy, staying physically fi t and understanding proper nutrition are all vital to living healthy and we’re

looking forward to educating the students of the Bryn Mawr and Seward summer programs on these essential life lessons.” “We are excited that we were able to expand the program to two of our schools this summer and we hope to add more schools next year,” said Jan Braaten, MPS District Summer School Coordinator. “The main goal of the MPS summer program is to raise student achievement in reading and math through the use of engaging and fun activities. The Lynx Fit program will help us do just that with the generous support of the General Mills Foundation and the enthusiasm of the Minnesota Lynx.” “Teaming up with the Lynx to bring lessons about good food to children is an exciting breakthrough for the food co-ops. I don’t think it has been done anywhere else in the country. Twin City co-ops have funded the Midwest Food Connection for 15 years and we know the lessons are engaging and effective. We applaud the Lynx organization for this commitment to children’s health education,” said Lindy Bannister, General Manager of the Wedge Co-op. Throughout the fi ve-week program, Lynx staff and players will visit each school twice a week. During the fi rst visit, Lynx staff and General Mills employees will engage students in age-appropriate activities pertaining to one of the core values of the Lynx Fit program. Lynx players and coaches will then make follow-up visits each week to emphasize that week’s

message, as well as lead mini clinics and demonstrations that support the overall goals of the program. At the beginning of the program, each student will receive a Lynx Fit workbook, which will be used to track each student’s progress. The workbooks will highlight a new message each week, include fun facts about nutrition and fi tness and feature games and a mini homework assignment to encourage family involvement. At the conclusion of the program, the Lynx will partner with Minneapolis Public Schools to create a “Lynx Day Festival” at both elementary schools for students; Lynx staff, players and coaches; and General Mills’ employees.

Highlights of the fi ve-week program include:Fitness Week (July 6 - 8): General Mills employees and the Lynx Fit staff will talk to students about the benefi ts of an active lifestyle and physical fi tness. Through fun, interactive games, Lynx players and staff will show students how they can stay active and fi ght incidents of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Read to Achieve Week (July 12 - 15): Lynx Fit staff will talk to the students about their love for reading and the importance of working hard to be a good student. Students at the “rookie” level (Grades K-1) will receive a copy of “Anna Goes Hiking,” one of the books from the Bur Bur and Friends series, written by local authors JoAnne Pastel

and Kakie Fitzsimmons. The authors donated these books in celebration of Read to Achieve week. The students will then hit the trails with Anna and her parents to discover the great outdoors on a nature hike. Additionally, each student will receive a ticket to the Lynx Kids Day game on Wednesday, July 14. Students at the “Pro” and “All Star” level will be reading “Ramona & Beezus.”

Nutrition Week (July 19 - 22): Lynx staff and General Mills employees will teach students healthy eating habits. This year, the Lynx have partnered with Midwest Food Connection to help students understand the nutritional benefi ts of eating natural foods rather than processed foods. In addition, Lynx players will teach kids how to prepare healthy snacks and encourage them to make good nutritional choices at home.

Program Wrap Up/Lynx Day (July 26): Lynx staff, players and coaches will attend a designated “Lynx Day” at Bryn Mawr and Seward. The Lynx players will discuss the importance of teamwork, motivation and setting goals. The fi ve-week program will conclude with an outdoor festival featuring basketball clinics, interactive games and contests. For more information on the Lynx Fit campaign and its involvement with Minneapolis Public Schools and General Mills, please visit www.lynxbasketball.com/community.

Lynx team up with Minneapolis Public schools, General Mills

Sophia SpivakLead is not limited to run down housing. It can also come from water, food, candy, toys, cookware and makeup.

insightnews.com Insight News • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Page 7

BUSINESS

As Americans start spending money again, companies are stepping up production. The good news: more people are getting hired. The other news: more people have to adjust to new co-workers and new initiatives. Great leaders recognize the value – and the challenge - of building cohesive teams. Motivating

groups of people from disparate backgrounds, whose trust banks might be limited, is possible if leaders seek out strengths, keep communication channels fl owing and recognize that even serious situations can sometimes be handled lightly. Leader Jake is sweating over a team that never wins. He hopes to teach and develop the group by identifying weaknesses and helping players overcome defi ciencies. He leaves work every day exhausted and frustrated; his employees have learned, all right, that they’re inept, incapable of ever doing anything well. Leader Frank started out with a losing team, too. His group came from different

industries and many had been out of work altogether for some time. Realizing he couldn’t make a quarterback into a ballerina, but needing both, he spent time getting to know his players. He strived to learn their strengths and interests. Armed with knowledge about the talent on his roster, he assigned tasks and set goals according to what people did best. Progress happened quickly for Frank’s team because people were confi dent in their ability to make decisions, advise others and get the job done. Clear and appropriate goals are always a good idea. Interestingly, some managers share the company’s long term objectives on only a need-to-

know basis. Great leaders realize that if a company is going to succeed, all employees need-to-know how to defi ne success. Who plays basketball without a hoop? And who plays basketball alone? Shooting hoops is fi ne; shooting hoops with others makes it a game. Managers who maximize on two-way communication can identify and respond to issues more quickly than those who communicate only from the top down. Listening to an underling’s ideas does not diminish a leader’s authority. Allowing some back and forth brainstorming, managers can learn from employees and employees quickly realize their

contributions have impact. Scotch Guard was invented at 3M when someone spilled chemicals on the inventor’s shoe. When things do go wrong, which they will, the leader who keeps his perspective can maintain control and composure. What is really at stake? Is there a silver lining somewhere in this storm? After patenting his mistake, it’s likely the 3Mer had plenty of funds available to go buy another pair. Surgeons, fi re fi ghters, police, bridge builders… Some teams make decisions that truly have life or death implications. Yet, surgeons are some of the funniest people out there. Use levity, entertainment and interesting conversation to

get your point across on the job. If you don’t have a sense of humor, cultivate one. One manager I worked for honed effective communications skills during open-mike nights at an improv bar. As companies change, teams will constantly change, too. Successful leaders are those who can drive results by capitalizing on strengths and contributions of the team they have .

Julie Desmond leads career planning and job search workshops for Help Wanted! Workshop in Minneapolis. Write to Julie@insightnews.com.

Motivation: Capitalize on strengths and good humor

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Plan Your Career

sites, sounds and temperament of it remain essentially the same. And that’s one reason why for 27 years – and counting – the Rondo Avenue Festival continues to celebrate its legacy. Over the years, the Rondo Avenue Festival has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to its yearly venues. This year’s theme “The Rondo Healthy Lifestyles 365” aims to re-frame Rondo to support the mindset that has become prevalent, not only in the Obama administration, the current federal health care bill, but in each of our collective mindsets. As a result, festival participants can become part of the “Rondo Healthy Lifestyles 365” generation by participating in several new events – and also those events that are tried and true – during the weekend of July 15-17th. The new “Rondo Healthy Lifestyles Events 365” premise will include the “Rondo Urban Bicycle Festival and National Cycling Summit” that will partner with the Major Taylor

Bicycle Club to bring hundreds of riders to the Twin Cities from across the Midwest. The Summit takes place July 15-17. The Health and Wellness Tent located on the festival grounds on July 17th will provide attendees with hands-on information on the best health and wellness options, and information, available. The tried-and-true annual events like the “Rondo Days 5K Walk and Run” on July 17th, and “Rondo Days Golf Tournament” on July 15th will be returning after successful outings over the past years to give event attendees additional alternative options towards health and wellness. The annual signature events that have always celebrated the Rondo legacy will be back.

They include: The Annual Senior Dinner on July 15th; and the Grande Parade, the Festival itself, and the “On the Block - Drill and Dance Team Competition” – all on Saturday, July 17th. All events are open to the public – and will be bigger and better than ever. For more information on how you, or your organization, can become a part of this historical event, visit our website www.rondodays.com, or call the Rondo Hotline at 651-459-1078. Applications for the parade, festival vendor, entertainment, drill and dance competition, and the 5K Walk and Run, are on the website. Deadlines are also noted on the website or on the Rondo Hotline.

RondoFrom 1

Suluki Fardan

Page 8 • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Insight News insightnews.com

LIFESTYLE

It was late Monday morning and I was walking my husband outside to his car; he was headed to the airport for a business trip in St. Louis. I looked around the side of my house and noticed

that someone had apparently left the outside water spigot on-all night. “I’m gonna get those kids!” I thought. I told my husband that we should go down to the basement to make sure no water had trickled in. Before I got to the bottom of the stairs, it was clear that it was not just a trickle. The area rugs were fl oating in water. My mind could not fi gure out how this much water could be in our basement, but the only thing to do at that point was to grab a bucket and start bailing! Long story short, we

found out that our sump pump in our less-than-two-year-old house was no longer working, which caused our basement to fl ood. Thankfully, we had not yet fi nished our basement, so our losses were not as great as they could have been. So here’s my question to you: have you checked your sump pump lately? If your answer is, “What’s a sump pump?” you probably need answers to the questions below; it could save you big bucks in the long run.

What’s a Sump Pump? It’s

a pump that is found in your basement that removes any accumulated water, usually from rainfall, away from your home.

Where is it? You’ll fi nd a hole in the fl oor at the lowest point in your basement. It’s called the sump hole. Ours has PVC pipe coming out and of it and an electrical cord where it plugs in to an outlet.

Does it need maintenance? Well, yes and no. See, the pump does all the work without

any help, except when it’s broken-or when the power goes out. In our case, our pump broke and we did not know it. A good rule of thumb is to check it periodically, especially during a heavy rain, like the one we had recently. All you need to do is pour water in the sump hole. When the water reaches a certain level, the automatic sensor will start the pump and remove the water. I would also recommend that you consider getting a backup generator or backup sump pump, which would work in the event of a power outage. I got one quote of about $500 for the backup sump pump. Especially when we have the basement fi nished, we will want to protect that investment. For the last couple of days I have been diligently drying out the basement until at least I am; sucking up water in the shop vac, hauling things out up to the garage and the sunny backyard, and salvaging as many of our children’s pictures and kindergarten treasures as possible. Is there a bright

spot anywhere in this fl ooded basement drama? Of course there is! We can thank God that this did not happen after our basement was fi nished. We have learned a lot about how to better protect ourselves. One fi nal tip, double check with your insurance company to be certain of your coverage as it relates to water damage. At fi rst they said we were not covered, but it turns out that since the sump pump failed, we are! Most important, our family is fi ne and all the stuff is replaceable. In the big scheme of life we are still blessed and have much to Enjoy!

Save money by checking on your sump pump

By Marcia Humphreymarcia@insightnews.com

Style on a Dime

Wikimedia Commons

insightnews.com Insight News • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Page 9

were less likely to get pregnant. That is a self esteem issue, and if you plant a tree and if it helps that happen, then let’s plant a whole lot more,” said Carter. She made a direct link to children living in poverty, polluted living environments caused by fossil fuels, and increasing numbers of incarceration. Carter said: “Poor kids who do poorly in school have a better chance of going on to jail than higher education, and many poor kids live right next door to fossil fuel

emission sources. And we know that many of these fossil fuel emission sources continue to be built, actually at the rate of 2 per week in some parts of the world, and we know the impact that has on our environmental quality and in particular greenhouse gas emissions. “What we don’t necessarily factor in is the fact that there is a bigger gap between rich and poor in this country, that there has been a decline in the middle class, that even the rates of incarceration have gone up because the kind of jobs that used to support people here have been outsourced. So, there is a relationship between the increasing amount of folk in our

prison population right now, and the environmental burdens that we experience as a world. So I believe that really thinking long and hard about how we do things differently knowing we need to change. There are so many beautiful things that we can do. Even in my home community of the South Bronx we knew we were known as a repository for trash, we knew that, but we also knew that there was opportunity in it. We knew that we handled a huge amount of recyclable materials,” said Carter. Throughout her presentation Carter stressed the urgency of making a green economy top priority, and emphasizing the importance of Minnesota

making active steps to mobilize change. “We need to be really, really impatient for the green economy to come to Minnesota, to this country, because that is how we are going to be able to create the kind of support for all of the communities that are here to reduce the gap between rich and poor, to help bring back a middle class, and support people who really have been a part of the really proud heritage that Minnesota has…..I know y’all got what it takes to make it happen,” Carter said. Entenza addressed community stakeholders with a message emphasizing the power of a unifi ed community

working towards the same goal. “As Minnesota and our nation become increasingly aware of the massive yields of clean energy, geo-politically, economically and environmentally, it is critical that no communities be left behind. The prosperity of the coming economy must be shared. Everyone must have the opportunity to join equally in the responsibility and benefi ts of making our future cleaner and more sustainable. Having an education system with real support and meaningful standards will be essential in this effort,” said Entenza. Robinson said, “I joined the race because of issues like

clean energy and sustainability -- constantly pushing to renew what resources we have. We have a common future, and the discussion is often framed in past histories and the same old conversations. Leaders like Majora and Matt agree with me that we must reject the false choice between making money and being environmental responsible. Now when we see our urban neighborhoods, we can see places that are weaving their way into the fabric of a new clean energy economy for our entire state.” For more information on the Majora Carter Group visit www.majoracartergroup.com.

COMMENTARY

(NNPA) - Utah Senator Orrin Hatch has a proposal for the unemployed. He wants them drug tested before they can receive unemployment benefi ts. Hilarious! With unemployment rates at 9.7 percent, with nearly six million Americans out of work for at least six months, with more than a million people without support since their unemployment benefi ts have run out, Hatch proposes drug testing for unemployed people. He and some of his colleagues are actually the ones who need drug testing. How could the Senate, by a vote of 57-42, prevent legislation that would have provided an unemployment benefi t extension from moving forward? What could they possibly have been thinking? Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) described the action as “one of the worst moments I’ve seen in 25 years in the United States Senate. In time of economic trouble, our country expects Democrats and Republicans to pull together.”

This is politics at its absolute worst, with Republicans unifying to cut the unemployed off at the kneecaps. Meanwhile, Hatch wants drug testing. Given this vote on the unemployment benefi t extension, perhaps Hatch and the 42 might want to demonstrate that they were not impaired when they took their vote. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was among the many blasting the Republicans for playing games with people’s survival. In Denver last week, she told Latino elected offi cials that the loss of unemployment benefi ts for more than 200,000 people a week would be “devastating”. Some Republican senators say the bill was too costly, and loaded up with too many amendments to pass. But debate on this legislation has lasted for more than two months – the House of Representatives voted for unemployment benefi t extensions back in March. The tab on this bill is $18 billion, which is not chump change, but it is certainly just a fraction of the $700 billion bank bailout, and just half of the money we just sent to support our effort in Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, the Republican senators are taking their cues from those who are demonizing the unemployed. Writing for the US Chronicle, Stephanie Lee reported that online hostility toward the unemployed is notable, with those who need help being called “whiners” and “pathetic”. Some companies looking for workers indicate that they will not consider people who are unemployed, no matter what the reason. (Now that is fascinating logic – who needs work more than the unemployed?). And in my own review of online responses to the failure

of HR4213 in the Senate, I’ve found posts that describe the unemployed as “losers” and “lazy”. At the same time, many of our unemployed brothers and sisters have posted poignant accounts of what their lives are like after they have lost their jobs, of making choices to feed children or spend money on transportation for job search, of adjusting expectations downward, of applying for positions for which they are overqualifi ed, only to be rejected because they are overqualifi ed. And Orrin Hatch wants to impose drug testing. When the United States Senate

turns its backs on unemployed citizens to play partisan games who should really be drug tested? The Toronto meeting of the G20 actually worsens prospects for the unemployed. Despite opposition by the United States, the G20 made a nonbinding pledge to halve budget defi cits by 2013 and to balance budgets by 2016. Germany, which boasts a budget surplus, has argued that defi cits in other countries are destabilizing. Yet government spending in many countries has provided a way out of the current economic slump. President Obama has cautioned that imposing austerity measures too soon may hinder world economic recovery. World defi cit hawks prevailed, though, and France is now likely to announce defi cit cuts in the next week or so, possibly planning to reduce tax breaks that had already been scheduled. In Spain, workers are protesting wage cuts with a three-day strike on Madrid’s underground rail system. As in the United States, defi cit hawks seek to balance budgets on the backs of workers.

Because the G20 accord is nonbinding, it has no legislative impact in the United States. At the same time, our own defi cit hawks will use the G20 agreement as a way to buttress their own attempts to spend less. The victims, of course, are those unemployed people who need benefi t extensions. Our casual acceptance of high rates of unemployment and the human toll of this unemployment is repugnant. There is the possibility that the Senate will reconsider the unemployment extension, perhaps passing it as a stand-alone bill, but they made no commitment after last Thursday’s vote. If unemployed people would share their ire with the Senate, perhaps these folks would understand. For the moment, though, they have thumbed their noses at the nation’s unemployed. In doing so, they’ve made it clear who really needs drug testing. Julianne Malveaux is president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.

(NNPA) - As part of the current unemployment crisis, at last look there were 453,000 claims for insurance, a number that is likely to surge when part-time government workers employed by the Census end their terms this summer. Yet, there probably is no greater indication of the radical extreme to which Senate Republicans have become than to witness their rejection of legislation to extend unemployment benefi ts. In the past, some Republicans supported such legislation to keep benefi ts fl owing, but this time, their unanimous rejection killed it. They were joined by Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska who I wish would change parties to clarify who he really represents.

A look at a few states where funds will run out soon turns up a frightening picture: 87,000 people in Michigan which has the second largest unemployment rate; 67,000 in Colorado face the same fate; 7,00 people in Georgia; 184,000 in Florida. The legislation would have created $16 billion to reimburse state Medicaid expenses, and without it, New Hampshire would loose $79 million in State funds and it would cost Michigan over $500 million creating a gaping hole that could lead to bankruptcy. In the recent primary elections radical Tea Party politicians gained serious inroads into the Republican party. For example, Sharron Angle, Harry Reid’s opponent for U. S. Senator from Nevada not only believes that Social Security is “welfare” but that unemployment benefi ts have “spoiled” people to the point that “you don’t want the jobs that are

available.” Then, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah has proposed that everyone who qualifi es for unemployment compensation should undergo a drug test, testimony to the class and race perspective some Republicans have toward people who need such assistance. The fact that Republicans don’t appear to be concerned about the impact of their rejection of funds on ordinary people in their states continues to confi rm a heartless and immoral side of the Republican governing ideology. It is a growing radicalism that is justifi ed by their elevation of the defi cit, much of which was created by former Republican president George Bush, over their constituents’ pain. Beyond an immorality linked to a lack of concern for the less fortunate, Republican intransigence possibly constitutes a political strategy for the fall elections. How? A

recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that Congress registered the lowest favorable ratings in modern history at six percent, while Gallup found the preferences of those polled to win control of Congress split between Republicans (45 percent) and Democrats (43 percent). This means that either the public has not blamed the Republican party, the element in Congress most responsible for the perceived lack of production, or it blames the Democrats for what has been produced. Either way, it seems that Republicans are free to run against Democratic control of Congress, even though they have attempted to wreck many humanitarian initiatives. Such a strategy is partly possible because of the lack of strength and specifi city in the Democratic narrative about governance that shields

the Republican party from its negative role. President Obama began this weak narrative by campaigning on “changing the way things work in Washington.” But you can’t change that by being vague about what elements are responsible and what party to which they are attached. His fi xation on bipartisan government also enhanced this cover-up. So, there was an incomplete analysis of change. Change from what? Despite the fact that there is an occasional reference to what the President inherited when he came in offi ce, the change from what narrative has not comprehensively been explained. How can Americans then understand how and why their government has not functioned for them: why the banks and fi nancial houses collapsed and had to be bailed out, how and why mortgages were deliberately sold to people who couldn’t afford them, and

why there is a monumental oil spill in the Gulf that is also tied to lax governmental regulation in the Republican era? Word is that the Democratic party is laying out $50 million for the fall elections, and a great deal of it should be spent to build a message factory to help explain to the American people why the President has done what he has had to do the past two years, and what feeds the perception that Congress is dysfunctional. If Democrats can’t get unemployment insurance extended, other important goals are in jeopardy both now and after the elections. Ron Walters is a political analyst and Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland College Park. One of his latest books is: (Reparations) The Price of Racial Reconciliation (University of Michigan Press)

Republicans unify to cut unemployment benefi ts

Republican radicals reject unemployment fund extension

By Julianne MalveauxNNPA Columnist

nyu.edu

CarterFrom 1

By Ron WaltersNNPA Columnist

Maven of the MONTHSHANTE HOLMESA bright spot in North Minneapolis!

In a few short weeks, Northside will be ‘squeaky clean’!

Shante Holmes is set to open ‘All Washed Up’ a full-service laundromat on Penn Ave N. & 29th!

Providing wash & fold services, on site alterations and attendant, Ms. Holmes hopes to re-introduce the art of family laundering...together!

“I want to create a warm, safe environment for families to wash their clothes,’ she said.

Stay tuned for details for an exciting community celebration of the grand opening for ALL WASHED UP!For more info, visit, www.urbanmaventv.com

Your Urban LIfestyle Connoisseur

URBANKitchenCOCO COOKS: Pigeon Peas & Rice, The Ultimate Island Comfort Food!Some of the best cuisine of any town can be found in it’s local street cafes and bistros. Freeport, Bahamas is no different. This local comfort fave is a savory dish of pigeon peas and rice! You won’t find this on tourist menus. Served solo or with fresh-caught grilled baracuda, only those who know to explore the urban landscape-away from

the tourist traps-will discover this delicious dish!

RECIPE1lb pigeon peas2 cups rice2 cups of water, more as needed2 slices salt pork (smoked turkey alternate)3-4 garlic clovesChopped bell peppersChopped onions

1 can Tomato SauceBlack pepper

In a large skillet fry up salt pork or smoked turkey alternate, onions and green peppers.

Add chopped garlic. Sauté a few minutes then add can of tomato sauce and let simmer for 10

minutes. Add pigeon peas and let cook. Add rice & water and let cook then bring to a simmer to allow steam

to cook the dish. (Due to salt content in salt pork, no additional salt is needed. To reduce salt, rinse salt pork or soak in water a few minutes)

For more info on URBAN Kitchen and COCO COOKS, visit www.urbanmaventv.com

URBANJetsetParis Noir!France has always had a love affair with all things African...and African American. Many of black America’s stars found comfort in

French culture, including legendary Josephine Baker, W.E.B. Dubois,

Langston Hughes. Some never returned. From the opening of the Arc de Triomphe in

1836, black writers, artists, free and former slaves have climbed the 284 steps to the top of what was the highest monument in Paris as a rite and affirmation of their liberation and freedom. Many GI’s who fought in behalf of the French during World War I stayed because of the warm French treatment.

In 2006, a monument to this affair was opened in the Musee de Quai Branly. Situated along the River Seine, near the Eiffel Tower, MQB was designed by architect Jean Nouvel under the influence of President Jacques

Chirac. It features indigenous art, cultures and pieces from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.

HOURS & INFOT, W, Su 11a-7pmTh, Fr, Sa 11a-9pmTel: 01 56 61 70 00Ticket prices range from 6 Euros to 8 Euros Passes are available for multiple days, group and discounted rates also available.www.quaibranly.fr/en

Of course, you can always check out the infamous Louvre across the river, which also houses a stunning African Collection, Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa (still don’t know what the fuss is about) the Montmarte district, home to the Moulin Rouge or enjoy a romantic cruise down the River Seine to view the historic Eiffel Tower. There’s something for everyone in the City of lights....and L’amour!!

InsightNews NEONNorthside Economic

Opportunity Network

Arc de Triomphe

Quai Branly Museum

Minneapolis

URBAN MixCome mix & minglefeat. DJ Reggie MckeeverWednesdday July 7thSpill the Wine - 1/2 price bottles, hors doerves & more6pm-10pm | Adm: $5

URBAN Maven Small Business ShowcaseSaturday July 10thAloft Hotel900 Washington Ave S1pm-5pm | Adm: FREE

MN Black Music AwardsFriday July 16thPantages Theatre7pm-11pmwww.blackmusicamerica.com

For global event listingsvisit www.urbanmaventv.com

Miami

Secret Service FridaysMI-VI @ Gulfstream Race Track901 S. Federal HwyHallandale, FL

July 15-17Ife-Ile Afro-Cuban Dance FestivalSeries of dance & music taught by masters

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week-SwimWorld-class runway platform featuring swim & resort wear

Zo’s Summer Groove-Alonzo Mourning & Dwayne Wade5-day charity event

URBAN JetSet

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

EventsTouch Kickball at Phelps Park – OngoingCome and play TOUCH kickball with your family & friends Thru Aug. 22. 4:00 every Saturday at PHELPS PARK, 39th & Chicago Ave. More information: 612-824-4900, kelley01@visi.com.

New Saturday African dance class with Whitney - Thru AugustAfrican Dance with Whitney. Sat. 1-2:30pm $12 Jawaahir Studios 1940 Hennepin Ave. Mpls.

Hazelden Offers Free Educational Opportunity - OngoingConcerned about someone’s alcohol or drug use? Addressing Concerns Together (ACT), Hazelden’s new outreach program, can help. Join us for a free event to learn more about addiction, intervention, assessment, and treatment. Hazelden’s St. Paul campus, 680 Stewart Ave., St. Paul. 2nd and 4th Mon. of each month at 6pm. This is an open event and there is no need to register. If you have questions, please contact Hazelden at 800-257-7800.

Willard-Homewood Block Club Leaders (and Residents) Meetings – OngoingEvery third Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm at Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, 1315 Penn Ave. N. (Human Services Building, not the clinic), Mpls., Room 108. See the block club page at www.willard-homewood.org.

Midtown begins Tuesday farmers market - OngoingStarting on June 1, the Midtown Farmers Market will be open Tuesdays from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 2225 East Lake, the very same location as our Saturday (8:00 to 1:00) market. Experience Midtown’s new mix of vendors and wares—you’ll fi nd your week’s worth of seasonal produce, a selection of arts and crafts, and delicious dinner or late afternoon snacks (gelato, pizza, hotdogs, doughnuts)!

Classic Black fi lms at VOA Park Elder Center – OngoingFirst and third Mondays of each month, 11 am - 12:15 pm. These fi lms are free of charge and the public is invited. Popcorn, hotdogs and drinks are provided for a suggested donation of $1. VOA Park Elder Center, 1505 Park Ave. Mpls. 612-339-7581, parkcenter@voamn.org

Credit Smart- OngoingFREE Credit Education Classes. Every Tuesday, 6-8pm. Minneapolis Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls. HYPERLINK “http://www.mul.org/”www.mul.org Contact Theresa (612) 827- 9268.

Realizing the American Dream – OngoingHome Buyer Program. First Thurs. of every month, 6-8pm. $25.00 per/family. Minneapolis Urban League 2100 Plymouth Ave. N. Mpls. HYPERLINK “http://www.mul.org/”www.mul.org Contact Theresa (612) 827- 9268.

B-Girl Be: Hip-Hop History, Culture and Creation – July 8B-Girl Be curriculum engages boys and girls in discovering the power of authentic hip-hop. Participants learn the history of hip-hop as a radical form of social commentary, community engagement and protest for communities of color; analyze lyrics, form and content; and create their own work. Open to youth in grades 7 -12. Thur., July 8, 1PM - 3PM at Brooklyn Park Library 8600 Zane Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, FREE.

Energy Saving Workshops - July 8, 13, 22Community Energy Services is a one stop, residential energy program available to only select Minneapolis neighborhoods designed to make saving energy and money easy. Upcoming CES workshops:Seward Neighborhood - Thur., July 8, 6:30 pm at Matthews Park Rec Center Webber-Camden, McKinley, Folwell Neighborhoods - Tues., July 13, 6:30 pm at Folwell Park Rec CenterStandish-Ericsson Neighborhoods - Thur., July 22, 6:30 pm at Sibley Park

Music & Movies - Thru July 29Music and Movies is a unique, family-friendly attraction on St. Paul’s West Side in Parque Castillo. The free series is held

on Thursday nights beginning on June 24th and ending on July 29th. Create Mexican inspired art, move to community building music, and relax with family centric movies. Thurdays thru July 29th 6:30-8:45pm at Parque Castillo, 149 Cesar Chavez St Paul, MN 55102

Smell of God -Now - July 31The after effects of meeting god is the memory of his/her scent. With the “The Smell of God” exhibition four emerging artists, working with noted artist Barthelemy Toguo, created a work that evidences the residual effect of having encountered god. Artists include: Nate Young, David Rich, Sankara Djeki, and Amanda Lovelee. 7-10pm @ 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls.

Young Writers -Thru Aug.Young Writers is the place for youth! A gathering of aspiring young poets, novelists, fi ction writers, essayists and more. We laugh, work, create, and grow together in a community workshop setting - come check it out! Open to ages 13-19. Second and Fourth Tuesday of every month 6PM - 8PM at Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S, Mpls. FREE!

2010 Movies in the Parks - Thru Aug 28The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has packed more than 80 movies into its third annual Movies in the Parks series. The mobile series, which travels to parks across the city throughout the summer, will run Monday through Saturday June 14-Aug. 28. Movies are free to the public and start 15 minutes after sunset. For more information, check out www.mplsmusicandmovies.com.

Summer Saturday Film Workshops – Thru Aug. 21Through a series of hands-on workshops, teens will learn both the technical and conceptual skills needed to make a successful fi lm. Youth will work in small groups to collaborate on fi lms in different genres (narrative, documentary, experimental, animation).Youth will get experience in screenwriting, storyboarding, lighting, camerawork, directing, acting, and editing. The completed fi lms will be shown to an audience at the end of the summer in the Intermedia Arts theater. June 26 - August 21, 2001; Saturdays Only1PM - 4PM at Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. FREE.

The Spirit of Sobriety (SOS) Club - July 9, 10A non-profi t organization whose goal is to provide alcohol-free entertainment for all ages. SOS offers great entertainment venues and supportive services for those in recovery. All donations tax deductible.•July 9: 7:30pm-Midnight: Hip-Hop Dance Party with DJ J. Jammin’. Get your party on, do it sober. All Ages. Suggested Donation: $5 before 8:30pm, $8 after. •July 10: 7:30pm-Midnight: DJ Dance Party featuring Top 40, Pop and Funk music. All Ages. Suggested Donation: $8, Couples $14.

“Employee Art Show” on display in Hennepin Gallery - Thru July 28Learn more about the artists among us. The biennial “Employee Art Show,” an exhibit sponsored by The Hennepin Gallery. Free and open to the public Mon. thru Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County

Government Center, A Level, 300 S. 6th St., Mpls.

Pastors for Peace 21st Caravan to Cuba - July 7Send-off benefi t: 13 Routes – 130 U.S. and Canadian Cities Wed., July 7, 6-9pm at Plymouth Congregational Church Nicollet & Franklin Avenues, Mpls. For more information: 612.721.8440 www.minnesotacubacommittee.com

Free Community Movie Night - July 9M&I Bank will host a free community movie night on Friday, July 9, beginning at dusk at the Wolfe Park Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheatre, 3700 Monterey Dr., in St. Louis Park. The movie night will feature a free showing of “Astro Boy” with concessions and family-oriented games and activities. Non-perishable food items will also be collected for the local food bank. The public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit in the amphitheatre and watch the movie. In the event of rain, the movie and all activities will take place on Thursday, July 15, at the same time and location. For more information visit www.mibank.com/movies.

The Minnesota Sinfonia - July 9Family Pops Concert. Friday, July 9, 7:30pm. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls. FREE. Children welcome. 612-871-1701. www.mnsinfonia.org

Taking a Leap of Faith - July 10Daughter of Zion Gospel Ministry presents a soul stirring musical. World wide outreach for Christ. At the Potter House of Jesus Christ. Ticket info: Minister Robin-Maria at 612-327-4890.

Brooklyn Park police offi cers took off their uniforms, threw on a t-shirt and shorts and took 100 of the City’s neediest kids fi shing at Champlin Mill Pond (Doris A. Kemp Park) in Champlin last month. It was all part of a community outreach effort to show children between the ages of 7 and 12 that police offi cers not only protect and serve, but love to fi sh. Each child was assigned to an offi cer who taught them the basics of fi shing. At the end of the event, an awards ceremony was held where kids were awarded

prizes for the biggest fi sh. As part of the event, each child received a rod, reel and tackle box to take home, courtesy of Target. Cabela’s and Dairy Queen also donated supplies and food for the event. The event was the brainstorm of Lieutenant Mark Bruley, who is the police department’s SWAT commander and an avid, award winning fi sherman.

Page 10 •July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Insight News insightnews.com

PHONE: 612.588.1313 EMAIL: ben@insightnews.com FAX: 612.588.2031 ONLINE: www.insightnews.comCOMMUNITY CALENDARCOMMUNITY CALENDAR

EMPLOYMENT/HOUSINGEMPLOYMENT/HOUSING

Huntington Place ApartmentsThe BEST 1 bedrooms in Brooklyn Park! 1 BRs starting at $595 • Huge bedrooms • Tons of closet space • Indoor & outdoor pool. Call today! 763-560-0244 www.liveathp.com EHO

ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The pro-gram will consist of fi ve teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration. Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments.

We are looking for college students major-ing in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 in-terns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits. Interested Parties please send resume to:

The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program10125 Crosstown Circle #200Eden Prairie, MN 55344

952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040www.minnesotablizzards.com

Updated 1-2 BedroomApartments in WhittierClean, quiet, secure,

Parking available near busWHITTIER COMMUNITY

APARTMENTS612-870-RENT(7368)

“Equal Housing Opportunity”Provider”

Hallie Q. Brown Community CenterSubstitute Teacher

DEPT: Early Learning CenterSUPERVISED BY: Youth Program ManagerTITLES SUPERVISED: N/AFLSA: Non-ExemptSALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour

POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fi ll in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher par-ticipates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is ap-propriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure envi-ronment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.2. Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom envi-ronment in accordance to program goals and philosophy.3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely man-aging developmental activities for the participants.4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports.5. Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood devel-opment. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred.

Licensing and Certifi cations: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Minne-sota Teachers’ License (preferred).

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experi-ence required.

Other Requirements:• Dealing with confi dential information.• Tight deadlines.• Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.• Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager.• Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines.• Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cul-tural backgrounds.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and refer-ences to:

Hallie Q. Brown Community CenterATTN: Human Resources270 N. Kent StreetSaint Paul, MN 55102651-224-7074-Faxhr@hallieqbrown.org

CLASSIFIEDSCLASSIFIEDS PHONE: 612.588.1313 FAX: 612.588.2031 EMAIL: sales@insightnews.com

Brooklyn Park police offi cers teach kids how to fi sh

2nd Annual Cops-n-Kids Fishing

Tournament

Environmental Health and Food Justice Organizer

Type: Full-time 12-month position with pos-sibility for additional years contingent upon funding

Compensation: $34,000 -- $37,000 annu-ally, depending upon experience and quali-fi cations Environmental Justice Advocates of Minne-sota (EJAM) is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic individual to organize and build capacity of community members of North Minneapolis to improve the health of their en-vironment and to develop economic opportu-nities based on production of local food and other specialty crops. This unique position is designed to build the base of community support and participation for two core proj-ects of EJAM -- the Healthy Home Project and Traditional Foods/Healthy Communities Economic Initiative.

Please see www.ejamn.org for full job de-scription. Closing date is July 12, 2010.

NOTICE OF UPCOMING VACANCYU.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

President Barack Obama nominated Magistrate Judge Susan Richard Nelson for an Article III Judgeship in the District of Minnesota and she is currently awaiting Senate confi rmation. Upon confi rmation, this will create a Magistrate Judge vacancy in the Twin Cities. The court is seeking applicants for this vacancy.

A Merit Selection Panel comprising attorneys and members of the community will review applications in confi dence and recommend to the Judges of the U.S. District Court the persons it considers best qualifi ed to fi ll the position. The Court will interview the fi nalists and make the appointment following a background investigation of the ap-pointee. An affi rmative effort will be made to give due consideration to all qualifi ed candidates including women and members of minority groups. The salary of the position is $160,080 per year and the posi-tion will be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The term of offi ce is eight years, and incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms. Applications are invited from individuals who meet the following quali-fi cations:

• At least fi ve years membership in the bar of the highest court of a state;• Active practice of law for at least fi ve years;• Competent to perform all the duties of the offi ce as specifi ed in 28 U.S.C. 636;• Be less than 70 years old; and• Not related to a judge of the U.S. District Court

The duties of Magistrate Judges are enumerated in 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 72.1, and include presiding over initial proceedings in criminal cases; trials of misdemeanor cases, including petty offenses; pretrial matters and other proceedings in civil and criminal cases; conducting civil settlement conferences; and disposition of civil cases with consent of the parties. The offi cial application is available on the Court’s website at www.mnd.uscourts.gov. The original complete application and nine copies must be received at the address listed above no later than 5:00 p.m., Central Time, on Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Completed applica-tions may not be e-mailed and disks will not be accepted.

Assumed Name1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Deuce City S.W.A.G. Magazine

2. State the address of the principal place of business: 5656 Brookdale Drive, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

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: DeSeandra Sheppheard, 5656 Brookdale Drive, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443Uhuru Epperson-Nyangweso, 5656 Brookdale Drive, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

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: DeSeandra Sheppheard Date Filed: 6/29/2010

Insight News 7/5/2010, 7/12/2010

West Broadway Business and Area CoalitionExecutive Director

The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition is seeking to fi ll the Executive Director position. The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (known as West Broadway Coalition) is a nonprofi t 501(c)3 neighborhood organization serving North Minneapolis and focusing on the West Broadway community. The West Broadway Coalition seeks to improve the vitality, livability and economic climate for busi-nesses and residents on and near the corridor. The West Broadway Coalition is governed by a fi fteen to nineteen member Board of Di-rectors (BOD) representing business, neighborhood and residential interests. The West Broadway Coalition seeks diverse representation and leadership with in the organization.

The Executive Director (ED) represents an organization that stands for positive change through coalition building, cooperation between disparate stakeholders, innovative initiatives, and effective marketing of the area to a broader base. The ED should be passionate about working within this community. The ED oversees and implements the overall management of the organization. Within the parameters estab-lished by the BOD, the ED hires/supervises staff, oversees fundrais-ing and organizational development activities, builds productive con-nections within the community, and represents the West BroadwayCoalition in the broader community; and completes other duties as assigned by the BOD.

For a full Executive Director Job Description go to: http://www.westbroadway.org/images/ED_Job_Posting2010.pdf

To Apply: Send cover Letter, salary requirements, and resumes toDiana Hawkins, Board Chair, Diana_hawkins@cable.comcast.com Interviews will begin July 19th. No phone calls, please.

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Park Police Department

insightnews.com Insight News • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Page 11

SPORTS

When it comes to the barbershop, it’s all about opinions. Everybody can say what he or she wants top say, and most seem to be cackling and grumbling,

but in my humble opinion it seems like the Timberwolves are in good hands all around. My positivism certainly fl ies in the face of sensible opinions, which put heavy stress on last year’s 15-win season of drudgery, and the fact that many key players aren’t fully weaned of their NBA Similac bottles. Add to this the fact that second year General Manager David Kahn seems to be implementing a Wall Street derivative investment strategy when it comes to drafting new players, and I can understand

the 24-hr news cycle opinion that heads should roll. But caution was given as Kahn stated at the Post-Draft Press Conference, “It’s going to be a long summer.” And fortunately beyond that, I’m here to provide some Zen that can only come from a Lakers Fan basking in the frequent Championship glow of the season past…and I too would like to thank Ron Artests’ psychiatrist. “I’m a Timberwolf,” was Timberwolves fi rst round pick Wesley Johnson’s response to my question detecting his childhood support of the Lakers franchise. So for starters, the young man has a great head on his shoulders, both in his youth, and as a young man about to get paid a ton to do some really fun

work. Additionally, to sit in front of the Wolves’ three latest (the fourth pick of the Wolves was absent, but I’ll get to him later), hopeful additions, the glaring observation was that these are three quality young men; fully aware that a job means work. Second round pick, Nemanja Bjelica of Serbia, was the quiet one of the three, but nerves are understandable on your fi rst day in a new country. But overall, the moment was not too big for the young men, which also included additional fi rst round pick forward Lazar Hayward of Marquette University; from their entry, to their consistent messages, to their comfortable, professional playfulness with the Q & A session. Simply put, they put on a good show…and that’s part of the job.

The problem that many have with the Timberwolves 2010 Draft is that they did not draft 6’11” Kentucky University Freshman phenom DeMarcus Cousins. I, for one, agree with that decision. I was in my 20s many moons ago, I trust my own judgment of the “knucklehead quotient” when I’m able to watch young fellas at least a few times. Now everybody deserves a chance to prove worthy, but we have seen the story of the self-entitled, ultra talented, super young basketball player before. To take a chance with a player such as this, on the heels of a 15-win season is a recipe for something resembling the Los Angeles Clippers, who have been sorry for decades now. The “One Player Savior” strategy has been known not to work out the majority of the time, and a knucklehead is the worst thing for a rebuilding team. Though I’m not condemning Cousins’ future, I am saying that Timberwolves fans deserve better than a malcontent, and the town has had enough of that in the past. David Kahn is fi rst building a culture with the Timberwolves. Notice the steady play, and more importantly the demeanor

of rookie point guard Johnny Flynn, through last years’ painful stretches on the schedule. That means a lot because one salty quote from a young’n after a series of losses will send a team into disarray, and fan base into other forms of entertainment. Say what you want about last years’ performance, it should be judged as a major success that the team took the fl oor with a handsome demeanor on a nightly basis. Besides Johnson, my favorite selection of the Wolves 2010 Draft was the big fella who was drafted with their fourth and fi nal pick. The World Cup Soccer Tournament has a great example of athleticism in #1 seed Brazil, and the Wolves tapped some of that Brazilian prowess with 6’11” center Paulao Prestes. These late picks don’t typically work out, but I pride myself on being able to evaluate athletic talent based on 30-second video clips, and Prestes is “that dude.” Sure, I wanted the Lakers to keep Eddie Jones versus Kobe Bryant, but Kobe has gotten on a lot of peoples’ nerves over the years, so gimme a break. I’m glad to say that Kobe Bryant is fi nally out of my doghouse. I think I heard a huge sigh of relief come from his direction.

Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scottryan@insightnews.com

Some debate over the Timberwolves 2010 draft

photobucket.comWesley Johnson

Page 12 • July 5 - July 11, 2010 • Insight News insightnews.com