insight news ::: 11.16.09

(NNPA) - With the War on Terrorwell into its sixth year, America’scampaign against terrorism andweapons of mass destruction has,for some, also become an attackon Islam.

For many American-bornMuslims and followers of Islamserving in the U.S. armed forces,the experience has been doublyburdensome and may have playeda role in Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’sNovember 5 mass shooting at FortHood in Texas.

Of the 1.4 million U.S.servicemen and women,approximately 3,572 are Muslims,according to the Department ofDefense’s most recent figures.However, this number may belarger, as the military does not

require enlisted persons todisclose their religious affiliation.

Among the small communityof Muslims serving in the UnitedStates military, there are severalchaplains who teach and followIslam. But as more Americansbecome skeptical of Islam’s claimto be “the religion of peace,”Muslim military chaplains face aunique conflict – defending theirfaith without drawing the ire ofothers who question their loyaltyto the American cause.

According to the Council ofAmerican-Islamic Relations, therewere at least 6 million Muslimsliving in America in 2001. Afterthe September 11 terrorist attacks,

prejudice and discriminationagainst Muslims and Islamreached record numbers and led towidespread social backlashagainst alleged Islamic extremists.

Being a follower of Islam andan American soldier is a dual, but

not necessarily irreconcilable,identity. Similar to AfricanAmerican scholar W.E.B Du Bois’concept of double consciousness–the idea that Black Americansmust live with a sense of being“an American, a Negro…twowarring ideals in one darkbody”—Muslim militarychaplains must adhere to thetenets of the religion whileserving in wars that kill otherIslamic followers.

Maj. Khalid Shabazz, theformer Muslim chaplain for the 1-

227 Aviation Attack Battalion atFort Hood and an associate ofHasan, told National Public Radiothat practicing Islam and being asoldier is at times difficult.“All [of a] sudden, it was almostlike I switched sides to them,”Shabazz, who is African-American, said of his decision toconvert to Islam while on activeduty. “[My fellow soldiers] were

hurt because I converted. Theythought maybe I was joining on tothe enemy.”

Shabazz said Hasan andseveral of the other 48 Muslimsoldiers on base at Fort Hood hadcomplained “about being tauntedand harassed,” but he said therespected, high-rankingpsychiatrist did not appear“depressed at all.”

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Fort Hood massacre draws increased scrutiny of Islam

Koficore Studios:A hoilstic approachto fitness

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Gabby SidibeInterview

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Whenthe Speaker of the House, NancyPelosi, banged the gavel anddeclared, “The bill is passed,”health care reform that PresidentObama and Democratic leadershave pushed for so fervently overthe past year came one step closerto reality on Saturday, November7. The Senate is next.

Black lawmakers, theirDemocratic colleagues in theHouse of Representatives andcivil rights leaders celebrated thepassage of H.R. 3962 theAffordable Health Care forAmerica Act, a landmark bill thataims to reform the health caresystem in America.

The Democratic-controlledHouse narrowly passed the hotly-debated measure on Saturdaynight with a 220-215 vote. Onlyone Republican supported the bill.

President Obama called thepassage of health care reform inthe House “historic.”

“Thanks to the hard work of

the House, we are just two stepsaway from achieving healthinsurance reform in America,”Obama said in a statement. “Nowthe United States Senate mustfollow suit and pass its version ofthe legislation. I am absolutelyconfident it will, and I lookforward to signing comprehensivehealth insurance reform into lawby the end of the year.”

The legislation aims toprovide stability and security forAmericans who have insurance;quality affordable options forthose who don’t; and bring downthe cost of health care for families,businesses, and the governmentwhile strengthening the financialhealth of Medicare. And it islegislation that is fully paid forand will reduce our long-termfederal deficit, the president said.The Congressional Black Caucusheld a press conference the daybefore the historic vote toreinforce their support for thepublic option and tout their pushfor inclusion of specificprovisions that are pertinent toAfrican-Americans and otherracial minorities.

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Brandon JenningsFrom High School, toEurope, to the NBA

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Tax Creditshelp homeownerswinterize theirhomes

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Upstream Artsinitiative transcendsdisability boundaries

4PAGEObama: America justtwo steps away fromhealth insurance reform

The question that is lingering inthe minds of millions ofAmericans and is played out overand over on the evening news is:“What was the real motivebehind the outburst of shootingby Major Nidal Malik Hasan’s,the 39-year-old US-born Muslimand army psychiatrist, at the FortHood base last Thursday, killing13 and wounding at least 30people?” Everyone is looking forthe truth about Mr. Nidal’sHasan’s motive.

This American Muslim, whospent most of his life training toanalyze and understand people’sdeeper motives, now has hismotive thrust into the spotlightof the American collectivejudgment and hyper media to bequestioned and scrutinized. “Hedidn’t like what we are doing inIraq and Afghanistan.” explained

the make shift TV expert. Well,most Americans share MajorNidal’s view of those wars;however, because he is aMuslim, Major Nidal Hasan’sdisapproval of the wars must besuspicious and be part of themotive. Everyone is demanding areal answer. ‘What do you thinkabout his motive?” a nationalnewspaper reporter casuallyasked me in a telephoneinterview, as if MuslimAmericans should have adifferent insight about themotives of other Muslims that isnot available to the rest of theworld, call it the “Muslim manburden” Muslims, I had to admitin fact, have special psychic skillnot available to other humans,and, therefore, can explain themisbehaving Muslims all overthe world? That we really do allknow what motivates the 1.5billon of our brothers and sisters,those apparently chronicallyangry Muslims who arecommitting suicide and burning

the American flag on the streetsof Kabul, Baghdad, Karachi,Gaza, Cairo and, of course,Major Nidal Hasan? In spite ofthe fact that he is an American,born here, educated here and thathe committed a crime that is,tragically, not all that uncommonin America—even worthy of itsown slang term “going postal”—somehow, when it comes toAmerican Muslims, “goingpostal” becomes “goingIslamic.”

Nidal means jihad

8MUSLIM TURN TO

Ahmed Tharwat

The Associated PressFlags and flowers are shown in front of the apartment, upperright, where Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan lived

outside of Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, Monday. Hasan issuspected of opening fire on fellow soldiers during a rampage

that left 13 people dead.

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Ann Marsden 2006

3HEALTH TURN TO

By Pharoh MartinNNPA NationalCorrespondent

By Ahmed TharwatHost, BelAhdan TV

Our veterans on dutyBy day and by night

24/7 they fightA brave fight

They endure the snow and rain

They see the death and pain

They sacrifice everythingFor our country

It is the respectWe give of them all

Thank YouNovember 11, 2009 By Lue Bratton Lampley

By Kristin GraySpecial to the NNPA from the Afro-AmericanNewspapers

image3.examiner.comSuspected shooter

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan

Being a follower of Islam and anAmerican soldier is a dual, but notnecessarily irreconcilable, identity.

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WASHINGTON — People cannow weatherize their homes andbe rewarded for their efforts.According to the InternalRevenue Service, homeownersmaking energy-savingimprovements this fall can cuttheir winter heating bills and

lower their 2009 tax bill as well.The American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act (RecoveryAct), enacted earlier this year,expanded two home energy taxcredits: the nonbusiness energyproperty credit and the residentialenergy efficient property credit.

Nonbusiness Energy PropertyCredit

This credit equals 30 percent ofwhat a homeowner spends oneligible energy-savingimprovements, up to a maximumtax credit of $1,500 for thecombined 2009 and 2010 taxyears. The cost of certain high-efficiency heating and airconditioning systems, waterheaters and stoves that burnbiomass all qualify, along withlabor costs for installing theseitems. In addition, the cost ofenergy-efficient windows andskylights, energy-efficient doors,qualifying insulation and certainroofs also qualify for the credit,though the cost of installing these

items does not count.By spending as little as

$5,000 before the end of the yearon eligible energy-savingimprovements, a homeowner cansave as much as $1,500 on his orher 2009 federal income taxreturn. Due to limits based on tax

liability, other credits claimed bya particular taxpayer and otherfactors, actual tax savings willvary. These tax savings are on topof any energy savings that mayresult.

Residential Energy EfficientProperty Credit

Homeowners going green shouldalso check out a second tax creditdesigned to spur investment inalternative energy equipment.The residential energy efficientproperty credit, equals 30 percentof what a homeowner spends onqualifying property such as solarelectric systems, solar hot waterheaters, geothermal heat pumps,wind turbines, and fuel cellproperty. Generally, labor costsare included when calculatingthis credit. Also, no cap exists onthe amount of credit availableexcept in the case of fuel cellproperty.

Not all energy-efficientimprovements qualify for thesetax credits. For that reason,homeowners should check themanufacturer’s tax creditcertification statement beforepurchasing or installing any ofthese improvements. Thecertification statement canusually be found on themanufacturer’s website or withthe product packaging. Normally,a homeowner can rely on thiscertification. The IRS cautionsthat the manufacturer’scertification is different from theDepartment of Energy’s EnergyStar label, and not all Energy Starlabeled products qualify for thetax credits.

Eligible homeowners canclaim both of these credits whenthey file their 2009 federalincome tax return. Because theseare credits, not deductions, theyincrease a taxpayer’s refund orreduce the tax he or she owes. Aneligible taxpayer can claim thesecredits, regardless of whether heor she itemizes deductions onSchedule A. Use Form 5695,Residential Energy Credits, tofigure and claim these credits. Adraft version of this form isavailable now on IRS.gov.

• November 16 - November 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

The Internal Revenue Service islooking for Minnesota taxpayerswho are due to receive acombined $1.3 million in the formof 1,290 federal refund checksthat were returned to the IRS by

the U.S. Postal Service withmailing address errors.

“We want to get this moneyinto taxpayers’ hands as quicklyas possible,” said Carrie Resch,IRS spokesperson. “If you

discover you’re missing a refund,update your address with the IRS.The sooner you do, the quickeryou can get your money.”

Some taxpayers are due morethan one check. However, ataxpayer only needs to update hisor her address once. The IRS willthen send out all checks due.Undeliverable refund checks forMinnesotans average $1,009 thisyear, compared to $778 last year.

Nationally, 107,831 taxpayersare due to receive a combined$124 million in returned refundchecks. Those average $1,148 thisyear, compared to $990 last year.

Average undeliverable refundamounts rose by 16 percent thisyear, which is in line with the 16percent rise in average refunds forall tax returns in the latest filing

season. Several changes in tax lawlikely played a role in boostingrefunds, including the First-TimeHomebuyer’s Credit and theRecovery Rebate Credit, amongothers.

The vast majority of checksmailed by the IRS each year reach

their rightful owner. Only a verysmall percent are returned by theU.S. Postal Service asundeliverable.

Taxpayers can update their

addresses with the “Where’s MyRefund?” tool on IRS.gov. Thetool enables taxpayers to checkthe status of their refunds and, insome cases, provides instructionson how to resolve deliveryproblems. To use “Where’s MyRefund?” a taxpayer needs his or

her Social Security number, filingstatus and amount of refundshown on their 2008 return.

Taxpayers can access atelephone version of “Where’s My

Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.

The IRS encourages taxpayersto choose direct deposit when theyfile their returns because it puts anend to lost, stolen or undeliverablechecks. Taxpayers can receiverefunds directly into personalchecking or savings accounts.Direct deposit is available forfilers of both paper and electronicreturns.

The IRS also encouragestaxpayers to file their tax returnselectronically because e-fileeliminates the risk of lost paperreturns. E-file also reduces errorson tax returns and speeds uprefunds.

E-file coupled with directdeposit is the best option; it’s easy,fast and secure.

Rynn is about to graduate. Sheis excited about her future andpassionate about life. Shewears her heart right there onher sleeve, but is that the bestplace for a heart during an

interview? Yes, definitely.Rynn had a phone interview

for a position she wanted morethan anything. She hadprepared for days, thinkingabout the organization and thejob, trying to anticipate thequestions she would have toanswer. She was ready foranything, but when she heardthat most common interviewquestion, “What was yourgreatest accomplishment?” shesurprised herself with herresponse.

“It still makes me smilewhen I think about it,” she said.Then she followed up with an

explanation of what was sogreat and why.

Phone interviews are tough.Without visual clues, it is hardto read whether someone likeswhat you’ve said or iscompletely turned off. Inperson, you get credit for goodlooks, good posture, a timelylaugh or smile. Over thephone, both interviewer andinterviewee are dependent onword choice and inflection toget their messages across.Even email interviews might beeasier because then, at least,you can toss in an emoticonhere or there. (No, don’t).

Be appropriate, butgenerous, with your personalityduring a job interview. Don’tramble or get off track withyour answers, but do stand outby being yourself. Bringingsomething beyond a planned,pat answer - bringing your ownpersonality to the phoneinterview - will help youbecome more memorable to theperson who might have askedthe same questions to a dozencandidates that day. Whatmakes your GreatestAccomplishment any betterthan the next guy’s? I’ll tellyou. It’s all in how you tell the

story.“It still makes me smile,” is

a perfect way to secure theinterest of the interviewer. Itsays, sit up, listen, because thismight make you smile, too.And these days, who can’t use asmile?

Sometimes the best way tocalm your nerves is to let a littleair out of the balloon. If youare thrilled just to get the phoneinterview with thisorganization, it’s okay to sayso. If you feel nervous, justput it out there. Let themknow you are professional, buthuman, too. Pro interviewers

and good managers willrespond by helping you feelmore comfortable. And if itmakes you smile, say so.

Does it sound like I wassucking up? she asked.Were you? Not at all; it justcame out that way. Thenyou’re good.

Julie Desmond is Director ofCareer Planning Resources forHelp Wanted! Workshop inMinneapolis. Send yourcomments [email protected].

BUSINESSIt still makes me smile: Bring your personality to phone interviews

IRS seeks to return $1.3 million in refunds to Minnesotans

Tax Credits help homeowners winterize their homes

By Julie [email protected]

Planyour

career

fastuksecuredloans.co.uk

Taxpayers can update theiraddresses with the “Where’s My

Refund?” tool on IRS.gov

“In August, we saw the publicoption appear to be going nowhere,” said Barbara Lee, (D-CA)Chairwoman, CongressionalBlack Caucus. “We were able towork with caucuses to make surethat we have in this bill a strongpublic option. When nobody elsewas speaking about racial andethnic disparities, theCongressional Black Caucus andour Tri-Caucus put those issueswith our Health Equity andAccountability Act on the table,”she said.

After the vote Lee applaudedthe efforts of her colleagues andthe Democratic leadership forpassing a bill with a strong publicoption, but urged that there is stillmuch work to do.

“When others werepronouncing health reform dying— and the public option dead andburied —we kept on fighting!And we will keep fighting until afinal health care bill is on thepresident’s desk; one that includesnot only a strong public option,but provisions to achieve healthequity, eliminate health disparitiesand to limit the rate of increase forthose with private plans,” Leesaid.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)called the bill far from perfect.But, he said that he supported thelegislation because the bill, withthe public option included, willexpand coverage to 96 percent ofthe population and enddiscrimination based on pre-existing conditions.

“I voted for this bill becausethe cost of inaction is too high,”the Michigan congressman said.“Each year, 44,000 people diebecause they do not have accessto insurance. Without reform, thisnumber would rise. Americanswould be at greater risk of losingtheir coverage, and our businesscommunity would continue to fall

behind international competitorsas their future profits are drainedby burdensome health care costs.”

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)called the bill’s passage “one ofthe most important moments inour history.” He said, “It has beena long tough struggle, but we tooksignificant steps this eveningtoward making a powerfuldifference in the lives of everyAmerican … This is not a perfectbill, but it is the beginning wemust make to transform healthcare in America and make surethat health care is a right and not aprivilege.”

The NAACP, National Urban

League and The Black LeadershipForum commended Congress forthe bill’s passage.

“Tonight, our Congress peoplemade a decision to stop letting somany of our neighbors die forlack of affordable health carecoverage,” said NAACPPresident and CEO BenjaminJealous. “We applaud them forincluding the public option. Thepublic option means more choice,more competition, lower costs,more families covered, and fewforced into bankruptcy.”

Executive Director and CEOof the Black Leadership ForumGary L. Flowers said that the

bill’s passage represents a victoryfor all of America not just BlackAmerica.

“The urgent need for healthcare reform brought together over50 civil rights organizations torelay our concerns, and togetherwe were able to ensure thatCongress indeed heard ourvoices,” Flowers said.

Republicans remainedvehemently opposed. MichaelSteele, the chairman of theRepublican National Committee,also released a statement.

“Nancy Pelosi and her liberallieutenants made a lot of promisestoday to get the votes they

desperately needed,” he said.“Make no mistake - the Democratleadership’s assurances werebased on political expediency, notprinciple. Anyone receiving apromise from Pelosi is guaranteedto be disappointed in the endwhen their votes are no longerneeded.”

The president will be able tosign an amalgamated billcomprised from components fromboth chambers of Congress. Butthe Senate still has to pass a bill,and that is less certain. The healthcare bill in the Senate faces notonly stiff opposition fromRepublicans, but also from

Democratic moderates.Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)

is threatening to back aRepublican filibuster if the billcontains a public option. WithoutLieberman’s crucial support,Senate Democrats will not be ableto block a filibuster, a stallingstrategy to indefinitely hold up avote on the bill. If the bill passesthe Senate, the final step will be tohold a conference ofrepresentatives from the House inorder to reconcile the two billsinto one, after which both Houseswill revote on the reconciled bill.

http://insightnews.com Insight News • November 16 - November 22, 2009 •

INSIGHT NEWS

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Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday byMcFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

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HealthFrom 1

Upstream Arts initiativetranscends disability boundariesBacked by the VSA arts andMetLife Foundation’s “ArtsConnect All” grants funding,Minneapolis based UpstreamArts has embarked on a newpartnership with MinneapolisPublic Schools, bringing itsinnovative approach of teachingsocial and communication skillsto students with and without

disabilities into eight MPSSpecial Education classrooms.Upstream Arts is one of only tenorganizations in the nation toreceive the “Arts Connect All”grant, which cultivates andrecognizes arts educationprograms that create learningenvironments where studentswith and without disabilitieslearn side-by-side, creating arttogether. The grant rewards

programs that use the arts todevelop students’ social,cognitive, and artistic skills.

Upstream Arts integratesindividuals of all abilities,including those with cognitive,developmental, and physicaldisabilities. Its multi-disciplinaryarts education programs aredesigned to develop social andcommunication skills whileproviding positive and creative

experiences that promote selfconfidence. Once a week, teamsof local professional artists—including actors, musicians,visual artists, poets anddancers—lead arts activities thatnurture self-expression,conversation skills, and groupparticipation. Through its uniquepartnership with MPS, 120students with and withoutdisabilities, ranging in age from

kindergarten to 12th grade, willhave the opportunity to work andcreate alongside some of theTwin Cities finest professionalartists, while learning valuablelife skills.

Though 16% of MinneapolisPublic School students receiveSpecial Education services, thereare few opportunities in theschool environment for studentswith and without disabilities tointeract and get to know eachother. Upstream Arts’ programprovides a place where studentscan gain understanding andrespect for one another and learnhow to interact with students ofall abilities. Having a venue tointeract with peers is especiallyimportant for students withdisabilities. As Ann Fox, MPSSpecial Education Directorstated, “Its not the standard

academic areas like math andscience where we see the greatestneed. The area of greatest needfor all of our Special Educationstudents is social andcommunication skills. This isthe area where we need to focusand that is central to theirsuccess.”

Now in its fourth year ofoperations, Upstream Arts isexperiencing exponentialgrowth. In its first year, only twoschools and under 100 peoplewere served. Last year,Upstream Arts served over 1100people and this year is on pace toserve nearly twice that number ofyouth and adults with andwithout disabilities around theTwin Cities metro area.

For more information go to:www.upstreamarts.org.


EDUCATION

Upstream Arts initiative transcends disability boundaries

Photos: Matt GuidryLake Harriet Community School students Devin Masanz (on the left) and John Eiler (on the right)

act out a scene about how to treat others who are upset.Upstream Arts’ Teaching Artist Dylan Fresco (on the left) and Lake Harriet Community School

student Storm Beaudreau (on the right) play the Handshake Game.

GABOUREY “Gabby” SIDIBEwas born in the BedfordStuyvesant section of Brooklyn in1983 to R&B/Gospel singer AliceTan Ridley, and Ibnou Sidibe, acab driver from Senegal. After herparents separated, Gabby wasraised in Harlem by her motherwho supported the family byteaching Special Ed and bysinging in the subway.

A graduate of WashingtonIrving High School, Gabby waspursuing a degree in psychology atMercy College and working as atelephone company customerservice representative when shedecided to try out for the title rolein the movie Precious. Heraudition so wowed director LeeDaniels that he had no hesitationabout picking her over the 400other actresses answering thecasting call.

Here, Gabby talks about thefilm and her critically-acclaimedperformance, both of which haveHollywood humming with earlyOscar buzz.

Kam Williams: Hi Gabby, I lovedthe film and was blown away byyour performance. .Gabby Sidibe: Thank you! KW: Tell me a little about yourbackground. GS: My dad’s from Senegal, andmy mom’s from Georgia. Butoddly, her roots trace back toSenegal, too. I was born in Bed-Stuy, and I lived there until rightbefore I turned 8. That’s when wemoved to Harlem.KW: Do you know where MedgarEvers College is in Bed-Stuy?

GS: Yeah. My mom went toMedgar Evers. KW: What a coincidence! That’swhere I went to high school beforeit was turned into a college. Wheredid you go to high school?GS: I attended Washington IrvingHigh School. KW: Another coincidence, that’swhere my mother went. GS: Really?KW: Yep. What interested you inauditioning for the role ofPrecious?GS: I’m not sure I had a seriousinterest. To be honest, my momhad told me to go audition for thepart. In a weird way, I think I justkind of ended up there. Just thethought that I could be in the filmwas really, really interesting. Iguess that’s part of the reason whyI auditioned. But I auditioned withthe absolute belief that I wasn’tgoing to get it. KW: Lee told me that he had toaudition over 400 actresses beforehe found you, and that the role ofPrecious was the most challengingone to fill. What do you think soldhim on you?GS: He said that he saw a lot ofgirls who were just like Precious,and that the difference with mewas that I wasn’t anything like her,and that I was obviously acting.He didn’t want to be seen aspossibly exploiting a girl similar toPrecious, so I think that played apart in his decision, along with mygiving a really good audition. KW: What was it like actingopposite big stars like MariahCarey and Lenny Kravitz? GS: It was amazing! I felt veryfortunate to get to work aroundpeople that I idolized. KW: Did they live up to yourexpectations? GS: As it turned out, every one ofthem was so much more awesomethan I expected.KW: And how’d you like beingdirected by Lee? GS: Lee is just adorable, cute andso much fun! He’s a disarminggenius with a very creative mind.

KW: Is there any question no oneever asks you, that you wishsomeone would?GS: No one’s ever asked if I likepeanut butter and jellysandwiches.KW: Okay, do you like peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches?GS: Yep.KW: The Tasha Smith question:Are you ever afraid?GS: [Chuckles] Yeah, I’m afraidof a lot of stuff, although I’m notreally the nervous type. Like, Iwant to see the movie ParanormalActivity, but I’m afraid to gobecause I’ll believe it’s real.[Laughs]KW: The Teri Emerson question:When was the last time you had agood laugh?GS: Earlier today, after reading togrammar school students withPaula Patton and Mariah. As wewere leaving, a little girl yelled atme from across the schoolyard,“Gabby, I saw you on Ellen.You’re a really good dancer.” Ithought it was just the cutest thinghow she was so excited. Thatmade me laugh pretty hard, andI’ve been doing impressions of herall day.” KW: The bookworm TroyJohnson question: What was thelast book you read?GS: “Addicted” by Zane.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743442849?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743442849 KW: I met Zane on a party aboarda boat recently. She’s really nice. GS: Oh, I bet she is.KW: The music maven HeatherCovington question: What musicare you listening to nowadays? GS: At the moment, I’m listening

to a lot of R&B. I really like TreySongz. I also like Lady GaGa a lot.She certainly helps on car rideswhen I’m on my way to aninterview or a photo shoot. I listento a lot of what’s on the radio. I’mafraid I don’t stray away from thepopular. KW: When you look in the mirror,what do you see?GS: Ooh! I see myself! Usually,I’m really happy with what I seewhen I look at myself. I look intothe mirror and I give myself peptalks, and coach myself to make itthrough the day, which isn’t hardto do. I congratulate myself formaking it this far in life and forbeing the person I want to be. KW: What is your favorite dish tocook?GS: There’s this weird thing thatI’ve been doing lately. I live withroommates who are all boys, and ifI ever do cook, it’s usually TopRamen. Isn’t that terrible?[Laughs] I’ll add an egg to it, ormaybe hamburger meat, and peas,or corn, or broccoli to go with it.But Top Ramen is pretty muchalways the starch dish. I like to tellpeople I’m a good cook, but I’mprobably not. Sometimes, I makebreakfast for everyone, and myroommates say they like it, but I’mnot sure. KW: The Flex Alexanderquestion: How do you get throughthe tough times?GS: By counting my blessings.KW: The Mike Pittman question:Who was your best friend inchildhood?GS: My best friend still is CrystalHawthorne. She and I met in the5th grade, and we’ve been bestfriends ever since. I have anendless amount of memories withher, and I know for sure that she’llalways be there for me.

KW: Lester Chisholm asks, whydid you agree to portray this role?GS: The short answer is to get outof college. [Giggles]KW: Laz Lyles asks, when did allof this become real for you? Whendid it hit you that Precious wasreally taking off?GS: I try to not let it become realto me. Because whatever state I’min right now, is the best feelingever. It doesn’t feel real to me.What does feel real is when peoplewho’ve seen the film, like at thepremiere the other day, come up tome and thank me. I don’t feel likeI’ve done a service, but Iappreciate that they think I’vegiven them something. And thenI’ll see Will Smith walk by and itbecomes unreal again. KW: Laz also asks, was there akind of kinship among all theactors?GS: Yes, we absolutely loved eachother. I certainly had the best timeof my life making some greatrelationships while filming thismovie. KW: Carmela Reimers asks:where does your happiness comefrom?GS: From naps, sushi andwatching “Oz.” KW: Carmela has a follow-up.How do you think this suddensuccess will influence your future?GS: I don’t know. I hopepositively. I hope I can continue toact. I hope that I’ve shownHollywood that even though I’mnot blonde or a size 2, I’m stillworthy of carrying a film. KW: Do you consider yourself anintellectual?GS: Intelligent? Yes, thank you.But an intellectual? Probably not.I’m way too goofy to be anintellectual.KW: Carmela’s final question is,

do you intend to pass on your goodfortune? And by that she doesn’tmean money.GS: That’s cool, because I have nomoney. I absolutely do intend to.First of all, I have younger sisters.It’s amazing for me to be able toshow them that someone from ourneighborhood can achieveanything.KW: Children’s book author IreneSmalls was curious about whatkind of internal emotionalresources came into play whenyou created the character ofPrecious?GS: Compassion. I had a lot ofcompassion for the character. KW: Attorney Bernadette waswondering whether you read thebook before reading the script.GS: Yes, I read it about 4 yearsprior, and it split me open,emotionally. KW: Bernadette asks if you

AESTHETICS

Interview

By Kam Williams


Gabourey Sidibe: New film star rising

/www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.comGabourey Sidibe

7SIDIBE TURN TO

Koficore Studios in Minneapolisis like no other gym that I haveever visited. The space is sobeautiful and so comfortable.Dark cherry wood covers theentire studio floor. KoficoreStudios is extremely clean andloaded with all the equipment aperson will need for a completeworkout.

The studio also includes a firstclass acupuncture room, messagetherapy room, shower and waitingroom.

I was promptly greeted by the

owner Kofi Robinson, a man whois in very good physical shape andseems to take his fitness veryseriously. After our initial greetingRobinson walked me into hisoffice to begin our interview.

Robinson has been working asa fitness coach and trainer for thelast 12 years. He has had hisstudio on Franklin and PillsburyAve. So., for the last 5 years. Heproudly reveals that he has

retained 90% of his clientele sincethe move to this new location.One of Robinson’s clients drivesfrom suburban Orono to SouthMinneapolis, just to receive hisexpertise and services.

Koficore Studios providesclients with personal training andindividual class options includingyoga and Tai Chi. A client also hasthe opportunity to buy monthlymemberships to his gym, givingaccess to unlimited classes andweekly personal training classes.

Most of his clientele, heclaims, come to him to get a “realworkout”. Robinson says, “Mostpeople go to the bigger and betterknown gyms to socialize. My

studio provides clients with theopportunity to get in a workout ina space where accountability isimportant. Once you enter thestudio, there is no chilling out. Myprograms are well planned andwell thought out.”

Robinson prides himself on“Giving his clients the tools tofish and then letting them go fishfor the rest of their lives.”

“If you have a hap-hazardlifestyle that includes poor eating,poor sleeping and poor thoughts,exercise alone will not improveyour overall health,” he says.

He admits that he gets a lot ofexcuses from people regardingtheir ability to fit exercise intotheir lifestyles.

Robinson likes to take aholistic approach to fitness. “Thatmeans eating well, 8 hours ofsleep per night to let your bodyrejuvenate, positive thought andexercise that includes cardio andstrength training to improve youroverall health,” he says.Robinson acknowledges hisdifference from most other

trainers in the city, describinghimself as one of only six holistictrainers in Twin Cities.

Like most businesses,Robinson says Koficore Studioshas suffered some due to thecurrent economy, but he isthankful for his returning clienteleand the blessings he has receivedfrom this business in ourcommunity. “I am very blessed to

be doing what I am doing and tohave the clientele that I have,” hesays.

Fitness tips from Kofi Robinson:• Find an educated fitnessprofessional to work with.• Make sure they assess you. Ifthey are not assessing, they areguessing. • Everyone is different and needsa different program to reach theirgoals.• Use exercise as a supplement toyour program. • If you are not in good health,classes can help you sustain andimprove health.• Breakfast is the most importantmeal and should be the “biggest”meal of the day.

• The “what not to eat” list isshorter than the “what to eat” list.

His advice to people who want toget into the fitness profession:• Go to college, and study thebody. Be strong in anatomy,physiology and kinesiology.• Intern at a small fitness facilityto see how they do it.

I plan to go take my first yogaclass at his studio in the nextweek. I know I am going to enjoyit because the studio alone is anexperience. I would stronglyencourage anyone who can getover to his studio to take theopportunity to have proper fitnesstraining.

While you are there, makesure that you actually take the

time to meet Kofi. He will helpyou look at health in a different,more positive way, no matter whatyour fitness level! You willdiscover that Kofi Robinson takeshis work very seriously bywalking the walk and talking thetalk.

Koficore Studio is locatedat104 West Franklin Ave.,Minneapolis, MN 55404. He canbe reached at 612-871-4831 or byemail: [email protected] andwebsite: koficore.com.

Brandi Phillips is a personaltrainer, life skills coach andprofessional dancer. She isinterested in cultivating health inchildren and sustaining the healthof seniors.

HEALTH • November 16 - November 22, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

Koficore Studios: A holistic approach to fitnessBy Brandi [email protected]

Photo courtesy of Kofi Core StudiosKofi Robinson

think your studying psychologyimpacted your performance.GS: I hope so. I hope I gotsomething out of those 4 years Ispent in college. I had read somebooks about the anatomy of avictim, and I certainly tried tocarry that knowledge intoPrecious.KW: Reverend Florine Thompsonasks, how did you preparespiritually to do this role? GS: We prayed every day on theset. And I even prayed alone bymyself during every moment ofdowntime on the set. I wasactually on the worship team at mychurch, but had to take a leave ofabsence while making the film. KW: Reverend Thopson askswhether you could see yourself asa spokeswoman on the issue ofdomestic violence.GS: I don’t really have anyexperience as a spokesperson, butI’m willing to help out that causein any way I can. I’m veryfortunate not to have anyexperience in that area, but I do

have experience in learning how tolove myself and knowing whatmakes me happy. KW: What is your long-termcareer goal?GS: [Laughs] My goal is just tohave a career. I hope to be able todo a lot of different types of films.To do a comedy, to play a romanticlead, and to do a lot of otherdifferent things. KW: The good Reverend’s last

question is: what is your source ofi n s p i r a t i o n ?GS: A lot of times it’s music. It’salso life in general: my friends, myroommates, my mom, my family. KW: Marcia Evans asks: howhave you matured from makingthis film?GS: [Giggles] I’m pretty muchabout as mature as I was before. Ioperate on the level of about a 19year-old. So, I probably haven’tmatured much at all, which I thinkhelps. KW: Marcia also asks whetheryou were emotionally affected bythe role. GS: No, what I felt most was aresponsibility to tell this girl’sstory the best way I could. The factthat Lee Daniels chose me spoke

volumes, and I wanted to measureup to what he thought I could be. KW: Marcia concludes by sayingthat Precious will help to healmany young women who havebeen abused. She asks, if yourealize that you are now a voice for

the unspoken?GS: Oh, “thank you” is all I cansay to that. KW: How do you feel about allthe Oscar buzz Precious has beengetting?GS: It’s scary, and a tad

premature. I’ve never been herebefore, so I don’t really know whatit’s like to be in an Oscar-worthyfilm. It’s unnerving, but I’m alsoso grateful that anyone wouldconsider associating our film withan Oscar or any other award. KW: Well, best of luck withPrecious, and I hope to speak withyou again during awards season. GS: Thank you so much.

To see Gabby’s mother performing“I Will Survive” on the subway,visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLlg4Zk-If4&feature=related

To order a copy of “Push,” thenovel on which Precious is based,visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307474844?ie=UTF8&tag=thslfofire-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307474844

To see a trailer for Precious, visit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FYahzVU44


SidibeFrom 5

cssstudios.files.wordpress.comGabourey Sidibe as “Precious”

cssstudios.files.wordpress.com

“What first came to yourmind when you heard the newsof the shooting in Texas?” camethe interviewer’s sympatheticvoice over the phone. To behonest with you, the question ofMajor Nidal Hasan’s real motivehas been going through my mindmillions of times ever since. Ithought to myself perhaps MajorNidal Hasan ‘s hidden motivearrived at birth and was carriedas a burden all his life, the callfor “Jihad” that started nagginghim once he was given the nameNidal—which means ‘jihad’ orstruggle in Arabic. Whichsummaries very much MajorNidal Hasan life, struggling for“jihad” This name was given asit is customary in the Arab worldto him by his Palestinian parentsas inspirational wishful thinking

for a his future life, his parentswho had been under the Israelioccupation for years beforemoving to the U.S. The nameitself was a heavy burden thatMajor Jihad Hasan had struggledall his ordinary life , one that wasapparently devoid of real love,family or friends, a lonesome lifefor a lonely man because of hisethnicity and religion, teasedfrequently by his peers andfriends whose trust he nevergained. His name never allowedhim to brush his past aside andforget. ‘Nidal”, Nidal’, Nidal”,people keep calling for Nidaleverywhere he goes. Did hethink that his parents didn’t namehim “Nidal’ just to sit down andlisten to other people struggleand forget his own? Major NidalHasan who never risked anythingin his life, made all the rightdecision easy decisions tobecome a doctor, his parentsgiven name always reminding

him of their suffering inPalestine through occupation andhumiliation, always remindinghim through their his parents bedstories about the Palestiniansuffering and the Muslim victimsmilieu. The pictures hanging onhis bedroom wall a reminder ofthat and whispered to him atnight to never forget, on hisbedroom growing up therewasn’t any picture of duck orloon or even a naked woman tocomfort him at night when noone is looking. It must have beenhard for him to hear all thoseterrible tragic stories happeningto his Muslim brothers all overthe world. Verses of the Quranframed on his living room askedthis of him? To fight those whoare trying to kill you where youface them. Was that the realstruggle, the real Nidal?

As American people weretreated like children and wereprotected from seeing thehorrible of wagging their ownwars, Nidal seeing it all andheard it all first hand; The heavyburden of an American Muslimpsychiatrist who on a daily basislistened to the harrowing storiesof his American countrymen andcomrades describing horrible

events, most likely committedagainst his Muslim brothers inIraq and Afghanistan. Every timehe hears his name “Nidal” healways thinks about the real“Nidal”, the real struggle. All hislife he has helped Americanswith their tortured souls, but henever really came to term andhelped his own.

The suffering of theunfulfilled, unremarkable man,who never before had had thecourage or had taken such a greatrisk, who with one outrageousaction, could turn his ordinarylife into an extraordinary andinfamous one, a lonely life wasscarified to be part of a biggerthan his own mundane one, anddon’t forget as a bonus the 73virgins are waiting for the manwhom himself was a 39 year oldvirgin.

Ahmed Tharwat is Host of ArabAmerican TV show BelAhdanwhich airs on MN public TVSaturdays at 10:30pm.w w w . a h m e d i a . c o m/www.belahdan.com

For most folks, November marksthe beginning of the festivefeasting season, which usuallylasts until January. Mosthouseholds have already startedstocking their pantries with theirfavorite herbs and spices, freshbottles of pure vanilla and lemonextract, sugar, cornmeal, and cansof cranberry sauce, chicken broth,and evaporated milk. All of theseitems are purchased inanticipation of upcoming

gatherings, where family andfriends come together to thankGod for the year’s blessing.Before I get too misty-eyed, Iwant to rewind just a little. I needto ask a rather personal question.“Are your pantries clean??” If theanswer is no, stop right now andstep away from the pantry. Let’stalk about simple and budget-friendly ways to bring order toyour cabinets and pantries so thatyou can successfully host theholiday dinner that you that havebeen seeing in your mind’s eye.

1. Clear It All OutWhether you have a shelved walk-in pantry or cabinets, the first stepto creating order is to remove allof the contents. This way you cantake inventory of what you haveand make a list of what you stillneed to purchase. This is also agreat opportunity to combine the

two half-used boxes of salt intoone. (Remember to toss the emptybox.) In addition, throw out itemshaving expired “use by” dates.(At least, don’t serve the expiredfood to guests-food poisoning hasa funny way of ruining anotherwise happy Thanksgivingfeast!) As you are pulling thefood out of the pantry, groupsimilar items together. You don’thave to be a neat freak for this towork. It really is easy to gatherthe spices, the soup cans and thepastas into groups so they can bestored together.

2. Make Food VisibleOne great way to take advantageof the vertical space in yourpantry is by using tiered storageracks. For around $10, you canfind a three-shelf spice rack,which not only gives you morespace, it gives your garlic powdera permanent home. In additionthere are three-tiered systems forcans, with prices starting ataround $15. This way, you can seeat a glance what you have and alsowhat you need. You can also findunder-shelf-racks, which are madeto slide onto existing shelving to

create storage underneath theshelf. They are inexpensive andtypically require no tools.

3. Use Baskets and Air-TightContainersAnother helpful strategy forkeeping that pantry user-friendlyis to place open items, such asvarious pastas, in a tall air-tightcontainer. Simply keep items intheir original packaging and placethem all in one large container.Baskets make efficient storagesolutions as well. Use one basketto store various types of muffinmixes and other small boxedquick meals, and use a secondbasket for chips, crackers, andpopcorn. Using a box or basketsystem also helps makerearranging food very simple. Toencourage the entire family toparticipate, label the baskets andshelves, and give the family abrief overview of the new storagesystem.

Is your ketchup hiding behindthe can of coffee? Have you beensearching for the nutmeg that youbought last month? Don’t allow amessy pantry to slow you downduring meal preparation.

Especially since the holidayseason is around the corner,commit to rethinking your currentfood storage plan. Make it moreefficient with a few simplestrategies and items. Not onlywill you save time, you’ll alsosave money by not making somany duplicate purchases. Andultimately, those two savings-timeand money- will produce another

huge benefit; less stress! Enjoy!

Marcia Humphrey is an interiordecorator and home stager whospecializes in achieving high styleat low costs. A native ofMichigan, she and her husband,Lonnie, have three children.


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MuslimFrom 1

(NNPA) - Pretend you are on achurch pew. Worshipping, eightof you. If you are sitting up inthe Black church, two of youeight do not have a job.

Multiply that by the wholechurch. The two in eight numbergets even worse. Someonesitting jobless is connected to afamily with a job, a family whofeels connection andresponsibility, a need to help.

The family member with thejob is more frightened thanfrightened can be. Lance needs aloan, and she can offer it today,but what will happen tomorrowto Lance and the family. Theentire extended family istraumatized by Lance’s job loss.

Lance, of course, is a Blackman. Unemployment has hitLance and Tanya harder than ithas hit the entire population, butit has hit all of us hard. Thedouble-digit unemployment ratewhich was released on Friday,10.2 percent, is a lovely fiction, aglossing over, of the church pewreality. The fact is that one in six

Americans, and more than fourAfrican Americans are out ofwork.

The unemployment rate isone we have not seen in over 25years, when (ugh) RonaldReagan was President. Then, thespin-doctors tried to alterunemployment rates byexcluding the military andmanipulating the number so thatthe more than 10 percent rate wasless that it might have been. Atthe same time the Bureau ofLabor Statistics reported that 10percent could be higher ifdiscouraged workers, those whoworked part time but wanted towork full time and thoseotherwise underemployed werecounted.

Here we go again.The Bureau of Labor

Statistics has been reportingalternative measures ofunemployment for a long time.The media has not often pickedthem up. I was delighted to hearthat, finally, the media is gettingit, noting that 10.2 is a beautifulfiction. According to BLS theunemployment rate is as high as17.5 percent. If the sameproportions apply to the AfricanAmerican community as to the

overall community, the Blackunemployment rate is 26 percent.That means look around you atthe church pew. One in fourpeople are not working. Maybeone in three because the datadoesn’t capture Black folks like itdoes the rest of the world. Thechurch is teeming withunemployment.

So where do these spindoctors get off talking mess aboutan economic recovery. They sayunemployment is a laggingindicator, which means thatunemployment rates trend downonly after economic recoveryoccurs. Tell that to the womanstanding outside the toy store,trying to buy a holiday present.Calling somebody a laggingindicator is like calling them out.How does it feel to be a laggingindicator in an economy that isshedding jobs so fast that it isfrightening? How does it feel tobe a lagging indicator when somesay there is economic recovery?Do I repeat myself when I saythat it is time for a federal jobsprogram? Health care has gottennarrow Congressional approval,but health care withoutemployment is like romancewithout finance, and the choir

should now all holler, “anuisance.” In other words, muchof the health care passed isemployer connected health care.When people don’t have jobs,they don’t have opportunities.

We have examples from the1930s, the 1950s, the 1970s, andthe 1980s of ways the federalgovernment has been involved increating jobs. It is time tocreate jobs now, to deal with aWorks Progress Administrationtype program to put our nationback to work. Too many peoplehave been hit too hard, too long –with nearly 16 million out ofwork, with more than a third ofthose having been out of work forhalf a year.

We know the numbers, andthey are daunting numbers.According to the Bureau of LaborStatistics, one in ten of us is outof work. That statistic is anamazing fiction; the reality isnearly seventy percent worse –17.5 percent of us are jobless. Inthe African American communitythe numbers are more daunting –more than 26 percent, more thanone in four, are not working.

Look up and down the pew inyour church. One in four of youis praying for survival. One in

four is not working. We who areworking are connected to thosewho are not working, and we tooare scarred by the weight we willcarry because of theirunemployment. We are waiting,wanting a federal jobs program.Up and down the pew, the painpalpitates. Let us create jobs.

Let the church say “Amen”.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is aneconomist and author. She isalso President of Bennett Collegefor women in Greensboro, NorthCarolina. She may be reachedat [email protected].


COMMENTARYOne in four in the church pew out of work

Earlier this year, majorcorporations like GeneralMotors, Bank of America andCitigroup received federal dollars– taxpayer money – to keep theiroperations afloat. Despite publicoutcries of corporate excess andfinancial mismanagementleading the entities to the messthey were in, the governmentfollowed through with thesebailouts because it was the rightthing to do for the nation’s

economy. In the midst of all this,we’ve heard very little aboutsmall businesses, which are thebackbone of the Americaneconomy. This recession hasaffected them, too. And it’s timewe turn our attention in theirdirection.

Small businesses keepAmerica strong, financially.During good economic times,these businesses are responsiblefor more than 70 percent of allnew jobs created. Additionally, alarger percentage of Americanswork for small or mid-sizebusinesses than major

corporations. Yet, during toughfinancial times, such as the onewe are currently in, thesebusinesses can be hit so hard thatthey are forced to shut down.

For decades, Democrats andRepublicans have sung thepraises of small businesses. Afterall, what says “American Values”more than an entrepreneurworking and saving so that theycan open their own company?Singing the praises of thesebusinesses and valuing themenough to make sure they aresupported are two very differentthings. Finally, our elected

officials are stepping up andworking to assist and protectsmall businesses. PresidentObama would like to increase theamount of Small BusinessAdministration loans. Sen. MarkWarner, a Democrat from–Virginia, wants to create a $50billion loan fund for smallbusinesses. Both men areworking within their party tobuild support for the initiativesand to create a strategy forbringing them to life.

This is a start. Other electedofficials must take an active roleand support both plans. But they

must also create supportnetworks for those smallbusinesses just starting out. Andthey should encourage, even inthese economic times, moreAmericans to pursueentrepreneurship. Fromproviding financial assistance tofunding classes that help businessowners learn all they need tomake their venture a success, thegovernment should support smallbusiness. After all, it has a vestedinterest in making sure theysucceed.

Judge Greg Mathis became the

youngest judge in Michigan’shistory and was elected aSuperior Court Judge forMichigan’s 36th District. He hasbeen called upon as a regularcontributor to national televisionprograms, including “Larry KingLive,” “Politically Incorrect,”CNN’s “Talk Back Live,”“Showbiz Tonight” and “Extra”to discuss his opinions oncomplex issues of the day, such asnational security, uniquesentencing, affirmative actionand celebrity scandals. He alsooffers his take on high-profilelegal cases.

Proposed $50 billion fund can mean more small business loans

By Julianne MalveauxNNPA Columnist

jfs.ohio.gov

By Judge Greg Mathis


Send Community Calendarinformation to us by: email,[email protected], by fax:612-588-2031, by phone: (612)588-1313 or by mail: 1815Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN55411, Attn: Ben Williams. Freeor low cost events preferred.

Events

Arts and Cultural HeritageFund listening sessions – Nov.16, 17, 18Nov. 16, 5-7 p.m., RochesterCommunity and TechnicalCollege, Heinz Center, 851 30thAve. S.E., Rochester. Nov. 17, 5-7 p.m., East Side NeighborhoodServices, 1700 2nd St. N.E.,Minneapolis. Nov. 18, 5-7 p.m.,Southwest Minnesota StateUniversity, Charter Hall, 1501State St. S., Marshall. Membersof the public are encouraged toattend and offer input. An onlinesurvey is available at www.ACHFMinnesota.org.

Free film showing: “Troublethe Water” – Nov. 16Monday, Nov. 16th at 6:30 PMat Parish Center, St. Joan of ArcCatholic Church, 4537 ThirdAvenue South, Mpls. Winner2008 Sundance Film. 24-yearold rap artist and her husbanddocument the stories of thevictims of hurricane Katrina.

Camden Music School WinterRegistration – Nov. 16 Winter term: January 11 –March 20 (10 weeks).Scholarship applications due:5pm Monday, January 4.Family discounts available. Allages welcome. Locations:Northeast Community LutheranChurch, 697 13th AvenueNortheast, Minneapolis. LutherMemorial Lutheran Church,3751 Sheridan Avenue North,Minneapolis. To register, or formore information visitwww.camdenmusicschool.comor call 612-618-0219.

‘Family Feuds: How We DealWith Difference’ - Ongoing7 to 9 p.m. on five consecutiveMondays from Oct. 19 to Nov.16. Locations are: Oct. 19,Gloria Dei Lutheran Church;Oct. 26, Islamic Center ofMinnesota; Nov. 2, Klas Center,Hamline University; Nov. 9,Temple of Aaron; Nov. 16,Central Baptist Church. Foraddresses and directions go tothe SPIN Website at:http://www.spacc.org/spin.

Salvation, Who Is It ReallyFor? - Nov. 17Tues., Nov. 17 at the SumnerLibrary, 611 Van WhiteMemorial Blvd., Mpls from 3:00- 5:30 pm. Members of theIsraelite Church of God In JesusChrist, Minneapolis Division,will be hosting a free spiritualseminar to discuss a verysensitive and often taboo topic.For more info or seatreservations, call (612) 302-9836.

A Tribute to Federico GarciaLorca – Nov. 18Weds., 7:00 p.m. at HillcrestAuditorium, adjacent to theHighland Park Library, 1974Ford Parkway, St. Paul, 651-695-3700. A Night of Poetry,Music and Flamenco featuringFlamenco guitar master MichaelHauser, actress Mim Solberg,dancer Deborah Elias Morse andsaxophonist Chuck Armstrong.

A Public Meeting for theLowry Ave. Strategic Plan –Nov. 19Thursday, Nov. 19, 6:00 PM –8:00 PM at North RegionalLibrary, 315 Lowry AvenueNorth Minneapolis. Moreinformation: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/lowry_strategic_plan.asp

Minneapolis Urban LeagueGuild’s 2nd Annual Arts andCrafts Fair – Nov. 21Sat., Nov. 21, 10 am- 5 pm at

Minneapolis Urban League,Glover-Sudduth Center, 2100Plymouth Ave. N., Mpls. Spaceand tables are limited and are ona first-come, first serve basis. Toreserve your table or space, orfor more information, contactLucretia Sudduth Wood at (612)730-1904, or via e-mail [email protected]

Remembering Pablo Casals: aConcert for Peace – Nov. 21, 22Sat., Nov. 21, 7:00 p.m. andSun., Nov. 22, 4:00 p.m. atPlymouth CongregationalChurch, 1900 Nicollet Ave. S.,Mpls. Suggested Donation: $10to $25. Reservations can bemade up until Nov. 16, or donateat the door. Sponsored by:WAMM. FFI and reservations:Call 612-827-5364.

Ramsey County NationalAdoption Day - Nov. 21Saturday, Nov. 21, 9:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m., Morning/AfternoonPrograms, Breakfast/Lunchprovided. Held at Juvenile andFamily Justice Center, 25 WestSeventh Street, St. Paul.www.nationaladoptionday.org,http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us

Singers in Accord with GuestConductor, Jerry Rubinopresent their InauguralConcert: “A GratefulGathering” - Nov. 21, 22Minnesota’s newest adult choralensemble, Singers in Accord,announces the first concertseries of its inaugural seasonwith guest conductor, JerryRubino, as they present “AGrateful Gathering,” 7:30 p.m.on Saturday November 21, 2009at MacPhail Center for Music indowntown Minneapolis and at3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November22, 2009 at Faith Life Center inForest Lake, MN. For more info,visit www.singersinaccord.org.

Two Bowls of Cereal and SomeBacon – Now thru Nov. 21November 12 – 21 at DreamlandArts, 77 Hamline Ave. N., St.Paul For ticket information andpurchase, call 651-645-5506 oronline atwww.dreamlandarts.com.

NETROOTS Minnesota -Nov. 20, 21Location: St. Paul Hilton GardenInn. Date & Time: 11/20/2009 at1:00 PM Address: 411Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN55101. http://netrootsminnesota.org

MPRB Come Out and PlayFamily Nature Club - Nov. 21Saturday, Nov. 21, 10:30 a.m.-noon – Lake Hiawatha Park,2701 44th St. E., Mpls. Streetparking is adjacent to therecreation center on 28th Ave. Sand directly in front of therecreation center at theintersection of 27th Ave. and44th St. www.minneapolisparks.org.

Minneapolis Urban LeagueGuild Craft Fair – Nov. 21Saturday, November 21, 2009from 10am – 5pm, MinneapolisUrban League, 2100 PlymouthAvenue N. The Guild is lookingfor vendors who are interested in

taking the opportunity to saletheir goods at the 2nd AnnualCrafts Fair for a small fee. Ifinterested please contactLucretia by phone at (612)730-1904 or via e-mail [email protected].

Chorale’s 2009 BridgesConcert – Nov. 21Minneapolis Youth Chorus(MYC) and adult singers in theChorale. This upbeat, familyfriendly event will begin at 7p.m. on Sat., Nov. 21, at St. OlafCatholic Church, 215 South 8thStreet, in downtownMinneapolis.

2009 IBEW Holiday Lights inthe Park – Nov. 24 throughDec. 31Daily Nov. 24 through Dec. 31.Hours of Operation: 5:30 pm to10:00 pm each day. Phalen Parkin Saint Paul at 1615 PhalenDrive East.

Snowshoeing at Loring Park- Nov. 25

Wednesdays, November 25th,December 2nd and 9th 5:30 to6:30p.m. Must have snow. Ifthere is no snow for the firstsession please check in forsessions later in the season. Jointhe naturalist staff for a series ofsnowshoeing walks throughLoring Park and theMinneapolis Sculpture Garden.Snowshoes provided. Meet atthe Loring Park recreationcenter. Register online atminneapolisparks.org $10

Benjamin Franklin: In Searchof a Better World – Nov. 27through Jul 4Minnesota History Center, 345Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul. Nov.27, 2009 through July 4, 2010.http://events.mnhs.org

Bird Watching at the Robert’sBird Sanctuary – Nov. 28Sat., Nov. 28, 10:00am to11:30am. Take a guided walkthrough the park and discoverbirding in the city. Please bringbinoculars if you have them.Meet at the western gate near theLake Harriet Bandshell. Registerat minneapolisparks.org or call 612-313-7725. $5

Gingerbread House Contestand Decorated Trees CreateWild Winter Wonderland -Nov. 28Sat., Nov. 28, 6 pm at Rice Park,St. Paul. Rice Park will betransformed into a wintrywonderland this holiday seasonas figurines of classicnutcrackers, gingerbread menand a giant 75-foot decoratedtree dazzle visitors. There willalso be a visit from Santa andmusical entertainment.

KFAI’s Speakers Series presentsAmy Goodman host of“Democracy NOW! – Nov. 29Sun., Nov. 29, Noon to 2pm,Cowles Auditorium, U of MN,301 19th Avenue S., West Bank,Minneapolis $10 advance / $12at the door.

COMMUNITY CALENDARGrants and AppealsCoordinator

Summit Academy OIC isseeking a highly skilled andexperienced grant andappeals writer to coordinateand develop long-term,expanded constituency forgrants, and gifts for support ofvocational educationprograms of the SummitAcademy OIC. The idealcandidates must have a four-year college degree and atleast four years proven grantwriting experience anddevelopment work in the non-profit sector. Candidatesmust also possess expertlevel skills in wordprocessing, spreadsheetsand database managementprograms. Salary iscommensurate witheducation and experience.Valid Driver's licenserequired. EEO/AA Employer.Position open until filled.Women and minoritiesencouraged to apply. Submitall resumes [email protected]. Nophone inquiries, please.

POLITICAL WRITER -FREELANCE

Insight News is looking for an enthusiastic andexperienced political writer for a beat thatincludes covering high profile elected officialsand the community events they sponsor — or anot so-well attended neighborhood or block clubmeeting. This is a freelance position. Theperfect candidate is someone who is a self-starter who can work in a fast-pacedenvironment as well as produce news features,and jump on breaking stories when needed.Strong writing skills are a must, as well as aproven track record connectinglocal/neighborhood issues to national/federalpolicy. Interested applicants should send a coverletter, resume and three to five writing samplesto: Patricia Weaver, Director of Content, InsightNews, PO BOX 581367, Minneapolis, MN55411 or email patricia@insightnews. Pleasenote "POLITICAL WRITER" in the subject line.No phone calls or walk-ins, please.

Generalist Clerk-Fergus FallsThe U.S. District Court of Minnesota is seeking aGeneralist Clerk for the Clerk's Office in FergusFalls, which is a one-person office. Candidatesshould have a combination of education andexperience that demonstrates the qualitiesrequired for the position, including exceptionalcustomer service skills, attention to detail, abilityto take direction from others, initiative, familiaritywith legal terms, excellent organizational andcommunication skills, and experience withvarious computer software. Starting salary is$37,279 to $46,235. Position range to $60,643.Employees are eligible for complete employeebenefit package. For a detailed job descriptionplease visit our web site atwww.mnd.uscourts.gov. Submit cover letter andresume by Monday, November 23, 2009 at 5 PM,to HR Manager, U.S. District Court, 202 U.S.Courthouse, 300 S. 4th St., Minneapolis, MN55415. E-mail: [email protected] U.S. or allied country citizenship required. Allemployees are subject to a background check.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALOn November 16, 2009 Hennepin CountyHuman Services and Public HealthDepartment will issue a Request for Proposal.HSPHD is seeking private and publicorganizations with experience in theimplementation and operation of In-HomeParenting Services. Services will be forfamilies at risk of, or having an active casewith the Child Protection Service Area. Thevast majority of these services will beprovided in the client's home, but may beprovided in the community, depending on thetype of services offered. The RFP can belocated online at: www.hennepin.us/soirfp

If you have difficulties accessing the web site, please call (612) 596-7236.

ABAMinnesota Blizzards

Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABABasketball Team isannouncing a program forcollege Internships for the falland winter. The program willconsist of five teams of 5interns each in the followingareas: (1) Sales, (2)Basketball Operations. (3)Marketing (4) Public Relations(5) Business administration.Each team will have a leaderand be given challengingassignments.

We are looking for collegestudents majoring in SportsManagement, Business,Public Relations, MarketingSales, Broadcasting and EventPlanning. We need 20 or 25interns working with us for a(minimum of 8 hours a week)on a part-time basis. Internswill gain valuable experience,and in most cases collegecredits.

Interested Parties pleasesend resume to:Minnesota Blizzards Attn: Internship Program1161 Vierling Drive, Ste 161Shakopee, MN 55379Ph: 612-242-1909Fax: [email protected]://www.minnesotablizzards.com

A while back I spoke about theinteresting case of BrandonJennings, whom decided to skipthe mandatory one year collegiaterequirement for graduating highschool seniors mandated by theNBA, and instead went straight tothe European League for a $1.65million dollar contract. Well hereit is one year later, Jennings is inthe NBA playing for theMilwaukee Bucks, and he iswhat? Ballin!

Not only is Brandon Jenningsballin’, but he is ballin’ out ofcontrol, and may be ballin’ like acivil right leader due to hisleadership on this issue. If a youngfella wants to come out of schoolearly and go make a million

dollars working for Microsoftimmediately after graduating fromhigh school, that is all good. If ayoung lady wants to go makemillions of dollars working for aWorld-class modeling agency

immediately after graduating fromhigh school, it is all good. But forBrandon Jennings, and thehandful of exceptional young menwhom are able to displayirrefutably remarkable athletictalent on the basketball court, theymust wait to cash in on theirprofessional future due to theNBA “Prep to Pro” rule. And somany players like MinnesotaTimberwolves own Kevin Love,and big ugly (he knows he’s ugly,but the dude is terriblycharismatic) Greg Oden of thePortland Trailblazers, have goneto college for one year to fulfilltheir requirement, andimmediately left after that oneyear for the NBA. This is the wayin which ALL of these uniquelytalented men have dealt with the“Prep to Pro” rule…except forBrandon Jennings; and in mybook, I call that leadership. I callthat biiiiiig leadership.

Now oddly enough, I think itis doggone great, wonderful, andnecessary, that these young mengo to college for even one year,

but we are already hearing theexpected fallout in the wake ofthis new rule, where cheating ontests and such was done to keep aplayers NBA dream on track (see:Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose).Obviously this type of cheatingactivity was happening in highschool for many of these playersanyway, but now the game of “testevasion” has been taken to theS.A.T.-level rather than theprevious Mrs. Parker’s-HomeEconomics-level (wait, they don’tteach home economics anymore).It is better that these young men atleast experience college, than not,and at least they are forced toconsider higher education ratherthan completely slouch their waythrough high school as many ofthem do, waiting on their fragileNBA dream.

And then there was BrandonJennings. Jennings is a composed,intelligent young man who wascertainly mature enough to handlethe intellectual and athletic rigorsof stepping directly into the NBA.And so he was also intellectualenough, and Worldly enough, tosee that the whole opportunity ofbasketball is bigger than the NBAand their system of providing thatopportunity. As I stated before,one of the most attractiveelements to this whole situation isthat Jennings has set the examplewhich will cause those comingafter him to more sternly considertaking a trip overseas; and so nowthe World becomes a bigger placeto play in.

The long history in thedevelopment of the “hood” issomething to truly marvel over forboth good and bad reasons. One ofthe bad reasons is the lack ofunderstanding (I believe they alsocall it education) of the largerWorld around the hood; and Imean World. Brandon Jenningssaw the World; was unafraid ofthe World; learned about theWorld; and made himself a nicesum of money, includingendorsements, being a part andplayer in the World. And now

those that follow him will be lessafraid. And oh that makes mewanna dance.

Now what happened in

Europe is that Jennings sat his button the bench because they havethe nerve to play real TEAMbasketball overseas (See: U.S. notso-Dream-Team loses in theOlympics and World

Championships in basketball), butthat’s another story. Ourbasketball skills are falling apartjust the way our schools and roads

are. Everybody ought to take alook at the World in order tofurther an education; it’s biggerthan the hood, and it’s bigger thanthe NBA.

By Ryan T. [email protected]

Mr T’sSportsReport

From High School, to Europe, to the NBA: Ballin’!


SPORTS

“It’s bigger than thehood, and it’s bigger

than the NBA”

Brandon Jennings

doublethepost.files.wordpress.comBrandon Jennings playing in Italy


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insight news ::: 11.16.09

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