insight news ::: 03.07.16

HealthFertile after 40

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BusinessMaking the needle move: Corporate men behind the birth of the UNCF telethon

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LifestyleOpen mind, open life

CommentaryThe ThirdReconstruction Era

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Commodifi ed diversity at University of Minnesota

Wilhelmina Wright takes the Federal Court oath

Legacy

Rev. Jesse Jackson pushes for diversity on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley

Justice Wilhelmina Wright became the 35th person to serve on Minnesota’s federal bench when she was sworn in on Feb. 18. Wright was administered the oath by Chief U.S. District Judge John Tunheim in a private ceremony. A public investiture ceremony will be held at a later date. Before becoming a U.S. District Judge, Wright served as associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, a position she held since 2012, and as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 2002 to 2012. Before joining the Court of Appeals, Wright also served as a trial judge on the Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul. Before joining the bench, Wright was an Assistant U.S.

Nneka Morgan is an investment professional who brings to her clients more than ten years of demonstrated experience with some of the country’s most prestigious fi nancial services fi rms. Morgan currently works at Merrill Lynch. Since joining the fi rm in 2008, Morgan has developed strategies using varied investment vehicles to assist clients with better managing and enhancing their wealth. Her portfolio includes advisement to institutions, nonprofi t organizations, and small to medium size businesses, high-net-worth individuals, and senior executives. Morgan understands her ability to reach back and pull forward in every step of her journey. She is an active leader within the community and uses her knowledge and infl uence to advance racial equality. She is an Appointed Commissioner with the St. Paul Port Authority, a Trustee for Hamline University and sits on the board of directors for Regions Hospital and for Capital City Properties. Morgan uses her knowledge and experience to empower community and promote healthy fi nancial habits. She is the host of Financial Fitness, a program on KMOJ-FM radio focused on fi nancial health. On her show, Morgan stresses the importance of fi nancial literacy. She is deeply committed to lending her expertise to community organizations and individuals

NEW YORK CITY – At the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s recently concluded 19th annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit there was something for anyone concerned about fi ghting for racial and economic justice in corporate America. There were titans of tech and powerful politicians, investors and inventors, sports legends and music stars – from opera to Hip Hop – foreign ambassadors and big city mayors, shameful statistics and

news to keep hope alive. The three-day summit, which advocates that the resources and board rooms of Wall Street and Silicon Valley be opened to Black businesses and other minority groups who have been locked out, started on Feb. 16 with news that the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s hard work is paying off. It was announced that Apple is including African American, Latino and disabled veteran-owned fi nancial services fi rms in a whopping $10 billion to $12 billion debt offering. Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and president of the Coalition, praised the deal

After walking up four fl oors of white marble staircases that looked out onto rows of chandeliers and carved ivory ceilings, I arrived in a small theater at the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium. On the top level of the pristine building, a panel discussion was scheduled on Feb. 11 by the equally lofty institutions of the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts and Minnesota Public Radio with the title, “Is there a right way

to protest?” The fact that the event was scheduled a year and two days after the university had 13 student protesters arrested on school grounds for demanding an end to racial profi ling and lack of funds for ethnic studies departments strongly hints that the university has a clear, affi rmative answer to the panel’s title question. Around a dozen students saw the university’s motives in the discussion and decided to take the dialogue into their own hands by protesting the MPR event.

Kayla SteinbergRashaan Mahadeo

(left) and David Melendez (right) sit on the steps of Morill Hall, where

they were arrested in 2015 for protesting

the University of Minnesota’s

commodifi cation of diversity.

Wilhelmina Wright

By Don TerrySpecial to the NNPA News Wire from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Irene Quarshie is the Vice President of Product Quality and Responsible Sourcing for Target Corporation. Quarshie began her career as a strategy and management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. She spent three years in the government affairs industry as a legislative analyst and political action committee manager. In 2005, Quarshie began her career with Target Corporation. At Target, She has held many leadership positions, including Senior Group Manager of Corporate Risk and Responsibility and Group Manager of Supplier Diversity. As a senior group manager, her responsibilities included; enterprise risk management, environmental sustainability, and reputation management. On the Supplier Diversity team, she led the strategy and execution of minority and woman-owned business development programs. In 2009, Quarshie became Director of Government Affairs at Target. As Director, she administered the strategic management of all government affairs activities at state and local levels nationwide. Her team advanced public policy initiatives closely aligned with Target’s business and

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U OF M TURN TO 7

WRIGHT TURN TO 9

(Margot Jordan/RPC)From left to right: Journalist Navarrow Wright, John Thompson of Microsoft and Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. speak during a “fi reside chat”

at the Wall Street Project Economic Summit in New York City.

MORGAN TURN TO 9 QUARSHIE TURN TO 9

By Kayla Steinberg, Twin Cities Daily Planet

Honoring history and heritage, Insight News, in partnership with the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department, profi les past and emerging leaders from the Twin Cities African American community.

CELEBRATING THE FUTURENneka Morgan Irene Quarshie

aesthetically speaking

Tried and true AunjanueMORE ON PAGE 10

INTERVIEW

Insight NewsVol. 43 No. 10 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.comMarch 7 - March 13, 2016

• March 7 - March 13, 2016March 7 - March 13, 2016 • Insight News insightnews.com

insightnews.com Insight News • March 7 - March 13, 2016March 7 - March 13, 2016 •

HEALTH

Fertile after 40

March is National Nutrition Month: Develop better eating habits

I am a Gen Xer, born in 197? (ha), and within the last fi ve years, I have been to more than fi ve 40th birthday celebrations. Just when did 40 get so close? When I was a child, I thought being 40-years-old meant that a person was OLD. And here I am, just a few years shy of

40, feeling young and vibrant, and judging by the lifestyle of my peers, 40 is actually not as old as we thought it was. We live our lives very differently from the way our parents lived theirs. In their generation, chances are likely that they were married with children by the time they were 25, women were housewives, and husbands typically worked 9-5 jobs, and retired from their jobs after 20 years of service. Well, I can confi dently say that Gen Xers believe, (in the words of Sweet Brown), “ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat.” We are living in a different time, and we are living our lives very differently. Gen X men and women work diligently to build careers fi rst, and only after we have established ourselves professionally, do we consider building families. Women are no longer just housewives; we are career focused, sometimes building two or three careers before we start building our families. Gen Xers have opportunities to live extraordinary

and comfortable lives independently of a partner and family, if we choose. So there is not much attention given to building a family at a young age (20s). But, biologically, the optimal time for childbearing is 20 to 35. While we are living our lives footloose and fancy-free, our biological clocks are ticking --literally. As a result, there are parts of our health that require special attention if we expect to have healthy babies in our late 30s and 40s. Here are a few things to consider: 1. Practice fertility yoga. Fertility Yoga increases relaxation, and opens blood fl ow to reproductive organs (improving egg and sperm quality), and decreases stress levels that affect infertility. 2. Take multivitamins and folic acid. Women who take a multivitamin three times a week have a reduced risk of infertility. 3. Eliminate stress. Stress, either low-level daily hassles or one-time big events, causes a release of hormones that can interfere with the delicate

balance needed to create a new life. 4. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or underweight can make it more diffi cult to get pregnant. 5. Consume fertility boosting foods. Whole Foods are food sources that are minimally processed and are usually found in their raw or natural state. These foods have no added ingredients and are unprocessed. Antioxidant Rich Foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. These foods help combat free radical damage within the body and assist in decreasing cellular infl ammation. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are healthful such as Omega 3, 6 and 9. These oils are free from chemical additives which can cause free radical or cellular damage within the body. Examples are fi sh and fi sh oils, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil, hemp, fl ax or walnut oil and avocados. High quality dairy products and full fat dairy products

(StatePoint) Have your healthy New Year’s habits already begun to fade? Recharge your resolutions in March during National Nutrition Month and remember the importance of developing and following sound eating habits. The 2016 National Nutrition Month theme, “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” encourages you to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great fl avors and social experiences that food can add to life. “Food nourishes the body and provides necessary fuel to help you thrive and fi ght disease,” says registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson, Kristen Gradney. “In addition to providing nourishment, food is also a source of pleasure and enjoyment. Take time to enjoy healthy foods and all the happiness they bring to your life.” Gradney offers a few ways you can “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” this National Nutrition Month: • Enjoy Food Traditions and Social Experiences: There is an obvious social component to food. Whether it’s a nightly family dinner, a special occasion or social gathering, food often plays a central role. Enjoy the food at these gatherings while also taking time to appreciate the company around you. Research indicates that family meals promote healthier eating and strengthens family relationships. • Appreciate Foods’ Pleasures and Flavors: Take time to appreciate the fl avors, textures and overall eating experience. In today’s busy world, we often eat quickly and mindlessly. Instead, savor your food, eating slowly one bite at a time to focus on the different fl avors and textures. Stop and take time in between bites. Eating slowly not only allows you to enjoy your food, but it also can help you eat less by giving your stomach time to tell your brain you are full. • Develop a Mindful Eating Pattern: How, when, why and where you eat, are just as important as what you eat. Think about where you eat the majority of your meals. Do you eat lunch at your desk or dinner in front of the television? Instead of multitasking through meals, take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to fi nd a nice place to mindfully eat. • Consult a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist: A healthy lifestyle is much more than choosing to eat more fruits and vegetables. It’s also essential to make informed food choices based on your individual health and nutrient needs. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can educate

you and guide your food choices while keeping your tastes and preferences in mind. RDNs are able to separate facts from fads and translate nutritional science into information you can use. Find an RDN in your area by visiting the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics site at www.eatright.org. The site also contains

articles, recipes, videos and educational resources. Follow National Nutrition Month on Facebook and Twitter using the #NationalNutritionMonth hashtag. By taking the time to enjoy what you eat, you can develop a healthier relationship with food.

STATEPOINT

By Michelle Mitchum, MPH HHP

FERTILITY TURN TO 5

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BUSINESSMaking the needle move: Corporate men behind the birth of the UNCF telethon

Part Two of a two-part series What contributed to the success of the history-making UNCF Lou Rawls telethon? Leadership, collaboration, team work, and a respect for the individual goals of participating partners. In part one of this series, we provided a look at what went on behind the scenes to create a partnership between the UNCF and Anheuser-Busch. Once the initial team members were committed, it was time for creativity and hard work. Anheuser-Busch, through its resources and fi nancial power, propelled the UNCF telethon into the largest African American

special event in the United States held on one day. Wayman Smith, Anheuser-Busch’s vice president for minority affairs, used his position to the fullest extent and changed the face of African American philanthropy in the United States through his efforts with UNCF. He brought on board Victor Julien, then manager of national events and incentives, and independent marketing specialist Byron Glore. Julien made it his business to make sure that his marketing team – and the resources of Anheuser-Busch – such as their public relations, marketing and sales team were truly behind the telethon and involved. He also ensured they worked closely with local UNCF teams (staff and volunteers) across the country in local Anheuser-Busch markets. Glore produced the entertainment for the telethon, creating a world-class television show that met the standards of all participating TV stations and

networks. It was imperative that the entertainment, talent and production values were all fi rst class. TV stations were donating air time and the telethon had to keep their viewers watching, and attract an expanded audience. An excellent production helped sustain participating stations. As a producer, Glore insisted on diversity at all levels of the production team from writers, to

talent, to production staff. The late Chris Edley then CEO of UNCF, assigned our own Melvin B. Shaw to develop and manage the telethon with special emphasis on staff development, volunteer training and management, sponsorship, and TV/Radio recruiting. Shaw’s team was charged with creating an annual fundraising plan for the telethon, producing the

local TV segments; recruiting additional national and local sponsors; developing a network of TV, radio and cable stations to air the telethon; and developing a well-trained pool of staff and volunteers. Early UNCF team members included James Alston, William Allen, Carmen Botto, Jan Honore, Kristie Patton, Stephen McDaniel, Harriet Morgan Ecton, Valerie Davis, William Casey, and Ron Bookman. This team – and others – helped make the telethon a catalyst through which the African American community supported the goal and mission of UNCF. It engaged people from all across the community, giving each an opportunity to become involved, give, and be

recognized on TV and radio. Before the telethon, there was never a partnership between a corporation and an African American nonprofi t at that scale, or with that level of resources behind it. Anheuser-Busch and UNCF developed an ideal cause marketing partnership, one that advanced the internal and external business, fi nancial, and marketing goals of each. Most importantly, this fabulous partnership of resources helped to educate thousands of our young men and women. Copyright 2016– Mel and Pearl Shaw For help growing your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

By Mel and Pearl Shaw

FUNdraisingGood Times Anheuser-Busch, through

its resources and fi nancial power, propelled the UNCF

telethon into the largest African American special event in the United States held on one day.

are encouraged if one is not lactose sensitive. Particularly recommended is Kefi r which is fermented yogurt and has antioxidant properties. 6. Practice, Practice, Practice. Missionary

position; some believe that the missionary position is best for conception. The idea is that you use gravity to your advantage. The after-sex position: lie with a small pillow under your hips for 20 minutes. This can help the sperm swim toward your uterus.

Sources: http://www.livestrong.com , http://www.

fertilecalgary.com , http://www.webmd.com

Michelle Mitchum MPH, HHP, is a graduate of Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD) and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, (New York, NY). She has a successful history in the healing sciences. She has been featured on Fox Business News, Essence Magazine and is

a contributing writer to Heart and Soul Magazine as well as other notable publications. In 2013 Michelle founded The OrangeMoon Holistic Health and Wellness to empower people to make intelligent and informed decisions about their health and to introduce and educate clients on holistic lifestyle alternatives.

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and the company, saying that Apple is continuing to show “tremendous leadership” in the movement to “democratize capital.” Indeed, since Rainbow PUSH intensifi ed its campaign in 2014 to open up and diversify Silicon Valley, Apple has included African American, Latino and diverse fi rms as underwriters in three consecutive debt offerings. Castle Oak, Loop Capital, Ramirez & Co., and Drexel Hamilton are part of the Apple offering. “When there is inclusion, there is growth and where there is growth, everybody wins,” Rev. Jackson said. “It’s just good business.” Despite the good news out of Silicon Valley, Rev. Jackson cautioned, “we have a long way to go.” “We brag about the new smart device that we use, but Facebook does not have one African American or Latino on its board,” he said. “Twitter does not have one. Our communities are barren, because we don’t have access to capital. When they lock us out, it’s like a one-eyed quarterback. They only see half the fi eld.” Slowly, the whole fi eld is coming into view. Over

the past year, with constant pressure from the Coalition’s PUSHTech2020 initiative, nine debt deals in the tech world have broken the color-line in what Chicago-based investor, philanthropist and longtime summit supporter, John Rogers, has called “a Jackie Robinson moment.”Apple, HP, Intel, Qualcomm and Microsoft (which has over the years excelled at minority inclusion in their fi nancial transactions) have all had such moments. Microsoft Chairman John W. Thompson, a graduate of Florida A&M, a historically Black university, was honored at the summit’s gala dinner and joined tech-journalist and entrepreneur, Navarrow Wright, and Rev. Jackson in a fi reside chat about Thompson’s climb from IBM salesman to tech titan. Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts and co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, and Bernard J. Tyson, Chairman and CEO, Kaiser Permanente, were also honored at the gala, which ended with the sublime sounds of Philip Bailey, lead singer and original member of Earth, Wind & Fire. There were panels on fi nancial education, reconnecting and sustaining the relationship between Wall Street and historically black

colleges and universities, panels featuring urban mayors and policy leaders. During his panel, the mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, thanked Rev. Jackson for helping to secure $2 billion in federal funds for blight removal and neighborhood reconstruction in more than a dozen states. There were sessions on

healthcare disparities, the business of Hip Hop and two panels about the vast resources and business opportunities for African Americans in Africa. “We must expand the exchange between Africa and African Americans,” Rev.

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COMMENTARY

Child Watch

By Marian Wright Edelman

The Third Reconstruction Era

Many of us have been thrilled by the video of 106-year-old mentor and school volunteer

Mrs. Virginia McLaurin visiting the White House during a Black History Month celebration to meet — and dance with — President and Mrs. Obama. Her joy in being there and fulfi lling her dream of meeting the fi rst African-American President and First Lady was infectious. Born a child of South Carolina sharecroppers in 1909, this was a day she never dreamed would come: “I didn’t think I’d ever live to see a colored president. I

am so happy.” Moments like these give us a chance to appreciate how much change a citizen like Mrs. McLaurin has seen in her lifetime. When she was born America was fi rmly in the grip of Jim Crow, segregation, racial violence and political disenfranchisement that characterized the decades following the initial post-Civil War promise of Reconstruction. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1941, in time to see the activism of A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin and others urging the federal government to desegregate our armed forces and provide more economic opportunity for African-Americans. She saw burgeoning civil rights activities like these surge into a transforming movement across the South including the 1963 March on Washington in her new hometown. And she saw the Civil Rights Movement lead to signifi cant changes — enough to allow her to visit President and Mrs. Obama in the White House in 2016. When we look at arcs of history like this, where are we today? Many scholars see the Civil Rights Movement as a second Reconstruction Era and a second try at rebuilding our nation into one truly committed to liberty and justice for all. But just as the progress of the fi rst Reconstruction was followed by decades of retrenchment and reversal, many of the formidable threats millions of poor children and families of all races but especially children of color face today are very dangerous steps backwards. Unjust racial profi ling and killing of Black boys and men by law enforcement offi cers enjoined to protect them; mass incarceration of people of color — especially Black males; massive attacks on voting rights which especially

impact the poor, people of color, the elderly, disabled and the young; and resegregating and substandard schools denying millions of poor Black, Latino and Native American children basic literacy, numeracy and other skills they will need to work in our increasingly competitive globalized economy should be siren calls to wake up and fi ght back. Past lessons have led some scholars and observers to believe we may be in a second post-Reconstruction Era, fi ghting deliberate widespread well-funded regression and backlash against progress made. But Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, the head of North Carolina’s NAACP chapter and a leader in the “Moral Mondays” movement, views this historical moment with optimism but urges vigilance. In his new book with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement, Dr. Barber argues that the beginnings of a Third Reconstruction are underway—rooted in “fusion politics” that have changed our nation before and can do it again. The Third Reconstruction describes how what has become

the Forward Together Moral Movement was the outgrowth of several years of theological education and grassroots organizing in North Carolina that coalesced in 2013 with Moral Mondays, a nonviolent civil disobedience campaign of protests, rallies, and arrests that has been adapted in other states, including Florida, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Ohio and New York. The multifaith, multiracial movement is committed to a 14-point People’s Agenda including education, health care, the economy and reforming the justice and electoral systems, and is supported by over 150 coalition partners. The book describes the historical impact that can occur when people are willing to form strong coalitions for change. The coalition in North Carolina includes progressive people of faith, union members, immigrants, Appalachian workers and many more and may be a model for others committed to racial and economic justice. When Dr. Barber spoke to a group of young leaders at a Children’s Defense Fund event last June, he explained why he believes multiracial, multifaith, nonviolent coalitions are essential right now: “So what many extremists are trying to do

is abort the third reconstruction. That’s why they are telling America this myth . . . You want a great America? Deny public education, deny health care, deny living wages, deny labor rights. You really, really want a great America? Deny immigrant rights. Deny LGBTQ rights. Deny women’s rights. You really want a great America? Deny the right to vote. You really want a great America? Turn everybody against everybody. Pit Muslims against Christians and women against men. Call the president everything you can but a child of God . . . And if you really, really, really, really want a great America, make sure that people can get a gun quicker than they can vote. . . . And I stopped by to tell you that in this moment we better know who we are and where we are, and that in this moment of a possible third reconstruction we are called to speak truth in times like these . . . Dr. King said: ‘The dispossessed of this nation—the poor, both white and Negro—live in a cruelly unjust society. They must organize a revolution against that injustice, not against the lives of their fellow citizens, but against the structures through which the society is refusing to deal with the issues of injustice.’ And I want you to know it’s your time, and we can learn from the past.” It is our time. We must all learn from the past to end another era of backlash and backsliding and keep moving forward together.

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

Mrs. Edelman’s Child Watch Column also appears each week on The Huffi ngton Post.

Past lessons have led some scholars and observers to

believe we may be in a second post-Reconstruction Era, fi ghting

deliberate widespread well-funded regression and backlash

against progress made.

Jackson said, but not just to make money. “We must go to serve,” he said. “Power comes through service.” The summit, as it has been for 19 years, was a “networkers” dream-come true. Hundreds of corporate executives, ministers, community activists, college students, minority entrepreneurs and United States Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, attended. The senator joined a distinguished group of panelists – civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, litigator Tricia “CK” Hoffl er, Dr. Reatha Clark King, chairman, National Association of Corporate Directors, Janice Mathis, executive director of the National Council of Negro Women and Nancy May, president and CEO, The BoardBench Companies – to discuss corporate board diversity. Senator Schumer said he was “shocked” to learn that 74 of the Fortune 250 companies had no African American board directors. “I was educated here today,” he said. “And I’m glad that I was.” “If you were to ask me,” the senator added, “I’d say by now every company would have one. One thing I’d suggest, maybe through the great work that Rev. Jackson does, I think that should be circulated among the senators. Getting the word out to people who have infl uence, it would matter to them.” Senator Schumer concluded his remarks by recounting French historian Alexis de Tocqueville’s famous tour of the young Untied States in early 1830’s.Tocqueville said that America was “going to become the greatest country in the world.”“He said there’s only one thing that could do this country in – racism,” Senator Schumer said. “He said it in 1835. It’s as true today as it was then.”

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“This question of if there’s a right way to protest, this university has already demonstrated that it knows the answer to this question. They are having a conversation, but not including people affected at this university, the Twin Cities and the entire nation,” proclaimed Ken Gonzales, one of the student organizers. As MPR’s Tom Weber announced the all-black panel, after the original round of applause died down, a row of students in the front row continued clapping rhythmically, stood up with signs declaring messages from “Stop criminalizing dissent” to “Welcome to the anti-ebony tower” and took over the conversation. They passed out yellow sheets of printer paper with revised questions for the panelists, which included: “What structural conditions on campuses and in the community bring about protest? In other words, how is the University culpable in creating the conditions for which students are forced to protest?” and “How does arresting and jailing student protesters help students feel safe expressing dissent?” The group of students from the newly formed Differences Organized! (Do!) coalition continued to occupy the panel’s stage for the rest of the discussion. ‘Protests aren’t just spur of the moment things’However, the students’ actions and frustration toward the university’s administration did not begin at this protest. For years, students of color have been actively protesting, advocating and campaigning for more equitable and transparent diversity policies since the late 1960s and beyond. And yet, problems persist.

“Protests aren’t just spur of the moment things,” said Natasha Moore, one of the protest organizers, in an interview the day before the panel. “They happen because the university resists to negotiate, to conversate and to follow through with actions. They resist to hear, to listen, to make any changes. So they force people into action.” Moore discussed the organizers’ responses to the lived realities of students of color and other marginalized groups on the university’s campus, especially in relation to recent media focus on student activism nationally. Just three days before the panel, David Melendez, Rashaan Mahadeo and I chatted in hushed voices on the second fl oor of Northrop Auditorium about the erasure of the work of marginalized UMN students, the commodifi cation of “diversity” and how it is no coincidence that Dear White People was fi lmed on the same grounds on which we were sitting. The day we talked was also coincidentally one day before the two grad students were allowed back into the building that houses not only the president’s offi ce, but also the offi ce for equity and diversity. Melendez and Mahadeo had been arrested for occupying Morrill Hall, UMN’s administrative building, as part of a protest organized by Whose Diversity?, an autonomous collective that aims to hold UMN accountable to a list of demands. Their demands include the prioritization of recruitment, retention and graduation of students from historically marginalized backgrounds as well as the need to engage with substantive, not just cosmetic, diversity. Whose Diversity? has

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

MULTICULTURAL DISEASE PREVENTION MARKETING

ENCOURAGING SCREENINGS AMONG AT RISK POPULATIONS

CASE STUDIES ON MARKETING WELLNESS VISITS, HOSPITAL AND

INSURANCE PLANS

THE STATE OF MULTICULTURAL ACA MARKETING HURDLES, OPPORTUNITIES & RETURNS

INCREASING RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN CLINICAL RESEARCH

PANELS

CASE STUDIES

HILTON MINNEAPOLIS HOTEL In a recent report of the healthcare system in Minnesota by the Minnesota Business Partnership it stated that “increasing ethnic diversity will challenge local healthcare systems, which must address

different underlying health needs and bridge cultural and language barriers”

Sponsors

Registration Fee: $195 (includes full registration to all seminars, breakfast and lunch) Nonprofit Registration Fee: $150 (includes full registration to all seminars, breakfast and lunch)

TO REGISTER GO TO CONFERENCE WEB SITE www.aguilarproductions.com

For more information for Sponsorship or Exhibiting call Aguilar Productions at 651-665-0633 or email [email protected]

Conference Location: Hilton Minneapolis Hotel, 1001 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN

CARLOS SANTIAGOSANTIAGO SOLUTIONS GROUP

CONFERENCE – CO-CHAIR

DAVID MORSE President & CEO

New American DimensionsLos Angeles, CA

GRETCHEN MUSICANTCommissioner of Health

City of Minneapolis – Health Department

Minneapolis, MN

ARMINDA “MINDY” FIGUEROA

Founder and PresidentLatin2Latin Marketing +

CommunicationsFt. Lauderdale , FL

YASMINE WINKLERCEO Central Region and Chief

Consumer Officer, C&S UnitedHealthcare

Chicago, IL

CARLOS SANTIAGO President & Chief Strategist Santiago Solutions Group,

Los Angeles, CA

SHEILA THORNE President & CEO

Multicultural Healthcare Marketing GroupEnglewood, NJ

ROSLYN DANIELSPresident

Black Health Matters, Inc.Oakland, NJ


Jacklyn Milton shares her recipes of love learned through her life as a wife, mother, grandmother and caterer in her new book, “Family Whispers of Love: Cherished Memories with Recipes.” In the book she shares her memories, family heritage and recipes for meals that earned her raving accolades. Milton also pays homage to the seven important women who helped shape her life. “My book is a memoir filled with cherished memories, recipes, and I also share how my foremothers inspired and motivated me throughout life’s journey,” said Milton. “Each time I eat a meal by Ms. Milton, it compares to a symphony at its climax, with varied elements of just the right amount of diverse ingredients mixed with precision, flair and love,” said poet and author, Maya Beecham. Readers of “Family Whispers of Love” will discover how soul food brought togetherness for Milton with family and close friends. The book also includes stories, songs, inspirational quotes, scriptures and recipes. Planting People Growing Justice published the book and it is available at www.artikatyner.com/shop.

LIFESTYLE

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

Open mind, open life

Whispers of Love: Soul food uniting family and friends

Openness is a key ingredient to life. It is the readiness and willingness to receive. It allows every person, situation, and circumstance to be our teacher. The way we receive information will be key in determining our growth and development. As we encounter situations and circumstances

that do not line up with our expectation, we must keep an open mind. How we receive, respond, and process information will determine how open minded we are. First, we must be able to receive information. As you are evaluating the source, you must also be mindful of the information. Just because a person who you do not like tells you the bridge is out, the bridge is still out. You must be open to receiving from others. An “unless God tells me himself” mentality will only result in a closed mind and missed opportunities. Secondly, before we respond to others, one of

the most important steps to keeping an open mind is to assume good intentions. This requires us to think the best before we think the worst. Preconceived notions, past hurt, and an unwillingness to listen, all make it impossible to receive, learn and grow. Things look totally different if you already have your mind made up. It is best to just see what unfolds before making judgment. When information is fi ltered through the lenses of “good intention,” it makes it easier for the receiver to keep an open mind. Openness assumes good intention before responding. Next, openness is communicated in our response. The need to be heard is necessary for positive affi rmation. It does not mean we agree with everything said, but it does mean we processed it and gave it the consideration that it deserved.

A predetermined response is created from a made up mind. Some people are so closed-minded that their body language, facial expression, and response all lacks the key ingredients of life, hospitality, acceptance, and openness. When we are open, arms are extended, the face is relaxed, and words are supportive. Our response can make or break a person’s spirit. Finally, openness requires us to process our actions. You can increase your openness by practicing empathy. Move outside yourself into another’s situation. Try to access the other’s feelings and ideas. Self-evaluation prepares us for the next experience. What did this experience mean for me?’ ‘How can I grow from this? Do you usually think you already know how things are going to come out? How available are you to others? How interested are you in people, especially

those quite different from you? These are the questions that those with an open mind ask themselves. Openness allows both positive and negative experiences to be our teacher. Openness is a key ingredient to life. It allows unobstructed entrance and exit; and is not shut or closed. An open-minded person is hospitable, considerate, and responsive. Others are comfortable sharing, receiving, and being in the company of an open-minded person. An open mind allows to you receive information from unlikely sources.

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

The Only “Worship in Circle” Church Experience

Pastor Roslyn Harmon Sundays 2-4pm

1015 4th Avenue North|Minneapolis, MN 55405 Visit Us: Circleofhealingministry.org

A Non-Traditional, Cutting Edge Experience! Be Ready for Truth, Healing, Teaching

and Transformation!

For More Info: 612.564.9962

Circle of Healing Ministry

Anew BAM: Gala Fundraiser! ANEW BAM attempts to encourage, motivate, and instruct youth in order to benefit themselves, their fami-ly, and their community. These students want to finish school, succeed, and thrive but may have various barriers to overcome. We believe that through our programs we are able to break through those barriers. Anew BAM is having a gala and we ask for your commitment to further our mission of providing youth with culturally responsive programming. This year alone we have made a tremendous impact and have served over 400 students youth and many families! The afternoon will be hosted by many of our very own locally talented youth and young scholars. This event is going to be a great representation of what can happen when we help youth reach their full potential! Tickets range from $25 - $50 and can be purchased the door or at eventbrite.com under Black Arts Movement Gala, Saint Paul March 12, 2016 3:30 PM Arlington Hills Community Center 1200 Payne Avenue Community Room A Saint Paul, MN 55130

For more information contact us at 651-706-5658

[email protected]

Photo of Carlisha Willis, Spoken word ar st Photo Credit Vanessa Abanu


corporate reputation priorities. She also built and maintained relationships with key policy makers and third parties based on prioritized policy issues and proactive reputation management strategies. Today, as Vice President of Product Quality and Responsible Sourcing, Quarshie is responsible for Target’s product quality assurance efforts, ensuring products are made with ethics and integrity. She leads a global team of more than 350 people focused on all non-food, private label, product safety and quality assurance, product investigations, and recall, and responsible sourcing. She ensures that both, Target’s products and factory work

conditions, are safe. Quarshie is a highly revered cross-sector professional with Fortune 30 leadership experience including public affairs and corporate social responsibility. She holds a B.A. in political science from Adelphi University and Master’s in Public Policy from American University. Her graduate paper on juvenile justice was published in A Comparative Perspective on Major Social Problems. Among her many affi liations, she is a member of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable, Junior League of Minneapolis and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is currently the Board Chair of the YWCA of Minneapolis, and also serves on several Boards of Directors – Cowles Center for Performing Arts, Meet Minneapolis, and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Most rewarding work experienceIn my fi rst role at Target, I was able to build public-private partnerships in the Twin Cities and across the nation. These partnerships were focused on enhancing relationships with law enforcement and communities in which Target operates. Our collective efforts established “safe cities” by leveraging technology and old fashion community engagement. It was the authentic “on the ground, get your hands dirty” type of work that had great impact. Later, as Director of Government Affairs, I really got to know the state of Minnesota in depth and forged relationships with policy makers and community. I participated in several Inner-City Leadership visits hosted by the St. Paul and Minneapolis Regional Chambers of

Commerce. As a Minnesota transplant, these opportunities allowed me to become aware of and understand issues impacting the Twin Cities. It also inspired me to become more active in the community, which is when I joined several boards such as the YWCA of Minneapolis and Hennepin-Carver County Workforce Investment Board. Now, I am in a position where I can meaningfully impact millions of lives globally. It’s a truly rewarding and awesome challenge. Advice for future leaders in private sector Take risks – I took a major risk when I left my career in consulting to come work for Target, but it has paid off tremendously. Also, seek out opportunities, and work hard when those opportunities arrive. This work is not for

the faint at heart. It takes commitment and dedication; you have to be willing to put in the effort. Additionally, build and nurture a network of coaches and mentors. It really does take a village…and good timing. Beacons of leadershipThe blessing of Minnesota is that there are so many amazing leaders to learn and draw from. I am fortunate to be able to know many of these people. When I fi rst joined the board of the YWCA, Velma Korbel was the board chair. I learned a lot from how she led the board and managed important issues facing the organization. Becky Roloff, who is YWCA’s President and CEO, also inspired me. She established a blossoming career in the private sector and now reminds us all of the importance of giving back. The YWCA Board

is chalk-full of impressive leaders and I’ve learned tidbits from many of them. At Target, there have been many leaders, mentors and sponsors that I’ve watched and learned from afar and have also been blessed to work with to help hone my leadership skills. Target has a long track record of grooming great leaders. Over the course of my 10 years at the company, I’ve had numerous opportunities to practice, develop and grow. And, of course, my family will always be my anchor. They encourage, inspire, and motivate me daily.

HometownSilver Springs, Maryland

EducationAdelphi University, B.A.American University, MPP

Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 1995 to 2000, where she was awarded the U.S. Department of Justice Special Achievement Award in

1997 and the U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award for Public Service in 2000. She also practiced with the Washington, D.C. law fi rm Hogan Hartson, LLP and clerked for the Hon. Damon Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Wright graduated with honors in Literature from Yale

University and received her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School. Wright has been active in her community and has served on several boards and committees. She currently serves on the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Board of Trustees and the Yale University Council.

Wright has also received many awards throughout her career, including the Myra Bradwell Award from Minnesota Women Lawyers in 2006 and the Leno O. Smith Achievement Award from the Black Women Lawyers Network in 2004. In addition, Wright has shared her expertise both locally and

abroad by serving in several capacities, including with the International Bridges to Justice in Geneva, Switzerland and as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Wright was nominated by President Barack Obama on April 15, 2015 and was

confi rmed by the U.S. Senate on January 19. She will fi ll the vacancy created when Judge Michael Davis took senior status. Wright will be chambered in the St. Paul Courthouse at 316 N. Robert Street.

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

Reimbursed Senior Volunteer PositionsSenior Corps is seeking volunteers aged 55+ willing to help seniors as friendly visitors in their homes and for outings in the community OR to help kids in schools as mentors. Tax free stipend, travel reimbursement, and other benefi ts. Contact Lisa Beardsley at 651.310.9450 or [email protected]

Board Members SoughtThe Center for Homicide Research is seeking to complete its nine-member board of directors. We have striven toward healthy growth and a focused mission. Each year the Center has expanded to become better-known and increasingly well-respected. It is now recognized as the only homicide research center in the United States.

The Center for Homicide Research is an independent, volunteer-driven, nonprofi t organization dedicated to increasing the capacity of the community, criminal justice professionals, and law enforcement to become more effective in identifying, solving and preventing of homicide. The mission of the Center is to promote greater knowledge and understanding of the unique nature of homicide among disenfranchised, underrepresented and disempowered people through sound empirical research, critical analysis and effective community partnerships.

Qualifi cations, duties and responsibilities of board members can be found at www.homicidecenter.org. The board is seeking individuals with skills in the areas of development, communications, accounting, or law. Individuals with other skills, or an interest in criminal justice, or human rights, are also encouraged to apply.

Prospective board members should begin by fi rst sending a resume and cover letter. All candidates must agree to, and successfully pass a criminal background check. Qualifi ed candidates will be invited to visit the Center, attend a board meeting, and be interviewed by current board members.

To learn more about Board membership, please contact Executive Director, Dallas Drake, at [email protected] or by telephone at (612) 331-4820.

Project Engineer Knutson Construction seeking Project Engineer for full-time employment in Twin Cities market – assist with preparing budget estimates, value engineering, scheduling, subcontract negotiations and award, project administration, and cost control. 0-4 years of construction related experience and a high school diploma or an AA in related field or 5+ years of experience. For more information visit: www.knutsonconstruction.com/careers/job-openings/Knutson is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Contractor.

Project Manager Knutson Construction seeking Project Manager for full-time employment in Twin Cities market – project planning; cost, time, quality, and safety management; and contract administration. 10+ years of commercial general contracting experience and BA in related field. For more information visit: www.knutsonconstruction.com/careers/job-openings/ Knutson is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Contractor.

Volunteer OpportunitiesHarvest Network of Schools

Community service is calling, no need for stalling! The Harvest Network of Schools, a group of high-performing charter schools in north Minneapolis that includes Harvest Preparatory (K-4, coed), Best Academy (K-8, single gender), and Mastery School (K-4, single gender), is currently recruiting volunteers to work with our 3rd and 4th grade students. We have three opportunities available; Breakfast Buddies, Academic Intervention, and Classroom Support. Breakfast Buddies help with homework and reading to scholars. This option is available Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. -8:15 a.m. Academic Intervention volunteers help with students needing additional support in math and reading, available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Classroom Support volunteers help teachers as needed, tasks will vary. This opportunity is needed any time throughout the day 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are requesting volunteers commit to 1-2 hours a week for a minimum of six weeks. HNS will provide training, onsite support from volunteer manager, and recognition at the end of the year. Applicants must complete an application and criminal background check. If interested please contact Marquita Butler at [email protected] or 612-876-4033.

Parent Aware Quality Coach: FT$14.76 - $16.24 DOQ. Some Child Development college credit; 3 yrs. Exp.; 1 yr. RBPD; driver’s license; reliable transportation; Knowledge: Child development; early learning standards; community resources; Abilities: Work independently; meet deadlines; maintain confi dentiality; team environment; PC computer; home visiting; work with diverse populations; Duties: Provide TA to providers in Anoka/Washington Counties; recruit child care programs; present recruitment information sessions; Full description app at www.accap.org.

ACCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer

been trying to persuade the administration that the concept of diversity is not a commodity, or something that can be claimed or owned since 2014, according to Melendez. Its name was chosen in the tradition of student organizing at the university, giving nod to the Whose University? movement started in 2009. The fi rst action of Whose University? was against the removal of campus murals that represented the African American Action Committee’s 1969 occupation of Morrill Hall and Chicano and Latino students’ subsequent 1970 takeover. Before last year, the only other time since 1970 that the president’s offi ce had been occupied by protesters was in 2005, in response to the shutdown of General College. General College served to prepare mainly students of color and working class students before entering other colleges within the university. Underlying university inaction and superfi cial diversityAbout the mission of Whose Diversity?, Mahadeo added, “When you focus so much on this politics of representation by simply adding faces of color to a predominantly white canvas, it does little to interrupt the foundations of white supremacy and oppression and all types struggles that lie at the root of what we’re challenging.” The MPR panel discussion was just one of many recent examples of superfi cial diversity and dialogue sponsored by UMN administrators that have succeeded in boosting the University’s image while drastically failing to actually benefi t people of color and other marginalized university communities. To start off the 2015-2016 school year, a group of students involved with Asian and Pacifi c Islanders (APIs) for Equity and Diversity protested the sudden August termination of Juavah Lee,

who held the position of assistant director at the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE) and had been a role model for Hmong, Southeast Asian and Asian American students at the University for 24 years. Lee’s departure was part of a new direction for MCAE planned out by the Offi ce for Equity and Diversity (OED) titled MCAE Forward. Following the non-renewals of the contracts of Lee and MCAE’s former director, Fredrick McDonald, several other staff members left on their own accord. “When we found out [about Lee’s termination], it felt like a huge slap in the face for the Hmong community—on campus and in Twin Cities,” said Gonzales, a founding member of APIs for Equity and Diversity. “When he was let go, along with him was the community ties with Hmong community.” Gonzales added that after Lee left, although more than 5,000 Asian American students were registered at the University in Fall 2015, he could count on his fi ngers the number of Southeast Asian staff and faculty members on campus. The departure of key MCAE programs coincided with Lee’s non-renewal. The civil engagement program he oversaw, which assists students academically and provides

small scholarships, will cease to exist at the end of this semester. Lee now does not see how MCAE will attract students. “The new direction defi nitely benefi ts the school and benefi ts the administration,” he says. “But it’s not benefi tting the students. When you look at research, minority students aren’t doing well in college. Period. That’s why we [MCAE] are there. To support them socially, emotionally, academically. Now I don’t see how students can benefi t from it.” The general environment of the MCAE offi ces has also taken a turn towards the administration’s more sterile approach to the concepts of diversity and multiculturalism. I interviewed Moore at MCAE’s headquarters in Appleby Hall the day before the “Is There a Right Way to Protest?” panel. We walked down the hallways decorated with maroon and gold Gophers paraphernalia and kept peeking into rooms to fi nd that they were occupied, even though no noise was exiting their walls. Once we found a small, empty room, Moore explained that since she completed a two-year faculty mentorship program sponsored by MCAE, she doesn’t tend to come around the offi ces anymore due to the new quiet and unwelcoming atmosphere. She also noted that the

two staff members with whom she had formed relationships have left. Throughout our interview, Moore continued to cite established policies that punish dissent and ignore the needs of students of color. For example, she has noticed a lack of funding for ethnic studies departments to the point where classes cannot be held because there is no money to hire TAs. As a former athlete, Moore experienced fi rsthand intrusive drug testing procedures, which she says are supposed to be random but are conducted on black athletes at an unproportional rate. She also witnessed scare tactics that dissuade athletes from organizing. “Scare tactics are set into place so people don’t feel like they have a voice,” she said. “People just want to get in here, get their education, get their sports and get out.” The restructuring of MCAE also emphasizes the University’s focus on bringing in marginalized students without actually investing in them once they arrive. In 2014, the four-year graduation rate for black University of Minnesota students was a dismal 30 percent, according to the Minnesota Private College Council. This fall, a program titled CORE 2025 launched to attract top male eighth graders of color to the University. Moore claims that

the administration is putting an excessive amount of funds into the program but will not disclose how they are spending them. Lee explains that recruiting high performing students of color will indeed increase retention and graduation rates, and will therefore look good for the university’s rankings and pocketbook, but will ignore the needs of average students of color, who are the ones that benefi t most from support once in college. Melendez argues that CORE 2025 is “operating under the same American exceptionalism — get out of the hood, leave your community behind, we are going to invest in you and we are going to disregard everyone else.” The university once again disregarded the safety of its students of color by failing to issue a crime report this fall when white supremacist terrorists threatened lives at the Fourth Precinct occupation, directly next door to the university’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center. The U is not MizzouWith this culmination of an overall lack of support for students of color and a growing number of unhelpful policies, students are organizing. This is evident in the protests against MPR’s panel and Lee’s

termination, last year’s Morrill Hall takeover and a Minnesota to Mizzou rally held this fall. Yet, UMN student organizers face challenges in Minnesota. “This Minnesota nice environment really lends itself to different communities pushing some of the issues we have under the rug,” says Gonzales. Another possible reason that student activism at the U has not reached the extent of protests at other schools around the country, such as the University of Missouri or Yale, is because of its rather unique demographic makeup. “New immigrant and refugee populations have only been here less than 50 years,” explains Gonzales. “With that regard, working to understand how the gaps generationally impacted the experiences of students and how families impact student involvement in these spaces, it is a fact in that we have a different kind of demographic in the Twin Cities than other communities in the midwest and in the entire nation.” He concluded that for these reasons, rehashing and recycling organizing tactics from different communities may not be the answer in Minnesota. Mahadeo and Melendez also acknowledged that the black-white binary is much less prominent in Minnesota as it was in the successful actions at Mizzou. They see coalition-building as necessary in the next steps toward substantial progress. Mahadeo argued that the way to form more powerful coalitions is “seeing your struggle in another person’s struggle and seeing those struggles as inextricably linked.” Whose Diversity?, APIs for Equity and Diversity and Do! will continue to fi ght for substantial, not just superfi cial changes, in UMN’s policies, programs and vision of “diversity.” As Gonzales declared at the Feb. 11 protest, “Incremental progress is progress for the oppressor.”

U of MFrom 7

WrightFrom 1

QuarshieFrom 1

MorganFrom 1

in need of fi nancial literacy. Each year, Morgan hosts several community forums focused on the importance accumulating wealth and saving. Morgan graduated cum laude from Howard University, with a B.A. in International Business and Finance. Morgan also received additional education in

Japanese at Richmond College in Shizuoka, Japan and Middlebury College. In 2007, she was named one of Ebony Magazine’s “30 Young Leaders Under 30″. In 2008, Morgan served as a Marshall Memorial Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States. In her spare time, she serves as Financial Literacy Engagement Director for the Center of Communications & Development and performs with the Grammy Award Winning group “Sounds of Blackness.” Morgan has quickly emerged

as both a well respected and immensely powerful voice for the Twin Cities African American community. Most rewarding work experienceI’ve been afforded the opportunity to serve as a commissioner with the St. Paul Port Authority, Trustee for Hamline University, and a member of the Regions Hospital board of directors. In these positions, I use my infl uence to help some of the state’s

largest employers address the issues of jobs, education, and healthcare and draw attention to the disparities and needs of the community I love. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my community, and I’m committed to ensuring it receives a return on its investment. Advice for aspiring fi nance professionalsRemember you’re running your own marathon, don’t get distracted with anyone else’s

time but your own. Your path is uniquely carved by you, run it with confi dence and try not to get too distracted by bystanders. Beacons of leadershipI am inspired by people of purpose that have carved their own path and those who have overcome obstacles along the way. These people of purpose include; Cynthia Johnson, Tene Morgan, Shimeca Saffold, Tetra Constantino, Cindy Kent, Carla Harris and Phyllis Goff. It certainly takes a village, and

there is a long list of people that have poured directly into me, but there is an even longer list of those that do it by example. I’m grateful for all the sheroes and heroes that have taken residence in my village.

HometownSt. Paul

EducationRichmond College – Shizuoka Japan, 2001Howard University B.A, 2003

Photos: Kayla SteinbergStudent protest organizer Natasha Moore. Student protester Ken Gonzales.


One of the symptoms of Parkinson’s is intermittent dementia. So my mother’s

experience informed a great deal of my choices.

Tried and true AunjanueAunjanue Ellis currently stars as Miranda Shaw, the director of an FBI base who oversees the training of a new group of recruits, on the ABC-TV drama “Quantico.” And she recently appeared on BET’s epic series “Th e Book of Negroes” for which she received a Television Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series.Aunjanue has also starred in numerous movies, including Th e Help, where she played Yule Mae Davis, the maid arrested for allegedly stealing a ring. In the James Brown biopic Get OnUp, she portrayed Vicki Anderson, acknowledged by Brown in his autobiography as probably the best singer he ever witnessed.Earlier in her career, she starred opposite Denzel Washington in Th e Taking of Pelham 123, and opposite Samuel L. Jackson in Th e Caveman’s Valentine. She shared a SAG Award nomination for her role as Mary Ann Fisher in Ray and received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance as a medical student in Men of Honor.Aunjanue’s additional fi lm credits include Romeo and Juliet in Harlem, Ed’s Next Move, Th e Express, Freedomland, Lovely & Amazing, A Map of the World, Notorious and Th e Volunteer. She made her motion picture debut in Jim McKay’s Sundance Film Festival hit Girls Town, opposite Lili Taylor.On television, she starred in “Abducted: Th e Carlina White Story” and garnered a second NAACP Image Award nomination for her portrayal of Candy Carson in the made for television fi lm “Gift ed Hands: Th e Ben Carson Story.” Aunjanue has appeared as a series regular on “Th e Mentalist,” “High Incident,” “E-Ring” and “Justice.”Th ough born in San Francisco, she claims the small Mississippi town of McComb as her home. Th ere, Aunjanue’s grandmother raised her on a farm that

has been in the family for generations. “My mother gift ed me with my particular kind of radical imagination,” she refl ects, “and my grandmother gave me the tools to execute it.”But it was not until she was a student at Tougaloo College that Aunjanue would discover the stage. Th at led her to transfer to Brown University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in African-American Studies, while also training as an actor. She went onto receive a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.Here, she talks about her latest outing as a New Orleans street singer suff ering from Alzheimer’s in Of Mind and Music.

Kam Williams: Hi Aunjanue, thanks for another opportunity to speak with you.Aunjanue Ellis: Th anks, Kam.

KW: What interested you in Of Mind and Music? Do you know anyone suff ering from Alzheimer’s? AE: It was a New Orleans story, fi rst and foremost, and my romance with that place is deep and enduring. And yes, my Aunt Mae had Alzheimer’s. My mother has Parkinson’s disease. So, neurodegenerative diseases have defi ned our family life. It was free therapy for me to be able to explore the living pain of it as an actor.

KW: How did you prepare to play Queenie?AE: One of the symptoms of Parkinson’s is intermittent dementia. So my mother’s experience informed a great deal of my choices. I studied her and took what I learned to work. KW: What was the most challenging aspect of the role?AE: I had never played anyone like her before. What was most challenging was playing the age which meant a long time in makeup, and being consistent with her manner. I hope that people will watch the movie and start a needed conversation

about the woes and rewards of caregiving for someone who has the disease. And also I hope it spurs an urgency to cure it. KW: Congratulations on the success of Th e Birth of a Nation, where you play Nate Turner’s mom, Nancy. Were you surprised when the movie won both the audience’s and the jury’s Best Picture awards at the Sundance Film Festival last month?AE: Th ank you. I loved working with Nate on the fi lm. He is such a generous director, producer and acting partner. I am so proud to be a part of it. Th e night of the

screening was magic. And while I had no expectations, I had an inkling that something remarkable would happen.

KW: AALBC.com founder Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?AE: I am reading several books at the same time now, but you can fi nd most of my DNA on “A Brief History of Seven Killings” by Marlon James. KW: Th e music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? AE: “Turn Your Love” by Half Moon Run. Th en, I listened to myself eviscerate Al Green’s version of “One Day at a Time. “Th ank God for walls!

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?AE: My Cherry Cobbler. I can

eat the whole thing by myself.

KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory?AE: My heartbreak when my crush, Tommy Vick, shared his headband with another girl. I was 3.

KW: Who loved you unconditionally during your formative years?AE: My grandmother loved me crazily.

KW: Was there a meaningful spiritual component to your childhood?AE: Spiritual component: Well,

I was raised by the wife of a pastor of 4 churches. So, I was in church in some capacity almost every day from the time I was 3 until I went to college. Th ere was no choice. But I have no resentments. None. In fact, I am so grateful for it. Th e experience of that rooted me in the notion of worship. And that is what art is—worship: Giving of yourself completely to the creation and acknowledgement of something bigger than you, higher than you. Whatever that may be. KW: What was your very fi rst job?AE: My fi rst job was working in concessions at the local movie theater. Best job ever. Free movies. Free popcorn. Still one of the joys of my life. Free movie and lots of free popcorn.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?AE: More and more, I see my Aunt Mae. Th at makes me happy. I liked that woman. A lot! KW: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?AE: One of the craziest was a knock-down, drag-out fi ght I had on the Great Wall of China with my boyfriend at the time. Th e tourists were so confused. KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?AE: Oh gosh, me and wishes. Th e fi rst is I would cure my mom’s Parkinson’s. KW: Th e Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?AE: What excites me is when I doubt myself and then prove me wrong.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?AE: I have no guilty pleasures. I proudly own ALL of my bad taste!

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? And please answer the question.AE: May I give you a million or more dollars to fi lm the project you have written? [Laughs]

KW: Th e Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?AE: I have several, but I’m loving Delpozo right now. My dream is to rock a dress at Jazz Fest in New Orleans.

KW: Th e Melissa Harris-Perry question: How did your fi rst big heartbreak impact who you are as a person?AE: When the fi rst real boyfriend I had broke-up with me, I spent years grieving and trying to get him back. Such a waste of time! I am still paying to this day for professional choices I made because of that folly. Heartbreak now fuels me. I use it. I will never again

be bowed by it. I won’t deny hurt. I won’t deny pain. But I will get up out of the deathbed and go to the audition anyway.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic fi lms being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in?AE: Th e Heiress.

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster? AE: I love that question, because I love monsters! I always crush hard on them. When the recent Godzilla came out--I clapped like a baby when he came on screen and then I don’t remember what happened aft er that. Oh, and the Predator! Oh my! Th ose locks in his hair... His infrared vision... Lemme stop. It’s too much. KW: Judyth Piazza asks: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? AE: Th ey never stop being children. Th ey have a constant sense of discovery, they don’t understand the word “no,” and they know how to create new worlds and systems with little or nothing.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?AE: I’m not good with advice. I would say, if you are someone who shared my particular background--being a country girl with no one around me pursuing what I wanted--I highly encourage naïveté. And singular focus.

KW: Th e Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?AE: For working to the bone to rid my home state of Mississippi of its racist fetishes. And for my cobbler, of course. [Laughs]

KW: Th anks again for the time, Aunjanue, and best of luck with the fi lm.AE: Th ank you, Kam.

By Kam Williams

Aunjanue Ellis inOf Mind and MusicINTERVIEW


Monday, March 7 VISUAL ART

I AM: Exploring Identity through the Self PortraitTh e Southern Th eater 1420 S. Washington Ave., Minneapolis5 p.m. – 7 p.m.No cover

As a part of the Guerrilla Girls Twin Cities Takeover, Monday’s show is the reception for Altered Esthetic’s exhibit, exploring personal art expression.

Tuesday, March 8

PLAY/THEATER

“Nina Simone: Four Women”Park Square Th eatre 20 W. 7th Pl., St. Paul7:30 p.m. $14

Starring actress Regina Marie Williams “Nina Simone: Four Women,” which runs through March 26, explores one of the most prolifi c musicians and activists of our time.

Wednesday, March 9 READING

“Black into the Future: An Evening with Dr. Alexis De Veaux”Th e Loft Literary Center1011 Washington Ave. S., Ste. 200, Minneapolis7 p.m.

Free Black Dirt presents Dr. Alexis De Veaux, the 2015 winner of Lambda Literary’s Lesbian Fiction prize. De Veaux’s work is defi ned by two critical concerns – making the racial and sexual experiences of Black female characters central, and disrupting boundaries between forms.

Thursday, March 10 HIP-HOP/PERFORMANCE

Baby Shel’s World CD Release PartyHoney205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis10 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Red Lake’s Baby Shel is a standout on Minnesota’s hip-hop scene with rapid fi re delivery and the content to match. With opening performances from Finding Novyon, Sake Red, and

J Plaza, this show is sure to be packed to the rim with quality emceeing.

Friday, March 11 HIP-HOP/SOUL/NEO-SOUL

Are You Local? ShowcaseFirst Avenue701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 7 p.m.18-plus$10 advance, $12 door

With Grammy Award winners KING (fresh off a sold out show at the Icehouse) and

Grammy nominee Allan Kingdom, it’s hard to call this a night of “local” acts. Th ese hometown heroes are joined by Kill the Vultures and newcomers, Holidae.

Saturday, March 12HIP-HOP/JAZZ/SOUL/REGGAE

Transformation Vol. 5 feat. DJ Nune, Desdamona and Solo StarBedlam Lowertown213 4th St. S.E., St. Paul9 p.m. – 2 a.m.21-plus$12 advance, $17 door

Th ee Urbane Life is back with its live band tribute to hip-hop, Transformation. Inspired by the Hidden Beach “Unwrapped” series, Transformation takes popular hip-hop songs and transforms them to jazz, rock, reggae and beyond. Th is installment features St. Louis’ DJ Nune, an award winning DJ who plays trumpet, trombone, French horn and keys while DJing. Also performing are Desdamona and Solo Star. Advance tickets are available at www.Transformation5.bpt.me.

Sunday, March 13ART SHOWING

“Downtown: Minneapolis in the 1970s”Mill City Museum 704 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis Runs until April 3

Th rough pictures, photographer Mike Evangelist takes a look at downtown Minneapolis in the 1970s.

Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at [email protected]

Mar. 7 - 13 Baby Shel

Allan Kingdom

KING Regina Marie Williams

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insight news ::: 03.07.16

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