By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The WNBA, NBA and the NBA Development League in February joined forces with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to launch the Dribble to Stop Diabetes national campaign. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2011 fact sheet, nearly 26 million people have diabetes, 8.3 percent of […]
Post
Posted inArts + Culture
Ghettophysics: Film claims we all live in ‘pimps and hos’ system
A movie review By Mel Reeves Contributing Writer The creator of GhettoPhysics has tapped into something that is slowly seeping into American mindsets, and that is something is wrong, especially with our relationship to power. GhettoPhysics, which was screened on October 6 at the St. Anthony Main Theatre in Minneapolis, is a documentary that uses […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
School system collaborates with Kids 4 Health
Initiative helps fill the gap left by cuts in phys ed classes By Lisa Bryant Contributing Writer Elizabeth Drake and other parents who seek resources to help improve their child’s health and well-being are being referred by their physicians to the Kids 4 Health (K4H) Institute as a possible solution. “We are the solution,” says […]
Posted inSports
Fitz Beat, by Larry Fitzgerald—Put the blame where it belongs
GLENDALE, AZ — Every NFL team that fails this year to have a successful season has a built-in alibi. Blame it on the lockout — say it was because we just have not had enough time to work on this and that with our players. It’s true that many of the younger players are behind […]
Posted inOpinion
Finally we have the leadership needed to close achievement gap
By Louis King Guest Commentator For the first time in my 15 years of observing the leadership addressing the achievement gap, we finally have all that is necessary to move the ball. We must recognize, organize, mobilize and capitalize on the opportunity before us. We have no time to waste. First, we have district leadership, […]
Posted inOpinion
Through My Eyes, by Ron Edwards—Who’s in charge of 807 West Broadway — soon to be 1200 West Broadway?
The headline of this column reflects the soon-to-be-finished headquarters of Special School District #1 of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and the mystery surrounding its funding. This raises further questions about who will operate the building, who will control other activities in the building, and what other groups are expecting to benefit, perhaps even be […]
Posted inOpinion
Voices of the Village, by Lissa Jones—Resist the lies that are killing our babies
Critical thinking in the Black Independence Movement “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving those who are doing the oppressing.” — Malcolm X Wow! No surprise to my readers that I adore Malcolm and trust deeply in his wisdom. Thanks to modern technology, he […]
Posted inOpinion
Issues And New Perspectives, by Lucky Rosenbloom—Time to give up those 1950s arguments for the Black agenda
Blacks are growing in their frustration with Black organizations for their inability to move the Black agenda. Part of that problem is that no one can really define the Black agenda. This is a good buzz phrase to use in meetings, but what is the Black agenda? Ask this question of several Black agencies, and […]
Posted inOpinion
Unemployed corporate Blacks need a Jobs Act too
“Passage of the $447 billion American Jobs Act will put people on the bench back to work,” proclaimed U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood from the platform of the St. Paul’s Union Depot Central Corridor Light Rail project. He was joined by FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, elected members of Congress Keith Ellison and Betty […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
Arts No Chaser, by Dwight Hobbes—Neighbors: Great acting can’t redeem stilted attempt at satire
Some time back, Chris Rock stepped on stage at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. He didn’t say so much as “Good evening, Twin Cities, how you doin’?”, “Nice to be here” or anything of the sort. He went straight to the mic and the first words out of his mouth were, “Does every brotha in […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
American Contract Compliance Association holds nat’l conference in Twin Cities
The American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA) recently held their 25th Anniversary Conference and Training in Minnesota. ACCA is a national organization comprised of affirmative action and contract compliance professionals across the country. The organization started with forethought and support from Minnesota to standardize, organize and train employees on laws and best practices in the field. […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
The Power of Mentoring, by Nancy Torrison—Mentoring makes man the ‘happiest in Minnesota’
Tola Ogundare is a volunteer who truly enjoys and appreciates young people. He feels called to give back to the community by making a positive impact on youth. He knows that volunteering is important for building strong communities, and he learned from his parents that what you give as a volunteer, while adding value to […]
Posted inSports
Gathering planned to honor Kwame McDonald
A celebration of the life and achievements of Kwame McDonald is scheduled for Friday, October 7, 6-9 pm, at Central High School, 275 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder encourages all readers of Kwame’s many contributions to the newspaper over the years, especially his “Kwame’s Kapsules” and “Wise Owl” columns, to attend and […]
Posted inSports
Another View, by Charles Hallman—Fans turn out to cheer on Lynx — so spare us all the prompting
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Not since the 1995 NCAA Women’s Final Four championships, and not since the Minnesota Timberwolves played a couple of games in the 2004 Western Conference title series, has the downtown Minneapolis arena served as host of a national championship event. But Sunday the nation’s spotlight — well, actually, as much […]
Posted inSports
League Pres Richie enthuses over WNBA Finals
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer WNBA President Laurel Richie says her “rookie season” as league president has been a great one. Speaking to reporters Sunday prior to the first game of the 2011 WNBA Finals in Minneapolis, Richie cited increases in attendance and television ratings and “great engagement in the online digital space” such as […]
Posted inNews
School superintendents commit to racial equity
By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer On the morning of Saturday, September 17, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Brooklyn Center, schools across the Twin Cities metro area were asked the following questions: “Are you willing to publicly declare a commitment to racial equity and working to increase achievement for students of color? And are you […]
Posted inNews
Volunteers, homeowners join forces to continue storm cleanup
Crisis has strengthened neighborhood’s unity By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Chasing the tornado money: Ninth in a series Nearly 250 volunteers last week assisted homeowners who live on the block of 30th and James Avenue North in the effort to restore their homes to pre-tornado condition. The volunteers were Pohlad company workers, and the project […]
Posted inNews
Kids 4 Health Institute tackles childhood obesity
By Lisa Bryant Contributing Writer First in a series One year ago, Elizabeth Drake’s son Evan, 10, was considered obese for his height and age. At 5’3” and 195 lbs, Evan was avoiding all physical activity, eating compulsively, and being teased at school. Concerned for her son’s health and well-being, Drake turned to her pediatrician, […]
Posted inNews
Minnesota to Africa: A Journey of Hope airs on KSTP Ch. 5
Series chronicles Judge Lange, City of Minneapolis, Mpls Firefighters’ Kenyan mission Be sure to check out From Minnesota to Africa: A Journey of Hope featuring Judge LaJune Thomas Lange’s International Leadership Institute’s training mission to Eldoret, Kenya. It’s the first in an exclusive series produced by KSTP Channel 5 chronicling the Minnesota delegation to Kenya, […]
Posted inNews
Harvest Prep: ‘The prisons are not getting any of our boys!’
By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer In 1992, the founders of Seed Academy & Harvest Preparatory School expanded a home childcare business to a kindergarten-to-first-grade elementary school. They now serve close to 1,000 students — and they assert that they have solved the puzzle of the achievement gap for their student body of predominately children of […]