The Current State of North Minneapolis heading into 2009 – “Shall we Overcome?”
Mr. Lennie Chism addresses the Minneapolis City Council, who has decided to “exclude” the Black community from dollars.
In view of the catastrophic failure of Minneapolis Urban League in 2008 as it pertains to service to people, programs, community engagement and bad internal decision making to include cutbacks and layoffs, does the Black social service agency have a contingency plan for 2009? With the layoff of the MUL’s marketing/communications director (A U of M triple major with a Masters Degree – probably the smartest person in the building), it seems that bad choices will continue to be the flavor for 2009. An old poet wrote, “To fear someone with education and a strong will moves forward the clock of your stupidity.”
Furthermore, the exit this summer of the MUL’s Chief Development Officer and the agency opting to hire another grant writer versus someone with a solid direction, (which was the issue in the first place), put the once flagship Black social service agency in a tight competition for funds and the lack of procedure on how to fundraise in the private sector – a piece that’s been missing for a long time. It’s been reported that in 2009 local and national philanthropic agencies will meet to announce cuts in funding to Twin City agencies to include the MUL. These (White) philanthropic agencies have been conditioned to see Black agencies on television, radio and newspaper talking about successful measurable outcomes and current programs that reflect dollars given to local non-profits for programs to enact those programs. “Question: When was the last time you saw FOX 9 News or WCCO at the Minneapolis Urban League to promote a successful outcome that was purely Black focused and driven?”
The fact is; it has not happened. Now, with no fear of being called racists or unfair for not giving the usual dollars to the Black agencies in light of the current political atmosphere, the White philanthropic agencies are asking the question, “What are you doing with the money and what have you done.” With questions still unanswered regarding the $50,000.00 given away freely by Northway Community Trust to a firm outside of the community/state for a survey on Broadway Avenue businesses that was never done; to the alleged miss-dealings of the Jordan Area Community Council; and our favorite, Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) lack of “development” makes us wonder if “change” is the operative word for 2009, local Black social service agencies must “step up to the plate” and play in the league of sound business practices; understanding policy, making policy and working with people from outside of their circle (but within the community) who might know more without being afraid of “change.” For example, if the Minneapolis Urban League gets money (again) to address the housing foreclosure issue within the community, we cannot let them “go outside the community and hire people that don’t look like us or don’t live in the community to address this very serious issue. That has always been the “easy-out.” There are knowledgeable people in the community that have technically solved the foreclosure crisis in their heads but have not been given the opportunity to step forward and apply the logics needed to create education, wealth and independence for North Minneapolis. If the African American Men Project needs a marketing plan or a website developed – they will not give a White firm $100,000.00 to complete a task and turn into a referral agency. Year-to-date, we have not seen a solid plan or website for AAMP. Part of this situation evolves from Black people that can make decisions, feel more comfortable doing business with White folks. (That’s another story…soon.)
Rather than just cutting the agencies off, meetings are being set up to announce a start from scratch approach with programs and plans that local agencies have to re-apply for funding – if they meet the requirements. Also reported today, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Clinic goes into 2009 with a half-million dollar deficit. Contacts for IBNN allege that a meeting was called between the NP board chair and a NP program director that had to answer some very “pointed” questions about his “process” or failure of. (It’s understandable why the U of M backed out of that deal.)
In University of Minnesota/Northside Partnership News…A concerned North Minneapolis community wise man received this email from the University of Minnesota’s Community Liaison, stationed at the Minneapolis Urban League. It reads, “The Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center is working to create a time line of people who have been important or instrumental in the Northside and well as Minneapolis and in Minnesota – people who have had an effect in a positive or negative way. This will be used during the Future’s conference. Some examples include Jesse Ventura – Governor from 1999 – 2003, Sharon Sayles-Belton as the first African American and woman Mayor, Marcea Bland Staten Lloyd – Political strategist or Sister Jean of Ascension these are names to jog your memory. Names should cover the 1970s, 1980s,1990s, and 2000s up until now. Can you send your responses by the end of this week, Friday, January 2nd at 3:00? Please list names and year. Feel free to pass this on to others. Thanks for your help.”
In outrage and the feeling of being patronized and disrespected, the community wise man responded with this email message, “You continue to insult the community with the 1950’s “Ceremonial Negroes” mind set. STOP. What was successful yesterday can it be carried forward today? The major concern I have is the continuing unprofessional, lack of knowledge and lack of full discourse. Anyone engaging in your process that disagrees with your plan or ideas of mindset is made unwelcomed. This question is another example of limited discourse prior to posing such a question. “Successful people live in the future; unsuccessful people live in the past.”
To add fuel to the fire, the University of Minnesota point person sent this email to us, which read, (unedited) – “What is your most pressing question around PAR? Each Foundations of Participatory Action Research (PAR) training session will include both University faculty, students, and staff, as well as Community participants. The opening of the training will place it in the context of partnership and university-community engagement, highlighting the value of research in forming and sustaining these collaboratives. Each session will then introduce the concept of research as a continuum, with ‘traditional’/bench research on one end and PAR on the other. After brief descriptions of the different degrees of collaboration in research on the continuum, the training will offer a basic definition of PAR, noting that it is a form of engaged research through which all members are co-inquirers. The training will then move into a more detailed exploration of PAR. Topics to be covered will include: historical basis and theoretical underpinnings; assumptions; core values and principles; benefits; challenges; process and phases; and ethics. In addition to a general Q&A exchange, attendees will be given the opportunity to participate in “table-top” dialogues with their colleagues.”
Our response was, Dear Community Liaison for the Urban Research Outreach and Engagement Center/ University Northside Partnership University of MN – After receiving you’re very badly written email about Participatory Action Research and being totally insulted by the text in the body of the email – it is clear that the University of Minnesota has no clue what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with. You folks presuppose that just because you have some melanin in your skin you identify with the Black folks of North Minneapolis. Secondly, you asked the question in your email, “What is your most pressing question around Participatory Action Research (PAR)?” Did you forget you did not write any background information or provide a link so we “Neanderthals” can look it up ourselves?
The fact is the “research” aspects of PAR attempt to avoid the traditional “extractive” research carried out by universities and governments where “experts” go to a community, study their subjects, and take away their data to write their papers, reports and theses. Research in PAR is ideally BY the local people and FOR the local people – (Like the lost tribe of “Booboo”) lol! Research is designed to address specific issues identified by local people, and the results are directly applied to the problems at hand.
PAR proceeds through repeated cycles, in which researchers and the community start with the identification of major issues, concerns and problems, initiate research, originate action, learn about this action and proceed to a new research and action cycle. This process is a continuous one. Participants in Action Research projects continuously reflect on their learning from the actions and proceed to initiate new actions on the spot. Outcomes are very difficult to predict from the outset, challenges are sizeable and achievements depend to a very large extent on researcher’s commitment, creativity and imagination of which you and the University of Minnesota have none. (The players from UROC and UMNP have failed to demonstrate the skill-sets, in my judgment, to complete the necessary tasks to complete the PAR).
If you want a significant participation from the community for the U of M/UROC-Northside Partnership please stop the central localization of message distribution that only attracts the same participants with no new ideas; no creative solutions; and finally no results. I’ve seen what the U of M is trying to do in North Minneapolis work better in other cities because the point-people “got-it!” Your database reflects the U’s lack of outreach to a broader community base; therefore your list has become folly, a sham!
In closing Makeda, this is not a personal attack against you but an attack against the process that leaves “sound business practices and the correct process of community engagement” in the trash. Happy New Year!
As the University of Minnesota/Northside Partnership and UROC forge ahead with its impending commitment to research, it has again scheduled a series of meeting in the community cleverly sung to the tune of, “We want to know what you think” while offering no immediate answers to North Minneapolis about economic stimuli, employment, business start-up, addressing the Minneapolis Public Schools; or the Foreclosure issue. One reason no answers have been given is because they haven’t a clue!
In our opinion, it looks like 2008 will carry into 2009 with the same Standard Operating Procedures and no results. What will it take for the community to stand up and demand a solid community benefits agreement with the University of Minnesota that will reflect a true partnership – “What I have; what you have and what we have together.” Starting over is not a failure but an opportunity to align yourself with the right groups to move the project forward.
Until then, there’s a lot to write about. Happy New Year!
Part 1 of 4: Riding the Minority-Ethnic Train all the way to the Bank: Minnesota Public Radio – “We don’t care what you say, as long as the questions and answers come from us!”
Simple math: Poor+Black=$$$!
MPR, the “giant in the castle” has its operations in St. Paul, Minnesota. In the spring of 2008, 20 community members gathered for a “funded” research session at the Willard-Homewood Studios on Plymouth Avenue in North Minneapolis to discuss how the media portrays North Minneapolis and what MPR could do to change the perception of the “drive-by media” delivery of north Minneapolis to the mainstream. The meeting ended with MPR asking the community members to sign up to be “sources” for local community news as part of their Public Insight Journalism. Year-to-date, not one story has been done about north Minneapolis, the community or any successful measurable outcome about the Black community in North Minneapolis. (There are a couple of social service agencies in North Minneapolis doing well, despite the catastrophic system failure of the Minneapolis Urban League.) MPR’s membership base is strong and White. Despite being a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, MPR dabbles in government with “messaging” to suit their agenda; what they say on the radio can affect policy through their listening base; members; and high profile donors. “It must be good to have an ear, near!”
This is another example of how large non-profits benefit from the minority-ethnic community by receiving dollars to do community engagement and “research” that only serves them. In a 4 part series titled, “Riding the Minority-Ethnic Train tall the way to the Bank” – with the assistance of local and national journalists, IBNN will bring to light major “white” non-profit organizations that ride the minority-ethnic train all the way to the bank with no service to the community; no Blacks working for the organization and a true fear of, “keeping it real!”
The following story is from Mr. Gavin Sullivan titled:
by Gavin Sullivan – Guest Contributor
I listen to Minnesota Public Radio quite often and generally like it. Like many large, successful organizations, MPR occasionally has ambitions and desires which itch for special political consideration.
But unlike most such organizations, MPR has a gigantic megaphone and well-connected membership base which it can whip into a-frenzy in order to get what it wants.
Light rail is likely to be expanded. MPR doesn’t want the light rail near its building. In order to achieve its political objective, MPR is now broadcasting political harangues by Bill Kling, in order to ensure MPR’s priorities get put at the front of the queue.
This is unethical. MPR should not use its access to the public airwaves in order to advance its pet political objectives. It should not treat its membership as a lobbying arm.
Minnesota Public Radio ought to apologize for broadcasting Bill Kling’s recent messages–and assure the public that this corrupt practice will not occur again.
Mr. Sullivan welcomes comments at gavin6@gmail.com. You can read more from Mr. Sullivan at his website by clicking here.
Major Airlines create their own Bailout with “Baggage Fee”
After November 2008 to check one bag on any of the major airlines in the United States you are required to pay a $15 fee. If you have more than one bag, the cost rises to between $30-$50 dollars. (Some airlines charge as much as $130 dollars for extra baggage). In a story published on CNN.com, United States-based United Airlines has decided to double the fee it charges some passengers to check a second bag, citing as reason the volatile prices of aviation turbine fuel. This gets bad when some veterans are up in arms, charging American Airlines with being un-American. The reason: American Airlines is charging soldiers heading off to war a fee for their extra baggage, but San Antonio television station, KENS 5 found out they’re not alone. Some say the colors of our flag represent patriotism and all things American.
U.S. Army reservist Ricardo Arispe has defended the flag for almost three decades. He is now one of several veterans irate with American Airlines. The airline has that same flag hanging below its name but still refuses to waive its fee for soldiers who carry extra baggage as they head off to war. “We’re putting ourselves on the line for American interests. We’re serving national interests, and in turn they should back us up,” Arispe said.
Lisa Shay was just charged $50 for going seven pounds over the baggage weight limit, and she was OK with it. “I was kind of expecting to pay,” she said. But she says soldiers have paid enough. (Source: San Antonio News)
After taking a good friend to the airport on Christmas Eve and assisting her with her luggage while she asked me to get a tip out for the skycap – of course with hesitation because of the posted sign that read, “Due to rising costs of jet fuel, or airlines will charge a $15 dollar fee for handling of luggage.”
Let’s put this into perspective. On December 18, 2008 oil was at $40 per barrel. When the Airlines passed this “baggage fee” to the world and business travelers (Summer 2008), the cost for oil was at $147.00 dollars a barrel. The American public was duped into “economic sympathy” with the multi-trillion dollar airline industry to think that, “Yeah, we’re all having a hard time making ends meet; we’ll help you with the jet fuel.”
My point is simple, now that the cost of oil and fuel has dropped significantly, why hasn’t the airlines “dropped” the baggage charge? Secondly, why hasn’t the American traveler addressed this heinous practice with local carrier (Minnesota) Northwest/Delta? Just like Chicago politics, someone is getting paid well to keep things status quo.
With an estimated 625,000* people that use airline travel each day and saying that hypothetically each person had 1 piece of luggage to check, with a modest $15.00 per piece fee, the total would be $9,375,000.00 (9 million dollars a day). Of course that would be if everyone had paid for one piece of luggage. (*Yahoo Answers.com)
Let’s look at the BIG picture.
We’ll say it’s an estimated $9 million dollars per day in baggage fees is made by the 10 major airlines, based on an estimated 625,000 daily passengers that travel, the math would look like this; $9 million x 30 days = $270 million per month with a yearly estimate of $3.24 billion dollars. The chart below shows that across the world that Jet Fuel prices have been declining. Why hasn’t the major airlines adjusted or eliminated “baggage fee” all together?
When all is said and done, this is another attempt (one that is working well), to rip off the average person who depends on the major airlines for business, leisure or military travel.
Below is a list of the 10 major airline carriers and their current baggage policies and costs.
Air France – Each passenger is allowed to check two items free of charge. Each item must not exceed a weight of 23 kg. (51 lbs.) Each additional item incurs a fee of $150 USD. Air France Flying Blue members are granted additional weight limits.
Nippon Airways – ANA requires advance arrangements with their customer service center for bulky baggage with total linear dimensions exceeding 203cm (80 inches) or weighing more than 32kg (70 lbs). Excess baggage fees range from $34-130 USD and the charge per piece is different between departure from Japan and departure from the U.S. or Guam.
American Airlines – For flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, American passengers pay $15 USD for their first checked bag and $25 for the second bag. One carry-on is permitted at no charge. On international flights, one carry-on and two checked bags are permitted for free. American charges $100 per piece for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags and $200 per piece for the 6th checked bag and any additional pieces.
China Southern Airlines – The China Southern free baggage allowance is 40kg. For first class, 30kg. For business class, and 20kg. For economy class. If you receive a free upgrade, allowance is based on your original reservation. Specific fees are not listed on the Web site.
Continental Airlines – Continental allows passengers within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands one checked bag in economy at no charge. Each bag must not exceed 23 kg. (51 lbs.) A second bag costs $25. International travelers are permitted two checked bags at no charge. Business class travelers are allowed three bags without charge. Additional bags are $100 per item. Bags weighing between 50-70 lbs. incur a fee of $50 per item. Bags weighing more than 70 lbs. are not accepted.
Delta Airlines – Delta allows passengers to check two bags and one carry-on bag plus a personal item. You can check one bag per passenger free of charge when traveling in the U. S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. If traveling outside the U.S. you can check two bags free of charge. Checked bags must weigh less than 50 lbs. An extra bag that goes over the weight limit and the size limit will create three charges. These charges each range from $25-$150.
Japan Airlines – JAL permits one carry-on bag weighing less than 10 kg. (22 lbs.), in addition to two checked bags. The size limits on these bags vary by type of route. Excess fees are calculated using this formula: Normal economy class fare between boarding points (adult one-way) x 1.5% x excess baggage weight in kg., rounded up to the nearest hundred yen. Keep in mind that if you got a sale fare, they will use the normal fare to make the calculation.
Lufthansa – Lufthansa allows two checked bags per passenger weighing 23-32 kg each, depending upon your route. The airline uses a zone system to determine fees for excess baggage weight. It adds up quickly: 5€ for every excess kilogram on domestic flights within Germany, but long-haul flights can involve 40€/kg.
Northwest Airlines – Northwest allows each passenger one piece of checked baggage without charge. The second bag on domestic flights costs $25; after two bags, each additional costs $100. There is a long list of charges for baggage that exceeds 50 lbs. The charges vary by destination and can add up quickly.
United Airlines – United charges each passenger $15 for the first checked bag. Oversized bags (beyond 50 lbs.) incur a fee of $125. The schedule of charges and conditions is complicated, so read carefully.<–>
North Minneapolis 2009 – “40/40/40 Community Benefits Agreement” Must be a part of Business as Usual to help community growth
Firm negotiation is the key to unlock education, wealth and independence.
“If it’s not growing, it’s going to die.”
…Michael Eisner
In 2009 north Minneapolis community coalitions need to implement a “40/40/40 Community Benefits Agreement” with any organization planning to develop, create or build in the community. A community benefits agreement, or CBA, is a private contract between a developer and a community coalition that sets forth the benefits that the community will receive from the development. Common benefits include living wages, local hiring and training programs, affordable housing, environmental remediation and funds for community programs. CBAs ensure that development is equitable and benefits all members of the community, eventually contributing to stronger local economies, livable neighborhoods and increased public participation in the planning process.
The 40/40/40 CBA is structured to insure there is a equal spread of 40% investment into the community before (development and construction), 40% during (employment of community residents) and 40% after (a set level of community engagement based on earned and applied funding streams to benefit the community in the form of grants and program support). This blanket agreement should be applied to agencies like the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan Transit, local banks and any developer or City of Minneapolis coalition coming into north Minneapolis with a proposed projects.
For example, in New York City, “Community benefit,” of course, is a euphemism for “legal shakedown.” From a potential developer’s perspective, it represents a pre-negotiated bribe paid to politicians and their allies for the right to attempt to create new jobs, and to bolster the city’s revenue base. But the practice is all the rage in New York these days. Similar requirements accompanied the recent Harlem rezoning deal, and “community benefit” shakedowns were integral to the new Yankee and Shea baseball-stadium projects.
The second part to implementing a successful CBA or “40/40/40 CBA” is the people at the community coalition level. Coalition-Building: At the heart of the community benefits strategy is coalition building. Organizing and maintaining a coalition, facilitating compromise and crafting a shared agenda is essential to creating a successful CBA. If enough stakeholders come together with a common vision for economic development, developers are likely to want to negotiate an agreement. The CBA process offers developers and attractive alternative to litigation and polarizing public debates. (The University of Minnesota should have been held to a more comprehensive CBA then the one NRRC has or is authoring).
With a comprehensive CBA (40/40/40), the University of Minnesota would have been severely “twisted” for pulling out of NorthPoint Health and Wellness Clinic and rather than FIPSE waving $750,000.00 in funding opportunities in the communities face, they would have been required to develop (with community input from people that have been successful in business and community engagement) a working model that not only benefited the community and FIPSE, but also “recaptured” funds that were originally invested in business, projects and people. CBAs ensure that the developer’s promises regarding community benefits are legally enforced. Developers like the University of Minnesota – who are not really “developers” – but scientists, anthropologists and administers hold the upper hand when it comes to dollars they are “pitching” for a project and often make promises that are never written into the development agreement, or are never enforced even if they are included. This is especially true of promises about jobs being created for local residents. CBAs commit developers in writing to promises they make regarding their projects, and make enforcements much easier. Such agreements generate a collaborative relationship from the beginning avoiding community objection and costly delays.
It’s not too late for a community coalition to come together, author and deliver a detailed Community Benefit Agreement based on the 40/40/40 Rule that includes the community 100%.
In the calendar year 2009, a standard “40/40/40 Community Benefits Agreement” can and should be delivered to anyone coming into north Minneapolis to do business. This is the only way the residents of north Minneapolis will be able to create education options, build wealth and create economic stimuli while gaining independence by having “choices.”
To receive a 40/40/40 Community Benefits Agreement authored for your organization as it pertains to development in north Minneapolis or the greater Twin Cities, please send a request for information to info@ibnn.org.
A Call for the Resignation of Jordan Area Community Council Executive Director and North Side Marketing Task Force Board Chairman Jerry Moore
“With alleged payoff, paybacks and FBI investigations along with the lack of inclusion as it pertains to community and process, its time for a change of guard at Jordan Area Community Council and the Northside Marketing Task Force. The Jordan Area denotes a better type of leader! If we (the community) flush the toliet now, we won’t have to call Joe the Plumber, (the City of Minneapolis) to fix the problem later. Mr. Moore, no more!”
Don Allen
“Before we ask someone else to clean up their yard, we must clean up our own yard first.” …D. Allen
It has come to my attention that you plan to run for Minneapolis City Council against Don Samuels. First of all (Jerry), you have no experience, no history, and you are not qualified to represent the residents of north Minneapolis, let alone run a community organization in north Minneapolis.
Jerry Moore
Point being, you don’t even live in the neighborhood or north Minneapolis.
Secondly, on behalf of the residents in north Minneapolis who own business, homes, and have children in the Minneapolis Public Schools, the NMTF has not addressed the current state of the community in north Minneapolis, nor have they assumed a position on any one topic or situation. The Task Forces’ passive lack of engagement does not create any “new” avenues to address education (by the way – have you even talked with the University of Minnesota?), employment, health care, transportation, crime, industries, business, or economic stimuli. In speaking to your colleague on the task force, Mike Kastner – he seems to think that is not what a task force is suppose to do. Why are valuable community point persons baffled by your deceptions? It’s clear to me what going on, and has has been for a long time.
It is also alleged that you remain under investigation for real estate fraud, among other things.
I feel qualified to speak on this because I was the Vice Chair of the North Side Marketing Task Force. I questioned every move you made. I saw you bring in your friends and pay them large sums of money for “retreats” to talk about the “format” of the NMTF. These people were not qualified to address economic stimuli, housing, business, or anything else that north Minneapolis needs. You have surgically and systematically removed people from the NMTF Board who don’t agree with you and question your SOP.
I’ve heard you make comment about Mr. Samuels like, “He likes the White man” and “He’s not for the Black people of north Minneapolis.” But weren’t you the one who rallied 3 White board members to have me voted off the North Side Marketing Task Force? Wasn’t it you who refused $4000.00 from a local bank for the NMTF mission because my name was in the signature block? The only way that you would accept the check was if I your name was in the signature block on the original request letter. (I cut the deal and there were board members that will verify your selfish actions). I think it’s you whose been deceiving the Jordan Area and the residents of north Minneapolis.
Before you resign, I was wondering if you could clear up a few things.
1. In early 2006, the Jordan Area Community Council (JACC) received a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation for nearly $73,000 to carry out a set of initiatives beautifully crafted by Jennifer Anderson, JACC’s Health Coordinator at the time. These initiatives were to serve the Cleveland, Folwell, Hawthorne, Jordan and McKinley neighborhoods. After the JACC’s Health Coordinator exited, you contracted with Todd Barnes of Front Street Marketing and gave him a check for $19,000.00 “up-front” after you had been warned about not entering a contract with this inept company. Furthermore, Todd Barnes collected a bi-weekly pay check to be a Health Outreach Coordinator with community on record saying nothing happened.
“I would challenge you to produce bank records (yours) 3 days after the check was given to Todd Barnes.” What I know by following the money will not paint a pretty picture. Even more creditable would be the opportunity to see Todd Barnes bank “activity” after receiving the dollars you gave to your friend out of the Jordan Area’s bank account.
2. The current JACC executive director (Jerry Moore) seems to not understand that when a grant is given to a non-profit organization for specific programs or uses, the granter expects that money to be used for those uses only. Another long time supporter of JACC, the General Mills Foundation, has also had its funds abused so frequently that I could not take the time or space to list them all here. One prime example is that on 9/6/07, someone from JACC charged $195 to the General Mills Bridges grant at JAX Cafe, a rather high priced steak house in NE Minneapolis. Jerry Moore was asked who he took to dinner and how it was justified. Believe it or not, he smiled and said it was a strategic planning dinner meeting for the board. Fortunately, there were only seven of fifteen board members left on the board by that time or the bill would have been at least twice that. At any rate, I went on to point out that the Bridges grant was not meant to be used in that manner and he laughed and said it was for food and that’s what they got. The ‘food’ General Mills intended to pay for was supposed to go to block club meetings and National Night Out. Needless to say, I doubt General Mills will be giving any more money to JACC as long as the current group is in control.
Ellen Luger, are you listening? (Ms. Luger is with the General Mills Foundation, who sometimes does not get to see the inner workings of what happens with the money, she will get this article by email today, hopefully she doesn’t delete it without being read.)
3. In a letter to Robert I. Cooper, Senior NRP/CP Specialist-City Finance Department, Development Finance Division dated August 10, 2008 – board members were concerned about the direction that you (Jerry) were taking JACC. The letter reads:
Dear Mr. Cooper,
We are writing to ask for your assistance with the Jordan neighborhood’s annual meeting in October of 2008. Because there have been a number of irregularities as well as violation of the organization’s bylaws, we do not have confidence in the Jordan Area Community Council to hold a fair and legitimate election for new board members. We would like to see this election monitored by a neutral outside party, perhaps a city official or the League of Women Voters.
Here are our concerns:
• There have been no general membership meetings in the past year despite a bylaw requirement for a minimum of four. This means membership is not informed about current activities of JACC.
• The current Board frequently makes important decisions in either the Executive Committee (minutes are not available to members or other board members) or in closed portions of the monthly board meeting, thus preventing members of the organization access to what decision have been made, or how they were made.
• We have heard reports at board meetings about board activities to “recruit” new members to the organization. JACC is using a Membership Registration form that states, “In accordance with Non-Profit Laws, a Membership Registration must be on file with the Jordan Area Community Council a minimum of three (3) days before any applicant will be legally eligible to vote. This membership must be renewed annually in September.” We believe this contradicts the 2002 amendment to State Statute 317A.441 [RIGHT TO VOTE] and the Citizen Participation Agreement which requires compliance with the State Statute.
• Further, because there are no general membership meetings, there is no way for the general membership to know about JACC’s requirement that they be registered prior to the election in October. Our concern is that JACC may try to bar people from voting in the election. Some people have received copies of the registration form but many others have not. It has been a very selective process.
• Finally, we wish to ensure that the bylaw requirements for election to the board are followed; i.e., “A simple majority of all votes cast at the meeting shall be necessary for election of any Director.” This has not been followed in the past few elections. If seven seats are open, the top seven people were installed whether or not each one received a majority of the votes cast.
In summary, because of the secretive way the JACC board has operated for the past two years, existing conflicts of interest and the elimination of citizen participation in discussions and decisions, we are asking that the city assist us in attaining oversight for the October annual meeting. We feel this is the only way to ensure that all members of the Jordan neighborhood can participate and that directors will be fairly elected to their positions. We do not have a date for the annual meeting yet but will provide that information when it is announced by JACC.
4. Process: In the JACC Bylaws, it reads, “ARTICLE II –MEMBERSHIP” SECTION 1 - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP…Membership in the corporation shall be limited to people at least eighteen (18 ) years of age, residing or working in the Jordan Neighborhood (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation) and qualified business and institution representatives as designated by the Board of Directors. A membership will be conferred upon individuals who have filed a completed Membership Registration Form with the Jordan Area Community Council at least three (3) days before an applicant will be legally eligible to vote. Youth fifteen (15) to seventeen (17) years of age may petition the Jordan Area Community Council Board of Directors to obtain membership. Membership must be renewed annually. The membership cycle will run from October 1st through September 30th.
My question to you would then be, why are the Bylaws not being followed and what gives you the right to adjust, obstruct and revise these Bylaws without the input of your board and the community?
5. The North Side Marketing Task Force. It has been over a year and nothing has developed out of your leadership with the North Side Marketing Task Force. On January 24, 2009 the Task Force will have a meeting to present a “project” done by the Carney Group and also solicit for Board members. Why have you changed the format so that anyone who wants to be on the board is “interviewed” by you? I think it’s a control issue and you have rejected the “community” as it pertains to the NMTF to make it your own personal platform – as I said from the beginning.
In closing, without saying much more – it’s time for you to “kick rocks!”
There’s an old saying, “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you’ve never fooled the community!”
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press and the right to let the Community know what’s really happening
Editors Note: After the series, “$103,770.00 Without a Trace” has been published with 1 more installment out of the 4 part series coming soon titled, “Solutions,” IBNN has received numerous calls to say, “keep up the good work.” IBNN is read across the World. IBNN does not charge for advertising, we do not have an unspoken allegiance with any organization, government agency or individual in north Minneapolis. We have just asked the right questions to the right people. IBNN’s loyalty is to report to the readers of this Blog, what is really happening in north Minneapolis and around the World. This is always unsettling because things are not always good. But when there is something to report that involves a successful outcome, IBNN and its sister outlet Twin City Business is all over it!
Some community media outlets make thousands of dollars each year from north side social service agencies and will only tell you about “promotional” items, choosing not to be controversial in fear of funding streams being cut off. It is IBNN’s intent to understand and solve the problems of why the “community” (Blacks, Asians, Hispanics-Latinos, Hmong’s and Somali’s) don’t own a bank; major grocery store; hotel or other large scale economic growth conduits that can attribute to education, wealth and independence for the community. IBNN will hold the bar high for “accountability” when reporting on what IBNN sees has system failures, it “shines the light on the cockroaches” if you will. People and the organizations that get caught in the beginning, middle and end who make the most noise about an “injustice being done to them,” are the same folks who thought they could run under the radar and abuse the community with their personal agendas, payoffs and their imaginary “bully pulpit” – that in one case actually worked…funny! Read here (lol) 
The community should have its own choice to hear and be heard. In some cases you have to “tear down before you can build up.” There are always casualties when doing investigative message distribution – but the community has been a casualty too long and just like a young person might know all about his/her favorite athlete or video game, the same should be said about that young person knowing about his/her community organizations, civic leaders and politicians.
Blanket education with information must be the goal of the Black community starting in 2009. Some people don’t know that the United States Congress just apologized for Slavery on July 30, 2008…150 years after the fact. But we as Blacks in America, still ask ourselves, “How can someone from another country come to the United States and do so good in such a short time and we’ve been here all of our cotton-picking life for some with little or no results?” The answer is simple: People from other countries set a goal to live the “American Dream.” Every day, people who want to come to America work extra hard. People from other countries are not bound by racial and social conditioning that our parents and grandparents went through and unfortunately trickled down to some of us. Even the children in African classrooms that in some cases have 50 to 100 or more students in a classroom are able to read, write and do math. When they enter the USA and enroll in college they are ahead of their American counterparts yet in Minneapolis, we can’t teach 25 children so they graduate from high school. We must address each economic opportunity like never before to make sure we are always included. If we don’t do it ourselves no one will. Another point is there are people in the community that “don’t know how” but will not tell us, opting to act “stratified” while great opportunities pass. If you don’t know, ask someone the question you need the answer for – there’s no bad question or crisis, it’s just an opportunity to be educated. Always remember, CRISIS=OPPORTUNITY!
Another point I would like to make. In January 2009 for Martin Luther King Day and February 2009 for Black History month, local and national corporate giants will triple the spending to promote their “liking Black folks and Black history” due to the new world order of having a Black US President. These hypocrites that only come out for January and February “Black” are in the back rooms planning logistics for the upcoming “2” months. Year after year, select corporate giants get taken to the “wood-shed” for the lack of ongoing community commitment and some do continue support the community, we need that same level of commitment at their local franchises and businesses. I’ll put it like this, “Have you been to any of the fast food restaurants on Lake Street or Broadway Avenue lately? Since the late 70’s the “makeup” of the employees have changed. I had the opportunity to ask a local corporate giant who comes in the community every month. I asked, “Why don’t you open a plant that makes the bags and boxes your products go in and hire 300-500 people from zip codes 55411 and 55407 to work at the plant?” Her response was, “I never thought of that.”
Look at it like this. North Minneapolis is a beautiful place. There are agencies and individuals that do GREAT things in north Minneapolis. These people understand business and process. For years they have been “pushed” to the back. In reference to a phone call I received on Wednesday, December 10th from a local pastor, he said, “People are not going to want to work with you because you do know what’s going on.” My reply was simple, “We have to get the people that do know to the top.”
Join IBNN starting January 4, 2009 to create a better north Minneapolis. We can’t do it alone and we want to work with everyone who cares.
The following is for your information:
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion” or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to denote not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression is closely related to, yet distinct from, the concept of freedom of thought or freedom of conscience. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on “hate speech”. This is because exercising freedom of speech always takes place within a context of competing values.
The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the right to freedom of speech as “the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression”. Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in European, inter-American and African regional human rights law.
This was posted for the “professionals” that get it and the “gadflies” that just start reading.
A Dying Mothers plea to the Minneapolis Urban League falls on Deaf Ears
Part 3 of a 4 part series titled, “$103,770.00 Without a Trace”
Regina Edwards
Regina Edwards is a 40 year old Black woman with 6 children who has lived in north Minneapolis for the last 6 years. Regina is dying of Pancreatic Cancer. The doctors say they cannot operate. 2 out of 10 people get this cancer but by the time it’s diagnosed, its to late. In the mix of it all her furnace is not working, her house is cold, and she has no food in her refrigerator due to her electricity being cut off. As we speak, (during this interview) she’s getting ready to go to chemotherapy at North Memorial Hospital. There is no one but her 18 year old daughter to take care of the siblings. No relatives, no grandparents…no one.
Regina has been a political activist and worked at the Urban League of Greater Madison and the City of Madison. She also has worked for the International Culinary School in Burnsville, Minnesota and graduated from Minneapolis Community Technical College in May with a degree in Culinary Arts. Regina’s path to education, wealth and independence was tracking in the right direction.
But there’s a lot more to Regina’s story. Besides having her new home robbed by the people who lived there before, after the landlord gave her the key without changing the locks the day before Thanksgiving, there has been a list of events that have happened to Regina that she needs to let out. So let’s start with the Minneapolis Urban League. Regina says she knew things where strange at the Minneapolis Urban League when the leadership was like, “the Pink Panther,” says Ms. Edwards, “These people don’t want to address any issue other than their paychecks. They creep around as if they are invisible.”
Regina said, “I’m tired of fighting. From the social workers at the hospital to Section 8 – there was no one available at the Minneapolis Urban League to address, assist, or advise me on what to do and how a dying mother can get assistance for herself and her children in a true time of need.” As I talk to her tonight, her young daughter wants to use the computer to do homework – but Regina says to her daughter, “You can’t plug the computer in when the heaters are plugged in because the fuse will blow in the basement.” Regina, doesn’t like going in the basement that has flooded this summer and is filled with mold. She has 4 of the children sleep in the bed with her to keep warm.
Regina did go to the Minneapolis Urban League to seek help and counseling services from Dr. Brovada who has a “boot camp” at the Minneapolis Urban League that helps families. Because of Regina’s list of issues, Ms. Edwards says, “It was a laugh; we had so much going on that they never called back. I even called when I was in the hospital, still no response.”
Regina was first diagnosed with Cancer on August 2, 2008 and went through an unsuccessful surgery; she sought help from the Minneapolis Urban League for her and her children which fell on deaf ears. Meantime her 15 year old daughter took a liking to skipping school and hanging out at the Minneapolis Urban League. Regina’s 15 year old daughter, a runaway was allegedly welcomed into one of the men’s homes who operates out of the MUL. Now the 15 year old is 1 ½ months pregnant (allegedly) by a 19 year old that has told the mother (Regina), “She’s just 15, she can get an abortion.” Ms. Edwards says, “My daughter will not have an abortion! These people at the Minneapolis Urban League who smile in my face are the same ones responsible for my daughter getting pregnant. It’s a shame that the janitor at the Minneapolis Urban League knew my daughter was pregnant before I did. Where is the process for accountability?”
Regina goes on to say, “I have asked everyone at the Minneapolis Urban League to help me after my money was gone.” she asked, “What programs you have that I can be a part of to help keep my family together.” The only one that has shown any compassion or caring towards me was a couple of really nice ladies at the front desk. The men at the Urban League to include the local pastors that associate themselves with the MUL, Regina says, “I wouldn’t trust to bury me when I die.” Ms. Edwards was speaking about a fund that was to be set up to assist her and the children during this hard time. It has been alleged that there was monies collected that never got to Ms. Edwards.
Regina also says, “No one over north (Minneapolis) wants to be accountable for anything in the community. They all just worry about themselves. If the Minneapolis Urban League truly served the people of north Minneapolis, we would have more jobs, better schools, programs that worked and a future different than mine, which ultimately will be death!”
Doctors at North Memorial and Hennepin County Medical Center say that the cancer that Regina has in some cases can be avoided through exercise, healthy eating, nutritional education and a responsible community awareness of health disparities in the Black community. With all respect, this should be addressed by local social service agencies by partnering with local Universities and Hospitals to raise top-of-mind awareness to illnesses that affect the Black community more so than the mainstream; in some cases attributed to unhealthy diets, lack of food sources (food bank) and no money to make healthy choices. The Social Wellness Cluster at the Minneapolis Urban League has received dollars to address such issues on a monumental level but with the lack of leadership and process the message is muted to a quite whisper with no successful measurable results. “It’s not about catered parties at the Minneapolis Urban League to increase awareness about an illness; we need boots on the ground going door-to-door to engage the Black community. Those people act like they are too good to serve the people” says Ms. Edwards.
Is the University of Minnesota-North Side Partnership or UROC really the answer north Minneapolis needs? It’s been almost a year since a University and an Anthropologist ascended on north Minneapolis with all the grace of a Messiah. Still no one has address the high unemployment rates, no economic stimuli and the static feel of a blighted community. Also having the opportunity to meet with Dr. Robert Jones, D. Craig Taylor and Dr. Irma McClurin from the University of Minnesota we still don’t have a healthy source of food distribution like a co-op on the north side which they talked about with high hopes earlier this year.
The story continues. The Minneapolis Urban League has lost touch with the community. In a random survey taken on the corners of Penn Avenue and Plymouth Avenue in front of the Minneapolis Urban League, 20 people ages from 18 to 65 were asked two questions;
1. What does the Minneapolis Urban League do?
2. Who is the President of the Minneapolis Urban League?
Not one person knew what happens inside the piece of real estate sitting on the corners of Penn and Plymouth Avenue North or who the President was. Of course the people had an idea on what the agency should be doing – that’s a whole other story…soon to come.
What comes to mind is where are the leaders of the community? Furthermore, where are the civil rights leaders? Take note, on Tuesday, December 09, 2008 a 25 year old Black man from Minneapolis named Quincy Smith was tazered to death by Minneapolis Police at 1035 Knox Avenue North…no Black organizations said a word. Reports allege he had a bad heart.
No one deserves to die like that – no matter what the circumstances were.
Last Friday at a community meeting I was asked why I went after the Black social service agencies so hard and why don’t I attack some “White people.” My answer to this person who sits on the Minneapolis Urban League Board was simple. I said, “I don’t get thousands of dollars each year from the Minneapolis Urban League for advertising. I never got dollars from Northway Community Trust or NRRC. By the way – have you signed the Conflict of Interest statement yet?”
“Black people who work at social service agencies in north Minneapolis that have put themselves in the positions of helping people have to “step up.” No longer will the mainstream tolerate Black organizations that claim stupidity and having no money to complete missions but serve themselves at the highest levels, wanting for nothing.
The innocence of not knowing about what is going on in the Black community doesn’t fly after today.
There’s a Black president now!”
Changes at Northway Community Trust “Bad Cooks!”
Northway Community Trust doesn’t have anything to show for them being open on Broadway Avenue the last 5 years other than executive director Wesley Walker giving away $50,000.00 to a firm outside of Minnesota to do a survey on Broadway Avenue businesses…it was never done and the money was paid up front. Read the full story HERE originally published in Your Black Wall Street-The Agency.
Northway’s Newsletter – The Beam reports, “After five years, Northway Community Trust is adjusting the way we work in the community. Our relationship with our primary supporter, Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF), along with the downturn in the economy, has necessitated these changes. We will continue our role as community convener and our work will concentrate on three essential initiatives: the Northside Achievement Zone, Manchester Bidwell’s Center for Arts and Technology and a “Main Street” commercial corridor project. Staffing has been reduced with only Executive Director Wesley Walker and Northway’s Administrative Assistant.”
Northway's Wesley Walker
Northway Community Trust has always tried to “play it safe” – “adjusting” in North Minneapolis with agencies like Northway Community Trust – a “brick and mortar” non-profit that has moved away from their original commitments of building capacity and being a community support organization (CSO) dedicated to improving the quality of life in North Minneapolis to giving grants to the Peace Foundation – has suffered from not understanding business, no educated clue on the foreclosure situation (that could have been solved in August 2008 in north Minneapolis with the money spent by local and Fed’s $100 million+), bad decisions, lack of creativity and no consideration for “process.” Northway’s original purpose was to foster collaborative efforts across many programs, neighborhood boundaries and systems in order to fundamentally transform the entire north Minneapolis community – build bridges between social service organizations, businesses, government, foundations and additional funders – and connect organizations so they are working together instead of separately by leveraging skills and resources in order to reduce poverty and increase prosperity. Of course with the current state of non-functioning social service agencies, and the lack of “know how”, expectations have not been met. Furthermore, how can an agency have an Executive Director who’s an introvert? The soft spoken, slow actions and severe case of “stratification” with Mr. Walker made it easy for him to underestimate other Black professionals in the community that could have assisted his agency in building capacity.
Northway Community Trust is the fiduciary agent for the Northside Marketing Task Force (NMTF) whose mission was to change the perception of north Minneapolis through community engagement; building relationships and marketing north Minneapolis in a positive way has done little or nothing to meet original expectations of the board that work very hard in putting the task force in place. Chairman of the NMTF, Jerry Moore – also the Executive Director of Jordan Area Community Council (JACC) – has hired a local public relations agency, not much has been done by the NMTF to change the perception of north Minneapolis.
Northway’s “Partnership Investment” with Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) that touted their Entrepreneur and Micro-Business Development and was given a grant for $60,000 has not had one (1) successful entrepreneur program and the $60,000.00 was actually used to pay Executive Director Glover Jones’ salary – read about HERE – (from Your Black Wall Street-The Agency).
Like the Minneapolis Urban League, Northway Community Trust has become obsolete and ineffective, choosing not to adopt, conform and recognize current trends in information distribution, policy and identifying new funding streams by using a “bully pulpit” in a cordial and diplomatic way.
This is not an attempt to defame the local Black agencies “crisis” but an opportunity to look closely at why we are not able to own a bank or a grocery store.
Friedrich Nietzsche said it best in relation to what’s happening as I see it in the Black non-profit/social service community in north Minneapolis, “Bad cooks — and the utter lack of reason in the kitchen — have delayed human development longest and impaired it most.”
IBNNNEW- North Minneapolis: NAACP President “Uncovers” two of the North side seven and an estimated $4 million dollars Donald Allen
- Apology to the North Minneapolis Community. We don’t have leaders, we have self-appointed spokespersons Donald Allen
- The Death of North Minneapolis… Donald Allen
- IBNN Exclusive Report: Youth with weapon attempts to enter funeral of Alisha “Lele” Neely (Captured on Film) Donald Allen
- WCCO 4 (CBS) Television fails in journalistic integrity with “edited and spliced” tape of the Minneapolis Police Beating of Ira Stafford…rating F- Donald Allen
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