Tune into 89.9FM- KMOJ The People’s Station – Friday, May 1st at 3:20 p.m. “A Call to Action-Take back North Minneapolis” interview!
Posted by Cortez Acoutez
Listen to the announcement by clicking here – A Call to Action Announcement
Editors note: KMOJ-FM Radio 89.9 does not support nor is affiliated with “The Agency” but does provide community information with the on-air platform of the radio station for its listeners. This announcement was paid for by “The Agency.” KMOJ-FM is the best source of News and Information for the Black community. Please support KMOJ by listening and underwriting fine on-air programming. For more information contact the station at (612) 377-0594.
On Friday at 3:20 p.m. tune into KMOJ-FM 89.9 during the Walter “Q-Bear” Banks Show for the interview with Independent Business News Network editor, political consultant and member of the North Minneapolis Community Ethics Committee Don Allen.
Mr. Allen will talk about the upcoming event on Saturday, May 2, 2009 called “A Call to Action-Take Back North Minneapolis”. This presentation is a prelude to the petition to find out where the money is and who is responsible for programs and services in north Minneapolis.
Don’t forget to tune int0 89.9 KMOJ-FM tomorrow at 3:20 p.m.
This has been a public service announcement provided by the Independent Business News Network (www.ibnn.org).
Take Back North Minneapolis – A Call to Action! Saturday, May 2, 2009
“The criminals are not the problem. The agencies in north Minneapolis funded to address community disparities have become invisible leading to a systemic failure in services to the community. Not all agencies fit this profile. The few that fit the profile have assaulted north Minneapolis the most. It’s time for the citizens to ‘Take back north Minneapolis.’ This is not just a north Minneapolis problem. This problem affects communities of all color across the United States.
This will be an ongoing community meeting with action items that will be completed each month to make sure we hold those agencies accountable based on the funding they have received and are expecting in the future for programs and services.”
Are you tired of being a statistic? Read more
Minneapolis Urban League CEO/President finalist Pamela Coaxum (Tucker) withdraws!
Ms. Pamela Coaxum (Tucker)
In breaking news, sources say Minneapolis Urban League CEO/President finalist Pamela Coaxum (Tucker) has withdrawn her name for consideration for the position of CEO/President. Ms. Tucker whose LinkedIn page is accessible to the public, unlike Mr. Gray would have been the best candidate for the job. Remember, Minneapolis Black “Self-Appointed” leaders have a “Good Ole Boy’s Men’s Club” too! If they can’t control you – they go for the next best thing.
IBNN is awaiting a call back for an official statement.
This leaves the community with R. Scott Gray and questions of his criminal background and how the National Urban League could qualify him for a leadership role in a flagship organization. Read here for more. Actual felony report to be posted this week.
On Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Minneapolis Urban League, board member and Insight News Editor and Chief Al McFarlane were confronted by audience members who felt that community should be able to speak directly to the finalists. Board chairman Cathy Wassberg assured IBNN that all questions would be read that were written on index cards. It didn’t happen, Mr. McFarlane screened and picked the questions and denied the community answers by re-arranging questions to meet his personal agenda.
In an attempt to question Mr. R. Scott Gray, who refused to answer any questions from IBNN on possible background issues and the collaboration between him and Alfred Babington-Johnson from the Stairstep Foundation, Mr. Gray declined but did tell others attending that Mr. Johnson was brought to Madison because of the fine work he’s done in Minneapolis?
Mr. Gray went on to say to IBNN that if we didn’t want to talk about “solutions” he had no comment. Our best solution for Mr. Gray would be to stay in Madison!
My question to Mr. Gray would be, “What is the fine work that Mr. Johnson has done in Minneapolis that you are referring to? Could it be the Dairy Queen you were talking about? Or could it have been the Tire Store?”
Or how about this: General Mills, for example, was so compelled by Bethel Seminary graduate Alfred Babington-Johnson’s vision for healing a broken African-American community that it offered funding and 100 volunteers to help create an award-winning soul-food manufacturer and packing company in north Minneapolis. Stairstep Initiative’s Siyeza Inc. employs 80 people (and expects to hire more than 175 at its peak capacity), 80 percent of them from poor neighborhoods.
The $4.3 million investment, created through an alliance of 49 black investors, General Mills, and US Bancorp, produced a $94,000 return at only 10 percent of factory capacity last year. (Circa 5/21/2001)
If this was the case and the “return” was so good at 10%, what happened to the company? “Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me!”
Oops!
The process of finding a new President/CEO was tainted from the beginning.
The Minneapolis Urban League has made a series of bad choices in people, programs and process. How much more will the staff of the MUL have to put up with before the doors are shut for good.
And by the way Mr. Gray – it’s never about statistics. The information you have is incorrect on the state of Black folks in the Twin Cities, but then again – we know where it came from….
When will the cycle stop?
The Shameful Disenfranchisement of the Minority-Ethnic Workforce by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights Director Michael Jordan – Could violations of the R.I.C.O. Act apply?
Economic Exclusions
“With the receipt of documents requested from the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) Contract Compliance Unit from 2005, to 2009 y-t-d, IBNN attests that the City of Minneapolis MDCR, and the Mayor’s office is in violation of the RICO Act as it pertains to city contracts and the alleged criminal procedures and policies which don’t adhere to MDCR ordinances or the law. The current procedures or lack of procedures by the City of Minneapolis and the MDCR obstructs Minneapolis’ minority-ethnic workforce by freezing out trained and available men and women by not notifying or distributing information of availability to General Contractors that participate on city contracts and not holding the GC’s accountable when it comes to compliance and city ordinances.
Furthermore, the continued exclusions on bids for city contracts to include advertising, marketing and public relations along with reduced outreach and contracts awarded by the City of Minneapolis have formed a racketeering process.
What will be the City of Minneapolis’ ‘corrective action’ be for over $400 million in non-compliance contracts?”
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak comments frequently on the involvement of Summit Academy OIC as it pertains to the city’s top-of-mind collaboration with local agencies that train able bodied men and women to work on construction contracts with the City of Minneapolis. Mayor Rybak’s “Obama-Talk” does not reflect the man that was a top supporter of the President and his policies of transparency and collaborations.
Understanding that the best social service program is a JOB, why hasn’t the mayor followed through on his promise to assist in building capacity for the minority-ethnic construction trades and adding to the color scheme of the City of Minneapolis construction workforce?
Which also brings into question, where is Summit Academy/H.I.R.E. Minnesota’s Louis King? (Phone calls to Mr. King have not been returned.)
If Summit Academy OIC’s program has people ready to work, where are they? Read more
The Real History of the Urban League is somewhat different than what the Minneapolis Urban League represents
“With the uncovering of alleged felony convictions for one of the Minneapolis Urban League finalist and the process that has been less-then transparent, IBNN also alleges there is a high level employee at the Minneapolis Urban League that was convicted of Welfare Fraud and Theft (felony) and continues to make decisions at a Human Resource level.” Read more
Collusion on the corner of Penn Avenue and Plymouth in North Minneapolis
"Please Obama, make them understand what 'transparency' really is. Please help them to be okay with no Stimulus Money, and we all say, Oman."
“Yes, there is hope. There’s another” – Star Wars (In reference to the University of Minnesota/UROC – north Minneapolis will not fall into the hands of the “dark side.”
On Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Minneapolis Urban League, I invite you to see corruption at its highest level as the community is presented with the two finalists for the position of President/CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League. Its time the Minneapolis Urban League employees take charge and speak up on this eventual “train wreck.”
The Minneapolis Urban League has identified two finalists for the CEO vacancy. Its alleged that one of the finalists has “paid” for his place at the table by interaction with a local non-profit director, his wife and the search committee.
The story goes like this…
On last week, sources via email contact and phone calls, tell IBNN that Stairstep Foundation director Alfred Babington-Johnson was in Madison, Wisconsin for the Villager Mall ground breaking on March 27, 2009. Phone calls to the Madison Urban League confirm that Mr. Johnson, was in fact the keynote speaker and was paid a hefty sum.
As reported earlier this week on The Adventures of Johnny Northside, (read: Don Allen calls Al McFarlane out and denies working for the CIA/FBI), there has been some collusion as it pertains to the players on the search committee, board and the Stairstep Foundation.
This “secret cooperation” is the same elitist crap that cost the Minneapolis Urban League to loose over $1 million in funding in 2007. The agency continues to loose funding and puts good employees on notice for possible job cuts do to the management and the boards lack of diplomatic and cordial relationships in the private and public sectors. Again I ask, “How much money has Northwest Airlines or Delta contributed to the agency? If none, then why have the airlines general council as board chairman? Furthermore with Congressman Keith Ellison’s office in the agency, why didn’t the MUL receive any 2008 Federal Earmarks? Will they get Federal Funding in 2009 or 2010? (I don’t have all the answers). Read more
Jeanine Estimé takes aim at Elizabeth Glidden’s Ward 8 City Council Seat (Strong, Visible and Progressive Politics are in play!)
Jeanine Estimé, a 15 year resident of South Minneapolis is entering the City Council Ward 8 race. She will be seeking the Green Party endorsement. Jeanine, who currently serves on the Steering Committee of the 5th Congressional District Green party, holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Metropolitan State University.
Jeanine Estimé is a community driven resident who wants to make South Minneapolis visible in City Hall. As a renter, she cares about the effects that the current foreclosure situation is taking on her neighbors. As an immigrant from Haiti, she is concerned that voices of good hard working families are not being represented.
As a single mother, she has advocated for families that do not have the time to get involved in their community but still have issues that need to be reconciled. With all of these motivating factors, Jeanine Estimé decided to run for City Council Ward 8. Jeanine Estimé will continue the change we need in City Hall and be a strong voice for South Minneapolis.
According to the City of Minneapolis website, Ward 8 has the third highest number of foreclosures in the City of Minneapolis, effecting over 800 homes. Read more
Help Wanted: Black Leadership in Minneapolis, we can’t depend on the Minneapolis Urban League for representation anymore
The Urban League created by a White man was never designed to assist the lower third of the community. The Urban League was chartered to assist the middle and upper middle class Blacks in the United States. With this said, “What has happened to an organization that never reaches out to it’s constituency? If the Minneapolis Urban League did more outreach pursuant with their charter, it would be better for everyone – but then again, the agency has become an institution unto itself.
Please read this detailed story from The Minneapolis Story about the de-construction of the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights by Michael Jordan and the mayor.
On April 15, 2009 Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights director Michael Jordan held a meeting about the future of the department, also denying access to community members who were told by Minneapolis City Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden it was an open meeting. (IBNN received a personal call from Glidden)
This brings up serious questions about the organization that says “the Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides human services and advocacy that will enable African Americans and other people of color to cultivate and develop their individual and group potential on a par with all other Minnesotans.” Just for the record, its not happening.
Missing from the meeting yesterday at the MDCR discussion was a representative from the Minneapolis Urban League. The Minneapolis Urban League has not “busted a grape” on any issues such as the questionable killing by police in the Twin Cities area, Health and Wellness, Economic Stimulus, Contract Compliance, Civil Rights, Education, Employment, or new business development.
With the rumor that President Obama will be touring North Minneapolis in the next two weeks with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and city council representatives, this will turn into a photo opportunity and a social event rather than a true concern about the plight of people of color. (Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak doesn’t give a damn about north Minneapolis or Blacks – just check out his 2009 Supplemental Budget, page 34.) Read more
Fong Lee case: Is public gullible to believe Chief Dolan’s fairy tales and the Star Tribune’s biased reporting?
Editors note: On Tuesday, April 14, 2009 a request for information was hand delivered to the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights Investigative Unit. The request was for a simple activity report on the Fong Lee file to show what happened while the complaint was in the hands of the MDCR. The Independent Business News Network alleges that not one witness interview was done, even with the Asian American investigator who had the power to Supeona witnesses. Was this also a cover-up from city government?
After reading more about the high-profile Fong Lee case in today’s Star Tribune (April 14, 2009), I must ask two questions: “Does Chief Dolan think the public is gullible enough to believe his fairy tales?” and “Does the Star Tribune know how to report facts?”
The Fong Lee case reeks of foul play.
Since the shooting of Fong Lee happened in 2006, Chief Dolan has been stating that Lee had a gun tucked in the waistband of his pants, and that the Lee family and their attorneys have been fabricating the idea of a “planted gun.”
Also since the shooting, the Star Tribune has not been doing its due diligence to research and uncover the facts on this case. Instead, reporters have been merely regurgitating reports from the Minneapolis Police Department. Does the Star Tribune know how to report the facts? Or does the paper believe that just because words are printed on its pages that readers believe what’s written? I hope not. But that’s the impression I get each time I read more about the Fong Lee case in the Star Tribune. The two reporters (Rochelle Olson and David Chanen) who covered the story aren’t doing their due diligence to uncover all of the facts.
Two papers that are doing their research and are reporting the facts of the Lee case are the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Read more
The Minneapolis Urban League serving up more of the same
"Maybe some of the money will get to us?"
Editors note: On Thursday, April 16, 2009 the Minneapolis Urban League will hold their annual dinner. For the most part a celebration that separates the have’s from the have-not’s. Most Black professionals have not heard about the event nor do they understand why no mainstream advertising or marketing has been done.
Q: What happens when a social service agency becomes an “institution unto itself?” A: People that should hear Michael Eric Dyson will not get a chance. What is the roll of the Minneapolis Urban League in the community anyway? And how much did they pay for Mr. Dyson? How does the community get served by these gatherings? It seems like the Minneapolis Hilton and Mr. Dyson will benefit the most, again leaving the people of color in the Twin Cities without a voice which is also a great example of “no dime left behind!”
Why does everyone try to escape the high cost of a Black Address?
Here is a list of a few of the events held by or for the Black community in the finest hotels, convention centers, and banquet facilities in America. None of these events however, will be held in ghetto neighborhoods. I will keep the scope to within the Twin Cities; however the behavior repeats itself throughout Black America.
The annual Minneapolis Urban League Dinner. The annual General Mills sponsored Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. The annual corporate awards sponsored by Twin Cities Black MBAs. The annual galas held by the Black Sororities or Fraternities, and other professional organizations.
What? Huh? Yes. Does this fact appear shocking? If not, why not? Read more
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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