Apology to the North Minneapolis Community. We don’t have leaders, we have self-appointed spokespersons
Black leadership has to recognize that principles more than speech, character more than a claim, is greater in advancing the cause of our liberation than what has transpired thus far. ~Louis Farrakhan
In recent articles on IBNN, we have stated that north Minneapolis has a few “self-appointed leaders.”
Well that’s not the case.
IBNN took it for granted that these individuals from the areas of media, human services, politics and a host of other industries were “leaders,” when in fact they didn’t have the integrity, honesty and experience to guide a community to greater levels and work with others on a fair and knowledgeable playing field.
With local “spokespersons” going on record saying, “Bad parenting is the reason we have crime, gangs and a failure of the Black infrastructure,” none of these inexperienced “spokespersons” want to talk about the systemic reasons why. These spokespersons have left out an important part of the explanation on why Minneapolis youth resort to violence, drug dealing, babies having babies and crime.
They see no future.
MSNBC reports that, “Minorities make up nearly half the children born in the U.S., part of a historic trend in which minorities are expected to become the U.S. majority over the next 40 years. In fact, demographers say this year could be the “tipping point” when the number of babies born to minorities outnumbers that of babies born to whites.
- Black Minnesota spokespersons have not talked about the plan to address the issues of no jobs; no economic development; no graduations from high school for children of color. They are not ready for this “tipping point.”
- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been “planning” for 8 seasons. As he continues to plan, our (Black) spokespersons have not come to terms on where Black Minnesota is.
- Over 55 weeks ago, we watched a mini-movement with highlighted marches on the state capital for force the hand of the Minnesota Department of Transportation to cooperate, facilitate and let us (Blacks) participate. Year-to-date: Nothing.
- While they (Poverty-Pimp Spokespersons) battle for crumbs, millions of dollars are passing through the realm of process where people with a plan have full access to dollars and jobs which will lead to wealth and independence for everyone but us.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to downplay the roll of spokesperson – but the right “spokespersons” turn into people like Malcolm X, Dr. King and Huey Newton – who for most part are prepared to die for what they believe in, rather than organize their community for cash grants – you know who I’m talking about.
Present day spokespersons are motivated when a camera or a news reporter is on the scene of a crime or event. They are the first to jump in front of a camera to be the “mouthpiece” for the whole community.
On earth, the only thing you can do without experience is “count numbers.”
Some of these spokespersons cannot read; or have never made a payroll.
Their idea of community engagement is to meet with the mayor or other politicians – whom for the most part already know these folks don’t have a plan or a clue. Ask yourself, “When was the last time a meeting with a local politician created jobs for north Minneapolis?”
Case in point: On February 18, 2010 the 58B state representative, who is the Vice-Chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Division, and sits on the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division, called a meeting at the request of local “spokespersons” with Congressman Jim Oberstar to discuss the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s ongoing compliance issues.
Sources tell IBNN that towards the end of the meeting on Congressman Oberstar asked this group, “What can I do –what are the suggestions?” Only two of the members of the group had a plan. Remember, “fluff” is only good in baking.
You see, there are only a few that have the experience and goal setting skills to operate in the realm of efficiency, while making sure “the least of thee” have the tools for success.
We (Black people in Minneapolis) continue to give our power to rodeo clowns and sideshow freaks that don’t care if you mothers and fathers have a job.
KFAI-FM: WAVE Project – “Is a Spoonful of Integration enough for the rest of us?” Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 6 p.m.
“By listening and watching local media, you would think that Valentines Day was the only event going on in the month of February. With CNN’s special, featuring Soledad O’Brien’s “Black in America 2,” – a watered down version of what it’s like to be Black America is skewed for a White audience, it misses the mark at every turn. The issues for those who are forward thinkers are jobs, economic development and education. Tune in KFAI on Sunday for the real State of the Union about Black America.”
Minneapolis, MN Feb. 12 / IBNN/ — Tune in Sunday, February 14, 2010 to KFAI-FM Radio at 90.3FM (Minneapolis) & 106.7 (St. Paul), 6 p.m.-7 p.m. to KFAI’s Wave Project. This program will feature Springboard Economic Development Corporation’s CEO Lennie Chism; Don Allen, the editor and chief of The Independent Business News Network and USA Radical Black with along with Kelechi Jaavaid, better known as KJ the comedian, will be live on KFAI to discuss the topic “ Is a Spoonful of Integration enough for the rest of us? That is the remaining 37 Million African Americans in the United States.”
You can also tune in nationally by going to www.kfai.org for the live streaming broadcast.
On Sunday February 14, 2010, from 6-7 p.m. KFAI Radio 90.3 FM (Minneapolis) and 106.7 (St. Paul) will air an exclusive segment on race relations and generational progress produced by Lennie Chism, Executive Director of Springboard Economic Development Corporation. Chism’s program, titled A Spoonful of Integration is Not Enough for the Rest of Us explores the Civil Rights Movement through music pinpointing cultural anthems such as “We Shall Overcome” to Tupac’s “Ghetto Gospel” as indications of change.
Chism says, “My motivation was to get people to critically look at the 1947 integration of baseball and begin to ask whether integration helped. I wanted to show how integration was not as successful as people thought. Thanks to integration, The Negro League was completely dismantled by 1963, blacks went from running leagues and teams to just being players. Jobs and industry were lost because of integration for blacks. Hence, A Spoonful of Integration is Not Enough for the Rest of Us,” Chism explains. Chism adds, “However when you look at the music industry, that has been dominated by African-Americans for years, with absolutely no desire to integrate, there are countless success stories, hip-hop culture did not bow down, sell out nor attempt to assimilate.”
Chism believes the struggle for Civil Rights continues in the current day hip-hop movement. “I chose to end the segment with Tupac because he is one of the greatest street lobbyists ever,” explains Chism. “He spoke of another culture that the establishment would want to see removed. But in reality that culture became an industry that is creating jobs and a new wealthy class of African-Americans.”
Chism hopes multiple generations tune in for the special program, special guests include Donald Allen editor in chief of two international read controversial blogs and Kelechi Jaavid, local comedian to lighten the air.
Donald Allen, a blogger, Republican and outspoken critic of Minneapolis’ political processes and non-profit watchdog as it relates to communities of color and the delivery of services states, “This is an opportunity to mention names, agencies and politicians who for the most part are more celebrity-based then actually making sure the community is healed. This is an opportunity to let America know that agencies like the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minneapolis Urban League and the NAACP have lost their mojo.”
Tune in on Sunday, the revolution continues.
Minneapolis Urban League lays off more critical employees – the campaign continues…Donny Allen for President/CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League
“Cheryl Morgan-Spencer and I never saw eye-to-eye. But Ms. Spencer had her own way of doing things. She was a critical and important part of the Minneapolis Urban Leagues governmental engagement piece. Ms. Morgan-Spencer has established a releationship with the folks at the State Capitial that R.Scott Gray and the current board will never achieve.”
By Donald W. R. Allen,II – Editor in Chief/IBNN and USA Radical Black
Minneapolis, MN (IBNNNEWS)…On Friday, December 11, 2009 it was reported that the Minneapolis Urban League had laid off 3 more employees. IBNN wishes them the best and asks them to hold on to their dreams. Let’s do the math. The MUL Board of Directors cannot hold on to the real estate at the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenue North with a “skeleton crew” inside the building.
Earlier this year, the Minneapolis Urban League hosted a community forum with the two finalists for the position of President/CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League. R. Scott Gray and Pamela Coaxum (Tucker) were seated at the long table in front of community members.
Insight News editor in chief and MUL board member Al McFarlane moderated the forum, asking participants to write questions on an index card to be read by Mr. McFarlane to the candidates. A funny thing happened to the cards on the way to the podium – “they didn’t get read.”
What I’m trying to say, if some of the questions that were written down were asked, it wouldn’t have mattered, R. Scott Gray and the usual suspects in north Minneapolis had already decided that Gray would be the new President of the Minneapolis Urban League.
Former Minneapolis Urban League board member Roxanne Givens, who was removed from the MUL board of directors in a banana republic process, consistently asked the MUL board to follow bylaws, which for the most part fell on deaf ears. Read about Ms. Givens in the stories: “Minneapolis Urban League Klan removes Roxanne Givens from Board” -June 17, 2009 and “National Urban League maintains silence in governance”-June 18, 2009.
R. Scott Gray was already tainted from his dealings with the Stairstep Foundation and Alfred Babington-Johnson. Johnson, who was invited by Gray to the Madison Urban League for a groundbreaking ceremony where he was tapped as the “keynote speaker” raised eyes of community stakeholders and finalist Pamela Coaxum.
Coaxum, saw the writing on the wall and on April 27, 2009, withdrew her name from consideration. Read the full story here.
While R.Scott Gray talked about “Leveraging the MUL property for funding,” it was apparent that this dude had no clue about business, real estate or the Helmsley Rule-Harry B. Helmsley (March 4, 1909 – January 4, 1997) was a real estate mogul who built a company that became one of the biggest property holders in the United States who always kept one property free and clear of debt.
My point is, the Minneapolis Urban League employees and the community have suffered enough at the hand of the organizations management and board of directors.
While the community suffers, the board sits passively, doing nothing rather than undertaking a fundamental re-structuring and getting down to business, which would allow it to fulfill its mission.
My vision for the Minneapolis Urban League is fueled by my passion and enthusiasm for the organization and the community it was established to serve. In addition to developing new funding streams, we need to look to community engagement, partnering with other established, successful organizations, and focusing on a host of other issues that I discuss in my 3-year plan to reorganize and revitalize the MUL.
Introducing USA Radical Black – the New “Brother” Blog of IBNN
By Kandis Style – Staff Journalist/IBNN
London, UK/Minneapolis, MN. – Nov. 12 / IBNN News/ – USA Radical Black is pleased to announce the launch of its controversial new web site www.usaradicalblack.com . The site is the result of the massive demand for information related to the American Black experience. Our goal is to provide our visitors with a virtual experience that is compelling and life altering and to inspire the marginalized, and voiceless.
“The virtual world can never match being present at a protest, or a rally; however, we strive to ignite a cyber movement “in real time” every day,” say Don Allen, Editor in Chief of IBNN and Minister of Information for USA Radical Black.
User can easily access archival and cross-referenced information and use our links and references for researching issues and forming their own opinions. The upgraded site also enables our online visitors and members an easy, instant, and secure way to register for programs, make donations, and purchase products from USA Radical Black online store.
The site allows our visitors to create individual profiles indicating specific topics of interest for communications and specialized website content. Users will also enjoy that their profiles will be securely saved for future transactions and can be updated at any time by logging in. Bookmarking and social media tags are also embedded throughout the site so that visitors can share USA Radical Black news and information with others on sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Del.icio.us.
In the future, expect to see live webcasts, high profile interviews, watch dog activities, and strategic alliances with progressive organizations that truly make a difference in people’s lives.
About USA Radical Black
“USA Radical Black – Truth to the People/Power to the People…Now!”
USA Radical Black was created by the Independent Business News Networks editor in chief Donald W.R. Allen, II to address disparities in Black and minority-ethnic leadership roles in the United States.
USA Radical Black also covers News and Information about Politics, Education, Money, Community, Religion, Race, Status and Class as it relates to us.
USA Radical Black is themed to be a “wake-up call” to people of color in the United States who have done the same thing the same way, creating insanity by electing the same party officials that have created problems over-and-over again while in the background tasking people they feel comfortable with to “solve” problems for pay and political favors.
We will explore the changing of the Black Church as it pertains to us as a people of color getting back to our roots with God, Family and Prosperity. Does a well funded Foundation or Social Service Agency have more power than GOD?
Join USA Radical Black for Truth to the People and Power to the People – if not now, when?
No matter what he does, Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate Al Flowers Loves the community – maybe you should too
There are other options for Mayor of Minneapolis – make your vote count by having a first, second and third choice.
By Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief (Reporting from Washington, D.C.)
Last week at the KMOJ-FM ribbon cutting – of sorts- mayoral candidates Al Flowers and James Everett showed up, surprising Minneapolis mayor R. T. Rybak, who was there for a photo-op with “the community.”
In front of a packed room, Flowers proceeded to confront the mayor asking, “Why haven’t you come to a debate? What happened to the Empowerment Zone dollars? Why are you trying to kill the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights?” Questions the “celebrity Rybak” won’t answer – but questions the “politician Rybak” should answer!
Apparently, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak has other things on his mind.
By failing to show up at any of the scheduled debates, he tells voters that he does not believe he has to any questions about his past performance or what he might do in the future. In some strategy circles, this might be considered a smart move – but with Rybak likely running for governor, this elitist behavior will surely come back to haunt him. Rural Minnesota will not tolerate a gubernatorial candidate who will not answer questions.
The Star Tribune and television news channels WCCO-4 and KARE 11 have for the most part failed to report on the 2009 Minneapolis mayoral race, giving the impression that Rybak is the only one running for office. However, there are a number of other candidates-William McGaughey; Papa John Kolstad; Al Flowers; James Everett; and Bob Carney – who deserved some type of coverage from the mainstream media. (Lets also hold the north Minneapolis Black media accountable for sending mixed messages.)
…It shocks me to realize how many people are uninformed, unconcerned and unable to converse about city politics and the many justifiable reasons Al would interrupt a community meeting—even if his tactics were less than “cordial and diplomatic.”
If the people of Minneapolis would stand up and pay attention, they would become aware of Mayor R.T. Rybak’s heinous mismanagement of city government; and they would likely have the same questions that Al does. They might come to believe that R.T. might not here to serve the citizens of Minneapolis – but to use the mayoral race as a stepping stone to the governor’s mansion.
I am not endorsing Carney, Flowers, McGaughey, Kolstad, or Everett for mayor. But the people of Minneapolis have several options, and they should know about them.
If there was ever a time to pull a “Jesse Ventura”—and make it clear to the “establishment” that they can’t take the people’s votes for granted– it’s now.
Minneapolis Empowerment Zone Fried Chicken – Can the community get a piece? With a special message from the North Minneapolis Grim Reaper
By Donald W.R. Allen, II – editor in chief, IBNN
A flaccid leadership base will never be able to uplift a community, its people or the businesses that need the support of the community they operate in. No jobs will be developed. No new businesses started and the truly sad part? No economic stimulus for north Minneapolis.
Why is it more expensive to develop the corners of Penn and Broadway Avenues North, in comparison to building a state-of-the-art fire station in the City of Edina? Does this mean that north Minneapolis real estate is more valuable then prime lots in Edina? Or is the community is being bamboozled by its political and self-appointed leaders?
I think so…
I smell a rat.
In 1999, 6.7 square miles of Minneapolis were designated an Empowerment Zone (EZ) through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). One of 15 cities to be awarded the 10-year designation, the Minneapolis EZ program aims to create sustainable communities through economic growth, affordable housing, safety, education, job training and community services. The designation of the Minneapolis EZ officially ends on December 31, 2009, although final reporting of program expenditures and outcomes will not be complete until 2010.
The current spreadsheet of loans distributed by the City of Minneapolis, seen here (www.ibnn.org/ez – click on loans), shows that money earmarked for north Minneapolis was in fact distributed in a “creative” manner, with all the classic signs of cronyism.
The following letter was sent to Congressman Keith Ellison, State Representative Bobby Jo Champion, and 20 other Minneapolis lawmakers, requesting one of them to “step up” and ask for an audit of the distribution of Minneapolis Empowerment Zone monies.
The letter reads:
According to a resent Star Tribune article, Rebecca Otto, our State Auditor is willing to do an audit of the Federal Empowerment Zone spending at the request from one of you (local lawmakers). I am asking as a citizen of Minneapolis, and as a candidate for office who is concerned about the economic situation of my fellow residents, to request an immediate audit from the Minnesota State Auditor Office. Time is critical in this matter given that the program ends this year. I would like to see this request made by Friday September 25th.
In May of 2003, Minneapolis community members met with the Mayor of Minneapolis in City Hall to discuss empowerment zone spending. This meeting was facilitated by Clarence Hightower, so these concerns have existed for a long time. Six years later, we have seen $130 million in bonding authority that is going unused. For communities in these areas, that money can be put to use to provide economic stability to all residents in Minneapolis which would result in fewer foreclosures, better public safety, and more jobs.
As elected officials that represent Empowerment Zone Areas you have witnessed unemployment worsen throughout the years, and I believe that it is your duty to make the request to trigger an investigation. We are asking on behalf of all citizens that live in the impoverished areas that you live in and represent.
# # #
Well it’s October 2009. Not one of the lawmakers—from the 5th congressional district’s Ellison to 58B representative Champion—has issued a response.
Why not?
The City of Minneapolis, CPED and several others attached themselves to the EZ dollars and distributed them in whatever manner they felt was necessary. Rather than building capacity for businesses along Broadway Avenue, these R.I.C.O. Act violators (yes, I said it), felt it was okay to award South Minneapolis’ Jeremiah Program $400,000 and forgive them the full amount. The Midtown Exchange Apartments, also in South Minneapolis, were also granted and forgiven a whopping $500,000. And the list of misappropriations continues.
The EZ grant payment spreadsheet is, in sum, a list of favors and collaborative back-scratching that should be reviewed by Ms. Otto, the Minnesota State Auditor. IBNN attests that the Minneapolis Empowerment Zone dollars were and continue to be misappropriated by the elected officials that we, the citizens of Minneapolis, have put in City Hall.
Thus the opening line of this story- A flaccid leadership base will never be able to uplift a community, its people or businesses that need the support of the community they operate in.
North Minneapolis seems doomed to produce the same results from the same ideas with no solutions in site.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is insanity.
Is this the position of the University of Minnesota/UROC and the Northside Partnership about North Minneapolis? Can you help us understand?
On last Thursday (7/16), a meeting of the Willard-Homewood Organization (WHO) was held at NorthPoint to hear a presentation from local Northside businessman and Ward 5 city council candidate Lennie Chism about his purchase and plans for the old Uncle Bills Food Store that has been the subject of heated controversy.
Sources sent IBNN the following email from north side resident and University of Minnesota employee Michelle Lewis that she sent former Minneapolis City Council President Jackie Cherryhomes and Bev Roberts.
It reads (unedited):
From: Michelle Lewis
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:13 AM
To: Beverly Roberts; Jackie Cherryhomes
Subject: tidbit about Lennie/NorthPoint
Hi, Bev and Jackie–
I just got off the phone with Tim Hammett, and he told me a kind of interesting anecdote: Tim had gone down to check out a report that the boards were off of Uncle Bill’s and someone was in the building, It turned out to be Lennie, showing the building to a man from NorthPoint. Tim had a chance to talk with the NorthPoint representative alone for a minute, and it turns out that Lennie had neglected to mention to NorthPoint that the building was slated for demolition in late July or early August, and that this was at the request of the city council.
To me, the significance of this tidbit is that if NorthPoint goes along with Lennie’s project, knowing him to have withheld a vital piece of information like this, that accepting this level of dishonesty from a partner would be a serious dereliction of NorthPoint’s public trust–not to mention financial accountability.
So far, I’ve contacted Don & MaryAnn (right behind Uncle Bill’s), Andy Doucette (right across the street, on the corner), Barb Bergeron, Carol Olson, and Kathy Godfrey, so hopefully they will e-mail Stella Whitney-West in the next few days. MaryAnn was planning on calling her.
ok, now i’m going to take Bev’s advice and *breathe*! lol
Michelle
**********************************
Michelle Lewis
Teaching and Grants Support
Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
University of Minnesota
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St. SE.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
# # #
Did the University of Minnesota give official permission or approval for the course of action in this email? The email is miss-leading and unethical.
It looks like Ms. Lewis doesn’t have enough work to do at the U of M – she has made a “quantum leap” in stating that the employee did not know about the scheduled demo, which doesn’t mean NorthPoint management and board of directors didn’t know.
This email was then forwarded by Cherryhomes to her political pundits with the following statement: (Unedited)
Fr: “Jackie Cherryhomes”
To: “Velez, Jose E.” <Jose.Velez@ci.minneapolis.mn.us>, <don1samuels@net>, <Karen.Dziedzic@co.hennepin.mn.us>, <mark.stenglein@co.hennepin.mn.us>
Subject: tidbit about Lennie/NorthPoint
Hi Folks:
I just want you to be in the loop on all the exciting activities out here. I don’t understand Northpoint’s continued involvement in this.
# # #
What was the real message in Cherryhomes last sentence sent to Dziedzic, Samuels and Stenglein?
With the email and “whisper” campaign moving forward IBNN is concerned what role a U of M employee has sending out emails to Cherryhomes and Roberts in what looks like an official capacity, rather than using a Gmail, Yahoo or Comcast account.
Another point to make: The University of Minnesota is doing its best to react to community concerns and issues from backing out of the NorthPoint deal to doing damage control with the seniors at Rainbow Terrence Senior high-rise who have complained that the original agreement to get them to a grocery store has turned into a less than desirable agreement with some residents waiting weeks to shop for groceries.
It also concerns us that allegedly McCormack & Barron is planning on entering back into north Minneapolis with thoughts of developing a senior high-rise. (McCormick & Barron is one of the developers on Heritage Park when Jackie Cherryhomes was Minneapolis City Council president…put it together!).
Phone calls to McCormick and Barron and interviews with local residents, businesses and politicians about Jackie Cherryhomes involvement in Heritage Park and the deal cut will be a topic in an upcoming IBNN exclusive feature.
What is the involvement with Cherryhomes and the Harrison Neighborhood?
IBNN is concerned that Uncle Bill’s re-opening has now become a “race” issue and an attack on Black business in north Minneapolis.
Yes, there is crime. There are drugs – but if social service agencies and local government have not provided ample opportunity for youth of all color to be gainfully employed, this denotes “other options” to survive.
Rather than wasting your time condemning Uncle Bill’s call your local political and ask him, “Why does north Minneapolis still suck?”
North Minneapolis only sees economic stimuli in the form of liquor stores, barber shops, beauty salons. There is nothing in north Minneapolis to attract anyone from the outside to come here and shop, eat or live.
IBNN alleges that Lewis and Cherryhomes have a covert plan without giving full disclosure to the community of north Minneapolis.
“Black people have nothing over north, not even the Minneapolis Urban League,” says long-time north Minneapolis resident Danny Walker. “Why are the White people in north Minneapolis so down on the Blacks who want to make Uncle Bills something great? Someone must have another plan,” says Walker…”Oops, there it is!”
The Wave Project: Addressing the high cost of “Black” Address on KFAI-FM (90.3) 6 p.m. – Sunday, July 26 – “Mobilizing Impoverished Wealth”
Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. tune into KFAI-FM Radio at 90.3 for the show “Mobilizing Impoverished Wealth.”
We will discuss strategies to improve and enhance local neighborhoods through community involvement are presented by Lennie Chism and his special guest the Independent Business News Networks Editor and Chief Don Allen, who lately has a lot to say about “process” and why the same people are always at the table with little to no results. You can read his online Blog at www.ibnn.org.
Also included in this show will be live music by Soulasious along with special guest comedian and one of Twin Cities hottest up and coming comedian Kelechi Jaavaid. (KJ is the brother from the whopper freak out commercial. See more of KJ at www.myspace.com/kjay02).
Subject of Program:
The questions of the day: “Why does everyone try to escape the high cost of Black address in an impoverished community?” What’s with the “attacks” on Black people from the news media to local “stratified” politicians whom have forgotten that in most cases some of them represent the poorest neighborhoods in Minneapolis?
- Why hasn’t the foreclosure crisis (opportunity) been solved? Who are the players that have created a new industry while throwing $100 million dollars at a “crisis” and still have no measurable results – should it be tolerated?
- The Minneapolis Department of Civil Right…Should they stay or go? This brings up an interesting topic that will be discussed in detail by Mr. Allen, who in his own words says, “They have not done the job for the minority-ethnic community – heads must roll, starting with the replacement of the director of the MDCR and Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak and most of the Minneapolis City Council. The City Council should at least look like the communities they represent.”
- The mayor’s use of the “N” word. “North Minneapolis.” We see no measurable results, but a plan to uproot a community.
- We will discuss the rolls of local social service agencies that have become an institution unto themselves with money in and no “pipeline” to the community.
- We will explore the strategies to cure the stigma of having an impoverished address. The community problem solver often spends an enormous amount time addressing the symptoms without finding the cures. Example: We are so busy swatting the flies but often neglect to remove the excrement that draws them.
What kind of people will be interested in this program and what will the listeners gain?
Grassroots community organizers who strive to improve the lot of the impoverished community will find the strategies practical and put them into action.
We will take an “inside” view of local politics and “process” that have left communities of color on the outside looking in.
Our community has been denied information for over 40 years. This is an opportunity to tell what’s really going on.
Tune in Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 6 p. m. to 7 p.m. on KFAI-FM Radio – 90.3 on your FM dial.
The Dream Deficit: Social Justice Incompetence
By Donald W.R. Allen,II – Editor in Chief, Independent Business News Network
With the recent changes at local non-profit, social service agencies in north Minneapolis, you would think they had a little more to offer the community…with more eyes on north Minneapolis than ever, is it too late to correct the fledgling strategic plans of non-profits like the “Minneapolis Urban League?”
Would Ella Baker* or Fannie Lou Hammer** worry about their paychecks during the movement? Do we even remember the work they did, for no pay, while risking their lives or did a grant drive Huey Newton to be a Black Panther?
The movement has been appropriated and pimped and many could argue that the “Souls of Black Folk” were better off before the movement than after the movement. Would Bob Moses not build a Freedom School if he did not get the funding?
Are non-profits an adequate replacement for social justice work? If we recognize that to keep the funding the status quo must continue there is not much an incentive for social change. Or do they serve as a hierarchy within the communities to discourage assimilation, widen disparities and maintain the status quo to keep the cash cow? We need to ask ourselves, are so called leaders doing this work for the money or the principles?
The cultural imperialism of many non-profits that they are the only ones that can liberate, how different is that than the paternalism of the slave owner? Not much. It just hurts those in the liberal community to see that they need an oppressed class to continue working.
Until we have equal education from teachers that look beyond an African American student as at risk to their own ignorance and prejudice – how can we have an African American President and Congressman and have the statistics and the quality of life for African Americans are below the poverty level? 
That is inherently evil, and must be addressed.
There is no paycheck in social justice and we must be weary of those who want to make a buck liberating their people.
*Ella Josephine Baker-December 13, 1903 – December 13, 1986 was a leading African American civil rights and human rights activist beginning in the 1930s. She was a behind-the-scenes activist whose career spanned over five decades. She worked alongside some of the most famous civil rights leaders of the twentieth century, including: W. E. B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King Jr. She also mentored such then young civil rights stalwarts as Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks and Bob Moses.
**Fannie Lou Townsend on October 6, 1917 – March 14, 1977) was an American voting rights activist and civil rights leader. She was instrumental in organizing Mississippi Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and later became the Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, attending the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in that capacity. Her plain-spoken manner and fervent belief in the Biblical righteousness of her cause gained her a reputation as an electrifying speaker and constant champion of civil rights.
iNetGlobal – Global Internet Marketing, available for you!
The iNetGlobal Freedom Conference-1 took place at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas over the weekend with keynote speakers Steve Renner and Don Allen.
Allen, Renee and Renner
This two day event featured information on how to use the Internet effectively to make money, distribute your organizations message to the masses and the use of WEB 2.0 Tools.
“This was a great experience to be recognized as one of the countries Internet Marketing Guru’s,” says V-Media Marketing’s vice president-general manager Don Allen.
Also presenting in Las Vegas was iNetGlobal’s CEO/President Steve Renner, who told the pack house that iNetGlobal and V-Media Marketing made over $3 Million in the month of May 2009. “Anyone can do this. All it takes is the will to learn and be consistent,” says Renner. Also on hand was iNetGlobal member Annie Zhang, who now makes over $2,400 per day with the iNetGlobal marketing services.
iNetGlobal is the parent company of V-Media Marketing(A full-service Internet Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Firm), V-Local (business directory); V-Newswire (Global Press Service); iNetSurf (Advertising Surfing Platform) and a host of other service on the internet.
“When you control the traffic on the Internet, you control the flow of revenue” says Allen.
iNetGlobal is the best option for building capacity in the online community.
For more information about services and how you can make over $1000.00 per day just by sitting at your computer for an hour, contact us at 612-332-6025.
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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