EMERGE corrects mistake – but only after it was brought to their attention. So much for knowing what you are doing.
North Minneapolis: A community that needs the immediate infusion of at least 30,000 jobs to build capacity, wealth and independence continues to suffer with a program that provided a position for 1 person, with 5 more that started training on Monday, December 8, 2009. Concerned community stakeholders need to take a look at other north Minneapolis agencies entrusted to bring jobs to our community. I attest this is not the first time this has happened – but a continuation of bad business practices and administrative bureaucracy.
Minneapolis, MN (IBNNNEWS)…Sources close to IBNN informed us of possible transgression as it pertains to the paying weatherization workers for a program within Emerge. Not only in this matter but other questions like: “Why did Emerge have job fair participants to fill out W-4 forms, with critical social security information – and no jobs available?
Does this denote an investigation?
We say yes.
IBNN sent an email titled, “Emerge was illegally paying weatherization workers less than prevailing wage” asking Emerge to clarify its process in this matter.
The following is the email response from executive director Mike Wynne:
Mr. Allen, Read more
The Repetitive Exploitation of Black Minnesota: Here we go again…
African-American Men Project; Prostate Screenings; HIV/AIDS; Breast Cancer Screenings; Dairy Queen;Tires Plus; Siyeza, Inc; NRRC; Synergy…
“Good intentions have funded projects with the same point people that continue to fail Black Minnesota. When will Black Minnesota get tired of the blatant Exploitation of their Community?” ~Don Allen
By Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief/IBNN
Several years ago, St. Paul Pioneer Press journalist David Hawley wrote a story titled “Minneapolis: Study Details Problems Facing City’s Black Men,” dated January 24, 2002.
The story details, the results of a two-year study in which Hawley stated the outlook for African-American men in Minneapolis is grim. In the article Hawley wrote: “If you’re an African-American man ages 18 to 30, the odds are roughly 50-50 that you live in one of the city’s poorest, most crime-ridden neighborhoods and that a single mother reared you. There’s also about a 50-50 chance that you didn’t finished high school and only a slightly lesser chance that you will be arrested in the next year, most likely for a minor offense. If you are arrested, the odds are greater than 50-50 that you will be charged again within the next two years.”
In response to Hawley’s “grim” article, Gary L. Cunningham, the former Director of NorthPoint Health and Wellness and the overseer of the African-American Men Project, an organization that once had the power and respect of the community to make meaningful change, but has now has been reduced to a glorified referral service, had only one thing to say, “This report deals with what people call “wicked problems’ in our society.”
Wicked problems” are still not solved today – even by the people who identified them 8 years ago despite an incredible amount of funding and resources. Read more
North Minneapolis Politics – Final: Why I can’t vote for Don Samuels, by Keith Reitman
Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels Exorcism Video – 2009 All rights reserved IBNN DWRA2
Editor’s note: Mr. Reitman is a long-time north Minneapolis businessman and property owner who this year was unceremoniously kicked of the West Broadway Business Area Coalition for his views and opinions on the lack of economic development and no real business engagement by the WBBAC, who he alleges is carrying water for Samuels. Councilman Samuels, who in a public meeting stood at the podium and said that he couldn’t stand the voice of Mr. Reitman has made this north side (White) businessman change his mind about supporting any candidate who talks down to anyone in the community. Reitman asked Samuels to meet with him on several occasions with no call backs at all in 2008 or 2009.
As a property owner in North Minneapolis, Mr. Reitman has seen no assistance from CM Samuels to build up the community. Samuels and others call Reitman a “slum lord.” Reitman feels that this is unfair due to the fact that if a north Minneapolis politician, sends inspectors after you on a regular basis and won’t return your phone call there is no communication and furthermore, no progress. “If Don Samuels views me and the north Minneapolis community as ‘devils” – what is he? Certainly not at Saint!”
The following statement was submitted by Mr. Rietman for publication on IBNN. (Unedited)
Written by Keith Reitman
Don Samuels exorcism comments and “Tent Revival lingo” are a reflection of his simplistic and mean-spirited world view.
First and foremost his passion is directed by his beliefs. His beliefs cover the fears he learned as a child (or somewhere). His world view is simple: God and the Devil. He is God or with God, and you are the Devil.
He feels his views are divinely inspired; he is with God. And everywhere he looks, he sees the Devil. His world view:
I am God. You are the Devil. Cast out the Devil.
He meant “burn down North High School”. He meant the foreclosure crisis is good for North Minneapolis. Cast out a whole lot of Devils.
“Can’t compromise with the Devil.”
Remember his claim to be the “Alpha Man” in the previous election?
Heavenly Father Types all have the same outlook and attract the same followers.
Fear and isolation are the best fishing grounds for cult followers and there is ample of both in the Hood. Jim Jones; Moon; David Koresh; all “Alpha Men”, too.
We don’t need an “Alpha Man”; we need a woman that can bring our community together.
His “Old Time Religion” outlook dictates: Do not compromise with the Devil.
Do not sit down with the Devil. Do not ask the Devil his (her) opinion on the problems confronting and confounding our community. No – Just cast out the Devil – and again, everywhere he looks, beyond his devotees, he sees the Devil.
Everywhere?
The Devil?
Must cast out the Devil?
No compromise?
That may work OK at the Tent Revival Show down the path from “The Big House” in Jamaica where, he boasts his family served the owner of the plantation and where his excellent manners were derived. It really doesn’t work that well in the hood for civic leadership in desperate times. There, I believe, as a real leader, you must face your Devils, sit down with them. It is OK to tell them to do better but it must be at “The Table of Stakeholder Participation.”
Together!
In these times it is imperative that our next leader listen closely to all stakeholders, and all opinions. Oops – Don can’t sit down with His Devils.
That is why I cannot support Don Samuels for re-election.
# # #
The Minneapolis Urban League in trouble…layoff’s and program doors shut next?
IBNN Editors Note: Residents of Minneapolis should read closely the messages sent out in the local Black press that attempt to position this organization as one on the move up, when in fact troubles continue to linger. IBNN has written favorable stories and not-so favorable stories about the Minneapolis Urban League (MUL). Since the Minneapolis Urban League is a membership organization, under the color of law, how will the MUL handle the possible over-throw of the current board to protect “the membership’s $16 million dollar investment on the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenue North?” If you recall – it was the Minneapolis Urban League management who decided to release great employees in favor of routing dollars to ACORN home foreclosure counseling, among other things. So far the National Urban League has not returned one call to IBNN in over a year…
Under the Minnesota Law – “We” (members in good standing) have the sole responsibility to seek out competent board members and management to continue the organizations ongoing commitment to the community.
Originally posted in The Minneapolis Story
At 5:15 p.m., today, Thursday, 9-17-09, Minneapolis Urban League Branch President Scott Gray announced, in closed session, the new austerity: 10% salary reduction across the board; termination of ten employees within 30 days; and an indication that the staff of the Urban League Street Academy would go on part time employee status (thus losing their benefits).
Ever since the sell-outs kicked Nellie Stone Johnson and me (Ron Edwards) out 20 years ago, when I was the President of the Urban League with 118 employees, they have cannibalized the organization, reducing it from the 118 employees then to what will be less than 20 employees now.
We show how this got started in Chapter 14 of The Minneapolis Story. (The Book)
Autopsy of Black Business in North Minneapolis – Part 2: American Idol Political Patronage
“Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.”
By Donald W.R. Allen,II – editor in chief IBNN
We are the elected Black leaders who represent the people of north Minneapolis. We are smarter than any of our constituents, and the White people who helped us get in office like us a lot; at least they tell us that. The residents in our district are mostly Black, uneducated and poor. We have the upper hand because our constituents will not question us. We have a “celebrity” status and we are above question. North Minneapolis residents will never ask us when, how or why.
The north Minneapolis media will never question us. They will always feature us on the front page of their newspapers as the best thing since “mom’s sweet potato pie.”
We would never publically support a Black man for Mayor of Minneapolis – R.T. Rybak is our friend.
Since we’ve already “made it,” we have no loyalty to any other Black man or woman in Minneapolis or the 5th Congressional District. We haven’t and will not publically endorse Kenya McKnight, Lennie Chism, Natalie Lee Johnson or Roger Smithrud for Ward 5 Minneapolis City Council; we think the current leadership is fine.
Black business – it’s fine, but we would never assist them in building capacity in north Minneapolis; Black business creates new Black leaders. We don’t want “new” leaders; we want everyone to follow us.
One of us recently told a constituent that if he wanted to talk to us, he’d better come at us with a network, “like Verizon.” But we’re not worried; the people of north Minneapolis are segregated in too many silos.
We are fully aware that residents of north Minneapolis are some of the poorest people in Minnesota, have the highest unemployment rate, and have no real opportunities to live the American Dream. We know this, but we don’t really care. We can keep a captive audience by keeping the poor on their knees, while blaming the Republicans, Bush and rich White people that we say should be taxed more.
We point fingers at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) but don’t pass any laws to empower MnDOT to get people of color jobs on Minnesota roads and highways. We hold “Barnum and Bailey” hyped-up town hall meetings at the north side YMCA to the blame “those White folks at MnDOT.”
Knowing the solutions rest in the committees we’re in, we could never tell the residents of north Minneapolis the real story.
The real story is each of us, local; state; and federal have the power to change the laws and assist in building capacity for residents, business and organizations of north Minneapolis, but we choose to finger-point and grandstand.
One of us will only support non-profits rather than also seeking to build capacity for businesses. We rallied other politicians and law enforcement to shutdown Black businesses in north Minneapolis; to view a group of Black youth gathered together on the street as gang members.
We want to make north Minneapolis “user friendly” for us. On our terms!
The fact of the matter is this: we’re assisted by a group of non-elected, self-appointed Black leaders in north Minneapolis, who are weak.
These men, who are “outstanding in their own minds,” talk about how they will be the conduits for “stimulus dollars” and attend meetings with the President, and if we, the elected leadership, continue to patronize these “blow-hards” while smiling in their faces, they will not question us.
Now really, do we have to support Black business, for that matter “another Black man or woman?”
We know that Black residents of north Minneapolis are extremely impressed by the fact that there is a black president—and we can say that we know him personally!
***
North Minneapolis residents need to WAKE UP and ask questions of its elected leaders rather than treating them like “American Idols.”
(Simon wouldn’t have it any other way!)
Target Stores – Soda with a Black Girl eating a Watermelon and White Boy on other side being sold in Target! Should Black folks be concerned…Hell yes!
Dr. Martin Luther King said, “It’s not over. The struggle is not over. It’s not over in Montgomery, and it isn’t over in the South. For we have come a long, long way it is true, but we have a long, long way to go.”
New York’s Harlem World reports: “One of our producers visited this Target on 225th Street, in New York City and made an interesting discovery. In the beverage aisle he found this soda with a black girl eating watermelon on a can. It reminded us of the caricatures of America’s racist past.
IBNN reports that Target Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis has not responded to email and phone inquires about the soda. It is also rumored that Target Corp has apologized in some way. IBNN will post a follow up once this information is available.
This product has been around since 2007 and is made by Cawy Bottling Co., Inc. the company was established in Cuba 1948. To voice your displeasure contact Cawy Bottling Co., Inc. at 2440 NW 21st Terrace, Miami, FL 33142 – phone: 305-634-8669; Toll Free 877-917-2299 and Fax 305-634-2291
Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008: Sales: $5.8M
Notify them of your disapproval of this product.By the way,give Target a call too!
You can also view them on the web at http://www.cawy.net.
Prohibited Activities – We’re Watching…
Election year 2008 was very interesting. Several non-profit organizations approached candidates to ask for support of their agendas. Clearly, this was a direct violation of IRS 501(c)(3) procedures and rules. Much like the congregation at a local church (in 2008) being asked to support the Minneapolis Public Schools Referendum – “The Minneapolis Public Schools are going broke and need your assistance.” Still with the Referendum passed, children of color are no better in Minneapolis Public Schools then a year ago. Of course, the “students” and classes probably won’t see that money until the 2010-2011 school year. Lets watch the test scores or Yearly Average Progress, pass or fail?
Non-profit organizations in 2008 blatantly solicited candidates support for their issues and platforms.
In the Twin Cities forums were controlled by the League of Women Voters, and community hubs like Jordan New Life Hub would get a small grant or stipend to hold the forum with a representative from the LWV hosting and moderating the debate…I was there, and informed of the obvious set-up. KSTP-TV Channel 5 has never gotten back to us on how much they received if any for last year’s series of debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
All I know is that Mr. Stanley Hubbard, Jr. would not support the GOP Endorsed 5 Congressional District candidate telling me at the Minneapolis Athletic Club, “It’s not the right time.” Well, slip happens!
We had phone calls by non-profit presidents to community members asking for support of particular candidates, some that were employees of the non-profit organization. Is this really okay?
On Sunday, July 26, 2009 – we had a local politician make up his own rules. (More to come later.)
What will it take for non-profit agencies in the Twin Cities to learn a valuable lesson about non-partisanship? Will it take a loss of a tax exempt status?
A new “watchdog” is on the scene, The Nationwide Republican Opportunity Council of America (NROCA) – (ACORN spelled backwards.) The NROCA will not allow an inch in partisanship with any candidate, no matter what party him/her are associated with.
Irony…
So that we’re clean on the rules, the following information applies to 501(c)(3) organizations.
Advocacy of candidates: The IRS prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from engaging in either the expressed or implied advocacy of particular candidates. Express advocacy exists when a statement or publication encourages the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. Implied advocacy exists when a communication does not clearly identify the candidate to vote for or against, but instead makes statements such as “Remember, vote Democrat.”
Non-profits concerned about specific issues are allowed to use an election to get increased exposure for their issues. They also are allowed to work to get their positions on issues included in political party platforms. While nonprofits are free to publicize their issues, they are not allowed to directly solicit candidates to support such issues.
Although the IRS says it allows 501(c)(3) organizations to deal with moral, social, or economic issues during election years, nonprofits are not allowed to engage in political intervention by using “code words” (e.g. Go Democrats, Bad Republicans, anti-gun) in communications that are timed to help or hurt the election chances of any candidate.
…So non-profit organizations, when you get that “star struck, I’ve seen a celebrity” look in your eye – look at the rules, more importantly, look at your community, especially in north Minneapolis – you’ve seen nothing….
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requests response from City of Minneapolis regarding Uncle Bill’s and NSP Funds
Minneapolis, MN…In breaking news, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Minneapolis Field Office) has requested a response from the City of Minneapolis in regards to the use of NSP Funds (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) to demolish Uncle Bill’s, located at 2426 Plymouth Avenue North in Minneapolis.
The letter below explains HUD’s request from the City Coordinator.
The WAVE Project on KFAI-FM 90.3 with Lennie Chism, IBNN’s Don Allen and local comedian “KJ” Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 6 – 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 Network’s 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.”
- What role should north Minneapolis non-profit social service play…and why is the Minneapolis Urban League so dysfunctional?
- 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. Listeners can also tune in via the Internet by going to www.kfai.org.
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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