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Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence.
November 21 - 27, 2024
Vol. 91
No. 17
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Grassroots vision for George Floyd Square challenges city plan By Alexzia Shobe Staff Writer
Minnesota is celebrated as one of the best places to live in the United States. With its high-performing schools, strong social services, and reputation for inclusivity, Minnesota seems to embody the American ideal. And yet, research shows that Black Minnesotans are worse off here than in virtually every other state in the nation. This is the “Minnesota Paradox.” Over the next five weeks, the MSR will highlight individuals working to end major disparity areas at the root of the Minnesota Paradox. This week we feature Chaz Sandifer, CEO of theNEWmpls, who has spent a decade promoting health equity. Once the series concludes, MSR will publish ongoing essays written by members of community groups working to build greater justice in the state.
Chaz Sandifer, CEO of theNEWmpls
Getting to root causes of health disparities By Tonya Jackman Hampton Contributing Writer
ties, quality housing, and transportation, all of which are rooted in historical and ongoing racial discrimination. According to a Minnesota Department of Health report from Second in a six-part series earlier this year: “To be healthy, people need peace, shelter, education, food, income, and social justice. In short, health is cretudies from earlier this year give Minnesota high marks in ated where people live, work, and play. Minnesota’s significant residents’ overall health and the state’s health care sys- and long-lasting health inequities cannot be explained by biotem. It has the highest health index score in the country genetic factors and personal choice. These health differences and, for the second consecutive year, is ranked the best state in have, in part, resulted from structural racism. … “Creating health equity requires a comthe nation based on 44 key indicators, including cost, access and outcomes. prehensive solution that includes but goes “Health care isn’t just And yet, Minnesota historically has seen beyond targeted grants and access to health significant differences in health outcomes care. Minnesota needs to address health about pills and shots. between white residents and minority disparities as part of a broad spectrum of It’s about creating a groups when it comes to higher rates of public investments in housing, transportasense of community, chronic disease, lower life expectancy, and tion, education, economic opportunity and listening to people, poorer access to health care. criminal justice,” says the MDH report. and empowering them to Despite progress in some areas, MinAmong those on the frontline of change make informed choices.” is Chaz Sandifer, CEO of theNEWmpls. She nesota continues to face significant health has spent more than a decade promoting radisparities, particularly concerning conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, cial health and equity through fitness, welland mental health issues among communities of color. ness and nutrition. In partnership with institutions like the Mayo Factors contributing to disparities are linked to systemic is- Clinic, she is launching programs to bring a holistic approach to sues like unequal access to education, employment opportuni■ See PARADOX on page 5
esidents, activists, and community leaders gathered on Nov. 6 to discuss the future of George Floyd Square. The meeting, supported by the Community Visioning Council, took place amid an ongoing debate about the city’s redevelopment plans for the memorial site, which has become a focal point of both local and national movements for racial justice. The town hall was a spirited occasion fueled by a commitment to ensure that the redevelopment of George Floyd Square reflects the community’s needs and values. The discussion went beyond physical infrastructure and street construction as residents addressed the profound legacy of trauma, economic injustice, and systemic racism that continues to shape the lives of people in this area. Dr. Raj Sethuraju, a longtime activist and professor at Metro State University in St. Paul, opened the meeting with a moment of reflection, urging attendees to “check in with themselves” and “connect with the values that humanize our struggle.” Elder Atum Azzahir, founder of the Cultural Wellness Center, asked attendees to call out and honor the names of those
ability, housing, economic justice, and health care. About half of those demands still are unmet, including: • Fire the following employees of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension: Superintendent Drew Evans, Deputy Superintendent of Minnesota Justice Information Services Dana Gotz, Deputy Superintendent of Investigative Services Jeff Hansen, and Deputy Superintendent of Forensic Science Services Catherine Knutson. • Establish an independent investigation and prosecution of Minneapolis law enforcement by Gov. Tim Walz. • Require law enforcement officers to maintain private, professional liability insurance. • Ban the indemnification of law enforcement officers. • End qualified immunity. • Adopt and implement the 2019 Livability and Safety Platform Proposal submitted by the South Minneapolis Public Safety Coalition to the City Council. • Allocate funds for integrative health services to support residents of the George Floyd Square Zone through the ReCAST grant managed by the Division of Race & Equity. • Establish a moratorium on property tax increases for residents of the George Floyd Square Zone for two years. • Include a rent-to-own op-
Trump administration could radically reshape Black America By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor
groups’ coming initiatives. throwing an audible, where we to bring that hateful agenda to Tikki Brown, commissioner for stopped our agenda and said: this state, I’m ready to stand the Minnesota Department of ‘It looks like all of you aren’t up and fight,” said Walz. Minnesota Attorney Genrian Fullman, an orga- Children, Youth, and Families, that excited. What’s going nizer with Isaiah and was invited as an honored on?’ That’s when people really eral Keith Ellison echoed that started to give me the goods.” sentiment, saying at a news its sister organization, guest. “People were visibly frusAt that moment, the gath- conference that he’s already Faith in Minnesota, convened a youth programming sum- trated. There was a hopeless- ering turned from information preparing to take legal action if a second Trump administramit on Nov. 17 to discuss the ness we heard. We ended up session to election catharsis. “People expressed fear, tion infringes upon Minnesoweariness, hopelessness,” Full- tans’ rights. “I didn’t run for attorney man said. “There was an older woman there who said, ‘These general’s office twice so that are the same issues we were I could sue Trump. That’s not fighting for in the ’50s. I’m what I’m here for,” Ellison said. “But if he violates the rights of tired and frustrated.’” Those in the room at Har- people, we’re gonna sue. It’s vest Best Academy in North simple as that.” From the elimination of Minneapolis aren’t alone. The changeover of power in Wash- the Affordable Care Act to reington come January has many duced civil rights enforcement, in the Black community fear- a second Trump administraing what comes next. tion could radically reshape Gov. Tim Walz, who ran the lives of Black Americans in alongside Vice President Ka- coming years. Some of the most profound mala Harris on the Democratic ticket, voiced those concerns changes could come in educain his first address after los- tion, given candidate Trump ing on Nov. 5: “I know a lot of talked at length about phasfolks are worried about the ing out the U.S. Department next four years. I’m with them,” of Education and its civil rights he said. division, which enforces fed“We know what’s going to eral civil rights laws in schools, happen. We know because and eliminating Head Start for they told us, and we have to preschool children from lowbe ready. The moment they try Brian Fullman ■ See FALLOUT on page 5
Photo by Chris Juhn who have passed unjustly. She tion in new housing construction. reminded all that the murder • Gift 612-MASH a blood of George Floyd was not only bank bus or a coach bus to an individual tragedy, but part continue to care for anyone of a historical fight for justice. who enters the memorial site “The ancestors give us, you during winter months. and I, the amazing capacity to • Open and complete an invesremember. We must remem- tigation of the murder of Dameon ber. We are remembering — “Murphy Ranks” Chambers. and that remembering is giving us the capacity to do, to The city’s proposal say, and be accountable. For The conversation quickly that, we are grateful,” Azzahir turned to the city’s proposed said. Her invocation set the development plan, which intone for the remainder of the cludes greening initiatives, meeting as one of reflection wider sidewalks, lighting imand determination. provements, and traffic circle installations. While city officials tout Community vision The community’s expecta- these plans as steps toward retions were clear. Jeanelle Aus- vitalizing the area, community tin, lead organizer of the event, members expressed concern noted that the city’s plans to that these changes are not rebuild the intersection of enough to address the sys38th Street and Chicago Av- temic issues that contributed enue haven’t aligned with the to George Floyd’s death in the 24 demands that the com- first place. In one particularly poignant munity created in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. These moment, Austin questioned demands focus not on physical why the city prioritized street ■ See GFS on page 5 infrastructure but on account-