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Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence.
December 12 - 18, 2024
Vol. 91
No. 20
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Black Men Teach addresses glaring need for educational representation
By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer magine a classroom where every student sees a teacher who reflects their identity and inspires them to dream bigger. Black Men Teach is making that vision a reality by empowering Black men to pursue careers in education, transforming not only classrooms but entire communities. The organization is creating a movement with a bold, four-step approach: recruit, prepare, place, and retain. It’s partnering with local leaders to spark interest in teaching, guiding prospective educators through degree programs, and placing them in schools designed to nurture their success. But it doesn’t stop there: Mentorship, growth opportunities, and student loan support ensure these educators thrive long-term.
“Black Men Teach was created to address a glaring need for educational representation and equity,” said the group’s executive director, Markus Flynn. “The organization’s mission is rooted in the belief that representation matters. Black boys benefit significantly from seeing educators who look like them and can relate to their experiences.” This isn’t just about adding diversity to the workforce. It’s about reimagining education in Minnesota and realizing the life-changing potential of representation. And for Flynn, this is more than a career move; it’s a calling. “Education is the quality-oflife risk factor that has the most residual benefit. And if you invest fully there, that’s when you see the Rising Tide Lifts all Boats affect. My passion has always revolved around com- Black Men Teach addresses critical gaps by focusing on the recruitment, development, and retention of Black male educators. MBimages ■ See TEACH on page 5
Council nixes city plan for George Floyd Square
Elder says slow down moves ‘at the pace of trust’
Bringing science training to students, teachers, and schools
than 1% of teachers in the state identify as Black and The resolution was intromale,” says Kilgore. The NorBy Cynthia Moothart duced by Ward 9 Council arvis Kilgore is mandale program covered tuManaging Editor Member Jason Chavez, whose from Holly Springs, ition, books, and fees, supportdistrict includes part of the tum Azzahir has a small town in ing Black men to earn teaching intersection. City staff who Mississippi. Rust College, its degrees. stood at the cendrafted the proposal for the HBCU, has always been a ter of George Floyd There were three students intersection previously told the beacon of education for the in the program when he arSquare: as a space within walkcouncil that they considered community. Kilgore credits the rived at Normandale. They ing distance of her home and a pedestrian plaza but deter- college, community, and family had a budget of $10,000. Four as a revered community elder called upon by the City of Minmined such a plan was unwork- for providing role models that years later, there were 22 stuneapolis to help guide its plan able given the need for access fueled his desire to be on the dents in the program with a for the memorial site. to area homes and businesses. front line of change. budget of about $700,000. She welcomed the city counIn its 8-5 vote, the council From family and community, referred the matter back to its he was taught that he could be cil’s vote on Dec. 5 to refer back Environment and Infrastruc- whatever he wanted. Howevto committee the city’s recommended proposal, in favor of ture Committee, which next er, in the broader community, turning the intersection of 38th meets on Jan. 9. If adopted particularly in mainstream meStreet and Chicago Avenue into then, the city council would dia, he says young Black men a pedestrian plaza open only to vote on an ordinance to es- in Mississippi received mesemergency vehicles and local tablish the pedestrian plaza sages in stark contrast to his traffic. The move aligns with as part of the final redevel- upbringing. the wishes of residents, activ- Jason Chavez opment plan for what has be“What that meant for me was ists, and leaders who said the come a sacred site honoring speaking up and speaking out plan presented to the council together we have to do as Center. “I see this as a cultural George Floyd and other Black when I was experiencing things in November failed to address people — that happens at the and spiritual challenge where victims of police violence. as a young kid that I didn’t neccommunity concerns. During the last legisla- essarily agree with,” he says. pace of trust,” said Azzahir, ex- we’re really at a place of heal“The uniting we have to ecutive director of the Minne- ing. Healing is at the core of tive session, state lawmakers “From an early age, I knew that do as people, the standing apolis-based Cultural Wellness what we’re building.” ■ See COUNCIL on page 5 education was a way to give me the skills and tools needed ter 2021. Similarly, 70% of Black to help my community move children are vaccinated against the needle a bit more.” whooping cough, versus 83% After obtaining a master’s of white children. Both rates are degree from New Orleans’ Dilbelow the 95% threshold need- lard University, Kilgore spent ed to curb the natural infection 10 years with a team in Qatar chain throughout a community, setting up the first community By Clint Combs known as herd immunity. Contributing Writer college in the region. With a A larger snapshot of data background in bilingual educa- Marvis Kilgore easles and whooping from the Minneapolis Depart- tion, he helped lead the Engcough are on the rise ment of Health showed clear lish language learning program. “We were able to transfer stuin Hennepin County racial disparities in vaccine He is now in Minnesota. dents to four-year institutions this year, impacting families rates from children born be- “Having just left the desert and on substantial academic scholaracross the Metro area. The latest tween April 1, 2018, and March trading it for a tundra, if some- ships,” Kilgore says. Nine students report shows 45 cases of mea- 31, 2020. In Hennepin County, body would have said that five benefited from an all-expense sles and 650 cases of whooping 73% of Black children ages 4-6 or six years ago, I think I would paid study abroad in Senegal. cough (pertussis), representing an have received one dose of the have laughed in their face,” he Kilgore began looking for a eight-year high. Disparities in vac- MMR vaccine, compared to says. Yet he didn’t find work he new opportunity to lead after cination rates — and lower vacci- 89% of white children. Only felt passionate about in Mis- feeling he had reached his pinnation rates overall — are cited 73% of Black children compared sissippi or the Houston area nacle of success at Normanamong the reasons for this rise. to 89% of white children have he was considering. dale. He found Code Savvy. Only 69% of Black children received both doses. Among After the death of George Code Savvy provides comin Minneapolis have received children born between April Floyd, he came to Minnesota puter science training for stutheir first MMR vaccine dose 1, 2018, and March 21, 2022, to lead the Sirtify program at dents, teachers, and schools. against measles compared to 72% of Black children ages 2-6 Normandale Community Col- For students, they offer handsThe racial gap in vaccination rates is attributed to a combina- 88% of white and Hispanic received four shots of the vac- lege. The organization’s mis- on computer science exploration of factors, including historical mistrust of the health care children, according to the lat- cine to protect against whoop- sion is to diversify Minnesota’s tion with experienced mentors. system, post-pandemic fatigue, and misinformation. est Minneapolis Department of ing cough, compared to 84% of professional teaching staff. Technovation is their 12-week Gorodenkoff Studios Health data of children born af■ See KILGORE on page 5 ■ See VACCINES on page 4 “Looking at the data, less
Rising infections tied to lower vaccination rates
By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer