Vol 92 / Edition 35 - Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

No Kings rally draws massive crowd

By Izzy Canizares

Contributing Writer

ore than 100,000 people gathered Saturday for the No Kings rally at the Minnesota State Capitol, marking the largest event of its kind to date. Headlined by artists such as Joan Baez and Bruce Springsteen, the rally became a platform for attendees to demand change from the current administration, express their anger, and honor Minnesotans who stepped up for their neighbors during the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Metro Surge.

“I stand here because, as a child, I learned what it means when your life can be decided by a piece of paper, when your future feels uncertain,” said Carolina Ortiz of COPAL. “I carried fear, but I also carried something stronger, the belief that one day we would rise. And that day is today. So let me say this very clearly: We are not the problem to solve.

Young women reshaping politics, art, and activism in Minnesota

By Damenica Ellis Staff Writer

aitreya Reeder

As a senior at St. Anthony Village High School, Maitreya Reeder is already involved in policymaking. Growing up in Minneapolis, she witnessed political turmoil following the murder of George Floyd, the moment she began to see politics as a solution.

“I started having this rec-

ognition that the problems I heard about on the news … were moving to my hometown, and they were less political problems and more personal problems.”

It wasn’t until high school that she recognized the voice she could have in creating solutions. Reeder now serves as executive director of the Youth Voter Project, Minnesota Youth Secretary

of State, and works with organizations like Catalyst for Systems Change. Her work focuses on racial equity and overdose awareness, issues she encountered personally as a child.

“I met a lot of other youth that were very much like me … they wanted to do something about the real problems that they saw in the world, and they weren’t content just participating in model government programs.”

Among her accomplishments is helping pass a bill through the House and Senate requiring overdose recognition, prevention, and response training in middle and high school health curricula.

Reeder credits a strong circle of young women, including poets and artists, along with mentors in legislative spaces who support her.

“It’s the learned confidence to assert that I belong there, because if I believe I belong there, then other people will believe it as well.”

She said her generation increasingly sees political involvement as non-negotiable. After high school, she plans to study political science and pursue a legislative career.

“I really can’t imagine doing anything else with my life … I consider myself very lucky to have found my central purpose very early on.”

Ankita Kumar

Ankita Kumar’s passion for policy and activism stems from her experience as a first-

generation immigrant. After moving from India, she helped her parents learn U.S. history and politics as they pursued citizenship.

“This is where I first realized the civic literacy gap among marginalized communities and knew it would be my lifelong passion to bridge that gap.”

The 18-year-old Wayzata High School student is involved in Model UN, Youth in Government, the Youth Voter Project, and her own initiative, School Board Spotlight.

Through her work, Kumar has focused on youth voter turnout, designing materials, pre-registering students, and mobilizing more than 20 peers to attend school board meetings, advocate for student representation, and interview candidates in the 2025 Wayzata school board election.

“Young women are often not considered the ‘face’ of politics,” Kumar said. “Many To Subscribe Scan Here

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Women paving the path to a sustainable future

By Jasmine McBride Editor

s Women’s History Month ends, it is important to remember that it did not begin as the sweeping national observance we recognize today. Its origins are rooted in a much smaller, local effort, one that underscores both the power of visibility and the reality of who has historically been left out.

sustained advocacy, Congress expanded the observance to the entire month of March.

March was chosen intentionally, aligning with International Women’s Day (March 8), a global recognition dating back to the early 1900s honoring women’s achievements and the ongoing fight for gender equality.

In 1978, a school district in Sonoma, California organized a “Women’s History Week” to coincide with International Women’s Day. The idea quickly spread, gaining traction in classrooms and communities across the country. Just two years later, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing National Women’s History Week. By 1987, after

At its core, Women’s History Month was created to highlight contributions long excluded from traditional narratives, to recognize achievements across fields, and to inspire future generations through more complete storytelling. But even in that mission, gaps remain. While Women’s History Month is meant to elevate women broadly, it has not always fully captured the experiences, leadership, and impact of Black women and

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Minneapolis council members, leaders oppose $38 million police training center

By Izzy Canizares Contributing Writer

On March 24, Minneapolis City Council members and community leaders renewed opposition to a proposed $38 million police training center, as debate over public safety spending continues to escalate following the financial impact of Operation Metro Surge.

The proposal, which was introduced to the City Council on March 26, includes a $6 million purchase of a building that would require council approval and is part of a broader capital investment plan for a “shared safety training and wellness center.”

Community members and advocates voiced concerns at a March 24 press conference, arguing the project is being advanced while the city is still absorbing what critics say is more than $200 million in lost revenue tied to Operation Metro Surge.

“I don’t understand how Mayor Frey can even propose something like this when we are still in crisis mode, trying to figure out where the end of the barrel is,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR-MN.

The facility is planned for 146 W. 60th St. in the Win-

dom neighborhood of South Minneapolis. According to the city, the center would expand training space, modernize facilities, and “strengthen community safety outcomes,” including classrooms, locker rooms, VR training spaces, and an indoor gun range.

“Our community safety departments do not have a dedicated space for training or wellness,” the Minneapolis Community Safety Office proposal states. “Most departments make do with areas that are available in their current buildings.”

We are talking about putting $40 million for the purchase of this building on our credit.”

Critics argue the funding structure effectively places the project on the city’s longterm debt load through its capital budget.

Council Minority Leader Robin Wonsley said the financing approach shifts costs

onto taxpayers over time.

“That is our line of credit. We are talking about putting $40 million for the purchase of this building on our credit, and then we will be using your dollars, taxpayer dollars along the way to pay that down,” Wonsley said. “It ignores the fact that the capital has already invested millions of dollars into other public safety facilities.”

Council Member Aisha Chughtai also criticized the administration’s framing of capital funding.

“We have to move away from pretending as though capital dollars are not paid back by taxpayers,” Chughtai

Twin Cities diverge on tenant protections amid council clashes

By Clint Combs Contributing Writer

The Twin Cities charted different paths on tenant protections this week.

The St. Paul City Council unanimously passed an ordinance extending its preeviction notice period from 30 days to 60 days. The next day in Minneapolis, the City Council fell two votes short of overriding Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of a similar measure. That vote sent activists into the halls singing, while a heated chamber confrontation briefly halted the meeting.

St. Paul’s City Council passed its ordinance 7-0, a veto-proof margin that requires landlords to give tenants 60 days’ notice before filing an eviction case in court. The ordinance takes effect in May if Mayor Kaohly Her signs the measure.

“I do not want to come to work to be bullied.”

Before the final vote, the council rejected an amendment 5-2 that would have exempted the St. Paul Public Housing Agency from the extended notice requirement. Council

Member Cheniqua Johnson said carving out the city’s largest landlord would undermine the ordinance’s purpose.

“When we talk about income-based and adjusting the rent, there are still individuals that are housed within the St. Paul Public Housing Agency who are evicted due to the inability to pay and non-payment of rent,” Johnson said.

Johnson also pushed back on concerns that federal funding risks justified the exemption, pointing to the consequences of eviction records

and the precedent such a carve-out would set.

“It’s really hard to find options, including here in the city of St. Paul, once you have an eviction filed,” she said. “It’s hard to say this individual gets 30 days. This individual does not when we are posing the option.”

With the amendment defeated, the full ordinance passed without the exemption.

Community members in both cities have called for temporary extensions amid heightened immigration enforcement that has led many renters to shelter in place.

Supporters argue the extension would give tenants more time to pay rent before an eviction case is filed. Affordable housing nonprofits opposed the measure, arguing the additional 30 days could allow residents to accumulate more unmanageable debt.

Across the river, Minneapolis told a different story.

After falling two votes short of the nine needed to override Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto, more than a dozen activists responded immediately, holding a singing demonstration outside the council chambers as the result became clear.

But even as the protest swelled in the hallway, a separate and sharper conflict was unfolding inside the chamber.

During debate over a resolution supporting the normalization of relations with Cuba, which ultimately passed 7-6, Council Member Aurin Chowdhury said she was interrupted while speaking and addressed what she described as a pattern of disrespect.

“I am also really disappointed as I’m making comments… Hearing my colleagues laugh and make snide remarks,” Chowdhury said. A crowd in the gallery began clapping.

Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw pushed back, denying the behavior was directed at Chowdhury and redirecting criticism toward Council President Elliot Payne. “You all need to learn how to monitor the entire body and not certain people on the body,” Vetaw said. She accused Chowdhury of “throwing a tantrum” over lack of unanimous support for the Cuba resolution. “I can vote how I want to,” Vetaw said. “If she wants to have a tantrum because we’re not giving her a unanimous vote that’s her problem.”

Council President Elliot Payne attempted to de-escalate the exchange. “You’re ascribing motives,” Payne said.

“All I heard was some cross talk while Council Member Shaffer had the floor.”

Chowdhury responded after a pause, emphasizing that her concern was not about the vote outcome.

“I’m not going to sit here and pretend that it’s not hurtful when I’m talking and people are laughing and making remarks. Maybe it’s not on this specific one but it happens constantly,” she said.

“When I’m chairing a meeting and someone calls me a ‘fucking child.’”

The comment referred to an incident two days earlier, when Council Member Michael Rainville was overheard on a hot mic during the March 24 Committee of the Whole meeting. “Excuse me, when are we going to break for lunch,” he said. “What the fuck. These fucking children.”

“I do not want to come to work to be bullied,” Chowdhury said.

It was not the first time Rainville had been caught on an open microphone. Last year, Council Member Linea Palmi-

said. “Approximately 15% of the median household tax assessment is debt service. It’s paying back debt from our credit cards to things like capital projects.”

Wonsley said the proposal has circulated in city planning documents for years but questioned whether a new facility is necessary, noting that Minneapolis police already train at multiple sites, including the Hamilton Special Operations Center and the Emergency Operations and Training Facility.

She also pointed to existing partnerships with the University of Minnesota and other leased spaces.

“In just the past five years alone, we are spending over $100 million in capital projects just for the Minneapolis Police Department,” Wonsley said.

City officials say existing facilities are outdated and do not meet current training needs.

“They can go and leverage existing partnerships with law enforcement agencies to get some of these needs met, as opposed to also building a new facility,” Wonsley said.

“The thing is, MPD doesn’t want to travel to these places. They want to just have it in one convenient site that has showers and all sorts of nice mats and things of that nature.”

The proposal, including the $6 million building purchase, formally introduced to the council on March 26, marked a continuation of debate after a previous version of the plan was vetoed by Mayor Jacob Frey in December 2025.

“We took $5 million away from this project and said, ‘We want you, Mayor Frey and your administration, to go look at alternatives,’” Wonsley said. “And instead, he has brought the same project back.”

The City Council decided on March 26th in a 6-7 vote to delay the vote on the project, and referred it back to Mayor Frey’s staff. Opponents say the renewed proposal underscores broader tensions over how the city should allocate resources during ongoing budget strain tied to Operation Metro Surge.

“We are absolutely advocating that there are more cost effective ways to actually get at the need, not the wants, of a police department,” Wonsley said, “when we are facing a $200 million economic impact on our city.”

Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

sano described clicking on a phishing email during a committee meeting. Rainville was heard laughing, saying, “you got chumped.”

After a five-minute recess, Council Member Pearll Warren spoke about community activists’ claims of a “grave disconnect” between elected officials and Northside residents.

“What ICE is doing is disgusting. But I’ve been ICEed

my whole life,” Warren said. “There’s a difference between trauma and choice.”

“I don’t see protesters pulling up to stop the violence that continues to perpetuate in North Minneapolis,” she said. “You don’t understand where I stand cause you never sat where I sat.”

The council also passed a divestment measure from companies that support ICE, 9-4, and approved a solidarity

ordinance supporting University of Minnesota fellow workers, 11-2. The week left St. Paul with a new tenant protection awaiting Mayor Her’s signature and Minneapolis with internal conflict between progressive and moderate council members.

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@ gmail.com.

Twin Cities parks plans aim to close equity gaps

By Anya Armentrout Contributing Writer

In 2016, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board approved a 20-year plan to address racial inequality in parks and transform the neighborhood parks system. Ten years into the process, officials say they are ahead of schedule.

The 20-Year Neighborhood Parks Plan (NPP20) uses a first-of-its-kind “equity ranking” to target funding toward communities with the greatest need. Advancing racial equity in the parks system is a high priority for the board, which states on its website that “racial equity is when race is no longer a predictor of access to parks and recreation, health, well-being, and quality of life.”

“[Equity is a priority in parks development] because for so long it wasn’t very important and this resulted in disparate service across the system,”

MPRB Commissioner Tom Olsen said in an email. “Parks provide many wonderful societal benefits that lift up whole communities. So not only is it just that we invest equitably, but it is the smart thing to do as it improves outcomes for

the entire city.”

The equity ranking uses seven quantitative measures focused on racial and economic equity. In the community, it considers concentrated poverty, population density, youth population and crime rates. It also evaluates the condition and lifespan of existing parks, as well as previous capital investments. In 2016, the parks with the highest rankings included Bassett’s Creek Park, 28th Street Tot Lot and Central Gym Park. All but two of the 34 parks ranked highest in need of support were in North or South Minneapolis.

“We are obligated

to

ensure that everyone has access to and feels welcome within our public lands.”

As of December 2025, 46 parks have completed capital investment projects and 28 recreation centers have received major repairs. Minneapolis has 180 parks total, and NPP20 aims to improve all of them by 2036. A goal the city is on track to meet ahead of schedule.

“Every neighborhood park in the city is on track to receive renovations and improvements,” Olsen said.

One of the largest projects is a $45 million redevelopment of North Commons Park in North Minneapolis. The project is about 35% complete and will rebuild the water park, renovate the community center, construct a 22,000-squarefoot indoor fieldhouse and expand public amenities.

When construction began in July 2025, state Rep. Fue Lee, who represents the district, told the Minnesota Star Tribune, “For far too long, north Minneapolis has been forgotten by the state of Minnesota. But not no more.”

The park’s pool was last renovated in 1997.

Across the river, Saint Paul’s Parks and Recreation system plan also emphasizes equity. The plan highlights major demographic shifts, noting that more than 20% of the city’s residents were born outside the United States.

It also describes parks as uniquely democratic spaces and calls for consideration of unhoused residents’ use of park facilities.

Statewide public data on pretrial incarceration key to public safety, advocates say

By Izzy Canizares Contributing Writer

What do we know about the people being held in city jails and their treatment before trial? According to jail reform advocates: not much. Two new bills introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate would change that, requiring consistent statewide collection and public reporting of data on individuals held pretrial. “Right now in Minnesota, more than half of the people in our jails, nearly 3,000 people on any given day, are being held pretrial, meaning they have not been convicted of a crime,” said Danielle Matthias, director of policy and advocacy for the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

“And we know that this burden falls disproportionately on Black, Indigenous, and lowincome communities, with Greater Minnesota having the highest rates of pretrial detention.”

The Pretrial Data Transparency Act, comprising HF 1775 and SF 1908, would require the Department of Corrections to publish detailed public information regarding pretrial detainees. This includes demographic data, charge descriptions, bail conditions, information on defense attorneys, failure-to-appear rates, and details on any eventual sentences imposed. Matthias noted that in many cases, whether someone remains in custody is influenced more by their ability to pay bail rather than an assessment of risk. “Pretrial detention is not a neutral experience. It is destabilizing and, in many cases, unsafe,” Matthias said. “Even short periods in custody can result in job loss, housing instability, and separation from family. We also see people being pressured into accepting plea deals simply to secure their release.”

For many held before sentencing, the experience is psychologically disturbing, according to interviews conducted by the Minnesota

Justice Research Center. “I felt trapped and hopeless, like my only option was to plead out,” said Darla Holland of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and a former jail inmate. She recalled the difficulty of accessing resources due to high costs behind bars. “Whenever you’re incarcerated, you’re sort of treated like you’re always lying.” Dr. Katie Remington Cunningham, research director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, echoed this sentiment. “Our system is in theory predicated around the presumption of innocence... but the reality is it doesn’t always unfold that way. You get a lot of punishment in the pretrial process.”

While some counties maintain online dashboards, the data varies significantly by jurisdiction. Hennepin County launched a dashboard in 2024 that is updated daily, showing 721 people in custody as of March 19 with a median stay of 28 days. However, dashboards in Hennepin and Ramsey counties do not explicitly specify how many inmates are awaiting trial versus those held for transfers or presentencing. “We do not have a centralized, statewide system to track what is happening, which means we cannot answer basic but critical questions about who is being detained, for how long, under what conditions, or with what outcomes,” Matthias said.

To bridge this gap, the Minnesota Freedom Fund has utilized its Court Watch program, where staff and volun-

“Serving more residents, and more perspectives about the role that parks spaces and programs can play in our lives, presents the City of Saint Paul with a powerful opportunity to serve the community’s evolving social, recreational, and ecological needs into the future,” the plan states.

Although St. Paul did not develop an equity ranking like Minneapolis, its prioritization system favors parks in areas of concentrated poverty, high under-18 populations and historically low investment.

The city’s 40-year comprehensive plan, adopted in 2020 under former Mayor Melvin Carter, states in its Parks, Recreation and Open Space section: “White people are signif-

diciary and Public Safety committees and await votes in the current legislative session. Advocates argue that the lack of transparency makes it nearly impossible to identify disparities or ensure accountability.

“The longer that you’re locked up in jail, the more likely you are when you get out to be

icantly more likely to explore those parts of our park system than are African Americans, African immigrants, Asian Americans, Asian immigrants and Hispanic/Latino/Latina people. As a city, we are obligated to ensure that everyone has access to and feels welcome within our public lands.”

One strategy both cities are using to improve equity is “Greening the Green Line.” Areas along the METRO Green Line have about 10% less green space than the urban core.

Little Mekong Plaza, located on University Avenue in St. Paul, aims to establish an Asian cultural corridor. Owned by the Hmong American Partnership, the city described it in a press release as “reflecting

unstable, and when you’re unstable, we see more incidents of crime,” Cunningham said.

“The decisions that we make about pretrial law are hugely instrumental in whether or not people are able to be safe.”

For Holland, the reality of the current system remains stark.

Hmong, Vietnamese, and other ethnic and immigrant communities that live and operate businesses in the area.”

In 2024, a $2.4 million grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership helped fund St. Paul’s North End Community Center and a six-acre park. The surrounding area is about three-quarters people of color, but prior to the development, the green space was run-down and considered unsafe. Both cities have received positive feedback on their efforts. For Olsen, NPP20 is a clear success.

“I think the biggest indicator that this is working is that constituents really don’t reach out to complain about the quality of their parks,” he said. “I have only ever heard that people are satisfied with how their parks have been developed. And if someone reaches out because the lifespan of their park is starting to get old, we are able to point very clearly to when their park will be invested in.”

Anya Armentrout is a freelance journalist, a student at Macalester College and a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

teers observe bail hearings in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. “By formalizing this program and collecting our own data, we are able to surface patterns, elevate stories that would otherwise go unheard and shed light on how the system operates day to day,” Matthias said, adding that while Court Watch is critical, it is not a substitute for systemic reform. “I’m proud to be the House author of this proposal,” said state Rep. Dave Pinto, author of HF 1775 and a practicing prosecutor. “I see the complex challenges and frequent disparities inherent in this system. I’m determined to keep improving our justice system, for the well-being and safety of all of us.”

Existing data already highlights these significant racial disparities. In Hennepin County, Black individuals made up 64% of the jail population as of March 19 and reported the longest average stays, some exceeding 1,000 days. Ramsey County shows a similar pattern: Black individuals comprise roughly 45% of the jail population despite making up only 12% of the county’s total population. Median stays for white detainees range from one to two days, compared to two to three days for Black detainees. “This is another one of those questions that we cannot answer statewide, which is infuriating,” Cunningham said. She noted that in Hennepin County, 63% of the population staying 30 days or more is Black.

The bills have been referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy and the Ju-

“Jails are sort of like their own world and the oversight in a jail is administration. You fall through the cracks and contacting the outside world is difficult.”

Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman -Recorder.

Activists to hunger strike over Minneapolis incinerator

By Clint Combs Contributing Writer

Four environmental justice activists plan to stop eating April 10 if Hennepin County commissioners do not commit to closing the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) by the end of 2027.

For Black residents living in North Minneapolis’ North Loop and Jordan neighborhoods, the struggle is no longer abstract.

For years, environmental activists have alleged the county withheld reports, cherry-picked data and relied on prepared talking points to avoid accountability over HERC, a trash incinerator that has burned garbage from households across the county for nearly four decades. Studies have shown Black residents are more likely than white residents to experience higher rates of asthma and other pollution-related health conditions.

“I came to organize for closure of the trash burner known as HERC a year ago when I began hearing about what 37 years of burning trash has done to our community,” said Natasha Villanueva, a Northside resident and Jordan neighborhood hunger striker. “I witnessed a pattern of being complicit and complacent that has led decades of elected officials to allow this trash burner to keep operating even though it is long overdue for closure.”

The hunger strikers and their supporters are calling on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners to vote to close HERC by December 2027. Commissioners have not yet initiated a closure vote.

After a long winter, spring is finally here, and with it comes a certain kind of energy. After months of slower rhythms, heavier foods, and limited sunlight, there’s a natural shift toward lightness, movement, and renewal. You might feel it in the urge to open windows, declutter your home, or set new goals.

Your body feels it too.

The liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin, and lymphatic system are constantly working together to process and eliminate what the body doesn’t need. Spring is a natural time to support that process, and a great opportunity to consider a seasonal detox or cleanse. You might be wondering: why spring? Many cleanse programs are marketed around the New Year. While a January reset can be helpful, it falls during the coldest months, when our metabolism is naturally slower and we’re still in a kind of hibernation mode. Spring, on the other hand, brings a metabolic uptick and a genuine openness to change, making it a much more receptive time for sustainable results.

A well-timed detox or cleanse may help:

In October 2023, the board voted to close the facility sometime between 2028 and 2040, a timeline advocates criticized because it does not legally bind the county to act.

Organizers describe the action as a deliberate “consumption strike,” a protest tied symbolically to waste itself, with a moral and spiritual dimension.

“People have lost patience,” said Geoff Dittberner, a coalition leader. “All traditional advocacy has failed.”

Allegations of a cover-up

The coalition’s grievances extend beyond air quality data.

Nazir Khan, co-founder of the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table and leader of the Zero Burn Coalition, said conversations with at least one HERC employee revealed broken filters, holes in smokestacks, frequent shutdowns for repairs and machinery malfunctions. Details he described as central to his involvement in the closure effort. A worker injury in 2017 left one employee hospitalized for six months, according to Khan. The coalition has also alleged two workers died at the facility in 1996 and that those deaths were covered up.

Khan pointed to the 2019 closure of the Detroit Renewable Power incinerator as precedent. Environmental groups had documented more than 600 violations of federal carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide limits before threatening a citizen suit under the Clean Air Act. The facility announced it would permanently close following the threat.

“Detroit closed its burner in 2019 because of carbon

Audua Pugh, a Jordan Neighborhood resident, said living by the HERC has been harmful to generations of Black residents on the city’s Northside Clint Combs/MSR

monoxide violations due to poor combustion,” Khan said. “HERC would have the same violations if its permit wasn’t so weak.”

“Two years later there is still no date, no vote, no process and no plan,”

A question of science

The push to close HERC is backed by a technical report released in July 2025 by Doug Gurian-Sherman, a risk assessment scientist who previously worked at the Environmental Protection Agency. His report, produced for the Zero Burn Coalition, argues Hennepin County has systematically understated the dangers posed by HERC’s air pollution.

Using the county’s own census-tract risk data, includ-

ing slides county staff possessed but did not include in public presentations, GurianSherman calculated that cancer risk from HERC is approximately 3.7 times higher for residents of the North Loop tract compared to more distant, predominantly non-environmental justice neighborhoods. Non-cancer health risk in that same tract is roughly 3.4 times higher.

“The county falsely claims that people closest to HERC face no greater risk than those farther away,” Gurian-Sherman said. “The risk for cancer and non-cancer diseases is several times greater close to HERC than several miles away. And the county’s own analysis confirms that.”

Among the pollutants of greatest concern are dioxins, HERC is documented as one of the state’s largest emitters,

and PFAS, so-called “forever chemicals,” detected in leachate at a Dakota County landfill where ash from HERC’s combustion is disposed of. An independent assessment using an EPA tool found HERC’s particulate pollution alone may be responsible for one to two premature deaths per year in surrounding ZIP codes.

HERC’s operating permit has not been substantively updated since 1998. The EPA standard for long-term fine particulate matter exposure was 15 micrograms per cubic meter when the permit was issued. It is now 9, and the World Health Organization recommends 5.

“Every person deserves clean air”

Audua Pugh, executive director of the Jordan Neighborhood Association, described what it means to carry decades of polluted air in the body.

“In 2024 I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Pugh said. “I have no genetic history of this disease in my family. What I do have is a lifetime of living surrounded by polluters.”

Pugh lives near HERC, which sits in one of the most pollution-burdened corridors in the state. For decades, racially restrictive housing covenants barred Black residents from buying homes in most of Minneapolis, confining them to a narrow band of North Side neighborhoods. Redlining by banks and realtors kept those boundaries largely intact after the covenants were struck down. HERC opened in 1989. Wealthier, whiter suburbs that generate much of the waste the facility burns successfully resisted having it built near them.

“Two years later there is still no date, no vote, no process and no plan,” Pugh said of earlier county commitments. Because

Spring detoxification: Supporting your body’s natural process

• Support liver function and detoxification pathways

• Reduce bloating and improve digestion

• Boost energy levels

• Support clearer, healthier skin

• Reset cravings and eating patterns

• Improve mood balance and mental clarity

How does the body naturally detoxify?

Toxins are anything the body doesn’t need to function at its best: alcohol, medications, sugar, recreational drugs, plastics, environmental chemicals, and more. The body processes these through a three-phase system:

• Phase I (Activation): Toxins are converted into intermediate, less harmful compounds. Think of it like a bartender cutting someone off.

• Phase II (Conjugation): Those intermediate compounds are bound to nutrients, like amino acids, glutathione,

“A spring cleanse, done with intention, can be a meaningful way to reconnect with your body.”

or sulfur, to prepare them for removal. The security guard steps in and walks the person to the door.

• Elimination: The compounds exit the body through urine, stool, sweat, and breath. The unruly guest is officially out.

Important tip: When choosing a detox program, make sure it supports all three phases. Stimulating Phase I without supporting Phase II and Elimination can leave you feeling worse than when you started.

Types of cleanses

There’s no shortage of liver cleanse programs out there, and they’re not all created equal. Here’s a general overview, ranging from gentle to more intensive:

1. Lifestyle-based

Often the most effective and sustainable approach. The focus is on small, consistent changes that help the body work better on its own:

• Increase whole, unpro-

cessed foods

• Drink more water

• Reduce alcohol, caffeine, and ultra-processed foods

• Prioritize sleep and stress management

• Add gentle daily movement like walking or yoga

This approach is appropriate for most people and works well even with a busy schedule.

2. Nutrition-based

A deeper reset focused on what you eat:

• Emphasize antioxidant-rich cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, arugula) and bitter foods (dandelion greens, citrus)

• Increase fiber to support elimination

• Include lean protein to fuel Phase II detoxification

• Remove inflammatory

foods: sugar, alcohol, and processed items

Typically done over 7–21 days. Look for programs that include a gradual ramp-up and wind-down. Jumping in too fast can cause bloating, nausea, or fatigue.

3. Supplement-supported

More targeted, and best done with practitioner guidance. These typically build on the lifestyle and nutrition approaches and add:

• Botanical liver support (milk thistle, dandelion root, burdock)

• Detoxification nutrients (NAC, glutathione, B vitamins)

• Digestive support (probiotics, digestive enzymes)

Generally reserved for patients with a higher toxic bur-

of her health, she said she cannot join the hunger strike. Villanueva was direct about the stakes. “Our leaders must protect the children that play in our neighborhood.”

A parallel proposal

Even as advocates push for closure, a parallel county proposal has drawn alarm. Hennepin County has explored converting HERC into a mixed-waste processing facility that would sort recyclable materials before disposal, what critics call “dirty recycling.” The Zero Burn Coalition estimates the proposal would cost roughly $180 million and recover only a fraction of recyclable material. The coalition favors upstream policy changes, reuse programs and expanded education, which it estimates could achieve greater diversion at approximately $44 million.

The county has argued closing HERC would increase regional waste disposal costs. The coalition disputes that claim, saying the facility operates at a deficit and that the cost framing is designed to discourage closure.

Legislative support

The effort has allies at the state Capitol. Reps. Esther Agbaje and Fue Lee and Sen. Omar Fateh has backed proposed legislation to update HERC’s operating permits, which advocates describe as “zombie” permits: outdated standards based on what was technically feasible decades ago, not what is safe for human health.

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners meets Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. at the 625 Building, 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at comb@0284@ gmail.com.

den or persistent symptoms. Be cautious of programs that are excessively expensive or require large quantities of supplements — and always check labels for allergens, unnecessary preservatives, or contaminants like lead.

Remember: a cleanse doesn’t have to be intense to be effective.

When a detox isn’t the right choice

Your body detoxifies naturally every day, a cleanse program isn’t something everyone needs. It can be a helpful tool, but it’s not right for everyone.

Avoid a cleanse program if you are:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding

• Living with an active eating disorder or a history of disordered eating

• Managing a chronic illness (without guidance from an experienced practitioner)

• Recovering from surgery or an acute illness

• Underweight or dealing with nutrient deficiencies

A spring cleanse, done with intention, can be a meaningful way to reconnect with your body, restore your energy, and step into the new season feeling your best. The key is choosing an approach that supports your body. Not one that forces or depletes it.

As always, feel free to reach out if you’d like personalized guidance on which approach might be right for you.

Learn

Immigrants are a blessing to this country.”

For its third No Kings rally, organizers chose Minnesota as the flagship event, once again placing the state in the national spotlight following the events surrounding Operation Metro Surge.

“I think all the students were really going through it together, there was definitely a feeling on campus,” said Paige, a University of Minnesota student. “When everything started to play out, classes got shut down. We had to switch to online classes, and it was affecting our education in a negative way.”

From a bird’s-eye view, the rally appeared to be the largest yet, with crowds stretching from the Capitol grounds back toward the Cathedral

of St. Paul and forcing road closures around the area for hours.

“I’m here because I’m angry, and I don’t have any other way to express it,” said attendee Loreen Doyle. “I’m very frustrated, and I’m very scared. My family has been directly affected by this administration and what it’s doing. My daughter was part of the Doge layoffs, and she’s been unemployed for a year now.”

Donald Trump has not just chipped away at our democracy, he has taken a wrecking ball to the very foundation of what makes America great,” Omar said. “He has tried to intimidate Minnesotans. He has tried to make us afraid. He tried to divide us. But we stood strong. We had each other’s backs, and we have never bent the knee.”

Local activists also took the stage, including deportation flight tracker Nick Ben-

“I just want to say to the people of Minnesota, I’m so proud of you,”

Speakers at the rally included St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Gov. Tim Walz, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

“We are here because

son, Haven Watch’s Natalie Ehret, and Dr. Nekima Levy Armstrong, co-founder of the national Target boycott.

“I just want to say to the people of Minnesota, I’m so

proud of you,” Levy Armstrong said. “You stood up, you fought, you put your bodies on the line. You spoke the truth, and you made it clear that we’re not stepping back. We’re not afraid. We will continue to rise up for the people of this country, for our immigrant neighbors, and for the future of our democracy.”

Multiple musical artists performed, including Bruce Springsteen, who sang “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song he wrote after the shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in honor of the people of the Twin Cities. Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, Rage Against the Machine member Tom Morello, and folk icon Joan Baez also performed, alongside the Twin Cities Singing Resistance and the Brass Solidarity Band.

“To those of us who believed in the power of nonviolent resistance, and to those

who didn’t, you have shown the way with your courage, determination, and decency. Thank you, Minneapolis,” Baez told the crowd before joining Rogers and Morello in singing “The Times They Are AChangin’.”

While the number of attendees reached well into the hundreds of thousands, many emphasized that the activism does not end with Saturday’s protest, pointing to the need for continued community engagement to create lasting change.

“I think people need to focus on community first and foremost,” said attendee Marshall. “Talk with your neighbors about politics, talk with everyone. We need to get coworkers on board, friends involved, and participate in as many petitions and community groups as time allows.”

Despite national media attention beginning to shift away from Minnesota, resi-

dents say they are still feeling the effects of Operation Metro Surge. Many families continue to struggle to pay rent or afford basic necessities due to lost income. At the same time, community members have continued to support one another by organizing rent assistance and delivering groceries to impacted families, showing that the movement extends far beyond Saturday’s event.

“We have to keep it moving, keep showing up and supporting your community. Help your neighbors any way that you can,” Paige said. “One thing we talked about today is how the media’s attention is shifting away from Minneapolis. But it’s really important to recognize that this is still happening here.”

Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.com.

girls grow up thinking politics isn’t a space where they can be heard. We need more young women involved to show that their voices are valued and that they can become policymakers.”

She added that her generation faces growing apathy fueled by misinformation, but has responded creatively.

“Gen Z has gotten creative … relying on artistic expression as a means of political action.”

Though supported by teachers and friends, Kumar said she sometimes feels small in decision-making spaces that are predominantly male and white. She plans to expand School Board Spotlight and pursue a law degree.

María Isa Pérez-Vega

State Rep. María Isa PérezVega has built a career that blends policymaking, activism, and art.

“[Women are] leading movements everywhere … We are leading as mothers, as community organizers, as elected officials,” she said. Her work spans immigrant rights, BIPOC communities, climate justice, and broader policy issues. As an artist, Pérez-Vega said her mission is to tell stories shaped by her upbringing as the daughter of Puerto Rican parents.

“To be in these spaces, as a woman of color, we’ve

always had to fight to be there,” she said. “Being able to make noise … to paint our pictures, those are opportunities for our communities to be seen, heard, and fought for.”

She encourages young women to use their voices and study the history of women of color.

“I believe in us … and our moment is right now more than ever.”

“I believe in us … and our moment is right now more than ever.”

Athena Hollins & Esther Agbaje

For many women, entering political spaces comes with challenges.

When State Rep. Athena Hollins first ran for office in 2020, she was told she was

too young and should “wait her turn,” despite being the same age as her male opponent when he first ran.

“It was just one of those things where there’s a double standard,” she said.

She also faced criticism about her appearance and how she spoke. For a time, she tried to conform, but found it exhausting.

“When I went back to just being me, it made the entire process so much easier.”

Hollins said young women are often scrutinized for everything from their voices to their presentation, but authenticity and persistence can push back against those expectations.

State Rep. Esther Agbaje, the first Nigerian legislator in Minnesota, said listening to other women inspired her early involvement.

“I hope that other young women … will be inspired to say that thing they’ve been

thinking about … and just go ahead and do it,” she said. “They’ll find that they will gather supporters.”

Both leaders emphasized that inspiration flows both ways.

Hollins said she finds the work of younger women especially powerful.

“They are so unapologetically fierce … standing up for communities that have previously never had a voice,” she said.

She believes this generation is building on past movements with even greater strength.

“When we stand together and support each other … there’s nothing we can’t do.”

As a parent, Hollins said one message is critical.

“It’s important to figure out where your values are,” she said. “Because then nobody can hurt you, you believe in yourself, and you know it’s true.”

Damenica Ellis welcomes reader responses at dellis@ spokesman-recorder.com.

other women of color. Their contributions, often foundational, have too frequently been overlooked, minimized, or erased altogether.

That reality makes it not only important to observe Women’s History Month, but necessary to intentionally recognize and celebrate the trailblazers within our own communities, those who have created pathways where none existed and continue to shape what progress looks like today.

In the Twin Cities, Women’s History Month 2026 reflected both the purpose of the observance and its unfinished work.

The data doesn’t lie

No event this month carried more policy weight than the March 4 press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, where the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota unveiled its 2026 Status of Women & Girls in Minnesota report. The most comprehensive study of its kind in the state since 2009.

The findings were sobering. The average Minnesota woman still earns 81 cents for every dollar earned by a

man, unchanged since 2016. For women of color, the disparities are even more stark: Black women earn 61 cents, Hmong women 59 cents, and Somali women just 58 cents on the dollar. Over a 40year career, those gaps can amount to more than $1 million in lost earnings.

Minnesota ranks second in the nation for women’s workforce participation, but that headline figure masks deeper structural inequities in childcare access, leadership representation, and safety. While 23 percent of the state’s corporate executives are now women, gender parity at the current pace remains decades away.

As Senator Alice Mann noted, “Women are less likely to prioritize personal financial gains or uphold unfair power structures, and yet we are still fighting to be in the room.”

Telling our stories, on our terms At the University of Minnesota, conversations around representation extended into media and storytelling. Journalist Elaine Welteroth joined Dr. Janell Hobson of Ms. Magazine to discuss the evolution of feminist journalism, emphasizing the importance of who controls narratives and whose voices are amplified.

That same theme carried into Sister Spokesman’s “Her Story” event, where Black women writers were encouraged to claim authorship over their own experiences. Panelists emphasized that storytelling is not just creative expression, it is cultural preservation and power.

“They need to tell their own stories, tell our stories,” said Rekhet Si-Asar.

Building spaces where we belong

For many, the work of inclusion is happening outside traditional institutions.

Jhaelynn Elam’s organization, The B Suite, was created to fill a gap she saw in the Twin Cities: a lack of intentional community for Black professionals. Since its launch in 2023, it has become a space centered on connection, support, and belonging. Particularly for Black women navigating professional spaces where they remain underrepresented.

“It’s about having somewhere to replenish,” Elam said. “Somewhere that feels familiar.”

Supporting the next generation

At the Jeremiah Program’s SummitX, that sense of build-

ing forward was tangible. Mothers connected across nine campuses, participating in programming designed to break cycles of generational poverty through education,

“The Twin Cities told a layered story: one of progress, but also of accountability.”

childcare, and career development.

“Being part of a vehicle that helps mitigate generational poverty and move toward thriving and transformation is what keeps me here,” said Family Services Director Raevhann Rush.

More than a celebration Women’s History Month 2026 in the Twin Cities told a layered story: one of progress, but also of accountability. The observance itself was created to correct historical omissions. Yet the work of inclusion continues, requiring communities to go beyond recognition and into intentional celebration of those still too often left out of the narrative. From boardrooms to community centers, from policy reports to personal storytelling, one truth remained clear: representation matters. Not just in who is seen, but in who is remembered.

Because while Women’s History Month creates space

Honoring those who came before Recognition also remained central throughout the month. Events like “Celebrating the Sistas” and the Humphrey School’s honoring of Dr. Reatha Clark King and Dr. Josie R. Johnson highlighted the enduring impact of women whose leadership has shaped Minnesota across generations. Their legacies serve as a reminder that progress is not accidental, it is built through persistence, vision, and often, resistance.

for reflection, it is up to us to ensure that space is filled with the full breadth of women’s experiences, including those who have always led, even when history failed to acknowledge them.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.

The ‘Wizard of Oz’

is coming to the

Children’s Theatre

By Aamira Redd Contributing Writer

The Children’s Theatre Company is bringing the classic musical to Minneapolis for audiences of all ages to enjoy.

The Children’s Theatre Company is bringing its rendition of the classic motion picture “The Wizard of Oz” to Minneapolis from April through June. The ensemble cast brings together a group of diverse actors and actresses, hoping to captivate audiences of all ages on a magical journey down the Yellow Brick Road.

Christopher Windom, the production’s lead choreographer, brings an extensive background in both theater and film. Windom’s credits include choreography for the biographical film “Respect,” starring Jennifer Hudson, as well as the Broadway production of “Fences.” Windom said he hopes this interpretation of the classic will offer a fresh, relatable perspective for today’s audiences.

“The mission is how to make the familiar seem new, so I feel like most people have a relationship to “The Wizard of Oz,” probably starting out young, you know, lying on your belly with your chin on your hands, looking up at the TV at this wonderful technicolor world that comes through from the classic MGM version, or “The Wiz” version with all of that style and specific voice,” said Windom.

He continued:

“What’s unique about this group of actors taking on these characters is that we could only see here, and if someone wanted to see this particular production of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ they would have to come to Minneapolis at this time in 2026 to see this. So I think that is sort of a mission of ours: how to make the familiar seem new,” said Windom.

Windom said he’s excited to work with a multi-generational and diverse cast.

“I do feel like we pulled together a group of people who are as diverse in their background, whether culturally, but also in their skill sets and talents as well,” said Windom.

Although the production is still in its early stages, Windom said he’s eager to see how each actor brings their own unique interpretation and energy to these classic characters.

“It’s fun to see a character like Dorothy go from Munchkinland to the forest to Oz to Emerald City, and each world should have its own special look and feel and vibe and

personality,” said Windom.

Aniya Bostick, one of the actresses portraying Dorothy, is a current junior at Apple Valley High School. In 2025, she was selected for the Triple Threat New York Experience through the Hennepin Theatre Trust. Bostick said it was through the same program that she first learned about the opportunity to audition for “The Wizard of Oz.”

Aniya Bostick

As a way to prepare for the role of Dorothy, Bostick said she’s been rewatching the original “The Wizard of Oz” as well as “The Wiz” for inspiration. She added that she’s excited to bring her own uniqueness to the role of Dorothy while amplifying the traits that make her beloved by so many.

“I think Dorothy is very powerful and very smart and she knows what she’s doing, she’s protecting those around her who don’t have the ability to protect themselves, so I want to amplify those things,” said Bostick. “I also want to lean into my culture and my

Blackness and my, you know,

Bostick noted that she hopes to be a role model for young Black girls who are often underrepresented in the media.

“I just hope to be a beacon for the kids who look like me.”

“I just hope to be a beacon for the kids who look like me, the girls who look like me, and people who look like me.”

Bostick said what differentiates this version of “The Wizard of Oz” from others is the authenticity it brings. She hopes the production will bring a sense of hope, especially in the midst of troubling times in Minneapolis.

“I think it’s a show about hope, really. Especially being in Minneapolis and doing arts in Minneapolis. I think this show is a way to distract those

who are going through hard times and those who need the reminder that anything that they need to prosper is just within them. It’s just a really magical show,” said Bostick. Performance dates are set to run from April 21 to June 14, 2026. More information is available at https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/thewizard-of-oz-2/

Aamira Redd is a freelance journalist and contributor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Katherine Dunham residency brings African dance to Northside youth, adults

By Damenica Ellis Staff Writer

Beats inspired by African drum music fill the air as drummers perform at the back of a dance studio. Moving to their tempo are adult students with special needs and, later, children ages 8 to 12.

Lundstrum Performing Arts in North Minneapolis is teaching African dance March 25–29 during its second year of the Katherine Dunham Residency. Community members of all ages and experience levels are invited to sign up for classes.

The residency at the dance, voice and drama school includes “Five Days of Dance,” with modern, ballet and hiphop classes taught by visiting instructors Ashi Smythe and Rodney Hamilton.

“Katherine Dunham is not

as well known as she needs to be,” said Amy Ellis Casserly, executive director of Lundstrum.

Dunham, an American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist and social activist, combined ballet with African and Caribbean dance and helped start a movement with her technique, Ellis Casserly said.

“It's not just for those who can afford it.”

Smythe, one of the visiting instructors, has a personal connection to Dunham and

her legacy. Dunham was his godmother, and he began his dance career at the Katherine Dunham Center for the Arts in East St. Louis.

Beyond bringing his credentials to Lundstrum, Smythe hopes to show how Dunham’s influence has been incorporated into many forms of dance, including jazz and hip-hop.

The importance of Dunham and her technique as the matriarch of Black dance in America is vast, he said.

“A lot of people that you see doing dancing, they don’t even know that they’re doing Dunham technique,” he said.

If he had more time, Smythe said, he would teach

dancers about Dunham’s life, including her struggles to gain

recognition as a Black woman, along with her technique.

This year, the Katherine Dunham Residency is dedicated to the late Patrick Moore, a former Lundstrum instructor who also trained at the Katherine Dunham Performing Arts Center in East St. Louis. Moore taught at Lundstrum for 25 years, and one of his dreams was for the residency to continue, Ellis Casserly said.

The tribute makes the week even more meaningful for Smythe, who danced with Moore.

“When he passed, it was a shatter to my heart,” he said.

“For me to come here, just to honor him at the place that he loved, and I can see why he loves this place because

I loved it from my very first time coming here. I was like, ‘I see why, because the people, the atmosphere, the kids, I see why he does because it does feel like the studio that we grew up in.’”

Classes during the residency are $15 or pay-what-youcan.

“We just believe everybody should be able to take class,” Ellis Casserly said. “It’s not just for those who can afford it, it’s for those who want it and desire it. That’s why we’re here.”

For tickets, visit lundstrum. org/classes/katherine-dunham-workshop.

Damenica Ellis welcomes reader responses at dellis@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Macalester athletic director named Athletic Director of the Year

By Anya Armentrout Contributing Writer

On March 17, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) named Macalester College’s Donnie Brooks Division III Athletic Director of the Year. The award honors administrative excellence, with four directors selected in each division.

“There are 400 Division III institutions, so even to be considered is an honor,” Brooks said. “It means your peers thought enough of you, and somebody who you’ve had an impact on has recognized you as a leader.”

In his seven years at Macalester, Brooks has overseen competitive improvement across all sports. Last fall, the Macalester men’s soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, winning the division championship for the first time since 2009. Twelve student-athletes have qualified for NCAA national championships during Brooks’ tenure, with seven earning All-American honors and one earning national recognition.

He also created Scots LEAD, a personal and professional development program designed

to build leadership skills. “We want students to engage and think about the leader they will be, not just over the next four years, but way down the line when they’re leading their communities and families,” Brooks said.

Leadership comes in many forms, and Brooks wants students to find the leader they are, even if they don’t yet see themselves as one.

influence the collegiate athletic landscape to prioritize student development and ensure the Division III perspective remains part of the conversation. The growth of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals has changed the NCAA dramatically, allowing studentathletes to be paid. At many Division I schools, athletes are often more athletes than students.

“What this award says is that we’ve created conditions that allow people to be themselves.”

In addition to serving as Macalester’s associate vice president of student affairs, Brooks sits on the board of directors for the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators, represents the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on the NCAA Management Council and is joining the NACDA Board. In those roles, he hopes to

Brooks describes Division III schools as “one of the last spots where the sport and the love of the sport still drive the student, and academics still drive student outcomes.”

Many Division III administrators come from higher divisions but choose to work in a division that prioritizes student development and is less financially driven.

“When you ask people, ‘Why

do you want to be an athletic director?’ 99 percent of them say, ‘Because I love the student athlete experience, and I want my students to have the best,’” Brooks said. “Well, I’m like, ‘If you truly want that, Division I isn’t the only place where we’re doing that, and I’d argue that we’re doing that at a higher level at Division III.’” Brooks has also noticed increased diversity in hiring at the Division III level, particularly at institutions such as the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “When you see the big-name institutions now recognizing that there’s excellence that comes in all shapes, sizes, forms and ethnicities, I think it’s opened a lot of eyes,” Brooks said.

The NCAA reported that in 2024–25 there were 148 Black athletics directors, about 14 percent of all athletic directors. Division III has seen a 100% increase, from 20 to 40, over the past decade.

“I sit amongst my peers regularly at conventions and other places,” Brooks said. “And we often talk about how proud we are when you look at the number of Black ADs, because many of us who’ve

been in this position for the last 20 years were here when there were very few.”

Four other Black athletic directors were named in this year’s NACDA awards: Reginald Ruffin of Tuskegee University, G. Anthony Grant of MIT, Monique Carroll of Chicago State University and John Ashaolu of Lewis University.

For Brooks, the honor reflects the success of the school and its teams rather than a personal achievement:

“To me, what this award says is that we’ve created conditions that allow people to be themselves, to lead, to recruit the best talent, to develop the best students and to now put our students in a position where they can go out nationally and be successful.”

Anya Armentrout is a freelance journalist, a student at Macalester College and a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

The education of a community: Carl Walker’s lasting impact

By Alex Mason Contributing Writer

Reverend Carl Walker is a name familiar to many in the Twin Cities, not just from the pulpit, but from decades of bridge-building across the lines that too often divide us. For more than half a century, he has worked at the intersection of spiritual leadership, cultural preservation, and grassroots education. That work has built institutions that will last long past the echoes of his speeches and sermons.

Walker’s story begins long before titles and honors. Inspired by his grandmother’s teachings about faith, music, and storytelling, he developed a lifelong commitment to both artistic expression and spiritual ministry. A foundation rooted in community that would shape everything that followed.

In 1988, Walker teamed with Grant West to co-found what would become the Walker West Music Academy, one of the oldest Black-led music education institutions in the nation. What started with a rented piano in a small room in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood grew into a full-fledged

academy dedicated to teaching music across genres: jazz, gospel, classical and beyond.

The academy emphasizes cultural heritage and accessibility, building a musical community where students of all ages can find confidence and belonging.

Walker understood that music education was not a luxury but a vehicle for identity and expression. In a community still recovering from decades of systemic disinvestment, and at a time when access to arts education remains uneven across the Twin Cities, Walker West fills a gap that too often goes ignored. The academy has become a model for how community-rooted institutions can deliver both artistic training and a sense of cultural belonging to students who might not find either elsewhere.

In addition to his work in music education, Walker has maintained a long history of pastoral leadership. As pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in St. Paul, he expanded the role of ministry well beyond Sunday services. Under his guidance, weeknight Bible studies were transformed into “Community Power-Ups,” sessions where

legal aid lawyers, financial counselors, and partners including Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and

Lutheran Social Services come into the church basement to help with evictions, job training, and post-incarceration

reintegration.

The philosophy is practical: people cannot fully engage in their education or spiritual lives without first attending to their economic survival. Those Power-Up sessions function as an informal community school, bringing professional expertise into a space where people already feel safe and heard.

Walker has also served on the board of Ujamaa Place, an organization focused on employment and re-entry support. His presence there reflects a larger belief that addressing structural inequity requires both spiritual commitment and institutional engagement, that education, in its broadest sense, happens in churches and boardrooms as well as classrooms.

His influence extends into cultural activism as well.

Walker has led multiracial musical ensembles and used performance as a means to foster understanding across communities. The idea is that racism can be countered through music and culture in addition to policy, that cultural literacy is inseparable from civic life.

Across decades of work, Walker’s legacy is one of sus-

tained, deeply lived community care. He did not arrive in Minnesota with celebrity or acclaim. He built his reputation through presence, persistence, and practical support of ordinary people.

For young people across Minnesota, Walker’s life communicates a clear lesson: leadership is measured not in honorifics, but in real opportunities created for others to thrive. His work at Walker West and beyond testifies that education, art, and community service are inseparable forces, and that a commitment to all three can transform neighborhoods for generations.

The institutions he helped found continue to serve students, families, and neighbors. They stand as enduring evidence that behind every thriving community is someone who believes that music, justice, and learning are instruments of lasting change.

“Carl Walker: The Sound of Justice,” by Majeste Phillip, is published by Planting People Growing Justice.

Alex Mason is a Minneapolisbased writer and editor who has written for nonprofits for nearly a decade.

Opinion

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By Louis J. King II President & CEO, OIC of America

The future of work is no longer a distant idea, it’s here. Automation, artificial intelligence, remote work, and the green economy are redefining the workforce, and at breakneck speed. For the communities we serve and partner with, this moment presents both a challenge and a huge opportunity. The question is: will we be passengers or drivers of this transformation?

At OIC of America, we’re preparing people to lead in this new world of work and not get left behind. That means teaching digital and AI skills, expanding access to technology, and making sure every learner has the tools to succeed in a tech-enabled economy. But it also means investing in emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and adaptability. Skills that are just as important in a fast-changing and increasingly competitive world.

million new roles will emerge. These new jobs will require new skillsets. The future will reward lifelong learners, those who are willing to train, pivot, and grow. And for the skilled trades where we focus on preparing people for the workforce, the possibilities to chart new paths are endless.

By Dara Beevas

Most mornings, before my coffee has cooled, I have an AI assistant open alongside my email and calendar. I use it to sharpen language, summarize reports, and pressuretest ideas. The workflow feels seamless. Almost mundane.

Across the room, my fouryear-old taps through a phone with intuitive ease. For him, this technology is not new. It is simply the world as he knows it. He will likely grow up without ever remembering a time before artificial intelligence was woven into daily life.

I think about that often, not with wonder, but with urgency. Because the question is not whether AI will shape my son’s future. It already is. The question is whether anyone will be required to explain how.

Algorithmic tools are being used right now to screen rental applications, evaluate loan eligibility, and filter job candidates. They promise efficiency and objectivity. They also operate largely out of public view, without meaningful oversight, and often without the knowledge of the people whose lives they are sorting. Think about a young worker

in North Minneapolis trying to secure a first apartment. Their application never reaches a leasing manager because it is filtered out in seconds by an automated system weighing credit scores and predictive risk indicators. No conversation. No context. No explanation offered. Or consider a small business owner seeking a loan, only to be evaluated by a model trained on data shaped by decades of redlining and disinvestment. The output appears neutral. But neutrality is a fiction when the data itself was produced by inequality. Then, last week, something happened that made the stakes unmistakable.

Anthropic, one of the world’s leading AI companies, refused to let the U.S. military use its technology without restrictions on autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. The government’s response was swift. The President directed every federal agency to stop using

Anthropic’s technology. The Defense Secretary designated the company a supply chain risk to national security, a label historically reserved for foreign adversaries. Within hours, a competitor signed the deal Anthropic would not.

An American company drew a moral line. The federal government blacklisted them for it. And the market filled the vacuum overnight.

This is governance in real time, or the absence of it. The institutions supposed to set boundaries on powerful technology are not merely failing to keep up. In some cases, they are actively punishing companies that try.

I lead an organization that builds data tools and works daily in communities that have always been first to feel the weight of new systems of control. Black and Brown neighborhoods were the testing grounds for predictive policing, algorithmic credit scoring, and automated benefit denials. What is new is the speed and sophistication of the tools.

AI is becoming as foundational as the internet once was, yet most schools and public institutions have barely begun teaching people how these systems work, let alone how to question them. Understanding AI is no longer a technical skill. It is a form of civic literacy.

My son does not know any of this yet. He does not know that by the time he applies for a job, an algorithm may have already decided whether he is worth interviewing.

But I know. And that knowledge is not a reason for despair. It is a reason to act, to demand transparency and governance before the architecture is set, and to ensure that the people most affected by these systems have a voice in how they are designed and held accountable.

The future of AI will not be determined only by engineers and technology companies. It will be shaped by whether the rest of us choose to understand these systems while there is still time to change them. Before the machine decides for us.

Dara Beevas is the chief executive officer of the African American Leadership Forum.

The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2030, up to 85 million jobs may be displaced by automation, but 97

In Pennsylvania, our Delaware Valley Alliance (DVA) serves as the blueprint for this evolution. The DVA is an essential component of the infrastructure needed to ensure communities secure the necessary resources to thrive long-term.

By integrating housing, public safety, career training, health and more into a cohesive advocacy framework, we aren’t just filling jobs; we are securing economic independence for Pennsylvania’s

talented, yet untapped (and overlooked) workers. This coordinated effort is structured so that the Commonwealth’s booming industry surges in life sciences, data centers, and advanced manufacturing also benefit its citizens more equitably. These wins reflect a statewide victory for its citizens; as the “future of work” arrives, no community is left on the sidelines of progress. We look forward to scaling this approach in other communities where we serve. For communities that have historically been left out of opportunity and forgotten, the future of work must include justice, not just jobs. That means policy change, corporate investment, and community-based solutions that put people at the center. This is a defining moment. Let’s make sure our people are prepared to not just survive, but lead.

For more information, visit http://www.oicofamerica.org.

This opinion piece appeared first in Black Press USA. For more information, visit www. blackpressusa.com.

By Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier

When I was growing up in Chicagoland in the ‘80s, there were two Black women I wanted to dress like. One was Dominique Deveraux, Diahann Carroll’s iconic character on “Dynasty,” all silk and shoulder pads and cold, gorgeous nerve.

The other was a character of her own making. She showed up every week on a stage in Harlem and demonstrated, without ever saying so, that Black women could be elegant and powerful and completely in command.

KiKi Shepard, co-host of “Showtime at the Apollo,” appeared on my TV screen every week in a perfectly tailored gown, gliding across that stage like she had never once in her life rushed for anything.

Shepard died Monday at 74, of a massive heart attack in Los Angeles. For those of us who grew up watching her, the grief feels exactly right.

Born Chiquita Renée Shepard in Tyler, Texas, she was a Howard University graduate, an actress, dancer, and television host who graced our screens from 1987 to 2002. Back then, America had Vanna White, glammed up to turn letters on “Wheel of Fortune.” Black folks had KiKi Shepard, so famous and so fine she ended up in Outkast’s 2000 hit “So Fresh, So Clean.”

Every week, the announcer’s

voice would boom through the television, “And now: Amateur Night with KiKi Shepard,” and she would appear. Moving like time was hers to keep. After the amateurs had poured themselves out on the Apollo stage, the host would summon her: “Let’s bring out the lovely KiKi Shepard.” In sky-high heels, she’d float onstage and stand behind the contestants, hand hovering over their heads as the crowd roared its verdict.

threatening, confident but not “difficult,” Shepard modeled how to occupy space on her own terms. Each week, with a twinkle in her eye, she conveyed that such ease was possible for us too.

There was theater in it, yes.

But Shepard was more than mere decoration.

Sometimes talk about representation can seem like an exercise in accounting, how many Black folks are in which roles. But representation isn’t just about who has permission to be seen. It’s about how they are seen. Shepard was one of the few Black women on mainstream television in the late 20th century allowed to simply be. Not a punchline, not a prop, not someone’s sassy best friend.

In a society where Black women are expected to contort and minimize themselves, to be exceptional but not

The gowns were part of the work. She talked about fashion as a vehicle, a way to draw attention to causes she cared about. After connecting with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America in the early 1990s, she spent more than a decade hosting events and visiting patients, using her platform to bring visibility to a disease that disproportionately affects Black people. She founded the KIS Foundation in 2006 to continue that work. It would be easy, and incomplete, to remember KiKi Shepard only as the gorgeous woman in the gown at the Apollo. She was that, beyond a doubt. But she was also a trained performer, a selfmade television institution, and an advocate who kept working for a cause she believed in long after the spotlight moved on.

All these years later, I still want her clothes, her posture, and her unhurried certainty that she belonged exactly where she was.

This opinion piece appeared first in Word in Black. It was edited for length. For the original, visit https://wordinblack. com/2026/03/lets-bring-outthe-lovely-kiki-shepard/.

Employment & Legals

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40 days, the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the Petition, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the Petition.

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You are further notified that if the parties to this action have minor children, violation of §948.31, Wis. Stats., (Interference with custody by parent or others) is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment: If you and the petitioner have minor children, documents setting forth the percentage standard for child support established by the department under §49.22(9), Wis. Stats., and the factors that a court may consider for modification of that standard under §767.511(1m), Wis. Stats., are available upon your request from the Clerk of Court.

You are notified of the availability of information from the Circuit Court Commissioner as set forth in §767.105, Wis. Stats.

§767.105 Information from Circuit Court Commissioner.

(2) Upon the request of a party to an action affecting the family, including a revision of judgment or order under sec.

767.59 or 767.451:

(a) The Circuit Court Commissioner shall, with or without charge, provide the party with written information on the following, as appropriate to the action commenced: 1. The procedure for obtaining a judgment or order in the action.

2. The major issues usually addressed in such an action.

CONLEY

Continued from page 10

court. You’ve got to be a different guy. You’ve got to be vocal.’

“I had a whole bunch of guys who influenced my character and who I became,” Conley added.

Ready for the rocking chair? Hardly, the veteran guard stressed.

“I’m still trying to chase my dream, trying to win a championship, trying to accomplish the goals I’ve set,” he concluded. “It doesn’t mean old man, right?”

New CBA signals growth and protections for WNBA players

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Among the new CBA features: no player can be traded without consent if they are pregnant at the time.

FINALLY…

Local voice lands national stage with WNBA coverage

Minneapolis native and veteran broadcaster Lea B. Olsen will serve as an analyst for the inaugural season of WNBA coverage on USA Network. Olsen is one of seven Black members on the 12-per-

The WNBA’s new sevenyear Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will begin with the 2026 season and run through 2032. It is being billed as “the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports history…providing unlimited upside for players as league and team revenues continue to grow,” according to a league press release.

SOE

Continued from page 10

“It’s not just about basketball.”

Tate added, “I think a lot of me and my teammates look up to Dawn. We’re definitely fans of hers. Having her come in and talk to us, I think it was very insightful and I’m very thankful for her.”

Staley later told reporters of Southern, “They play a bat-

VIEW Continued from page 10

When asked if being a Black woman made it easier for players to open up to her, Canada said, “I think that the fact that I was Black, that I was young, that I’m a woman, and that I’m also from the South, these are layered parts of my identity that mattered when I was interviewing people.” She added that it also helped when speaking with players’ mothers.

“I have a whole chapter in the book about moms and their relationships with their sons,” said the professor-author, “because they’re usually the ones who sign off on their sons being able to play, as they are concerned about the dangerous and violent nature of the sport.” Without disclosing the

tle-tested schedule. They beat a couple of Power Four teams.”

From Tuscaloosa to Dinkytown: A March to remember Heavy travel, deep coverage and a commitment to telling the stories

3. Community resources and family court counseling services available to assist the parties.

4.The procedure for setting, modifying, and enforcing child support awards, or modifying and enforcing legal custody or physical placement judgments or orders.

(b) The Circuit Court Commissioner shall provide a party, for inspection or purchase, with a copy of the statutory provisions in this chapter generally pertinent to the action.

If you require reasonable accommodations due to a disability to participate in the court process, please call prior to the scheduled court date.

son broadcast team, which includes Carlan Gay and Meghan McPeak (play-byplay), Tamika Catchings (game analyst), Elle Duncan and Paris Lawson (studio hosts), and studio analysts Renee Montgomery and Chamique Holdsclaw.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

This year’s March Madness journey took us to Tuscaloosa, Ala. (1,041 miles), outside Atlanta (1,127 miles), then back home to Arden Hills (10.8 miles) and the University of Minnesota’s Dinkytown campus (17 minutes), over a span

ending, Canada said her book “is helpful in explaining and peeling back the layers of what it is like to be a Black college football player at this time, when college sports have kind of exploded. They are still students, right?

“I’m hoping that my book humanizes not just these people, but also their experiences and adds another dimension to what we often hear about,” she concluded.

Language, perception and who defines the narrative “Code switching” surfaced a couple of weeks ago at the University of Minnesota’s Maturi Pavilion, an all-too-convenient explanation sometimes offered by White college basketball coaches regarding the physicality of Black female players.

“There were a couple plays where Lauren (Whittaker) is literally being bear-mauled,

and I think that’s common in the SEC,” said Lisa Fortier, head coach of Gonzaga Bulldogs women's basketball, during her March 20 postgame comments after her team lost to Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball in a first-round NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament game in Minneapolis.

Gonzaga has just one Black player, while Ole Miss’s entire roster is Black. The Southeastern Conference is also a leader among Power Four conferences in Black female head basketball coaches.

Fortier’s comments went viral afterward and drew widespread criticism. Andscape writer Ken Makin, in a March 25 commentary, noted that such language reinforces harmful stereotypes.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

of about three weeks.

Along with the three NCAA first- and second-round games hosted by Minnesota, I attended nearly 60 total women’s and men’s basketball games. Except in one case, MSR was the only local media outlet in attendance at two Black college tournaments and two NCAA Division III games at Bethel University.

Said Rob Knox, a longtime

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Minnesota’s oldest Blackowned newspaper, is seeking a self-motivated Independent Sales Representative to drive advertising and sponsorship sales. This entrepreneurial, commission-only role is ideal for a results-driven professional who enjoys building relationships and securing new business. Responsibilities include prospecting and securing new clients, managing existing accounts, and selling print and digital advertising, podcast placements, event sponsorships, and corporate partnerships while maintaining records through CRM tools. Qualified candidates should have at least two years of proven sales experience, strong prospecting, negotiation, and presentation skills, and the ability to work independently in a performance-based environment. Media, advertising, or sponsorship sales experience is preferred. MSR offers a flexible schedule, remote work options, and unlimited earning potential while representing a respected, mission-driven publication. To apply, submit your resume and cover letter (PDF format) to sgenosky@spokesman-recorder.com. No phone calls, please.

journalist and friend, “I’ve lost count of how many quality and insightful women’s basketball stories I’ve written since the beginning of this month. It’s definitely more than 30.” He estimated covering at least 41 postseason games across three conferences (CAA, MEAC, SWAC), as well as the NCAAs.

FINALLY… Black College Invitational

Championships close out postseason run

Benedict College defeated Bowie State 66–62 (WBB), and Virginia State defeated Bluefield State 69–66 (MBB) in the respective Black College Invitational Championships last Saturday.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Sensational Seven Photos - Chaska Totino-Grace capture

his week’s “Sensational Seven Photos” showcases images from the 2026 State Boys Basketball Tournament, featuring games from Classes 4A and 3A covered by this photojournalist.

Teams highlighted include Class 4A champion Chaska (Tyler Forrest), Class 4A runner-up Apple Valley (Trey Parker), Class 4A third-place finisher Tartan (Tyrel Pride), and Class 4A consolation

champion Wayzata (Christian Wiggins).

From Class 3A, featured teams include champion Totino-Grace (DeAngelo Dungey), runner-up DeLaSalle (Ichima Idoko), and third-place finisher Richfield (Tyrece Hagler). Each of these teams and players made impressive runs during the tournament, earning their place among this week’s featured selections.

Old? Not yet: Conley still has more to give Veteran guard’s leadership anchors young Timberwolves squad

By Charles Hallman Sports columnist

ince he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022-23, veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. and this reporter have often exchanged pleasantries when

passing in arena hallways. But it wasn’t until last month, after he rejoined the club, that we finally had an in-person postgame interview.

How does he feel when he is referred to as “old,” similar to how I, having reached senior status, am often asked when I will retire?

At age 39, considered old in basketball years, the 6-1 Conley is a 19-year veteran and a 2007 first-round pick (fourth overall) by Memphis. He declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman year at Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes finish as national runners-up in 2006.

“I think the biggest thing is knowing yourself and being comfortable knowing that you still have a lot to offer,” said Conley. “Until that day comes where I get out of bed and just can’t offer this or that.”

After 12 seasons, Conley was

traded to Utah in 2019, then to Minnesota during the 2022-23 season, where he played two full seasons. The Wolves traded him away on Feb. 3, but he was brought back after clearing waivers on Feb. 17.

“I think the biggest thing is knowing yourself and being comfortable knowing that you still have a lot to offer,”

His presence on the youthladen Wolves was briefly missed and quickly welcomed upon his return. These days, he’s often described as “a locker room guy.”

“It can mean a lot,” he said. “It can mean team psychologist, psychiatrist. It could mean the helping hand, the best friend. It could be the guy that keeps the team together when ad-

versity starts…

“All that stuff is valuable,” Conley continued. “When you have a team full of young guys who want to play hard, there are invaluable lessons that need to be learned. You learn from vets, guys who’ve been around, who’ve been through heartbreak and struggle, steering them in the right direction.”

Conley is a two-time Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year (2019, 2024), a fourtime NBA Sportsmanship Award winner (2014, 2016, 2019, 2023), a 2013 All-Defensive second team selection, and a 2021 All-Star.

Early in his career, Conley said he had several role models. “I’d have to say Damon Stoudamire was a big influence on my game and me as a person. I’m quiet by nature. He told me, ‘You’ve got to change when you get on the

NCAA appearances highlight progress, but questions remain

uthor and anthropologist Tracie Canada talked to Black college football players, their families and others, and her findings later became the basis of her first book, “Tackling the Everyday: Race and Nation in Big-Time College Football” (University of California Press, 2025).

show that 40 percent of FBS football players are Black, and their graduation rates have risen in recent years, now at 82–84 percent.

“I’m not someone who loves to watch football,” continued Canada, an assistant professor at Duke University, where she also attended as an undergraduate. It was there that she once lived in a dorm with some first-year Black football players and only went to games to support them.

These young Black men arrive on campus fresh out of high school and are quickly thrust into the BMOC track, tasked not only with playing

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

hree HBCU men’s basketball teams made this year’s NCAA field, Prairie View A&M, Howard and Tennessee State, marking the first time since 1994. On the women’s side, Howard and Southern represented, and all earned at least one victory before being eliminated.

Did these squads, all low seeds, finally earn some longsought respect from PWIs, hoop purists and, more importantly, the NCAA selection committee?

“I feel like sometimes HBCUs get overlooked, so I’m excited that we finally get some recognition that we deserve,” said Southern sophomore guard Jocelyn Tate prior to the Jaguars’ first-round matchup against South Carolina. “We put the hard work in, and yeah,

we just go out and have fun.” South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley, responding to a question from The Next’s Rob Knox, said: “HBCUs have been given a raw deal at times because they’re just HBCUs and not Power Four programs. Southern is super well-coached. I do think the more success HBCUs have in the tournament, they will no longer be looked at as just 16 seeds. When you start to see that happen more regularly, then you know they’re being taken

more seriously and that they are coached extremely well.”

Said Howard senior forward Zennia Thomas, “Just being able to set the standard for HBCUs, especially on the women’s side, shows that we are able to compete at a high level.”

Howard Women’s Head Coach Ty Grace added, “As soon as I stepped foot on campus in 2015, I wanted to set the standard. As far as HBCU basketball, you couldn’t ask for a more competitive place.

These young ladies compete. I’m proud to be at an HBCU.”

Respect goes beyond the scoreboard Staley’s gesture underscores impact & visibility of HBCU programs

Just before playing Southern, Staley met and spoke with the players.

“I think it shows how good of a person she is,” said Southern senior guard D’Shantae Edwards.

“I’m an anthropologist and an ethnographer, and that’s how I define myself,” explained Canada in a recent MSR Zoom call.

“When I think about my work related to race and sports, I am most interested in the lived experiences of Black college football players as an anthropologist. It means their relationships with each other, their relationships with their families, how they navigate their everyday lives, dealing with what I deem to be an exploitative college system, and being a college student who happens to play football.” NCAA racial demographics

football but also navigating life on a Southern PWI campus. It is likely the same at many PWIs, where football players also serve as major revenue generators for the school.

“I spent the 2017–18 football season doing most of the research,” she recalled. “The more that I studied the topic and read about it, I realized the ways that college football kind of runs college sports. And if we zero in on what’s happening with football, and specifically with the Black men who play it, because they’re overrepresented there…”