Our Black News (MN): Interview with DFL candidate (Ward 5) Victor Martinez

May Lor Xiong is running for Congress in CD4 (St. Paul)

 

www.may4mn.com 

Martha Holton Dimick Endorsed by Minnesota DFL Senior Caucus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 18, 2022

CONTACT: Jacob Hill, (708) 616-5123

Martha Holton Dimick Endorsed by Minnesota DFL Senior Caucus

 

Dimick, a political newcomer, stands out among a crowded field of DFLers vying for Hennepin County Attorney

 

     Minneapolis, Minn...The Minnesota DFL Senior Caucus has elected to endorse retired judge Martha Holton Dimick for Hennepin County Attorney. 

    “Martha Holton Dimick’s prosecutorial experience, 10 years in the Hennepin County Attorney’s office and 3 years as the criminal deputy in the Minneapolis city attorney's office, makes her a uniquely qualified person for this job. Her life experience, from a single mother on welfare to district court judge, speaks to the resolve she will bring into the office.           And her focus on public safety shows that she has her priorities right,” said Patricia Kelly, chair of the Minneapolis Area DFL Seniors. 

     Hired into the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office by Amy Klobuchar in 1999 as the North Minneapolis community prosecutor, Dimick rose through the ranks, eventually landing in the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office as the criminal deputy. From that office, she was appointed district court judge by governor Mark Dayton. If elected, Dimick will become the first Black county attorney in Minnesota’s 164 year history. 

     Kelly continued, “Dimick demonstrated an intimate understanding of the criminal justice system and expressed a desire to tackle the important issues without hesitation. Her passion for crime reduction through a combination of effective prosecution and rehabilitation were obvious in her thoughtful answers to our screening questions. We are proud to endorse Martha Holton Dimick for Hennepin County Attorney.”

     Minneapolis Area Senior Caucus endorsed candidates for City Council and Mayor won 70% of the races in 2021. 

See Martha Holton Dimick on "Our Black News" 

Why all the shooting in Minneapolis and St. Paul?

This weekend in St. Paul, I heard more sirens than I’ve ever heard in a city with solvable challenges but without the people that understand follow-through. 

By Don Allen, Senior Editorial Columnist - Our Black News 

May 3, 2021 (4:51 PM - CST). 

Minneapolis/St. Paul (Minn.) –By now you’ve heard the news; another black boy shot in north Minneapolis. In St. Paul, several people shot, and the notorious party-house gets riddled with bullet holes. 

The mayors of both cities haven’t a clue; nobody is talking to anyone outside of their DFL circles who might have solid solutions. This is where the failure begins and where the headcount of dead Black men and women will rise. It’s already happening already; more than 17-women shot and consistent gunfire in both hubs. Per capita, the Twin Cities is in pace with Chicago based on the population of Little Chicago (Mpls/St. Paul) - and what's the deal opening up 38th and Chicago? 

The sad unfortunate truth with many Black people who are from poor urban areas is that they fail to accept responsibility for their own actions and constantly blame the system for their oppression. Instead of blaming everybody else for a pitiful and pathetic social collapse, and using ‘race’ as the prime excuse, you should try to be more forthright in addressing the issues and problems that are disrupting and corrupting our communities. It's not them, it's us! 

Millions of Black men and women are being killed by other Black men and women every year…

1) Why is this not being protested against so profusely?

2) Why aren’t “BLM” taking to the streets to speak on the plenty unlawful murders of Black youths by other Black youths?

3) Why aren’t persistent, major steps being taken to prevent the devastating gun violence that affects the hundreds-of-thousands of Black neighborhoods across the country and has been doing so for decades? (Taking weapons away never solves anything.) 

4) Why isn’t this very same anger, rage, and frustration they show to the police force being shown to the multitude of street gangs that plague Black inner cities and that are helping to destroy and obliterate your very own people who you so passionately claim need “justice” and need “protecting”?

5) Why isn’t president Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris addressing this tragedy rather than inciting race wars? 

This is why the overall Black American community will never progress into what it needs to be and why? In 2021, decades after the civil rights movement, the “White Male” is still being blamed for their social/political/economic/professional trials by the Liberals.

Ultimately, if one dresses like a thug and behaves like a thug and they choose to disobey the law, society has every right to treat you like the thug that you have made yourself out to be because this world owes you absolutely nothing in return.

Black Corners show set to change the output of Black Talk Radio and Television

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Independent Business News Network

Minnesota (Twin Cities)

Contact: ibnnnews@gmail.com 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 

Thursday, February 4th at 8:30pm CST - it’s the new Black in Black Talk Radio, “Black Corners.”  

Minnesota/Chicago (Worldwide)…In celebration and recognition of Black History Month, the program Black Corners will broadcast its inaugural program on Thursday, February 4th at 8:30pm (CST).  “It started out as an idea,” said Don Allen, the Independent Business News Network’s chief editorial columnist, and Thursday night it gets real. Joining Allen on this joint venture is Mr. James Holmes, Jr. owner and founder of Black Lion Inc. - the umbrella for several of his other corporations including Black Lion Investments and Black Lion Foundation. 

 "Uncle James" as he's affectionately known by his many mentees uses his Wall Street education and over 30-years in corporate finance to help launch start-up businesses for young entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities.  His passion is to develop and create over 60 new entrepreneurs (Young Lions) each year, ultimately closing the massive wealth disparities in Minnesota.  Holmes is married to Minnesota super-lawyer Kim Holmes.  They have four college-educated children, all excelling in their fields.  According to Holmes, he's most proud that they are debt-free, financially literate, and wonderful human beings!  His quest is to do the same for all young people willing to absorb the wealth of knowledge he spreads. With all that, he’s a Black man! 

Now, beaming in from Chicago to join this team of deep-space travelers (Black Corners) is Mr. Gregory Sain, currently functioning in the capacity of Director of Community Safety & Relations with the Chicago Urban League and the director of the widely-acclaimed Male Responsibility Program. Mr. Sain’s speaking abilities and outspoken disposition afforded him opportunities to work as a former radio host at WVON 1690 and WBGX 1570 and intellectual radio show and commentator on Truth Radio “Butt Naked Truth,” Co-Founder of the New Black Leadership Coalition, Mr. Sain’s management skills served him well as the Manager of Comedian, Actor, and Author Steve Harvey of the Steve Harvey Show. As a well sought-after Motivational Speaker, Mr. Sain has moderated several "Today's Black Women Expos and Town Hall meetings. Mr. Sain is recognized as a popular Keynote Speaker for Graduations, a Proud Father, FOI, and an Honorable Son to his Wonderful Mother. “Ain’t No Telling What Gregory Sain is Going to Say!”

Together, Allen, Holmes, and Sain debut, “Black Corners,” places so deep the devil himself doesn’t look. Black Corners - the program is designed to talk about the solutions and ideas that we do not have to be in the same circumstances for another 60-years. It’s time for action, melancholy will not be permitted. 

Can White Educators fix the Black-White Achievement Gap in Minnesota?

I understand teachers, EA's and TA's need to be paid more money, but I also understand the process across the board is skewed in favor of one group, one opinion, and one direction. I feel uncomfortable having people to think I would participate in a strike because of money. I don't want any parent or community member think I'm in the classroom for money and not to teach their children. Yes, I've learned how to live on $58 dollars until the next payday while making sure all my bills are paid, but I think if there wasn't a gap, and all students were performing and proficient at levels of 70 to 90-percent I'm sure the money-gate would open?

By Don Allen, Senior Editorial Columnist   

Don Allen - I have solutions, but who can I get
to listen in a state where historical assumptions
trump a solid ideas and work-ethic...sorry, I
just look like this. 

The most sensible answer is no. Before I dive into this head-first, we all must come to terms with the current situation in that many Black and Brown scholars are sitting in public school classrooms static; without station or agency in many buildings. The achievement gaps have risen to a point of no return and unless we try something different, the gaps will continue in this time of sensitivity and people being offended by everything, please don’t let my continued support of Black education and degrees be turned into a weapon of racism and hate by you…we have already have enough of that to go around. The data proves public schools are failing miserably. Parents know best and it’s time to let them decide where kids go and take the power away from the Teachers Unions set to strike. We must develop a system that surpass the current public schools in education outcomes for our children.

As an educator in the local public-school system I am bombarded with racial inferences that make me qualify myself, wear masks, and try to fit into a system that I am fully qualified to be in, but historical assumptions of the Black male educator makes what comes out of my mouth in support of education for all students that I teach is mostly received as arrogance from me; how dare me have Master’s degrees; how dare me make a suggestion about our processes in Professional Learning Communities.  How dare me make a space inside of an educational institution ruled by White privilege, where I am viewed as an enemy of a sacred realm, one that I should have never been a part of. Follow me closely here – I am not a victim, nor do I need to be treated as one, but when young Black students ready to graduate in 2020 come to me with tears in their eyes and say they did not get into local (MN) colleges because of their SAT scores, it triggers me to think we (educators in secondary systems) must do something very different and new.  

Recently, I had a great conversation with another Black male educator in parallel school district – I asked him what he thought about an all-Black and Brown public school? Not a charter school, but a full-blast Saint Paul or Minneapolis Public School with a focus on the Black and Brown body in literature, math, science, theory, and all of the disciplines and a few added that are in today’s Twin Cities public schools.  We might not need a bunch of social workers focused on ‘dealing with trauma’ because we can take trauma and use it as a driver to change outcomes for scholars in this much needed school construct. Then I asked a Caucasian colleague. The question brought mysterious and racially-charged comments of “What if there was an all-white school?” – to “You want segregation?” The main challenge and opposition was that segregating Black and Brown students from White students within a public school and championing education versus an achievement gap is somehow racist, and that racism – for the most part was perpetrated by White privilege. Many White educators that I spoke with questioned why an all-Black and Brown school was needed first place, and heinous act of privilege.  

Following the advice of Herb Shepard’s “Rules of Thumb for Change Agents” (1973), using Rule II: Start where the system is – that implies that one should begin by diagnosing the system. But systems do not necessarily like being diagnosed. Even the term ‘diagnosis’ may be offensive. And the system may be even less ready for someone who calls themselves a ‘change agent.’ It is easy for the practitioner to forget the hostility of jargon that prevents laypeople from understanding the professional mysteries.

So, can White Educators fix the Black-White Achievement Gap in Minnesota? So far that’s yet to be seen. After attempts to get an appointment with the Minnesota Department of Education commissioner, who had her assistant to call me back and quiz me about why I was important enough to meet with her, I understand I am not former MN chief justice Alan Page, but still, as she (the MDE commissioner) operating in a state with the worst achievement gaps in the United States since 1982, I feel the commissioner should sit down with my action-tank and get this figured out today. 

While I understand the frustration of white privilege, I also understand that institutionalized, systemic, and educational racism remain in systems not set up for Black and Brown students. I don’t hear anybody talking about dumping Pearson (the testing monopoly), nor do I hear anyone talking about retooling the teacher oppressive teacher licensing system. I don’t hear anyone complaining about the current tax dollars being thrown down the drain at layered-systems that do not have the ability to change the downward spiral in Minnesota’s proficiency numbers.

What a difference a Race makes…

If Minnesota’s achievement gap was only affecting Caucasian students, there would be a mass reconciliation of education at every level and all of its parts. The governor of Minnesota along with the Minnesota Department of Education would deem it a “Statewide Crisis” that must be addressed immediately; just like Minnesota reacted, and currently acts inside of the opioid epidemic – of course forgetting that Black and Brown people died high numbers over the last 25-years in Minnesota and not a damn was given until a few-to-many Caucasian children from the suburbs and rural Minnesota start overdosing did opioids become a central focus. Based on this alone, it seems that the achievement gap will only be addressed when it affects Minnesota’s educational ruling class, and it at Black male educators because we are not institutionally accepted.

Don Allen, M.A. Ed./MAT can be reached at ibnnews@gmail.com. Twitter: @DonAllen02

Black Republican opens campaign headquarters in North Minneapolis

Lacy Johnson for 59B 

Candidate for Minnesota House 

Campaign Headquarters:

North Minneapolis 

827 West Broadway Avenue

Minneapolis, MN. 55411

Contact: Lacy Johnson 

Phone: (612) 799-6046

Email: lacyleejohnson@gmail.com 

August 30, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          Minneapolis, Minn. – Minnesota GOP endorsed candidate for Minnesota House of

Lacy Johnson running for MN House 59-B
(photo: Johnson for House 59-B)

Representatives (59B) Mr. Lacy Johnson (R) has done the unthinkable…he’s opened and maintained solid community relationships and his campaign headquarters right in the middle of Minneapolis’ poorest area - north Minneapolis, at 827 Broadway Avenue West (between Lyndale and Bryant Avenues, near the Cub Foods). 

          “We have people stopping in all day, they want to know about jobs, wealth building, and why north Minneapolis has so many nonprofit agencies and very little opportunity for equity, education and environmental concerns like sustainable urban farming,” said Johnson. 

          Lacy Johnson pointed across the street to the now closed Burger King:   

“When Burger King closed, people in this area lost jobs…there was nothing to replace it. North Minneapolis has seen multi-millions of dollars pass through the neighborhood from the Empowerment Zone money to the tornado of 2011 and the financial windfall that was (in my opinion), mishandled, and from what I’m seeing, a hand-up has never been available. The unemployment rate might be low for some, but in my area, it’s in double-digits. We don’t talk about this much, it makes people uncomfortable.”

          Johnson is running against DFL incumbent Raymond Dehn (D) for a valued house seat to represent the people of north Minneapolis and its boundaries. Johnson’s pledge to the community members is impressive; he pledges to always act in the best interest of the people of District 59B; never put his personal, financial, or political interests above the interests of the people of District 59B; and, he will never run for re-election if he cannot achieve more visible and measurable positive differences in the lives of the people of District 59B than current and previous representatives. To get more information about Lacy Johnson, see: https://www.friendsoflacyjohnson.org/. 

About candidate Lacy Johnson (R) 59B:

          Lacy Lee Johnson was born in Natchez MS where his mom, dad, and elders raised him, his six sisters, and three brothers. Though times were economically challenging, Lacy had “a perfect childhood” and “the best public-school education.” Among his youthful achievements were first trombonist in the band, National Merit Semifinalist, Star Student of his senior class, and first Miss-Lou Junior Chess Champion. Lacy has been married to his wife Betty for 30 years with whom they raised two sons, Darien and Adrian. He is also blessed with a grandson Aden Prince Johnson. After completing his English studies at the University of Minnesota and graduating in Computer Programming at Brown Institute, he began his over 40-year career in information technology, systems development, and engineering as a technical writer in Hennepin County (MN). 

          Johnson has worked for Control Data, General Electric, Bell Atlantic, and Northwest Airlines in software and systems engineering, systems analyst, project management, and management building computer systems for fighter jets, torpedoes, air reconnaissance systems, guided missiles, and airport kiosks. He also worked as an IT solutions consultant for Xcel Energy.

          Johnson also wrote, produced, and hosted a weekly radio show, “The Flipside,” which provided news, entertainment, and commentary on current events; he has served as founder, partner, and CEO of three small businesses dedicated to the business development, technology training, and education within inner city communities: Uniworld Business Systems, UrbanEd LLC, and currently Young Entrepreneurs of America (YEA!). As program director at Hospitality House Youth Directions, he also oversaw its after school programs for inner city youth and its outreach programs for gang members.

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Paid for by Lacy Johnson for 59-B - 2018

EXCLUSIVE: Did a Minnesota construction firm build sub-standard Housing in Haiti?

Tune into the Ron and Don Show by clicking this link at 8:30pm: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theronanddonshow/2018/03/29/did-a-minnesota-construction-firm-build-sub-standard-housing-in-haiti

Call in to speak with the host (347) 426-3904

Related Stories

•     “How Disaster Relief Became a Disaster of its Own - Jake Johnston in Boston Review”(2014)
•     “Haiti: Second USAID Contractor Suspended Following Caracol Housing Debacle” (2015)
•     “How the US Plan to Build Houses for Displaced Haitians Became an Epic Boondoggle” (2015)

By The Ron and Don Show

Tonight on the Ron and Don Show on #BlogTalkRadio the team of Don Allen (IBNN) and Ronald A. Edwards (The Minneapolis Story) welcome Mr. Jake Johnston from the Center for Economics and Policy Research to talk about a situation (ongoing) in Haiti that first came to light in 2015.

Mr. Johnston’s piece, “How the US Plan to Build Houses for Displaced Haitians Became an Epic Boondoggle, cited the following:

After the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010, the US government responded with an ambitious plan to build 15,000 new houses in the country. But the ensuing program to put roofs over the heads of displaced Haitians has included a boondoggle of epic proportions at one $35 million housing development, where shoddy construction practices and faulty sewage systems are currently the subject of an ongoing investigation. On February 3, the US-based company Thor Construction was suspended from receiving government contracts because of its work in Haiti. Another contractor with close ties to the Haitian president has so far escaped punishment.

###

Join us tonight at 8:30pm (CST) to hear the details, which some are calling “fake news,” while others are really concerned about the Haitian people and their continued demise.

About Jake Johnston

Jake Johnston graduated from Boston University in 2008 with a B.A. in Economics. At CEPR his research has focused predominantly on economic policy in Latin America, the International Monetary Fund and U.S. foreign policy. He is the lead author for CEPR’s Haiti: Relief and Reconstruction Watch blog and has authored papers on Haiti concerning the ongoing cholera epidemic, aid accountability and transparency and the U.S. foreign aid system. His articles have been published in outlets such as The Intercept, NACLA, Boston Review, VICE News, Al Jazeera America, and Truthout.