The fine art of inclusion: Moving beyond the gaps

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At the YWCA’s Annual Time to Talk last October, the inclusion expert, Andrés Tapia, spoke about our legendary Minnesota equity gaps. We have the worst gap in the nation between graduation rates for Latino students and white students—the 2nd worst between African American and white students. Tapia pointed out that inclusion is a skill, not an attitude, and that equally compelling studies demonstrate that increased diversity can improve or impede an environment. The research has proven, he said, that the difference lies in how diversity is managed. “Greater diversity leads to greater creativity and productivity,” he said, “only when managed well.” Continue Reading

Video: Marijuana law reform rally

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A sea of green signs filled the rotunda as people came to discuss the legalization of Marijuana. In Minnesota there is a significant inequality of arrests related to Marijuana possession that primarily affects minorities. Multiple organizations, as well as individuals. are teaming together in order to create change for the communities most affected by the unfair Marijuana policies. Continue Reading

Video: ‘Board up banks, not our home’

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Occupy Homes along with members of the community placed large wooden boards over the doors at the Minneapolis Police Department and the City Attorneys office, giving them a taste of what’s been happening to folks going through foreclosure. Over the past two weeks the Minneapolis Police Department has come down hard on people who are reclaiming vacant homes. Those arrested weren’t given a chance to depart the premises, as has been the case for others in this situation. Protestors want to know what’s behind the more aggressive law enforcement stance recently and how come no bankers have been arrested or prosecuted for leaving communities in shambles. Continue Reading

Minneapolis’ Northside schools deserve experienced teachers too

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At a last month’s Minneapolis school board meeting, MPS staff presented their intent to increase funding to Expanded School Choice programs at three Southwest Minneapolis schools – Burroughs, Lake Harriet, and Southwest High School. This program utilizes special funding to transport North Minneapolis students to “choice” district schools while funding Family Liaison positions and other supports within those schools. Increased funding was needed, it was asserted, to add additional positions necessary for the current programming to be effective. Continue Reading

Trust me: Polymet comment period was too short

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What can you do in 90 days? You can grow your fingernails about a third of an inch in 90 days. In 90 days, the average American will drink 144 cups of coffee. And if you had the time to read 25 pages a day of dense technical material, you could read the entire Polymet Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or SDEIS. You might just need that coffee. Continue Reading