City of Minneapolis, MN General Interest, 21 Feb 2019

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From YouTube: February 21, 2019 Black History Month Observance

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February 21, 2019 Black History Month Observance

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Good afternoon everybody we are going to get started. So if you want to take your seat, my name is Velma horrible I am the director in the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights I'm, also the executive sponsor for the Minneapolis black complaint network. So I want to welcome you to our Black History Month event. This is the third of four events that we are hosting or co-hosting. This month has been a great month for us. Our theme this year is celebrating history, honoring tradition and uplifting community and today is about uplifting community.

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So we've got a whole lot of wonderful people in the audience today that are going to help us do just that. So I want to start with our host, though our host and emcee today is described as the hottest renowned, blessed captivating and, and he would probably say, funniest talent to grace the stage at City Hall.

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He has worked on hit movies with Tyler Perry been featured in television shows such as meet the Browns house of pain and the Rickey smiley show he has opened for acts like Earth Wind, &, Fire, the SOS band and Dave Chappelle. He worked at ke mo Jay 89.9 here in the city, and he now works for a newer radio station in the city called 105 the vibe. He makes his base of operations in Dallas Texas and we are just so thrilled that he agreed to join us today.

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So would you please welcome our host and emcee shared G said? Where are you before I just wanted people to see you so before before comes up and takes the mic, though we have a musical guest. Today her name is Angela Stewart and so I would ask Angela if she would come up and perform her first of two numbers.

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Good morning, everybody was afternoon yes afternoon good afternoon, how's everybody feeling great great I'm gonna do a song that was written by Steve Lynn Hardaway Junkins, since this is Black History Month just give me a little bit of history. We all know him as Stevie Wonder and though he could not see with his physical eye. I love Stevie Wonder because he wrote from his heart that allowed him to see some things that we're living in the day and time now. So this song y'all how to snap your fingers.

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So I can't tell you how to clap your hands like in church, but you know I'm gonna do a little bit of this. Okay y'all start that track for me back there. Please.

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Morning, my friends.

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Our friendly announcer I.

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Serious news to pass on to.

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What I'm about to say.

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Could mean the world disaster.

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Could change your joy laughter when your team.

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Don't steal a single here right away.

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To make you with possession.

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And it will, if you let it destroy every time.

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See your Z right.

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Breaking me any heart, breaking many heart.

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That's what we need today. We need sweet, love, sweet love.

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The world needs now is love, sweet love, sweet love.

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Come on y'all can do better than that. Give it over.

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Welcome everybody. This is an honor to be here to do all of the things and I just like to get to disclaimer out right now. I'm scared, I, never performed with somebody like this looking at me. So if I mess up I blame it on him, praise God, I thought I'm gonna, let y'all know I'm not looking back. There he's scaring me right now, but we good that's, not a joke.

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I'm serious I'm, just scaring me and it's an honor to be here back in Minneapolis I, live in Dallas and it's a blessing to do everything and just be there and it's so cool.

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And it's funny when I moved to Dallas I've been there for like three or four months, and you know still traveling doing movies, doing different things and the first thing they say when I tell them: hey I'm moved here from Minneapolis, they say: oh, is there any black people there I'm like no just me and ages and Adrian Peterson I left and he left.

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So no nobody else is there, like that's dumb, that's dumb, it's very dumb to me so, but they always say the same thing about Minneapolis and I love I'm, originally from Denver Colorado, but I love being like from Denver and Minneapolis. Because be honest with you. It's the same. The diversity and everything that we have here is the best in the world, because it teaches you how to deal with everything in the world and they interact with different people. Even some people.

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They may not see you the same way that, as they see themselves and I'm gonna tell you this true story. So my first movie I've ever done was madea's. Family reunion and I got a check. The first check I got for mr. Perry, had a comma in it and I never had to check what a comma in it before I had checks for periods, but I never had to check what a comma in it, and that was my first check so I was excited.

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So I said you know what I'm not gonna go put it in my bank, because I've never had a check with a comma in it. I always had periods. So you know that's gonna, you know alert them and they probably try to hold my check three to five days. So I say you know what I'm just go today, Bank I'm gonna go to Mr Perry's Bank cashed. His check, cuz I, had to check with a comma in it.

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So I made sure I dress appropriately I had on a pea soup, because you know as a check with a comma in it and I've never had why I want them to ask me for extra identification. So I said you know what I'm cool I'm gonna go ahead and go to the bank, and you know when you got money, you go to the bank. A lot of you probably got commas in y'all check, but so yeah I, don't know what I'm talking about, but just bear with me. So I go to the bank.

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A pea soup I was excited walking in there. There's a true story was excited it's in there. Talking to everybody, how you doing y'all right, you good I'm, into banking line, hey y'all right! You straight get up there! Woman's like gave her my to identification. So he go! Here's my here's, my ID and everything she's like well. You can't cash your check here, because you'll check out a what a car me in it. You gonna have to go upstairs. I said: okay cool, so I go to get on it. I uh elevator!

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This true story and his lady was on the elevator and I look out I'm like hey how you doing yeah, alright cuz I got to check what economy I'm happy I'm, going upstairs I'm going to the Upper Room, so I'm like it's gonna, be good and you know and I go. Oh y'all right you good, oh yeah, and so she look at me. I swear to good. She looks at me. She grabs her purse and put it on this side and I was so insulted by her doing that.

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That I was about to take her purse because cuz I was like how you gonna look at me. I got a check with a comma in it. You know me so I was good, I was getting upstanding man, but I said you know what no you know because being from a diverse place like Minneapolis in Denver, it helps you deal with different things and be smarter than the average. So I looked her dead in the face and I took my check with a comma out of this pocket and put it in this pocket.

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She looked at me. She, like no I, didn't mean it I'm, like I ain't mean it either. You I'm not gonna. Take my check and I'm. Also let you know we got some some nice names on this list and I'm trying my best and I'm gonna. Tell you there's another true disclaimer see the stuff I tell y'all is 85% truth and 15% false. You just got to figure out what is what, but so far everything I'm telling you is 100% truth. This is why, and those are you listen to me on the radio?

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You know sometimes I butcher names, and this is the truth, honest to god, while I was in Memphis tour with Tyler and afterwards I had to sign DVDs and stuff. So this lady came up to me was like hey: oh, can you sign my DVD I'm? Like no problem? I said what is your name? She said her name was Tina Shane I said Tennant Shay, okay! Well, how do you spell it?

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It's cuz I didn't want to mess it up, so I spelled it out when she told me and I looked at the name and its belt Tanisha. So I said how you get tennis shade from Tanisha. You do the math. So after then I butcher, everybody name. So it's because I'm thinking the name is one name but there's another name. That's why I? Never you know Sadie that shot day.

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The best people names up, but we're gonna be alright, so we're gonna get the event started in just a minute. Okay, we're gonna, keep it going so uh he's not looking at me is. He is now I'm gonna. Tell you this too, being in Dallas and I, have little nephews and cousins and showing me how to be around the relatives that I have and it's pretty cool and I realized that the younger generation don't appreciate what we have.

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You know I was talking to him doing Thanksgiving, he was talking about the best movie ever and they said well, Conda or Black. Panther is the best movie, Elva and I was like. Why is that it's a well? It made the most money in there. I said: okay, I said: what's memorable from Black Panther, you know they said what kinda somebody else. Hayati I was like yeah, okay, but that's not the most remember.

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Would that even better than the movie I might just you know, show you that we all knew and I was like in this movie only made one hundred and thirty-eight dollars in the box office and they didn't believe me. I, said: okay watch this house full of people I said uh turn that TV off I said no watch what I do and when I do this watch out. Everybody join in, we turned the TV off I said watch this we was in the kitchen, everybody else is in the house.

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I looked I'm doing there, I said watch this I said fair, eastside, fart outside will say and always praised me see just because y'all got y'all business badge on y'all won't sing the song y'all booze in a month, y'all yeah. Both you see what they're doing dog go talk to them. They acting bougie right now. Y'all me over that movies. Y'all! Try to add! Oh, that movie boy, that's the one of the best movies they blog by free mr. Clark free mr. Clark. At the end he was like you don't understand. Mr.

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Clark believes in us. You know now that little girl she didn't care. She put him on Front Street right in front of the air by the I was marching. He.

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Don't believe in you, because you know.

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The dude to do say she's that well I'm, trying.

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To get you a good principal, he said: I wore a good principal I, won't mr. Clark.

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Well, we gonna keep this going. You're, not gonna. In my career tonight, I got a movie coming out. March 1st, called madea's family reunion make sure our family funeral make sure you see it is you know everyone knows. That's the last Madea I actually played my dear and I. Tell you about that in a minute, but what I would like to do, ladies and gentlemen, is make some noise for Miss Chen dismiss Baker, not yet, but she is the senior vice president Community Impact at the Minneapolis foundation.

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Miss Baker is a lifelong resident of North Minneapolis. She has a abroad in deep network of relationships in Minneapolis, st. Paul, a long track record of providing businesses insight and did.

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You know roll-up I'm, still can't just roll up on me with him there to die, don't make some noise pleases.

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So anyways super pleased to be here, I'm coming from I'm the Minneapolis foundation by Skyway, which I'm still learning so I'm glad to get here right on time. You know this is just a wonderful month and an opportunity to just spend a few minutes with you and to honor those that are being recognized today.

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Since 1976, every US president has designated February Black History Month, the first president to do that was Gerald Ford, who said the country needs to seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of African Americans and every endeavour throughout the country.

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While we know that black history is American history, each February, we pause to honor and celebrate the achievements of our ancestors to remember their sacrifices, their struggles and their victories and to celebrate people in our community that are making a difference.

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In 2016, the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights began to profile, began a profile series to recognize african-american leaders or history makers in our local area, understanding the importance of recognizing and elevating those who are kicking down doors, breaking ceilings and making a significant difference across many areas, including business, criminal justice, education, economic development, health and government changemakers that are creating lasting impact on their communities. I'm proud to have been selected, a history maker in 2017 the legacy leader featured with me, was a woman named Myrtle carton who I did not know until this series began.

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Ms Cardin ran the Holly Cuban Center in st. Paul, and little was known about her, except for the fact that she was the executive director from 1929 to 1949. Guru. Browns are, in that same time ran the Phyllis Wheatley community center, our side and oh, how I wish I knew these women that, when I became the first african-american female to run pills were ignited communities. I wish I would have been able to lean on their understanding and lean on their experience, but I'm very clear that I'm a direct beneficiary of their work.

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These two women demonstrated the prominent role that african-american women played in the civic and political life in Minnesota in the turn of the century. The turn of the 20th century.

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In this room are history makers, and you will never get the recognition that you deserve, and many years later, people now may not know who you were.

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Some of you are the first in your families to get college degrees, breaking generational cycles and inspiring people, those that are coming behind you and those around you. Some will run for office. Others will have the courage to do much say what's needed that will have lift lasting impact in our workplaces in our communities, our churches and our homes. What I have learned is that you never know who's watching you and being inspired to reach just a little bit higher history. Making is not just about the doing it's about the being.

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The state of being in the dictionary is described as the nature essence of a person being can be best described as one's awareness being anchored in the now. It is about how you show up and how you treat people it's about alignment. It is about being congruent, it's about rising above negativity, fear and judgment, and it's about living in to your purpose. I want to congratulate our history makers that are being honored today and I want to thank you for your sacrifice and your vision of a better future I hope.

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This recognition today affirms the pride the pride that this community has for you and gives you new energy to take on challenges tomorrow. I hope that those of you in this room are inspired by the history makers of today and yesterday to become one for tomorrow.

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I hope that in your spaces that you move through today in February and all the rest of the months of the year, that you take special note of african-american women, men and young people and our elders that are making a difference in small ways every day that helps to make all of our lives better I honor, each of you I. Thank you for your timing, your attention to celebrate today, these wonderful people, so thank you.

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Y'all give it up a Miss, a baker, one more time.

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So now it's that time and I would like to ask director Cabrillo to join me up front, as we will make the presentations to our history makers at home. Please, and also there was one who wasn't able to get here in s Mustafi Hollande. For ah now she is a writer and entrepreneur who is the founder of studio, 91 and arts and entertainment, creative agency, storytelling platform and production house. So y'all give it up for her. In our absence.

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Now our first one is midoriya re, our redondo, that's correct. Sure Maduro is the cop to god. My darya Arredondo is the 53rd chief of Minneapolis Police Department and is the city's first african-american officer to hold this title.

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He joined MPD in 1989 as a patrol officer in a 4th precinct and worked his way up to the ranks from being appointed the inspector of the first recent in 2013. He also served as a school resource officer.

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Northside beat officer commander of the Internal Affairs Unit Deputy Chief and assistant chief before being nominated as Chief of Police in 2017. Chief arredondo is a courageous public servant who whose work has helped transform the culture of MPD and his position. The department, as a national leader in Police Service excellence, for his unwavering commitment to public safety and to protecting the residents of Minneapolis. The Civil Rights Department is proud to honor chief arredondo as the 2019 history maker at home.

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I got a friend in it, I'll call you later Weezy gonna, be we look alike if I shave it off, and then we good, oh I, hope I don't get arrested after this. Next we have, ladies and gentlemen, dr. Nathan, tremolo, chamalla, chill mellow. Okay, I got you dr., Nathan tremolo and dr. Nathan. Tremolo is the general pediatrician at Brookdale clinic and internal medicine, Hospital ins with Park Nicollet, Health Service.

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His advocacy works includes the impact early childhood intervention and healthcare access have on the long-term prospects of our children and how physicians and health systems can address ratio and health equity. He's the founding member of the many Minnesota doctors for health equity and currently serves as the medical doctor of reach out and reach. Minnesota he's a member of the Africa of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on early childhood and section on minority health, equity and inclusion, and an adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics, at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

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He also serves on the governor's early learning council and was the pediatric chief resident at the University of Minnesota's Children Hospital. His works has been recognized by mpls st. Paul magazine in their 2018 top doctors rising star edition, as well as by reach out and read nationally, which was awarded him. The medical champion achievement award in 2018 for his remarkable work as a physician and his dedication to improving healthcare outcomes for all the civil rights Department of primer is proud to recognize dr.

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Cho Cho Malone there. It is dr. Chung low, as the 2019 history maker at home.

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Malone just getting it right, jo Malone, all right now we have miss Lynn little John and she is the vice president of community affairs and development of at Mortensen and has been the organization since been an organization since 1996 in her current role, she's responsible for promoting the company in existing and new markets by providing guidance and assistance with business development, workforce development and designing and implementing progressive community engagement plans for the employment of women and people of color Lynn has extensive experience in areas of diversity and inclusion.

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Having worked in the public sector as an enforcement officer with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and a contract compliance specialist in Hennepin, County Lynn is also a board member with Children's Minnesota Hospital and has previously served on the boards of Minneapolis why-why-why WC, a Minnesota Twins, Community, Fund and National Association of minority contractors, association of women contractors, Dunwoody Academy, Twin, City rise and Alexandria house for her dedicated commitment to increasing diversity and promoting equal equality in all facets of our community.

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The civil rights department is proud to honor Miss Little John, as the 2019 history maker at home.

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As I reading Easter speeches.

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Next, we have nareta hughes and she is the dean of business technology, career and workforce development at North, Hennepin community college, and she is the first African American to hold the title of Dean in the school's 53 year. History, her knowledge, yes, her knowledge in the areas of training and staff development, racial equity and leadership. Development has made her instrumental in working with leadership from Ramsey County and North Hanneman Hennepin community college to embedded racial equity strategies and their work now Miss Narada is the forum. Dorita is around I, said Narita.

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Miss Narita now don't lost my finger. Let me get my finger back.

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Mister Rita is the former organizational effectiveness and development manager and workforce education, an opportunity, division manager at the Ramsey County. Where for a solution she has served on numerous boards and organizations, including the Hennepin Carver Workforce Innovation board, the Northside Economic Opportunity Network, the governor's emerging entrepreneur board and the Council of Minnesotans for African heritage. She is also a former fellow of the James P Shannon Leadership Institute, for her tireless work as an educator and advocate for equity and workforce development. The civil rights department is proud to recognize.

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Dean Hughes, as the 2019 mayor at home, see I, said Dean I today.

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It's the last one. We good all right, don't mess this up. Give me one second,.

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Ladies and gentlemen, next we have Rosalyn L head Racine and she's, an attorney serving as an investigator with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Affairs Housing and equal opportunity in the Minneapolis field office. In this role she works with local governments to ensure compliance in the areas of Housing and Community equity and in the enforcement of federal civil rights law. She has built a career and aimed at bridging advocacy with equitable policy, particularly for those most vulnerable in our communities.

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Rosalyn is also the founding board, chair of all square, a civil rights, social enterprise in South Minneapolis. Now all square is compromised. It's comprised of a craft grilled, cheese, restaurant and Professional Development Institute, which supports people impacted by the criminal justice system in obtaining the financial support, social capital and mental wellness necessary for a productive future. Now Rosalyn serves as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Pamela J Alexander in the fourth District Court of Minnesota, and was competitively selected as presidential management, fellow in Washington DC.

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Now she is also a recent graduate of the Josie R Johnson Leadership Academy for her outstanding commitment to equity. In housing and criminal justice, the Civil Rights Department is proud to recognize. Ms Roselyn had a pet Racine, miss Rosalynn, ped Racine.

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They tried to set me up. They tried to get me arrested and get sued at the same time at one event, so let's have a round of applause for all of our award recipients. Please.

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Now, there's something man I would love to do. I would like to welcome to the microphone my friend my brother, from from no other, we cousins I think we related and I hope. He accepts me as his new Facebook friend, chief Madera, all right, I.

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Just want to take a moment to recognize the first one will recognize director Korbel from our Minneapolis civil rights Department.

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For those of you who know director Korbel, she not only realized the importance of african-american history and the leadership and legacy that goes along with it in our city in our state, but she has put it pen to paper. She has.

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She has created this event for all of us to to pay homage to those men and women, african-american men and women, that we've stood on their shoulders, they're, fearless and courageous fights that they did so that we can be in these positions today, and so I really want to thank director Korbel for her work in that again. So.

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I'm also just proud to be with such esteemed leaders, whether it's our vice presidents, our doctors, our Dean's, our attorneys. It's it's great to celebrate in being your company today and all the great work that you do. Minneapolis in a region is also very proud to honor, first-time leadership, whether it's our new Attorney General, whether it's our new congresswoman, whether it's our judges and mayors and educators that have taken on leadership roles for the first time representing our wonderful city in our great state.

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Again, we are all products of those courageous men and women who have really set the tone for us to recognize and uplift. Our communities as director Korbel, said that this presentation is having today. So while we celebrate these achievements in these honorees this month, here in February of 2019, we know that every day there are so many young men and women and our youth who are making a difference, and so thank you all and thank you director, Korbel for again arranging this. Thank you.

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Thank You chief, that was great, my friend brother.

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Now somebody asks mean I'm about to bring back up miss Angela store, but somebody asked me it was like. Do you really play my dear and I do and I'm gonna tell you how it happened. Real, quick story, I was in Atlanta performing and mr. Perry saw me and I had did a joke, saying I couldn't imagine if Madea was a Jehovah Witness going door-to-door so afterwards he he was like you're pretty funny. You ever thought about acting and I.

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Don't care what y'all think I thought I was sexy, so I thought it'd be the one in the plays with baby all alone and all this stuff he was like. No, we want you to play. Madea I said you want me to do what you want you to play with D I said: no. You want me to dress up like a woman with all that stuff own in Atlanta. Are you crazy, there's like now?

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We really want you to I said I can't do that I'm, six foot, four 250 pounds strong, remember, Kappa, Alpha, fraternity, incorporated I will not dress up as no woman. They say this. How much we're gonna pay? You I said hello, Brown.

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Stop popping that gum little girl, if you don't.

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Ladies and gentlemen, I'm bringing back to the Seas. Let's make some noise right now for Miss Angela's store.

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So she ain't told me to make sure I sing right today. Cuz, he don't want to shout in front of y'all some. She.

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I, don't know but I'm a little church girl, but this next song that I'm a scene Martin Luther King, gave this in his address speech and it simply said that if I can help somebody, then my living will not be anything so I'm gonna try not to use this mic cuz. My voice can get really really loud.

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Just create the atmosphere, this is black history, I'm, just gonna try to bring the presence and the spirit of Martin Luther King and the others back into the room.

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If I could help somebody.

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Like Eugene.

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Walsim, if I can show.

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I can't breathe.

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I need you, you need me, we're all a part of God's body. Stand with me. Agree with me.

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It is his will that every BB supply you are important to me. I need you to.

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Warner to me, I need you to survive.

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Need you, you need we're all part of girls. Stand with me. Agree with me, we're all a part of God's body. It is his will that every me supply, you are important to me. I need you to survive.

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Need you to survive.

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The doors of the Minneapolis courtroom is now open. Somebody here need a parking ticket pays. Somebody in here needs bail, money, I'm just hit it.

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You know you inspired me for Black, History, Month Lee know me when you're not now playing- oh just, but before we get out of here. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to recognize one of the dignitaries. Letters that is here is the Minneapolis City Council. Vice president Andrea Jenkins, ladies and gentlemen, Andrea Jenkins is here.

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Always a pleasure.

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Now, thank you all for coming today and thank you, ms Angeles Stewart, for not having me run around his courtroom and get arrested. Also thank you, Miss Chandra, Smith's, Baker and chief Ariane DOE, and her congratulations to all the 2019 history makers and thank you to the Minneapolis black employee network and the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights. This event number three of four for the Minneapolis Black History Month events. Now the final event of the month-long celebration will take place at the Hennepin County next Thursday at Henry, Pat County next Thursday February 28th at noon.

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On the 12th floor, room 12:30, that's next is next Thursday, which is February 28th at noon at at the 12th floor, room 12:30 at the 701 4th Avenue south Minneapolis address now. Thank you all so much. Thank you have a good day. We invite you for the refreshments over there I've been your MC share gee. Thank you. So much.