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From YouTube: Sharon Sayles Belton Bronze Tribute
Description
Sharon Sayles Belton, the first woman and first African-American mayor of Minneapolis, was honored May 16, 2017 at Minneapolis City Hall with a bronze bust. The tribute was initiated by community members, colleagues and friends of the former mayor, who served two terms starting in 1994. Prior to becoming mayor, Sayles Belton was a City Council member from the 8th Ward for 10 years.
A
But
afternoon
everyone,
thank
you
so
much
for
coming.
My
name
is
Andrea
hire
and
I
have
the
honor
and
privilege
of
being
your
MC
for
today's
program
on
this
occasion
that
was
started
in
earnest
nearly
three
years
ago,
so
welcome
everyone.
I
want
to
just
quote
one
of
our
committee
members
who
said
this
project
is
the
essence
of
Minnesota
culture.
You
take
an
idea,
bring
it
to
the
community
and
the
community
makes
it
a
reality,
and
today
is
that
day,
so
get
getting
started.
I'd
like
to
introduce
our
first
two
speakers.
A
B
Good
afternoon,
thank
you,
Mon
greenus
and
now,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
you
know
I
had
to
put
a
word
year.
The
word
happy
because
I'm
going
to
say
on
behalf
of
our
steering
committees,
I.
Thank
you
all
for
attending
this
historic
and
happy
event.
That's
not
my
words
to
express
my
emotions
and
the
emotions
of
our
committee.
We
thank
you
for
your
entrance
and
for
your
encouragement.
C
B
B
E
B
Key
step
in
the
process
was
the
approval
by
the
Minneapolis
Building
Commission,
the
Commission,
granted
his
approval
and
gave
us
the
go-ahead
last
July
2016,
as
has
been
mentioned,
I,
don't
think
the
Commission
ever
realized
how
nervous
we
were
make
it
the
request
to
them
as
we
waited
for
them
to
delivery
today.
We
thank
them
for
their
enthusiasm
about
the
project
and
their
confidence
in
out
the
middle
next
I
fight
us
to
thank
the
visionaries
behind
the
whole
endeavor.
B
D
B
D
D
D
B
C
B
Were
greatly
inspired
to
get
in
place
the
special
tribute
to
honor
the
leadership
and
accomplishments
about
this
theme
of
mayor
sherry
field
Felton.
The
tributes
steering
committee
is
so
grateful
for
the
general
support
of
the
public
as
well
those
of
you
in
the
audience.
Many
of
you
contributed
also
the
fourteenth
as
well
time
talents
finances
and
encouragement.
D
B
Are
still
an
opportunity
to
help
in
case
you
are
wondering
what
makes
you
can
contribute
in
support
of
another
endeavor
which
we
all
excited
about,
and
this
is
an
educational
symposium
developed
by
dr.
Sam
Myers
and
dr.
John
Wright's
insurance
and
play
ourselves
Elton's
honor
at
the
Humphrey
Institute
in
the
fall
we
planned
into
the
next
more
with
youth
and
young
professionals
to
inspire
them
with
mayor
spells
Belton's
leadership
and
accomplishment.
The
fall
symposium
will
provide
an
opportunity
for
us
to
begin
this
work.
F
B
A
transition
to
my
esteem,
co-chair
Josie
I,
want
to
acknowledge
that
amongst
us
we
have
any
number
of
special
reasons
why
this
project
is
so
special
and
cozier
to
us.
We
encourage
you
to
think
of
your
own
reasons
and
rejoice.
I
have
four
reasons
and
I
get
up
this
morning
with
another
reason.
Thinking
about
this
project
as
hotel.
The
committed
the
project
is
always
on
your
mind
for
those
of
you
travel
rate
distance
to
be
here
today.
I
know
you
must
have
had
a
motivation
of
coming
for
making
the
sacrifice.
B
They
never
told
me
the
other
barriers
that
were
going
to
come
later:
the
women,
the
gender
barrier,
our
honoree
surveys
mounted
both
discrimination
and
Indus.
The
race
ended
in
the
berries,
so
I
believe
in
role
models
and
we're
going
to
present
this
notion
to
our
young
people,
and
will
we
honor
in
today
our
sense
of
community.
It
reminds
me
of
how
honoree
reflected
the
spirit
of
respect
for
each
other
and
collaboration
in
communities
and
she
inspired
communities
to
come
together
and
accomplish
little
and
big
things
to
benefit
the
Commons
I
love.
B
F
You
brought
to
your
role
as
the
first
african-american
and
first
woman
mayor
your
african-american
ancestry,
its
culture
and
your
strength
and
grit
and
determination.
You
brought
the
history
and
value
of
listening
and
learning
from
others.
You
brought
a
commitment
to
the
task
before
you
and
Mayor.
You
had
many
tasks
in
front
of
you.
Your
culture
of
strong
work,
habits,
kinship
bond,
religious
orientation
and
memory
of
all
of
your
previous
experiences
helps
you
to
develop
strategies
to
address
the
task
before
you
mayor.
F
You
were
able
to
use
your
formal
and
informal
support
network
and
that
network
formal
and
informal
helped
you
get
things
done.
You
understood
and
strengthened
your
knowledge
about
available
resources
and
services
and
made
the
system
work
for
your
city,
your
values
and
beliefs.
Helped.
You
understand
the
impact
of
poverty
on
education
on
self
esteem
and
the
quality
of
life.
F
F
F
Our
children
will
learn
those
values
you
have
demonstrated
in
so
many
ways
and
they
will
know
the
value
of
hard
work
and
determination,
and
they
will
know
that
those
qualities
matter.
It
has
been
an
honor
to
be
a
part
of
the
recognition
of
your
service
to
all
of
us,
Thank
You
mayor,
and
we
are
grateful
to
you.
D
G
G
G
G
G
D
A
C
Thank
You
Andrea,
my
name
is
Renee
cell
and
you
have
shares
bios
of
some
fact
in
front
of
you.
But
I
would
like
to
talk
about
my
sister,
my
friend.
We
come
from
a
long
line
of
sales,
family
women,
our
Father,
had
six
sisters
and
there
are
five
of
us.
Our
elders
have
always
reminded
us
that
the
self
sisters
are
a
loyal,
spiritual
and
united
force.
To
that
regard.
Our
sister
Sharon
is
a
fourth
by
yourself.
C
I
have
been
blessed
to
accompany
him
to
many
incredible
events
where
she
shared
inspiring
words
and
her
vision
for
a
better
world.
A
better
life
for
all
of
us
Sharon
takes
every
opportunity
to
counsel
and
encourage
emerging
leaders
to
follow
their
passion
and
make
a
difference.
It
is
a
blessing
to
have
her
as
our
sister.
C
A
And
now
it's
my
privilege
to
introduce
ed
Joyce
ed,
has
had
a
distinguished
career
as
an
aeronautical
engineer.
He
was
selected
by
the
Kennedy
administration
as
the
first
african-american
astronaut
candidate
in
space
program,
both
lucky
for
us
in
1974,
Hughes,
followed
his
passion
in
heart
and
if
he
declared
himself
a
sculptor
in
1974
and
he's
done,
fine
works
memorials,
including
those
of
Rosa
Parks
and
Martin
Luther
King,
and
he
is
joining
us
today.
F
E
Is
this
129th
availing,
but
this
is
an
unveiling
experiment
Pacifica,
and
this
is
very
shows
the
time
of
something
tons
of
love.
Does
a
few
people
I
need
to
think
for
this
and
until
the
scope
is
high
on
the
list,
because
he
want
to
brought
me
into
this
I
want
to
thank
the
the
same
community
and
dr.
King
and
dr.
Johnson
who,
whose
boss
back
in
1874,
talked
me
out
of
doing
what
I
was
doing
and
becoming
a
sculptor.
E
E
You
know
that
I
can't
see
here
and
he
caught
me
back
to
his
office.
See
there
two
stacks
of
books
and
I
didn't
even
know
that
was
slavery,
I
swear
to
God
and
and
and
I
read
his
books
and
I
was
very,
very,
very,
very
upset,
because
all
this
time
I
had
gone
to
got
this
education,
and
the
president
has
appointed
me
to
be
an
astronaut
I
got
all
this
stuff
flying
around
and
and
I
had
no
idea
and
I
was
incredibly
disappointed.
That
I
had
been
robbed
of
all
this
incredible
history,
and
so.
E
Job
now
is
to
bring
like
images
to
the
landscape
of
America,
because
we
have,
if
somebody
came
down
here
from
Mars
and
all
the
people
were
gone
and
they
went
to
the
museums
and
the
galleries
they
would
think
like
people
did
not
exist
on
this
planet,
and
so,
as
a
result
of
this,
this
has
been
an
incredible
journey
for
me
and
very
exciting
journey
for
me
and
my
biggest
frustration
after
reading
sharon
failed
also
by
your
work.
I
visit
this
working
foot,
tall,
sculpture
of.
E
A
H
I'm
speechless
first
I,
just
want
to
wade
through
the
folks
are
way
up
there,
Tami
and
Kathleen
a
few
guys.
Thank
you
all
for
coming.
This
is
just
phase
I,
think
that
I'm
speaking,
but
because
I
knew
I
would
be
I
actually
wrote
in
my
and
before
I
give
them
I
just
wanted
to
acknowledge
all
the
members
of
my
family
of
that
are
here.
My
heart
Juanita
is
here
she's
the
matriarch
of
our
family.
H
She
was
also
my
first
campaign
treasurer.
The
second
treasure
is
here
too
I
see
him
and
my
husband,
Steven
Jordan
and
Coleman
Antoinette
come
in,
and
our
daughter
is
not
with
us
today,
but
she's
with
us,
with
in
spirit
and
I,
just
had
a
host
of
cousins
and
aunts
and
would
be
cousins
in
you.
Well
here
is
a
family
and
I'm.
Just
so
grateful
that
you
all
have
come
out
tonight.
I
want
to
begin
first
by
thanking
the
members
of
the
branch
committee.
H
It's
really
hard
to
find
words
to
convey
and
my
full
appreciation
for
your
efforts.
Many
of
you
have
been
my
partners
and
allies
over
the
years
and
I
actually
owe
you
a
debt
of
personal
gratitude.
You
worked
with
me
when
I
was
on
the
City
Council
when
I
was
the
mayor
and
to
see
you
be
a
part
of
this
effort
is
really
touching.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
your
work.
H
If
you
don't
know
who
the
committee
members
are
I
do
want
you
to
know
that
there
are
wearing
rows
precises
they
didn't
want
to,
but
I've
got
a
mini
way
and
so
that
people
would
know
who
they
are
so
again.
I
just
want
to
thank
you
personally
in
our
everybody
to
know
the
role
that
you
played
in
making
today
possible.
Would
you
all
join
me
in
a
round
of
applause.
H
You
know
they
didn't
have
to
be
that
they
have
other
things
to
do
now.
I
have
to
also
offer
a
couple
worth
of
special
effects,
I
think
they're.
In
order
this
evening.
First,
a
very
special
thanks
to
committee
co-chair
dr.
reatha,
Clark
King
now
I
want
to
just
tell
you
why
this
is
so
moving
for
me
to
have
her
be
a
part
of
this
I
first
met
first
met
dr.
H
King
when
she
is
a
point
to
serve
as
the
president
of
Metro
State
University,
and
she
may
not
remember
that
first
meeting,
but
we
came
over
to
talk
to
her
about
helping
other
women
have
the
opportunity
to
get
their
education
at
Metro
State.
She
was
excited
and
open
to
find
ways
to
make
sure
that
that
was
possible
and
she
delivered
on
that
promise.
So
thank
you.
Dr.
King
I.
H
Also
had
the
presence
of
working
with
her
as
she
served
as
the
observant
of
the
General
Mills
Foundation,
and
she
was
an
extraordinary
leader,
I'm,
going
to
spend
a
little
bit
of
more
about
that
in
just
a
hot
minute.
But
I
do
want
you
to
know
that
when
I
needed
help,
she
was
there
to
offer
help
when
I
needed
advice.
H
She
was
there
to
give
it
when
I
needed
correction.
She
was
there
to
offer
it.
She
was
there
to
support
me
in
my
endeavors
and
for
that
I
am
absolutely
grateful
and
now
to
the
other
co-chair
dr.,
Jones,
John
I
just
have
to
tell
you.
This
is
a
little
bit
super
special
for
me
to
make
these
following
remarks.
H
What
did
I
was
doing
anything
wrong
yeah,
but
you
had
my
back
so
I
want
to
say
a
special
thank
you
to
mama
Jovi
for
caring
for
me
and
for
caring
for
so
many
children
in
our
village.
There
are
a
lot
of
us
in
this
room
who
have
been
nurtured
and
supported
by
you
over
the
years,
and
we
are
grateful
for
your
leadership
and
for
your
guidance
and
for
your
encouragement.
H
How
can
I
say
as
I
was
like
a
Josie
Johnson,
you
said
she
holds
old
school,
so
that
means
that
you
know
she
will
follow
you
into
the
office
at
the
drop
of
a
hat.
In
a
moment,
Snowden
and
I
have
been
in
her
office
to
try
on
Reimer.
Tell
you
something
about
these
two
women
and
as
well
all
of
the
members
of
the
committee,
every
one
of
us
every
one
of
them,
I
haven't
given
you
all
their
names,
but
we
are
all
united.
H
We
have
always
been
united
in
a
shared
passion
for
education,
the
power
of
the
Arts
to
change,
lives
and
lift
spirits
and
the
importance
the
critical
importance
of
civic
engagement,
and
it's
those
things
that
have
bind
it
all
together
over
all
of
these
years.
Now,
what
can
I
say
about
my
friend
Phyllis?
Go
we'll
get
it.
What
can
I
say
about
feelings?
So
is
what
I
want
to
say
to
you
tonight
is
this:
your
work
is
with
nothing
short
of
extraordinary,
nothing
short
of
exert.
H
H
We
all
know
the
contributions
of
the
leaders
of
our
community
and
we
can
all
take
pride
in
men,
so
Phyllis.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
and
thank
you
for
ensuring
that
our
history,
our
collective
history,
will
be
chronicled
for
further
generations.
Now,
I
want
to
say
something
about
this
book.
I
did
not
know.
I
had
never
seen
the
finished
product,
so
I
didn't
know
what
what
happened
when
we
pulled
the
veil
back
now.
H
I
know
that
this
book,
that
has
a
wonderful
history
and
I,
knew
that
he
was
going
to
do
justice
to
all
a
lot
of
the
eggs.
But
this
is
the
magnificence
of
piece
of
work
and
I
am
absolutely
delighted
by
it,
but
I
also
want
to
say
that
this
bus
is
of
me,
but
this
is
about
all
of
us.
The
story
behind
the
bus
is
partially
my
story,
but
it
is
also
our
story.
It
never
would
have
happened
unless
we
had
fought
them
together
at
the
community.
H
Let
me
explain
that
just
a
little
bit
further,
it
was
our
collective
commitment
to
address
gender
discrimination
and
racial
discrimination
in
a
very
forceful
way,
in
a
very
smart
and
strategic
way
that
helped
me
to
get
elected
the
mayor
to
finance.
This
is
not
just
about
Maine.
It
was
our
shared
vision
for
the
city
that
laid
the
foundation
for
our
city's
prosperity.
Again,
we
made
investments.
You
know
with
the
idea
in
motion
that
we
were
going
to
pay
it
forward
I
plan.
H
Our
plan
to
your
point
of
refill
was
to
make
strategic
investments
to
take
responsible
and
informed
risk,
adjusted
risks
to
ask
the
right
questions
and
sometimes
tough
questions
and
be
prepared
to
face
adversity
head-on.
You
can't
run
away
from
your
problems.
They
will
chase
you
and
track.
You
down,
we
focused
more
on
getting
the
job
done
rather
than
worrying
about
who
got
the
credit.
I
really
limited
about
who's
got
the
grant.
You
want
to
finish
remember
going
over
there.
H
We
know
how
to
get
the
job
done
and
we
leaned
in
and
we
leaned
in
heart,
and
we
got
it
done.
We
assemble
the
winning
team
that
sought
to
earn
the
public's
trust
and
then
to
preserve
it
going
forward
our
partners,
our
partners,
included,
phase
elected
and
appointed
officials.
Many
of
them
are
in
this
room
captains
of
industry,
who
are
both
men
and
women,
philanthropy
academician
there
come
in
this
room,
faith
leaders.
H
There
are
many
in
this
room,
advocates
accidents
and
even
the
lady
next
door
and
our
city's
use
all
of
them
all
of
us
Democrats
and
Republicans.
We
were
all
invited
to
the
table
to
chart
a
new
course
for
our
city
for
our
residents
in
our
future.
So
to
all
of
you
who
were
a
part
of
that
story,
this
story,
this
bus
and
all
that
is
behind
it
today.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
so
much.
Thank
you
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart.
H
So
let
me
conclude
by
making
just
two
more
night
recessions
experiments
my
family,
Josie
and
both
Aretha
talked
about
this.
My
family
taught
me
the
importance
of
community.
They
impressed
upon
me
that
there
is
no
room
on
the
sidelines.
Sidelines
have
taken
up
with
people
who
just
want
to
observe
you
got
to
get
in
the
game.
They
inspired
me
to
believe
in
myself
and
to
see
the
good
in
the
world,
and
you
know
what
the
good
is.
Always
there.
H
We
work
hard
surprise
that
good
mayor,
Hodges
and
I
know
we
haven't
heard
from
Tony's
board
chair
Callison
I
do
want
to
say
that
I.
Thank
you
excite
you
for
allowing
the
citizens
of
our
community
to
tell
our
story
through
the
placement
of
this
bus
in
City,
Hall,
I
hope
the
bus
will
serve
as
a
reminder
that
a
vision
can
become
a
reality
and
when
we
work
together,
we
get
more
things
done
than
when
we
work
alone.
H
A
I
D
I
A
wonderful
tribute
and
what
a
wonderful
statue
about
I
can
see
Sharon
exactly
having
their
head
high
and
a
clown
face
is
captured.
Her
personality,
two
teeth.
Congratulations:
research
said
there
was
some
uncertainty
about
whether
the
missile
Building
Commission
would
accept
this
honor.
There
was
no
uncertainty.
I
This
is
the
right
thing
and
those
of
us
on
the
mental
Building
Commission
were
happy.
The
imposition
of
saying
yes
you're,
not
sure
about
the
Municipal
Building
Commission.
That
is
the
four
people,
the
four
person
organization
that
runs,
if
you
will,
the
sub
institution
Sharon
served
on
it
when
she
was
mayor
of
Minneapolis.
Commissioner
McLaughlin
cannot
be
here
today,
but
he's
part
about.
He
sends
his
regrets.
My
without
Commission.
If,
again
to
all
those
present
I
am
always
reminded
of
the
time
like
the
mayor
of
Minnetonka.
I
But
if
you
clean
a
chair
a
meeting
you
know
this
is
a
woman
who's
used
to
chairing
meetings.
We
know
how
to
ask
questions
if
you've
seen
our
advocate
for
the
people
in
your
community.
You
know
that
she's
also
experienced
they
hold
some
dreams
of
those
balls
and
I.
Think
if
you
have
ever
been
in
public
service,
you
recognize
the
low
moments
and
I'm
sure
chair
and
handles
low
moments,
and
she
knew
her
community
would
pick
her
up
and
support
her.