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Minnesota school board elections face a coordinated push by critics of Critical Race Theory, vaccines and masks

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Conservative media outlets and thinktanks have ignited a groundswell of fear and anger about Critical Race Theory, vaccines and mask mandates in schools. In Minnesota, these concerns have been ignited in private Facebook groups and at rallies around the state. With school board elections on the horizon, progressive candidates have tried to push back on misinformation while elevating their desires for inclusive school environments.

Minnesota

Meet Ayan Omar – a Somali American Educator Using Literature to Mentor Refugee Youth

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Ayan Omar (or, Ms. Omar as her students call her) is a St. Cloud resident, writer and Somali American English teacher. She is also a wife, mother and TEDx speaker who migrated to the U.S. in 1993 as a Somali refugee. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, Ayan became a language arts teacher. She has lived in St. Cloud since 2005.

In this interview, Ayan talks about her experiences growing up in the South and in Minnesota, and the different experiences of Somalis in Minneapolis versus in St. Cloud. Ayan also talks about the unique ways Somali refugees experience racism, and the need for healing justice for Somalis, Muslims, and Black communities.

Minnesota

Meet Binta Kanteh – a Young Gambian Muslim American Making Her Mark on Minnesota Politics

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Meet Binta Kanteh, a Gambian American and Black Muslim woman working in public policy. She is currently the policy director to Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley. In this interview, Binta talks about her early career journey: personal experiences as the daughter of West African immigrants, how their migration story impacted her decision to work in politics, and what moves her as an up-and-coming Minnesotan policymaker.

Minnesota

Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Many people are familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression manifests during the shorter days of winter. But what is SAD, and what can you do if you are experiencing symptoms?

Minnesota

Livetweet Embed: House Redistricting Committee

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By: McKenzie Kemper, Freelance Journalist-in-Training

The Minnesota House Redistricting Committee met on Aug. 25. Click on the tweet below to learn more about what happened during that meeting. https://twitter.com/uptakemn/status/1430603736934719491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Minnesota

Livetweet Embed: Mounds View Board Meeting, Aug. 17

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By: McKenzie Kemper, Freelance Journalist-in-Training

The Mounds View School Board met on Aug. 17. Click on the tweet below to learn about everything that happened during the meeting. https://twitter.com/uptakemn/status/1427782475489681410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Minnesota

Livetweet Embed: Aug. 17 Social Studies Standards Discussion

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By: McKenzie Kemper, Freelance Journalist-in-Training

The Minnesota K-12 Social Studies Standards Review Committee Meeting met on Aug. 17. This is a livetweet thread of their meeting. Click through the thread linked below. https://twitter.com/uptakemn/status/1427615332332675076

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 12, City of Minneapolis: David Rosenfield

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Primary Endorsementsn/aBrief Background: Member of the Socialist Workers Party and is often quoted in The Militant, a socialist weekly news publication. He ran in the 2017 Minneapolis mayoral election but was eliminated in round two (of five). He is a steelworker and a Detroit native.Primary IssuesPolice Accountability: N/A Charter Amendments: N/AEducation: N/ARacial Justice (gen.): N/AOther major issues/priorities: N/ABest Way to Learn More Information: Ballotpedia.org’s Bio of David Rosenfeld

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 12, City of Minneapolis: Nancy Ford

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary EndorsementsOperation Safety NowBrief Background: Ford is a small business owner and has lived in Minneapolis most of her life. She specifically mentions she is running as an Independent because she “believe[s] elected city officials should be nonpartisan. They should represent the people of Minneapolis before they represent a political party.”Primary IssuesPolice Accountability – Against defunding the police; supports police reform and Chief ArrondondoCharter Amendments – n/aEducation – n/aRacial Justice (gen.) – n/aOther major issues/priorities – Increasing homeownership; small businesses and environmentBest Way to Learn More Information: Nancy Ford Campaign Website

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 12, City of Minneapolis: Andrew Johnson

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary EndorsementsRep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)DFL MinneapolisStonewall DFLSenator Patricia Torres RaySeveral local and state unionsBrief Background: Johnson is the first millennial to serve on the Minneapolis City Council. He is a small business owner and served on the Longfellow Community Council, being elected to council president his second year. Johnson currently lives in the Howe neighborhood.Primary IssuesPolice Accountability – Believes police need to be part of the City’s public safety system, but “we cannot continue to expect every problem to be solved by a police officer, nor dysfunction within the institution of MPD to be solved via minor reforms.”Charter Amendments – In favor of Department of Public Safety; opposed rent stabilizationEducation – n/aRacial Justice (gen.) – One of only three council members to vote against the East Phillips Water Yard; co-authored several BIPOC-related resolutions, including speaking out against the Dakota Access Pipeline and fought to repeal the lurking and spitting ordinances.Other major issues/priorities – small businesses; public health; affordable housing; climate change and the 2040 Comp Plan.Best Way to Learn More InformationAndrew Johnson Campaign Website | Minneapolis City Council Page

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide: City of Minneapolis City Council

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By: UpTake Community Journalists

Click the names below to find each individual candidate’s profile

Ward 1

Elliott Payne

Kevin Reich (Incumbent)

Calvin Carpenter

Ward 2

Yusra Arab

Robin Wonsley Worbolah

Tom Anderson

Cam Gordon (Incumbent)

Ward 3

Michael Rainville

Merv Moorhead

Steve Fletcher (Incumbent)

Ward 4

Phillipe Cunningham (Incumbent)

LaTrisha Vetaw

Leslie Davis

Ward 5

Victor Martinez

Jeremiah Ellison (Incumbent)

Suleiman Isse

Cathy Spann

Kristel Porter

Ward 6

Jamal Osman (Incumbent)

A Bihi

Ward 7

Lisa Goodman (Incumbent)

Nick Kor

Teqen Zéa-Aida

Joanna Diaz

Ward 8

Andrea Jenkins (Incumbent)

Robert Sullentrop

Ward 9

Mickey Moore

Yussuf Haji

Brenda Short

Ross Tenneson

Ward 10

David Wheeler

Chris Parsons

Katie Jones

Ubah Nur

Alicia Gibson 

Aisha Chughtai

Ward 11

Emily Koski

Dillon Gherna

Jeremy Schroeder (Incumbent)

Albert T. Ross

Ward 12

Andrew Johnson (Incumbent)

David Rosenfield

Nancy Ford

Ward 13

Bob Reuer

Linea Palmisano (Incumbent)

Mike Norton

Kati Medford

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 6, City of Minneapolis: Jamal Osman

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary endorsements:AFSCME Council 5Operation Safety Now (but Osman rejected the endorsement in an August 5, 2021 Facebook post)Brief background: Refugee and longtime resident of Ward 6, living in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. Osman is a certified mental health first aid instructor. Prior to being elected to the City Council, Osman worked for Common Bond Communities in the Social Services department.Primary issues:Police Accountability: Supports “reform” but says “the MPD [needs] to be fundamentally re-imagined.” Says the MPD is often “openly hostile” toward BIPOC in the community. Charter Amendments: In favor of rent stabilization, in favor of Department of Public SafetyEducation – n/aRacial Justice (gen.): Nothing found beyond police-related issues.Other major issues/priorities: Affordable housing, youth empowerment, mental health and the opioid crisis. “We need a coordinated approach with law enforcement and government services, working together with a focus on treatment and recovery, not policing.”Best way to learn more information: Jamal Osman Campaign Website | Minneapolis City Council Page

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 6, City of Minneapolis: A. Bihi

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary endorsements:Stonewall DFLBrief background: A Somali refugee, Minneapolis resident since 1996. Bihi was a translator for Hennepin County Medical Center, and founder of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center and the Hennepin County Multicultural Project.Primary issues:Police accountability:  “The structural racism that exists in the M.P.D [sic] makes it impossible for any fundamental reform to happen. That’s why we need to dismantle the department and create an equitable, unbiased, agency which protects Minneapolitans unconditionally, with courage and compassion.”Charter amendments: n/aEducation: n/aRacial justice (gen.): Nothing found beyond police-related issues.Other major issues/priorities – Affordable housing Best way to learn more information: Abdirizak Bihi Campaign Website

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 5, City of Minneapolis: Kristel Porter

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary endorsements: n/aBrief background: Lifelong resident of North Minneapolis. Porter has led two Northside neighborhood organizations and several environmental justice-related programs, including founding MN Renewable Now.Primary Issues:Police accountability: In favor of police reform, specifically names not rehiring police officers after being fired for harm committed against a civilian, providing more time off for officers to rest and requiring liability insurance for officers.Charter amendments: n/aEducation: n/aRacial justice (gen.): “The only way to fully have safety and security in our community is to have racial justice….We have to come together and use our imaginations toward a YES, AND approach.”Other major issues/priorities: Environmental justice and clean energy; providing more community-based public safety options, including grants for residents to obtain “Peace Officer License and training” and making homeownership affordable. Best way to learn more information: Kristel Porter Campaign Website

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 5, City of Minneapolis: Cathy Spann

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary endorsements:DFL Senior CaucusOperation Safety NowBrief background: Resident of North Minneapolis for more than 25 years; executive director of the Jordan Area Community Council. Spann was nominated to sit on Minnesota’s Ensuring Police Excellence and Improving Community Relations Advisory Council.Primary Issues:Police accountability: Supports Chief Arradondo, police reform. Advocates for collaborative systemic change. Charter amendments: n/aEducation: n/aRacial justice (gen.): “I will work within a system that hasn’t always been receptive to BIPOC communities in addressing issues that impact our lives.” Sees housing stability as an important anti-racism action.Other major issues/priorities: Housing stability; creating “equitable employment opportunities.”Best way to learn more information: Cathy Spann Campaign Website

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 5, City of Minneapolis: Suleiman Isse

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By JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary Endorsements: n/aBrief background: Father, husband, entrepreneur, small business owner with more than 100 employees and a “non-politician.” Graduate of University of St. Thomas. Isse has lived in the Twin Cities since 1999 and ran for Minnesota Senate in 2020.Primary Issues:Police Accountability: Proposing law enforcement officers be paired with a mental health expert; introduce new training for police to have better resources to combat stress, high blood pressure and insomnia. Would also require police to have liability insurance.Charter Amendments: n/aEducation: n/aRacial Justice (gen.): Vocal about Black Americans being more likely to contract and die from COVID-19.Other major issues/priorities: Ending homelessness; increasing access to food/grocery stores; supporting community centers to train youth in cooking and entrepreneurship.Best way to learn more information: Suleiman Isse Campaign Website

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 5, City of Minneapolis: Jeremiah Ellison

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By: JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary endorsements:Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)SEIU Minnesota State CouncilTakeAction MinnesotaOur Revolution Minnesota – TCStonewall DFLBrief background: Artist, muralist, community organizer. Father is Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General. Jeremiah Ellison was born and raised in North Minneapolis.Primary issues:Police accountability: “We have got to get out of the rut of ‘incremental’ change. It’s time we took a leap towards actual safe communities and put an end to police brutality.” — Dec. 2 2020 tweet.Charter amendments: – In favor of rent stabilization; in favor of Department of Public SafetyEducation – n/aRacial justice (gen.): Established Commercial Property Development Fund, giving better opportunity for BIPOC-owned businesses to buy commercial buildings; wrote an opinion piece for New York Times about COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on Black Americans.Other major issues/priorities: Affordable housing and rent control; environmental justice.Best way to learn more information: Jeremiah Ellison Campaign Website | Minneapolis City Council Page

Minnesota

2021 Voter Guide, Ward 5, City of Minneapolis: Victor Martinez

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By JT Pinther, Freelance Journalist

Primary endorsements:Operation Safety NowTeamsters Joint Council 32Brief background: A pastor of New Generation Church and resident of North Minneapolis for 17 years. Married, father of three, entrepreneur, community organizer. Martinez has worked with the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization program and helped lead the Northside Residential Redevelopment Council.Primary issues:Police accountability: Supports Chief Medaria Arradondo, police reform. “We need more law enforcement more then [sic] ever before.” Charter amendments: n/aEducation: n/aRacial justice (gen.): n/aOther major issues/priorities: Focused primarily on increasing police presence on Northside, developing metrics to “ID troubled cops early on.” Aims to create a youth development fund, support seniors, create jobs and support environmental justice issues.Best way to learn more information: Victor Martinez Campaign Website