‘Closing the Digital Divide’ Archives
Poor MPS test scores show leadership’s lack of commitment to students
There are some in the community who want MPS director Rebecca Gagnon to be appointed MPS Superintendent because of her vast experience in education on the global level with her work in Singapore (Ranked #1). (photo: WomenWinning.org) Editors note: The Minneapolis Public School board and it's superintendents have been given the ultimatum, "Just [...]
Why Black America gets bad news coverage
African American and Friends Against Mainstream Media has given FOX 9 News Morning Show another A+ rating, unfortunately, producers at FOX 9 have received a D-. Maybe they should send “M.A.” into the Black community every now and then. WCCO and KSTP both have done complete turnaround landing an A- for creative new ways to engage the Black and [...]
Part 1: Digital Inclusion Fund – a doomed mission on how not to (again) waste $500,000.00
"More gaps, more reports and no real closure." (photo: Wirelessweek.com, edited by IBNN) The revolving account managed by the Minneapolis Foundation to bridge the so-called digital divide—a Digital Inclusion Fund (DIF) financed with a “minimum” of five percent of the network’s profits did little to nothing to close the digital [...]
Open Letter to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak: The Murders of Black Children in North Minneapolis
"Embrace north Minneapolis like you embrace everything President Obama. Make some new friends that will do right by the City of Minneapolis. Then, cut some of the usual suspects off." (photo: http://prettyawfulgiraffes.wordpress.com) Two dead Black kids are two, too much. Anyone cut down in their youth due to gun violence is too much. Okay, law [...]
Haiti and the United States: A Harsh Comparison and Exactness for Blacks of both countries
“Are the reasons Blacks have been successful in the United States is because we don't live on an Island?” by Donald W.R. Allen, II - Editor in Chief /The Independent Business News Network United States of America (IBNN/Editorial Opinion/June 10, 2012)...The headlines read, “U.S. Child Poverty Rate Among Worst in Developed World.” [...]
National Groups collaborate to make GED testing computer-based – Digital Divide in Minneapolis has a WIDE GAP after millions in funding
Moving to a “computer based” GED test for youth and adults in the Twin Cities might pose some serious challenges. What I attest are the failures of the Digital Inclusion Fund grants and Broadband Technology Opportunity Programs in building capacity through Internet Training, some poor and disenfranchised community members will have a much [...]
Education Segregation: Year Twenty-Twelve – Still blocking the doors of student success
Out of the 38% of the Minneapolis Public Schools Black enrolled students, only a handful will make it to college. Most of them will not have the skills to write a two-page paper on what it means to be creative – nor will they be able to understand the principles of philosophy. Throughout history, from slavery up to the 1800’s, people that [...]
African American $4 Billion Dollar Summit: Will the real Negros please stand up!
Join IBNN NEWS on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Minneapolis’ North High School for the African American $4 Billion Dollar Summit. Doors open at 9 a.m. and it’s free and open to the general public. Don’t miss the many workshops, presenters and idea for this new direction in addressing Black wealth and the creation of an independent stream of [...]
If Minneapolis would declare war on gangs, guns and killing babies it might solve some challenges
About a month ago, Gov. Mark Dayton held a meeting at the Cookie Cart in north Minneapolis. The topic of this meeting was public safety, crime and youth violence. The only challenge, Gov. Dayton invited the wrong folks into the room. A process of solving a challenge means you invite people you don’t agree with into the room. Until this happens, [...]
The Black Reconstruction Failure of 2012
Training programs might not be working. They train the unemployed, under-employed and the poor. The challenge is, if training programs don’t have a pipeline to careers and futures it’s like going to an apple tree and looking for a pear. The Black community is the most well trained community in the United States – but if no jobs follow, [...]
