Hennepin Healthcare System appoints first Somali American chairman of its Board of Directors

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October 24, 2024

Mohamed Omar_Mshale_Feature — George Mason University alum Mohamed Omar was on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 appointed the chair of the Board of Directors at Hennepin Healthcare System which oversees Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and other county clinics. HCMC is Minnesota's largest and busiest Level 1 Trauma Center that also serves as a teaching hospital for the state. Photo: Courtesy Washburn Center for Children

Hennepin Healthcare System has appointed Mohamed Omar as its first Somali Board of Directors chairman since the system began operating as Minneapolis City Hospital in 1887.

Mr. Omar is the chief administrative officer for the 141-year-old Minneapolis-based Washburn Center for Children, and was previously the controller and chief accountant at the Metropolitan Council.

Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS), is a public corporation established by state statute. That statue says HHS as a public corporation will operate “as a subsidiary of the county of Hennepin.” It is governed by a corporate board, of which two members are Hennepin County commissioners. It also oversees Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), and other county clinics in cities like Brooklyn Park and Golden Valley.

HCMC is the state’s largest and busiest Level 1 Trauma Center and also serves as a teaching hospital. Among the duties the Legislature has given it is that of operating the state’s poison control hotline. In addition to serving the general public’s healthcare needs, the specific statue that setup HHS says that the public includes “the indigent as defined by state and federal law and as determined by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.”

An HHS board member’s term is three years and they are eligible to serve up to three successive three-year terms.

“Three years ago, I chose to serve on the Hennepin Healthcare board because I share this organization’s commitment to deliver high-quality, equitable care to all our patients,” Mohamed said in a statement. “We can do this by building a board and leadership team that reflects the diversity of our patients and our community. My commitment is to deepen our community engagement, build more authentic connections between patients and team members, and build a confident future together.”

Minnesota is home to the largest community of Somali immigrants in the United States, with a population of nearly 90,000 who trace their origins to the East African country, according to a Minnesota Compass analysis of 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Omar said the fact that the state is home to the largest number of Somali Americans in the nation is what makes his new role a great honor.

Omar has been serving as interim chair of the board since September 14 after the previous chair, Babette Apland, stepped down after making racist comments about Somali immigrants during an August 8 closed door joint meeting with the Hennepin County Board and Hennepin Healthcare leaders.

The Hennepin County Board declared racism a public health crisis in 2020.

Prior to his short tenure as interim chair last month, Mohamed served on the HHS board’s finance, investment, audit and compliance committees, according to the news release announcing his ascension to permanent status.

A George Mason University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting, Omar, upon graduation started his career as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers before moving on to Goldman Sachs in London, as well as Marriott International.

He has an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship and an MS in information systems, both from The Johns Hopkins University.

Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando made history of her own in 2023 when she became the first person of color to be chair of the County Board. In a statement congratulating Omar on his new role, Fernando said “As the first Hennepin County Board Chair of color, I know how impactful it is for our communities to see themselves represented in public leadership.”

Brooklyn Park City Council decides to keep Boyd Morson under censure

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Mshale Staff

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October 22, 2024

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BP Council Members After Swearing in on Jan 9 2023 — Councilmember Boyd Morson, right, joins other councilmembers for a photo after the new council was sworn in on January 9, 2023. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

Brookly Park City Councilmember Boyd Morson censure came up for a six-month review at the October 14 council meeting. He has been censured twice – in March 2022 and again in April 2024.

At the Council meeting last week, after a lengthy discussion, members decided to keep the censure in place because Councilmember Morson has continued to violate terms of the censure, they said.

The city’s attorney, Jim Thomson, told members a vote was not necessary to keep the censure in place but one will be needed to lift it. The Council consists of seven members which includes the mayor. Five of them said it should be kept in place. One Councilmember Maria Tran was absent.

His censure bars him from having direct contact with city staff with the exception of the city manager and the director of the Economic Development Authority.

Following his second censure in April, Morson wrote a hard-hitting Op-ed in Mshale where he claimed the censuring was curtailing his First Amendment rights. He has also previously called on the city attorney and city manager to be investigated by the FBI.

Morson who represents the Central District is up for reelection in November but was redistricted to the East District where he is facing political newcomer Amanda Xiong. Morson and Xiong are vying to replace Councilmember XP Lee who chose not seek reelection.

With him being redistricted away from the Central District to the East District, Shelle Page and Teshite Wako are squaring off in November to represent the district on the Council.

Should Morson win in November his next censure review is expected to be shortly after he is sworn-in in January.

Mayor Hollies Winston summarized the sentiments of most members when he said the censure should stay in place as Morson has not changed his behavior.

“The things we ask to be addressed have not been addressed. In fact, more egregious behavior has been in place in terms of trying to destabilize people’s belief in their actual government,” Mayor Winston said.

Brooklyn Park celebrates Nigerian sister city, honors actor Mofe-Damijo for role in relationship

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Edwin Okong'o - Mshale Contributing Editor

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October 18, 2024

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Angel Smith Presents Award to Mpfe-Damijo — Brooklyn Park Assistant City Manager Dr. Angel R. Smith, presents the city's first Global Empowerment and Connection Award to Nigerian actor, writer and producer, Richard Mofe-Damijo for his role as an ambassador in the Brooklyn Park and Udu sister city relationship, during the two year celebration of the ties between the two cities held at North Hennepin Community College on Friday, October 4, 2024. Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park

The city of Brooklyn Park celebrated the second year of its relationship with Udu, a Nigerian urban center that became a sister city in 2023.

The ceremony, which took place recently at Hennepin Community College, featured various performances including dance, spoken word, and a townhall-style conversation with award-winning Nigerian actor, writer and producer, Richard Mofe-Damijo. Mofe-Damijo, who in the past served in government as Delta state’s commissioner for culture and tourism, was also honored for his service as an ambassador in the relationship between the two sister cities.

Mayor Hollies Winston said the relationship with Udu was the third Brooklyn Park had established with a city from the African continent. The first was Kakata, Liberia in 2012, followed10 years later by Banjul, the capital of The Gambia.

“These partnerships are based on mutual respect, cultural exchange, and a shared commitment to growing together,” Winston said. “This means creating opportunities for our entrepreneurs and learning from each other’s experiences. Celebrating our communities [with] events like tonight’s strengthens our ties and bring us closer together.”

Mayor Winston with Mofe Damijo — Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston, middle,speaks with Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo during the two-year celebration of the sister city relationship between the Nigerian city of Udu and Brooklyn Park held at North Hennepin Community College on Friday, October 4, 2024. Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park

Located in Nigeria’s Delta state, Udu became Brooklyn Park’s sister city on Feb. 27, 2003, when the government of the Minnesotan city signed documents approving the relationship. The two cities agreed to have a relationship that promotes cultural, professional, and innovation exchange. They also agreed to co-operate on tackling issues like climate change, international migration crises, pandemics, and conflicts arising from scarcity of resources.

Brooklyn Park is one of the most diverse cities in the United States, with more than 60% of its population being people of color, according to Minnesota Compass, a research organization that analyzes census data to help policymakers make informed decisions. In 2022, more than 29% of residents of the city identified as Black or African American, the analysis shows. There is no specific data on the number of Nigerians, but the city hosts Minnesota’s largest Igbo Fest, a cultural celebration of Igbos, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups.

“Brooklyn Park is no longer a city that is landlocked in the state of Minnesota,” Winston said. “We are blessed to have that wonderful mix, and this is what it looks like to have people from across the world [living] in our humble city.”

Drumline — Cultural performances of dance and spoken word preceded a conversation between Dr. Angel R. Smith, the assistant city manager of Brooklyn Park and Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo during the two-year celebration of the sister city relationship between the Nigerian city of Udu and Brooklyn Park held at North Hennepin Community College on Friday, October 4, 2024. Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park

After cultural performances of dance and spoken word, Dr. Angel R. Smith, the assistant city manager of Brooklyn Park, sat down for a conversation with Mofe-Damijo, who talked about his decorated decades-long career in film and public service.

“For young people aspiring to enter public service or government roles, what advice would give them about navigating the complexities of those careers?” Smith asked.

Mofe-Damijo said his main concern was that many youths might be discouraged from seeking leadership positions in government because it was a “tough terrain” to navigate.

“Young people are not in the least attracted to public service, yet it is one of those areas we must get into because they say people get the leadership they deserve,” he said. “So, if you feel like there is a need to have a better society, you must throw your weight in by participating in governance.”

Mofe-Damijo said mentorship played a significant role in the success of his career. He said he emulated his mentors and followed their values. He urged young people to do the same, adding that technology had made it much easier to find and follow mentors than it was during his youth.

Mofe Damijo and Angel Smith — Nigerian actor, writer and producer, Richard Mofe-Damijo engages in conversation with Brooklyn Park Assistant City Manager, Dr. Angel R. Smith, at North Hennepin Community College during the two-year celebration of the sister city relationship between the Nigerian city of Udu and Brooklyn Park on Friday, October 4, 2024. Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park

“Thank God for social media, you don’t have to meet [your] mentors,” Mofe-Damijo said. “Find someone who is in your profession that you look up to … keep studying and looking at what kind of life they’ve led professionally and from the point of view of family.”

But Mofe-Damijo challenged young people to go far beyond what their mentors had achieved.

“There is a prayer we [say] in Nigeria when somebody says, ‘Oh, I want to be like you when I grow up,’” he said. “We say, ‘No, when you grow up, you will be bigger than me. You will be better than me.’”

The celebration of the sister city relationship followed a recent city council proclamation declaring Oct. 1, 2024, as Nigerian Independence Day in Brooklyn Park. In a written statement to Mshale, Smith, the assistant city manager, said that in 2023, the city council of Brooklyn Park reviewed its annual holiday calendar to consider adding several holidays for official recognition through proclamation. Nigerian Independence Day was identified, reflecting the growing community of people from the west African country who call Brooklyn Park home, she said. The sister city partnership with Udu, was also a key factor, according to Smith.

“We plan to continue this tradition in the years to come.”

Minnesota Somali Community Center honors leaders for spirit of ‘Geesinimo’

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Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief

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October 17, 2024

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State Rep Hodan Hassan_Mshale Newspaper Feature — Rep. Hodan Hassan, first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and is finishing her third term this year and is not seeking reelection, was awarded the Legacy of Service award by the Minnesota Somali Community Center during its Samafal Gala in Columbia Heights on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Photo: Siyad Salah/Somali TV of MN

The Minnesota Somali Community Center hosted its annual Samafal Gala on Saturday night in Columbia Heights.

Hundreds gathered to honor community healthcare providers and healthcare entrepreneurs involved in addressing the opioid epidemic facing the Somali community, as well as elected officials that have championed the interests of the community at the Legislature.

The honorees were recognized for embodying the spirit of “Geesinimo” – Somali for bravery. Samafal means charity in Somali.

Minnesota Somali Community Center (MSCC) is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that provides support and resources for the livability issues that Somalis in the state face.

The organizations and individuals MSCC honored on Saturday have been on the forefront in addressing the complex web of challenges such as the opioid epidemic by investing time and resources, and in the case of legislators such as state Rep. Hodan Hassan, political capital.

One of those honored was a non-Somali, Dr. Benjamin Swart, an internal medicine physician that MSCC executive director Hassanen Mohamed said has been particularly crucial in the community’s efforts to address the opioid epidemic because of how Dr. Swart has lived his life.

“Dr. Ben graduated from the University of Minnesota but decided to live in the Cedar-Riverside area, just to be close to the community, he has visited Somalia and learned our culture and chose to raise his children in our community,” said Mohamed. He said it was Dr. Swart’s presence and hands on approach in the community that made their parts cross. He described late night visits with Dr. Swart to help those who have overdosed in places many consider unsafe.

Farhia Budul was among those honored Saturday with a “Champion of Recovery” award. She is a Somali woman in long-term recovery from opioid addiction that has garnered prominence in her mission to help others overcome the stigma associated with addiction. On Saturday, she accepted her award on stage in the company of others that have also triumphed over addiction.

“Recovery does work, recovery is possible, this is how recovery looks like today” said Budul as she pointed to the four people that accompanied her on stage.

She said Minnesota has the worst disparities in the nation when it comes to substance abuse and that the state needs to do better in addressing those disparities.

“This is a disease that is killing us, it is killing our youth and we need to reduce the stigma and shame because it takes a village (to address it), for us we are recovering out loud as that is what is helping others,” Budul said.

Rep. Hodan Hassan who is serving her third term in the Minnesota House of Representatives was among three state legislators honored. Rep. Hassan, who is not seeking reelection in November, was honored with the “Legacy of Service” award.

“Our community is struggling in many ways but also thriving in many ways, but there is a silver lining in every cloud – community work is hard, it takes a toll on you and your family so we should thank all these folks that are doing the work,” said Rep. Hassan. She said while she will no longer be in elective office after January, she will still be active in community service.

Samafal Gala 2024 Honorees

Community Caregiver: Dr. Benjamin Swart
Geesinimo Award: State Senator Omar Fateh
Champion of Recovery: Farhia Budul of Niyyah Recovery Initiative
Recovery Leadership: Abdirahman Warsame of Generation Hope
Community Impact: Musab Adam of Access Healing Center
Legacy of Service Award: Hodan Hassan
Service Provider of the Year: Yussuf Shafie of Alliance Wellness Center
Voice of Change: Mariam Said aka Mama Sahra
Friend of the Community: State Senator John Hoffman
Resilience in Recovery: Sundus Ali

Bona hits a grand slam with the Dakota audience in his Minnesota debut

By

Susan Budig

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October 11, 2024

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Richard Bona at Dakota_Featured — Richard Bona during his concert at the Dakota on September 26, 2024 where he made his Minnesota debut. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber

While Twins fans were watching their team lose to the Marlins a few blocks away, fans of Richard Bona were luxuriating in his winsome music at The Dakota on Thursday, September 26th.

Watching Cameroonian Bona and his band play was equally as exciting as watching a sporting event. There was constant communication—a smile, a raised eyebrow, a shoulder shrug—between Bona on electric bass and Jesus Pupo on two sets of keys, a grand piano and an electronic keyboard. Their playing was dynamic and engaging.

Ludwig Afonso hails from Cuba as does Pupo. Playing the rhythm section of the show, he laid the foundation for his bandmates’, rising up to shine on solos in turn. True jazz performers, they read one another on stage, mixing up their sounds into a perfect blend.

All three filed onto stage, opening with the irresistible Muntula Moto (The Benediction of a Long Life). Dressed in earthy colors of greens and browns, Bona strummed and picked his electric bass while singing in Douala.

They followed the first number with Three Views of a Secret, starting smooth and easy then segueing into a more syncopated rhythm with a dash of vinegar. This piece crescendoed into peerless piano-playing by Pupo and then an equally accomplished drum riff.

A danceable, though no one did, number was third in the set, Bilongo. Bona plays his guitar imbued with a sense of humor, sometimes exaggerating the motions and flashing a huge smile at the audience. He calls out, “This is the first time I’ve ever been in Minneapolis.”

Then, like a cat walking on stage, the band began to play Eyala, slow and intimate. This was one of my favorites. It’d be easy to close my eyes and lose myself to the sound, but I don’t want to do that because seeing the performers ping off one another and bolster one another is also part of the beauty of live-music.

Bona tells us that Miles Davis was a huge influence on his music. He then plays a song by Davis, All Blues, though cautioning us not to try to clap along on this intricate, “ninja” number. Pupo plays simultaneously both keyboards, his fingers striking out at the keys as if the piano keys were on fire and he can’t rest his hands for long. The musicians are so hot, so in-tune, so intense and electrified that I wanted to jump up and cheer them on.

Bona quips after the song, asking the audience, “Was that good?” Not waiting for an answer, he laughs and cuts in, “Of course, I know it’s good.” Anyone with ears can hear how polished the band played.

His bandmates exit the stage momentarily and Bona pulls out his Black Magic Voodoo Machine also known as a looper. He lays down tracks interspersed with regaling us about the history of the machine and how he likes to use it in his music both to create and to perform.

Bona uses some call-and-response with a very enthusiastic audience. He butters us up telling us we’re “better than Miami.” I’m not sure if he’s improvising on the spot, but the music he puts out, all his own original work, is layered and rich and complex. Every good thing you’ve ever heard about jazz is embodied in Bona’s playing.

“I see a lot of Cameroonians here tonight,” he calls out and the crowd cheers back at him because he’s right. The entirety of the Dakota has been opened with few empty seats in sight.

“I feel like dancing,” Bona says, and rejoined by his bandmates, they launch into O Sen Sen Sen. It’s fun and playful. The crowd spontaneously claps and cheers as they play. Toward the end of the song, they jump up onto their feet demanding an encore.

Bona steps off stage to grab a beverage and Pupo lays down a solo on piano. Pupo nearly eclipses Bona in sheer skill, his playing is inspired leaving us breathless. But Bona’s deep, deep knowledge of what he’s playing and the permutations he takes with each song, his love for the music and how he shares it with his audience elevate Bona into the maestro that he is.

With an encore imminent, Bona obliges, returning to the stage singing in Spanish, Alfonsina y el mar – Mercedez Sosa, leaving the audience satisfied and certain to return for his next engagement.

Somali American Imams and scholars endorse Kamala Harris, urge community to vote

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Edwin Okong'o - Mshale Contributing Editor

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October 11, 2024

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Kamala Greets Walz — Vice President Kamala Harris greets Gov. Tim Walz when she last visited Minnesota on March 14, 2024 before becoming the Democratic nominee for president. On Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, Somali American imams and scholars announced their endorsement of the Harris-Walz ticket. Photo: Adam Bettcher/AP

A group of Somali American imams, scholars and other leaders have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president because another Donald Trump presidency would be too devastating to their community, they said.

The coalition of 35 religious leaders and scholars endorsed Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, following a recent three-day summit in St. Cloud, about 75 miles northwest of St. Paul, the state capitol.

“Donald Trump is actively promoting division and hatred, from his racist Muslim travel ban to his extremist Project 2025 plan,” said Imam Mohamed Mukhtar, one of the leaders. “We cannot stand by while he threatens our brothers and sisters in Palestine and fuels Islamophobia.”

Minnesota is home to the largest community of Somali immigrants in the United States, with a population of nearly 90,000 people who trace their origins to the East African country, according to a Minnesota Compass analysis of 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Somali Imams and Scholars Featured — Somali American imams, scholars and other leaders pose for a group photo after their meeting in St. Cloud, Minnesota that arrived at a decision to endorse the Harris-Walz ticket. Photo: Courtesy of Xidig TV

Somalis began arriving in the United States as refugees after a civil war broke out in their country in 1991. Most of them ended up in Minnesota partly due to the midwestern state’s reputation as a friendly and welcoming place. Even with the wave of Islamophobia that swept the nation after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Minnesota remained a relatively tolerant state. However, things began to get worse when Trump began targeting Somalis with Islamophobic attacks, as he sought to win the Democratic-leaning state in the 2016 presidential election.

“Here in Minnesota, you’ve seen first-hand the problems caused with faulty refugee vetting, with very large numbers of Somali refugees coming into your state without your knowledge, without your support or approval,” multiple media quoted Trump saying at a campaign rally.

When Trump became president, one of the first executive orders he signed was to ban travel from predominantly Muslims countries, including Somalia. Throughout his presidency, he continued his assault on the Somali community, often through racist rants against Rep. Ilhan Omar, a U.S. congresswoman from Minnesota, who was born in Somalia.

Since Trump entered politics, there have been more blatant racist and Islamophobic attacks on Somalis in Minnesota, including dozens of incidents of violence and vandalism of mosques. In 2020, Imam Mukhtar himself was the victim of violent assault by two teenagers, who attacked him outside his mosque in Bloomington, a suburb of Minneapolis. The attack left him with two fractures on his left shoulder.

Imam Mukhtar Featured — Imam Mohamed Mukhtar at a meeting of Somali American imams, scholars and other leaders that endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket. Photo: Courtesy of Xidig TV

In August, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) reported that there were 33 incidents of attacks on mosques during the previous three years. And in the first half of 2024, there were nearly 5,000 complaints about cases of bias against Muslim communities, an increase of 69%, compared to the same period in 2023, according to CAIR-MN. Trump’s racist rhetoric has continued as he seeks to return to the White House, and Somalis now fear that another four years of him as president would be devastating to their community.

Mohamed Abdi Wardere, one of the men tasked with distributing the message of the leaders to the community through media, urged Somalis who are U.S citizens to turn up in numbers on Nov. 5 to exercise their constitutional right to vote. He said the stakes in the upcoming elections were higher than ever for the Somali community.

“If Trump comes back [to the White House, Somalis] will be the first people he will hurt,” Wardere said. “We have to participate and actually be a part of the decision-making process in America.”

Wardere said the 35 leaders were not part of any organization and only came together as individuals to make the joint statement. In their statement, they made it clear that their endorsement of the Harris-Walz ticket was not without reservation. The leaders said they were deeply troubled by the ongoing violence against the people of Gaza and Lebanon, and called for an immediate ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid, and an end to Israel’s occupation so that Palestinians may have the right to self-determination.

“While the coalition stands firmly behind the Harris-Walz ticket, [it] also vehemently opposes specific policies, particularly regarding Gaza and Lebanon,” the statement said. “Despite these disagreements, Trump’s policies pose an even more significant threat to the rights and dignity of marginalized communities, both in the U.S. and abroad.”

U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood and Ilhan Omar stump for Harris-Walz ticket in Minneapolis

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Jasmine Webber, Mshale Photojournalist

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October 8, 2024

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Lauren Underwood in Minneapolis on Sept 29 2024_Mshale — U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood pictured with Minnesota elected women of color, including Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar as they stumped for the Harris-Walz ticket in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood visited Minneapolis last week to join U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, who represents the area, to rally supporters for Vice President Kamala Harris in her White House bid. The two were joined by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in a Sunday “Women of Color for Harris Brunch.”

“When we vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, we have an opportunity to reject Donald Trump and Project 2025 once and for all.” Underwood told a crowd that included almost all of the elected women of color in Minnesota during a brunch held at Parcelle, an eatery in Northeast Minneapolis. “So many of us that look up to her – myself included – looking at the way she tackles the challenges that we face, as strong women with bold ideas and a vision for America that is inclusive, and are inspired to step into our leadership, ladies let us wok together to elect Kamla Harris – Let’s get it done.”

Underwood, a member of the Illinois congressional delegation became the youngest Black woman to serve in Congress when she was first sworn-in on January 2019.

U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, who also spoke at the event, said that electing Vice President Harris “sends a message, an opposite message of what happens if we elect Trump to a second term, because if we elect Trump, we are saying we are fine with liars being our president, we are fine with a fraudster that has filed for bankruptcy multiple times.”

Rep. Omar was full of praise for Vice President Harris, telling the audience that the vice president, then a U.S. Senator, was the first to reach out to her with valuable advice on how to hire staff when she was first elected in 2018 as the first Somali American member of Congress, “it is the sole reason I have 90 percent retention rate of my staff,” she said.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, also urged those present to not only urge people and their friends to vote, but to knock on as many doors as possible.

A November win by Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz, who is the Minnesota Governor, will see Lt. Gov. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, becoming America’s first Indigenous governor. As Minnesota’s Lt. Governor, she is already the highest-ranking Indigenous woman elected to an executive office in the nation.

“You have that power to change hearts and minds, to get people to show up, so that a room like this one (with many elected women of color) is simply the norm?” Flanagan said. “This is our moment to show up for our next president, but more than anything, this is our moment to show up for each other.”

Kenyan Shadrack Kimining and Molly Bookmyer of Ohio win 2024 Twin Cities Marathon

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Mshale Staff

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October 7, 2024

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Shadrack Kimining, 28, of Kenya won the 2024 Twin Cities Marathon men’s race Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 17 seconds beating Eritrean Tesfu Tewelde by just four seconds. In the women’s race, Molly Bookmyer, 33, of Ohio, took first place with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 52 seconds.

The 26.2-mile race started outside the U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis and finished at the state Capitol in St. Paul.

Top 10 Men finishers


1	Shadrack Kimining	2:10:17
2	Tesfu Twelde	2:10:21
3	Dominic Ondoro	2:10:32
4	Matthew Richtman	2:10:45
5	Cosmass Kiplimo	2:12:32
6	Will Norris	2:12:33
7	Ben Olson	2:14:35
8	Benjamin Schneiderman	2:16:09
9	Dillon Powell	2:16:16
10	Kevin Kirk	2:16:33

Top 10 Women finishers

1	Molly Bookmyer	2:28:52
2	Jessica Watychowicz	2:33:02
3	Ashlee Powers	2:33:40
4	Megan O’Neil	2:34:55
5	Madison Offstein	2:36:07
6	Kimberly Carr	2:36:29
7	Miku Hirashima	2:39:35
8	Lauren Kelly	2:45:52
9	Jen Van Otterloo	2:46:12
10	Riley McGinnity	3:12:03

Dikembe Mutombo, a Hall of Fame player and tireless advocate, dies at 58 from brain cancer

By

Associated Press

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October 2, 2024

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Dikembe Mutombo Waving — Retired Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo waves to the crowd as his jersey number was retired by the team during halftime of the Nuggets' NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, in Denver. The Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 from brain cancer. He was 58. Photo: David Zalubowski/AP File

Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58.

His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumor. The NBA said he died surrounded by his family.

“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

Mutombo was distinctive in so many ways — the playful finger wag at opponents after blocking their shots, his height, his deep and gravelly voice, his massive smile. Players of this generation were always drawn to him and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was born in Cameroon, looked to Mutombo as an inspiration.

“It’s a sad day, especially for us Africans, and really the whole world,” Embiid said Monday. “Other than what he’s accomplished on the basketball court, I think he was even better off the court. He’s one of the guys that I look up to, as far as having an impact, not just on the court, but off the court. He’s done a lot of great things. He did a lot of great things for a lot of people. He was a role model of mine. It is a sad day.”

Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for Denver, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, New York and the then-New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-2 center out of Georgetown was an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and went into the Hall of Fame in 2015 after averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for his career.

Dikembe Mutombo Against Dennis Rodman — The Atlanta Hawks’ Dikembe Mutombo, left, drives to the hoop against the Chicago Bulls’ Dennis Rodman during the second quarter of their playoff game Thursday, May 8, 1997, in Chicago. The Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 from brain cancer. He was 58. Photo: Michael S. Green/AP File

He also was part of one of the league’s most iconic playoff moments, helping eighth-seeded Denver oust top-seeded Seattle in the first round of the 1994 Western Conference playoffs. That best-of-five series marked the first time a No. 8 beat a No. 1 in NBA history.

“It’s really hard to believe,” Toronto President Masai Ujiri said Monday, pausing several times because he was overcome with emotion shortly after hearing the news of Mutombo’s death. “It’s hard for us to be without that guy. You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. … That guy, he made us who we are. That guy is a giant, an incredible person.”

Mutombo last played during the 2008-09 season, devoting his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for the people in the Congo.

And on occasion, LeBron James pointed out with a laugh on Monday, Mutombo didn’t necessarily improve the health of others.

“My fondest memory of Dikembe Mutombo? He fractured my face on my birthday in Cleveland with an elbow,” James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star, said while taking several minutes Monday to pay tribute to Mutombo’s life. “I never even got an opportunity to tell him about that. But yeah. I don’t remember how old … I was in Cleveland, my first stint, and I think I was turning 22 maybe?

“I went to the hole and caught one of those Dikembe elbows, and if anybody know about the Dikembe elbows, they do not feel good. He fractured my face, and I went to the hospital that night, and I wore a mask for a little bit. That is my memory of Dikembe,” James said.

James was close on the details: Dec. 29, 2004, was when that play happened, late in the first half, one day before his 20th birthday.

Mutombo told reporters that night he wasn’t sure how James got hurt. “He was laying there and I was like, ‘What happened, what happened?’” Mutombo told the Houston Chronicle after that game. “All I know, I was running to the basket. … LeBron turned around to stop me going to the basket. The collision happened.”

Ryan Mutombo, the Hall of Famer’s son, said in a tribute posted on social media that his father “loved others with every ounce of his being.”

“My dad is my hero because he simply cared,” Ryan Mutombo wrote. “He remains the purest heart I have ever known.”

Mutombo served on the boards of many organizations, including Special Olympics International, the CDC Foundation and the National Board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador,” Silver said. “He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa.”

Mutombo is one of three players to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year four times. The others: reigning DPOY winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.

“He was always there to talk to me and advise me on how to approach the season and take care of my body and icing after games and stretching and trying different things like yoga,” Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “He will be always remembered and may his soul rest in peace.”

Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey — who was with Mutombo for many seasons in Houston — was informed of his friend’s death during the team’s media day on Monday. Tears welled in Morey’s eyes as he processed the news.

“There aren’t many guys like him,” Morey said. “Just a great human being. When I was a rookie GM in this league, my first chance in Houston, he was someone I went to all the time. … His accomplishments on the court, we don’t need to talk about too much. Just an amazing human being, what he did off the court for Africa. Rest in peace, Dikembe.”

AP Sports Writers Steve Megargee in Milwaukee, Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and Dan Gelston in Camden, New Jersey, and Associated Press writer Ian Harrison in Toronto contributed to this report.

Vance and Walz begin cordially but end in heated clashes over Trump, Jan. 6, and national policy issues

By

Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Senior National Correspondent

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October 2, 2024

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Vance and Walz Handshake at VP Candidate Debate on Oct. 1 2024 — Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, left, and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, shake hands as they arrive for a CBS News vice presidential debate, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

AP Vance Walz Handshake 100124 — Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, left, and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, shake hands as they arrive for a CBS News vice presidential debate, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, faced off in the only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election on Tuesday night, which began with a measured tone but eventually escalated into a combative exchange. The debate, which CBS News hosted at their Broadcast Center in New York and Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan moderated, covered a range of important national issues, with Vance’s connections to former President Donald Trump and the January 6 uprising emerging as key flashpoints.

The debate’s early moments were largely civil, as both candidates laid out their platforms and shared their visions on topics such as foreign policy and the economy. However, tensions flared when Vance was asked about Trump’s recent comment that childcare was “not very expensive” compared to the money the country would gain from his policies. Vance explained that Trump was referring to the nation’s ability to raise funds by “penalizing companies shipping jobs overseas” and those using “slave laborers.” But Vance sidestepped when pressed on whether Trump was committed to the child tax credit, redirecting the discussion to economic penalties for outsourcing, prompting frustration from Walz.

The debate took a sharper turn when Vance was questioned about the 2020 election and Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection. Rather than directly answering whether Trump lost the 2020 election, Vance defended the former president’s actions that day, stating, “Remember, [Trump] said that on January the 6th, the protesters ought to protest peacefully, and on January the 20th, what happened? Joe Biden became the president. Donald Trump left the White House.”

Walz responded forcefully, calling Vance’s failure to answer directly “a damning non-answer.” He continued, “To deny what happened on January 6, the first time an American president or anyone tried to overturn an election, is unacceptable. This has got to stop. It’s tearing our country apart.”

Walz also drew attention to the broader implications of Vance’s remarks, reminding voters of the violence on January 6, including a march on the governor’s mansion in Minnesota. “What I’m concerned about is, where is the firewall with Donald Trump? Where is the firewall if he knows he could do anything, including taking an election, and his vice president’s not going to stand up to it? That’s what we’re asking you, America,” Walz said, clarifying that accountability for democracy was at stake in the 2024 election.

Vance avoided direct answers on election integrity and instead pivoted to discussions of censorship, blaming tech companies for “censoring their fellow citizens” and touting Trump’s endorsements by former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He continued to defend Trump’s policies, including tax cuts and immigration, while steering clear of addressing the core issue of Trump’s role in questioning the election results.

The debate further escalated as the two candidates clashed over climate change, healthcare, and gun violence. On climate change, Walz highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in clean energy and infrastructure, citing the Inflation Reduction Act as a crucial step in addressing the crisis. “We’ve made massive investments in electric vehicles, solar technology, and job creation because we know climate change is real,” Walz said.

Vance countered by downplaying the urgency, arguing that Democrats were not serious about the issue. “If they really believed climate change was serious, they’d be doing more manufacturing and energy production here in America. That’s not what they’re doing,” he said, accusing Democrats of using climate change as a political slogan rather than implementing real solutions.

Gun violence also sparked a heated back-and-forth. Vance proposed increased school security measures, suggesting, “We need to make sure the doors lock better, strengthen windows, and add school resource officers.” Walz quickly criticized the proposal, asking, “Do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort?” He pressed for more comprehensive gun control measures, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of violence.

Ultimately, Walz positioned himself as a champion of middle-class families, touting healthcare and affordable housing policies. At the same time, Vance remained firmly aligned with Trump, repeatedly defending the former president’s record and platform.

Walz appealed to voters to choose leaders who will protect democratic institutions, saying, “When Mike Pence made that decision to certify the election, that’s why Mike Pence isn’t on this stage.” Vance, meanwhile, reflected on his loyalty to Trump, asserting that “Donald Trump delivered for the American people.”

Kenyan American physician becomes president of Minnesota Medical Association

By

Edwin Okong'o - Mshale Contributing Editor

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October 2, 2024

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BogonkoEdwin_PrezPortrait_Mshale-10-1-24 — Kenyan-born doctor Edwin Bogonko has been named president of the over 10,000 member Minnesota Medical Association that represents physicians, residents and medical students. He is the first person of color to be president since the organization's founding in 1853. Photo: Courtesy of Minnesota Medical Association

A Kenyan-born doctor has become the 158^th president of Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), the first person of color to lead the organization since its founding in 1853.

Dr. Edwin Bogonko is a physician with Allina Health in Shakopee and has been a very active member of the MMA since 2010, when he joined the nonprofit professional group that represents physicians, residents, and medical students in the state, said Dan Hauser, the association’s director of communication and education.

“He has been so active for so long, so it made sense that he would be our president at some point,” Hauser said.

From October 2020 to September 2023, Dr. Bogonko served as the chair of the MMA’s Board of Trustees. Prior to that, he served in several positions, including the Executive Committee, Policy Council, Nominating Committee, Awards Committee, and the Finance and Audit Committee, which made him the perfect candidate for president, Hauser said.

“He’s a very engaging and friendly person,” he said. “You can tell that he really wants us to do well and to make the practice of medicine better.”

Bogonko and Oni at AHCPA Launch by Mshale — Dr. Edwin Bogonko attends the launch of the African Health Care Providers Association on Feb. 15, 2020 in Minneapolis alongside Dr. Richard Oni, a behavioral health consultant. Dr. Bogonko takes over as the first president of color of Minnesota Medical Association on Oct. 1, 2024. The organization which was founded in 1853 represents physicians, residents and medical students. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

Every year, MMA asks its members to nominate physicians they think should be the next president. If more than one doctor is nominated, the candidates face off in an electronic vote held in July. This year, though, there was no election because no one opposed Dr. Bogonko’s nomination, according to Hauser.

“He was an obvious choice,” Hauser said.

Among the many duties of the president are serving as the principal spokesperson of the MMA, and testifying at the State Capitol whenever a physician’s voice is needed. During his inauguration at a ceremony held in Minneapolis on Sept. 27 at the association’s Empowering Physicians Conference, Dr. Laurel Ries, MMA’s outgoing president, said it was an honor to pass the presidential medallion on to Dr. Bogonko.

“I keep thinking of what a phenomenal job he is going to do in this role, and I am really excited for all of [his] adventures in this coming year as all of us work together to continue that work,” Dr. Ries said.

During his inaugural speech, Dr. Bogonko said he looked forward to working with the organization for the next year as it continued to make Minnesota “the happiest state and the best place to practice medicine.” He said he was “both excited and humbled” to take the responsibility as president and had no plan of doing anything different from the great things the association had done for more than 170 years.

“So, you can be assured that over the next 12 months, I will give my all as the MMA works on serious issues that face medicine in this land of 10,000 lakes,” he said.

Dr. Bogonko said he would work to limit the abuse of prior authorization, the practice of health insurers reserving the right to determine whether a treatment, prescription drug, or medical equipment is necessary before they pay for it. Under his leadership, MMA would also work to promote physician wellness and advocate to preserve healthcare networks in rural areas of Minnesota because citizens deserve to get care close to home, he said. Other issues Dr. Bogonko promised to advocate for were mental health and protection for seniors, both of which he said were close to his heart.

“As many of you in the frontlines would agree, expanding access to mental healthcare is really crucial to easing the choke on our systems, both as physicians and even our hospitals, and especially our emergency rooms,” he said. “We also need to advocate for an environment that doesn’t force seniors to choose between medicine and putting food on the table.”

Dr. Bogonko’s one-year term begins on Oct. 1.

Speaking to Mshale, Dr. Bogonko said that by the time he was 12 years old, he knew he was going to be a doctor. As a child growing up in Kisii, a city in southwestern Kenya, he had a younger brother who had heart disease, which meant that the family visited the hospital a lot.

“Even though I was very young, I could tell that people were suffering unnecessarily because there was a shortage of doctors,” he said.

After his high school education, he went to the University of Nairobi to study medicine. He graduated in 1993 and practiced in Kenya until 1999 when he relocated to the United States. Dr. Bogonko said he joined the MMA to continue his efforts to help the most vulnerable, which began when he was in med school.

When asked to reflect on being the first person of color to ever serve as president of MMA, Dr. Bogonko said that it inspired him dedicate a significant portion of his term as president to advocate for equity in healthcare. He said the MMA would increase outreach efforts to people in underrepresented communities in order find ways to encourage their children to study and become doctors. Having more doctors from minority communities would greatly improve care for patients of color, he said.

“When you are seen by a doctor who understands your culture, you get better care.”

Mshale

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