A Dying Mothers Plea To The Minneapolis Urban League Falls On Deaf Ears
Regina Edwards is a 40 year old Black woman with 6 children who has lived in north Minneapolis for the last 6 years. Regina is dying of Pancreatic Cancer. The doctors say they cannot operate. 2 out 10 people get this cancer but by the time its diagnosed its too late. In the mix of it all her furnace is not working her house is cold and she has no food in her refrigerator due to her electricity being cut off. As we speak during this interview shes getting ready to go to chemotherapy at North Memorial Hospital. There is no one but her 18 year old daughter to take care of the siblings. No relatives no grandparentsno one.
Regina has been a political activist and worked at the Urban League of Greater Madison and the City of Madison. She also has worked for the International Culinary School in Burnsville Minnesota and graduated from Minneapolis Community Technical College in May with a degree in Culinary Arts. Reginas path to education wealth and independence was tracking in the right direction.
But theres a lot more to Reginas story. Besides having her new home robbed by the people who lived there before after the landlord gave her the key without changing the locks the day before Thanksgiving there has been a list of events that have happened to Regina that she needs to let out. So lets start with the Minneapolis Urban League. Regina says she knew things where strange at the Minneapolis Urban League when the leadership was like the Pink Panther says Ms. Edwards These people dont want to address any issue other than their paychecks. They creep around as if they are invisible.
Regina said Im tired of fighting. From the social workers at the hospital to Section 8 there was no one available at the Minneapolis Urban League to address assist or advise me on what to do and how a dying mother can get assistance for herself and her children in a true time of need. As I talk to her tonight her young daughter wants to use the computer to do homework but Regina says to her daughter You cant plug the computer in when the heaters are plugged in because the fuse will blow in the basement. Regina doesnt like going in the basement that has flooded this summer and is filled with mold. She has 4 of the children sleep in the bed with her to keep warm.
Regina did go to the Minneapolis Urban League to seek help and counseling services from Dr. Brovada who has a boot camp at the Minneapolis Urban League that helps families. Because of Reginas list of issues Ms. Edwards says It was a laugh; we had so much going on that they never called back. I even called when I was in the hospital still no response.
Regina was first diagnosed with Cancer on August 2 2008 and went through an unsuccessful surgery; she sought help from the Minneapolis Urban League for her and her children which fell on deaf ears. Meantime her 15 year old daughter took a liking to skipping school and hanging out at the Minneapolis Urban League. Reginas 15 year old daughter a runaway was allegedly welcomed into one of the mens homes whooperate out of the MUL.Now the 15 year old is 1 months pregnant allegedly by a 19 year old that has told the mother Regina Shes just 15 she can get an abortion. Ms. Edwards says My daughter will not have an abortion! These people at the Minneapolis Urban League who smile in my face are the same ones responsible for my daughter getting pregnant. Its a shame that the janitor at the Minneapolis Urban League knew my daughter was pregnant before I did. Where is the process for accountability?
Regina goes on to say I have asked everyone at the Minneapolis Urban League to help me after my money was gone. she asked What programs you have that I can be a part of to help keep my family together. The only one that has shown any compassion or caring towards me was a couple of really nice ladies at the front desk. The men at the Urban League to include the local pastors that associate themselves with the MUL Regina says I wouldnt trust to bury me when I die. Ms. Edwards was speaking about a fund that was to be set up to assist her and the children during this hard time. It has been alleged that there was monies collected that never got to Ms. Edwards.
Regina also says No one over north Minneapolis wants to be accountable for anything in the community. They all just worry about themselves. If the Minneapolis Urban League truly served the people of north Minneapolis we would have more jobs better schools programs that worked and a future different than mine which ultimately will be death!
Doctors at North Memorial and Hennepin County Medical Center say that the cancer that Regina has in some cases can be avoided through exercise healthy eating nutritional education and a responsible community awareness of health disparities in the Black community. With all respect this should be addressed by local social service agencies by partnering with local Universities and Hospitals to raise topofmind awareness to illnesses that affect the Black community more so than the mainstream; in some cases attributed to unhealthy diets lack of food sources food bank and no money to make healthy choices. The Social Wellness Cluster at the Minneapolis Urban League has received dollars to address such issues on a monumental level but with the lack of leadership and process the message is muted to a quite whisper with no successful measurable results. Its not about catered parties at the Minneapolis Urban League to increase awareness about an illness; we need boots on the ground going doortodoor to engage the Black community. Those people act like they are too good to serve the people says Ms. Edwards.
Is the University of MinnesotaNorth Side Partnership or UROC really the answer north Minneapolis needs? Its been almost a year since a University and an Anthropologist ascended on north Minneapolis with all the grace of a Messiah. Still no one has address the high unemployment rates no economic stimuli and the static feel of a blighted community. Also having the opportunity to meet with Dr. Robert Jones D. Craig Taylor and Dr. Irma McClurin from the University of Minnesota we still dont have a healthy source of food distribution like a coop on the north side which they talked about with high hopes earlier this year.
The story continues. The Minneapolis Urban League has lost touch with the community. In a random survey taken on the corners of Penn Avenue and Plymouth Avenue in front of the Minneapolis Urban League 20 people ages from 18 to 65 were asked two questions:
1. What does the Minneapolis Urban League do?
2. Who is the President of the Minneapolis Urban League?
Not one person knew what happens inside the piece of real estate sitting on the corners of Penn and Plymouth Avenue North orwho the President was.Of course the people had an idea on what the agency should be doing thats a whole other storysoon to come.
What comes to mind is where the leaders of the community are? Furthermore where are the civil rights leaders? Take note on Tuesday December 09 2008 a 25 year old Black man from Minneapolis named Quincy Smith was tazered to death by Minneapolis Police at 1035 Knox Avenue Northno Black organizations said a word. Reports allege he had a bad heart.
No one deserves to die like that no matter what the circumstances were.
Last Friday at a community meeting I was asked why I went after the Black social service agencies so hard and why dont I attack some White people. My answer to this person who sits on the Minneapolis Urban League Board was simple. I said I dont get thousands of dollars each year from the Minneapolis Urban League for advertising. I never got dollars from Northway Community Trust or NRRC. By the way have you signed the Conflict of Interest statement yet?
Black peoplewho work at social service agencies in north Minneapolis that have put themselves in the positions of helping people have to step up. No longer will the mainstream tolerate Black organizations that claim stupidity and having no money to complete missions but serve themselves at the highest levels wanting for nothing.
The innocence of not knowing about what is going on in the Black community doesnt fly after today.
Theres a Black president!
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Donald is the V.P./General Manager of Twin City Business www.tcbusiness.org/blog and the Independent Business News Network www.ibnn.orgbased in Minneapolis.
He walcomes your comments at infoibnn.org.
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