with special guests Kimberly Helm and Nikki Beasley Kimberly Helm is the Ujamaanomics  Cultural Financial Literacy instructor at Ujamaa Place. Nikki Beasley is the Housing / Policy Director at YWCA St. Paul.  This episode centers around Day 2 of the Ujamaanomics Civil Rights Experience in Selma, Alabama, where Ujamaa men participated in The Middle Passage and Willie Lynching Training of a Slave experience, under the leadership of Ms. Afriye Wekandodis founder of “By The River Center for Humanity.”     Kimberly and Nikki talk about bearing witness to the impact of experiencing the pain of our ancestors, and how it impacted Ujamaa men and themselves as Black women.     "Ujamaanomics will continue to use experiential learning to teach our men and their children how to navigate an economic system built on the brutal institution of chattel slavery that lasted over 400 years, as was promised in the Willie Lynch letter", said "A Black Man's Sketch" producer Monique Linder.     We thank our beloved community for joining us along this journey of discovery of the love, strength and determination that is passed on to us through our ancestors.  We honor the ancestors for never losing hope in the struggle for freedom.   Listen to A Black Man's Sketch wherever you listen to podcasts and like us on FB.  Learn more about Ujamaanomics Cultural Financial Literacy and the Twin Cities Communities of Practice at: https://ujamaaplace.org/cultural-financial-literacy/  

Ujamaa Place: A Black Man's Sketch

23: Ujamaanomics: Black Women Bearing Witness

Ujamaa Place coach, men, staff and its Twin Cities Communities of Practice (TCCoP) partners traveled south on a Ujamaanomics Civil Rights Research Experience confronting our nation's history of slavery and lynching in America. The conversation explores how this history systemically perpetuates poverty and is linked to the present-day lynchings of Mr. George Floyd and Philando Castile. Special guests:  Captain Charles Alphin, DTK Tours  Twin Cities Communities of Practice Partners: YWCA Saint Paul, PPL and Cultural Wellness Center 

22: Ujamaanomics: Confronting Slavery & Lynching

A Black Man's Sketch The State v. Derek Chauvin | The Verdict, is the final episode of a special 4-part series covering the trial of the century.  Episode 21 begins with the audio statement that Ujamaa Place CEO Otis Zanders released after Judge Cahill read the verdict convicting former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin on all three counts of murder: second degree murder, third degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.  Mr. Zanders' statement is followed by a discussion with Ujamaa men Ryan Delaney and Cedric Smith reflecting on their feelings after hearing the verdict and what does moving forward look like for Ujamaa men.

21: The State v. Derek Chauvin | THE VERDICT

Monday, April 19th, jurors in The State v. Derek Chauvin trial will hear closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense, while the world awaits the verdict.  Ujamaa Wellness coach Darnell leads this week's update with two Ujamaa Men, Cedric Smith and "OJ" Anderson, joined by Housing coach Gary-El and CEO Otis Zanders.  

20: The State v. Derek Chauvin: GUILTY

Ujamaa Place CEO Otis Zanders welcomes special guest community leader Melvin Whitfield Carter Jr. who served as a Saint Paul Police Officer for twenty-eight years.  Mr. Carter is the Founder/Executive Director of "Save Our Sons" and is also well-known as the father of the Mayor of Saint Paul and the husband of distinguished Chair of the Ramsey County Commissioners, and father to three amazingly strong, intelligent trailblazing daughters.   We are joined by Ujamaa Men Cedric Smith and Ryan Delaney and Ujamaa Coaches Darnell Baker and Kenneth Gary El, who engage with Mr. Carter about the extraordinary testimony this week from Minneapolis Chief of Police Medaria Arradondo and other officers that torn down the blue wall of silence. 

19: The State v. Derek Chauvin Tear Down The Blue Wall

The world remains on edge questioning whether the current justice system can achieve Justice for George Floyd by convicting the police officers responsible for his death. The inequalities that have existed for Black people in the U.S. for over 400 years reached a boiling point in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. The world witnessed Mr. Floyd plead for his life while Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Mr. Floyd’s death made the world stop and take a serious look at racial injustice in this country and the urgent need for criminal justice and police reform. An estimated 15-26 million protestors took to the streets to proclaim that “Black Lives Matter”, making it the largest civil rights movement in history. The world remains on edge questioning whether the current justice system can achieve #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd by convicting the police officers responsible for his death. 

18: The State v. Derek Chauvin

Judge Stephenson Bio:   Education: J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, 1985 B.A., St. Mary’s College, 1980   Judge Stephenson was instrumental in establishing the John School Program, a program whose aim is to reduce prostitution-related crime; offenders are required to pay for their participation in the program and the proceeds are used to assist former prostitutes in remaining out of the life of prostitution and to assist them in finding stable housing.      Judge Stephenson was involved in establishing St. Paul’s Community Court, a program which more assertively handles cases involving “quality of life” (neighborhood nuisance) offenses with an emphasis on completing community service hours.     Judge Stephenson also took the lead in establishing the Community Prosecutor Program under Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner and former St. Paul City Attorney Clayton Robinson.  The program’s aim was to focus on the troubled Frogtown/Summit-University neighborhoods in St. Paul and to improve police community relations, to encourage community policing, and to improve communication among the various partners in the criminal justice system.  The program has now expanded to service the East Side and West Side of St. Paul.

17: Criminal Justice Advocacy with Judge Stephenson

Today’s episode, sponsored by Saint Paul Public Library will take us to Selma, Alabama, where 8-year old Sheyann Webb’s encounter with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shaped her life as a Civil Rights leaders by becoming the “Smallest Freedom Fighter” and co-author of the book Selma Lord Selma, which was released as a Disney movie in 1999.   Guest Bio:  Ms. Sheyann Webb was born on February 17, 1956 in Selma, Alabama. She grew up from a poor family of eight children in George Washington Carver Projects. She is a voice for justice, equality and self-achievement. Ms. Webb is also known as a humanitarian, civil rights activist, mentor and youth advocate. She is the nationally known co-author of “Selma, Lord, Selma: Girlhood Memories of the Civil Rights Days”. Her book, which is now a Disney Movie, was nominated for Best Television Mini Series by the NAACP Image Awards in 2000. The movie depicts her childhood experiences with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the late Jonathan Daniels, and other civil rights leaders as one of the youngest activist during the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama in the 1960’s. Sheyann was named the “Smallest Freedom Fighter” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At age eight, Ms. Webb would sneak out of her house to attend mass meetings. She also led the congregation in singing freedom songs. She was the youngest participant to take part in the historically first attempted Selma to Montgomery march known as “Bloody Sunday”. Ms. Sheyann Webb attended a segregated public school in Dallas County, Alabama until her junior high year when she became one of the first blacks to integrate an all white school. Sheyann says that her junior high years were among her most horrific years. She was pushed down stairs, called bad names, suspended from school and spat on; and nothing was done by the school administration.Join Ujamaa Place in partnership with Saint Paul Public Library for the beloved community talk LIVE on Zoom with Ms. Sheyann Webb-Christburg taking place on February 24th at noon.  Register at: https://bit.ly/3arn5ai. 

16: Smallest Freedom Fighter with Sheyann Webb-Christburg

Guest Bio: Rev. Dr. Earl F. Miller The Reverend Doctor Earl Fredrick Miller, Sr., was born in Jackson, Mississippi and has been married forty-seven (47) years to Eunice Miller.  From this union they are the parents of three (3) children and have nine (9) grandchildren.  Pastor Miller is a distinguished, widely traveled, and respected preacher, scholar, teacher and community leader. Education & Training: Bachelor of Music, Jackson State University | Master of Music Education, University of Illinois-Graduate School of Music | Master of Divinity, Virginia Union University-School of Theology | Doctor of Ministry, Union Theological Seminary Current & Former Pastorate: Senior Pastor, Progressive Baptist Church, St. Paul, Minnesota – March, 1992 - Present Senior Pastor, Pilgrim Baptist Church, St. Paul, Minnesota – 1977-1992 Senior Pastor, Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Glen Allen, VA – 1972-1977 Dr. Miller is a dynamic Preacher, a Man of God, and is currently the Senior Pastor and Founder of the Progressive Baptist Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In his 18 years as the Leader of Progressive, the church’s membership has grown from 21 members to over 1,500 members.  The initial buildings and property purchased by the church, was paid off and a Mortgage Burning Ceremony was held on Easter Sunday in 2005.  God’s next miracle occurred three years later on Sunday September 21, 2008 when Dr. Miller and The Progressive Church Family marched into their new $5,300,000.00 Church Sanctuary and Family Life Center located at 1505 Burns Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Miller has also excelled as an actor.  For the past 25 years, Dr. Miller has performed the lead role in the award winning Broadway play:”The Gospel at Colonus”.  For the first four years he performed with and mentored the renowned actor Morgan Freeman, on Broadway and in theaters worldwide. In addition to Broadway, he has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, The Chicago Arts Center, Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, The Seattle Washington Arts Center, The Salt Lake City Utah Arts Center, The University of Michigan Arts Center, The Atlanta Georgia Arts Center, The Mississippi Arts Center, Stage Arena Washington D.C., The Philadelphia Art Center, San Pablo, Brazil, Spoleto, Italy, Barcelona, Spain, South France, Paris France; Vienna, Austria, and a year ago Athens Greece.   Dr. Miller and the Steele Family perform at the Ordway Theatre in Saint Paul, August 5-11, 2010 and at the Edinburgh Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, August 18-23, 2010. 

15: African American History Timeline with Dr. Rev. Earl F. Miller, Sr.

The first episode of four commemorating Black History & Culture hosted by Ujamaa Place CEO Otis Zanders, feature community leaders covering issues that impact the quality of life in the African American community.  Community leader Mary K. Boyd, Founder/CEO of MKB & Associates discuss the cultural value of education.   Guest Bio:  Mary K. Murray Boyd is President and CEO of MKB & Associates, Inc., an education and human services consulting business. Ms. Boyd has extensive experience in management, leadership, communications and coalition building, serving in a variety of roles professionally and in the Saint Paul community. She held several positions in the Saint Paul Public Schools beginning as a teacher’s aide and retiring in 2001 as an Area Superintendent. Since retiring from Saint Paul Public schools, Boyd has served in three interim positions, Manager of Ramsey County Child Protection, Director of Ramsey County Community Human Services Department’s Family and Children’s Services Division and Dean of the Graduate School of Education at Hamline University. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas and at the University of Minnesota.

14: Commemorate Black History & Culture: The Historical Value of Education

A Black Man's Sketch podcast interview with Ujamaa Music Group No stranger to adversity, the pandemic inspired the men in Ujamaa’s Music Therapy program to start their very own music group, Ujamaa Music Group (UMG). Finding music to be a cathartic way to tell their stories, UMG went to work on their first single, “On A Mission”, which debuts January 25, 2021 Ujamaa Music Group “On A Mission” Single Release Available on all digital music platforms (iTunes, Spotify, Twitch, Pandora, Tidal, iHeartRadio, YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music, Deezer . . . ) “On A Mission” with Bayo, Young Light, Ju$$ Lyfe & Sensae Da Waelaah Songwriters: Kirk A Johnson, Walter Chancellor, Jr., Bayo, Young Light, Ju$$ Lyfe & Sensae Da Waelaah Produced by: KAJ PRODUCTIONS Record Label:  KITCHEN RECORDS Special Thanks: Ujamaa Place Otis Zanders Stevenson Morgan  Monique Linder “On A Mission” Video Produced by: OMG Media  Album Cover Design by: OMG Media “On A Mission” is available on all digital music platforms.   ©️2021 Ujamaa Music Group, a program of Ujamaa Place.  All rights reserved.   Ujamaa Place is a non-profit 501(c)3 located in Saint Paul, MN.  100% of proceeds from "On A Mission" are donated to the Ujamaa Place general fund to support transformation and stabilization of the most marginalized population in society, primarily African American men, aged 18-30.  To learn more about the programs and services available at Ujamaa Place, visit: ujamaaplace.org.   About Ujamaa Place Ujamaa Place serves the most marginalized population in society, primarily African American men, ages 18-30.  Ujamaa Place provides holistic transformation for men experiencing inequity at the intersection of race and poverty.  Ujamaa Place helps them achieve brotherhood, stability and personal success. 

13: Ujamaa Music Group Is "On A Mission"

#Ujamaa10Forward #TheoryofTransformation #UjamaaPlace It is a great honor to celebrate all Ujamaa men, their families and the beloved communities we serve. May we continue to unite as a community to love and take care of one another in the spirit of our ancestors that came before us.  The 10-year anniversary celebrations began in January.   However, the scheduled in-person festivities were postponed in light of COVID-19 and the awakening of racial injustice, until we gathered safely in August for a drive-in tribute to the honorable Congressman John Lewis and pre- screening of his film Good Trouble. Since then, we have witnessed our community come together to fight against the spread of COVID-19, evidence that we are stronger together. Congratulations to all the honorees: Founding Fathers Recognition: Rick Heydinger (RIP), John Harrington, Bill Sands and Bill Svrluga Ujamaa Legacy Award: Commissioner John Harrington Rick Heydinger Community Partner Award: Jane & Paul Tshida Rick Heydinger Community Organization of the Year Award: Kathleen Fluegel of HRK Foundation Rudy Coach of the Year Award: Darnell Baker Ujamaa Excellence Award: Stephenson Morgan Ujamaa Man of the Year Award: Stephan Francis Ujamaa Man of the Month Recognition:  Kevin Berry Dalyn Doyle Stephan Francis Rajonta Jackson Devon Frand Justin Langley Damontay Mathew Lathen McKinney Kavon McNeal Devonne Tinsley Joshua Napier Dakai Saunders Keonee Schaffer-Frazier Wesley Sims Damontay Shriver

1: Ujamaa Place 10th Anniversary Celebration & Awards 2020

Ms. Fredison volunteered at Ujamaa Place from the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program, which provides a year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals from designated countries throughout the world. Fellows are selected based on their potential for leadership and their commitment to public service in either the public or private sector. Ms. Fredison is a prison social worker in her country of Suriname, near Brazil in South American.  In this episode Mr. Fredison shares her experience working with Ujamaa staff and participants, along with unexpected crisis events, COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd.  Behavior Health Coach Darnell Baker supervised and trained Ms. Fredison on work with him on the Ujamaa Wellness Team. Click on the links below for our guest bio and more information about the Humphrey School Fellowship program. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/international-fellows/current-fellows http://ifsalumni.hhh.umn.edu/fellows-2020/2019-2020-fellows Go to: ujamaaplace.org to learn about the programs offered at Ujamaa Place.

11: COVID-19 2020 Edition with special guest Jessica Fredison

Ujamaa Place re-opens its doors to men to program on-site after the pandemic shutdown on March 23rd.  A Black Man's Sketch Ep. 10 with Ujamaa Program Director, Faith Lofton and Behavior Health Coach, Darnell Baker check in with Ujamaa Man Harry.

10: COVID-19 Edition: Impact

Honoring the life and legacy of Brother George Floyd Ujamaa Men are struggling to face another attack on their manhood, heritage, culture and trauma that was triggered from watching a brother die at the hands of a white police officer.  The murder of George Floyd triggered anger, trauma and fear in the lives of men who are often forced face down on the ground with a knee on their neck by a person whose oath is to protect citizens.  This is the reason Ujamaa men run from police.   In Episode 9 of “A Black Man’s Sketch,” Ujamaa brother Demontay talks about his historically traumatic relationship with law enforcement with Ujamaa Life Skills coach Kemii and Employment coach Stevenson, in a candid discussion honoring the life and legacy of George Floyd, led by Ujamaa CEO Otis Zanders.  George Floyd was a man of God that loved his family and community.  Time is standing still for Ujamaa men as they navigate life and death through COVID-19 (the invisible enemy) and the murder of George Floyd due to RACISM (the visible enemy), while making every attempt to avoid interaction with police. They avoid protesting and any spotlight that triggers emotional trauma, though they are in pain and want Mr. Floyd's family to know they are deeply troubled and sad for their loss.  They are not able to unsee the video of the police officer sworn to protect, deny breath to their Black brother, family, uncle and man of God.  Ujamaa Men are George Floyd.   Coach Stevenson starts by reciting a segment of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes in September 1966 where he eloquently expressed - “A riot is the language of the unheard.” “Urban riots must now be recognized as durable social phenomena. They are mainly intended to shock the white community. The looting which is their principal feature serves many functions. It enables the most enraged and deprived Negro to take hold of consumer goods with the ease the white man does by using his purse. Often the Negro does not even want what he takes; he wants the experience of taking. But most of all, alienated from society and knowing that this society cherishes property above people, he is shocking it by abusing property rights. A profound judgment of today’s riots was expressed by Victor Hugo a century ago. He said, ‘If a soul is left in the darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness.’ The policymakers of the white society have caused the darkness; they create discrimination; they structured slums; and they perpetuate unemployment, ignorance and poverty. When we ask Negroes to abide by the law, let us also demand that the white man abide by law in the ghettos. Day-in and day-out he violates welfare laws to deprive the poor of their meager allotments; he flagrantly violates building codes and regulations; his police make a mockery of law; and he violates laws on equal employment and education and the provisions for civic services. The slums are the handiwork of a vicious system of the white society; Negroes live in them but do not make them any more than a prisoner makes a prison. Let us say boldly that if the violations of law by the white man in the slums over the years were calculated and compared with the law-breaking of a few days of riots, the hardened criminal would be the white man." --Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., September 1967 Coach Kemii shares his perspective on how our culture processes trauma of the actual incident and everything around  it.  Ujamaa Place was founded by law enforcement heroes in our community who are center stage in the fight for Justice for George Floyd.  They are our community leaders and heroes - Chief John Harrington, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Mayor Melvin Carter, III.  They understand the inequality in the Criminal Justice system and created Ujamaa to help men navigate the roadblocks that prevent them from living a quality life.    YouTube: September 27, 1966: MLK—A riot is the language of the unheard   “No other race has been a slave on American soil.” Source: CBS 60 minutes https://youtu.be/_K0BWXjJv5s George Floyd Left a Gospel Legacy in Houston Source: Christianity Today https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html?visit_source=twitter&fbclid=IwAR0mnCyFYsETUZcplmd85AcnB6JSa3JbhEyMQZepWsk24434JoWJA6NzWb8    

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Ujamaa Place: A Black Man's Sketch

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