>Folks were giving testimonials about what Urban Ventures had done for them. >They showed a very slickly produced video. > >David Piehl writes: > >>From my observations over the past several years, generally the people who >offer positive comments about how Urban Ventures has "helped" them, now >work for UV That IS a good point David -- and I believe that you are correct. The folks who were talking about how Urban Ventures turned their lives around also worked for the organization.
>I question whether Urban >Ventures is the appropriate outfit to offer this. Central has a large gay >and lesbian population, and Urban Ventures leaders -- especially Art >Erickson, has been quoted making anti-gay statements in the Star Tribune. > >David Piehl writes: > >And don't forget the flyer circulated by Urban Ventures some years ago >about the "sin of homosexuality" calling on all glbt residents to "repent". I don't recall that flyer -- and if anyone on this list has a copy of that flyer, please email me privately. If this is the type of thing UV does, then I would like to see the Minneapolis Public Schools and Park Board immediately quit working with UV. I would like to hear from school board candidates on this list what you think about partnering with an organization that puts out anti-gay flyers such as this. Gays and Lesbians live in the Central Neighborhood, and we don't need taxpayer funded organizations that regularly insult us and tell us we are sinners who need to repent. If this flyer is a reality, I feel the same about having any taxpayer money going to UV as I would about Taxpayer money going to the KKK. >My former neighbor, Jane Strauss, sent her children to an Urban Ventures >summer program some years ago that was funded in part by the neighborhood. >Jane's summary of the program was "it was supposed to be recreational >activities for the kids, instead they fed my kids ham and cheese and talked >about Jesus!" Rather inappropriate given the fact that Jane is an >observant Jew, and was raising her children as such. I wonder if Urban >Ventures plans to include the increasing number of Somalian children, most >of whom are muslim, in their program? It would be interesting if they would make the types of bigoted statements about muslims to these kids as Pat Robertson does on national TV. I'm curious whether Colin Powell knows about the anti-gay history of UV. Somehow, I don't think he would want to be associated with an organization that puts out bigoted anti-gay flyers. So as I said, I'm looking for a copy of this flyer. Eva Eva Young Central Eva Eva Young Central Neighborhood Minneapolis _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
