The statement "We have had gay people on our board" almost suggests that they got them off as quickly as they learned they were gay, which would actually be very consistent with the prevailing attitude at Urban Ventures. They also have mostly fundamentalist board members - their choice, but why not be up front about it instead of feigning tolerance to win public funding? It's kind of like the old statement "I know some very nice (insert Black, Hispanic, Native American, etc ) people". Further, I won't believe the claim of gay board members is truthful until I have more evidence than just a vague claim.
How presumtious and insulting to assume that the African American Aids Task Force is a gay organization! Are they implying that all people with AIDS must be gay? NEWSFLASH: AIDS happens to people of all ethinc groups and sexual orientations!! I recently heard a study quoted that said the largest increase in AIDS is among non-gay people of color. Since when has a relationship with an AIDS related agency equivalent to a relationship with the gay community? Would a relationship with Tammy Faye Baker then be equivalent to a relationship with Urban Ventures? I don't know much about what the Center for Fathering has done since Art Erickson booted the founder (who was truly an inspiring individual - and who sued for wrongful termination, by the way), but MadDads is VJ Smith's work, not Urban Ventures', so I'm not sure why Urban Ventures is trying to take credit for VJ's work. Spin spin spin spin Art Erickson's anti-gay stand is older than Urban Ventures, and in fact goes back to before he was fired by Park Avenue Methodist Church. Even at Park Avenue Methodist, Art used to dismiss neighborhood opposition to certain church activities as "just a bunch of gays complaining", just as he is doing now. Tolerant? Why would public funding be appropriate for a discriminatory, religious based organization that can't seem to raise enough funding privately? Ventures or Vultures?? David Piehl Central To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [mn-logcabin] The Urban Ventures Saga Continues...... I came back from my lunch break to find a message on my voice mail from the lobbyist (employed by Faigre and Benson, with Urban Ventures and the Colin Powell Center as a client). She had called to tell me that she was concerned about emails I had sent to the Central Chat list regarding Senator Berglin's Newsletter that was promoting Berglin's work getting state money for this project. I told her about my concerns: When central resident Walt Gutzmer was on the NRP Steering Committee in the Central area in the early 90s, Urban Ventures hosted the meetings, and sent out minutes and agendas to committee members. Walt was the "gay rep" to this steering committee, and so it was known to everyone on the committee he was gay -- because he held that slot. There were other slots for other constituency groups. In one mailing, a newsletter from Central Community Church (Urban Ventures is the non-profit arm of CCC) was included in Walt's mailing. No one else on the committee got this newsletter. This newsletter included an article that talked about the need for gays to repent and change to being straight. Art Erickson was quoted in the Star Tribune in October of 94 blaming the gays and lesbians in Central Neighborhood for Urban Vultures failing to get Opportunity Zone funding. Both Ralph Bruins and Art Erickson were intimately involved the Basim Sabri plan for Motel Central on the Healy block. The lobbyist told me to call the Urban Ventures "Executive Director", Mr. Lunquist -- and she gave me his number. I had thought Ralph Bruins was the ED of Urban Ventures -- but I assumed since they were a client of hers, she knew better. So I called Lundquist to get his take on the situation. He said that Urban Ventures has had gay people on their board, and on their staff. They have also served gay youth. He also mentioned that the Center for Fathering and MADDADS works with the African American AIDS task force. I mentioned my concerns to Lundquist, and he had not heard of these events. I also asked him his job title, and how long he had worked for UV -- and he had worked their 5 years, and he was a program director -- and not ED. I asked about where the kids live who are going to be served by this program, and Lundquist told me: Phillips, Powderhorn, Central, and Whittier. I guess I find it odd the lobbyist referred to Lundquist rather than referring me to Ralph or Art. I will be following up with calls about this to Ralph Bruins tomorrow. Art Erickson is out of town currently. ======================================================= Eva Eva Young Central Neighborhood Minneapolis __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________ 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
