MASON CITY, Iowa -- The Atlanta Braves are part of this year's World Series, and their name, imagery and chant face growing backlash to be replaced with something not related to Indigenous culture, as some other pro-teams have done.
It's not just a pro-sports issue. In Iowa, there are new efforts to change mascot names in public schools.
In Mason City, the school board is discussing whether the high school's "Mohawk" nickname should be discontinued.
Le Anne Clausen de Montes, coordinator of the Iowa Change the Name Coalition and a mother of Indigenous children in the district, said while some say it is part of school tradition, it is not a reason to keep using it.
"You think about the tradition of tens of thousands of years of Indigenous peoples in North America or elsewhere, and, you know, 95 or 100 years pales in comparison," de Montes asserted.
Coinciding with the local effort is a letter from the Meskwaki Nation, which calls upon 66 schools in Iowa to retire Native-themed mascots.
Aside from arguments about school traditions, others reluctant to change these names contend they were adopted to honor Indigenous people. But groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union countered all the nicknames do is perpetuate stereotypes.
De Montes acknowledged in many cases, it is likely the nicknames were first decided upon without the intention of creating harm. She argued it speaks to a broader lack of awareness when it comes to other cultures.
"For a lot of folks, it's just simply not having good information, not knowing how to ask the questions about the use of Native American names," de Montes explained.
She feels there is less hostility toward the movement to retire these names, citing the racial reckoning from the past year. And at the pro level, franchises such as the Major League Baseball team in Cleveland are making changes. In Iowa, the Marion School District recently retired its "Indians" nickname.
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As the nation observes National Medal of Honor Day, facilities in Florida and Texas are under construction to serve as perpetual memorials commemorating the heroic actions of recipients for their valor and sacrifice.
In Sebring, Florida, a memorial honoring the 24 recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Sunshine State is underway, with plans to celebrate 18 of them posthumously.
Mike Borders, chairman of the Florida Medal of Honor Memorial, anticipates the completion next year, featuring a botanical garden showcasing 90% native Florida plants, aiming to offer a memorable and inspiring experience for visitors.
"The second thing we want to do is educate our citizenry, primarily our youth, about the high cost of freedom," Borders explained. "Freedom is not free. Lots of men and women throughout our nation's history have died to preserve the freedoms that we hold dear."
Florida schools now mandate teaching about Medal of Honor Day. There are only 63 living recipients out of the more than 3,500.
In March 2025, Arlington, Texas will witness the opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum, paying homage to all the nation's heroes and their sacrifices.
Chris Cassidy, president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, is a retired Navy SEAL and former lead astronaut for NASA. Beyond getting people to visit and check out the memorabilia on display, he hopes learning will take place way beyond the museum's walls.
"Our goal is to really inspire the nation through stories of courage and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients," Cassidy stressed. "To do that, we've created a leadership institute largely focused on character development in K-12."
Cassidy underscores the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute's collaboration with the NFL, which sponsors the Character Playbook , a digital platform that integrated Medal of Honor-focused modules. The aim is to empower students to embody the values of courage, commitment and integrity. Cassidy says he witnessed the impact firsthand during a visit to Westglades Middle School, where Miami Dolphins players and Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter left a lasting impression on students.
Cassidy added he witnessed the effect firsthand during a visit to Westglades Middle School, where Miami Dolphins players and Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter left a lasting impression on students.
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Minnesota's legislative session kicked off this week. A bill for construction projects is possible, and those serving Latino communities hope to get support for a centralized facility they say is much needed to connect with clients.
The new session isn't expected to see as many ambitious policy moves as last year, but a bonding bill for things such as transportation and water systems is on the list.
The organization COPAL is asking for $7 million in state funding so it can open a Latino Center for Community Engagement in Minneapolis.
Francisco Segovia, COPAL executive director, said they need to upgrade their operations in anticipation of population trends.
"Latinos, we are positioned to be almost 10% of the population by 2030 in Minnesota, and we want to build the infrastructure to support our community members to thrive," Segovia said.
COPAL provides services such as health and wellness and workers' rights, with a presence in the Twin Cities, Mankato and Rochester. But officials say there are limitations with their current offices, such as individual rooms for one-on-one meetings.
It's unclear if the funding request will be approved amid other bonding bill priorities. And while Democrats hold majorities this session, GOP votes are needed for such a bill.
Lourdes Menjívar, regional director for COPAL's Mankato office, said transportation is a barrier for the local Latino community, and added the centralized location could enhance infrastructure for online events, potentially allowing more people to access their programs and information.
"We're working with nine counties in the Mankato area office," Menjivar explained. "So, they can connect everywhere in Minnesota if people have a specific base to make any activities."
COPAL has already secured property for the proposed facility. Organizers say owning this building space would allow them to lease community and meeting rooms to other racial and ethnic populations lacking a hub. So far, the campaign has raised $2 million. The state contribution would make up the majority of the project costs, if the full amount is awarded.
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Today marks the beginning of a holiday celebration with African roots.
The annual nonreligious observance of Kwanzaa means "first fruits of the harvest."
Maulana "Ron" Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University-Long Beach and an activist, created Kwanzaa to address economic and racial unrest in America in the 1960s, and groups in Indiana have held community-focused Kwanzaa events for almost 45 years.
Nichelle Hayes, committee member for Indianapolis Kwanzaa, explained the observance is a chance to think about the entire year, not a year-end summary.
"It's not so much about commercial gifts as coming together, reflection, learning, understanding and community," Hayes outlined.
The seven days include readings, artistic performances and food, both to honor children with gifts and show respect and gratitude to ancestors. One candle is lit daily on a candleholder called the kinara, to represent each of the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective works and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Kwanzaa gatherings often include discussions on the principle of cooperative economics, investing and building generational wealth. In a National Retail Federation consumer spending report, nearly 92% of U.S. adults said they plan to spend money this year for December holidays, including Kwanzaa.
Hayes believes there are many ways to build economic stability. She also pointed out people of all faiths and races can observe the principles of Kwanzaa.
"It might be that you only celebrate at your home with your nuclear family," Hayes noted. "It might be that you come together with the people in your neighborhood or your broader community."
Estimates of how many people observe Kwanzaa range from 12-18 million worldwide. Hayes insists everyone is welcome to join the celebration.
The Indianapolis Kwanzaa organization holds an Umoja Village Celebration today at 16 Tech in Indianapolis, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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