April 28th, 2011 edition

‘Winning the Future’ for black businesses

“If I had not been in the basement, I would not be here.”

– Former St.Louis Police Chief Ron Henderson

destroyed,three days after a tornado devastated this area of Bridgeton.The National Weather Service says a EF-4 tornado passed through North County,damaging or destroying more than 2,000 homes.The tornado,the strongest here since 1967,also hit the airport,causing a two-day shutdown.No one was killed or seriously injured.

‘Complete hell broke loose’

Tornados devastate North County, but kill no one

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of The St.Louis American

Louis metropolitan area – one was the strongest tornado St. Louis County has seen in 44 years, according to the National Weather Service.

The more damaging twister tore a 22-mile-long path of destruction from west to east, hitting North St. Louis County and Madison County, Illinois. More

“Oh, my God,”she said, as she covered her mouth. She held out her arms.I never thought I would see her again. Then Meley sat on the floor with her dog and cried happy tears.

than 2,000 St. Louis-area homes were damaged, and more than 100 are uninhabitable, according to city officials in the affected areas.

On Friday, Gov. Jay Nixon signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Missouri. Due to damage, a Ferguson elementary school has closed for the rest of the year, and some city hall buildings went without power for days.

The tornado reached its peak, EF4 on the

Dog goes home aftersix long years

American reporter and husband rescue and return long-lost starving Chihuahua

By Sandra Jordan Of The St.Louis American

Astolen Chihuahua named Stinky is back in her home in South St. Louis after six years of tumultuous travels.

After hearing a gunshot on Memorial Day weekend 2005, the 8-year-old pooch ran off relatives’property in Edwardsville, Ill. into the woods and made her way into the middle of Highway 143. Vehicles pulled over to keep from hitting the dog.

One driver, described by witnesses as a blonde woman in a white Dodge

Durango, did more than pull over. She picked the dog up and put her in the window of her car.

Awitness told the dog’s owner, Amy Meley, that this woman said, ‘Oh, she’s so cute, I might just keep her.’” And she did.

Meley was heartbroken. Someone had stolen the beloved dog she had rescued from a Chicago shelter. Fliers, newspaper ads, online posts, visits to vet offices and to animal control in two counties, even bugging the police,

“It was a like a freight train.Out of instinct, I grabbed Peggy.I threw her down, I got on top of her and I said, ‘Hold on.’”

‘Forward, not backward, on civil rights’

By Jo Mannies Of The Beacon

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon indicated strongly Monday that he’ll be vetoing Senate Bill 188, a measure that alters the Missouri Human Rights Act and state laws governing employment discrimination by making it tougher to sue. Nixon issued a statement on Monday blasting the bill and adding that he will “take formal action” on Friday “in a public setting.” In political code, that all but guarantees the governor is planning a very public veto.

“We must be a state that continues to move forward –not backward –when it comes to civil rights and equal opportunity.”

– Gov.Jay Nixon

“Making it easier for Missouri companies to discriminate against people with disabilities or cancer, and against women, older workers and minorities will not help us create jobs or be more competitive,” Nixon said. “To thrive in a global economy and uphold the values we share, we must be a state that continues to move forward – not backward –when it comes to civil rights and equal opportunity.”

The bill has been approved by the Missouri House and Senate. Its backers include the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which contended the bill was needed to bring the state’s anti-discrimination laws in line with

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Cardell Jordan,Amy Meley and her long-lost

Chihuahua named Stinky See VETO, A7

Photo by Sandra Jordan

– Former St.Louis Police Chief Ron Henderson

York this week. They did their best to keep it under wraps but their cover was said to have been blown by one of Usher’s own team. A source said: “They had a really good time together last weekend and wanted to see each other again somewhere

projects are currently in production that feature Jamie Foxx and are being produced by Marcus King.

Is Eddie Long close to settling?

There could be a resolution soon in

spokesman for a brand of male enhancement pills named AffirmXL. In one commercial, a man is featured looking in the mirror, grappling with his conscious over whether he should take the pills or not. He takes the pills after some contemplation, after he remembers that Warren G. “told him to take it.”

After he walks out of the bathroom, Warren G. is sitting in his bed, wearing a red robe and gold crown, surrounded by five beautiful

“I tried to tell you to take your AffirmXL, but you didn’t want to listen,” Warren G. tells the man. “As you can see, I take my AffirmXL, and now I got to regulate.”

Twice broke Toni Braxton learns a lesson about money had to go to debtors school to learn to handle her personal finances. Braxton –who filed for bankruptcy last year claiming she was between $10 and $50 million in debt – was ordered to complete the course as a part of her case ... and earlier this month, she got it done. According to the certificate, obtained by TMZ, Toni passed an “Internet instruction course concerning personal financial management.”

Sources: Allhiphop.com,

A couple of weeks, a billboard on Cass Avenue near Jefferson Avenue caught the eye of some conscious women. A precious little brown face with big almond eyes is looking out at you. Since we tend to read from left to right, the image grabs us irst. Your eyes then move to the text – and the real point of the billboard. It reads: “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.”

The “Black Genocide” billboard campaign is the insidious work of a racist, right-wing coalition created and inanced by the likes of the Radiance Foundation, Heroic Media and LifeAlways. They are also part of the same despicable forces who attack President Obama as being a Muslim and non-citizen. Yet they also have a billboard with an image of the president claiming, “Every 21 minutes, our next possible leader is aborted.”

These people could care less about a black president, let alone black women and their children. These are the same folks who have given the living black folks hell by advocating the removal of safety nets for poor and working-class people. They are on record as opposing access to basic contraceptive services, not just abortions. Their ranks are often led by white men, but with the Genocide campaign they have managed to get a few black men to carry their water. They have generally criminalized black people of all ages and backgrounds for the purpose of advancing their racist social policies. This has been done with lies and distortions.

n They have no respect for law or rights.

Trust Black Women (TBW) has been organized to not just expose and denounce this offensive campaign, but to assert that women have the right to make personal and private decisions with whomever they choose about childbearing. TBW is led by black women, but includes all shades and genders because it’s crystal clear that the agenda is to take human and civil rights away from women and people of color. Remember the refrain, “We want our country back!” is a longing for the times when black people were slaves and white women had no rights. The last time I looked, the right to have an abortion was still law and protected by the Constitution. Lawless people are rabid about this issue and have resorted to intimidation and even murder of doctors who legitimately perform abortions. They have no respect for law or rights. Because conservatives often hijack language, most people believe that pro-choice means that you are pro-abortion. Not so. The Pro-Choice movement also includes those who are fundamentally opposed to abortion but who uphold the law and who recognize the rights of women to ultimately choose what’s in their best interests. The Genocide campaign is not about abortion; it is an attempt to criminalize black women and cause division and distraction in our communities. We won’t stand for it. Wherever the campaign has raised its ugly head, black women and their allies have organized to get the billboards down – one way or another. More importantly, it’s a teachable moment about the need to support reproductive justice and health services for women. It is also a time to talk about how to improve the conditions of those who are living – right now.

Parent of the Year now school board president

During its April meeting, the Normandy School District Board of Education elected Joyce McRath as its new president. McRath, who was elected to the board in 2009,

formerly served as its vicepresident and is chairman of the policy committee. As the mother of two Normandy students, McRath is committed to excellence in

education. She is an avid parent volunteer and was chosen the district’s 2008 Parent of the Year. Other board members elected to ofice are Sheila

Williams-vice president; Nancy Hartman-secretary; and Dr. Edward Haynie-treasurer. All oficers will serve a oneyear term.

appreciation to the moms in your life this Mother’s Day—and help support Mom-approved charities**. Do it now at facebook.com/macys IT’S MACY’S THANK A MOM MOVEMENT!

Jamala Rogers

EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY

Nixon takes stand against discrimination

We applaud Gov. Jay Nixon for making a strong move this week against a bill awaiting his signature that would change the Missouri Human Rights Act and state laws governing employment discrimination by making it tougher to sue and by limiting penalties that can be levied against employers that have been sued successfully.

Senate Bill 188, sponsored by state Sen. Brad Lager (a Republican from northwest Missouri), is a version of legislation perennially pushed by some Missouri business interests in their ongoing efforts to hamstring trial attorneys. In 2011, with new Republican super-majorities in both houses of the Legislature, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its allies inally managed to get the legislation passed. But this week Nixon promised to take “formal action” on Friday in language strongly suggestive of a very public veto.

Nixon noted that the bill is opposed by “a broad coalition of advocacy groups” representing just about everyone who is not a young, healthy, white male or a wealthy business owner. Though civil rights advocates are but one of many groups that have fought the bill and called for a veto since its passage, the Jefferson City NAACP deserves to be singled out for its early, relentless campaign against SB 188. As its organizers said in one of many calls to oppose the bill, the bill “makes it harder to seek legal redress for any claim of discrimination, retaliation or whistle blowing.” As state Rep. Stephen Webber (DColumbia) also pointed out, “Under this bill, as long as someone can argue that another factor at least equals or exceeds an act of racism, sexism or religious intolerance, Missouri law would not apply. For example, a boss heard using racial epithets while iring a black employee could say

that race was a factor in the decision, but not a motivating factor for iring the employee, and he would be protected.”

The ad hoc coalition of advocacy groups that formed to oppose this bill, and Nixon’s evident response to their appeals (and to the offensive nature of the bill itself), is very encouraging for Missouri in 2011. The backlash against President Obama and the progressive legislative accomplishments of the Pelosi Congress, as we all know, inspired a mean-spirited conservative backlash, fueled by racism and sexism, that enabled a Republican resurgence in the 2010 midterm elections. Like the frontal attack on collective bargaining in Wisconsin, this attempted gutting of anti-discrimination legislation in Missouri is a long-advocated project of conservative business interests that fared better than ever in this Republican resurgence. But as in Wisconsin, the Missouri Chamber and its Republican allies in the Legislature have overreacted and pushed too far to the right and provoked a statewide backlash from a wide variety of advocacy groups for racial minorities, women, the elderly, the disabled and people with a range of chronic health problems.

Very fortunately for Missouri, we have a Democratic governor who listens to these constituents because he knows what they want is in the best interests, not only of his own prospects for reelection, but for the state he was elected to serve. (Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Nixon’s likely Republican challenger in 2012, declined to comment on SB 188 or Nixon’s evident veto.) We applaud the governor, the Jefferson City NAACP and all of the advocates for equal opportunity in Missouri who opposed this bill.

The Way I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Field manual for despots

Wake-up call for McCaskill

Madison, Wisconsin might be the perfect training ground for the campaign staff of U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D–Mo.). There, in a political shocker, a littleknown assistant state attorney nearly defeated a veteran state Supreme Court justice in a statewide political barn-burner. The incumbent, David Prosser, was supported by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Sarah Palin and the national conservative establishment. Initially, he appeared better organized and eventually outspent his opponent, JoAnne Kloppenburg, by more than two to one. Less than a month before the election, he held a 30-point lead in a four-way race that was predicted to be a cake walk.

However, somewhere between the election and his coronation, someone forgot to tell Kloppenburg that she was supposed to lose the race. In the end, she very nearly won. On election night, in fact, it seemed she had won by 200 votes. A recount was initiated when heavily Republican Waukesha County said its votes had not been igured into the statewide tally. Final county tallies show Prosser with a 7,316-vote lead. While unpredictable in many aspects, Prosser’s near-loss is easily explained. Kloppenburg

did what many Democrats are apparently terriied to do: she worked her base. Facing what could be the ight of her political life, Claire McCaskill might want to take notice.

Most political voices in Missouri admit that recent senatorial candidate Robin Carnahan failed to do the heavy Democratic work. As a Democrat, it was painful watching the wasted campaign dollars showcasing cows as part of the Carnahan imagery in those silly commercials. If nothing else was clear, Carnahan wanted rural Missouri to know “she was one of them.”

Carnahan ignored her base, never developed an urban mobilization strategy, and got creamed trying to show that she was just a country girl from a small town.

In Wisconsin, Democrats framed the argument beautifully. Catapulted to center stage were the liberal stalwarts of organized labor, minorities, the working class, young voters and women. They lobbed it out for what it was: a clearly distinguishable confrontation between a liberal ideology and conservative dogma. They painted the opposition as a threat to the liberal cause and the antithesis of progress for a working-class agenda. Despite the overwhelming odds and inancial disadvantage, the people of Wisconsin voted their interest and responded to a clearly deined message that addressed their concerns.

Democrats in Missouri soon will have their opportunity to

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Finger in the EYE

The St. Louis American bought into the hype of the Post-Dispatch, hating on the fact that a highly qualiied black attorney was being paid well, and never gave a fair report of the accomplishments of directors Joseph Washington and Robert Edwards as they sought to wrest control of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District from the white ireighters’ union and assure that the economic beneits of the district would low to the black residents of the district through the award of contracts and jobs.

American’s Political EYE.

Elbert Walton Via email

decide if we have the passion and dedication to create our own Wisconsin moment. While a great deal depends on our veracity as voters, more might hinge on McCaskill and those charged with framing her political campaign.

Lately, the new political mantra from ly-through consultants is to work the outstate vote. Democratic politicians have been misled to believe that in order to win, they must craft an external strategy that seeks to expand the base. The implicit logic is that the traditional base is secure, consequently one should identify nontraditional support and establish a broader appeal.

For the Democrat in Missouri, that translates into taking your urban base for granted while convincing rural voters that “you are one of them.” One has only to look to the success of Robin Carnahan to realize the political idiocy.

In Wisconsin, Democrats nearly staged an historic upset by presenting voters with a clear alternative in ideology. They became old-fashioned Democrats who mobilized their liberal base. If McCaskill is to return to Washington as something other than a tourist, her staff should spend some serious time revisiting the Wisconsin model. It just might save a seat for Democrats and teach

als how to win again. George R. Cotton Sr. is the director of Development & Alumni Affairs in the

at George

in

All letters are edited for length and style.

Pleased to be published

Thank you for publishing the article “Fit for Christ” in the Religion section. It turned out well and the author whom the article is centered on is very pleased.

Marjorie Moore Via email

1,000 pounds of food

Carey Unthank St. Louis

If I were a Middle Eastern despot, I’d know how to handle the pro-democracy movement that threatens my rule: Crack down viciously, using deadly force against civilians, and make no meaningful concessions. The West will fulminate and posture but won’t intervene decisively. I can survive.

Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh, Bahrain’s al-Khalifa royal family and others have surely been watching events in Libya and taking notes. The NATO-led attempt to dislodge Moammar Gaddai is going nowhere fast. Bickering allied leaders have no stomach – or popular support at home – for warmaking of the kind that would be necessary to defeat Gaddai’s army and take Tripoli. The regime is bloodied but unbowed.

As the Libya operation is now being conducted, what’s the point? The intervention surely saved many lives by halting Gaddai’s forces just hours before they would have swept into the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. But now the conlict has devolved into a bloody stalemate in which Gaddai clearly has the upper hand. How many Libyan rebels and civilians will die in the coming weeks, months, perhaps years? What will we have accomplished?

President Obama made the intervention possible by giving his approval and committing

U.S. assets. He declared that Gaddai was no longer Libya’s legitimate leader and that his ouster was the explicit goal of U.S. policy. It was tough talk –and it must have unnerved the other embattled autocrats of the Arab world.

But it was also, in a sense, reckless talk. It was clear that Obama had no intention of plunging headlong into another war. But it was also clear to military analysts that air power alone could not vanquish Gaddai’s forces – and that NATO, without U.S. leadership, has never proved itself capable of organizing a three-car funeral. The rebel forces are brave but overmatched. European air power alone has proved inadequate to protect civilians in contested cities such as Misurata – where hospitals are illed with the wounded and the dying, and where acclaimed war photographers Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed Wednesday, apparently by a rocket-propelled grenade ired by Gaddai forces. On most days, the opposition is ighting desperately just to protect the territory it holds, not to seize more ground.

French, British and Italian leaders are taking the next step and dispatching military advisers to try to whip the rebel forces into ighting shape. The United States, after deciding to send uniforms, body armor and vehicles, announced on Thursday it will use armed Predator drone aircraft in Libya.

This is “mission creep,” all right -- but only in the sense that the military mission, as authorized by the United Nations, is limited to the protection of

civilians. The political mission, as laid out by Obama and his European counterparts, is regime change. The effort so far won’t begin to close the wide gap between the allies’ stated goal and the resources being deployed to achieve it.

European oficials have begun to grouse that the United States is not doing enough. Vice President Biden shot back, in an interview with the Financial Times, with a sharp rebuttal.

“If the Lord Almighty extricated the U.S. out of NATO and dropped it on the planet of Mars so we were no longer participating,” Biden said, “it is bizarre to suggest that NATO and the rest of the world lacks the capacity to deal with Libya – it does not. Occasionally other countries lack the will, but this is not about capacity.”

A telling blow against Gallic pride, perhaps, but not against Gaddai’s army.

All this can only give hope and conidence to Syria’s Assad and Yemen’s Saleh as they dispatch troops and thugs to kill peaceful protesters. It can only bring contentment to the al-Khalifas of Bahrain, who know their deadly suppression of pro-democracy protests will be excused, and to the House of Saud, which should no longer feel pressure to deliver on the reforms it has promised.

The United States and its allies are not willing to seize control of events in Libya and the region. Unless this changes, it is cruelty, not kindness, to pretend otherwise.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com

Under their leadership, the irst paid black ire chief in a county ire protection district was hired, as well as black deputy ire chiefs, ire captains and privates. Angelia Elgin, to whom The American gave blind support, despite the fact that she was guilty of working on another job at the same time she was being paid by the ire district, was hired by Washington and Edwards as the irst black female battalion chief in the county.

Washington and Edwards hired black attorneys, black accountants, black architects, black carpenters, black electricians, black plumbers, black roofers, black insurance agents, as well as 15 black ireighters and seven female ireighters. No other ire district in the county had nearly such a record of transferring millions of dollars of economic beneits to black people.

With all of the allegations about expenditure of funds, not one red cent was ever found to be missing by the state auditor; and after investigating the district by the St. Louis County Prosecutor, no one was indicted or prosecuted for misuse of funds. Furthermore, the allegation that the district was overspending its budget was totally untrue.

The sole purpose of the crusade against Washington and Edwards was to return control of the ire district to the white ireighters’ union, which was done with the help of the courts’ and black lackeys who thought that by playing to the white racists they would advance their own political careers.

Bridgette Daily and the union could care less what The American has to say about them, for with their victory at the polls, they put a inger in the

Each year throughout the United States and Canada, chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity facilitate an international campaign to feed those in need known as the North American Food Drive. St. Louis College of Pharmacy is home to your local Lambda Chi Alpha chapter. St. Louis has generously taken part in this international event since the founding of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy chapter in 2005.

The event traditionally consists of brothers of the fraternity conveniently dropping off bags in neighborhoods throughout the city on doorsteps one weekend, and then coming back the next weekend to pick up donations. This drive is executed biannually, with events in both the spring and fall. In the most recent drive brothers dropped off bags in local areas such as the historic Hill neighborhood as well as in Shrewsbury.

Lambda Chi Alpha at St. Louis College of Pharmacy would like to take the opportunity to thank the citizens of these areas for their outpouring of generosity for those in need. Over 1,000 pounds of food was collected and the donations were divided between Arnold Food Pantry and Food Outreach. Thanks again to the remarkable people of St. Louis.

The brothers wish to thank everyone again for their help including all the community members who donated, and also Shop-NSave for their donation of bags. This coming fall please keep an eye out on your doorstep and help us in our efforts to end hunger in the St. Louis area. Contact Carey Unthank by phone (618) 499-0652 or email carey. unthank@stlcop.edu for more information about the North American Food Drive.

Guest Columnist George R. Cotton Sr.

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Ferguson-Florissant elects board officers

The Ferguson-Florissant Board of Education recently elected new officers. For the next year the officers are: John Knowles, president; Leslie Suzanne Hogshead, vice president; Paul Schroeder, secretary; and Charles Henson, assistant secretary. Other board members serving as directors are Chris Martinez, Robert Chabot and Paul Morris.

Watershed Festival in Florissant

The Ferguson-Florissant School District is hosting a Watershed Festival from 10 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 at Little Creek Nature Area, 2295 Dunn Road in Florissant. It will offer a variety of hands-on, educational activities designed to build public awareness about the importance of watersheds. Take a hike to the new pond; see how a stream works and what causes erosion; visit booths, view displays and participate in activities sponsored by numerous organizations that promote and protect water resources. Volunteers are needed at the various tents, tables and booths at the Watershed Festival. If you are available to volunteer, call Barbra Stephenson at 314-831-7386.

Kindergarten registration in Normandy

Registration of Normandy School District students entering kindergarten during the 2011-12 school year will be held April 26-29. Parents may register their child during normal business hours at the following elementary school locations: Bel-Nor, Garfield, Jefferson, Pine Lawn, Washington and Lucas Crossing.

An afternoon registration event will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 28 at Lucas Crossing Elementary Complex, 7837 Natural Bridge.

According to state law, a child must be five years old prior to August 1, 2011 to be eligible for kindergarten at the beginning of the school year. In order to register a child for kindergarten, parents must present the child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, proof of current physical and comprehensive eye exam, a picture ID of the parent/guardian, an occupancy permit and an unpaid utility bill.

For further information, contact your neighborhood elementary school or the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at 314-4930471.

Normandy

swears in school board

Herbert “PePPer” Clifton and Jeannette Pulliam are the newest members of the Normandy School District Board of Education. The two, along with incumbent William Humphrey, were sworn into office during the board’s April meeting

Clifton, an AT&Tretiree and substitute teacher, has lived in the district for 23 years. He says he ran for a position on the board to assist in the district’s efforts of achieving full accreditation as well as ensuring students are receiving the best education.

Pulliam, a retired educator and former district employee, is a 32-year resident of the district. As a candidate, Pulliam stated she wanted to continue to work on behalf of children, communities and the Normandy School District.

Humphrey, who was initially appointed to the board in 2007, is entering his second elected term. He is a 27-year resident of the district. He says he believes the district has been set on a firm course by the Board of Education and he wants to continue working to improve educational and accountability systems.

Clifton and Pulliam are replacing long-time board members Cozy W. Marks III and Ed James who chose not to seek re-election. The newly elected board members will serve a three-year term.

FOCUS St. Louis honors Suggs

On Thursday, May 5, FOCUS St. Louis will honor 20 organizations, individuals, and initiatives that have made a profound difference in the St. Louis region in the 14th annual What’s Right with the Region! awards program. The cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards program from 6:45-8:00 p.m.

Ahighlight of the evening will be the presentation of the prestigious board-designated FOCUS St. Louis Leadership Award to Donald M. Suggs, the longtime president and publisher of the St. Louis American, who has been a champion of racial equality and involving young voices in community dialogue throughout the region.

Other honorees includeCrossroads College Preparatory School, Dr. Henry Givens, Jr., Judge Jimmie M. Edwards, Peter &Paul Community Services and 24:1, an initiative led by Beyond Housing.

Contact Julie McCausland-Richey at 314-622-1250 x109 or juliem@focus-stl.org. Reservations can also be made online at www.focus-stl.org/wrwr.

Hazelwood grad in Japan during quake

Victoria D. Anderson, a 2004 graduate of Hazelwood Central High School, spent the past two years living and working in Japan. Within days of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake, she returned home to St. Louis, safe and sound.

From March 2009 through March 2011, Anderson worked for a company called Aeon, teaching English at a Japanese conversation school in Nagoya. She lived in Seto City. She was the only full-time teacher at her school’s branch and had students ranging in age from 3 to 76 years old.

“Some were learning it as a second language to speak conversationally and some were learning English to travel abroad for business,” said Anderson.

Anderson said her students were learning to “communicate outside of textbook grammar.”

While at Hazelwood Central, she “was surrounded by a diverse group of people. I was comfortable being among different nationalities.” She attended Webster University and earned a degree in broadcast journalism and public relations, graduating in 2008. In her sophomore year, she studied abroad in Thailand for six months and traveled to Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. She studied in London for a summer in her junior year.

After college, went to a job fair at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and met a representative from Aeon.

“I wanted to live in a foreign country by myself to see if I could do it. I needed something to grab my attention and I wanted to see where I could take my potential,” Anderson explained.

For her, the younger students posed more of a challenge, as well as being a black female and a foreigner.

“I started learning Japanese little by little. Then my students felt more willing to communicate with me in English.”

At the time of the earthquake, Anderson was at work.

“You always felt earthquakes and small tremors in Japan. Sometimes they’d wake you up at night,” she said. “My classroom was on the upper floor and the windows rattled and the blinds were shaking. I was talking to a student and the student said ‘earthquake.’”

She sent text messages to her family to let them know she was safe.

“I wrote ‘I’m okay, don’t freak out.’It didn’t help, they still freaked out.”

Anderson left her job as a teacher to “focus on my career and use my degree.”

“The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave my students and the people who took care of me for two years. They were my friends,” she said.

Victoria D. Anderson

TORNADO

Continued from A1

Enhanced Fujita Scale, as it tracked through the community of Bridgeton, just west of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Amazingly, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported – only many neardeath experiences.

‘There ain’t no upstairs’

Bridgeton is where former St. Louis Police Chief Ron Henderson was at home with his wife Peggy. All that’s left of their retirement home is the kitchen tile and some carpet where the rooms once were. Their home and two others on Beaverton Drive were completely flattened.

“If I had not been in the basement, I would not be here,” Henderson told The American That night, both Ron and Peggy were in the finished portion of their basement watching the news on television. Ameteorologist on Channel 5 came on and announced, “If you live in the area of (Interstates) 270 and 70, it’s going to hit you in two minutes.”

“I’m not thinking tornado, still – I’m thinking rain,” the former chief said.

“At that moment the power goes out. I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ Then it was a like a freight train. Out of instinct, I grabbed Peggy. I threw her down, I got on top of her and I said, ‘Hold on.’Then complete hell broke loose. It was a noise I will never ever forget.” The water pipes and windows in the basement busted.

After about two minutes, it went quiet, Ron said, and he walked upstairs.

“All I could see was sky,” he said. “I told Peggy, ‘There ain’t no upstairs.’Pardon my English, but that was best way I could describe it. The good Lord chose to let me see another day. This is just stuff. We will recover from that.”

Path of destruction

U.S.Rep.Wm.Lacy Clay offered words of comfort for tornado-ravaged Bridgeton residents on Tuesday.Clay said the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s emergency assessment teams were on the ground Monday,and the preliminary damage assessments began Tuesday in St.Louis County,at the airport and in St.Charles County.

down. The damage continued southeast of Chambers and W. Florissant Avenue. In Bellefontaine Neighbors, just south of Chambers Road, the tornado removed the roofs from three homes and damaged other homes.

It then traveled eastward south of Chambers road, crossing the Mississippi River approximately two miles south of Interstate 270. At least one hundred homes were damaged in Illinois.

‘Whim of the weather’

The tornado was one of five that hit the eastern-central Missouri area overall that night, said Scott Truett, senior forecaster at the local National Weather Service office.

The municipality has a 12 percent black population, but none of the areas that were hardest hit had substantial African-American populations, said Sara Berry, communications manager for the City of Maryland Heights. From there, the tornado paralleled Interstate 70 through the community of St. Ann, and then took aim directly on Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Many of the large windows in the main terminal building were blown out or damaged by flying debris, and a large section of roof was peeled from Concourse C, according to the weather service.

Although the vast majority of people inside the airport were evacuated to lower levels and to interior rooms before the tornado hit, five people were treated and released from

The tornado initially touched down along the northern edge of Creve Coeur Lake at approximately 7:55 p.m.It traveled nearly due east at about 40 mph, and intensified as it entered Maryland Heights, where it damaged 1,200 homes to some extent, city officials said.

area hospitals for injuries due to flying debris.

By making use of its vacant terminals, the airport was up and running within 24 hours after leading the national news on Easter Sunday, when the airport was ominously reported as “closed indefinitely.”

The tornado exited the airport and headed northeast into the City of Berkeley, crossing Interstate 170 between Airport Road and Scudder Avenue. Had it kept a straight path east, it would have run right into Kinloch.

Grace of God

Mayor of Kinloch Keith Conway said his town was spared by the grace of God.

“One side of the street is Kinloch, and the other side is Berkeley,” Conway said.

“There were just a few trees and knocked lines down over here. Some of us don’t have electricity still, but it destroyed a lot of the homes in Berkeley. We tried to go over and help our neighbors.”

Along Fourth Avenue, residents experienced severe damage, especially at the Garfield Avenue and Hancock Avenue intersections where a vacant house and several homes lost their entire roof structures.

The storm knocked out power, phone service and internet access at Berkeley’s city hall, said Mayor Kyra Watson.

Many large trees fell on homes in the neighborhoods south of Airport Road. The tornado crossed North Florissant Road where it caused extensive roof damage to the Newger Materials building and the First Baptist Church of Ferguson. Across the road, a Little Caesars Restaurant lost its entire roof.

The tornado then continued through neighborhoods along and just the north of Hereford Avenue/Chambers Road toward West Florissant Road.

Storm closes schools

On this path, it partially removed the roof at Griffith

Elementary School, located at 200 Day Dr. in Ferguson.

Those 330 students, 94 percent of whom are black, will continue studying at two of other facilities. K-2 students will attend Johnson-Wabash Elementary, and third through sixth graders will go to Ferguson Middle School.

Airport Elementary and Central Elementary, also in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, canceled school on Monday because the buildings had no electricity. Airport has about 290 students, 99 percent of them African-American, and Central has about 300 students, 91 percent black.

“Our focus is on not disrupting school schedules,” said Nancy Keyser, assistant superintendent of the district’s communications department. “We had tremendous amount of help from lots of employees in order to enable Griffith students to not miss a day of school.”

Riverview Gardens School District also closed Monday due to power outages.

Ferguson city officials said 621 Ferguson homes were affected by the storm. Fiftytwo homes were heavily damaged and 72 moderately damaged.

After hitting the elementary school, the tornado widened to one-quarter of a mile, damaging trees and some homes on both sides of Chambers Road.Along the entire path from Berkeley to Dellwood, power poles were snapped and trees knocked

“It seems like on the active years, some areas are more active than others,” he said. “This year, the most active belt has been St. Louis. It is kind of the whim of the weather pattern where the most active storms occur.” Red Cross St. Louis officials said 600 trained volunteers were contacted prior to the storm hitting. U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay said the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s emergency assessment teams were on the ground Monday, and the preliminary damage assessments began Tuesday in St. Louis County, at the airport and in St. Charles County.

The FEMAassessment is the key first step in helping Nixon compile his request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, Clay said. If approved, that would open the pipeline for federal disaster funding for individuals and local businesses, in the form of grants and low-interest loans.

“St. Louisans are pulling together to help our neighbors, and we’re showing why this is such a wonderful community,” Clay said.

“I also want to thank all of the emergency responders who acted with such skill and bravery in this disaster. We are truly blessed that there was no loss of life, and we will rebuild our community –of that, I have no doubt.”

For more information and direct emergency assistance, visit www.redcrossstl.orgor call the Red Cross St. Louis Disaster Relief headquarters at 314-516-2800. The Red Cross opened a community shelter for emergency housing at the Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, Mo 63043. Additional emergency resources can be accessed by calling the United Way at 2-1-1.

DOG

turned up nothing.

Cardell said. “She let me pick her up and I brought her back here.”

Microchip check

The dog was nearly all skin and bones.

Six years later, Meley has four pit bulls, all rescued animals, and she is a volunteer at Stray Rescue. Stinky, long gone, was ever present at the same time. Meley kept Stinky’s bed, clothes, and toys, all in hope that one day she would return.

‘Dog Found’

On a Sunday last month, my husband and I were driving home in North St. Louis County when I noticed what appeared to be a weird-looking squirrel foraging from a yellow food wrapper. Upon closer approach, the squirrel turned out to be a scragglyhaired Chihuahua.

The dog seemed oblivious to being only a few feet from a well-traveled road with fastmoving cars. I was concerned the dog would get hit by a car. My husband, Cardell Jordan, was concerned a hawk or something could swoop down and gobble up this tiny animal.

We turned around to grab this pooch out of harm’s way and get it back into the yard or house it escaped from – in one of the nearby subdivisions, or so we thought.

“I called her, and she turned around and she started coming to me, like she was really needing some help,”

VETO

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 federal laws.

The bill eliminates the state’s current standard that says the law is broken if it’s determined that discrimination was “a contributing factor.” SB 188 stipulates that the standard would be changed so that discrimination would have to be a “motivating factor.”

“She was really shaking like she did not have a lot of balance,” he said.

She had no collar, so our best hope was that she had a microchip that could identify her owner.

The starving dog may have been on its last leg, because her eyes were red and she seemed very weak. She and ate and drank everything we put in front of her.

She slept on a towel inside a crate borrowed from our little dog, who kept returning to the crate to check on the visitor’s well being.

Our daughters created “Dog Found” posts on Facebook, and I searched online for any missing Chihuahuas fitting her description within 50 miles.

On fidofinder.com, I found a tan female Chihuahua missing from Dunlap Lake, Ill. I thought I had a hit, until I saw that the dog, named Stinky, disappeared in 2005.

“It couldn’t be the same dog,” I thought. That same evening, a friend visiting Meley asked her about the Chihuahua’s picture on her frig, which stood out among the pit bulls.

“That’s my original baby –that’s Stinky. Someone took her six years ago,” Meley said. “I don’t have to worry about her because Stinky is always here with me.”

Under SB 188, it would be up to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit to prove the standard. If victorious, plaintiffs also would no longer be entitled to have their attorney’s fees paid by the defendants.

The opponents include triallawyers’groups and many St. Louis-area Democrats in the General Assembly, who have called for Nixon’s veto.

“Missouri is a state that welcomes all people and believes that everyone should

That Monday after work, my husband took the dog for a free scan at St. Louis County Animal Control North. The dog had a microchip, and a message was left for the owner.

My husband and I worked on fattening the dog back up and helping her regain strength while the shelter worked on contacting the owner.

I asked my husband if the shelter said who the owner was. He said no. I asked if the shelter mentioned the dog’s name.

“Oh, yeah – it’s Stinky,” he said. “The shelter said she was reported stolen in 2005 or 6.”

Meley’s husband Riley heard the message first. When he eventually got Amy to listen to the voicemail, she thought it was a cruel wrong number mistake by animal control.

“It’s the microchip. They scanned her – it’s like a barcode,” her husband explained.

“Could they have taken her microchip out and put it in another dog?” Meley asked.

“No, they wouldn’t do that,’he said. “You are talking crazy – it’s Stinky.’”

After several happy, tearfilled messages and conversations, Meley came to our home the next evening. Once inside, she gave both of us a big hug and we brought out her now 14-year-old little furry bundle.

“Oh, my God,” she said, as she covered her mouth.

She held out her arms.

“Stink! What’s up, girl-

be treated with respect and dignity,” Nixon said in his statement.

“That means eliminating discrimination and removing the barriers of prejudice wherever they exist. Whether it be in the workplace, in housing or in public accommodations, discrimination is wrong.”

Nixon went on to say that SB 188 “would undermine key provisions of the Missouri Human Rights Act, rolling back decades of progress in

Blue tarps can be seen on almost every building in Berkeley,Missouri on Saturday, after a F-4 tornado hit the region damaging or destroying more than 2,000 homes.

friend? Hi, Momma!” Meley said as she finally got to cuddle her long-lost family member. “I never, ever thought I would see her again.”

Meley sat on the floor with her dog and cried happy tears.

Stinky back home

“The pit bulls love her,” Meley texted the next day.

“She slept with one of our

protecting civil rights, encouraging fair treatment and fostering mutual understanding and respect among all citizens. This bill would make it harder to prove discrimination in the workplace and would throw new hurdles in the path of those whose rights have been violated. That is unacceptable.”

His office noted that “the bill is opposed by a broad coalition of advocacy groups

dogs on Thursday night.”

Avet visited the next day.

Although Stinky probably has lost some hearing and vision, she looked pretty good, considering everything. However, about a week later, doctors found a rip in a heart valve, and she spent a few days in doggie ICU. Meley said Stinky almost didn’t make it.

“Her doctors were great and worked really hard, and she made it through,” Meley said. “She will have to be on medications for the rest of her life, but she is doing awesome!” Pet vaccination tags and microchips can help animals find their way back home. For more information, St. Louis County Animal Control has advice at http://tinyurl.com/lostfoundpets.

representing women, individuals with disabilities and serious illnesses, senior citizens and minorities,” including the NAACP, American Cancer Society, AARP, Paraquad, Missouri Association for the Deaf, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, National Education Association and Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council. The Missouri Chamber issued a statement lamenting

Nixon’s expected action. “Discrimination should be rooted out and stopped,” the Chamber said in its statement. “However, Missouri laws are so unfairly skewed that employers are unable to adequately defend themselves against even the most frivolous claims.”

Reprinted with permission and edited from a story that first appeared on stlbeacon.org

Berkeley blues

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Justyne L. Davis

OBITUARIES

Justyne L. Williamson-Davis, a longtime teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools system, died on April 15, 2011. She was born on January 31, 1942 in Kewanee, Missouri and moved to St. Louis at the age of ten to live with her aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Lipscomb Staples, who contributed greatly to her education.

She attended Cole School and graduated with honors from Soldan High School in 1959. She enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia when the population of AfricanAmerican students numbered only 40, and she received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 1964. She completed graduate studies at Webster University and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in 1976. She began her teaching career in the Berkeley School District before moving to St. Louis Public Schools, concluding at Walbridge Elementary School, and retiring after 40 years in public education.

She married Philip L. Davis in 1967, and they were blessed with a baby daughter, Phylis, in 197l. After 35 years of marriage, Justyne and Philip renewed their vows shortly before Philip’s death in 2002.

Mrs. Davis was a longtime member of Third Presbyterian Church (formerly the Third United Presbyterian Church) under the leadership of the late Minister Arthur B. McFadden. She was an active member of the choir, Twosomes Club,

and a Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of the IOTA Phi Lambda Sorority and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star’s Pride of the West Chapter #99.

She received numerous awards and proclamations from organizations such as the NAACP and the IOTA Phi Lambda Sorority, along with the Essence Teacher of the Year Award in 1986, Dr. Fredda Witherspoon Distinguished Service Award in 1989, the George Washington Carver Award for Teaching Science from the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and the University of Missouri’s Curators Award.

Justyne Davis was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was an educator, mentor, historian, motivator, and visionary. She was a faithful servant of God. Her survivors and loved ones include her daughter, Phylis, and her only grandchild, Jaylen; her aunt, Dorothy Staples; her kindred sister, LaVern Lenoir; her brother-in-law, Sonny Davis; and a host of relatives, church members, sorors, colleagues, students, caregivers, friends, and extended family.

Sterling Garrison Belcher, Jr.

Rev. Sterling G. Belcher entered the world on May 14, 2948 in Tulsa, OK to the loving and proud couple, Sterling C. Belcher, Sr. and Lydia Ann Green Belcher. He graduated from the historic Booker T. Washington High School with the class of 1966. He later attended Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, MO, where he received a Master’s Degree in Theology. At the tender age of 18,

Sterling took on a leadership role during the Civil Rights Movement as President of the Youth Chapter of the NAACP in Tulsa. During this time, he was also Vice President of the Congress of Racial Equality in Tulsa, where he was one of the irst people in the local area to participate in “sit ins” to break racial barriers. Sterling devoted much of his life to helping and advocating for others. He loved being in the presence of children and had a strong passion for helping youth. He established and coordinated many youth programs including serving as the director of youth ministries to Chicago street gangs and youth director of various churches throughout his lifetime. He was the Founder and Director of the Black Leadership Training Program, which provided jobs for average high school students in the St. Louis area so they could receive the proper training to do business and help prepare them to further their education. He also organized Young Eternal Souls (Y.E.S.) in St. Louis, which focused on getting children off the streets, an 80 voice gospel choir, dance group, and theatrical group that traveled and performed all around the St Louis area and surrounding states. Children from all walks of life were inspired and led to more positive outlets and a strong educational foundation. Sterling had a huge impact on these youth, many of them now ine and upstanding citizens in their respective communities today. Sterling was preceded in death by his parents, Sterling and Lydia Belcher; one brother, Leara Belcher; two sisters, Deloris Belcher and Phelo Drew. Remaining to cherish a lifetime of his precious memories are two sisters, Barbara Nelson

(Lee Roy) of Springield, MO and Linda Johnson (Willie) of Oklahoma City, OK; two brothers, Aziz Khalid (Debbie) of San Leandro, CA and Michael Belcher (Clarice) of Tulsa, OK; and a number of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Sarah Curtis September 30, 1930— April 21, 2011

Family and friends will say goodbye to their family member, friend and neighbor, Sarah Curtis, who went home on

Gone but not forgotten

Margaretta and Shreve.

Dr. Joe Louis Bryant, Pastor—Zion

Baptist Church, who went home to be with the Lord on April 14, 2010. Sadly missed by wife, Gertrude; daughter, Melanie; brother, Rev. Dr. Napolean Bryant, Sr.; sisters, Oplelia Carter and Rebecca Noland; along with a host of other family members and friends.

Justyne L. Davis

Sarah Curtis Rev. Dr. Joe Louis Bryant

Last week Mayor Francis G. Slay and the St. Louis Police Oficers Association announced that they had reached an agreement to return control of the St. Louis Police Metropolitan Police Department from the State of Missouri to the City of St. Louis. The SLPOA and the city have fashioned a compromise that would give the city control of the city’s biggest iscal obligation. In return, the SLPOA will get the right to collective bargaining. The deal hinges on the ability of the current Board of Police Commissioners and the SLPOA to reach an agreement granting the police association the right to bargain collectively.

This agreement is the culmination of an effort that began in 2008 when former then-state Representative T.D. El-Amin introduced a local control bill in the Missouri Legislature, followed by bills introduced in 2009 by state Representative Tishaura O. Jones, and in 2010 and 2011 by state Representative Jamilah Nasheed

The irst three bills failed to get enough support to pass in the House or Senate.

In 2011, the Missouri House passed a bill to return local control to the city. Although it passed overwhelmingly in the House, the bill seemed doomed in the Senate where a number of state senators vowed to block the legislation. The most strident opponent was state Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a Democrat from University City, who said local control would jeopardize the police oficers’ pension plan. Notwithstanding the fact that the legislation sponsors had inserted speciic language in the legislation that would shield police pensions from any jeopardy of being compromised by city oficials,

Chappelle-Nadal would not budge. She also cited the recent involvement in the local control ight of billionaire Rex Sinqueield as a reason for her opposition. Sinqueield made separate $30,000 contributions to two of Chappelle-Nadal’s opponents (state Representatives Ted Hoskins and Don Calloway) in the 2010 state senatorial Democratic primary – a four-way race that Chappelle-Nadal narrowly won last year. She has been a consistent and outspoken critic of Sinqueield’s school reform initiatives as long as she has been in the Legislature.

Sinqueield – whose willingness to spend millions on political battles seems limitless – also inanced a radio ad campaign urging city residents to call Chappelle-Nadal to urge her to vote for the the local control bill in the Senate. She reacted to these ads by calling black elected oficials supporting local control “house slaves” of Sinqueield during an appearance on Bernie Hayes’ radio show on WGNU. This led to a public spat between ChappelleNadal and Nasheed, who have a history of squabbling like siblings..15

While Chappelle-Nadal was ticking off all of the St. Louis city black elected oficials, her friends in the SLPOA were busy cutting a deal with these same elected oficials and their alleged “masters.” After accusing the black elected oficials of reverse racism, of trying to steal their pensions, of being afiliated with the New Black Panther Party, of being against Mom and apple pie, political reality set in for the coppers and they realized they had to cut a deal.

Political reality set in as a threat from Kansas City-area

legislators, who do not want local control. They want to vote for a bill that keeps Sinqueield from putting a statewide referendum on the ballot that could end and forbid state control of the police in any city or county in Missouri. According to reliable sources, the Kansas City police association told the SLPOA that they were not going to risk Kansas City police being removed from state control through a statewide referendum funded by Sinqueield that they would be unable to inluence. It is ironic that there has been no mention of any changes to the main point of contention cited by the SLPOA: their pensions. That is because pension beneits were always a red herring. The main issue was the SLPOA’s fear of working with a Board of Aldermen that contains a signiicant number of black elected oficials and is led by a black man.

Democrats vs. Nasheed

The EYE has also learned that some of Nasheed’s colleagues in the Legislature’s Democratic Caucus are threatening to vote to remove her and state Representative Penny Hubbard from the Democratic Caucus. Some caucus members are upset with Nasheed and Hubbard for voting with the

Republican majority on redistricting and other measures. The Democratic Caucus is trying to have the state’s congressional districts drawn to create three districts (out of eight) where a Democrat has a chance to get elected. Some caucus members are also upset at what they say is Nasheed’s launting of the perks (a larger ofice, a committee chair) she has received from the Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley (R-Perryville) for her voting with the Republican majority on the Puppy Mill revision bill – overturning a statewide citizen vote – and the Payday Loan usury law, crafted to limit predatorial lending that feasts mostly on poor, black, unbanked communities like the areas Nasheed and Hubbard represent.

It is no secret that Nasheed and Hubbard (and, in her own clueless way, state Rep. Karla May) have been making deals with the Republicans. If they manage to deal themselves out of the Democratic Caucus, they also may have dealt themselves out of a political career unless they plan to relocate to a neighborhood where a lot more Republicans vote.

Chairman April

5th Ward Alderwoman April

Ford-Grifin has been named

chair of the Ways and Means Committee, replacing Alderman Steven Conway. Since committee chairs are held by seniority, it had to be Conway’s decision to step down. Why?

“I’d done it 10 years,” Conway told the EYE. “Even I was shocked when I saw how many years I’d been balancing that budget.”

Which is becoming a less and less enviable task.

“Everybody thinks it’s such an important committee,” Conway said. “It would be one thing if we weren’t broke. When you’re absolutely lat broke, there’s not a lot of wiggle room to steer resources.” Conway said he hoped Lyda Krewson, who has a CPA, would want to chair the committee, but she did not. Ford-Grifin was the most senior alderman who did want it. Conway will now chair the Health Committee.

Akin and Ann

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin has joined the Republican primary to joust against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill for her U.S. Senate seat in 2012. He will vacate his 2nd District congressional seat, which Ann Wagner, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, has said she will seek if Akin runs. Wagner has come out iring against the Obama administration for taxing and spending.

One-man bad news cycle

Post-Dispatch reporter Jake Wagman had the line about a hard day for Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. “Torched car, healthcare lawsuit, $52,000 checks –today @peterkinder was a news cycle unto himself,” Wagman quipped Tuesday on his Twitter account. Torched car: Kinder left the keys in a campaign vehicle, which allegedly was stolen by a young man on a joyride to steal guns; the thief then set it on ire when the vehicle got mired on the road. Healthcare lawsuit: the U.S. District Court dismissed Kinder’s legal challenge to President Obama’s healthcare reform as lacking jurisdiction. $52,000 checks – Kinder coughed up personal funds to reimburse the State of Missouri for expenses he had billed the taxpayers for hotel stays and dinners on the town, mostly in St. Louis (Wagman did that story himself). Too many more news cycles like that, and it’s Kinder’s political career that will be torched.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon toured a damaged North County neighborhood in Berkeley with Mayor Kyra Watson on Saturday. A F-4 tornado hit the region on Friday, damaging or destroying over 750 homes and buildings.

Photo by UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Morehouse president to keynote fundraiser

May 28 event will fund scholarships to Morehouse

Special to The American

The St. Louis Chapter of the Morehouse College Parents’ Association is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert M. Franklin, the 10th president of Morehouse College, will bring the keynote address at this year’s fashion show and luncheon on Saturday, May 28 at noon at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel.

Now in its third year, funds raised from the Fashion Show provide scholarship assistance to young men who have been accepted to Morehouse, but may require additional inancial help. Over the past two years, the association has provided over $10,000 in scholarship support.

The St. Louis Morehouse Parents Association provides parents/guardians and family members of current students and alums the opportunity to play an active and supporting role in lives and education of Morehouse College Students.

Dr. Franklin, a 1975 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse and a renowned scholar and inspirational leader, has served as president of Morehouse College since 2008. Dr. Franklin’s vision is to produce Renaissance men with a social conscience who are committed to championing the causes of equality, justice and peace.

Dr. Franklin holds a master of divinity degree from Harvard and a doctorate in ethics and society and religious and social studies from the University of Chicago. He provides weekly commentary for Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasting Television. He is the author of three books and is a sought after speaker nationally and globally.

As the nation’s largest, private liberal arts college for men, Morehouse College was recently recognized as the number one liberal arts college in the nation by Washington Monthly; one of 45 “Best Buy” schools for 2011 by the Fiske

Guide to Colleges; one of the nation’s Most Grueling Colleges in 2010 by The Hufington Post; the number three HBCU in the nation for 2011 by U.S. News and World Report; and as one of American’s Best Colleges for three consecutive years by Forbes magazine. Prominent alumni include Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize winner and civil and human rights non-violent leader; Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General and director of the National Center for Primary Care of Morehouse School of Medicine; Shelton “Spike” Lee, ilmmaker and president of 40 Acres & A Mule Productions; Samuel L. Jackson, Academy Awardnominated actor; Maynard H.

Dr. Robert M. Franklin

Rx Take Back Day

Get rid of unused prescription drugs

Sat. April 30

American staff

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. In an effort to address this problem, and provide a venue for safe and proper disposal, the U.S. Drug Enforcement

Jackson, founder of Jackson Securities and the irst AfricanAmerican mayor of Atlanta; and Nima A. Warield, the irst African-American Rhodes Scholar from an HBCU. In addition to Dr. Franklin’s address, the association will also honor distinguished Morehouse Alumni who live in the St. Louis region. General tickets are $50, VIP tickets $150 and may be purchased from any member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Morehouse Parents’Association, St. Louis Chapter of the Morehouse Alumni Association or by e-mailing the association at maryharperthomas@gmail. com 314-265-8556 or 314567-1213.

Agency is holding its second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In St. Louis, members of law enforcement are visiting senior centers in the City throughout the week to collect and later incinerate expired and unused medicines. Students and volunteers from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy will be on site at the centers to answer questions about medication safety and disposal.

Leaving old or no longer used prescription medicines around the house is a public safety and public health issue, which can be the source of ac-

cidental poisonings to children and misuse and abuse by others. The public may also drop off expired and unused medications, over-the-counter medications, and unknown tablets and capsules at four designated Walgreens locations in the City of St. Louis (4218 Lindell; 3822 S. Kingshighway; 1530 Lafayette; and 3720 N. Kingshighway); St. Louis Metropolitan Police Headquarters (1200 Clark Street); and numerous other locations throughout the

More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the irst time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Organizers say last year’s irst National Take Back Day was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances, from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Find the closest prescription drug take back location near you by visiting http://www. tinyurl/takebackRX. - S.J.

BUSINESS

The budget crunch and the fire department

By Addington Stewart For The St.Louis American

The City of St. Louis is having a financial crisis due to the shrinking tax dollars as they relate to the economy. This crisis did not happen because firefighters receive pension benefits; these benefits were negotiated in good faith and were supported and approved by our city government. As a member in the St. Louis Fire Department, I cannot endure any more cuts to my salary. The cost of fuel, food, basic necessities and utility cost has increased dramatically. At the same time,

firefighters’salary has decreased by approximately $4,500 in this last fiscal year (July 2010 – June 2011). Unfortunately, 97 percent of the St. Louis Fire Department’s budget is salary, so our backs are against the wall in reference to making cuts to the department and we have to lay people off.

The St. Louis Fire Department budget was approximately $50 million in fiscal year 2007–2008, $53 million in 2008–2009, $51 million in 2009-2010

and $49 million in 2010–2011. Each captain/firefighter lost approximately nine 24hour days, which means we have to work an extra 216 hours, loss our night differential and

See BUDGET,

‘Winning the future’ for black businesses

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

What is the Obama administration doing for the African-American community?

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Danforth Centergets $8.3M from Gates Foundation

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has received an $8.3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance its work to improve the health and wellbeing of farmers, their families, and other consumers of cassava living in Nigeria and Kenya.

The research team includes the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and its partners in Nigeria at the National Root Crops Research Institute and at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

Funds will be used to support Phase II of BioCassava Plus, an innovative project that aims to reduce malnutrition by increasing the nutritional value of cassava, a staple crop consumed by more than 250 million sub-Saharan Africans and nearly 700 million people worldwide. Dr. Martin Fregene will serve as the lead investigator.

“Beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, and iron are contained in various foods today, but those foods are scarce, unavailable, or too expensive for many people in Nigeria and Kenya,” said Dr. Fregene, the project director.

“You have people who run businesses who are ready.They want access to the opportunities.”

– Michael Blake

“That’s a limiting question,” said Michael Blake, deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and an associate director for the White House Office of Public Engagement. Blake spoke to about 75 African-American business and community organization leaders on April 20 to discuss some of the White House’s

new programs. He also heard the audience members’concerns that federal initiatives for minorities often don’t play out on the local level. The event, held at FUSE Advertising on the Landing, was one of 1,000 events in 100 cities that Blake will hold to get the word out about these initiatives and how people can access them.

Obama administration official wants to connect community with opportunity See BLAKE, B6

McDonald’s adds 50,000 jobs

Black unemployment rate is 15.5 percent

By Marc H.Morial National Urban League

McDonald’s plans to add 3-4 new workers to each of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants.

losing battle to keep from being overwhelmed by the jobs crisis. For more than two years, the National Urban League has led the call for a national response to extremely high unemployment throughout urban America. Our Jobs Rebuild America 12-point plan offers a blueprint for change. It calls for the

restoration of the Summer Youth Jobs Program to provide summer jobs for millions of teens. We also propose greater public/ private investments in job training for those most at-risk for joblessness and least equipped to navigate their way back to gainful employment. And while Washington thus far does not appear to be listening, we have sought and found allies elsewhere, including some in corporate America. For example, we are pleased that this week McDonald’s Corporation is launching an unprecedented hiring campaign, aimed at adding 50,000 new crew and management

In Nigeria alone, 60 percent of pre-school children are deficient in vitamin A. Approximately 30 percent of Kenyan preschool children also are vitamin Adeficient, in addition to suffering from inadequate iron and protein.Effects of iron deficiency include anemia, death for women in childbirth; and inadequate levels of protein causes stunting and wasting in children below the age of five.

In Nigeria and Kenya, millions of people eat cassava two times a day, so researchers are focused on increasing the levels of provitamin Aand iron in this familiar food to provide them with healthier food that will enhance their diet and improve livelihoods.

Lambert makes speedy recovery from tornado shutdown

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport resumed approximately 70 percent of flight operations less than 48 hours after an EF-4 Tornado system damaged the airport on April 22, making lead national news.

The first arrivals into Lambert came in late Saturday to make way for both departures and arrivals on Easter Sunday. Lambert’s Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Concourse Aare fully operational after full power was restored to the airport late Saturday.

Eleven airlines had scheduled flights on Sunday. American Airlines resumed service from Lambert on Monday morning. Cape Airlines was the last St. Louis carrier to resume flights on Tuesday. Because of the devastation to the C Concourse, it will remain closed. Lambert has worked with the carriers in that concourse to move their operations.Lambert has re-opened once vacant gates in the B Concourse for AirTran (B12) and Frontier (B10).

Lambert will continue to update the progress on the tornado recovery on www.flystl.com and twitter @flystl.com.

Lydia

FUSE Advertising hosted a business forum with Michael Blake,the director of African American and Minority Business Outreach for the White House Office of Public Engagement.The theme was "Winning The Future." The forum was a platform for discussion on key administration policies and program updates,on how the administration can best serve the St.Louis Business Community and Community Organizations.

Addington Stewart Marc H. Morial

Photo by Wiley Price

A401(k) plan is self-directed, qualified retirement plan established by an employer to provide future retirement benefits for employees. Employee contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, and employer contributions are often tax deductible. (Roth 401(k) contributions are made after-tax, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are free of federal income tax.) Many employers are now enrolling new hires automatically in 401(k) plans, allowing them to opt out later if they choose not to participate. This is done in the hope

What is a 401(k) plan?

that more employees will participate and will start saving for retirement at an earlier age. If you elect to participate in a 401(k) plan, you can allocate a percentage of your salary to your plan every month. The maximum annual contribution is $16,500 in 2011. If you will be 50 or older before the end of the tax year, you can contribute an additional $5,500. Contribution limits are indexed annually for inflation. The funds in your account will accumulate tax deferred until you begin taking distributions in retirement.

By Charles Ross PERSONAL FINANCE

Employer contributions are often subject to vesting requirements. Employers can determine their own vesting schedules, making employees partially vested over time and fully vested after a specific number of years. When an employee is fully vested, he or she is entitled to all the contributions made by the employer when separating from service. In plans that offer loans, you may also be allowed to

Charles Ross

JOBS

Continued from B1

employees to its payrolls. The company plans to add 3-4 new workers to each of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants.

In addition to providing a pathway back to the dignity of work, many of these new “Mcjobs” come with training, flexible work schedules, competitive benefits, scholarship opportunities and growth potential. The company points

BUDGET

Continued from B1

no matrix pay raise. We are scheduled to layoff at least 30 firefighters removing approximately $1 million from the fire department budget. Our base pay has decreased and our hourly week schedule has increased from 52 hours to 56 hours. Now the city is

borrow money from your account (up to 50% of the account value or $50,000, whichever is less) with a five-year repayment period. Of course, if you leave your job, the loan may have to be repaid immediately.

The funds in a 401(k) plan are portable. When you leave your job or retire, you can move your funds or take a taxable distribution. However, if you leave a company before you are fully vested, you will

out that more than 75 percent of its restaurant managers and many of its corporate staff and executive leadership, including current company president, Jan Fields, started behind the counter.

McDonald’s projects that the addition of 50,000 new employees will boost the economies of states and local economies, which can likely expect an additional $430 million spent on housing, almost $186 million in taxes, and $180.5 million in grocery purchases.

requesting even more cuts, all while our cost of living is increasing at an alarming rate. In reference to our pension, there is the belief that we are getting something that we don’t deserve. The life span of a firefighter doing the type of rigorous work that we do is 25 to 30 years. When we respond to any emergency, there is potential for a life-threatening injury and loss of life in the line of duty. According to the

be allowed to take only the funds that you contributed yourself plus any vested funds, as well as any earnings that have accumulated on those contributions.

Within certain limits, the funds in your 401(k) plan can be rolled over directly to your new employer’s retirement plan without penalty.

Alternatively, you can roll your funds directly to an individual retirement account (IRA) instead. You must begin taking required minimum distributions from 401(k) plans no later than April 1 of the year after you reach age 70?.

Distributions from regular 401(k) plans are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10% federalincome

African-American teens, 38.5 percent of whom are currently unemployed, may especially benefit from this hiring blitz. The unemployment rate for black teens consistently hovers near 40 percent, the highest rate of any group in the country.

In addition to putting thousands of black teens on successful career paths, each year

McDonald’s selects one high school student-employee from each state and the District of Columbia for $2,500 scholarships, as well as three national

United States Fire Academy Report, based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (20062008):

• An estimated 81,070 firefighter injuries occur annually in the United States.

• 49 percent of firefighter injuries occur on the fireground and 6 percent occur while responding to or return-

tax penalty if withdrawn before age59?, except in special circumstances such as disability or death.

A401(k) plan can be a great way to save for retirement, especially if your employer offers matching contributions. If you are eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan, you should take advantage of the opportunity, even if you have to start by contributing a small percentage of your salary.This type of plan can form the basis for a sound retirement funding strategy. Charles Ross is host of the syndicated radio program “Your Personal Finance.” Contact him at P.O. Box 870928; Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087; or email to charles@ charlesross.com.

“McScholar” winners who each receive $5,000 scholarships. The National Urban League will continue to push for federal action in response to the jobs crisis in urban America. In the meantime, we applaud McDonald’s for doing its part with its “National Hiring Day.” More jobs mean a stronger economy and a better future for our children, our neighbors and our nation.

Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

ing from a fire incident.

• Overexertion/strain is the leading cause of fire-related firefighter injuries at 25 percent.

• 38 percent of all fire-related firefighter injuries result in lost work time.

• The majority of fire-related firefighter injuries (87 percent) occur in structure fires.

• On average, structure fires have more injuries per fire than nonstructure fires.

• Firefighter injury fires are more prevalent in July (10 percent) and peak between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m.

We do not receive social security benefits; we pay 8 percent of our salary into our pension system and the city has to pay a percentage. If there are some potential savings, of course, we should consider them, but to just take the years of fighting for legitimate benefits away is unfair to us and our families. Currently, there are proposals on the table for us to accept concessions to our pension so that the city can lower its share of the cost. There are also more proposals for us to accept more reductions in our table of organization and/or layoffs. I am very sympathetic to the plight of all of our citizens and working men and women everywhere who have been laid off. But when is enough enough? How much more can we cut in pay and benefits? Nothing!

Addington Stewart is a captain in the St. Louis Fire

“Playing with Jo all these years, there’s not one bone on him that’s dirty.”

– Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls,defending teammate Joakim Noah after the Bulls moved on to Round Two of the playoffs.

Cardinal sluggers honored

St.Louis Cardinals’Matt Holliday,left,and Albert Pujols,right,pose for photos with team General Manager John Mozliak after being presented with their Louisville Slugger,Silver Slugger Awards,before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium last Sunday.

Bye, bye, Bird

Coach Richard Hamilton retires at Beaumont

Richard “Bird” Hamilton is stepping down as the head boys basketball coach at Beaumont High School after 17 years on the job. Not only was Bird a successful head coach, he was an excellent role model and mentor to many young men who learned under him during his more than two decades on the bench at Roosevelt as an assistant coach and Beaumont as the head coach. He always commanded respect with his large stature and throaty voice that was more distinguishable than any other coach in St. Louis. Since taking over the Beaumont program in 1995, Hamilton’s teams produced win-

Elite champs

The Team Adidas Lou-E-Ville Elite 16U girls won the championship at the Adidas Hoosier Hardwood Classic last week in Merrillville,Ind.Lou-E-Ville Elite won the championship in the 17U division.They defeated the California All-Stars 64-57 in the championship game.The team members are (front row,left to right) Alayiah Covington (Edwardsville),Sidney Bloch (Edwardsville),Lauren White (Edwardsville),Taylor Miller (Incarnate Word),Nakiah Bell (Incarnate Word);(back row,left to right),Kim Jackson,head coach,Emmonnie Henderson (Edwardsville),Taylor Manuel (Incarnate Word),Taylor Robinson (Ladue),Sarah Parker (Edwardsville),Amber Alexander (Parkway North), Whitney Harris (Althoff),Roy Miller,coach.Emmonnie Henderson and Nakiah Bell were selected to the AllTournament Team.

INSIDE SPORTS

ning records on a consistent basis while annually playing against the top competition in the St. Louis area. Beaumont’s schedules always looked like the Who’s Who of St. Louis high school basketball as he accepted every challenge.

“We’ve had some pretty good teams here and Beaumont and we were able to accomplish a lot of things,” Hamilton said. “We never backed

down from a challenge. I always wanted to play the best teams year in and year out. We may not have won them all, but we won our share.”

Hamilton is a product of the Public High League, where he has spent virtually all of his playing and coaching career. He was a star player at Central High School during the mid to late 1970’s for head coach Jim Gant. Hamilton credits Gant along with

“I’ve had some other opportunities to coach in the county, but the PHL is where my love is.”

– Coach Richard “Bird”Hamilton

other PHLcoaching greats such as Jodie Bailey, Marvin Neals and George Cross as men who helped shape him as a coach. Upon the end of his playing career (collegiately at Ole Miss and UMSL), Bird returned to be

TRACK NOTEBOOK

STL BURNS IN KANSAS RELAYS

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St.Louis American

and ran legs on two first-place relays at last week’s Kansas Relays in Lawrence,KS.

The St. Louis area was well represented with top performances at last weekend’s Kansas Relays in Lawrence. The meet brought together top athletes from the state of Missouri and Kansas were on hand to compete in this prestigious mid-season classic. Hazelwood Central standout Michael Hester won the 400-meter dash with a winning time of 48.54 seconds. Hester then joined teammates Marc Franks, Sean Wills and Cole Davis to win the 4x400-meter relay in 3 minutes 21.26 seconds. The Hawks also won the sprint medley in 3:39.85. Ladue’s girls also enjoyed a big day with senior Samantha Levin winning the 800-meter run in 2:10.07. Levin also finished fourth in the 1,600. The team of Levin, Montenae Roye, Shayla Arnold and Emily Warner won the 4x400 in an impressive time of 3:56.62. Levin, Roye, Warner and Jocelyn Todd won the 4x880-yard relay in 9:21.39. Roye finished a close second in the 400, posting a time of 56.18. Nerinx Hall’s girls brought home three gold medals from the KU Relays. Colleen Quigley doubled up as the winner of the 1,600 an 3,200meter runs. Quigley turned in winning times of 4:53.31 in the 1,600 and 10:44.66 in the 3,200. Teammate Peyton Chaney won the 100meter dash in 12.03 seconds. Daniel Mazar of Rockwood Summit recorded a quick time of 1:54.03 in winning the 800. He also anchored the Falcons to a victory in the 4x880-yard relay in 8:02.17. Daniel Everett of Westminster Christian won the 1,600 in 4:12.58. Sophomore Ezekiel Elliott of John Burroughs finished second in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Junior Sherice Williams continued her fine work in the field events by winning the high jump by clearing 5 feet 6 inches.

Ridley the hurdler

Divonte Ridley of Belleville West has been enjoying an excellent year as one of the top hurdlers in the metro area. Ridley won the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles at the Belleville City Track Meet.

ESL wins in Alton

East St. Louis’girls ran away with the championship of the Alton Girls Track Invitational last weekend. In one of the highlight events, senior Ashley Gaston won the shot put with a heave of 41 feet 10 ? inches. Sophomore standout Emmonnie Henderson of Edwardsville finished second with a throw of 41-3.

Meet me at the meet

The action really heats up in the area this weekend with several top meets taking place. The Marion Freeman Invitational at Clayton High began on Wednesday with prelims. The finals will be held on Saturday. The Jim Schmuck Invitational for boys at Parkway South will be held today, beginning at 4 p.m. Parkway South will also be hosting the Victoria Reeves Invitational on Saturday. That will be an all-girls event. The Dale Collier Invitational at Kirkwood High will be held on Saturday for both boys and girls.

Earl Austin Jr.

With Earl Austin Jr.

Ladue High’s Samantha Levin won the 800-meter run

With Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

CLAIB’S CALL

By Mike Claiborne

New saleswoman forWNBA

Aformer Girl Scout was appointed president of the WNBA. Laurel J. Richie, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Scouts of the USA, was named Donna Orender’s successor Thursday by NBA commissioner David Stern.

Players,owners, Indians and Pilgrims

Now that Judge Susan Nelson has ruled in favor of the players with respect to the NFLowners locking the players out, just what does it mean?

Richie, who once sold the scouts’famed cookies herself, begins day-to-day operations of the basketball league on May 16. In his search for the league’s third president, Stern’s committee said someone with a business background was critical. The WNBAenters its 15th season with 12 teams, six of them independent. Yet few have made a real profit. Connecticut benefits from owning its facility at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Richie, who has worked on marketing campaigns from American Express to Huggies in her career, will be charged with furthering the WNBA’s brand, reporting to NBAdeputy commissioner

Adam Silver.

I hope this works. I like the WNBA, as there are enough good players. Here is the problem. Because they have lost money, the NBAowners no longer want to invest, hence the WNBAwill have to do a better job of finding their own money to survive. They also have to do a better job of identifying who their fans are. In all, there is a place for the WNBAon the spectator sport food chain.

I readily admit that I am neither a judge nor lawyer. While I have opinions on both, it is clear here to see who the winner is – and it is neither player nor owner.It’s the lawyers.

When it is all said and done no matter what the courts say, both sides need to do the deal without the courts and the platoon of lawyers each side has employed. To have this thing drag out does no one any good.

It appears that the appeal the owners filed will be heard in St.Louis by the Eighth Circuit. Interesting to say the least.

But then again, we are talking about a collection of inept parties who do not get it. The players have given more away to the owners over the years than the Indians did to the Pilgrims. They have yet to figure it out. They growl about what they are going to do, and yet they have few guarantees for their players when it comes to contracts and even less when it comes to health care and pensions. As for the owners, they think that they answer to no one when it comes to what they make. If they just made the players seem close to being more of a partnership, the players would shut up and go away. Enter Demaurice Smith, the executive director for the players association. The owners did not do a good job of scouting him. If they did, they would have

Sue Bird #10,Lauren Jackson #15 and Swin Cash #2 of the Seattle Storm celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Dream 87-84 to win the 2010 WNBA Championship.Laurel Richie, the WNBA’s new commissioner,hopes to soon make the league more profitable.

realized he was not willing to roll over like the previous regime and sell out the players.

Smith meant business from day one, and the owners are finding that out first-hand now. So where do they go from here? Funny that you ask. It appears that the appeal the

owners filed will be heard in St. Louis by the Eighth Circuit. Interesting to say the least, and that is all I will say about that. The players are not in the

clear by any means, nor are the owners. My question is: are they dumb enough to stay in the courtroom, compared to staying at the bargaining table?

Mike Claiborne

Laurel J.Richie

Photo by Jesse D.Garrabrant /NBAE/Getty Images

Long-time Official Theodore ‘TED’ Daniels Enters IBCAHall of Fame

On Saturday night, Theodore ‘Ted’Daniels will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for 33 years of service as a basketball official and baseball umpire throughout the state of Illinois.

The annual gala event recognizes former players, teams, coaches, and media members throughout the state. Some of this year’s inductees include:

Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Chicago Weber/Army), former East St Louis Assumption High great Rick Suttle,(Kansas); Bryant Notree (Illinois, NBA), Yolanda Griffith (Chicago Carver/WNBA), Pam Gant, (Joliet West/Harlem Globetrotters). And of course, our own Ted Daniels.

The man in stripes called ‘Ted’is still involved in officiating and umpiring basketball and baseball games to this day with the same alertness and passion he’s been known for

FROMTHE EAST SIDE

With Maurice Scott Jr.

throughout Southern Illinois.

In addition, he is one of the nations finest French teacher’s, having taught and taken hundreds of East St. Louis Senior High students to France as well as other places abroad.

Aformer Academic

Maurice Scott

All - American in three sports, Ted, or Mr. Daniels, or coach, (which is what I still call him) has helped several of his former students get involved in coaching, officiating, and umpiring. He has passed the baton to others, like a Maurice Tolson to Kellen Winslow 33yard gain, or a Alvin Jones to Victor ‘Cooboo’Scott 33-yard touchdown pass.

Mr. Daniels also is the former Athletic Director at East

St. Louis Senior High, and assistant basketball coach during some great year’s when Coy Nunn was the head coach during the mid-late 1970’s and early 80’s. Kellen Winslow, Terry Hill, Alexander Gilbert, Willie ‘Sweet Pea’Rodgers, Ray Coleman, Steve Brown, DeMarco Martin, Jimmy Heavens, Walter “To-Tall” Jackson, James Douglas, Bobby Cole, Daryl “Killa” Dixon, Earl Bell, James ‘Pops’ Melton are just a few of East Side’s finest that were influenced by Mr. Daniels in some way. For those of us who Mr. Daniels has brought into coaching, official, or umpiring, he expects you to do your job professionally, be on time, and

you must be neat on the field on floor. If not, he will definitely let you know. Congratulations coach! Scott’s Notes:

I’ve been quiet all year on the ‘Slick Rick’Majerus front at Saint Louis U. But what a waste of money! When you look at the excitement throughout college basketball the last couple of years, does SLU have a basketball team?

And for some of my media buddies who ripped Mike Anderson to pieces on his way back home to Arkansas, why do you give Majerus a pass. He hasn’t produce a NCAA victory since Andre Miller played for him in Utah. All Anderson did was rebuild a proud program at MIZZOU. Majerus on the other hand is like most greedy coaches stealing money. Don’t worry, he isn’t the only coach in the area stealing money. To be continued….

an assistant coach at Roosevelt, which was led by Gant. Hamilton took over the reins at Roosevelt for two seasons and enjoyed some stellar results. When Beaumont needed a new coach after the 1994 season, Hamilton answered the call.

“I’ve always been proud to be a product of the PHL,” he said. “I’ve had some other opportunities to coach in the county, but the PHLis where my love is and I always thought is was important for me to stay in the city and work with inner city kids who are in the same situation that I was in.” Hamilton’s most successful pupil during his tenure was Bryan Turner, who enjoyed a stellar career at Beaumont from 1997-2000. Turner graduated as the school’s careerleading scorer before going on to enjoy an excellent career at Southern Illinois University, where he helped the Salukis to two NCAATournament berths. Turner has been Hamilton’s assistant for the past four seasons. Now, he will be handed the reins to the Beaumont program while Hamilton will continue his duties as the school’s Athletic Director.

“I am very excited about Bryan taking over the program,” Hamilton said. “We’ve talked about this a year ago. Bryan has enjoyed a lot of success at Beaumont, so it’s only fitting that he is the one who will take over.”

Congratulations to Richard “Bird” Hamilton. Agood man who made a very positive impact on a lot of young men in the city.

St.Louis Cardinals Yadier Molina celebrates his three-run home run with teammate Matt Holliday in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds Sunday night.Molina’s homerun provided all the runs as St.Louis defeated Cincinnati 3-0.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

BLAKE

Continued from B1

“This is showing that you can organize even if you are not present,” Blake said. “How do you identify people on the ground who do this every day? My job is to find the local leaders around the country.”

First, Blake announced a new website, www.whitehouse.gov/africanamericans, which lists the federal programs benefiting the black community. From small-business lending programs to health care, Blake laid out the “Winning the Future” federal budget 2012. After an hour of discussion, Blake said he heard a continual theme.

“You have people who run businesses who are ready,” he said. “All they want is a chance. They want access to the opportunities. One of the things I’ll take back is we need to continue to find ways to make people aware of the opportunities and then concretely make the connection to the agency who can provide that help.”

To help entrepreneurs in low-income and minority communities start businesses and create jobs in inner cities, the federal budget includes $13 million to continue the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders initiative (formerly Emerging 200). Overall, the budget supports $16.5 billion in 7(a) loan guarantees, helping small businesses operate and expand.

There are also several initiatives designed to promote entrepreneurship in underserved areas, he said. The challenge some audience members expressed was getting those opportunities enforced in Missouri.

Keith Turner of Turner Technologies Inc. said he was concerned that the new SBA programs targeting women will exacerbate a current problem where the wives of wealthy white business owners apply for the programs and take away opportunities from

minority-owned businesses.

“We see it every day,” Turner said.

However, Blake said from a practical standpoint, “this will lead minority women to getting access to counsel and capital, which was never happening.”

Alan Green, director for the Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity within the state Office of Administration, said when Missouri received the stimulus money for capital projects, few minorities got to participate.

“How can we get more access?” Green asked.

“The challenge in terms of why dollars didn’t get down to minority businesses like we wanted to,” Blake said, “the states had already decided where the money would go –which was completely out of our control.”

He said the administration could have worked more aggressively to ensure those dollars were getting to minorities. However, he said people should not assume that the federal government knows what’s going on at the state level. Overall, he was asking the leaders in the room for their help in spreading the information and staying connected.

“Policy is about people,” he said. “People need to under-

stand the benefits of their health care and they need to understand that teachers’jobs were saved. It may not be perfect and there is more to do, but all we are trying to do is help people.”

ABronx, New York native, Blake said he feels his position of directing outreach to the African-American community is a good fit for him because he grew up in struggle.He said he never takes for granted that his mother was homeless and his two brothers served time.

“I can relate to what people are going through, which allows me a chance to be successful,” he said. “I know what struggle is, and I know what that feels like. My thing now is that I’m not just telling you about a program or a theory. I’m telling you because I know what it’s like to need some help.” Blake encouraged people to go to the website, join the listserv, host events and tell the story. He aims to add one million African Americans to his listserv.

“If you have benefited from something this administration has done, tell the story,” he said. He invited individuals to email

Photo by Wiley Price

Michael Blake said the Obama administration will work harder to get more money to AfricanAmerican businesses.

Inspirational comedy offers sweeping tale of black love

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

In the sneak previews, commercials and promotional footage for the ilm many have pegged as the next “big, black blockbuster,” the story is a tale of a two families from different walks of life and hilarity that ensues because of their differences.

But according to leading actors in the all-star cast of Jumping The Broom, the message moves far beyond the melodramatics of clashing

personalities and social class.

Paula Patton and Laz Alonso believe black ilm fans will go in expecting a hoot – but will leave with a sense of hope and the desire to return to a time when romance trumped empty and impersonal lust.

“Recently in music and in ilm, we saw the emergence of sex replacing romance,” Alonso said. “It’s something that society has been focused on the past few years – and actually, we put a little more importance on sex than it really deserves.”

5K organized for woman of color to chase fitness

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“We’ll walk for somebody else’s cancer, or somebody else’s well being,” said Heart and Soul 5K Run organizer Aeesha Bell. “But when it comes to doing a walk for ourselves, it’s a deterrent.”

After her own journey towards healthier living, thanks to a weight loss challenge at work, Bell began relentlessly working on a campaign to get black women more serious and involved in their fitness.

In December she began planning an event of her own. Out of the process came the Heart and Soul 5K Run, which is taking place this Sunday at Creve Coeur Park in Maryland Heights.

“I just got a little frustrated with what I see in black women,” Bell said.

“Our focus is not on our health and our fitness

With T.D. Jakes (pastor of the Potter’s House mega-ministries) serving as producer, the chances that Jumping the Broom would follow the trend of mainstream obscenity were slim to zero. But that’s not to say that the ilm – directed by Salim Akil – doesn’t grapple with the realities of dating in

this day and age.

The story begins with Miranda – a woman who, after a series of meaningless relationships that are little more than sexual relations, asks God to send the man he feels is best for her.

“Sabrina Watson is a hopeless

See JUMP, C4

vey’s bestselling book. I know this may be akin to sacrilege for some, but books like his perpetuate an ideology of oppression that gives credence to the “pimps up, hoes down” treatment women experience in U.S. society. If I offend any Harvey fans, please get at me. I would love to get your point of view on the matter. I believe Harvey is sincere but his premise is wrong, which leads to bad advice. Any useful insight he manages to provide is coincidental. My comments address his introduction only, which gives the faulty premise of his book.

Jumping The Broom – directed by Salim Akil, and starring Paula Patton and Laz Alonso – opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, May 6.

Heart and Soul 5K registered runners gear up for first leg of practice course at Flo Valley on Sunday, Feb. 13. Photos by Lawrence Bryant

CALENDAR

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican.com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis

concer ts

May1,2p.m.,QuietYour WorldPianoConcert featuring composers and artists from Nashville and Seatlle as heard on ww.solopianoradio.com, 8920 Eden Avenue, Affton, MO 63123. For more information www.edenucc.org or [314]631-8930.

Fri.,May6,The2ndAnnual St.LouisSuperMusic Festival featuring Charlie Wilson,EricBenet,Fantasia andEnVogue, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com

Sun.,May8,5:30p.m., AmerenMissouri presentsThe15thAnnualDenise ThimesandFriendsMothers DayConcert, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington. For more information, call (314) 773-0337. For tickets, call (314) 5341111.

Sun.,May8,7p.m.,Mel Waiters with special guest DeniseLaSalle, The Ambassador 9800 Halls Ferry For more information, visit www.metrotix.com

May15,8p.m.DiddyDirty Moneywithspecialguests LloydandTyga, The Pageant. 6161 Delmar For more information, visit www.thepageant.com or call (314) 7266161.

July28,Sade with special guest JohnLegend, Scottrade Center Tickets on sale April 16. For more information visit www.ticketmaster.com

local gigs

Sat.,May7,10p.m.TefPoe andRockwellKnuckles7 releaseparty The Gramophone. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/tefpoe314 or www.myspace.com/rockwellknuckles.

Sat.,May7,7:30p.m,N CollegiumVocaleofSaint Louis presents Sacred Music of The German Baroque (1636-1753), Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust St.

May7,7:30p.m., NorthwindsConcertBand, under the direction of Larry Marsh will present “Saturday Night at the Pops,” Florissant Civic Center Theatre. For more information, call (314) 9215678 or visit www.northwindsband.org.

Kut-NupProductions is seeking hip hop dancers immediately for the upcoming Lip Sync Competition in May at the Cotton Club. Please contact Sherre Ward 314-3131614 or Eric Ward 314-7755679.

special events

Fri.,Apr29,7:30a.m.,The first-everDowntownHousing Summit featuring guest speakers reporting on national and regional housing trends reflected in the just completed 2010 Census and the future of downtown living. For more information, visit www.downtownstl.org.

Fri.,Apr29,11a.m.,St. LouisAmerican Foundation’s11thAnnual SalutetoExcellencein HealthcareAwards Luncheon, The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis. For more information, call (314) 533-8000.

Fri.,Apr29,5p.m.,Stress FreeFridays,StudioBlu, Studio Blu, located at 8909 Natural Bridge Road, near Highway 170.

ThroughApr29,Delux FashionWeek, The Metropolitan Gallery (2936 Locust). For more information, visit www.deluxfashionweek.com.

Fri.,Apr29–May1, MurderMysteryTrainTrip fromSt.LouisToKansas City For more information call (314) 219-4188 or visit kcmysteryweekend.eventbrite.c om.

Fri.,Apr29,TheEyeCandy AllBlackExperience, The Loft, 3112 Olive. For more information, or a booth, call (314) 226-5777.

Apr29–May1,NCJW WarehouseEstateSale2011. Over 20,000 square feet featuring an amazing selection of unique items and home furnishings. 1270 N. Price Road, Delivery Warehouse Suite B, Olivette, 63132. See photos of some of the many items posted at: www.couturieronline.com

ThroughApril30,The MissouriDepartmentof Agricultureisaccepting applicationsforitsannual GeorgeWashingtonCarver Essaycontest. For more information, e-maiil: essaycontest@mda.mo.gov

Sat.,Apr30,9a.m.,UCity inBloom’sPerennialPlant Sale, Heman Park Community Center located at the corner of Pennsylvania & Vernon Avenues. For additional information visit www.ucityinbloom.org, lindafriedster@gmail.com, or call (314) 360-0530. All pro -

ceeds benefit the public gardens of University City

Sat.,Apr30,10a.m., NationalCoalitionof100 BlackWomenMetroSt. LouisChapterAnnual Mother’sDayBrunchwith guestspeakerM.Delois Strum, NCBW National President, Lumiere Theater For more information, call (314) 420-9373.

Sat.,Apr30,10a.m.,The SchoolDistrictofUniversity City will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new BarbaraC.Jordan ElementarySchool building located at 1500 N. 82nd Boulevard in University City

Sat.,April30,7p.m.,Dive intotheDancesofIndia& Africa!AFusionClassfor AllbyAddLife!Studio featuring WashU’s North India Bhangra dance troupe & African dancer Malena Amusa, InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109. For info, call (314) 458 – 4282 or visit www.AddLifeStudio.com.

Sat.,Apr30,3p.m.,An EveningofElegance2011 DinnerandFashionShow with entertainment provided by NikkoSmith, The Stanley & Clayton Rice Family Center 4145 Kennerly Ave. Call (314) 531-6443

Sun.,May1,7p.m., RockhouseEnt.PresentsI’m ASurvivorAllWhiteParty andCancerBenefit, The Forest Park Golf House.

Thurs.,May5, Come out and celebrate Cinco De Mayo with S&R Promotions, Elitism Magazine, and Bud Light Lime. NOCHES de CALIENTE @ The Over/Under Bar & Grill. For bottle service and table reservations, contact SandRpromo@gmail.com

Sat.,May7,12noon, GammaPhiDeltaSorority Inc.,IotaChapterpresents the29thAnnualBessieM. CrossScholarshipand CharitiesFashionShow Luncheon, Holiday Inn St. Louis Airport, 4505 Woodson Rd. For more information, call (314) 389-5229.

May13,Model search contest by CandyShopCustom Bikes The Label.

May14,Healing&Mending Ministry’s1stAnnual HeavenSent”Mother’sDay Brunch/FashionShow Westport Comfort Inn, 12031 Lackland Road, St Louis MO, 63146. For more information, call(314) 255-6181, visit www.healmending.org or email: healingm2@gmail.com

Sun.,May15,3p.m.,Jews UnitedforJusticepresents their7thAnnualHeschelKingCelebrationhonoring JudgeRonnieWhiteand JudgeRickTeitelman, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Thomas C. Hullverson and Richard B. Teitelmen Center For Justice Building, 4232 Forest Park Ave.

ThroughMay15,Bobthe Builder–Project:BuildIt willbeonsiteatTheMagic House , 516 S. Kirkwood Road, one mile north of Highway 44 in historic downtown Kirkwood. For more information, please call (314) 822-8900 or visit The Magic House online at www.magichouse.org.

ThroughMay20, Grand Center Inc. is accepting applications for individual dancers, dance troupes and performance artists for the fifth annual Dancing in the Street Festival, held Sept. 24 on the streets of Grand Center Applications, including a DVD must be submitted by May 20; participants will be notified of their acceptance by June 24. To submit a performance application, please contact Rachel Kell at 314-289-1517 or rachel@grandcenter.org. Submission forms may also be

obtained at www.grandcenter.org. All applications will be reviewed by a selection panel.

Sat.,May21,11a.m., OmicronThetaOmega ChapterofAlphaKappa AlphaSororityInc.,presents PinkPizzazz:AnAllWhite Affair featuring the Tim CunninghamDuet Norwood Hills Country Club, One Norwood Hills Country Club Drive. For more information, call (314) 283-8213.

May24,6:30p.m.,Boys HopeGirlsHopewillhold theirannualHopeCouture “ByNight” at the Contemporary Art Museum May Proceeds from this evening of fashion and fun will go to support Boys Hope Girls Hope. BHGH helps academically capable and motivated children-in-need to meet their full potential and become men and women for others by providing value-centered, familylike homes, opportunities and education through college. For more information, call (314)692-7477 or visit www.boyshopegirlshopestl.org

Sat.,Jun.4,London’s LegendBall#5“SolidGold,” Blackmon’s Plaza. For more information, call (618) 7978752.

Sat.,Jun.25,12noon, Comedy,Wine,Beer&Blues DayTour, Must be at least 25 or older to attend. Call 314219-4188 for info or register online at www.dayatthewinery.eventbrite.com.

comedy

Fri.,May6,8p.m.,Martin Lawrence, Scottrade Center Concert Club. For more information, visit www.livenation.com

Sat.,May7,7p.m.&9p.m., LaughWithMeMaComedy WeekendstarringJovan Bibbs,MarcusCombs,Matt Collins and more, Gateway Center One Gateway Drive in Collinsville, IL. Call (618) 345-8998.

literar y

Sat.,April30,2p.m.,Write YourHeartOut!ACreative WritingParty&Workshop ledbyfounderofAddLife! StudioMalenaAmusaand specialguests Re-imagine and re-work your most important writing projects in this exciting and informative writing party, InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109.

For info, call (314) 458 –4282 or visit www.AddLifeStudio.com

Sat., May 7, 2 p.m., St. Louis American Sports Editor Earl Austin Jr. will be appearing at the St. Louis Public Library Walnut Park Branch (5760 West Florissant) for a presentation and book signing. Earl will be giving presentations on his publications, which include The PHLin the STL: The Public High League, ASt. Louis Basketball Legacy and the DVD of the same name; You Might Need a Jacket: Hilarious Stories of Wacky Sports Parents and You Might Need a Jacket II.

May 11, 7 p.m., Author Matthew Algeo will sign and discuss his new book, The President Is a Sick Man: Where the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth, Pudd’nHead Books, 37 South Old Orchard Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119.

theatre

Through May 15, The Black Rep presents Black Pearl Sings, The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call (314) 534-3810 or visit www.theblackrep.org .

Apr. 28 – Apr. 30, Chicago’s legendary comedy theatre The Second City brings FAIR & UNBALANCED to St. Louis, Touhill Performing Arts Center Tickets are available now at the Touhill Performing Arts Center Ticket Office; online at www.touhill.org; or by phone at 314-516-4949.

May 13 – May 14, JMJ Productions presents I Just Want to Be Loved, 5915 Minerva. For more information, call (314) 437-8937.

May 20 – June 5, Gitana Productions presents The new original play Faultlines, writ-

ten by Lee Patton Chiles, the play examines issues of domestic violence and abuse of women, particularly those in the South Asian immigrant community. Cardinal Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Drive at Laclede Station Road. Tickets may be reserved at www.gitana-inc.org or by contacting Gitana at gitanaproductionsinc@gmail.com or 314721-6556.

arts

Through April 30, UMSL Studio Art Students present Parental Advisory (Opening reception to take place from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Apr. 14), Gallery 210, Telecommunity Center at UMSL, 1 University Blvd. For more information, visit gallery210.umsl.edu or 314516-5976.

May 6 – August 1, MFA Thesis Exhibition featuring the candidates in Washington University’s Graduate School of Art, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

May 6 – August 1, Cosima Von Bonin Character Appreciation, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

Through August 28, PPRC Photography Project: BarnesJewish Hospital Center for Diversity & Cultural Competence, an exhibit at two locations. LOCATION 1: April 26-Aug. 28 at PPRC Photography Project Gallery, 427 Social Sciences and Business Building at UMSL, 1 University Blvd., St. LouisCounty, Mo. 63121; LOCATION 2: May 3-July 31 at Arts + Healthcare Gallery in the Shoenberg Pavilion at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 4921 Parkview Place, St. Louis, Mo. 63110; Opening reception: 5:30-7 p.m. May 3; For more information, call (314) 5165273 or visit www.pprc.umsl.edu.

lectures

Fri., Apr. 29, 7:30 a.m., The first-everDowntown Housing Summit, featuring guest speakers reporting on national and regional housing trends reflected in the just completed 2010 Census and the future of downtown living. For more information, visit www.downtownstl.org.

Sat., Apr. 30, 8:30 a.m., 2nd Annual St. Louis Metro Autism Forum Washington University Occupational Therapy Auditorium , 4444 Forest Park Ave. The forum starts at 9:00 a.m. and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The forum is free and open to the public and a light breakfast is provided at no cost. For more information, contact Janice Gregory at (618) 593-5146. RSVPwith Bonnie Logsdon at (314) 286-1606.

Sat., Apr. 30, 10 a.m., The Universal African Peoples Organization (UAPO)Last Saturday Community Forum, Legacy Bookstore & Cafe 5241 Delmar. For more information, call (314) 4549005.

Wed., May 4, 6 p.m., We Are More Than You Think: Removing the stigma of mental illness and Promoting mental wellness in the

Mel Waiters Live at The Ambassador. For more information, see CONCERTS.

African-American community, Missouri History Museum – in Forest Park (Corner of Lindell and DeBaliviere). For more information, call (314)482-5697 or email:jidleburg@gmail.com

health

Sat. Apr. 30, Wellness Jam 2011 at the St. Louis Gateway Classic Foundation, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. –St. Louis. Free activities for all ages, including a children’s pavilion; free health screenings; fitness demonstration, step and line dancing; giveaways, raffles, and live performances. For more information, call 314-621-1994

Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m. –Heart & Soul 5K Race, at Creve CoeurPark. Event includes prizes, awards, health/ fitness stations; music and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit KaBOOM!, the national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play. Register at www.heartandsoulrun.com.

Wed. May 4, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

–“We Are More Than What You Think,” a free community forum about mental illness in the African American community at the Missouri History Museum. Continuing education credits from the Missouri Institute of Mental Health are

available for no charge. For more information, contact Bryan Evans-Mental Health America @ 314-773-1399 or Justin Idleburg at 314-4825697-jidlehelps@gmail.com.

Sat. May 7, 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – “Behind the Mask” Lupus Educational Conference at Saint Louis University. Registration at 8 a.m., $10 attendance fee includes all sessions and lunch. Attendees must preregister by calling 800-9LUPUS6, email info@LFAheartland.org or go to http://tinyurl.com/lupusSTL.

May 7, 9 a.m., The Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis (HDC), in partnership with Cardinal RitterCollege Prep High School and People’s Health Center, will be hosting a “Family Fun Wellness Fair” featuring fun, familyfriendly activities to present alternatives to their regular routines and promote healthy lifestyles. Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, 701 North Spring Ave. For more information, contact the Human Development Corporation at (314) 754-4511.

Sat., May 7th, 5 p.m., Mothers Day Wellness Event, if you want to move to the groove of Zumba or feel long, strong, centered and calm with yoga or tighten your tummy with belly blasting? Come be a part of this movement mania. You will be rejuvenated, refreshed and relax. This event is for all women. The Inpower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (314) 332-8487.

Sat., May 7, 4 p.m., Therapeutic Horsemanship Derby Day Soiree

Therapeutic Horsemanship, 322 Stable Lane, Wentzville, MO. For more information, visit www.thstl.org

May 21, 5 p.m., More than 1,500 teens and their families are expected to gather in St. Louis County to give a voice

to all young teens who struggle with depression and to remember those who lost their life to suicide. CHADS Coalition for Mental Health hosts its fifth annual “Kids Walking for Kids – A Celebration of Hope!” (KWK) from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, May 21 in Creve Coeur Park, Maryland Heights.

Sat. June 18, 7 a.m. - 2nd Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis’Bike Ride in Forest Park. The event has five race options: To ride, volunteer or for more information, visit www.rmhcridestl.com, 314932-4146 or e-mail lfletcher@rmhcstl.com.

Sun. June 19, Katy Trail Father’s Day Family Bike Ride, to benefit prostate cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center at BarnesJewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Riders can start from a designated KATY Trailhead and ride to Defiance, Mo. Pre-registration is $10.00 ($15.00 day of ride). For more information, or to sign-up, go to www.fathersdaybikeride.com.

Sat., Jun. 25, 7:30 a.m., CHIPS Health and Wellness Center11th Annual 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Walk and Community Health Festival, CHIPS Health and Wellness Center, 2431 N. Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63106. For more information, call (314) 6529231 Ext.20.

Sat., Apr. 30, 9 a.m., CHIPS Health and Wellness Center Hosts their11th Annual PrayerBreakfast with guest speaker Rev. Michael Jones, Senior Pastor, Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church,Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, 1000 North Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106. For more information, call (314) 652-9231 Ext.20.

JUMP

Continued from C1

romantic – she falls in love easily,” Patton said. “And she’s deinitely made some wrong decisions about men.”

Miranda literally runs into Alonso’s character Jason, and as they grow in their relationship she is compelled and inspired to go about love the right way.

“This ilm is not passing judgment on anybody,” Patton assures. “It shows that we are all human and make mistakes, but at the end of the day the movie illustrates that part of love is about loving yourself and knowing that you don’t need to give anything away.”

As Jason and Miranda continue with their journey towards holy matrimony, a clash of the matriarchs and a blend between the bride and groom-to-be’s family add a few speed bumps leading up to their walk down the aisle.

Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps, Megan Good, Pooch Hall, Romeo Miller and Tasha Thomas are just some of the ensemble that add comic relief through conlict to a story that in the end is all about love and family.

“When I read the script, I loved it,” Alonso said. “I thought it was a great romantic comedy and immediately knew I had to do it.”

Jumping the Broom marks the irst leap into romantic leads for Alonso and Patton.

“I look back on my childhood and what led me to want to become an actor,” said

DESTINY

Continued from C1

not killing animals.”

The world can be illed with Harmful and dangerous things because people are harming the Environment.

We can all help the environment by turning Off things we aren’t using like Radios, televisions, etc. We should all Learn to recycle paper and plastic – less saying and more Doing Animals are being harmed. We can Save them by saving our environment. It will be easy to Save the Environment and Ecosystem

If we do 1, 2, 3 we can save a

Laz Alonzo and Paula Patton in a scene from the ilm

“Jumping the Broom” which hits theatres nationwide on Friday May 6.

Alonso. “And while we all love action ilms, the movies that stand out in my head were the romantic comedies like Boomerang and Coming to America – the ilms that that brought my family together and helped us laugh, cry and be inspired to love.”

Both Alonso and Patton hope to make audiences laugh, but the lingering message that resonates among viewers is one of good, old-fashioned romance coupled with the power of faith.

“What’s most important about this movie is the love – and the hope,” Alonso said. “The center of the connection

Tree or more.”

“Destiny is a bright student who is always organized, prepared, and works hard in all areas,” said her teacher, Amy Crews.

“She is a great role model in the class and she always puts her best efforts into the work she does. I helped her mail it in and we made a copy of her original work for her to keep,” continued Crews. “I was extremely excited to get the letter announcing that her poem was one chosen to be published. I think she earned the award and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Now West is working on writing and illustrating her own novel, The Sister Search

“It’s about two girls who are not from here who are split up and they try to ind each other. Her little sister cries because

HEART

Continued from C1

at all, and our children grow up thinking the same thing – and that’s not okay. A lot of us choose losing weight as a New Year’s Resolution, so I wanted to see how many we could get on this journey.”

The results were staggering. More than 500 signed up, including individuals and more than 80 teams.

“We put such an emphasis on teams because we know it’s a lot easier when there are other people motivating you,” Bell said. “We wanted to give them an incentive to work together.”

So many teams and individuals rose to Bell’s challenge that parking accommodations had to be moved to Harrah’s to ensure spaces for all registered runners.

from itness injury to running through the pain.

The practices and rehearsal runs are over. Sunday is the big day, 2 p.m. is the time and registration will be open until an hour before the race begins (1 p.m.).

“I want to thank Plaza Cadillac, Harrah’s and Radio One for their support,” Bell

n “I just got a little frustrated with what I see in black women.”

– Heart and Soul 5K Run organizer

Aeesha Bell

Heart and Soul 5K Run, Bell was forced to face a sad reality – a well-known, yet frivolous obstacle among black women as they seemingly surrender to obesity.

“Our hair is killing our health,” Bell said. “We can’t exercise between Saturday and Tuesday because we spent $50-70 for a hairdo. That’s crazy.” When she irst started the weight loss challenge at her job, Bell had braids. But now she has a system.

“I wash my hair on Saturday, take a break from working out on Sunday and start again Monday evening,” Bell said.

between Jason and Miranda is not a sexual one. It is the love that is experienced between them. It shows what to do when you do ind a woman who has everything that you are looking for and speaks to you – spiritually, mentally and intellectually. You are going to spend the rest of your life with her. This ilm reminds us if you put love irst, everything else has a chance to fall into place.”

Jumping The Broom opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, May 6. The ilm is rated PG-13 with a running time of 101 minutes.

they are separated,” West explained.

She said two classmates inspired her to write the story, Halima Motan and her younger sister, Manar, who are new to McNair. They come from Yemen, a nation on the Arabian Peninsula.

In 2008, Young Writers of America was established by a group of teachers for the sole purpose of providing students with the incredible opportunity of having their work published. In addition, Young Writers of America proudly donates all additional proceeds to disadvantaged youth programs across the nation.

Poems are reviewed by a panel of experienced public school teachers. Entries are judged based on creativity, artistic quality, artistic expression and originality. Approxi-

They set out to train every weekend, but to say that this season’s weather has been uncooperative would indeed be an understatement. Somehow, between the blizzards, thunder, hail and most recently tornados, the Heart and Soul runners managed to squeeze in six practice runs over the last four months.

They even had a running workshop with Breakthrough Pain Relief Clinics, where they offered instructions and tips and tools on everything

SINGLE

Continued from C1

The introduction boasts, “Everything you need to know about men and relationships is right here.” I shook my head, muttered something like “foolishness” and took a drink of white wine.

Three pages in, he describes the moment when he stopped responding to the inquiries of women seeking relationship advice with jokes and responded with “wisdom about men” based primarily on “more than half a century” of learning “how to be a man.” Secondary sources for his daddy-wit comes from friends, “all men,” who range from athletes, stars, ministers to hustlers.

Brother Harvey couldn’t ind one scholar or writer who studies masculinity? He goes on to say that men are simple. I couldn’t disagree more. If brothas are simple, then why do we need

said. “Especially Staci Static – I don’t know how to express how phenomenal she is and how grateful I am for her having the same passion that I have about this race every day on the air.”

Health vs. hair

As she planned for the

200 pages of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and a series of books illed with Harvey’s prophetic truth? Humans are complex beings, and black men are no different. When speaking of brothas in particular, we are shaped by history, contemporary social issues and even the limiting views of masculinity as offered by Bro. Harvey. Just sayin’.

The next page I have lagged is Harvey’s comment about his daughters. He says that they “will all grow up and reach for the same dream most women do: the husband.”

That doesn’t sit right with me. It is strange how “most women” can have the same dream of giving up their last name and identities to be branded with the one her husband owns. It’s odd that “most women” want “some kids” and “a house,” as though the path to “a happy life” goes through men.

That’s a lot of power for brothas to have over women.

“That way, I have really cute hair for three days, and then I have to work with it for the rest of the week. At some point in time, you’re going to have to sacriice your hairdo to improve your itness. Ladies, no man has ever turned down a woman because her hair looked worse than her behind.”

The Heart and Soul 5K Run will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 at Creve Coeur Park in Maryland Heights. A Kids Fun Run will precede the main event. Medals will be awarded by age group. Children must be registered by 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://www. heartandsoulrun.com.

I suppose that is why Harvey wrote his book: to show women the way to righteous men “so they can truly get what they’re after.” Hosanna. Speaking of the “highest praise,” I attended church on Palm Sunday and heard the minister say that we need to pray for “women” who tempt men. Initially, I thought he meant all women, until he added, “on corners tempting men.” The minister said this to his mostly female congregation. I’m sure God know what is on his heart, but his rhetoric made for an odd moment in his sermon. For a moment, when the pastor spoke, I thought about the old stereotype of women as the downfall of men. I wonder if this stereotype of women will surface in Harvey’s caricature of men. MK Stallings also writes for mkstallings.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/afroscribe or friend him on FaceBook.

Supporting stem cell research

Sam Fox hosts dinner featuring

‘Superman’s’ neurologist

Special to The American

Businessman and former

U.S. ambassador to Belgium

Sam Fox recently hosted 70 dinner guests at his Clayton home in support of Missouri Cures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting stem cell research in St. Louis and across the state.

Dr. John McDonald, who served as Superman actor Christopher Reeve’s neurologist and physician, joined three leaders of the St. Louis life sciences community in discussing the challenges and opportunities that stem cell researchers and other scientists currently face.

Sharing the podium were: Dr. William Danforth, chancellor emeritus of Washington University in St. Louis and chairman of the board of directors of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; Dr. Sessions Cole, chief medical officer of St. Louis Children’s Hospital; and Donn Rubin, executive director of The Coalition for Plant and Life Sciences.

Guests included: Dr. Donald

M. Suggs, Steven Cousins, Tom and Mary Stillman, Steve and Dr. Carolynn Wolff, and Dr. Larry and Debby Levens. Missouri Cures, formerly known as the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, was instrumental in the 2006 passage of the Missouri Stem Cell Amendment, which protects the ability of Missouri scientists to pursue all federally approved forms of stem cell research.

The amendment also protects a patient’s right to access future stem cell therapies in Missouri. Fox told his guests that promot-

ing and protecting stem cell research is key to Missouri maintaining its reputation for top-notch medicine.

McDonald, who is director of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, was a faculty member of Washington University when he developed the rehabilitation program that helped Reeve regain feeling and limited movement after an equestrian accident left the actor paralyzed in 1995.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

This travel season

Not everyone has the opportunity to take a vacation as often as one would like, so in the meantime why not take a “staycation” right here in the area. There are plenty of opportunities to have all kinds of fun from attractions and theatre to special events and dining. One way you can learn what’s happening in your own backyard is to visit the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission’s (CVC) “Be a Tourist in Your Own Town” community celebration on May 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in downtown’s Kiener Plaza. The free event will be chocked full of informational booths and displays from more than 50 area attractions, hotels, cultural institutions, and regional hot spots, as well as free ice cream from North Star Frozen Treats, prizes and live music.

The celebration is just one of many events the St. Louis CVC is participating in during National Travel & Tourism Week, May 7– 15, 2011. The observance was established in 1983 by the U.S. Congress and is a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide. Created by the U.S. Travel Association, the goal of the event is to enhance the country’s economy, security and perception, and recognize the cultural and social benefits created by travel and tourism.

The term “staycation” has been popping up for a few travel seasons. It might sound like blasphemy to suggest vacationing without going anywhere, but when the cost of airline tickets or fuel is factored in and the actual hassle of traveling—especially if you have young kids— is factored in, planning a staycation starts to look pretty appealing. Here are a few tips to help plan a STL Staycation: Pick up a variety of brochures from any of the St. Louis CVC local visitors’ centers Often you’ll find information about places you’ve have never visited. Spend at least one evening looking through them with your family and choose places to visit and activities to enjoy. You may be surprised to find there is more to see and do than you will have time to manage. St. Louis CVC Visitor Information Centers exist at five different locations: Kiener Plaza just west of the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis — Sixth &

Just as

for St. Louis. Each year, the St. Louis region welcomes 21.6 million people for business, leisure travel, meetings and conventions, and these visitors leave behind about $4.20 billion. This creates jobs for more than 80,000 area residents, industry wages of $2.24 billion, and adds an additional $801 million to federal, state and local tax coffers. For additional information on things to see and do while “being a tourist in your own town”, log onto www.explorestlouis.com

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Donald M. Suggs and Steven Cousins

Commencement Davidson College grad

Ashley N. Crawford

of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her proud parents are Angela and Arthur Crawford of St. Louis, MO.

Commencement

Murray State grad

Candice T. Reeder

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Candice T. Reeder will graduate from Murray State University in Kentucky on May 14 with a Bachelor of Science and Sociology Degree and a minor in Business Administration. Candice is the proud mother of a young daughter, Zipporah. Her parents are Arabella and Richard Reeder of St. Louis, MO.

Birthdays JenniferPorter — April 30

Valerie Wilson (41) — April 29

Joel Chambers — April 30

Beaumont High School Class of 1965 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 45-year reunion. We are in the process of planning a dinner/dance.Your contact information is needed ASAP. Pleaseemail LaLinda Newsom Diggs at lalindadiggs@sbcglobal.net.

Beaumont High Class of

Sandra Tobias — May 1

Patricia Shelton — May 2

Honored Hall of Fame inductee

St. Louis native Ben Cowins was recently inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Cowins is a 1975 Sumner High School graduate. He played for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1975-78 and was the longstanding all-time leader in rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and 100yard rushing games.

Carolyn Randle — May 2

Darron Mitchell — May 3

Lamarcia Lunnie — May 4

1971 has scheduled its 40-year reunion for August 5-7, 2011. E-mail your contact information to beaumont71alumni@ yahoo.com for details.

Cardinal RitterCollege Prep High School is seeking members of the classes of 1981, 1996, 2001 and 2006 for upcoming reunions. Please contact Alumi Affairs Director, Tonya Farr at 314-446-5506 or tfarr@cardinalritterprep .org for more information.

Cardinal RitterPrep. High School Class of 1986 is preparing for its 25-year reunion. We are looking for all classmates to update information and participate in monthly meetings. Please contact Mike Reynolds at (314) 5789621-mreynolds@cardinalritterprep.org or Sylvester

Williams at (314) 629-4429sylwilliams@cardinalritterprep. org.

Central High School Class of 1971 is preparing for its 40year reunion in 2011. We are looking for all classmates of 1971. We need your contact information to complete our class directory. Please email your information to Preston Kerns or Alice Manuel Robinson at centralclassof71@yahoo.com.

Farragut-Beaumont

Neighborhood Reunion Dance and Fundraiser will be held Sat., May 21, 2011 from 8 pm to 1 am at the Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow. For more information, contact boyds@stlouiscity.com, mscatmay@sbc.com or 314-3278330.

Birthday

Great-grandmother of eight turns 70 years old

Janice Blevins commemorates seven decades of life on April 29. She was honored with a celebration hosted by family and friends at New Cote Brilliante Church of God. Janice is a wife, mother of five, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of eight.

Hadley Technical High School class of 1961 is preparing for its 50-year reunion in 2011. We are seeking contact information to complete our directory. For more information contact Ralph Johnson 314-477-2042 or William Perry 314-531-3170.

Northwest High School Class of 1971 is preparing for its 40year reunion. We are looking for all classmates interested in attending and/or to help plan the festivies. Call Jeanette at 314 398-0383, Willie at 314 378-8326 or Diane at 4986886.

O’Fallon Technical High School Class of 1981 is beginning preparations for the 30year class reunion in 2011. We are seeking classmate contact information to complete our

class directory. Please email Chrystal Riley at kittstark@ aol.com for information.

Soldan High School Classes of 1966and1967 45-year reunion will be held June 1618, 2011 at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, MO. For more information please contact: Marilyn Edwards Simpson at 314-837-7746, Meredith Wayne Farrow at 314-521-8540, email: stlsoldanhs1966@yahoo.com or Facebook: stlsoldanhs1966.

Soldan Class of 1976 is celebrating its 35-year reunion during the weekend of June 10-12.We're looking for all alumni to participate. Contact us via e-mail:soldanclass76@yahoo.com

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 4242 Lindell Ave St. Louis, MO 63108 FREE OF CHARGE

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent \by mail to: Kate Daniel, 4242 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Ashley N. Crawford will graduate from Davidson College on May 15 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is a member

RELIGION

Study: religious beliefs still guide voters

Mizzou instructor looks at U.S., U.K. and Germany in report

Special to The American

Church attendance in western democracies has declined; yet, a new University of Missouri study shows religious beliefs still inluence people at the polls.

Chris Raymond, a graduate instructor of political science in the MU College of Arts and Science, said that many political experts consider voters around the world as “loating without party loyalties,” and that religion does not inluence voters. Raymond’s new study says religion still has a large impact on how people vote and helps deine many of the platforms represented in the party system.

In the study, Raymond compared church attendance to other categories such as income, union membership and education and found that religion still matters for a sizable number of voters. By comparing the indings of the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, Raymond discovered that even as the countries had different degrees of religious attendance, the religious beliefs still had a high level of inluence.

The three countries were selected because they each represented a different trend regarding religious voting, or voting based on religious beliefs. People in Germany are perceived to be moving away from religious voting; the United States is experiencing a rise in religious voting; and religious voting in the United Kingdom has held steady.

When compared to the 1960s – an era during which experts say voting behaviors began to change – religious voting has

shown an “enormous degree of persistence,” Raymond said.

“The literature indicated that these countries had become more secular, and scholars have said that religious voting ‘no longer mattered,’ but this study shows that is not the case,” Raymond said.

“Regardless of the trends, religiosity remains on par with class issues as far as why people vote. In fact, I argue that religion is No. 2 to social status.”

Raymond explains that each country currently has speciic political issues that may encourage voting afiliated with religious beliefs. He cites abortion rights in the United States, state funding of churches in the United Kingdom and issues related to Muslim integration in Germany as primary examples. These issues and their alignment to strong religious beliefs

impacts voter turnout, he said. Religious voting also tends to favor conservative parties, because those social values tend to correspond with traditional conservative political values.

“It’s important to understand that religion isn’t the only factor, but an important one,” Raymond said. “This makes sense because as a person with a vote, my religion and my class are how I perceive the world.”

The results were published in the journal Electoral Studies.

Gospel scene

Quiet Your World-Piano Concert, open to the community at no charge, will be held May 1 at 2 p.m. at Eden Church, 8920 Eden Ave. in Affton. For more information: www.edenucc.org or 314-631-8930.

Solomon’s Temple Church

For anyone who has a commitment to allow Christ to lead their life, did you consult Him on what should be top priority in 2011 for you? Are your goals in accordance with Christian values and is the time required or plans to do them not in conlict with what God wants you to do? As Isaiah 49:1 and Jeremiah 1:5 says, God knew us before we were born and he had plans for us even then. God is in no way opposed to our achievement, but toward good and eternal things and achieved in appropriate ways. Even Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 26 and Philippians 3:13-15 noted the importance of goals focused on seeking God’s Kingdom; answering God’s call and the discipline necessary to achieve what God puts before us to get the ultimate crown.

friend, employee, student, church and community worker in addition to being a Christian?

Will the goal take time away from things that should be irst or should the goal for a time hold a high priority? A goal that might hold a higher priority for a time might be to stop drinking because it is becoming detrimental to your other roles and to you, or going back to school to get a job or better job as God leads. Do other projects or plans need to be of less importance or deleted?

will host a Men & Women Minsters Revival 7 p.m. nightly May 4-6 at 5569 Page Blvd. Speaker: George “Awesome” Dawson of Columbus, OH. Information: www.solomonstemplechurch.org or solomons@ i1.net.

The SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts will present its spring production, Arts Extravaganza, at 6 p.m. Friday, May 13 in the Multipurpose Theater in Building D at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd. in East St. Louis.The production will include gospel, rhythm and blues and contemporary music from such artists as Sade’, Patti LaBelle and Kirk Franklin. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. For more information, call Theodore H. Jamison at 618-482-6993.

God wants to be involved in all areas of our life but we must seek him (Psalm 37:4-6). Set goals in accordance to His word and speciic to what He plans for you. But how can you do that?

In 1993, I completed the training session The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Steven Covey, the author of the book by the same name, is afiliated with the Institute for Principle-Centered Leadership. It is an excellent resource for being productive in business but is good for anyone plotting what they want to accomplish and how to make goals real, measurable and not just dreams. You plan based on values and roles important to you, as God’s word says. As you make goals, consider roles that are most important. Are you a wife, mother, father, husband, daughter, son,

In the 1990s I joined a itness club and exercised in the evenings after work. There was nothing wrong with the plan, but I was a wife and mother, and it just didn’t work, my family needed me. I learned to exercise in the mornings at home without disruption to my top roles, my husband and children. Ask God for guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6). Establish objectives (Psalms 37:23 – 24). Be disciplined and schedule time to do what God has put in your heart knowing He promises to help. You will succeed in doing what God has for you, as long as you follow Him (Philippians 1:6). Ecclesiastes 3:1 says there is a time to every purpose. Let the Lord lead you to the purposes for you. As a Christian, your ultimate goal is to be commended by God or pleasing in His sight (Matthew 22:37-39; 2 Corinthians 10:18). Even if your plans are pleasing, is how you are going about it pleasing in His sight? Pray and consult God’s word to be sure.

Accepting Inspirational Messages

Charlotte Petty

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha attend Easter church service at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, April 24. Oficial White House Photo by Pete Souza

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

Underground R&B goes over well. When Eric Roberson comes to town, St. Louis doesn’t play around, even considerin’ the tornado that came in and wrecked shop. While some were shaking for dear life in basements, The Soulful Sounds of Ivy League Entertainment got off to a great start in their irst showcase featuring Roberson. The Loft was full of soulsters anticipating the smooth grooves set to unfold. I was a little nervous because it almost seemed like it would be a repeat of Lauryn Hill’s mix bagged set as we sat for awhile DJ Needles, meanwhile, held down a distraction on the 1s and 2s. Right as Selena J warmed up the crowd, things inally kicked off. Opening the show was the pint sized powerhouse known as Teresa Jenee. Home girl held it down. She really captured the crowd with her shrilling vocals while warning the crowd that her aptly named “Cicely Tyson” wig may come undone. Jenee gave a solid showing with help from CJ Conrod on background and Wildmann on guitar.

Soon thereafter, Roberson hit the stage with the expected foot stompin’ and hand clappin’. Rocking his David Rufin part and Keith Sweat texturizer, the ladies swooned as he dished out his staples such as “The Newness,” “Obstacles,” and “Dealing” during which he brought up a lucky female audience member for a duet. Unfortunately ole girl must have had the case of the LaToya Jackson-itis because she was completely inaudible. Many times I had to refrain myself from screamin’ “Girl, what?” If I can say anything about Roberson it would be that the man is consistent; always engaging the crowd and deliverin’ silky smooth vocals. Seeing the love given and CJ Conrod jumpin’on stage to help out with background, it was evident that Roberson is deinitely a St. Louis favorite.

If I could mention one bad thing though, it would be that tired tall buffoon hecklin’ from VIP. Apparently ole boy must’ve had a birthday or just graduated from somethin’ because he just couldn’t shut up. I suppose some folks are just happy to be out the house. Next time dear sir, sit down and shut up. Don’t put on shows when clearly no one bought a ticket. All in all, it was a great event. Shout out to Mia Mills Ivy League Entertainment for taking care of us media folk.

Mario’s swagger bash. I swear it must’ve been the Vashon version of high school musical when I walked up inAmnesia on Saturday to celebrate my boy Mario’s b-day. Grown men were just huggin’ the walls and gawkin’ all night just like in a tragic scene from Family Matters. I would have to say that the hottest chick that night had to go to Miss Lenora, rockin’ her long feathered earrings and lattering cocktail dress that seemed to be painted, appropriately so, to her shape. I’m sure she gagged the other loppy-shaped unmentionables that seemed to be the main ones mean-mugging the house down. Perhaps if you didn’t grab that Rainbow clearance rack frock, zebra print zip up boot, and cutoff denim vest all the while swingin’ your bad hips with a Nanny McPhee umbrella in tow, you could have been worth a stare or two. But speakin’ of umbrellas, I was glad to see the festivities of my dearest Mario in all his birthday glory. Apparently Mario was feeling his Rihanna tease as he stomped across the dance loor with an inlated shoulder pad party top. I wasn’t mad though, even while preferring that he would have been inspired by someone other than a singing billy goat. Aloha Mi’Sho showed up the girls and quietly gave them a run for their money with a black revealing number with cascading curls sprouting from her scalp. While wishin’ I would have worn my one-arm-in-one-arm-out single ladies blouse, I began to notice my bubblin’ disappointment by home girl hosting on the mic. My observations: cute it, respectable shape, tragic scruffy ponytail, dirty rubber band. Miss Ma’am clearly forgot to take a note from Mocha Latte; if you’re gonna host a club event, pull yourself together and serve me pretty girl rock, not tip drill. Overall, I have to give Lure Amnesia some credit. They deinitely know how to treat their patrons. Free shots at the bar would make anybody feel privileged, even in the midst of scattered ratchet. Shoutouts to Erica Cole & Co for holdin’ it down!

A Lunatic Has His Day. I also made time to slide back over The Loft to see another birthday boy, Kyjuan, The usual club fanfare was present: tight leopard print, Polo boots, and sets of bloodshot eyes. The dance loor was so crowded I almost didn’t get a chance to see the notables who made it out to celebrate. All the suspected faces were there: Ali, Murphy Lee, and Tony (Nelly’s manager) were poppin’ bottles in VIP. Even Kimora Lee’s brother, Ali, showed his face.Again, the storm didn’t stop St. Louis from showin’their hometown heroes some love. But of course the expected missing link, Nelly, was nowhere to be found.

Wheezy Jeezy. Thanks to LooseCannon SLIM, the hip-hop headliners will be back in the building at Posh. Young Jeezy is coming to town on May 6th and I wonder which oversized belt buckle will be worn and how many hot coals he would eat this time around before he hits the stage. At any rate, I’m sure resident hip hoppers won’t be able to get in the doors fast enough. Bad Boy Coming To Town. Wack rhymes, unspeakable hairstyles, and a couple of unknown background broads known as Diddy Dirty Money will be making their way to The Pageant on May 15th at 8pm. The “take-that” rapper mogul will be bringing the whines of Lloyd and the skin-and-bone tatted frame of Tyga with him. But don’t get confused, I am looking forward to this show. If anything, Bad Boy’s production has remained hot. For that, I can overlook the fact that Diddy sounds like he is reciting a 3rd grade poem rather than actually rappin’. Hopefully the nameless faces that make up the rest of Diddy Dirty Money, who could very well be Kelly Rowland and Ciara, for all I know, will balance out the recital. But I’m still a bit nervous how they will manage seein’ how their CD features everybody and their mama.

A Soulful Surprise. So who else jumped for joy when they heard neo soul’s favorite underground star, Bilal, coming to town? Ever since he put out his new CD after many years of his “Soul Sista” fame, I have been hopin’, wishin’ and prayin’ that his high pitch wails would return to St. Louis. Having made my rounds to worry every promoter from North County to East St. Louis to bring in the singer, I almost lost hope. Well looks like my

have been answered as his concert is scheduled May 21st at 9pm

Nune and the

prayers

with DJ

Horney Hours opening and Coco Soul as hostess. Nice to see St. Louis grow up and expand its repertoire with this! Hopefully he’ll refrain from cussin’every one out

Cheryl and Ernie Friday night @ Lola

Maram and Tyler show some b-day love to Jon Friday night @ Envy

Alexis and Eugene @ The Love Jones Theory Tuesday @ The African Palace

Soul Singer Eric Roberson and Eboni Friday at a special meet and greet for Erro’s STL visit

Stephine, Dean and Nye @ the Gateway Classic Kick-off party on Wednesday

Nicki, Precious, Carolyn, Joyy and Ashley Saturday night @ EXO

Jennifer and Courtney Friday night @ ENVY

DeAndre Perryman and his lovely wife Tuesday night @ The African Palace

Ashley and Stephen Friday night @ Lola

Paul, Carmen, Tiffany and Tim Friday night @ Lola

The lovely Ms. Tiffany Saturday night @ EXO

LaChet, Nikki and Whitney Saturday night @ EXO

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

College Bound receives $200K grant

Special to The American

College Bound received a $200,000 grant from Emerson last week. The funds will be used as a multi-year investment from 2011-2013 to support College Bound’s awardwinning high school-to-college programs, college-to-career programs and to launch a new “Partners Program.”

Founded in 2006 by Lisa Orden Zarin, College Bound is a college access and success nonprofit organization that empowers motivated high school students from underresourced backgrounds to complete college degrees and prepare to enter the work force.

The $200,000 grant from Emerson will allow College Bound to continue its relationships and efforts with local schools – four high schools in three districts (St. Louis Public, University City and Maplewood Richmond Heights) and students from 25 different high schools through College Bound’s communitybased program housed at Washington University.

It will also fund the launch of a new “Partners Program” that will enroll high school students from other youth

Funds from Emerson will help support award-winning programs

provider organizations throughout the region that are already benefiting from Emerson’s support such as Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Consistent with College Bound’s programming and 360-degree approach, which focuses on academic and cultural enrichment, the Partners Program will prepare its students for college by developing the cognitive and non-cognitive levers that predict success.

College Bound estimates that Emerson’s investment will level the playing field for nearly 500 students who have no economic, social or educational support to help them navigate the complicated path toward a college degree. The grant will also serve as a “pipeline model” to connect youth providers seamlessly from middle school to high school through college.

College Bound distinctly works with St. Louis’most atrisk students throughout their entire high school and college experience. The nonprofit organization offers comprehensive programming for eight years, preparing its students

for college success and graduation beginning in the ninth grade of high school. This is especially important since data reports, and a 2010 University of Chicago Issue Brief confirms, that while college atten-

dance has increased over the last three decades, the proportion of students who complete degrees has decreased. As the brief states: “this lack of persistence and degree completion

in college, especially among disadvantaged students, has become an increasing concern to policy makers.”

Externally validated outcomes from College Bound show that students who partici-

pate in its program are persisting in college and trending to complete college at rates equal to students from the highest income families. Typically, only 1 in 10 low-income students graduate from college by age 24 while 7 in 10 of their high-income peers complete by the same age. College Bound’s focus on degree completion is also consistent with the RCGA’s campaign to increase completion rates in the greater St. Louis area.

Additional outcomes from College Bound’s program include:

• 100 percent of seniors graduated from high school in years 2008, 2009 & 2010

• 100 percent of College Bound students matriculated to college

• 93.5 percent of College Bound students re-enrolled for sophomore year of College Bound

• 83 percent of College Bound students enrolled for their junior year of college.

• 75 percent of College Bound students (based on credits accumulated) will graduate within 6 years, equivalent to the graduation rate of students from the highest income families

Founded in 2006 by Lisa Orden Zarin,College Bound is a college access and success nonprofit organization that empowers high school students from under-resourced backgrounds to complete college degrees and prepare to enter the work force.