April 7th, 2016 Edition

NGA to stay in STL

Labor pledges to double federal inclusion goals

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Local and state elected officials gushed excitedly for more than an hour at a press conference on Friday, April 1 about the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s preliminary announcement to build its new $1.7 billion facility in North St. Louis.

A life well lived St. Louis says goodbye to Ida Woolfolk

By

Louis

“Well done, Ida Goodwin Woolfolk,” the sign outside her lifelong church home of Kennerly Temple Church of God in Christ read.

The space is usually reserved for scripture.

This simple, profoundly appropriate statement was the message passers-by were met with from the moment the news of her sudden passing on Wednesday, March 23 at the age of 72 became public up through her final services this weekend. In a celebration of life that lasted two days, the community leader and educator was remembered in the same grand fashion with which she lived her life. Services began Saturday morning with a New Orleans-style second line processional through her Central West End neighborhood. The public portion (her Monday burial was private) concluded with

n “She was a force of nature.”

– Bishop Charles E. Blake

Woolfolk lying in state at the St. Louis City Hall Rotunda on Sunday afternoon. She is said to be the first to do so since the rotunda was built in 1905.

“This is historic, and she most certainly deserved it,” Martin L. Mathews, co-founder and president emeritus of Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, said as he prepared to pay his respects to Woolfolk on Sunday at City Hall.

“We won,” officials said repeatedly.

“This is a great day for St. Louis and a shining example of what is possible when Missourians work together across regional and party lines for the good of their communities,” said Gov. Jay Nixon. In a hastily assembled press conference on March 31, when the news first leaked, Mayor Francis G. Slay credited the Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, St. Louis Regional Chamber, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The St. Louis American as “superheroes” for doggedly supporting the city’s effort to keep NGA.

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay also credited developer Paul McKee Jr. for assembling the land in North St. Louis that made the city’s bid possible. McKee and Bob Clark of Clayco prepared the initial proposal for the North St. Louis site. Nixon said that the competition was stiff, but that St. Louis – perhaps seen as the “underdog” – came out on top. The competitive edge did come with a considerable

See NGA, A16

Salute to Health

Addressing toxic stress

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Every year, 30,000 uninsured St. Louisans living in poverty get access to health care through the Gateway to Better Health program. Of those carrying “Gateway cards,” 50 percent have diabetes or hypertension – or both.

n “The relationship between trauma and stress to impacting physical health is clear based on research.”

– Peter Sortino, chairman of the Regional Health Commission

“We are doing a good job of getting them into our medical centers when they’re sick,” said Rob Fruend, CEO of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, which organizes and monitors the program. “But we started thinking – what if they didn’t show up so sick in the first place? And what’s driving that?” The commission found that the root cause of these conditions is often toxic stress and trauma.

“And we realized just how under-reported this is,” Fruend said.

Addressing toxic stress and trauma is the next movement in public heath, Fruend said.

“It’s almost like when they discovered germ theory at the turn of the century or when we figured out that smoking kills,” he said. “It’s that revolutionary. Toxic stress and trauma is the new smoking in terms of how we are just figuring out how bad it is on your body and how poorly resourced we are in communities to address it.”

Just before Ferguson erupted, the commission launched a campaign called Alive and Well STL to raise awareness about stress and trauma. Fruend said the commission had heard from community members that residents were so

Kenya Vaughn Of The St.

American

Sarah Woolfolk Edwards reacted with emotion when she saw her mother, Ida Goodwin Woolfolk, lying in state at St. Louis City Hall on Sunday, April 3. Walking with her Woolfolk’s niece, Danette Carter of Chicago, Illinois

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Mayor Francis G. Slay, U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, Gov. Jay Nixon and U.S. Senator Roy Blunt were among the elected officials who celebrated the NGA’s choice of North St. Louis for its new western headquarters on April 1.

Mariah Carey’s brother begs singer to reconcile with dying sister

Last month Mariah Carey’s older brother, Morgan Carey, blasted the pop star online claiming she was refusing to help their sick sister, Alison Carey. Now Morgan is begging Mariah to put aside their differences and visit Alison before it’s too late. Morgan tells Dutch talk show RTL Boulevard, “Mariah is someone who holds grudges and is not empathetic nor compassionate and sees the world only through her own ego and it’s heartbreaking for Alison.”

“The point is she’s not dying ten years ago. She’s struggling in this moment. She has desperate need in this moment. Your own sister is struggling! She’s on her deathbed with tubes down her throat unable to breath! They’re giving her minutes, hours, days to live and you’re partying

it on up with Elton John trying to be all fabulous flashing this $7 million ring. I mean c’mon! Go spend some time with your sister! Lean into what’s right!”

Did Dr. Dre mastermind Suge Knight’s near fatal 2014 shooting?

Back in 2014, notorious former hip hop mogul Suge Knight was shot seven times at Chris Brown’s VMA preparty. In new legal filings, he claims the shooter was hired by Dr. Dre. Knight’s new lawyer submitted paper work this week claiming LA Sheriff’s Deputy was working the door at the club the night of the shooting and that surveillance video shows Boyd allowing the shooter into the club. He claims the shooter later admitted that he and a friend were paid $50K by Dr. Dre to kill Knight, but were still allowed to leave police custody. Knight believes he is being kept in isolation and prohibited from using the phone to prevent him from connecting his murder case to the attempted hit he says Dr. Dre is responsible for.

The paper work also claims after Deputy Boyd was questioned by his superiors about the shooting, he resigned.

Apollo moved to maximum security

Radar Online is reporting that “Real Housewives of Atlanta” husband Apollo Nida was moved to maximum security after getting caught with contraband.

The celebrity news and gossip site says Nida was removed from Fort Dix prison camp’s general population and placed in maximum security after officials found a cell phone in his possession.

Apollo will reportedly spend the next 18 months behind barbed wire and all visitors, including children, will have to undergo a full body scan.

Legal drama between Tisha Campbell-Martin and bankruptcy trustee

owes over $14 million in unpaid taxes, loans, car leases, credit card bills and other government debts – and as of their January filing, they had $200 in cash and $173 in a credit union.

However, celebrity news blog The Jasmine Brand is reporting that the couple is now being accused of trying to hide cash.

Tisha CampbellMartin

Earlier this week, news leaked that actors Duane Martin and his wife, Tisha CampbellMartin, filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy after falling nearly $15 million in debt. Bankruptcy papers obtained by E! News showed the couples’ assets listed as $300,000 in real estate property, $15,000 in furniture and household goods, $1,000 in clothing and $2,500 in jewelry.

The papers revealed that the couple currently

On April 1, the trustee of the bankruptcy headed to court and slapped the couple with a federal lawsuit demanding damages and a permanent injunction for allegedly diverting money they made away from the trustee.

Two days after the couple filed for Chapter 7, the trustee says CampbellMartin created another company named Won Hundred as a vehicle for rendering her acting services, despite her already running XE Visions that does exactly the same thing. He accuses the couple of creating the new company for the sole purpose of diverting postpetition payments she was receiving for her work on the ABC sitcom “Dr. Ken.” He is demanding the judge grant a permanent injunction enjoining them from spending, using, transferring or otherwise dissipating the payments to Won Hundred and any other property or assets of XE until the case has been fully decided. He is also seeking damages for their actions.

Sources: E! Online, The Jasmine Brand, RadarOnline, RTL Boulevard

Municipal reform stopped by courts

Cole County judge declares SB5 unconstitutional, state will appeal

By Jason Rosenbaum

Of St. Louis Public Radio

A Cole County judge has rejected major parts of the most significant public policy achievement in the wake of Michael Brown Jr.’s shooting death.

It’s a decision that serves a major victory for African-American-led St. Louis County municipalities, and likely places the future of municipal governance overhaul in the hands of the Missouri Supreme Court.

At issue is a law widely known as “SB5,” the only major piece of Ferguson-related public policy that became law after Brown’s shooting death. Supporters contended that aggressive ticketing poisoned relationships between police and African Americans. As a result, the Missouri Legislature approved a measure that lowers the percentage of traffic-fine revenue cities can keep, sets new standards for St. Louis County cities, and provides new guidelines for how municipal courts should operate.

But some municipal leaders in St. Louis County panned the overhaul as unfair – especially African-American elected officials. That’s because SB5 would have had the biggest financial impact in cities with majority African-American populations and elected officials, while leaving wealthier cities relatively unscathed.

Many North St. Louis County cities took part in a lawsuit that was filed after Gov. Jay Nixon signed SB5 into law.

On Monday, March 28, Cole County Judge Jon Beetem ruled that several aspects of the municipal overhaul were unconstitutional.

Beetem wrote that a provision barring St. Louis County cities from incorporating more than 12.5 percent of traffic fine revenue into their budgets, as opposed to 20

n “A municipality should not depend upon prosecuting its citizens in order to fund the cornerstone functions of government.”

– Attorney General Chris Koster

insulting to me as an African American. Because it’s in my community. And basically it affects our community. And we said, ‘Let us come to the table and let us help you.’ ‘No, no, no,’ [they said]. ‘We know better than you – we’re going to tell you. We’re going to force it upon you.’ That’s insulting.”

State Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Glendale Republican who handled the overhaul in the Senate, said in a statement that the decision is “another example of why so many Missourians have lost faith in government, the justice system and big institutions because they make them feel powerless and used.”

percent elsewhere in the state, was an unconstitutional special law. He also wrote that a slate of standards for St. Louis County cities was a special law and an unfunded mandate. And he ruled new reporting requirements for cities were an unfunded mandate.

On March 28, Attorney General Chris Koster announced he would appeal Beetem’s ruling.

“SB 5 passed overwhelmingly with strong bipartisan support, to stop municipalities from abusing citizens through excessive ticketing practices.

A municipality should not depend upon prosecuting its citizens in order to fund the cornerstone functions of government. We will appeal the circuit court’s ruling enjoining both the 12.5 percent cap for St. Louis County

municipalities and the new standards for policing and budgetary issues,” Koster said in a statement.

“SB 5 also lowered the cap for traffic-related revenue for all municipalities, from 30% to 20%. Under the circuit court’s ruling, this provision remains in effect,” he added. “We encourage all parties to continue to work together to achieve the important goals of municipal court reform to protect all Missourians.”

Gov. Jay Nixon said in a statement that “as we continue to review today’s ruling, I look forward to working with the legislature this session to make any changes that are needed to ensure this important law can be fully and fairly enforced. The historic reforms contained in Senate Bill 5,

which passed the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support last year, took meaningful and muchneeded steps to end the unacceptable abuses of the municipal court system in the St. Louis region and ensure all municipal courts in the state operate fairly, ethically and transparently.”

Normandy Mayor Patrick Green, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said Beetem’s ruling should serve as a lesson to lawmakers to include municipal leaders when developing legislation that affects towns and cities.

“I think everyone can come together, as I said, and come to the table,” Green said. “We weren’t invited to that table. We were kept away from it. And that was what’s

“For years, citizens have been abused by local bureaucrats who have treated them like ATMs to fund their bloated budgets, salaries and perks,” Schmitt said. “These same bureaucrats used the money they collected to hire an out-of-state attorney and lobbyists to fight the most significant municipal court reform ever enacted in Missouri.”

Green said it may make more sense for lawmakers to simply make SB5’s standards the same for every Missouri city, as opposed to having different standards for St. Louis County’s municipalities.

Green said, “If they want to have a real, sensible, reasonable approach to solutions, we would be happy - particularly the people who are affected by them in the most negative way - to have a conversation.”

Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Photo by Jason Rosenbaum / St. Louis Public Radio

Attorney David Pittinsky stood with mayors of several St. Louis County cities on November 19. Pittinsky – a senior litigation partner at Ballard Spahr, headquartered in Philadelphia – led a lawsuit against a state municipal overhaul law that was declared unconstitutional by a Cole County judge.

It’s difficult to generalize about a municipal election where fewer than 50,000 people cast a vote, or just over 25 percent of all registered voters in the City of St. Louis. But the results of the April 5 election in the city made it clear that the overwhelming majority of the 46,221 citizens who went to the polls are willing to invest in the future of this city. Further, they are willing to invest in almost every aspect of this city. By better than two-thirds majorities, voters approved bond issues to fund improvements to public safety and wastewater infrastructure. By the same huge margins, voters approved the continuance of the 1 percent earnings tax that gives the city one-third of its revenue, and voters agreed to increase their property taxes to better fund the public schools. Coming less than a week after the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency announced the selection of North St. Louis as the site of its new western headquarters, for the first time in a very long time St. Louis has reasons to feel like it’s on a civic winning streak. It is, to say the least, a wildly unfamiliar feeling. We admit some joy at the comeuppance delivered to Rex Sinquefield, who spent $2 million in St. Louis and Kansas City to defeat their respective earnings taxes and lost badly in both cities. In Kansas City, where earnings tax revenue constitutes 40 percent of the budget for basic services, civic leaders raised $1.17 million to defend the earnings tax against Sinquefield, so he spent most of his $2 million here. But even if he spent only $1 million in St. Louis for the 12,677 “no” votes he got on Proposition E, then he spent $78.88 on each and every one of those wasted votes. For a man who made a fortune on financial investments, he has been a major loser on many of his political investments. We will see if Sinquefield has more success in manipulating the state Legislature to gut these earnings taxes and endanger these cities.

Editorial /CommEntary

in the city but live elsewhere) to fund necessary city services, we are especially heartened by the 31,557 voters (69 percent) who voted to increase their property taxes so that Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) can continue its early childhood education programs, increase their alternative education programs, improve security and raise salaries. As SLPS Superintendent Kelvin Adams said, “The citizens of St. Louis have said that education is important and they are willing to pay for it.” Truly, this gives us hope, for there is hope for any city, however burdened and challenged, that is willing to invest in its public education. Charlene Lofton Jones, who led the district’s successful campaign, deserves all of our gratitude.

While we commend the voters who realize that city government needs some of their earnings (and the earnings of those who work

In this cycle of upbeat news, we accepted an honor from the Jennings School District. Tiffany Anderson, the inspirational superintendent who is leaving Jennings to lead Topeka Public Schools, gave The St. Louis American special recognition for “uplifting the image of urban education.” We share this information, not to gloat, but rather to relish such a precisely accurate description of what we are trying to do here. Perhaps more than anything, we are trying to uplift the image of urban education. That is why we recognize urban educators and award scholarships to urban students through our foundation and its partners in our Salute to Excellence in Education program. That is why we have invested in our Newspapers in Education (NIE) program, developing it into the largest free NIE program in the state, with 7,000 elementary students in more than 70 elementary schools in seven urban districts reading this newspaper in their classrooms. That is why we strongly endorsed Proposition 1, the tax increase to fund public schools, and reported more than a month of glowing features about SLPS programs leading up the April 5 election. Because, like a vast majority of our fellow St. Louis citizens, we believe urban education is important and worth paying for – and worth uplifting.

On selecting Hazelwood’s next superintendent

By Desiree D. Whitlock Guest columnist

In September 2015, the Hazelwood Board of Education began its superintendent search process by issuing a Request for Proposal for a superintendent search firm. At the close of the submission period, in November, the board interviewed three firms and unanimously selected BWP & Associates, and a detailed timeline was unanimously approved.

With the assistance of BWP & Associates, one-on-one interviews, focus group sessions and an online community survey were all conducted to obtain parent, community and staff feedback on the characteristics and skills to look for in our new superintendent. The following characteristics and skills were identified: collaborator/ team builder/ strong leader/manager/ partner; good communicator in both written and verbal areas with political savvy; can work with the board and offer leadership and training; personal qualities – trustworthy, ethical, confident, dedicated, sincere, kid focused; interpersonal skills – can build good relationships, good listener who gets input; leadership skills – can go against the norm, strategic in planning and thinking; innovative, visionary, visible; student-centered and likes kids.

These qualities were used by BWP to vet candidates for the entire board to review. Next, the position was posted on BWP’s website, as well a number of other education websites. Ads ran for three weeks in The St. Louis American. As a courtesy to Hazelwood, BWP placed daily e-blast postings to attendees at February’s Annual AASA Conference directly reaching approximately 12,000 educators across the country. In addition,

they spoke personally and by telephone with more than 20 educators in multiple states to ask for their nominations or to seek their candidacy.

The search process identified 34 persons who inquired or were contacted by the consultants regarding the position. Twelve screening interviews were conducted on February 26 and 27. Extensive informal background checks were conducted on all interviewed candidates.

A slate of seven highlyqualified persons were recommend to the board. The board unanimously decided to interview all candidates the week of March 14. The board then unanimously selected the top three candidates: Nettie Collins-Hart, Dennis Carpenter and Tyrone McNichols. Nettie Collins-Hart is currently the superintendent of Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Forest Park, Illinois, a diverse community which serves around 5,000 students in grades 9-12. She has served as a superintendent in a Pre K-12 District in North Carolina; has served as assistant superintendent in Chapel Hill servicing 12,500 students, and Lawrence Public Schools, serving 10,500 students; has served as a director of curriculum and curriculum specialist, director of educational talent search, director of Upward Bound, assistant principal, principal and high school English and reading teacher, and has been an instructor, adjunct and assistant college/university professor. Dennis Carpenter, is

By Anthony J. Kiekow Guest columnist

I have been a television reporter in the Gateway City for four years. I have told stories about intense protests, murdered children and extreme poverty. My experience covering news in St. Louis has convinced me that it is time to tell my story.

I dropped out of high school at the age 15. My father was not a significant part of my life. Mental illness left him incapable of guiding me through my formative years. My mother tried to shield me from the ills of our community, but the Minneapolis neighborhood we lived in was riddled with poverty, drugs and crime. Blinded by my surroundings, I could not see the value of dreaming. My story was turning into a disturbing tale.

The first chapter of my story mirrors what I see many young people in St. Louis going through today. Instead of pursuing their dreams, they are settling for unfulfilled lives. Instead of being photographed for graduation pictures, they are

photographed for mug shots. Instead of being celebrated during milestones, they are mourned during funerals. So how did I change my story? Becoming a father pushed me to change the plot.

I wanted to inspire my son. Before he said his first words, I had earned a GED and began attending community college. I quickly realized I had a passion for storytelling. In 2006, I received a scholarship to attend the University of Minnesota. It was a major accomplishment. However, because of my background I felt like an outcast on campus. I was older than most of my classmates. I was a father. I was also one of the few black students. I feared that I would not succeed in college. Fortunately, I met a group of black students who encouraged me to keep dreaming. They were members of Alpha

Celebrating Vashon

As local team hosts we would like to congratulate the Vashon High School Boys Basketball Team, their coaches, cheerleaders, students, faculty, family and fans on their Class 4 Missouri state championship.

We had the privilege of getting to know Coach Irons, his assistant coaches and the players during their stay in Columbia. It was obvious through watching several rigorous practice sessions and the challenging and exciting overtime semifinal game with Sikeston, followed by the championship game with St. Joseph Lafayette, that the Wolverines were both focused and very well prepared.

currently the superintendent of Hickman Mills School District, Kansas City, Missouri, serving 6,600 Pre-K-12 students; has served as deputy superintendent for operations in Georgia serving 20,000 students; has served as associate superintendent, assistant superintendent, elementary principal, middle school assistant principal, teacher, para-professional and adjunct professor.

Tyrone McNichols is currently the principal at Barrington Elementary School. He has been a superintendent of schools for Normandy Schools Collaborative, serving 3600 Pre-K-12 students; has served as an assistant superintendent of learning, assistant superintendent for accountability, principal, adjunct professor, assistant principal, 5th grade teacher, 8th grade teacher, and a program coordinator YMCA midcounty.

The week of March 28 the board hosted focus group sessions for our stakeholders. After receiving parent and community feedback, we made the decision to also host community forums to allow all interested members of the community an opportunity to provide their impressions on a given candidate. The community forums will be recorded and may be viewed at the following link: www.schooltube.com/ video/18941acbc8894226ae43. We will review and use the impression sheets from the focus group and community forum sessions to help us during the final selection process. Our new superintendent is set to be announced the week of April 11.

Desiree D. Whitlock is president of the Hazelwood School District’s Board of Education.

Certainly they were challenged by two of the best Class 4 teams in Missouri, but their impressive teamwork and depth was the difference. Coach Irons and his staff adroitly substituted fresh Wolverines ranging from freshmen to seniors who all contributed to Vashon’s 11th state championship in boys’ basketball. One Wolverine is daunting, so imagine the effect of the dozen or more who came on in waves; it simply wore down the Bulldogs and Fighting Irish.

This Vashon championship should be celebrated for the hard work and preparation by the coaches and players that came before it, an important life lesson and an important role of high school athletics.

Jack Cronhardt and Steve Morris Local team hosts Columbia

Missouri missing out on

money

A study just released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, prepared by researchers from Manatt Health Solutions, state, “After expanding Medicaid, eight states (Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia) are expected to achieve budgetary savings and revenue gains exceeding $1.8 billion by the end of 2015.”

Why are we taxpayers sending our taxes to the federal government and not receiving the return to help care for our working poor who fall into the Medicaid gap in Missouri? This lack of Medicaid payments to hospitals, physicians, etc. is being felt in Missouri by all of us. Clinics and hospitals

Phi Alpha Fraternity, an organization I would eventually join. They believed I could change my story.

I went on to make the Dean’s List, study abroad, intern for the U.S. House of Representatives and become a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. In 2009, I graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism and began a career as a television reporter. That is my story. Sadly, covering news in St. Louis often reminds me of the first chapter.

Many young people in St. Louis fail to understand the value of dreaming, but our community also fails to understand their value. It is not too late for them to change their story. They could become a teacher, a lawyer or even a television reporter. My story is proof. If sharing my story helps more people believe that change is possible, it might be the most important story I will ever tell.

Anthony J. Kiekow is a broadcast journalist with News 4 KMOV in St. Louis.

are closing, and health care workers are moving to other states.

Just imagine if Medicaid was expanded and the federal reimbursement would be 100 percent in 2016. We could be seeing the development of many more jobs in the health care field versus losing their vital service for all of us. A strong Medicaid program means a strong health care system which benefits all consumers.

Judith Parker, St. Louis

Treating pain without drugs

Pain is the most common reason Americans seek care. It is a major cause of missing work and, for far too many, it is the root cause of prescription drug abuse and the related heroin epidemic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention reports that in 2012, health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers – enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills. Yet, there are non-drug options for treating pain and improving quality of life. In

fact the CDC’s Proposed 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain recommends conservative forms of pain management –such as spinal manipulation – over long-term use of opioids. Chiropractic care does not involve the use of drugs in the treatment of pain and instead focuses on manual therapy and whole-person care to improve health and wellness. In 2015 Logan University began a partnership with Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Center in St. Louis. Through this collaboration, more than 400 patients receive chiropractic care each month as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for pain conditions. More recently, a second partnership was formed with Family Care Health Center in late 2015. The demand for chiropractic care has been high, with 104 referrals from 23 different providers in just three months. As a community of healers, Logan is committed to creating as many collaborative and integrative healthcare environments as possible to help patients attain their highest possible quality of life. Clay McDonald, president Logan University

Photo by Wiley Price

Charlene Lofton Jones

Scholarship applications due April 30

Anheuser-Busch Legends of the Crown Scholarship Program provides a $5,000 scholarship award to each selected student leader entering their junior year of study at a four-year accredited Historically Black College or University commencing fall of 2016. If you are currently sophomore in college, please select academic classification as “junior” in the application form.

Eligible applicants also must have and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and must have declared majors in the following disciplines: Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial and Chemical Engineering; Computer Science, Chemistry, Marketing, Sales, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain and Logistics. There is a preference to students that have an interest in careers within the consumer package goods industry.

The application is due by April 30. For more information and to apply online, visit https://scholarships.uncf.org/ ToProgram/AnheuserBusch. For questions, email girmu.habte@uncf.org.

April 10 deadline for Pride nominations

Pride St. Louis is accepting nominations for four community awards.

The Felton T. Day Community Service Award is presented to a person not associated with Pride St. Louis whose service to the LGBTQIA+ community has gone above and beyond.

The Jim Hoefer Organization Award is presented to an organization best exemplifying what it means to serve St. Louis’ LGBTQIA+ community.

The Chuck Charleston Award is presented to a former Pride St. Louis board member who demonstrated leadership and service beyond normal duties.

The Lisa Wagaman Lifetime Community Service Award is presented to a person who has dedicated a large portion of their life to further the Pride movement/LGBTQIA+ causes. Submit nominations at http://goo.gl/forms/gmzx8Udy3k by midnight on April 10. E-mail outreach@pridestl.org with any inquiries.

Awards will be announced at the Pride Kick-Off Party. This year’s event is scheduled for June 24-26 at Soldiers Memorial in Downtown St. Louis. For more information, visit www.pridestl.org

When the prisoner is a woman

By Tamisha Walker Guest columnist

Black women today yield significant political power as the most reliable Democratic voters. Yet, despite growing political importance, they score at the very bottom when it comes to virtually every economic indicator from education to lifetime earnings to household wealth. Some past history that shapes black women’s lives just aren’t changing fast enough.

Tamisha Walker

I grew up with no father and an addicted mother, I raised myself, became a mother at 15, dropped out of school, and struggled to support my child and siblings. It was a dark time. Living with poverty, surrounded by substance abuse and being neglected, I didn’t think much about the future. But nothing was as dark as waking up in a jail cell without remembering how I got there.

More than 1 million women are behind bars in the United States. Two thirds are women of color, and more than a third of those incarcerated for drug offenses. Eighty-five percent have been victims of violence, rape, sexual assault, neglect and child abuse.

A recent report shows that over the past two decades, the percentage of girls growing up the way I did who get prison sentences jumped from 20 percent to 50 percent. The number of women in prison is now rising at nearly double the rate for men. Many of these women are mothers criminalized for being addicted while pregnant. Last year, Tennessee passed a law that made it a crime to be addicted while pregnant.

The right intervention for addiction is treatment, not prison, but women of color disproportionately get punishment instead of treatment. Girls of color who have lived with abuse are more likely to be labeled as offenders than white girls.

n The right intervention for addiction is treatment, not prison.

I was arrested 19 times before I turned 18. No adult ever asked what was wrong or what was leading me down this road of bad decisions and bad consequences. There was no intervention before going to prison, while in prison, or even after. Most incarcerated women have little or no access to drug treatment, even though nearly 75 percent of them were using drugs before their arrest. Nor is there much available treatment to help abused women recover.

There’s also little counseling or parenting education for incarcerated women, even though most inside, like myself, are mothers. And there’s scant legal or advocate support for women coming out of prison and seeking to regain custody of their children.

In the six years since I came home from jail, I have earned my GED, obtained an associate’s degree, and become an advocate for changing policies to better serve people returning home after incarceration. I’ve reunited with my sons and kept them close. I’m a trained advocate, mediator, mentor and leader in the fight to end mass incarceration.

Had I known that in my state, California, 54 percent of drug-related prison sentences go to women of color, even though women of color are only 38 percent of the population, I wouldn’t have been so surprised to end up in prison.

My work now focuses on redefining public safety by helping people being released from jails and prison to become whole in our society. My goal is reduce recidivism by dealing with conditions that led to incarceration to begin with, and facilitating recovery from the pain and disenfranchisement of incarceration and the conditions that led to it.

Tamisha Walker is the lead community organizer working to end mass incarceration at The Safe Return Project in Richmond, California.

April Ford-Griffin and Comptroller Darlene Green visited with author Michael Eric Dyson after he spoke at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ annual dinner on March 14.

Hanging with Dyson

Photo by Gentry Trotter

WOOLFOLK

Continued from A1

Like many of the region’s most esteemed citizens, the City Hall visit was the second mourning visit 91-year-old Mathews made in her honor.

“Ida was a treasure and an ambassador to this city and the state,” Mathews said in City Hall. “This is right where she belongs.”

Her fitting final tribute commenced with close family and friends bouncing joyfully for several blocks as a band played behind a horse drawn carriage containing Woolfolk’s ornately decorated casket.

Several in the group were almost moved to a sanctified shout as “When the Saints Go Marching In” played, oblivious to the curious delight from onlookers.

Then it was on to the church for a viewing and memorial service.

In the three hours devoted to viewing, Goodwin was remembered with some of her favorite songs as remarks were given on her behalf. Mayor Francis G. Slay and her pastor, Bishop Clarence Ward, were among those who offered brief remarks.

Gregg “Happy Guitar” Haynes, singer Leslie Johnson and her nephew Charles Creath provided musical performances.

A brief, but powerful video tribute spoke to Woolfolk’s rippling impact.

“She was a force of nature,” said Bishop Charles E. Blake. As Presiding Bishop of the international body of her beloved Church of God in Christ, he leads a flock of more than six million. But it was easy to see from the light in Blake’s eyes as he spoke of Woolfolk during the video tribute that he knew Ida as well as those who sat in the sanctuary on Saturday.

So did some of the region’s most influential players.

Slay said she was “truly St. Louis’ emcee.”

Woolfolk’s professional career saw her serving in various capacities within the Saint Louis Public Schools for nearly four decades before she retired as special assistant to the superintendent and director of community engagement in 2004.

Although she was on countless boards and lent herself to community causes, she never held a public office. Yet officials sang the praises of her counsel and influence.

Freeman Bosley Jr., the city’s first African-American mayor, said she had a special flair that will not likely be seen

again. “She was one in a million,” said St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed. Tears flowed from St. Louis City License Collector Mavis Thompson as she spoke of her shock when she learned of Woolfolk’s passing.

“We love her, and we miss her,” said Comptroller Darlene Green. “And St. Louis has been made a better place because of her presence.”

St. Louis City Police Commissioner Sam Dotson chatted with mourners at City Hall. He also attended the Saturday services at Kennerly Temple. “She was a remarkable woman,” said Dotson, who went to school with Woolfolk’s daughter.

In lieu of a eulogy, a handful of the organizations for which Woolfolk dedicated her time came forth and gave formal presentations.

“She would always joke with me because of how I could deal with the 250 Deltas when they would hold their meetings at Mathews-Dickey,” Mathews said in a video tribute.

At least that many showed up to take part in Woolfolk’s Omega Omega ceremony, a final ritual for members of the

sorority who have passed on.

Delta Sigma Theta national president emeritus Frankie Muse Freeman was among the presenting group.

Jack and Jill, The Links and the St. Louis Drifters paid tribute with their own respective rites while noting Woolfolk’s lifelong service to the region.

Letter from the president

Politicians stood and offered expressions of sympathy on Saturday too.

“I have a message for you from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.,” U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay said to Woolfolk’s daughter Sarah Woolfolk Edwards.

“Dear Sarah: Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the loss of your mother,” Clay read.

When “Michelle and I” was read, a collective gasp could

barely be heard as Edwards became overcome with emotion.

At this point, there was no need to identify the author of the condolences, but Clay did anyway – and it elicited a second round of impact.

“May you find comfort in your mother’s memory, and in the guiding force of her love,” Clay read from the letter.

“Sincerely, Barack Obama.”

Woolfolk was an angel, according to Grammynominated singer/songwriter Angela Winbush. She sang her signature R&B hit “Angel” in tribute to her former guidance counselor.

“In you I found an angel,” Winbush sang. “An angel in my eyes.” She was just one of a group of singers and musicians so talented that the challenging acoustics of the rotunda didn’t hamper or diminish the quality of their sound.

“Y’all better sing,”

members of the audience cheered on as Cheryl Brown, Anita Jackson and Denise Thimes performed a live version of Etta James’ “At Last,” one of Woolfolk’s favorite songs.

The four hours at City Hall was a sort of concert fellowship where guests finally got a chance to do for Woolfolk what she had done for so many others over the years – shed light on her achievements and abilities in a group setting.

“She is deserving of this type of honor, because she was such an honorable woman,” Lisa Creath, wife of Woolfolk’s nephew Charles Creath, said at the City Hall viewing. “I mean this was so fabulous. The only thing missing was Ida standing at the podium giving recognition to all the people who were in attendance. She knew everybody.” And, in a way, Woofolk was there.

“The more you do, the more the Lord blesses you,” her voice echoed towards the close of the video tribute. “Some of us need to catch on… but I’m here to tell you, the more you do, the more He does for you.”

A full house was present in the sanctuary of Kennerly Temple Church of God In Christ Saturday before the start of services.

Photos by Wiley Price and Maurice Meredith

Sarah Woolfolk Edwards and husband Christopher Edwards walk behind the horse drawn carriage caring her mother Ida Woolfolk as it rolled through the city’s West end Saturday afternoon.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. S.t Louis Alumnae Chapter makes a presentation in honor of Soror Woolfolk during Saturday services.

St. Louis City Comptroller Darlean Green makes remarks during Saturday’s memorial service at Kennerly temple Church of God in Christ.

A horse drawn carriage followed by a New Orleans style second line moves through the city’s West End Saturday afternoon before home going services.

Members of Jack & Jill of America, Inc.

St. Louis Chapter make their presentation during services Saturday afternoon.

Mourners gather around the family of Ida Woolfolk after memorial services Saturday.

A mourner walks by in the St. Louis City Hall rotunda where Ida Woolfolk lied in honor Sunday.

Photos by Wiley Price and Maurice Meredith

North Tech wins cook-off

Clyde C. Miller places second in student culinary competition

American staff

North Technical High School won Explore St. Louis’ ninth annual Culinary Cook-Off on Thursday, March 17 at St. Louis Community CollegeForest Park.

Held by Explore St. Louis in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week (May 1-7) and based on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” competition, the Culinary Cook-Off requires each team to create a three-course meal over a two-hour period without knowing the ingredients beforehand.

To capture the Gold Medal and the Levy Cup, North Tech garnered the most overall

points from a panel of four judges. Clyde C. Miller Career Academy finished second (Silver Medal) while South Technical High School placed third (Bronze Medal). In addition to the Levy Cup, individual awards were also bestowed. Camille Durr of South Tech received the Elijah Moore Culinary Leadership Award, presented to the student who demonstrates outstanding leadership. She also received a $1,500 scholarship from Explore St. Louis to the culinary institution of her choice.

Serving as judges were Don Yamauchi (executive chef at Ameristar), Timothy Montgomery (executive chef at

Reinbolt (executive chef at Levy Restaurants), Ellen Piazza (chef, instructor at STLCC-Forest Park), George Guthier (chef at Companion Baking) and Thomas Elkin (chef, STLCC-Forest Park).

“Congratulations to North Technical and all the students who put their hearts and souls into this intense,

pressure-filled competition,” said Tony Paraino, director of communications for Explore St. Louis, whose organization sponsored the event. “It was a spirited, educational challenge and a fun stage for young St. Louis chefs to showcase their skills toward a possible career in the culinary arts.”

North Technical captured the Levy Cup at the ninth annual Culinary Cook-Off. With the team members are judges Don Yamauchi, Timothy Montgomery, Catherine Klene and Dan Neman along with Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, president of Explore St. Louis.

The Barn at Sappington House) and two journalists. Tammie Holland of 100.3 The Beat served as emcee. Assisting Explore St. Louis with the event were Guy

City voters approve tax increase to fund public schools

“The citizens of St. Louis have said that education is important and they are willing to pay for it,” Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams said on Tuesday, April 5, after the campaign for Proposition 1 declared victory.

Prop 1 was a measure to increase the tax levy in the district by 75 cents to fund early childhood education, salary increases, alternate education and security. The additional $0.75 per $100 of assessed valuation property tax increase will generate an estimated $28 million per year for SLPS and charter schools in St. Louis city. It won by a crushing margin, 69 percent (31,557 votes) to 31 percent (14,036 votes).

Adams spoke at an election watch party held at the district’s administrative offices in downtown St. Louis. All three members of the district’s appointed Special Administrative Board (SAB) attended and spoke.

was the first time the district asked voters to increase the tax levy in 20 years, and it passed on a municipal ballot with five initiatives, all calling for a tax increase or bond issue. Then, Jones joked, “I’m going to celebrate with the teachers tonight. Hey, we’re getting a raise!”

It’s the job of Mary Armstrong, president of Local 420 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), to make sure district teachers and staff actually see those raises.

“Dr. Adams has done a yeoman’s job and we’ve been working in concert with him, not against him,” Armstrong told The American in an interview. “But I’m looking forward to getting back to the bargaining table.”

“The City of St. Louis said to us again that they trust us to handle their money and, more importantly, they trust us to handle their children,” said SAB member Richard Gaines, who led the effort to pass Prop 1, “and for that, we are grateful.”

Rick Sullivan, SAB president, said that Gaines had thanked everyone, so he wanted everyone to thank Gaines. A crowd of about 50 district and campaign staffers cheered Gaines. Only campaign manager Charlene Jones enjoyed a warmer welcome. Melanie Adams, SAB vice president, said she worked the campaign phones a few times and was struck by “the camaraderie and people working together.” St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones, honorary campaign co-chair, said it was an “historic campaign.” This

Armstrong cited a litany of educators leading other districts who left Saint Louis Public Schools for better pay elsewhere, including Tiffany Anderson superintendent of Jennings Public Schools, who is leaving for the superintendent job in Topeka, Kansas.

“We’ve become a training ground,” Armstrong said. “They leave here for more money. I can’t blame someone leaving to make $15,000 or even $25,000 more somewhere else. But we need to do something to maintain quality staff.”

Byron Clemens, an organizer for AFT Local 420 (which has about 2,200 members), said funding for early education was just as important to teachers and staff as salary increases. Early childhood programs are currently funded though the desegregation settlement, but those monies will run out in 2017.

Armstrong agreed that funding for early childhood education was critical.

“We have a vested interest in children,” Armstrong said.

Special Administrative Board member Richard Gaines, Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams and Proposition 1 campaign manager Charlene Jones celebrated victory at district headquarters on Tuesday, April 5.

“What benefits children benefits teachers.”

Earnings tax and all city measures pass

Somewhat amazingly, all five measures on the April 5 ballot passed by large margins.

Proposition E, which renewed the city’s 1 percent earnings tax for another five years, passed 72 percent to 28 percent, despite a campaign to defeat it funded massively by Rex Sinquefield. The city gets about one-third of its revenues, equal to the budget for the police and fire departments, from the earnings tax. A similar measure was defeated in Kansas City by a slightly larger margin of 77 percent to 23 percent.

“Since Boss Rex can’t control St. Louis and Kansas City voters, he’ll turn to his Republican henchmen in the Legislature to carry out his mad crusade to bankrupt Missouri’s two largest cities,” said House Minority

Leader Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis. Earnings tax repeal bills are pending in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Proposition F, a bond issue to fund fire trucks and other public safety infrastructure, passed 83 to 17 percent.

“St. Louisans decisively voiced their choices at the polls on April 5, and reauthorized the earnings tax (Prop E) and passed the $25 million bond issue (Prop F),” Comptroller Darlene Green said in a statement. “Their ‘yes’ votes will ensure the continuation of critical city services and afford the fire department the capital needed to replace outdated gear and equipment, as well as finance other essential needs in the city.”

Even the Metropolitan Sewer District passed two measures. Proposition Y, which passed 72 percent to 28 percent, is a $900 million bond issue to fund wastewater improvement mandated by the district’s consent decree with the EPA and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Proposition

S, which passed 61 percent to 39 percent, regularizes storm water taxes in the region. Both propositions also passed in St. Louis County.

Ballot snafu in county

Several St. Louis County polling places ran out of ballots as early as 8 a.m. on election day, prompting investigations from St. Louis County Council and Secretary of State Jason Kander. who is also a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. An appeals court extended voting until 9 p.m., but the decision came late.

“Unfortunately the writ was not issued until 7:30 p.m. after many of the polling locations were closed and secured,” according to an announcement on the St. Louis County Election Board website.

Eric Fey, the county’s Democratic director of elections, had told St. Louis Public Radio early Tuesday that anywhere from 30 to 35 locations ran out of paper ballots. That number obviously increased as the day went on. Fey said they send the incorrect number of ballots to various locations. Gary B. Fuhr is the Republican director of elections in the county.

Gov. Jay Nixon said, “The St. Louis County Board of Elections, and particularly its two directors, must rectify these mistakes, explain how they occurred, and be held accountable for this unacceptable failure.”

Ferguson wins one, loses one

In Ferguson, a sales tax increase passed, but a property tax increase failed.

Before the city approved a consent decree with the federal government, members of the Ferguson City Council placed a sales tax increase and

a property tax hike on the ballot. The sales tax proposal would boost the city’s sales tax rate by 0.5 percent. The property tax item would have increased the city’s property tax rate by 40 cents per $100 assessed value. The sales tax passed with nearly 69 percent of the vote. While the property tax item received about 57 percent, it needed at least 66.67 percent to go into effect.

Ferguson also held three races for City Council that were won by Linda Lipka, Heather Robinett and Keith Kallstrom All are white. Lipka and Kallstrom were the only people to file for their respective seats, but they did have writein candidates running active campaigns. Robinett defeated Bob Hudgins and Annette Jenkins to capture the Ward 2 council seat.

Three out of five in Pine Lawn

The Pine Lawn Coalition, a group of concerned residents, celebrated wins for three out of five of the candidates who ran on the group’s slate. Roslyn Brown won in the race for Ward 2 alderman, Elwyn Walls for Ward 4 alderman, and Nakisha Smith for Ward 4 alderman (the unexpired term seat).

In the race for mayor, the coalition’s candidate Kellie Shelton lost to Terry Epps by five votes – 206 to 201 votes. Brown, who leads the coalition, said Shelton plans on challenging the win because of some suspected “election violations.” The American could not reach Shelton for further comment. Brown said James Brooks, who won the Ward 1 aldermanic race, and Gerald Metts, who won for Ward 3, were not on their slate but are still highly involved residents who have been great to work

Photo by Wiley Price

Unappealing

Backlog persists in resolving Vet health appeals

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

The VA town hall meeting held recently in North St. Louis County fetched the largest attendance yet, with veterans resolved to speak about health care issues rather than passively provide questions in writing, with staff selecting which (non-contro-

versial) questions to answer aloud. Vets were asked not to speak specifically about their medical conditions to protect their privacy and to write questions or comments on cards provided to them. Several administrators from the St. Louis Regional VA Office, VA medical and patient care, and Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery began the two-hour meeting by

updating the audience the perceived vs. actual time it takes to get needed and follow-up medical appointments, construction progress at Jefferson Barracks, and progress on the backlog of health benefit claims and appeals processing.

“The majority of the questions and frustrations we receive are about appeals – those of you that have appeals pending,” said Mitzi Marsh, director of the St. Louis VA Regional Office. “Out of 5,600 awaiting claims that we have pending, a little under 1,500 of them are over 125 days old. We do have 36 claims that are over a year old and a handful of claims that are two years old.” She said old claims have been prioritized, and in many instances, old claims are discovered during an appeal process. Marsh said there is progress and more work to do.

n The VA town hall meeting held recently in North St. Louis County fetched the largest attendance yet, with veterans resolved to speak about health care issues rather than passively provide questions in writing.

From an access standpoint, Acting Deputy Medical System Director Seth W. Barlage said in the VA St. Louis Health Care System, 97.45 percent are seen within three days; 96 percent are seen within 30 days and 94 percent of veterans are seen within 90 days of their preferred date. He added they are improving access at the North County center, where about 96 percent are seen within 30 days of their desired date.

A change in the smoking policy for inpatients at VA hospitals will clear the air for all on the hospital campuses.

For several in attendance, writing questions on yellow cards with the promise that someone would get back to them later was tantamount to placing the veterans on eternal hold during a phone call – uncertain whether anyone who could help would actually pick up.

And the veterans – many from the Vietnam Era, who risked their lives on behalf of others

Your Family Doctor

The future of our children

Over 20 years ago, I was quite certain that my career choice would be that of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a first year medical student, I was confident about that decision and was perturbed that I had to rotate through all of the specialties, because in my immature mind, I didn’t need those other fields. I knew exactly what I wanted to do! What’s that old saying? “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”

As you see in my signature, Obstetrics and Gynecology was indeed not the path that had been chosen for me. To my disbelief, I ended up enjoying a variety of different fields of medicine.

And as a result, Family Medicine has allowed me to fulfill that quest for medical adventure while simultaneously fulfilling my destiny. Yet, I never lost that passion and excitement for OB. Helping to bring innocent babies into the world is such an indescribable joyous experience. I haven’t delivered a baby in years, but I can still feel the adrenaline rushing through me as if it were yesterday.

n I learned early on in my medical career that the future for those babies was dependent upon that initial foundation and subsequent life encounters.

After each delivery was done and once I was certain mom and baby were fine, I would immediately remove those amniotic-stained clothes and change into my professional gear once more. I would then go visit the other babies in the nursery just to see those cherub-like faces and ponder within about what their futures would be like. What type of home environment would they have? What would they eat? Where would they live?

I learned early on in my medical career that the future for those babies was dependent upon that initial foundation and subsequent life encounters. Would the baby be able to grow up in a home without common toxins like cigarette smoke?

Health providers are painfully aware of the relationship between children and cigarette exposure. Ear infections, upper respiratory illnesses and asthma exacerbations occur more frequently in children exposed to cigarettes. In addition, what about the children growing up in neighborhoods where gun violence is common, poverty and unemployment are high, and single parent households are commonplace?

We are just now understanding how significant such

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • APRIL 7 – 13, 2016

The town hall for veterans and their families by the Veteran’s Administration St. Louis Health Care System brought its largest audience yet – filling the halls and the municipal Courtroom at City Hall in Bellefontaine Neighbors on March 23.

Photo by Wiley Price

Denise HooksAnderson, MD

Photo by Wiley Price Vietnam veteran Frank Stewart, who served in the Air Force from 1966-68, issues a complaint at a town hall meeting after being denied medical services by the VA multiple times. The meeting was held Tuesday night at the Bellefontaine Community Center.

People with anxiety show fundamental differences in perception

People suffering from anxiety perceive the world in a fundamentally different way than others, according to a study reported recently in the journal Current Biology. The research may help explain why certain people are more prone to anxiety.

The new study shows that people diagnosed with anxiety, when it comes to emotionally charged experiences, they show a behavioral phenomenon known as “over-generalization,” the researchers said.

“We show that in patients with anxiety, emotional experience induces plasticity in brain circuits that lasts after the experience is over,” said Prof. Rony Paz of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

“Such plastic changes occur in primary circuits, and these later mediate the response to new stimuli. The result is an inability to discriminate between the experience of the original stimulus and that of a new, similar stimulus. Therefore, anxiety patients respond emotionally to the new stimuli as well, and exhibit anxiety symptoms even in apparently irrelevant situations. They cannot control this response: it is a perceptual inability to discriminate.”

Paz and his colleagues recruited anxiety patients to participate in the study. They trained the patients to associate three distinct tones with one of three outcomes: money loss, money gain, or no consequence. In the next phase, the participants were presented with one of several new tones and were asked whether the tone was one they had heard

VETS

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before while in training. If they were right, they were rewarded with money.

The best strategy would be to take care not to mistake (or over-generalize) a new tone for one they had heard in the training phase. But people with anxiety were more likely than healthy controls to think that a new tone was one they had heard earlier. That is, they were

and deserving of benefits and health care, were not having it.

“You have prepared your format and we don’t want to hear it,” one veteran said to the applause of several. “You can always put the BandAid on it, but when the Band-Aid comes off, it’s still with us.”

“You pat yourselves on the back for an hour – we don’t care about statistics; we want to hear what you’re going to do for us,” one veteran said, who had issues with how a safety issue was handed when he was bedridden and hospitalized.

The VA team patiently acquiesced and allowed those with grievances and those with praise to speak.

“That’s the problem in most cases – you don’t know the process and we learn as we go and we make mistakes,” another veteran stated.

Fred Foggie, governor of the 101st Airborne Association commended the VA staff present and

more likely to mistakenly associate a new tone with the earlier experience of money loss or gain. Those differences were not explained by differences in participants’ hearing or learning abilities. The research shows that they simply perceived sounds that were earlier linked to an emotional experience differently.

Functional magnetic reso-

asked fellow veterans to be respectable while explaining their needs and concerns.

n The VA team patiently acquiesced and allowed those with grievances and those with praise to speak.

“Let’s be civil; keep it down … I’ve done over 20 years in the service and I learned one thing: be respectful to one another and you will gain a lot,” Foggie implored. “I never got anything in my life from somebody by being mean.” If there was a consensus to be had, it would be that the system is broken, antiquated and everyone is working within those parameters – even while veteran’s claims are falling through the cracks.

Patrick Adegboyega, MD, acting chief of staff, said “I want you guys to know that we are truly doing what we can to help you and the care you get at the VA is as good – I can real-

Medicaid, CHIP gets parity for behavioral health treatment

On March 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a rule to strengthen access to mental health and substance use services for people with Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, aligning with protections already required of private health plans. It will affect more than 23 million enrollees nationwide.

HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said the “rule eliminates a barrier to coverage for the millions of Americans who for too long faced a system that treated behavioral health as an unequal priority.” She added it also increases access to evidence-based treatment needed for recovery, seen as critical in addressing the opioid epidemic.

Vikki Wachino, the CMS director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, said the rule will help states strengthen serverices and treatment support for low-income individuals.

Plans must disclose information on mental health and substance use disorder benefits upon request, including the criteria for determinations of medical necessity. The rule also requires states to disclose the reason for any denial of reimbursement or payment for services for mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

nance images (fMRIs) of the brains of people with anxiety and those of healthy controls revealed differences in the activity of several brain regions. These differences were mainly found in the amygdala, a region related to fear and anxiety, as well as in the primary sensory regions of the brain. These results strengthen the idea that emotional experi-

ly tell you – better than what you get out there.”

“There” being a reference to civilian care.

“I do understand. With so many co-morbidities, with so many problems some of you have because of the issues, you are frustrated and try to take it out on the front line people who are trying to help you,” the doctor added.

With thousands of no-shows, Dr. Adegboyega asked vets to make sure they cancel medical appointments in a timely manner to open space for another vet.

Additionally, veterans were told the St. Louis Regional VA Office is moving from leased space downtown to government-owned property at 9700 Page Blvd. The move will be completed in November of this year.

VA reps staffed tables in the hallways to direct interested persons to resources and programs available for veterans, including My Healthy Vet, which allows veterans to send messages to their doctors.

ences induce long-term changes in sensory representations in anxiety patients’ brains.

The findings might help explain why some people are more prone to anxiety than others. The underlying brain plasticity that leads to anxiety isn’t in itself bad, Prof. Paz said. “Anxiety traits can be completely normal; there is evidence that they benefitted us in our evolutionary past. Yet an emotional event, sometimes even a minor one, can induce brain changes that can potentially lead to full-blown anxiety,” he said. Understanding how the process of perception operates in anxiety patients may help lead to better treatments for the disorder.

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stressors can be in a child’s life and what it may due to the child’s future development.

Poor families spend about 182 percent of their annual income on transportation, food and housing as compared to rich families who only spend 61 percent of their income per a CNNMoney analysis of the data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. So when I am trying to counsel a young single mother about her child’s obesity problem, I have to consider that she is often purchasing the most cost effective items, which just happen to be the least nutritious for her family. As a provider, I have to grapple with these dilemmas daily.

So as you can see, for me looking at a newborn baby takes on a totally different perspective than the simple: “I’m so excited for you! She’s so adorable!” I’m looking past all of these initial sweet moments and focusing on what I can do to ensure the viability of this baby in such a time as this. And as concerned citizens, I hope of each of us will also take that approach and fight to improve the lives of all of our children.

Your family doctor, Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D. Assistant Professor SLUCare Family Medicine yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Moving benefits mind and body

Regular aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety (irrational worry), symptoms of depression, increase flexibility and balance and can help you lose weight.

Regular exercise may lift a person’s mood by increasing a brain protein called BDNF – it helps nerve fibers grow.

While meditative movement (like yoga and tai chi) alleviate depressive symptoms, a Harvard researcher found that when you move in synchrony with someone else, it also improves self-esteem.

Walking for 21 minutes a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 30 percent; increases mental sharpness; reduces the risk of diabetes and cancer and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. And you don’t need extra equipment to do it – just a comfortable pair of shoes.

Broadening homeless veteran care

Incorporating social support services and social determinants of health such as housing, income, and family supports into a clinical care model for homeless veterans can be effective in delivering comprehensive care, according to a report from The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans. Researchers examined 33 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities with so-called “homeless medical homes” and patient-aligned care teams that served more than 14,000 patients. They found that more than 96 percent of VHA patients enrolled in Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT) programs – a homeless medical home initiative – were also receiving VHA homeless services. According to the study, patients enrolled in the H-PACT program showed a 19 percent reduction in emergency department use and a nearly 35 percent reduction in hospitalizations. Substantial reductions in acute care use in the six months after enrollment in the H-PACT program were also seen.

“Integrating social services and supports and housing resources and assistance into the clinical model provides a holistic approach to patient care and addresses underlying causes for much of acute care use,” the researchers suggest.

By Melanie Adams

Teens tackle the ‘St. Louis Question’

Current high schoolers explore ‘Where did you go to high

school?’

By Will Nack and Jonet Davis For The St. Louis American

The Missouri History Museum is currently exploring the infamous “St. Louis question” through an exhibit and play created by two teams of teen apprentices in the Teens Make History program. Both of these projects were a culmination of hard work and effort, and they each offer a unique perspective on the question “Where did you go to high school?”

The Teens Make History Exhibitors decided to create an exhibit about high schools to show the city’s immense history in secondary education and how the question “Where did you go to high school?” can connect or divide us. There is so much more to high school than the name on a yearbook, and we designed the exhibit to show our relationships to one another through our high school experiences, both good and bad. Our first step in creating this exhibit was the research. We spent most of our time at the Library and Research Center sifting through old high school yearbooks, scrapbooks, and other archival material, looking for pictures and stories to put in the exhibit. We learned lots of new things while during this research. For example, we learned about mandolin clubs – musical clubs that were very popular from the 1890s to the 1920s – and about high schools that no longer exist today. With our research, we looked for materials and stories that worked with each other and that covered the variety of schools in the St. Louis area: public and private; city and county; historically black and historically white; religious and secular.

When we had done enough research, we started writing labels for the exhibit. We had to write interesting and eyecatching labels that told stories yet keep them at 75 words or less. When you want to make something interesting, most of the time you don’t want to be limited; you just want to write until you’re done. This made staying under the word limit very difficult, but we kept revising and editing

Springtime at SLAM: Art for the Whole Family

The Saint Louis Art Museum celebrates the natural world with Family Sundays in April. The theme for the month is Designing Nature and each week will feature art activities, demonstrations, and musical and dance performances inspired by the Museum’s collection of Islamic and Indian art. Beginning at 1:00 pm, families are welcome to stop in to explore how artists use natural designs in their work and then create their own art inspired by what they see. Family Sunday participants can also complete a fun naturethemed scavenger hunt and sign up for a guided family tour.

North African Dancer

our labels with Museum staff, going through the same review process that the curators do.

After we wrote our labels, we got to design the exhibit together. We had many meetings with one of the Museum’s exhibit designers in order to arrange how our exhibit would look and to decide what interactive features we wanted to include. Finally, in the last weeks before the exhibit opened, we worked on installation. The Teens Make History Exhibitors even hammered in the last few pictures!

Now that the exhibit is open, the Teens Make History Players are also reflecting on the “St. Louis question” through a 15-minute play. When we first began working on this play several months ago, we were very excited because we had the opportunity to collaborate with our fellow teen apprentices; typically the two teams in Teens Make History work on separate projects. Together, we bonded over our high school experiences and discussed the different stereotypes about our high schools. As teenagers, we found that a lot of us go through the same things when dealing with these stereotypes.

Initially we were uncertain of what we should address in our play. High school is such a broad topic, and we could probably talk nonstop about

St. Louis schools and how they are the same or different. Yet because the exhibit mostly focuses on high school experiences in the past, we decided to focus our play more specifically on the stereotypes that come with attending a certain high school here today. We set our play in various everyday settings such as work, restaurants, malls, and at home. We also related the play to many of the problems teenagers face today, like paying for college. In this way, our play reflects our perspectives as current high schoolers.

In the end, all of our hard work—the brainstorming, researching, writing, and performing—has been worth it. We are excited to be helping visitors think more about their high school experiences and the question “Where did you go to high school?”

The exhibit “Where Did You Go to High School?” is free and open to the public every day in the Bank of America Atrium at the Missouri History Museum. You can also join the high school conversation online with the hashtag #stlhs.

The play “Where Did You Go to High School?” will run on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. in the Currents gallery of the Missouri History Museum through April 30. We hope to see you at the museum for the exhibit and the play!

On Sunday, April 10 the Museum’s collection of Indian sculptures will be brought to life with an afternoon of storytelling and folklore. Author and dancer Nartana Premachandra will dazzle visitors with tales of Buddha and Indian gods and goddesses during Storytime in the Galleries. The afternoon will also include a free make-and-take art activity in Grigg Gallery and a family tour at 2:30 pm. Storytime in the Galleries is free and open to the public. Space is limited.

Music and dance from North Africa and Asia will fill Sculpture Hall on Sunday, April 17. Ramuoni-Tribal Belly Dancing will kickoff the afternoon with a lively Egyptian belly-dancing performance. They’ll finish up with a dance demonstration and teach visitors a few bellydancing moves. Dances of India will follow with an exciting presentation of classical Indian dance and we’ll close out the afternoon with a concert by Confluence Chamber Orchestra featuring classical Oriental music.

The month will conclude with an Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 24. The Butterfly House will be on hand to teach visitors all about butterflies. Learn how the butterfly grows from an egg; discover where butterflies live and what they eat, and take part in a few fun, butterfly games. Museum visitors can also bask in the sunshine with a stroll through the Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden while enjoying live music performed by the Webster Groves High School A Cappella group.

The Museum offers Family Sundays each week from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. All activities are free and open to public. The

Sunday, April 3, 10, 17, and 24

1:00–4:00 pm; Family tour at 2:30 pm

Designing Nature

People across the world celebrate the beauty of nature through the production of art. Natural motifs are used to decorate everything from prayer rugs and household objects, to the personal regalia of kings. Family Sundays in April will explore the Museum’s collection of Islamic and Indian art with activities and family tours that combine art and nature.

Storytime in the Galleries

Sunday, April 10, 2:00 pm Indian Folktales

Performance

Sunday, April 17, 2:00 pm

Ramuoni—Tribal Belly Dancing Dances of India

Confluence Chamber Orchestra

Celebration

Sunday, April 24, 1:00-4:00 pm Earth Day Celebration

family tour begins at 2:30 pm.

Sign up for the family tour is required and starts in Grigg Gallery at 1:00 pm each Sunday. For more information on

Family Programs at the Saint Louis Art Museum, please visit slam.org/education. Family Sundays are supported by Wells Fargo Advisors.

The Teens Make History play “Where Did You Go to High School?” will run on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. in the Currents gallery of the Missouri History Museum through April 30.

WEEK 31

ONE SMALL CHANGE is an ongoing series that challenges us to take very small steps toward being more environmentally-friendly. If we all participate then ONE SMALL CHANGE can make a big difference! participate, then ONE SMALL CHANGE can make a big difference!

RECYCLE YOUR PHONE!

The average phone only lasts about 18 months and every time we replace it we’re needlessly tossing the old phone in a landfill. In fact, more than 140 million cell phones end up in America’s landfills per year. Over time these cell phones break down and create a very dangerous hazard because they leak chemicals and toxins. These chemicals go on to contaminate the soil and drinking water. If we each commit to recycling our cell phones this danger is erased. One of the major roadblocks with cell phone recycling is that most people don’t know where to drop their phone off to be recycled. We have dozens of phone recycling locations in the St. Louis area alone and they can be found at the website midwrc.net/cell-phone-recycling-location. Find your nearest drop off location and together we can all make one small change that will make a big impact on the planet.

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Kids

Healthcare Careers

RightEatingon a Budget

Balloon Juggle!

Nutrition Challenge: We often hear people talk about how hard it is to eat healthy on a budget. Let’s look at some ways to be successful at this challenge!

> Cook from “scratch” whenever possible. This is the best way to know exactly what ingredients go into a dish. And it is usually cheaper than buying pre-packaged products.

> Use coupons and buy the healthy items in bulk when they’re on sale.

A fun way to stay active and burn calories indoors is as simple as blowing up a few balloons. Here are a couple of balloon challenges to try.

> Have each person in your group count off to decide the order you will

Safety In Numbers

Anytime you are walking to the store, school or anywhere, take a friend along! Not only can it be more fun, it is safer to be with a group of friends than walking alone. Also, avoid shortcuts

> Comparison shop — use the grocery ads found in The St. Louis American to compare prices for similar, healthy food choices at different stores.

> Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. These will be the lower-cost options.

> Think about packaging. For example, a head of lettuce will make more salads than a smaller, more expensive bag of lettuce.

> What are other ways that you can save and shop smart?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

play. Blow up a balloon and take turns hitting the balloon to see how long you can keep it in the air. If it falls to the floor on your turn, you get a point. The first to reach 10 points loses.

> Set up a kind of volleyball “net” between a couple of chairs. Sit across from a friend and take turns hitting the

that include dark, empty alleys, parking lots or buildings. Instead, choose a route that is filled with other people that are also out walking.

balloon one time to make it go to your friend’s side of the net. See how many times you can both hit it (counting as you go) before it hits the ground.

> Create your own balloon game and share your idea with your classmates.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Frozen Yogurt Dipped

Stefani Session, Registered Neonatal ICU Staff Nurse

Where do you work? I work at St. Louis children’s Hospital. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Kokomo High School, and earned a BS of Health Studies from Miami University of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio, a Master of Public Health from St. Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University in Kokomo, Indiana.

What does a registered nurse do? I hold the babies while feeding them and then make funny faces so that they laugh. I help doctors deliver babies and make sure they transition okay after birth and I spend time with the kids and play games.

Why did you choose this career? I chose nursing because I wanted more personal interactions with patients to help improve their quality of life. I enjoy helping others and seeing the babies getting better is awesome.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

6 Strawberries 1 Small container yogurt (any flavor)

Directions: Rinse the strawberries, trim off the green caps and pat dry. Dip the strawberries in the yogurt. Place on a glass plate and freeze.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of the job is watching a baby who has a rough start graduate from the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) with a beautiful future.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Fairview Elementary School 6th grade teacher, Iesha Lewis, uses a math exercise from the newspaper with students Ariel Ruffin, Kayla Thomas, Xavier Galloway, and Darrion Welden as a STEM lesson. Fairview Elementary is in the Jennings School District.

Price/St.

Louis American

Pharmaceuticals is a big word, but it’s important to learn and understand it.

If you look at the root word, you will see that it is related to a pharmacy. The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets medicines. These medicines help to treat, cure, or prevent many diseases. Pharmaceutical companies have many laws to follow to make sure the medicines are safe. These laws require the companies to get a patent, test their

Pharmaceuticals

product, and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their medicine. There are also laws that tell pharmaceutical companies how they can advertise their products. If the medicine is a product you can purchase at a store without a prescription, such as a medicine for headache relief, it is considered an over the counter medicine (OTC). Many other medicines require a doctor’s prescription. People who work in the pharmaceutical industry need a strong background in math and science. They must be skilled in critical thinking

and problem solving. They must also be able to communicate effectively. Many pharmaceutical companies donate to other countries. Merck gave billions of money to help treat blindness in Africa. Pfizer gave free and reducedpriced medicines to treat AIDS in South Africa.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text to text connections.

SCIENCE STARS

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Employees Honored

The St. Louis American hosts a Salute to Young leaders to honor outstanding African-American professionals under the age of 40. These two young women were nominated by their employer, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, for their work performance and community involvement.

Deatra McFarlin works for Mallinckrodt as a lead quality systems analyst. She works to evaluate the company’s data, processes, and products. McFarlin travels internationally and works with many different teams and helps to train her co-workers. She is part of Mallinckrodt’s Inclusion and Diversity Council to support African-American leaders. McFarlin received her MBA from Lindenwood University.

McFarlin is also very active in the community, as a member of her sorority Delta Sigma Theta. She is also a member of the Ariya program to mentor female high school seniors as they transition to college. She has worked for the literacy program, Dive Into Books with Delta; and she has worked for the Team Mom project to help women’s shelters. She is a mentor for the Girls Inc. EUREKA program, promoting STEM careers to young ladies. McFarlin is also a Sunday school teacher at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist church.

Oil in Your Candy? SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Did you know that chewy candy, like Starburst, licorice, and Skittles has oil? When food contains oil, it also contains fat. In this experiment, you will see and feel the oil that is present in chewy candy. Oil is used in chewy candy to keep it soft and to prevent it from drying out. It also gives candy a glossy shine and texture.

Materials Needed:

• Chewy Candy—Starburst, licorice, Skittles, etc.

• Microwave • Microwave-Safe Plate

Process:

q Remove the candy’s wrapper. Place candy on a microwave-safe plate.

MATH CONNECTION

In order to keep your body healthy, you should strive for 60 minutes of active play time each day. Solve these word problems about healthy play time activities.

z 40 students joined the soccer club. 5/8 of the students were boys. How many girls joined the soccer club? ___________

x In Tae Kwon Do class, 40% of the students are boys. There are 18 fewer boys than girls. How many students are in the Tae Kwon Do class altogether?

c Cameron bought ice skates that were on sale for 20%

wMicrowave the candy until it turns liquid and bubbly, about a minute. (Caution: This will be very hot!)

e As the candy cools, look for shiny spots on top. This is the melted oil.

r When it’s completely cool, the oil will harden into whitish spots that look like wax. Scrape them off and rub them between your fingers to feel the oil.

Analyze: Which candy had the most oil? Were you surprised to find that chewy candy contained oil?

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential procedures to complete an experiment. I can draw conclusions and analyze results. I can make text to world and text to self connections.

off the usual price. If the ice skates usually cost $50, what is the sale price?

v The local football team won 18 out of 24 games. Assuming there were no ties, what percent of the games did they lose?

b For every 3 sit-ups Peter does, Greg does 4. Peter did 24 sit-ups. How many sit-ups did Greg do?

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.

Activity One —

Headline Challenge: Select six headlines from the pages of today’s paper. Cut apart the words from those headlines. Using your words, create new sentences. Identify the noun, verb and adjective in each. How many complete sentences can you create?

Activity Two —

Destination Dateline: Choose datelines from other cities to which you’d like to win a trip. On a map, trace the route to each destination. In which region of the country does each trip end? How many time zones would you go through during the trip? Compare each destination city to the one in which you live in, including climate, elevation, longitude and

Tasha Turner started working for Monsanto at age 19. She currently works for Mallinckrodt as an analytical chemist who is in charge of interpreting data, writing reports, and helping to get products ready for FDA approval. Turner works as part of Mallinckrodt’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. She has received twelve “Applause” awards, which are employee-to-employee awards. She has also received the “Catalyst” award, showing good character at work. In addition to her career at Mallinckrodt, she is a certified tax preparer.

Turner is also very community minded. She is an active volunteer with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and has held many leadership positions with them. She has served on the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Committee as program coordinator, mentor and chair of the Rites of Passage.

The Rites of Passage program helps female college bound high school seniors. Turner has also volunteered with the Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club. She has volunteered for the St. Louis Food Bank, Jewish Children Services, Sista Strut (for breast cancer support and awareness), and Step Out and Walk (to raise money and awareness for diabetes). She organized a clothing drive for the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition and the United Way. Turner is also a member of the New Genesis House program to support individuals and families affected by poverty.

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I can make text to self, text to text, and text to world connections.

The pharmaceutical industry is very important. Check out these statistics from the 2014 Health Care Cost and Utilization Report:

Consumers spent an average of $810 per person out of pocket for health care.

latitude.

Learning Standards: I can use a newspaper to locate information. I can identify parts of speech and sentence structure. I can apply geographical features, such as time zone, climate, elevation, etc. I can make text to world connections.

67.2% of visits to the doctor’s office included a prescription for medicine and 80.3% of emergency room visits required medication.

Every year between 2010 and 2014, out-of-pocket healthcare spending by women was higher than that by men.

Photo by Wiley

Continued from A1

commitment in local and state funds to entice the federal agency. The state has committed $131 million for infrastructure improvements –$95 million in Tax Incremental Financing and approximately $36 million in Brownfield Tax Credits.

On March 7, St. Louis city leaders announced that they would give the federal intelligence agency free land if NGA officials agreed to build its western headquarters in North St. Louis. The original price tag for the North City land was $14 million. The city also has committed to providing a $1.5 million annual contribution for up to 30 years.

The NGA’s current facility sits in Soulard near the Anheuser-Busch InBev Brewery. NGA leaders reviewed proposals of four sites for the facility’s relocation –including two in south St. Louis County and one in Illinois. The North St. Louis site is 100 acres adjacent to the former Pruitt-Igoe public housing development. It includes 76 percent vacant land, 9 percent vacant residential lots (lots with vacant homes), and 13 percent owner- or renteroccupied residences, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Final Environmental Impact Statement published on April 1.

SALUTE

Continued from A1

stressed they knew “something is going to pop.”

“The relationship between trauma and stress to impacting physical health is clear based on research,” said Peter Sortino, chairman of the commission and assistant vice chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis. “We felt strongly that St. Louis

Along with a final environmental impact study, the NGA officially announced on April 1 that North St. Louis is its “preferred” site for the Next NGA West project. “The St. Louis city site provides NGA with the most technological, academic and professional environment for this agency to develop the capabilities and solutions necessary to solve the hardest intelligence and national security problems entrusted to us by the American people,” said Robert Cardillo, NGA director. Now begins the public

needs to keep up with these findings.”

On April 29, the St. Louis Regional Health Commission will receive the Health Advocacy Organization of the Year award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Health Care luncheon at the Frontenac Hilton. It is being awarded for its important contributions to providing greater access to health care for the uninsured.

The commission was founded in 2001, following the

comment period of the process, and the final decision will be announced in June. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt said it’s like the part of the wedding where the officiant asks if anyone opposes the marriage. “You just hope no one stands up,” he said. If the NGA chooses to move the agency’s facility out of St. Louis city, the city would lose $2.3 million in earnings tax revenue from the loss of those 3,100 jobs.

Blunt said the congressional delegation will continue to push for the North City site until the decision is final. Blunt

closure of the last remaining public hospital in St. Louis, when the region faced a fiscal crisis jeopardizing its “healthcare safety net,” Fruend said.

Civic Progress, an organization comprised of the leading corporate executives in St. Louis, formed a task force to address the crisis. The participants recommended the formation of a Regional Health Commission, a consortium of government representatives, providers of care, and

by

Comptroller Darlene Green was among the elected oficials celebrating the NGA’s selection of North St. Louis for its new western headquarters on April 1 at City Hall.

is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Inclusion goals double federal guidelines

Blunt also said that nearly 40 percent of all labor hours on the $1.75 billion construction will go to minorities, according to a February 9 letter to him from Jeff Aboussie, executive secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council of St. Louis (AFL-CIO). The letter summarizes a Community

members of the community charged with developing and implementing a long-range plan to improve health care access and delivery to the uninsured and underinsured.

Sortino said one of the commission’s proudest achievements has been integrating primary care with behavior health services throughout the past six years.

Another is the Gateway to Better Health program, which provides up to $30 million annually in funding for primary and specialty care, as well as other outpatient services.

“Missouri unfortunately has yet to expand Medicaid,” Fruend said, “and until that day we need a program in St. Louis because we have so many people in poverty that are uninsured. We need something to take care of them.”

About 80 percent of Gateway card carriers are African-American. So when the commission decided to roll

Workforce Agreement that Aboussie had sent on behalf of the council to Cardillo.

In the agreement, the council proposed that at least 37.81 percent of all labor hours on the facility would go to minorities, which more than doubles the 17 percent inclusion goals set forth in federal guidelines.

The council also proposed that at least 23.28 percent of all labor hours would go to St. Louis city residents, and 6.9 percent of all labor hours would go to women.

In February, Blunt said he asked Cardillo if this minority workforce commitment will aid St. Louis’ case.

“He said it absolutely helps,” Blunt said.

The city had to acquire 551 total parcels to secure the project site. Of those, 507 are under contract and 44 parcels are involved in an eminent domain process.

Those include properties with title issues, absent owners and owners unwilling to negotiate, according to the city.

Clay said he wasn’t worried that the new facility, which will have security fences surrounding it, will uproot a community. “There’s no more neighborhood,” he said. “It takes neighbors to actually have a neighborhood.”

However, after the announcement, resistant property owners in the area released a statement that they did not feel like “winners” at hearing the news. They

out a campaign on dealing with stress and trauma, they started with the community they serve.

“We find just being black in St. Louis is stressful because of the extra layer of racism that they have to deal with on both macro and micro levels,” Fruend said. “That adds a layer of stress and sometimes even trauma to their lives, so this is a particular population that deserves focus.”

said their neighborhood was once home to many first-time African-American homeowners who were displaced by another federal project – the Pruitt-Igoe housing project – that was a dismal failure.

“We are troubled that St. Louis has not learned its lesson from these failures,” the statement read. Clay said that NGA West is an opportunity for the federal government to atone to the community for past failures. He said he had conversations with President Barack Obama about choosing North St. Louis, and he felt the president listened to his concerns. And he said the government is upholding its commitment to areas with the Promise Zone designation. The North city site is the only one with that classification, which means it is an area that should get federal preference for redevelopment opportunities.

“After decades of disinvestment and depopulation, and after the national disgrace of PruittIgoe,” Clay said, “the NGA has made a powerful, positive choice that will once again place North St. Louis at the center of jobs, innovation, technology, economic development and defending freedom.”

To comment to the NGA on its site selection, visit http://nextngawest.com/site/ index.php/comment.

As part of the campaign, the commission went straight to media partners that would reach the black community, including The American and Radio One Hot 104.1. Alive and Well STL has supported training to encourage organizations to adopt traumainformed practices. They have even worked with the St. Louis Cardinals, who host summer sports camps for children. They are currently talking with coaches about how to limit yelling and “toughening up” techniques for children living in high-stress situations or have experienced trauma in their lives.

Rosetta Keeton, a patient access consultant, said when she has given talks about toxic stress and trauma to community groups and patients, it’s always well received.

“I help people to know when they are going through their toxic stress and trauma,” she said. “People seem relieved that there is a name to what is happening to them.”

Fruend said the commission has been focused on making sure the uninsured have access to health care for 15 years.

“But we are never going to reduce health disparities,” he said, “unless we go back and address this piece of the puzzle as well.”

Tickets for the 16th Annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Luncheon on Friday, April 29 at the Frontenac Hilton are $750 per table for VIP/Corporate seating and $50 each/$500 table for Individual seating. To order tickets, call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.

Photo

Wiley Price

Family banker

California.

Jonathan Roberts is executive VP of family-owned First Bank in St. Louis

By Pat Matreci For The St. Louis American

As the son of an U.S. Air Force veteran who was stationed in a multitude of locations, Jonathan Roberts realizes how important family is to his life. It’s no surprise, then, that Roberts’ family-first values are evident in his professional life, too.

Roberts is the executive vice president/ director of retail and business banking for First Bank in St. Louis. It is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country, with more than $5.93 billion in assets and 111 locations in Missouri, Illinois and California. First Bank has been owned by the same family for four generations – for more than 100 years.

“First Bank is family-oriented and genuine,” Roberts said. “We are big enough to have the resources to be impactful in our community and in the industry, and small enough that relationships matter.”

Roberts’ nomadic-like childhood took him to places such as Cambridge, England, Saudi Arabia, and various stops across the United

Lambert hosts diversity forum

Ravi Norman, CEO of Minneapolis-based THOR Construction, spoke at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport’s 2016 Business Diversity Forum held in Terminal 1 Concourse B on Friday, April 1. Norman discussed his “SIT-EATGROW” model for growing small businesses and minority entrepreneurship. The forum featured roundtable discussions on how to do business at Lambert Airport, upcoming contract opportunities, understanding a joint venture and how it can help grow your company, businessto-business networking, navigating the certification process and bonding requirements. For more information on business programs at Lambert, visit http://flystl.com/ BusinessOpportunities.aspx.

n “I believe one of the main responsibilities of a leader is to inspire people. Motivation comes from within, but inspiration is external.”

– Jonathan Roberts

States. The family eventually settled in Ohio, and Roberts attended the University of Cincinnati, where he played football and ran track. He graduated with a degree in sociology.

His career path in the banking industry was unintentional. An opportunity became available for Roberts to work for Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati, and his wife Angela strongly encouraged him to pursue it.

“This was a well-regarded management training program, so I thought I would get in and get some experience in the financial world, and then perhaps go back to school,” Roberts

said. “I didn’t think anything would come of the interview because I was not beholden to banking. But I asked some interesting, tough questions, not the kind a career counselor would advise you to ask. They were impressed by that, and 22 years later, I am still here.”

Roberts has worked for both large and small banks. He previously served as executive vice president and region president of Santander Bank, whose assets totaled approximately $1.3 trillion. Roberts oversaw Santander’s U.S. operations, with more than 150 branches and 1,000 employees. Prior to joining Santander, Roberts served in leadership capacities at First National Bank of Pennsylvania and Charter One Bank in Indianapolis.

Midwestern appeal

After two decades working for publicly traded institutions, Roberts saw an opportunity to move back to the Midwest to be closer to extended family. He was recruited for a position with the

Harvey Fields was named assistant dean for student success at Washington University in St. Louis. The position is new and will advance the university’s commitment to better serve low-income and first-generation students. Previously he was assistant director for academic programs at Cornerstone, the Center for Advanced Learning.

Cenia D. Bosman was named executive director of Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. Merline Anderson is retiring on June 30 after 26 years with the agency. Bosman will be leaving her position as senior vice president – administrative services for the Gateway Region YMCA.

Marcus Adams was elected to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan St.

Harvey Fields

Marcus Adams

Lanette Madison

Michael Reid

Cenia D. Bosman

Jacqueline O’Quinn’s

Jonathan Roberts is the executive vice president/director

in St. Louis. It is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country, with more

locations in Missouri, Illinois and

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Personal Finance

Is a budget-billing plan from your utility company a good idea?

By Nathaniel Sillin

During a particularly cold winter or hot summer, you open your utility bill with a sense of dread. Is it time to consider your utility company’s budget-billing plan?

Maybe so, but do your homework first.

Here’s how a utility company’s budget-billing plan generally works. Your chosen utility company considers your energy usage patterns over a given period, adds in projections for their wholesale energy costs and your region’s future weather patterns. Based on those calculations, your utility company comes up with an average monthly payment that allows a customer to even out monthly utility payments over a specific time period, usually a year. It may sound good, and for many customers, it adds some stability to their monthly bill payments. However, here’s where a budget-billing plan can go wrong. If you see that fixed monthly payment and think you don’t have to watch your energy usage at all, think again. After all, your utility is still reading your meter and you might be in for a rude awakening when your budgetbilling period ends. You might owe extra money.

ROBERTS

continued from page B1

privately owned First Bank in August 2014.

“People come in for transaction and advice, so you have more of a consultant-type of relationship,” Roberts said.

Here are some questions to ask before you sign up for any budget-billing plan: How well do you understand your current bill? Every utility company designs its bills somewhat differently based on state regulations and the type of energy product being sold. Depending on the community, a variety of utility companies might be competing for your business. Still, many of us rip open our gas, electric or other energy bills without understanding the basics of what we’re being charged and why. But it’s important to try. It makes sense to study your local utilities company’s charging practices in general – including those specific to competing providers. Also, if there are qualified energy advocacy groups in your state or community, see whether they offer any specific advice on local utility company practices and how to keep your cost of service low. Evaluate the budget-billing plan closely. Ask the following questions:

What happens if my actual utility costs exceed the amount I’m paying each month on my billing plan? As mentioned, your utility company will continue to measure your usage on its metering system. If your usage exceeds that budget estimate for any reason,

“That focus on helping people. I have found a lot of fulfillment personally and professionally.” Roberts leads a team that is responsible for the consumer mass market, such as the products and services associated with the branches and client touch points.

“We have to make it easy for the client to interact with us

you could face what amounts to a balloon payment covering what you still owe at yearend. If so, your budget-billing plan could put you in debt. Are there monthly or annual fees in connection with this plan? What are they and what do they cover? Paying anywhere from $5 to $10 a month to be on a “budget” plan should give you pause. Understand any and all fees before you pay them. What factors go into setting

in the way they want to and not try to steer them in a certain direction that works for the bank’s strategy,” Robert said.

my monthly average? How many years of payments go into that calculation, and what other factors apply to set the amount you want me to pay?

In the way many normal utility bills can be a mystery, so can your budget-billing payment.

See how well your utility can explain how they would set your bill.

If my budget bill and actual utility cost are getting seriously out of whack, do you let me know, or is there a way I can

In his position, Roberts enjoys the opportunity to interact closely with both clients and members of his team. Behind his desk is a piece of art that spells out “Inspire.”

check that? If your budgetbilling payment is actually putting you in the red due to a cold or heat snap or some other factor, it’s best to know that before the end of your term.

Are you building any weather forecasting into my budget-billing estimate? Are you projecting any weather extremes in the coming year?

Say I manage to come in under your monthly budgetbilling estimate. Do I get my money back?

Consider an alternative – your own budget plan. Locate your bills for the last year or two and average your payments, plugging them into your monthly household budget. On the months where your costs come in below your average, deposit the difference into a savings or money market account to cover future months where there could be overages. It’s clearly an experiment –after all, no one knows whether the years ahead will bring mild or ferocious weather or how world events might affect wholesale energy prices. But you’ll be in control of every dime and potentially earning a little interest on anything you don’t spend. Your utility’s budget plan probably won’t do that for you.

Bottom line: Utility budgetbilling plans might be a good idea for homeowners and renters who want a little more predictability in their monthly payments. But before you sign, you really need to understand how your utility company’s plan works.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

“Technology is changing how we do business. The access to technology for smaller- to medium-size businesses has improved. Because of this technology, we are able to compete with national and international banks in a way we could not before.”

to inspire people. Motivation comes from within, but inspiration is external,” Roberts said.

“I believe one of the main responsibilities of a leader is

“I have been inspired by people who I respect and want to do good for. What they had in common were leadership traits that had a lot to do with communication, and that they valued my opinion. I have tried to be that kind of leader, and have strived to be that kind of person.”

Community impact

Roberts initially moved to St. Louis without his wife and two sons, Jon Jon and J.T. Angela, who is an event planner for Maritz, and J.T. now have joined Roberts here, but Jon Jon is staying with family friends in Philadelphia so he can complete his senior year of high school.

n “I believe one of the main responsibilities of a leader is to inspire people. Motivation comes from within, but inspiration is external.”

– Jonathan Roberts

As his family adjusts to living in St. Louis, Roberts is exploring opportunities to become more involved in the St. Louis community.

“Everyone in a leadership role is encouraged to serve on

boards or play a leadership role in some way outside the company,” he said of First Bank. Throughout 2015, First Bank nationally provided more than $224 million in community development loans, investments and charitable contributions to under-resourced communities. In the St. Louis metro area, First Bank originated community development loans of more than $88 million, and provided more than $315,500 in donations and sponsorships to organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement, St. Louis Book Fair, St. Louis Equity Fund, local schools and food pantries, and the United Way. Locally, First Bank employees performed 2,535 hours of volunteer work.

“And employees at all levels of the organization across the country are doing different things,” he said. “You get a lot of impact and diversity, and it’s not just channeled in one direction or business strategy.”

n “I don’t think there’s a whole lot of people that have experienced such highs and such lows in that short of a time.”

– Marcus Paige, on the ending of North Carolina’s national basketball championship game against Villanova

Tatum named national player of the Year

Bradley Beal won same honor in 2011

By Earl Austin Jr.

Of The St. Louis American

Chaminade College Prep star basketball player Jayson Tatum was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

n Tatum will leave Chaminade as the school’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing former McDonald’s All-American Bradley Beal, now of the Washington Wizards.

The 6’9” Tatum received his national award in a ceremony at the school. Presenting the award to Tatum was former NBA star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who is also a family friend. Tatum received his award the day after he played in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago last Wednesday night. He had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists in the McDonald’s Game. The Gatorade Award is the latest in a long line of accolades that Tatum has received over the course of his stellar four-year prep career. It comes two weeks after he led the Red Devils to the Class 5 state championship in Columbia. As a senior, Tatum averaged 29.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free throw line.

Tatum will leave Chaminade as the school’s alltime leading scorer, surpassing former McDonald’s All-American Bradley Beal, now of the Washington Wizards. Beal received the same Gatorade National Player of the Year Award in 2011. He and Tatum become the first two winners of this national award from the same school.

Mad about March

In terms of money and power, college football rules the roost in the NCAA. A solid football program (last season notwithstanding) is the reason that Mizzou was able to upgrade to the SEC a few years ago. An atrocious football program is the reason that Kansas was shut out of the Big 12 defections, despite its outstanding hoops tradition. Let’s be honest though. In terms of pure excitement, exhilarating joy and excruciating agony, nothing beats March Madness. The NCAA tournament creates memories like none other. Monday night, the world witnessed one of the most spectacular finishes in recent memory. After narrowly avoiding a turnover, North Carolina’s Marcus Paige hit an amazing, double-clutch three-pointer to tie the National Championship game with only 4.7 seconds remaining. The jaw-dropping jumper seemed destined to be one of those signature moments to be replayed forever. It would have fit right alongside Christian Laettner’s turnaround shot that buried Kentucky, Tyus Edney’s layup over Mizzou and the air ball alley-oop by N.C. State’s Lorenzo Charles that sent the late Jimmy Valvano running in circles in disbelief. Instead, it’ll now be known as a simply a setup for the real highlight of the game. With the game on the line, Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono sped up the court and dropped off a shovel-pass to Kris Jenkins near the

H. Sistrunk

By Palmer L. Alexander III

For The St. Louis American

n Ford is a big upgrade from coach Ted Crews. It was very painful to watch SLU play basketball under Crews.

Saint Louis University ended their search for a head coach and hired recently dispatched Travis Ford. Ford’s time ran out while coaching at the University of Oklahoma State for eight seasons. Ford is very familiar with the territory in the region. The Kentucky native started his collegiate career playing for former Missouri Tigers head coach Norm Stewart for one season. The 5’9 Ford won Big Eight freshman of the year and looked like he was going to be a fixture in the Tigers lineup, but he transferred to his home state school the Kentucky Wildcats. He sat out a year and closed out his collegiate career with back-to-back SEC Tournament MVP awards. Ford knows the Atlantic 10 Conference very well, posting a 62-35 record while coaching at UMass for three seasons, which led to him accepting the same position as head coach for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12. While he coached at Oklahoma State, however, his non-conference record was not a pretty sight. He went 55-65 and

With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Palmer L. Alexander

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo/Gatorade

North Carolina’s Marcus Paige tied the National Championship game at 74 with a three-point shot for the ages. Unfortunately for UNC, Villanova’s Kris Jenkins oneupped him with a game-winning buzzer beat just 4.7 seconds later.

Jayson Tatum checks out the list of past Gatorade Player of the Year award winners moments after he was named the 2015-16 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. He was surprised with his trophy by four-time NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis Thursday, March 31, 2016.

SportS EyE

Robinson subject of Ken Burns’ film; no black Cards in deck

Minutes before the Tampa Bay Rays played the Cuban National team in a historic game in Havana on March 23, President Obama greeted and hugged Rachel Robinson, the 93-year-old widow of the late Jackie Robinson Rachel and daughter Sharon Robinson were part of the official delegation to travel with the Obama family on Air Force One to Cuba. Jackie Robinson’s legacy is still revered on the island nation, in part because the Brooklyn Dodgers moved Spring Training to Havana in 1947.

Robinson’s mere presence on the team led to threats of violence in Jacksonville, Florida. Citing segregation laws, a stadium in Jacksonville would not host a game featuring the Dodgers’ top minor-league team, the Montreal Royals, because Robinson would play. Robinson would make the Dodgers’ roster, and history was written weeks later on April 15, 1947. Black players had been part of Cuba’s winter league baseball since the 1900 season, and Cubans and African Americans had played and managed in Cuba without controversy. Negro League stars including Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige played in Cuba. During the 1947 Spring Training, black and white Cuban allstar teams played against the Dodgers.

not field a black player for years, The Dodgers were still practicing racial bias during 1947, as well.

In “Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season,” author Jonathan Eig wrote that Robinson and black colleagues with the Dodgers’ party were housed at “a dive” called The Hotel Los Angeles. The rest of the team stayed at the integrated and palatial Hotel Nacional. The Dodgers did not want to upset the white patrons of the Nacional by putting black men in rooms there.

“Robinson complained about it when he learned the choice was made by the Dodgers, but he grudgingly went along,” according to Eig.

n Black players had been part of Cuba’s winter league baseball since the 1900 season, and Cubans and African Americans had played and managed in Cuba without controversy.

Ninety-nine miles to the north in the U.S., baseball integration would not be tolerated at youth, high school and college levels years after Robinson took the field with the Dodgers. Most MLB teams, including the Cardinals, would

CLUTCH

On April 11-12, PBS will air filmmaker Ken Burns’ two-part, fourhour documentary “Jackie Robinson.” Its subtitle is “If you only know the legend, you don’t know the man.” It will be shown here at 8 p.m. on KETC Channel 9. The film will examine Robinson’s life from youth to his untimely death due to complications from diabetes. His years at UCLA and service in the military – where he also faced racism – are integral parts of the story. It will also illuminate how Robinson went from hero to “Uncle Tom” in some black Americans’ eyes because he did not embrace the direction of the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s. Of course, Branch Rickey’s drive to find the right black player and the right time for the Dodgers is a major part of the documentary. Hopefully, the film will not follow the MLB tradition of hearty congratulations to itself for

allowing a black player to take the field without apology for decades of segregation.

No black Cards on deck

Like all teams on April 15, the St. Louis Cardinals will wear Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 during the home game against the Cincinnati Reds. Currently, the Redbirds have no black players on the 25-man roster, which again will make for awkward moments during the pregame celebration.

Maybe Lou Brock will be called upon to say a few words, or Bob Gibson or Ozzie Smith – all Hall of Famers.

Maybe the Reds will lend us one of their black players

– outfielder Billy Hamilton, pitcher Keyvious Sampson or second baseman Brandon Phillips – for a few minutes of pregame festivities. Rams reap some rewards

The Los Angeles Rams will be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” this summer. It’s debatable whether that is a good or bad thing, but it will bring the franchise muchneeded exposure as it attempts to find its niche in L.A.’s crowded sports and social world.

More than 56,000 people or businesses slapped down $100 for the right to purchase

season tickets for the upcoming seasons at The L.A. Memorial Coliseum. That’s $5.6 million. Tickets for two preseason and seven regular season games (the Rams play a home game in London) range in price from $360 to $2,025. The prices will skyrocket in three years when the new Inglewood stadium opens.

Kevin Demoff, “the Rams executive, who oversaw the arduous relocation process that in January culminated in the NFL approving the team’s move from St. Louis,” is a member of the Sports Business Journal Class of 2016 “40 under 40” honorees. Demoff, 39, said of St. Louis, “As you are trying to build a stadium

elsewhere and rebuild a team, either you are going to end up tremendously disappointed or your fans are. It is a really difficult position. I feel terrible for the fans, and the city; everyone.” Rams owner Stan Kroenke is a Sports Business Journal “Executive of the Year” nominee. He is joined by Brian France, NASCAR; Joe Lacob, Golden State Warriors owner, Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball commissioner and Mark Parker, Nike CEO. Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

In college basketball, if you keep winning, you keep going. The longer you go, the more fantastic, long-lasting memories you can make. It doesn’t get more fantastic than the last

Continued from B5 ferences and party committee elites have unduly influence on who gets a ticket to the Big Dance. So there’s always some small undefeated or oneloss team that gets shut out of championship contention simply because they don’t have enough juice. Teams that don’t play in the championship are often relegated to the Carl’s Corner Store Bowl, where great plays go to be forgotten due to the meaningless nature of the games.

n College football resembles politics. Super delegates conferences and party committee elites have unduly influence on who gets a ticket to the Big Dance.

several seconds of the Final Four. Congrats to Villanova University, the 2016 NCAA National Champions!

Prep star applies for NBA Draft

The NBA will have an interesting decision on its hands as prep star Thon Maker has applied for the NBA Draft. Since 2006, the NBA has required players to be at least 19-years-old and one year removed from their high school graduating class in order to be eligible for the draft. The rules were designed to funnel top high school players into the NCAA for at least one year. It also was a measure of protection against bad owners and GMs who plucked kids straight out of high school only to watch coaches plant most of them on the end of the bench until they developed into serviceable players.

Maker, a Sudanese-born, Australian-national is claiming that he should be eligible for the draft because he meets the age requirement and had enough credits to graduate high school after his junior year in 2015. The 7-foot forward/ center with guard skills stayed at Orangeville Prep in order to play with his younger brother, Matur

There are rumors that Maker might have a hard time meeting NCAA eligibility requirements, despite offers on the table from Kansas, Indiana, Notre Dame and others. By declaring for the NBA Draft, he has now put the ball in the league’s court to make a decision on his eligibility. Commissioner Adam Silver and the league will probably be cautious about opening a crack for prep players to jump directly to the NBA again. If Maker’s case is approved, there’s no doubt other top prospects will attempt to reclassify for earlier graduations in the future, opening up the floodgates.

Of course, players in other sports turn pro straight out of high school all the time. Baseball and hockey routinely draft teens. Sports without drafts, such as golf, tennis, and track and field see young players compete professional even earlier. However, the NFL and NBA are more restrictive when it comes to drafting rules. In terms of skill, Maker can handle the rock, knock down the three and block shots. Still, he’s 7-feet-tall and only 220-pounds. Compare that to Kevin Durant, who is 6-foot9, 240-pounds, and you can see just how skinny Maker is. Whether he plays in college, the D-league, overseas or the NBA next season, he’ll have some bulking up to do. My guess is that the NBA will deny his eligibility and he’ll play either in the D-league or somewhere in Europe for a year to make a little cash before he cashes in on the draft. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

With Alvin Reid

Alvin Reid

LIFE magazine captured this image of Jackie Robinson signing autographs for Cuban fans during Brooklyn Dodgers Spring Training in Havana.

By Earl Austin Jr.

St. Louis American

The

Of

The members of the St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Star Team represent an abundance of talent and versatility.

Seniors Jordan Roundtree, Renetha Dickson, Rachel Thompson and sophomore Jaidah Stewart are all around the same height and were do-it-all performers for their respective teams. In the middle is senior Gabby Walker, who has been a force in the paint throughout her high school career. Here is a closer look at the First Team members of the 2016 St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Star Team.

Jordan Roundtree (Kirkwood): The 5’9” senior guard is the 2016 St. Louis American Co-Player of the Year after leading the

Pioneers to a second-place finish in the Class 5 state tournament. Roundtree averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and shot 71 percent from the free throw line in leading Kirkwood to a xx record. She is headed to the University of Missouri.

Renetha Dickson (Lutheran North): One of the most talented guards in the area, Dickson is the St. Louis American Co-Player of the Year. The 5’9” guard did it all for the Crusaders for four consecutive years. As a

‘Fab Five’ girls

senior, Dickson averaged 24.8 points to lead the St. Louis area in scoring. She also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 steals a game to lead the Crusaders to an 18-10 record. She is headed to Tulsa University.

Gabby Walker (St. Charles): One of the most dominant post players in the area, the 6’0” senior led the Pirates to a 24-8 record and a berth in the Class 4 state quarterfinals. As a senior, Walker averaged 18.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game. She leaves as one of the best players in the history of St. Charles High. She is headed to Lindenwood University.

Rachel Thompson (MICDS):

The 5’8” senior guard led the Rams to back-to-back berths in the Class 4 state championship game. A tremendous point guard and team leader, Thompson averaged 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.0 steals in leading the Rams to a 25-5 record. She is headed to Colgate University.

Jaidah Stewart (Webster Groves): The smooth 5’9” sophomore guard is the only underclassmen on this year’s First Team. Stewart averaged

19.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, two assists and three steals in leading the Stateswomen to a 20-10 record and a berth in the Class 5 state quarterfinals.

St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Star Teams

First Team Jordan Roundtree 5’9” (Sr.) Kirkwood Renetha Dickson 5’10” (Sr.) Lutheran North Gabby Walker 6’0” (Sr.)

St. Charles Rachel Thompson 5’8” (Sr.) MICDS

Jaidah Stewart 5’9” (Soph.) Webster Groves

Second Team Aijha Blackwell 6’0” (Fr.) Whitfield Leketor Member-Meneh 5’8” (Sr.) Lutheran South Andranae Wash 5’7” (Sr.) Cardinal Ritter

Tiger Woods won’t play in Masters

SLU

Continued from B3

Northstar News

Tiger Woods has announced that he will not play in the 2016 Masters Tournament, which opened Monday, APRIL 4 at the Augusta National Golf Club, a private club in Augusta, Georgia.

“After assessing the present condition of my back, and consulting with my medical team, I’ve decided it’s prudent to miss this year’s Masters,” Woods wrote on his website April 1.

With Woods’ withdrawal, 89 qualifiers will compete in the tournament, the smallest number since 2002. A number of other world-class golfers also have pulled out of the Masters because of injuries.

“I’ve been hitting balls and training daily, but I’m not physically ready,” he wrote. “I’ve said all along that this time I need to be cautious and

ThLeTeS of The Week only once won more than 10 games in a conference. And that one time in the 201213 season when he did have over 10 victories, his team just unraveled. That team featured Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart and a very athletic Markel Brown, who posterized the Missouri Tigers before they exited the Big 12 and landed in the SEC conference.

Ford is a big upgrade from coach Ted Crews. It was very painful to watch SLU play basketball under Crews. There is no real description of what of what they were trying to get accomplished on offense. This team labored in half-court sets and often looked confused or fearful of taking uncontested shots. No defensive intensity, nothing in transition, and a slam dunk was as common as a Bigfoot sighting. There are plenty of athletes on the team roster, they just need to be coached up better. But it sure didn’t take long for some in the St. Louis media to say that he needs to recruit. Ford managed to land some major recruits at his most recent job. The Saint Louis Billikens instantly became more competitive with this hire, and the timing of the hire was perfect for SLU. Had the Missouri Tigers dispatched Kim Anderson, Ford would have made a good fit there for the same reasons. I can be followed @ thelegendkil and @ NTheZoneShow.

Lajarvia Brown

Alton – Girls Track and Field

The Texas A&M recruit won three individual events at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Relays in East St. Louis last weekend.

Brown swept the long jump and triple jump events as well as the 100-meter high hurdles. She won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet 5 inches and the triple jump by bounding 37-10. Her winning time in the 100-meter hurdles was 14.46 seconds.

Brown is the top jumper in the state of Illinois. She is a twotime Class 3A champion in the triple jump.

Leslie Brooks

Ritenour – Girls Track and Field

The senior standout won three individual events at the Charlie Beck Invitational, which was held at Maplewood last week.

Brooks won the long jump, triple jump and the 300-meter low hurdles. Brooks won the long jump with a leap of 15 feet 8 inches and the triple jump with a distance of 37 feet 11 inches, which was a new meet record.

Brooks’ third victory came in the 300-meter low hurdles in a time of 50.67 seconds.

n “I still have no timetable to return to competitive golf.”

– Tiger Woods

do what’s best for my longterm health and career….I’m absolutely making progress,

and I’m really happy with how far I’ve come, but I still have no timetable to return to competitive golf.” Woods won The Masters in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005. The Masters ends April 10. Reprinted with permission from www.northstarnewstoday. com.

More veterans getting jobs

Department of Labor focused on veterans reintegration

By Mary Delach Leonard

Of St. Louis Public Radio

The declining jobless rate for U.S. veterans is a good sign, but the need for training and employment services will continue to grow, said Mike Michaud, assistant secretary of labor for veterans employment, who was in St. Louis Wednesday to visit the St. Patrick Center

“The numbers are going in the right direction,” said Michaud, who has held the post at the U.S. Department of Labor since December. “We’ve just got to continue doing everything we can to identify the veterans, get them into an American Job Center and get them into jobs. It requires a collaboration among a lot of different agencies.”

The national unemployment rate for veterans was 4.6 percent last year, compared to 5.2 percent for the entire population, a sign that the

collaboration between federal, state and local agencies is working, Michaud said.

While the financial resources and programs are in place to take care of veterans,

n “We’ve just got to continue doing everything we can to identify the veterans, get them into an American Job Center and get them into jobs.”

– Mike Michaud, assistant secretary of labor

the population of veterans will continue to grow as the U.S. military downsizes, he said.

“The economy is improving,’’ Michaud said.

“What happens if there is another downturn in the economy? We’re working as

Business Brief

aggressively as we can over this next year and beyond to set policies in place so we keep the focus on our core mission: to get veterans and their families into jobs. That need is always going to be there.”

Michaud met with staff and clients of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program at St. Patrick Center. It’s a national Department of Labor initiative for homeless veterans that provides employment training and support for substance-abuse and mental health issues. He noted that nearly 70 percent of veterans who participate in that program have found jobs.

More information for the Department of Labor’s veterans’ programs is available at http://www.dol. gov/vets/programs/. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

M/WBE Small Business Workshop on May 17

St. Louis Community College is conducting a workshop for minority- and women-owned small businesses

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the Student Center Multipurpose Room on the Florissant Valley campus, 3400 Pershall Road.

Representatives from the Missouri Small Business Development Center will discuss funding opportunities as well as strategies for building small businesses. Representatives from the St. Louis Minority Business Council will discuss the membership benefits associated with the council as well as Minority Business Enterprise certification.

Financial Focus

By Courtney Bond

While the workshop is free, reservations are required by Monday, May 9. RSVP at https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/STLCCWorkshop. For more information about the workshop, call 314-539-5225 or email purchasing@stlcc.edu.

Participants also will learn about STLCC’s bidding process and the upcoming bidding opportunities that will be available.

National Blues Museum opens

Downtown institution strengthens St. Louis’ bond with genre

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“People ask, ‘Why is the National Blues Museum in St. Louis?’ Well, why is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland?” said Robert Endicott, chairman of the National Blues Museum’s board of directors. “It’s because that’s where people got together and decided to do it.”

Actually, St. Louis’ destiny has been tied to the blues music since before W.C.

Praise, worship and testimony

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“This city has been good to Kirk, so I’mma give y’all ‘errything,’” contemporary gospel star Kirk Franklin said before what appeared to be a sold-out crowd at Peabody Opera House on Tuesday, April 5. He poked fun at the heavy “r” annunciation often associated with Black St. Louis. But he also let the crowd know that he takes the love the city has given him very seriously during the local stop of his Twenty Years in One Night Tour.

“Y’all have supported my ministry from day one,” Franklin told the crowd as he powered through his vast catalog by way of a sextet of singers and a full band that included a horn section.

The show was part testimony, part worship service and two parts concert as it stretched on for more than two hours.

When he came on the scene in 1993, there was nobody like him. His gospel had a groove that was blended with R&B – and, more radically, hip-hop. At the show he gave a bit of insight as to how he revolutionized the genre by catering Christian music to his generation’s taste.

He was reared in the church, but raised in an era where rap

Freedom Suits commissioned for

By Willis Ryder Arnold

Idris Goodwin’s ‘How We Got On’ plays the Touhill this weekend

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

It makes perfect sense that playwright Idris Goodwin chose 1988 as the year for his coming of age hiphop stage play “How We Got On.” Rolling Stone declared 1988 to be hip-hop’s finest year.

It would be hard to argue against them. The roster of artists, albums and songs within that 12 month block that are still considered to be defining moments within the genre – content and diversity.

Hip-hop was represented in several regions: Sir Mix A Lot in Seattle, N.W.A. and Ice T in LA, The Geto Boys in Texas, Two Live Crew in Miami and of course the founding capitol of New York was busy with the likes of Run DMC, MC Lyte, Public Enemy and plenty others.

The Midwest hip-hop heads could catch it from all corners, but hadn’t made its own mark on the scene at the time.

Which is why Goodwin’s play in a Midwest suburb about a group of teens trying their hand at hip-hop in 1988 should resonate especially well when

“Here in the city of St. Louis you had slaves being able to go into court to fight for their civil rights, you had lawyers volunteering to literally be the first civil rights lawyers on their behalf, and winning in front of juries their civil right to freedom,” Mason said.

Scott’s case is the most famous of the freedom suits. Though the U.S. Supreme Court eventually

building. Judge David C. Mason conceived the memorial while researching the Dred Scott case. He called the use of the legal system to challenge slavery a foundational moment in American history.

Sketch of the new sculpture to honor more than 300 slaves and lawyers who sued for freedom in the early 1800s.

The Normandy High School Vikings Band helped the National Blues Museum open its doors with a bang on Saturday, April 2. Photo by Camille Phillips / St. Louis Public Radio

How to place a calendar listing

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.

concerts

Fri., Apr. 8, 7:30 p.m., Robbie’s House of Jazz presents Dreaming In Colour. The group’s diverse musical inluences and contributions to contemporary jazz have been well received and appreciated by lovers of this genre. Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 322-5055 or visit www. robbieshouseofjazz.com.

Sat., Apr. 16 & 17, African Musical Arts presents A Tribute to Great African Composers. A concert of over 200 singers and musicians participating from the St. Louis Children’s Choirs, St. Louis Women’s HOPE Chorale, Legend Singers, University City Symphony Orchestra, IMI Chamber Players, as well as the very captivating Voices of Trinity from Chicago, acclaimed soprano Alison Buchanan and renowned African American conductor Marlon Daniel from New York. 560 Music Building, 560 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 6526800 or visit www.africanarts. org.

Sun., Apr. 17, 7:30 p.m., The Pageant welcomes Floetry 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com.

Tues., Apr. 19, 8 p.m., The Pageant welcomes Lupe Fiasco. 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com.

Fri., Apr. 22, 6:30 p.m., North County Community Development Corp presents a Gospel Fest Celebration Featuring Dr. Dello Thedford and the Gospel Symphonics, the Jennings Senior High Choir and the Jennings Senior High Dancers. 8850 Cozens, 63136. For additional information, call (314) 833-3514 or visit www. northcountycdc.org.

special events

Thur., Apr. 7, 5:30 p.m., United 4 Children’s Lighting the Way Dinner and Auction Gala. Marriott St. Louis Hotel, 800 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, visit www.united4children. org or contact Deanna Finch at (314) 531-1412 or finchd@ united4children.org.

Fri., Apr. 8, 6:30 p.m., Rainbow Village’s 20th Annual DinnerAuction and Gala: Somewhere Over the Rainbow. All proceeds will be used in our mission to help families and their loved ones with developmental disabilities. Four Seasons, 999 N. 2nd St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 5671522 or visit www.rbvstl.com.

Sat., Apr. 9, 10 a.m., 3rd Annual Natural Hair and Black Cultural Expo. This event will showcase models, live music, poetry, Afrikan drumming, dancers, and more. New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd., 63147. For more information, call (618) 5145240.

Sat., Apr. 16, Imagery International’s 10th Annual Because I’m Worth It Gala. Come out for an evening of food, live music, laughter, and empowerment. This year we are taking this event to another dimension with a dinner theatrical production, Dear God. The cast stars Tish Haynes-Keys, Rochelle Gates, Pastor Miki King, and other local actors. 1Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, call (314) 707-8103 or visit www. imageryintl.com.

Sat., Apr. 23, 6 p.m., Ladies Night Out Entertainment presents Queen and Her Prince Mother & Son Soiree. Mothers & Sons, Grandmothers/Grandsons,

Calendar

Festival

Mike

for

Featured Event

Thur., Apr. 7, 5:30 p.m., United 4 Children’s Lighting the Way Dinner and Auction Gala. Marriott St. Louis Hotel, 800 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, visit www.united4children.org.

(See SPECIAL EVENTS)

Aunts/Nephews of ALL ages are invited to join us for an evening of fun with our sons. Refreshments, Music, Dancing, Shopping, Entertainment. Brentwood Community Center, 2505 S. Brentwood Blvd., 63144. For more information or for tickets, call (314) 480-0311 or visit www. LadiesNightOutEntertainment. com.

Thur., Apr. 28, 6:30 p.m., Aim High 2016 Luminosity Gala. Join friends and community leaders for a fun-filled evening with a wide selection of cocktails, appetizers and live music while we help celebrate Aim High’s 25 Years of Inspiration, Determination and Achievement. Aim High is a personal and academic enrichment program for fifth through eighth grade students who have demonstrated potential. Barnett On Washington, 3207 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 432-9500 or visit www. aimhighluminosity2016. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Apr. 29, 5:30 p.m., American Heart Association and Edward Jones present

Girls Night Goes Red. Join us as we celebrate the power of women in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Hear passionate stories of survival and hope, designed to inspire and empower you, and all the women in your life, to make healthier choices for your mind, body, and soul. We will have healthy and delicious hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and great prizes with appearances and demonstrations from local health vendors. Edward Jones Headquarters, 12555 Manchester Rd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 692-5673 or visit www.heart. org/GirlsNightGoesRedSTL

Fri., Apr. 29, 6:30 p.m., North Side Community School presents 2016 Friends Helping Friends. Join us for a night of friends, fun and motorcycles. The evening will feature cocktails and dinner with entertainment, a live auction. A special tribute to Martin Mathews of Mathews-Dickey’s Boys’ & Girls’ Club for his longstanding commitment to the children of north St. Louis. The Moto Museum, 3441 Olive St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 385-9502 or visit www. northsidecommunityschool.org.

Apr. 29 – May 1, HarrisStowe State University presents the Inaugural Male Empowerment Summit, hosted by Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack and featuring Pastor Jamal Bryant and Dr. Steve Perry.

comedy

Sat., Apr. 9, 8 p.m., The LMAO Comedy Tour feat. Mag Jackson from America’s Got Talent. Cicero’s, 6691 Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 862-0009 or visit www. ciceros-stl.com.

Sat., Apr. 16, The Festival of Laughs starring Mike Epps and Rickey Smiley and featuring Earthquake, Tony Rock and Coco Brown. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

literary

Fri., Apr. 8, 7 p.m., Maryville Talks Books hosts author Krista Tippett, author of Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living. Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit www.left-bank.com.

Tues., Apr. 12, 12 p.m., Dr. David Stoesz signs and discusses his new book The Dynamic Welfare State. Brown Hall, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, call (314) 935-7433 or visit www.csd. wustl.edu/events.

Wed., April 13, 6:30 p.m., Kemper Art Museum hosts author Chris Woods, author of Sudden Justice: America’s Secret Drone Wars Kemper Art Museum, One Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, visit www. kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu.

Wed., April 13, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books and the National Blues Museum present James McBride, who will sign and discuss his new book, Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. This event is free and open to the public, but please RSVP at www.leftbank.com/mcbride.

Wed., Apr. 20, 7 p.m., Phyllis Lawson signs and discusses Quilt of Souls. Left Bank

Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.left-bank.com.

Sun., Apr. 24, 1 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Kwame Alexander, author of Booked. In this followup to the Newbery-winning novel The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelveyear-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3676731 or visit www.left-bank. com.

Mon., Apr. 25, 7 p.m., Natural Bridge Debut Writer Series presents Poet Roger Reeves. Reeves investigates violence and the politics of poverty, gender, race and self. UMSL at Grand Center, 3652 Olive St., 63108. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

theatre

Apr. 7 – 10, University of Missouri-St. Louis Department of Theatre presents How We Got On Hank, Julian, and Luann are three talented, determined suburban teens coming of age in the 1980s. Dreaming of fame and fortune in the new Hip-Hop music scene, they must overcome cultural isolation, familial dysfunction, and ruthless rivalries to make the music that defines their lives. A sultry DJ spins their stories with her own metatheatrical perspective in this contemporary ode to the roots of rap. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 516-4949 or visit www.touhill.org.

Through April 10, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd—it’s what every baseball player dreams of. In 1947, Jackie Robinson had broken baseball’s color barrier, while Satchel Paige and his Negro League All-Stars were barnstorming against their white counterparts in the Majors. It was baseball by day and jazz by night as the impassioned and devoted players tried to find their place in a country on the verge of change. 130 Edgar Rd., 63119. For more information, call

The

of Laughs starring

Epps and Rickey Smiley. See COMEDY

details.

(314) 968-4925 or visit www. repstl.org.

Apr. 15 – 16, Dance St. Louis presents Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater. With passion, power and spectacle, the 40 dancers, singers, musicians highlight a mosaic of Hispanic cultures from around the world. Ensemble Español brings sophistication to the art, seducing the crowd with romance mixed with unpredictable choreography. The company breaks through geographic barriers to exude and express what dance is really all about. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 534-6622 or visit www. dancestl.org.

Saturdays through Apr. 30, Teens Make History presents Where Did You Go to High School? In a series of short scenes, the TMH Players recount some of their own experiences with the famous “St. Louis question” and demonstrate how high school experiences are so much more than a stereotype. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 7464599 or visit www.mohistory. org.

arts

Apr. 16 – Aug. 14, Laumeier

Sculpture Park presents Gigi Scaria: Time. The New Delhi-based artist’s new exhibition focuses on “social mapping”—whether territorial, cultural, environmental or of the hierarchies and systems of our global communities. Scaria’s project is part of New Territories: BRICS, Laumeier’s ive-year focus on artists from around the globe, and consists of site-speciic works inspired by the constant building lux in New Delhi and the ancient ruins of Cahokia Mounds. Time includes recent photographs, ilms and sculptures inside the Adam Aronson Fine Arts Center, as well as a monumental “totem” of cast scale models of old Delhi domestic architecture. 12580 Rott Rd., 63127. For more information, visit www. laumeier.org.

lectures/ workshops

Apr. 18 – 22, SLATE hosts

FastTrac New Venture

A five-day workshop for aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs. Designed

specifically for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development, FastTrac New Venture not only helps you uncover the answers, it also helps you determine the questions to ask. Please call 314-657-3768 for details and pre-requisite requirements. 1520 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 657-3768 or visit www. missouribusiness.net.

Wed., Apr. 27, 6:30 p.m., The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis presents The Decision-Making: Assessing Award Letters for Affordability Workshop. This last free workshop will offer help with reviewing award letters, comparing financial aid packages, and determining next steps. 8215 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, call (314) 725-7990 or visit www.sfstl.org.

health

Apr. 14 – 16, 2016 Global Health & Infectious Disease Conference and Trainee Oral Symposium, and FIHTM Symposium. The 4th annual conference at Washington University will focus on “Shrinking the Cure and Prevention Divide that Separates Populations

from Life-Saving Drugs and Vaccines.” The event will also include a panel discussion, poster session, and lunch with the speakers. Apr. 14, 1 p.m.: Trainee Oral Symposium (McDonnell Sciences Building, Medical Campus). Apr. 15, 8 am: GHID Conference (Eric P. Newman Education Center, Medical Campus). Apr. 16: FIHTM Details (Farrell Learning & Teaching Center, Medical Campus). All events are free and open to the public. For more information or to register, visit www. publichealth.wustl.edu.

Sat., Apr. 16, 9 a.m., Lane Tabernacle CME Church’s Annual Women’s Day Celebration Kick Off Health Fair “Mind, Body and Soul,” Lane Tabernacle, 910 N. Newstead Ave. For more information, call (314) 5330534.

Fri., Apr. 29, 11:30 a.m., 16th Annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Luncheon, Frontenac Hilton. To order tickets, call 314-533-8000 or visit www. stlamerican.com.

Sat., Apr. 30, St. Louis PKD Chapter is hosting a Kidney Fight Trivia Night Fundraiser, The PKD Foundation is the only

organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for PKD. Machinists’ District 9 Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Contact Kris Conant at kidneyfighttrivianight@gmail. com or call 314-973-6597 to register.

spiritual

Sun., Apr. 17, 10 a.m., Lane Tabernacle C.M.E. Church Annual Women’s Day Celebration with Guest Speaker Rev. Anita DavisWilliams, pastor of Hosley Temple C.M.E. Church of Tampa Florida, 910 N. Newstead Ave. For more information, call (314) 533-

Apr. 21 – 24, Kossuth Church Of God In Christ 80th Church Anniversary: God’s Sovereign Intent Proclaimed By The Church. Guest Speakers: Friday 7pm & Sunday 11:15 am - Bishop Joseph Shannon; Sunday 4:00 pm - Bishop Brandon Porter. Saturday 7 pm - Musical. 3801 Eld. Robert Strong, Sr. Way, 63115. For more information, call (314) 580-4922 or visit www.kossuthcogic.org.

Sun., Apr. 24, 8 & 11 a.m., Leonard M. B. Church 155th Anniversary. 100 N. Compton, 63106. For more information, call (314) 477-7954 or visit www. leonardbaptist.org.

Sun., Apr. 24, 4 p.m., The Annual Wilberforce Alumni Musical Feast featuring The 60 Plus Voices Community Gospel Choir Of St. Louis Missouri Under the Direction of Susanne Palmer, St. Paul AME Church, 1260 Hamilton Ave. For more information, call (314) 385-8900.

Sat., Apr. 30, Lane Tabernacle C.M.E. Church Hats, Hankie and Pearls Brunch, New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow. For more information, call (314) 5330534.

May 20, Healing & Mending Ministry presents their 7th Annual Fresh Anointing Women’s Retreat. Guest Speakers: Pastor Jackie Allen, Minister Jeanne Vogt & Dr. Laurette Pickett. Deposit is due of $50.00 ASAP. Contact: Pastor McCoy-Email: healingm2@gmail.com http:// www.healmending.org

Through Apr. 11, 12 p.m., AARP Tax Help. St. Louis Public Library, Kingshighway Branch, 2260 S. Vandeventer Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 5251660.

Through Apr. 15, 10 a.m., AARP Tax Aide. We will provide free tax preparation assistance throughout this tax season by appointment only. St. Louis Public Library, Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 63115. For more information or to register, call (314) 525-1660.

African Musical Arts presents A Tribute to Great African Composers featuring renowned African American conductor Marlon Daniel. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Continued from C1

“We are telling the local, national and international story of the blues,” Endicott said. “And we want to make sure everyone connects with those stories.”

Snare drums rattled for two blocks as the Normandy High School Vikings Band helped the museum open its doors with a bang. The diverse crowd of all ages spilled out into the street – which was blocked off to accommodate the crowd.

After a long night as the headliner for the sold-out Rock N Blues fundraiser the evening before, Blues legend Bobby Rush joined the staff and board bright and early in cutting the big blue ribbon and helping usher guests into the 23,000-square-foot museum.

It was Rush’s third visit to the space.

“He saw the exhibit featuring himself and B.B. King and became very emotional,” said Dion Brown, executive director of the National Blues Museum.

“He said, ‘This is exactly what the blues needs.’”

An experience five years in the making, the intention of the National Blues Museum is to share the story of an oppressed people who used music to connect with one another and eventually the world.

Out of the Mississippi Delta and other areas in the American South came a form of music so compelling that it inspired every corner of the earth and ultimately set the tone for the evolution of popular music through its lovechild rock and roll.

Guests get a taste of that –from Charley Patton, who with his 1924 recording “Going To Move To Alabama” gave the blueprint for rock and roll, to St. Louis’ own Chuck Berry, who built upon Patton’s contribution and reshaped American popular music from the 1950s to the present day.

FREEDOM

Continued from C1

overturned the verdict of a St. Louis jury granting Scott his freedom, Mason said, the statement from those 12 men was a declaration.

“White man, you have lost your power over this slave. He is now a free person to live in this city, own property, and

Through sights, sounds and technological interaction, visitors get a chronological breakdown of the blues from the very beginning through real time. And they can create their own post-script thanks to technology. Guests can create their own blues tune with software woven into the stations of the museum. They are guided through creating lyrics, selecting music and laying down vocals, then their finished song is e-mailed to them.

“They will play it in their own fashion, but one of the greatest things about the museum is that the interactivity will get the young minds back into the blues,” said board member Scott McCuaig.

The goal of the museum is to use the blues as an educational tool.

“We want to make sure that they understand it and connect with the stories,” Endicott said. It’s a jump off for so many other important lessons.”

By design, blues music creates a safe space for sharing a complicated history.

“The blues is the soundtrack to segregation, Jim Crow and other crises of black people,” Morgan Freeman said as he narrated the museum’s introductory video. The blues is also the

have all the rights granted to other free persons or at least other free slaves,” Mason said. Jackson, the sculptor said his winning design highlights the strength needed to challenge slavery, rather than focusing on the horrors of the institution.

“We’re looking at achievements. We’re looking at a group of men and women who tried to remedy this.

We’re looking at proud, strong, people,” Jackson said.

musical equivalent to The Great Migration. It made its way from the plantations of Mississippi and the byways of the American South to saturate mainstream music in the same way that African Americans left the South for urban America.

This is illustrated by the wall of suitcases that segue into H.C. Porter’s traveling exhibit “Blues @ Home: Mississippi’s Living Blues Legends.”

“I get goose bumps when I look at the suitcases when I think of what they were probably feeling as they came up from the Delta,” Brown said.

Optimistic with a twinge of fear of the unknown, many landed in St. Louis. They brought their music with them alongside hopes and dreams of a better life. And in The National Blues Museum, St. Louis is continuing the genre’s legacy and exposing its power to new audiences.

“I think that we need this next generation of young people to understand the blues and its significance,” said McCuaig. “It’s such a great and telling art form that we can’t lose it.”

The National Blues Museum is located at 615 Washington Ave. For hours of operation and more information, visit www.nationalbluesmuseum.org.

The sculptor said his longstanding interest in area history and “people desiring to be free” compelled him to submit a proposal for the statue, and family histories about slavery handed down from generation to generation inform his work. For Jackson, the ideologies that backed the slavery versus emancipation debate are still very relevant to today.

“Ferguson, East St. Louis, the history of St. Louis itself dealing in commerce and slavery, that’s a very interesting area and still connects to things that are happening today. That’s basically my motivation for applying for this,” he said.

Private funds are being sought to support the project.

Printed with permission of St. Louis Public Radio: http:// news.stlpublicradio.org/post/ court-commissions-sculpturehonoring-lawyers-and-slaveswho-sued-freedom

Continued from C1

ruled urban radio.

“I thought, ‘What would happen if I took the music I like and paired it with the God I love?’”

In doing so, he became an overnight sensation – and one of the biggest names in gospel.

Fans may have been shocked to learn that the music behind his song “Whatcha Lookin’ 4” was actually inspired by Tupac’s “How Do You Want It.”

He worked in Notorious B.I.G., Junior Mafia and Kendrick Lamar as he talked about the influence hip-hop had – and continues to have – on is interpretation of holy music.

He is now an elder in the subgenre he pioneered, but his youthful edge was apparent over the course of the night.

“We praising God on a Tuesday,” Franklin said, referencing ILOVEMAKONNEN’s 2014 hit “(Club Going Up On a) Tuesday.”

High-energy and in fighting form, Franklin bounced nonstop for the entire show. He performed popular dances like the “Nae Nae” and “Milly Rock” as the group sang hits like “Smile,” “Melodies from Heaven,” “Stomp” and “Hosanna.”

There were moments of intimate worship in the midst of the praise party, thanks to songs like “Silver and Gold,” “Now Behold The Lamb,” “Something About the Name Jesus” and “The Storm is Over Now.”

The spaces between the songs felt like a worship service.

“Pray for Ferguson,” Franklin said “Pray for so many young men of color looking for hope.”

In true church fashion, Franklin encouraged fellowship among the audience.

“I want you to turn to the person next to you and say, ‘God loves you and He has great things in store.’ Say it

THEATRE

Continued from C1

the UMSL Theatre Department presents the show this weekend at The Touhill.

“They idolize all the big rappers at that time and they are trying to find their voice in the middle of the suburbs at this time,” director Jacqueline Thompson said about the characters. “The playwright is very elusive about where it takes place. There’s even a line in the show where the character says ‘It could be Ohio. It could be Indiana…’

It could also be St. Louis.”

As a child of the hip-hop generation growing up in North County, the play felt all too familiar to Thompson, who

n “I thought, ‘What would happen if I took the music I like and paired it with the God I love?’”

like you mean it. You might be the only Bible they see.”

He went beyond praise breaks by offering his personal testimony.

Given up for adoption at the age of four and raised on government assistance, Franklin’s elderly adoptive mother recycled cans and newspapers to pay for his piano lessons.

A freestyle rap that served as an intro for “Imagine Me,” offered insight into his dysfunctional family dynamic as well as his struggles with an addiction to pornography.

He leaned on his faith to heal the broken pieces of his life and become a household name, but he admitted that his struggles didn’t end with fame and fortune.

Franklin confessed that in 2015 he hit a financial valley –the lowest of his career. “Every single deal fell through,” Franklin said.

The monetary problems led to writer’s block, which delayed the creative process of his latest album, “Losing My Religion.”

is also an associate professor of Theatre at University of Missouri St. Louis.

“There’s also a line in the play that says ‘This is not an Uptown, Boogie Down Story,’” Thompson said. “They want to be like those people they see on TV. But for this play, the moral of the story is about creating art from the things you know.”

The play stars Alexandria Johnson, Nicole Kiethley, Robert White, and Andre Williams and features the sound design of Jackie Sharp.

It’s as much a hip-hop 101 lesson as a coming-of-age youth drama.

“All of the music is there, the costume and some history of it – like how to make beats and what’s an 808 drum beats,” Thompson said. “A lot of technical stuff about hip-hop is loaded into this play as well.”

“How We Got On” showcases the importance of the hip-hop commandment of “keepin’ it real.”

Those unfamiliar with art form at its core are unaware that the prerequisite of authenticity doesn’t mean that there is an expectation to represent the lowest common denominator of your community – or pretend to be among the highest.

“So many people rapping about money and wealth and that may not be your lane,” Thompson said. “That’s not what it’s about. It’s a matter of saying ‘what is your story

He asked the men in the audience to stand as he openly spoke of the stress of being a provider in the midst of money woes – and making payroll for his musical team and providing for his family after being accustomed to abundance. Out of that struggle came “Wanna Be Happy?” Franklin said. While being bombarded with bills by his accountant, he ran to the piano and the song came to him. In one of the few moments within the show where he actually sang, Franklin used genuine passion to compensate for his marginal vocal abilities. If you’re tired of being the same If you’re tired of things not changing It’s time for you to get out the way Don’t get stuck in how you feel Say, “Jesus, take the wheel” The lyrics fell in line with words of wisdom he shared with the audience earlier in the show.

“Never confuse your source with your resources,” Franklin said.

that is unique to the world?’ What do you have to share that people aren’t talking about?” That’s what the group of teens discover as they use the music to find their power.

“For me, hip-hop is the freedom to unapologetically say what’s on your mind,” Thompson said. “To say what you feel and be who you are –and being able to spread that kind of truth to the masses – is what hip-hop means to me.” In the time since ’88, hiphop’s empire rivals that of the height of the British Monarchy – but the domination of popular culture hasn’t come without criticism and stereotypes.

“The biggest misconception is that it’s all negative,” Thompson said. “That it’s all dealing with misogyny and coming from a negative place. That’s just not true. People think that it all has these negative connotations and it corrupts young minds. But there are a lot of leaders who have come out of the hip-hop community.”

They have inspired every generation that followed – and influenced the world.

UMSL’s presentation of “How We Got On” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on April 7 through 9, and at 2 p.m. on April 9 and 10 at the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Boulevard in St. Louis. For tickets and/or more information, visit www.touhill. org.

Photo by Camille Phillips / St. Louis Public Radio

Blues legend Bobby Rush helped local officials cut the ribbon to open The National Blues Museum at 615 Washington Ave. on Saturday, April 2.

– Kirk Franklin

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

DeAndrea and Ashley Slaughter will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on April 11. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to the Slaughters! Love, Mom Anniversary

Celebrations

Reunions

Beaumont Alumni Class 1968 48th Class Reunion will be June 10--12, 2016. Friday: Bowling Kick-Off, Saturday: Black n’ White Speak Easy Party and Sunday: Family n’ Friends Picnic. Meetings will be at Florissant Valley Library Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., Florissant, MO 63031 on

Saturday March 26, April 23 and May 28 from 1-4 p.m. For more information call (314) 869-8312.

Beaumont High School Class of 1971 is planning its 45th year reunion for July 22-24, 2016.Please send your contact information (address and phone number) to Gladys Smith at beaumont1971alumni@aol. com.

Beaumont High Class of 1984 can stay updated via our Facebook page “Beaumont Class of 1984”. We meet the last Friday of every month. Contact Rochelle Williams at rochellewilliams001@yahoo. com.

Birthdays

Mary BrownridgeBradley will celebrate her 80th birthday on April 9. Happy Birthday Mom, from your children. Love you!

Happy 81st birthday to Bob White! Come celebrate with him on April 9, 5-8 pm at Cahill House, 1919 O’Fallon Street.

Grad

Mary BrownridgeBradley

Paris C. Brown recently received her Doctorate in Psychology from Argosy University School of Psychology. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Fisk University, and she is a graduate of Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO. Paris is the daughter of Charmane Brown and Maurice Brown, both of St. Louis, MO. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC with her 8-year-old son, Kaelan.

Cole School Alumni & Neighborhood Friends age 50 and older Reunion Weekend will be held May 12-15, 2016. For more info call Andrea at 314-369-3052 or check our Facebook page at coleschoolstlouis.

Harrison School All Class Reunion, Saturday September 10, 2016, 6:30-10:30 pm at Ambruster Great Hall, 6633 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63117. Tickets are $60 per person. For more info Contact: Judy Darris 314-443-6741, Yolanda beck 314-346-8103 or Làshell Tolliver 314-420-3566.

Soldan Class of 1971 is planning its 45th year reunion for: June 17-19, 2016 at the

Ameristar Casino Resort & Spa, One Ameristar Boulevard, St. Charles, Mo 63301.

Soldan Class of 1976 reunion will be held June 10-12, 2016. For more information, email soldanclassof1976@yahoo. com or Facebook: Soldan

High School Class of 1976. Sumner Class of 1964 70th Birthday Gala will be held Sat. Aug 13. 2016 at the Norwood Hills Country Club at 6:30 pm. Please contact Joyce Camp for additional information 314-423-8821 or Yvette Allen 314-997-2214 or Fannie Clark Rogers 314-3554337 your Gala Committee.

Vashon January and June Classes of 1966 will celebrate our 50 year reunion October 7-9, 2016 at the Hollywood Casino, 777 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. Contact Marilyn Stuckey, Chairperson, 314-438-8338, email: masystucup@att.net or Janice Holland, Co-Chairperson, 314-727-1695, email: jholland1695@att.net for more information.

Vashon Class of 1986 will be celebrating its fabulous 30th Class Reunion in beautiful Las Vegas Nevada, July 21-23, 2016. For more information contact, Claudette at 314 3681502 or cctreze@att.net.

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 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103 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, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 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

Bob White

Paris C. Brown

The Message

Central Baptist celebrates 170th anniversary Do not worry

Second-oldest Black Baptist church in St. Louis honors elder members

American staff

Founded on March 22, 1846 by 23 enslaved and free Christians, Central Baptist Church celebrates 170 years of existence and a rich history of providing spiritual leadership and working for social justice in St. Louis.

The church’s second pastor, John Richard Anderson, acted as spiritual advisor to Harriet and Dred Scott, whose infamous defeat before the U.S. Supreme Court was a catalyst in the nation’s move to abolish slavery. During the Civil Rights era, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached his first sermon in St. Louis at Central Baptist Church in 1961.

Today, through its Crisis Intervention Ministry, Central assists the homeless and working poor with food, clothing and spiritual guidance; is an active polling place and partners with local organizations, such as the American Red Cross for bi-annual blood drives; and conducts other community health initiatives.

Over 17 decades, Central Baptist Church has changed names three times. It was first called the Second African Baptist Church; in 1851 it became the Eighth Street Baptist Church; and it has been known by its current name since 1885. The church has assembled in four different locations, called 12 esteemed pastors, and had edifices completely destroyed by fire in 1971 and severely damaged by storms in 2007. Yet it endures.

“In recent years, Central has witnessed tremendous growth of our church family, experienced a wonderful vibrancy in our worship style and enjoyed expansion of our physical footprint – all for the sake of building God’s kingdom,” said Rev. Robert C. Scott, senior pastor of Central Baptist Church.

“We were delighted to honor so many of the disciples who have invested their time, talent and treasure for more than half a

century into the life-changing ministries at Central.”

In a recent celebration, the church recognized 44 of its disciples who have continuous service to the church for 50, 60 and 70 or more years. Among the notable honorees were Deacon Steve Whitney, who is 101 years old, and his wife of 71 years, Deaconess Estella; and centenarian Dr. James M. Whittico, MD, who came to St. Louis in 1948 to intern at Homer G. Phillips Hospital.

The semi-formal affair, held at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, featured a keynote address by the Rev. Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and musical guests Tim Cunningham and Karen Hylton. The event’s theme was, “Building a

Legacy for the Future on the Foundation of the Past.” More than 200 community leaders and other well-wishers joined the church’s family and friends for the celebration marking Central’s legacy of engaging in service to humanity and uplift of the St. Louis community. The 170th Anniversary co-chairs Deacon James Clark and Deacon Gloria Givens have successfully launched a yearlong celebration, which will include, among other events, a street fair in July to serve the mid-town community near the church, located at 2842 Washington Ave.

For more information about Central Baptist Church, visit www.cbcstl.org or call 314-533-0747.

One of the hardest things for me to accept is the fact that worry is not supposed to have any place in God’s kingdom of believers. People have tried to tell me that not only is worry unchristian, but on some levels, it’s actually a sin. Even though I know better at times, I still cannot help but worry about things which I literally have no control over. Whether it’s family, or friends, or health or finances, my tendency is to worry, as if worrying alone will somehow change the circumstances or perhaps improve the situation.

Because this is a learning process, I’m doing my best to be a good student. Scripture tells all of us “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”Matthew 6:27. For me this can be tough.

As a wannabe good student, I have to first internalize that the answer to worry has already been shown to me. I need to focus on this because life constantly gives you pop quizzes to test your belief in this truth. Rather than worry, we should rely on the truth of Jesus Christ. That simple truth is these issues, my issues, your issues have already been dealt with via Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. As such I should be free not to fret.

Columnist James Washington

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be given you as well.” Matthew 6:33. Now the next line, I believe, says it all. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Again as a student, I can relate to the problem and intellectually understand the answer. But while this is understood on that level, life’s pop quizzes still cause me undue and unnecessary anxiety. Our text teaches us to accept through faith that worry is useless. Our teacher lets us know He is the answer and I understand that. I sometimes forget to I take Him with me at test time.

But through study I can recall the right answers when life wants to throw those inevitable quizzes. “Do not be anxious about anything. But by everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. If I can just remember to do this and then let go, I’ll know that I know that I know. It will become habit forming and that’s a habit we should all try and develop. You see I know I’m a hands on kind of student. Don’t tell me show me. By virtue of this biblical demonstration, reinforced by repetition, I think I’m getting it. Quit trying to figure my way out of things on my own. That is life’s recipe for failure. Let God factor into all of my decision making and follow what is then revealed. I call this “sanctified decision making.” Sounds like a bit much, but it works for me.

Photo by Suzy Gorman

James M. Whittico, MD embraces the Rev. Robert C. Scott, Central Baptist Church’s senior pastor, as the 100-year-old doctor was presented an award of appreciation for serving as honorary co-chair for the church’s 170th anniversary gala and 69 years of membership at the Midtown church.

Swag Snap of the week

House of Soul coming soon. I have a whole gang of folks to tip my messy high bun to, so I might as well get started with it. I started my weekend Thursday nightby peeking my head into the constructions and cocktails as the ladies of Café Soul showed off what will soon be the House of Soul. The venue will be the full-time home of Café Soul Open Mic Concert Series, special performances by national soul music acts and related events. The House of Soul will be located downtown at the Thompson Building (1204 Washington). I’ll be sure to keep y’all posted with updates as the opening date nears.

Radio One gives praise to phenomenal women. I closed out Women’s History Month by hitting the highway from the soon-to-be House of Soul just in time to watch Radio One St. Louis give some shine to the ladies with their Phenomenal Woman Awards. I would need the entire Partyline to truly do justice to the list of lady bosses, but let us give them a slow clap in their honor. I wasn’t the only one hustling and bustling to make my way from downtown to the Airport Renaissance, I ran into Phenomenal Woman honoree Angela Brown as she was doing the same. Girl, who did your makeup? You were snatched…and that blue eye shadow was everything on your skin.

Wired Wale. The Student Advisory Board of Saint Louis University brought rapper Wale to open for Hoodie Allen as part of a special spring concert at Chaifetz Arena Friday night. I will say that Wale redeemed himself as far as promptness and duration when I relive that 10 minute snippet he served up at The Marquee a few months back. But the show was not without a major drawback that his fellow social media/ technology addict teens and young adults were none the wiser to. He was caught up in that Snapchat and Instagram, do you hear me? So you’re just gonna Moonwalk past your phone like we weren’t know what’s up. I know the millennials and the younger generation who were born into technology are more liberal as far as social media graces, but you kind of have to decide that your rap show is more important than your Snapchat followers. The SLU kids got their life, and that’s what matters most. And he gave all he had when he was able to keep his mind off of how poppin’ his feed was – even crowd surfing and engaging with fans by climbing down from the stage and performing side by side with them. But trust that as soon as he was hoisted back up he would do some kick slide spin combination that would land him right back in front of that phone.

DJ Quik comes lately. Speaking of The Marquee, the crowd who came to see DJ Quik on Friday night made it plain that they are over celebrity guest performers showing up just in time to usher the folks out the door. I felt so sorry for Mulage (sp?). The Atlanta rap duo has been making their rounds as opening acts for STL club rap shows, but they were punished with boos before they opened their mouth the folks who were ready for Quik to hurry up and get to it. People just want to see who they paid for at a reasonable hour – which is before 1:15 a.m. for the club. I’m right with them, because when Quick didn’t take the stage by 1:35 I beat it. Sorry Quik, but your girl was beat. Be sure to tell all of the coming attractions that if they want me to give a rundown of the performance, they’ll have to hit the stage before the last call for alcohol. Kicking it at Copia. I really felt like I was at the repast for Phife Dawg when stepped into Copia Sunday afternoon for the Native Tongues tribute spin session. By the time I arrived DJ Reminisce was on the tables and folks were sitting around the fireplace in chill mode as they caught the vibe to their favorite songs within the umbrella of progressive hip-hop collective. I left there knowing for sure that A Tribe Called Quest was my favorite of the groups, and that I’m gonna miss Phife.

STL style on ‘Empire.’ If you watched Empire last night, know that one of St. Louis’ rising design stars was helping Cookie Lyon clock the costume game with custom bling. Cookie was draped in Mary Collins’ Vauje jewelry –and it is everything! Not to toot our horn, by my girl Danie Rae featured Collins and her jewelry designs in her Style File series, where she promised the line had big things in store. Well, Danie was absolutely right! And I’m sure “Empire is only the beginning for Vauje.

Already in the mood Monica. If you’re at the Ambassador tomorrow night (Friday, April 8) and someone is singing along to “Before You Walk Out My Life” so obnoxiously loud that Miss Thang herself has to signal for the microphone to be turned up, I’m asking in advance that you not pass judgment. I guess I should call Monica Mrs. Thang now that she’s married with kids. It’s crazy to believe that I’ve been rocking with her for more than twenty years – mainly because in my head we are both still smart mouthed teenagers. Oh, so I’m the only one who still performs “Just One of Them Days” with all kinds of attitude in my room with the door closed from time to time? I thought not. Well, we will all get a chance to show Monica some love and hear some of our favorite cuts when she and Chante Moore hit the stage Thanks to Mo Investment Ent. Doors open at 8 and the show starts at 9 p.m. Sunday Sunset at The Marquee. I was so glad I got a chance to enjoy a piece of the beautiful Sunday thanks to the timing of the Marquee’s Sunset Party with special guest host reality television personality and celebrity ex-wife Toya Wright. That girl is as gorgeous as the afternoon. So was hostess with the mostess Hot 104.1 FM’s Meaghan O. It was a cute little time – and I would like to propose that the Sunday Sunset party be to 2016 what the Sunday Day party was to 2015. That way we can have our cake and eat it too with respect to enjoying some sun and tearing the club up when we should be winding down and preparing for the next work week. I’m just saying.

Amber, Sharnez, Michelle C, Cherish, Michelle T and Haley helped Cherish celebrate her b-day @ Premium STL Friday night @ Copia

Lil Rock Obama, T-Luv, and Triky came through to catch the legendary DJ Quik Friday @ The Marquee

The DJ JMo, Nappy DJ Needles, DJ Reminisce and Rhashad had the party live for The Can I Kick It Day Party Sunday @ Copia

ChiChi and Ciara had their natural look glowing Sunday @ Copia

Jessica, Brittanie, and Asia @ Premium STL Friday @ Copia

Fat Fat and Chingy chilled in the booth before Chingy hit the stage with DJ Quik Friday @ The Marquee

Candace and Chanda caught some classic hip-hop Sunday @ Copia

Reality TV Star and author Toya Wright was happy to snap a pic with Davida @ The Sunset Party Sunday @ The Marquee

Savis Davis, Anissa Swisher and Valerie Berry strolled through the First Friday Gallery Walk in Old North St. Louis

Lauren and Eye Candy Model Haley with Mo Spoon Friday night @ Copia

100.3 The Beat FM’s DJ Boogie Corleone held it down until DJ Quik took to the tables for a special spin session Friday night at The Marquee.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant & Arlis Davis