August 16th, 2018 Edition

McSpadden to run for Ferguson City Council

‘When I’m elected, they will learn to respect us,’ says Michael Brown’s

By Kenya

place where Michael Brown’s body lay for more than four hours on August 9, 2014.

On August 10, 2018, a small group of family, friends, media and supporters of the movement that his death sparked were present as Brown’s mother, Lezley McSpadden, prepared to make an announcement. The bright signs declaring “Lezley McSpadden

‘Close the Workhouse’

for Ferguson City Council” scooped her big reveal before she made her way to the front of the bronze memorial plaque that bears her son’s name.

“It was almost exactly four years ago to this day that I met the family of Michael

Louis Payton died in a city jail, his family, activists demand

By Sophie Hurwitz For The St. Louis American

When a prisoner in the St. Louis Medium Security Institution, commonly known as the Workhouse, died on August 2, the police wouldn’t release his name at first. Then, a group of activists who form the Close the Workhouse coalition did it for them. On August 8, they held a press conference condemning the Workhouse itself for the death of the man they identified as Louis “Lynn” Payton, age 48. According to the police report, Payton “suddenly collapsed” while at the Medium Security Institution and was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. At the press conference, the family of the deceased

I. Am. A. BLACK. Man.

By Rev. Starsky D. Wilson

Fifty years ago, a group of under-appreciated, underpaid black men who kept the city of Memphis healthy by purging its streets of waste, refuse and trash had to remind elected leaders and city fathers that they were indeed human. They held placards in public calling for basic dignity, stating simply “I Am A Man.”

Four years ago, gatherings of unheard, unseen young people who held the hopes of America’s future by carrying the promise of progeny and reality of our pending racial majorities remixed the earlier assertion shaping my personal affirmation of identity. #BlackLivesMatter echoed and amplified the earlier claim of humanity. The “Black-ness” they declared is and was more than African-American status on census forms or college applications. Blackness is a sense of being, consciousness and solidarity, which transcends national borders and is rooted in a heritage and culture of struggle and triumph.

I. Am. A. BLACK. Man. My identity and agency evolved between the articulations of these generations: planted in the 1970s, watered in the eighties, budding in the 1990s and blossoming in professional and family life since 2000.

I was raised on a block called the black community. My family were the folks selling fish and washing cars to raise money for the Black Church. I learned my ABCs at the knee of a black kindergarten teacher with a PhD and basic life

answers

Celestine Buford, a cousin of Louis “Lynn” Payton, said jail officials have not told her family about the details surrounding Payton’s death at the St. Louis Medium Security Institution.

Vaughn Of The St.

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Carolina Hidalgo / St. Louis Public Radio

Lezley McSpadden was joined by attorney Benjamin Crump when she announced her campaign for Ferguson City Council at Canfield Green Apartments on Friday, August 10, nearly four years to the day after her son Michael Brown was killed there by a Ferguson Police officer.

Homegrown BLAck mALeS

Rev. Starsky D. Wilson

Stevie Wonder among Aretha

Franklin’s visitors, family optimistic

Aretha Franklin is said to be surrounded by those closest to her as the legendary singer receives hospice care.

A source close to Franklin tells CNN’s Don Lemon the 76-year-old “Queen of Soul” is being visited by people close to her who are reading messages from friends and loved ones, holding her hand.

Stevie Wonder and her ex-husband Glynn Turman, paid the singer a visit, Franklin’s publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told CNN. Rev. Jesse Jackson visited her on Wednesday, Quinn said.

Franklin’s nephew Tim Franklin told PEOPLE Magazine that the music legend was, “Alert, laughing, teasing, able to recognize people.”

“Family is there with her,” he said. “She’s home.”

“I saw her a week ago Friday and we talked for about 45 minutes to an hour. My brother was there on Saturday and she was alert, talking, laughing, joking,” Tim continued.

“She’s watching TV, so god forbid she sees all of this ‘Aretha’s dead,’ so I don’t want to dampen her spirits on that.”

Tim told PEOPLE “We believe she’ll pull through it, she believes she’ll pull through it, and that’s the important thing,” he added.

Usher reportedly ordered to disclose medical records to accuser

According to court papers received by Bossip, an LA judge recently ordered pop star Usher Raymond to disclose medical records as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by an unnamed male accuser. The papers obtained by the celebrity news and gossip site say the man has accused Raymond of exposing him to the herpes virus during a sexual encounter at a spa.

The judge was said to have given Raymond a deadline of this month to comply with his male accuser’s demands, though it was unclear Friday whether the hitmaker provided the medical records.

The anonymous accuser joined accuser Quantasia Sharpton’s lawsuit last year, and both claim Raymond performed a sex act without disclosing that he has the herpes virus.

Raymond has denied their allegations. The anonymous man’s case is scheduled to head to trial in February 2019.

Lil Kim’s home saved from foreclosure

Last month, rapper Lil Kim almost lost her New Jersey mansion to foreclosure. According to The Blast, Lil Kim was able to save her home from hitting the auction block after agreeing to a new payment plan.

The celebrity news and gossip site says Kim has been ordered to pay the creditor who was trying to foreclose $32,297 to cover three past due payments plus interest and legal fees.

Beginning next month, Kim will have to cough up $10,000 a month and if she misses just one payment the creditor has the right to auction off her house.

Russell Simmons files suit against accuser

publicity for her lawyer. The woman claimed in her lawsuit that she took her kid to a hip-hop concert, where Simmons approached her and invited them backstage. She claimed he invited her to an afterparty at a hotel nearby, which she went to after dropping off her son.

She claims he then raped her. The lawsuit is seeking $10 million in damages.

Simmons denied the woman’s story and said the statute of limitations had already passed and demanded the case be thrown out.

Safaree Samuels claims Nicki Minaj stabbed him

Rap star Nicki Minaj’s ex-boyfriend, Safaree Samuels, has claimed she stabbed him “more than one time.”

The former couple, who dated for almost 15 years, went to war on social media on Tuesday.

According to The Blast, Russell filed a lawsuit against Jane Doe earlier this month seeking $35,000 for fees and costs incurred fighting her “baseless and improper claim.”

Simmons calls Jane Doe’s accusations outrageous and fictional and claims she only filed the lawsuit to extort a settlement and get

“Remember the night you cut me, and I almost died. The police and ambulance had to take me out the crib on a stretcher and I had to lie and tell them I was trying to kill myself so they wouldn’t take you to jail,” Samuels said via Twitter. “When things like that start happening more Than once it’s time to dip.”

Sources: CNN.com, The Blast, Bossip.com, People.com, Twitter.com

Russell Simmons

Lil Kim

My first summer at The St. Louis American

How the Emma Bowen Foundation and God’s grace made my journalism dreams come true

By Ashley Jones For The St.

Louis American

Only by the grace of God can the experiences in this article be explained. Only by the miracle of prayer could I have ended up here. There is no way in my wildest dreams I expected to have a summer like this, and it all started with a phone call.

I am currently a rising sophomore at the best school in the world, University of Missouri- Columbia. I am majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in Arts & Culture. My passion is rooted in music, civil rights, and writing. I plan on practicing my ambitions through the art of entertainment journalism and civil rights journalism. I got to practice both of my passions during my time working for The St. Louis American

The end of my first year in college was approaching. I realized the rarity of landing an internship this early in the game, but I was more than determined to find one. I had gained a lot of experience early in my high school years working as a staff writer and editor for my high school’s newspaper and yearbook. I also started my own website doing local freelance work in Tulsa covering concerts, festivals, artist features, and so much more. I prayed every day upon every application that someone would accept me.

That’s when I was told about the Emma Bowen Foundation. I first heard about them through some of their fellows who mentored me in the Mizzou’s Ale Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

The Emma Bowen Foundation recruits promising students of color and places them in multi-year paid internships at some of the nation’s leading media, PR and technology companies, providing the media and tech industries with a pipeline of

the Smithsonian Museum of African American History.

His son, Wiley Price IV, called him to cover protestors shutting down the Gas Mart on the corner of Goodfellow and Delmar, where employees were videotaped kicking Kelli Adams. We got there early enough to see the employees get arrested. The New York Post even republished my story. The community is still fighting for economic justice, and I was proud to have the responsibility in reporting their situation to the rest of the city, state, and country.

Our amazing online and entertainment editor Kenya Vaughn let me cover some entertainment stories. Thanks to her, I had the opportunity to attend and cover my first visit to an all-black circus, The Universoul Circus. My friend and I took photos and covered WWE Live SummerSlam Heatwave show. So I even met real TV superstars during my time at the paper.

I also got the opportunity to cover a black-owned family company that focuses on enriching youth through STEM and Music technology. Ronnie and Tiffany Notch have a beautiful family, and their company Notes for Life is expanding on a national and soon global platform. They invited me to speak to their summer program, Lift Off, held at Saint Louis University. I got to instruct a class on interviews, getting the details in a story, and how to document it all. They ranged from high school sophomores to seniors, and we all had an amazing time.

young talent and emerging leadership, and advocating for best practices in diverse hiring, retention, and advancement.

Sandra Rice, vice president of the foundation, called me personally to inform me that I was accepted into the fellowship under a special Democracy Grant that funded me to work for a newspaper that already had diversity.

She introduced me to Chris King, managing editor of The American

At this point, I thought I was in a dream to be receiving such great news directly from the leaders of each establishment.

After quickly polishing my resume and a few phone calls later, I was all set to intern at the most renowned black owned newspaper that’s been publishing since 1928: The St. Louis American Doves flying. Trumpets

blowing. To say this opportunity was the biggest honor of my life is an understatement.

On my first day on the job, I was given my own desk with a computer. I was introduced to a phenomenal staff at the paper’s office which sat right in the middle of all the action. King informed me right away that they were going to put me to work, and I could not be more excited to hear those words.

I now have been published in 10 editions of The St. Louis American newspaper (and counting). I have made the front page six times and had the lead story four times.

I got the opportunity to interview the mayor at fancy NAACP banquets, then turned around to interview people at homeless shelters like the one formerly at New Life Evangelistic

Center, where Rev. Larry Rice cannot open his doors to an epidemic whose victims are dying from heat due to the city’s refusal to grant the shelter permits.

I witnessed a man get pushed over by a car and a woman who was almost ran over get on top of that same car as it carried her at top speed past a blocked-off ICE protest. I livestreamed the event while helping our hardhitting investigative reporter, Rebecca Rivas, cover the story.

I covered a spot news story that turned out to be the most popular and exciting story I covered for the paper. Wiley Price has been working with the paper longer than anyone else in the office. He has been the paper’s photographer for almost 37 years and his work shooting President Obama being prayed over is on display at

The best part about my time at The St. Louis American would have to be the people I got to work with along the way, such as the renowned publisher and executive editor Donald M. Suggs. Every time he said he was proud of me, it was noted in my heart as one of the greatest honors I could ever receive.

A special thank you to the entire staff at The St. Louis American, and King for gracing me with this great opportunity to do the work I am most passionate about. I hope to come back next summer and make more memories.

For more information on me, you can follow me on any social media platform @Medley Jones or visit medleyjones.com.

Photo by Wiley Price

I livestreamed the ICE protest in downtown St. Louis on July 19 for The St. Louis American while helping our hard-hitting investigative reporter, Rebecca Rivas, cover the story.

Editorial /CommEntary

Two challenges posed by Wesley Bell’s victory

The defeat of incumbent St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch by Wesley Bell was historic, yet poses two major challenges – one for the progressive Democrats and activists who helped power Bell to victory, and one for mainstream Democrats who need to energize people to vote for an incumbent U.S. senator and state auditor in November.

Bell was sold on the campaign trail as a reformer – perhaps oversold. He did reform Velda City’s municipal court as its judge, but only after a court order pursuant to a suit filed against him and the city by ArchCity Defenders. And he did participate in reforming Ferguson’s municipal court as a council member, but only as part of a federal consent decree.

Will Bell institute meaningful criminal justice reforms – such as ending cash bail and investing in diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders – without a binding court order? That remains to be seen. The ACLU of Missouri, which waged an unprecedented public education program about McCulloch’s record that helped Bell win, already has sent him a letter outlining the reforms they expect. We encourage Bell to take their advice.

His activist base also has their demands – including the very controversial matter of reopening the Darren Wilson case, which would inflame the police Bell needs to prosecute all of his other cases. Bell is certain to make some very dedicated enemies, however he proceeds on that touchy matter. He has said he needs to see all of the evidence before making a decision; that evidence is a matter of public record, so we suggest Bell do some very thorough reading between now and November.

Then there is the Missouri Democratic Party, which needs to capture lightning in a bottle by directing the progressive energy that propelled Bell toward U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s reelection campaign (and, to a lesser extent, the campaign of incumbent state Auditor Nicole Galloway, who was appointed to the office).

Galloway should have a relatively easy time of it, if she puts in the work. She is a progressive Democrat with little or any baggage and an amazingly diligent state auditor responsible for considerable improvement in Missouri government during her tenure to date. However, it’s harder to make people care about an auditor than a prosecutor, and it’s questionable how well known she is as an incumbent. McCaskill – possessing an incomparably valuable Democratic seat in the U.S. Senate – is fortunate to have an opponent who should be easy to villainize for progressive Democrats in Josh Hawley. As Missouri attorney general, Hawley filed suit to end the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to cover preexisting conditions in

health insurance. As a candidate for Senate, he has welcomed President Trump to Missouri four times. Voting against Hawley should be easy for any Democrat, for anyone with a preexisting health condition, for anyone who thinks Trump is a shameful disaster.

To date, McCaskill has hammered Hawley over his stance on preexisting health conditions, but has been wary of attacking his embrace of Trump, who beat Hillary Clinton in Missouri by a half-million votes. Worse for her, in light of the coalition that elected Bell, she has been close to McCulloch for her entire political career as a former prosecutor. She was not misguided enough to stump for McCulloch, but one wonders what she would say to the young activists who helped defeat McCulloch, should she meet with them – which we strongly encourage her to do.

As the lead candidate on the Democratic ticket in an election that will include several ballot issues – medical marijuana, minimum wage, campaign and legislative reform – that should drive an expanded turnout of special-interest voters, McCaskill has an opportunity to energize the grass roots. She will need to do so, given that her seat is a prime target of the national GOP. The Senate race is now a dead heat, which is not a good sign for an incumbent, and that means enthusiasm for – and against – Trump will likely be the determining factor. The African-American community in particular has every reason to take their outrage at Trump to the ballot box, but Democrats will need an intentional grass-roots campaign – like the one that elected Wesley Bell – to drive black voters to the polls in large numbers.

Commentary

Trump and Omarosa deserve each other

By Eugene Robinson Washington Post

It’s hard to take Omarosa Manigault Newman’s word for anything. But Lordy she has tapes, and they offer vivid proof that Donald Trump’s White House is part clown show, part nest of vipers.

Omarosa achieved singlename fame as a contestant on Trump’s show “The Apprentice,” where she performed with Shakespearean villainy – lying, cheating, backstabbing, viciously advancing her own interests and sabotaging her rivals. Trump evidently found all of this admirable, because he insisted on bringing her into his administration as a top-level adviser despite her utter lack of experience and qualifications. They deserve each other.

It is no surprise that she wrote a tell-all book after being fired. It’s shocking, however, that she managed to secretly record her dismissal by White House chief of staff John Kelly – an encounter that took place in the Situation Room, meant to be a super-secure bunker where the nation’s most closely guarded secrets can safely be discussed.

Omarosa’s recording of part of that meeting was aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” In it, Kelly is heard making what sounds very much like a threat:

“I think it’s important to understand that if we make this a friendly departure, we can all be, you know, we can look at your time here in the White House as a year of service to the nation. And then you can go on without any type of

difficulty in the future relative to your reputation.”

If that wasn’t clear enough, Omarosa subsequently received a generous offer. She could receive $15,000 a month to perform vaguely defined duties for Trump’s re-election campaign. But she would have to sign a nondisclosure and non-disparagement agreement pledging not to say detrimental things about Trump, Vice President Pence or their family members.

She declined the offer but kept the documents she was asked to sign – and showed them to The Washington Post last week.

On Monday, appearing on the “Today” show, she revealed a recording of a phone call she said she received from Trump the day after she was fired. “Omarosa, what’s going on?” Trump is heard to ask. “I just saw on the news that you’re thinking about leaving. What happened?” When she tells him she was axed, Trump claims ignorance. “Nobody even told me about it,” he says. “You know they run a big operation, but I didn’t know it. I didn’t know that. Goddammit. I don’t love you leaving at all.”

Shortly after that tape was aired, Trump lashed out on Twitter: “Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Historic victories on August 7 empowered the black community

By Mike Jones

Of The St. Louis American

The results of the August 7 Democratic primary has St. Louis all atwitter (pardon the pun). There were historic victories that could change the political calculus of St. Louis, and while it was a great night, we need to put it in context. Getting the right players in the right positions is the beginning of the process, not the end.

Wesley Bell’s victory over Bob McCulloch in the St. Louis County prosecutor’s race had the same historical significance as Bill Clay’s election to Congress and Freeman Bosley Jr.’s election as mayor of St. Louis, because Bell’s victory, like those of Clay and Bosley, redefined black political possibilities. Bell’s winning strategy had to include substantial numbers of white voters, which he attracted without diluting his commitment to criminal justice reform or running away from the black community.

Bell is now positioned to implement life-changing reforms to St. Louis County’s criminal justice system and has the potential to provide national leadership to this existential issue for black Americans. The injustices of the American criminal justice are intentional; there are powerful forces that will fight to the bitter end to maintain the status quo. Bell has many well-wishers, but he also has something else: real enemies. These enemies are dangerous and relentless, so he needs to remember the last instruction that the referee gives to fighters: protect yourself at all times.

Karla May’s trouncing of incumbent state Senator Jake Hummel to win the Democratic nomination for the 4th Senate District seat and Brian Williams beating two veteran state representatives to win the Democratic nomination for the 14th Senate District seat will create another historical

political first for St. Louis’ African-American community after the general election in November. With state Senator Jamilah Nasheed already representing the 5th Senate District, after the general election there will be three African Americans from St. Louis seated in the Missouri Senate for the first time.

Nasheed and May are experienced, skilled legislators who are in their political prime. Williams, though a newcomer to elective office, has an impressive resume of governmental and political experience that will make him a quick study. Each has the political IQ and skill to be individually successful, but in this case the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. If they work together as a team – with their colleague from Kansas City, state Senator Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, they could be a formidable force in the state Senate.

There’s an expression often heard in Jefferson City: The House makes noise, the Senate makes the laws. Nothing happens in the State of Missouri without the consent of the Missouri Senate. The black community in St. Louis is now politically positioned to wield outsized influence in Missouri’s most powerful political body.

The August 7 Democratic primary was also the coming out party for the Fannie Lou Hamer Democratic Coalition and the St. Louis County Council. What Fannie Lou Hamer and the County Council have in common is 1st District Councilwoman Hazel Erby. Under Erby’s leadership, Fannie Lou Hamer has

solidified its place as a go-to player in county politics, and has become an engaged and articulate voice on behalf of the black community. With an impressive ground game and an active social media presence, this coalition of black elected officials is reshaping St. Louis County’s political landscape. The emergence of the County Council as a political juggernaut is the most underappreciated political story of last year. Historically, the council has been mostly a rubber stamp for whoever is the county executive. But Council Chair Sam Page and Erby, the vice chair, have teamed up to craft a solid governing coalition that is a formidable counterweight to the county executive. Erby and Page didn’t start as allies, but have built a multiracial, bipartisan coalition. These candidates – Bell, May, Williams and Erby – are all authentic expressions of black political aspirations. They are black political leaders produced by the black community for the black community. But they all share another important characteristic: Each has been successful because they had skill to expand their political reach and build diverse coalitions without undermining their commitment to the black community. Black authenticity and the ability to build and leverage diverse, multiracial, multicultural coalitions are essential qualities for successful 21st century black political leadership.

Mike Jones is a former senior staffer in St. Louis city and county government and current member of the Missouri State Board of Education and The St. Louis American editorial board. In 2016 and 2017, he was awarded Best Serious Columnist for all of the state’s large weeklies by the MO Press Association.

She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard really bad things. Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me –until she got fired!”

She claims to have realized only recently that Trump is a “racist, misogynist and bigot.”

Yet she heard his bigoted attacks on Latino immigrants and still went to work for his campaign. She heard his misogynistic rant about how he sexually assaulted women and still took a job in his administration. She heard his many appeals to white racial grievance and still vigorously defended him, even after Charlottesville.

So no, I’m not inclined to believe anything she claims without documentary evidence to back it up. But the tapes and the documents have not been disputed. Omarosa may not have obtained them honorably, but the old saying is true: There is no honor among thieves. We don’t know what else might be in the conversations with Trump that lawyer Michael Cohen taped. We don’t know how many other recordings Omarosa might have made.

What we do know is why people in Trump’s orbit feel they need such insurance: Dishonor and disloyalty start at the top.

The competence test

The race between Wesley Bell and Bob McCulloch was not unlike many political races that involve African-American candidates facing white American incumbents. The argument is that because the black candidate does not have “as much experience” they are not competent, or that because of early career mistakes they cannot cut the mustard. This standard seems to emerge in political campaigns, as if politics and the collective conscience of the voters do not matter. In the case of Bell and McCulloch, the will of the people was clearly demonstrated by the results.

So where was the “competence standard” with our current president? Or with Eric Greitens?

Once upon a time the young prosecutor Bob McCulloch was given the chance to demonstrate what kind of prosecuting attorney he would become. That same chance should now be given to Wesley Bell. It’s a fair request for each of us to ask ourselves: “Am I color-blind when I apply the competence test? Do I apply it with people of color and women more than I apply it to others?”

Let’s celebrate the significance of this election and give Wesley Bell a chance.

Cecilia Nadal, Via email

Wesley’s wake-up call

While Wesley Bell’s victory may come as a shock to many around the country, it’s no surprise to the Color Of Change PAC or to many in the black community. This ousting of a 27-year incumbent shows

the country what black voters have demonstrated for decades – that we demand to be heard and that we will make criminal justice reform a ballot-box issue in 2018 and beyond. Bell campaigned on a platform of community safety and fair justice that resonated with the voters of St. Louis County. He promised to fight mass incarceration, eliminate wrongful convictions, and bring transparency and community trust to a Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

that for too long has stood in the way of justice. Nearly four years to the day of Michael Brown’s murder in Ferguson, the voters of St. Louis County made clear that they would no longer accept the status quo, and elected Wesley Bell. Prosecutors around the nation should hear that as a wake-up call.

Rashad Robinson, spokesperson Color Of Change PAC Via email

Letters to the editor

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Columnist Mike Jones

Photo by Wiley Price

Wesley Bell greeted a supporter at the polls on election day, August 7.

Beyond the bubbles

The Bubble Bus was a crowd favorite at the 24:1 Beyond the Backpack event, held Saturday, August 4 at Normandy High School.

Free WeatherReady Fest at Science Center

The National Weather Association is holding its annual conference in St. Louis this year, and it starts with WeatherReady Fest at the Saint Louis Science Center on Saturday, August 25. WeatherReady Fest is a free event for kids and families who might have interest in weather.

“I’m the National Weather Association’s first black president and my conference theme is Diversity, so I’m particularly interested in seeing our kids get involved in science,” said Alan Sealls, association president.

“The event is great for little kids, but it’s also excellent for middle and high school students who can network and interact with professional meteorologists from TV, academia, research, and private industry. Whether they might have an interest in stormchasing or forecasting, it’s all about exposing them to fields they might not otherwise consider.”

For free ticket registration for WeatherReady Fest, visit https://tinyurl.com/y7vjnp5t. For more information, visit http://nwas.org/ or http://weatherreadyfest.com.

Clean Sweep in East St. Louis on September 29

Clean Sweep is moving to East St. Louis on Saturday, September 29. Clean Sweep is a partnership between Better Family Life, the Regional Business Council (RBC), some of the region’s top construction companies and neighborhood residents in some of the metropolitan areas hardest-hit neighborhoods.

The last Saturday of each month since June, Clean Sweep has waged war on vacant building, trash, overgrowth, litter, derelict cars and has brought new life, and employment opportunities to residents in these neighborhoods. The effort has demolished some 45 structures, cleared over 100 miles of alleys, cut down over 75 over grown trees and bushes, and created over 10 full-time jobs for residents of the neighborhoods targeted.

Individuals interested in volunteer opportunities for the East St. Louis Clean Sweep on September 29 should contact the East St. Louis Mayor Jackson-Hicks’ office at 618-482-6601.

Where are we with the Ferguson Commission’s calls to action?

By Rebeccah Bennett For The St. Louis American

The need and desire for social change are thick in the air. We are witnessing across the nation a demand for racial justice, but it is butting up against old ways of behaving that won’t go without a fight.

As a city and region, our hearts are beating in time with those around the county who are facing the same struggles we’re facing around educational inequality, real wage losses, persistent segregation, mass incarceration and disheartening health disparities that endanger people of color. Though despair has set in for many, we as a region have options. Now, more than ever, we must choose to move forward in ways that benefit both those most harmed by structural racism and the region as a whole.

Following the killing of Michael Brown on August 9, 2014, we as a region were called to shift. The Ferguson Commission, an investigative body appointed by then-Missouri Governor Jay Nixon in response to a largely youth-led uprising, was launched to do a “thorough, wide-ranging and unflinching study of the social and economic conditions that impede progress, equality and safety in the St. Louis region,” and “to examine the underlying causes of these conditions including poverty, education, governance, and law enforcement.”

In September of 2015, the commission released its landmark report, “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity.” Its recommendations centered the insights and findings of 3,000 community members and stakeholders who volunteered close to 30,000 hours over 10 months.

The report identified a total of 189 calls to action, with 47 areas identified as priorities due to the urgent, unflinching, and transformative potential of the action. The commission’s report was and is more than a policy change document – it is a living roadmap for our region to follow. Now Forward Through Ferguson (FTF), the organization created to carry on the legacy of the Ferguson Commission and named for the report, has released the “State of the Report: Tracking the Ferguson Commission Calls to Action.” This document is a community accountability tool that investigates implementation of the Commission’s 47 signature priorities. Three years later, only five of the 47 have been achieved. The “State of the Report” reveals that while we have made some progress, we have yet to tip the scales towards justice due to a lack of robust investment in racial equity and hostile state politics.

As co-chair of FTF, I can tell you that the report’s findings come as no surprise. Lasting change rarely comes quickly or easily. But this does not negate that there is increased movement among individuals and institutions to ensure that life outcomes in our region are not predictable based on race. St. Louis has long been at the center of systemic racism and for that same reason, we are poised to be a national leader for achieving equity. There is a growing understanding of the moral and economic imperative of racial equity for a thriving region. We must have the courage to dream of a region more just than our own and the conviction to make it a reality.

This is progress – incremental and imperfect, but hard-won.

Download “State of the Report: Tracking the Ferguson Commission Calls to Action” at https://forwardthroughferguson.org/stateofthereport/

Rebeccah Bennett

Photo by Bridjes O’Neil

Continued from A1

questioned the circumstances of Payton’s death. Along with members of Close the Workhouse, they advocated for the shutdown of the jail due to poor conditions and what they see as the jail’s systemic oppression of black people.

“Louis, like too many people, has suffered and died inside the Workhouse, and it needs to be shut down,” said Janice Washington, sister of Payton. “We want justice for Louis, and we don’t want any more families to have to go through this.”

Activists have questioned the safety of the conditions for years now. Last summer, inmates told the world that they lacked air conditioning in the extreme heat in a viral video, which led to large protests outside the jail and eventually to the installation of air conditioning. Problems with rats and mold, however, still remained inside the jail, according to inmates. A 2017 lawsuit against the jail cited those same concerns. Staff have admitted that they are understaffed, and that healthcare provisions inside the Workhouse is limited.

McSPADDEN

Continued from A1

Brown after he had been tragically killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson,” said Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump as he introduced McSpadden. “I met his mother Lezley McSpadden who was completely heartbroken, completely devastated, and her heart was full of pain.”

Crump, who made a name for himself as a civil rights attorney when he represented the family of Trayvon Martin in 2012, flew in from his home base in Tallahassee, Florida to be with McSpadden as she

Payton is the second known person to die inside the Workhouse this year, after officials found 30-year-old Andre Jones hanging from a bed sheet in an apparent suicide last May. Out of a relatively small jail population – as of last summer, there were approximately 700 inmates, although the number varies – two deaths in only a few months is concerning. Over 90 percent of those in the Workhouse are pretrial detainees, meaning they are incarcerated only because they are unable to pay bail, according to Close the Workhouse. Louis Payton was one of those detainees, and never got his day in court before his collapse and death in the Workhouse.

“The Workhouse is irredeemable,” Inez Bordeaux, Close the Workhouse campaign member, said at the press conference. “It is not fit for human beings and needs to be permanently closed. Louis’ death exposes St. Louis city’s ugly side – their disregard for black men and black families. We will not stand for any of that.”

Mayor Lyda Krewson said the city is making strides towards making the jail more livable, and that some portion of the funds from the recently passed Proposition 1 will go towards upgrades at the facility.

announced her foray into electoral politics.

“Four years later, she comes to transform her pain to power,” Crump said.

McSpadden was poised and stoic as she stood next to Crump – until she had to relive the moment that inspired her next chapter.

“Almost four years ago to this day, I ran down this very street – and my son was covered with a sheet,” McSpadden said. Her voice trembled. Her hands shook. She tried to catch the tears before they fell. “It broke me, you know. It brought me to my knees. It made me feel crippled – as if I could do nothing else.” She quickly regrouped.

“Over the past 12 months, the city’s jail population has decreased 12 percent, mostly from the Medium Security Institution,” Krewson’s spokesperson said in a statement. “We are also continually looking for ways to keep the facilities up to date.”

by

Close the Workhouse advocates, however, said that this will not be enough for the families of people like Louis Payton.

“‘Close the Workhouse’ is our central demand,” said Michelle Higgins, lead organizer of the Close the Workhouse campaign. “The Payton family, we’ve never asked, ‘Can you guys say this?’ but they have felt deeply that that is part of what they need in terms of justice for Louis.”

n “They disrespected an entire community, disregarded us. And when I’m elected, they will learn to respect us.”

– Lezley McSpadden

“As time went on and I stayed surrounded by support and motivational people who didn’t give up the fight, I learned to walk again,” McSpadden said. “This is one of my first steps – running for Ferguson City Council in 2019.”

McSpadden said if elected she will focus on community policing, economic equality

and access to quality healthcare. “We know that the community and the police, that bridge has been burned – and I want to work on rebuilding it,” McSpadden said. She said she knows many people will wonder what makes her qualified for office.

“Because I watched my son lay in that very spot where those trails of bears are – that

She met members of the Payton family at a block party that ActionSTL, the black-led organization responsible for the #ByeBob campaign, hosted.

“Louis has a very big family,” Higgins said. “He was very dearly loved.”

makeshift memorial – for four and a half hours,” McSpadden said. “They disrespected an entire community, disregarded us. And when I’m elected, they will learn to respect us.”

She then took a few questions from the media – including the petition to Missouri Governor Mike Parson to reopen the case surrounding her son’s death.

“We need to stop letting people bow out gracefully,” McSpadden said, referring to outgoing St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch, “They hang us out to dry naked – while they get severance, pension and live happily ever after.”

McSpadden admitted she

After receiving the news of their loved one’s death, the family approached ActionSTL and the ArchCity Defenders for help and became part of the Close the Workhouse campaign. They agree that renovations on the workhouse aren’t enough: The jail must be closed for good.

was thrilled to see McCulloch voted out of office on August 7.

“For myself and so many others, it’s just like it was in 2008 when we saw our president elected,” McSpadden said.

“I was rooting for Wesley. He is a good friend of mine. I don’t think we will have to hold his feet to the fire. I think we will have to hold him up for the attackers that are coming for him – because you know they are coming.”

Crump said McSpadden’s announcement was historic because it honors her son’s life and legacy.

“His death will not be in vain,” Crump said.

St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams looked over the day’s lesson with 4th grader Ronnie Gomiller during the first day of class at Lexington Elementary School on Tuesday, August 14.

Photo

Wiley Price

Continued from A1

they can complete the program within three years. All books read to the child count, including books read at story times or by other people. If the child wants to read the same book over and over, repetition is important to learning, and each reading counts.

Shelly Doss’ son, Bryson, completed the program.

“He loves picking out the books himself that we’re going to read, and I just enjoy the time with my son, talking to him, asking him questions, reading a new story, and finding out what he thinks,” Doss said. “It has tremendously helped him. He is so much more advanced than a lot of the kids in his class, and I attribute it all to

BLACK

Continued from A1

skills at a historically black college. Like everybody else in the neighborhood, I listened and looked up to a kid called “Hip-hop,” who was just three years older than me. My heroes were black preachers and lawyers who died before I lived. I vacillated between which I wanted to be.

We. Are. BLACK. Men.

My story reflects and resonates with the realities of many black men and boys in my community, generation and nation. While I’ve benefited from strong Black institutions, my life chances, circumstances, outcomes and opportunities have also been impacted by the facts and (distinct) truths of prevailing narratives and stereotypes about who Black men are before we even show up in a room.

I am in no way alone. Images of the absentee father, fatherless child, criminalized teen and ignorant,

reading.”

The St. Louis County Library posted Bryson’s accomplishment on Facebook, and it went viral. “I wasn’t aware of it at all until the librarian called me several weeks later and was like, ‘Your son just got 5,000 likes,’” Doss said. Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen language skills and build vocabulary –two important tools when children begin learning to read in kindergarten.

think sometimes parents do baby talk with their kids, but I find that the more knowledge they have they’re willing to accept it.”

n “I love that it’s free and that anyone can participate.”

– Shelly Doss, on St. Louis County Library’s programs

“I think early literacy is imperative to your child’s early development,” Doss said. “If you can’t talk or articulate yourself, how are people really going to understand you? I

oversexualized adult continue to color who the world sees in us.

More than anything else, my life as a black man has been shaped by my memory and response to the loss of two black men: my father and my brother. The former may be lost to me alone. (I really don’t know.) The latter has been lost to history. I offer these memories because most black men know these two black men. The names may be different. But, how we remember them helps to form each of us.

I. Was. A. BLACK. Boy.

My last memory of my father was a trip to the corner store near Village Oaks Apartments, where I lived with my mom, brother and sisters.

I was about three years old. It was that day outside the store –after he bought me a two-liter lemon-lime soda, some candy and a watermelon – that I felt the guilt of a long good-bye. A farewell that felt final, even though I can’t remember the words. An embrace that was longer than normal because he

The greatest amount of brain growth occurs between birth and age five. In fact, by age 3, roughly 85 percent of the brain’s core structure is formed, according to a 2005 study by the High/ Scope Educational Research Foundation. Even though Bryson completed the 1,000 book challenge, they got another log book and are working toward 2,000 books before kindergarten. They are already 200 books in.

“It’s just something that we enjoy, and the librarians are always very enthusiastic about telling the kids to keep reading,” Doss said. “And it’s

knew something I didn’t. Mama says he came around after that. But, I don’t remember. I was only recently reminded of the English white woman he married and tried to make jealous of my mom. Somehow, I blocked her out. I didn’t know that growing up he actually didn’t live very far from me. I knew my mama didn’t want him. Maybe that’s why I never asked about him again. Perhaps if I did nearly 40 years wouldn’t have passed without me seeing him again.

kind of funny that it took me to have a child to say that I’ve read 1,000 books. I think that it’s an accomplishment, not only for my son, but it’s also an accomplishment for me.”

Doss participated in St. Louis County Library’s programs long before the 1,000 book challenge began. “I love that it’s free and that anyone can participate,” Doss said. “I love that you can get explore kits, and that they have a multitude of activities like Discover under the Ocean, and it’s always tied into a book and then activities. I love to meet other moms and find out what they are doing. The puppet shows, and the music, I just think it’s great. I don’t think enough people take advantage of the fact that it’s free.”

For more information, visit www.slcl.org/1000books or call (314) 241-2288.

n My heroes were black preachers and lawyers who died before I lived. I vacillated between which I wanted to be.

I. Was. A. BLACK. Boy. I was a black boy whose black mama served two terms as the president of my school’s parent-teacher association, went on strike with communications workers, served as the youth director and Baptist Training Union superintendent at my church, and helped start the Citizens Committee to Save Our Children. Mama never

went to college, but God’s favor gave her jobs that required college degrees. She’s never owned a home. But she sheltered and nurtured the dreams of two generations. I was a black boy with a hardworking black mama who I never saw flinch, once. Well, maybe only once. That time my stepdad stepped out of bounds and she yelled for all of us kids to get out of the house and threw the keys to the car out the window for us to lock ourselves in. Then, she handled it like Olivia Pope.

I. Was. A. BLACK. Teen.

I was a black teen whose youngest uncle was murdered when I was in middle school and whose older brother was killed in the same neighborhood when I was in high school. A black teen who saw the real-life image of a body lying in a pool of its own life force during the trial of the

two black men who shot my brother, two of his friends and their grandmother in a beef over a woman and a beeper (a 1990s symbol of drug territory).

These experiences opened the doors to both underage drinking and a high school guidance counselor equipped to address my challenges. I was a black teen presented with options on how to react and respond to my losses. The options were mediated through my mama’s corporate job, our borderline middle-class status and a group of friends who already had college on their lips. I could try to keep up with them or further expose myself to the neighborhood violence that claimed my brother. That neighborhood option became much more likely when I moved in with my granddad to help keep him company after my grandmother died.

I. Am. A. BLACK. Man. Saved by my BLACK MAMA.

Truth be told, this black teen was saved by his black

Bryson completed the St. Louis County Library challenge “1,000 Books before Kindergarten” and is now working toward 2,000 books.

mama from taking the lesser options in life. So, I owe all things to her. The only compensation she has requested is that I give my own children better options. So, my identity is now also rooted in my debt to her, to my wife and to my children (three of whom are black boys). Not titles. Not jobs. Not status.

I. Am. A. BLACK. Father. Above. All. Else.

Rev. Starsky D. Wilson is president & CEO of Deaconess Foundation and pastor of Saint John’s Church (The Beloved Community). Follow him at @revstarsky and @deaconessfound.

“Homegrown Black Males” is a partnership between HomeGrown STL at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and The St. Louis American, edited by Sean Joe, Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor and associate dean at the Brown School, and Chris King, managing editor of The American.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis County Library

In memory of Malik

Malik White Basketball Classic Showdown is Saturday at Cherokee Rec

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

The Malik White Basketball Classic Showdown will be held Saturday, August 18 at the Cherokee Recreation Center, 3200 S. Jefferson Ave. The doors will open at 1 p.m., and the basketball game will start at 2 p.m. This free event is open to the public.

The annual event honors Malik White, who was murdered in 2002 at the age of 16, and is organized by his mother, Romona White. “My son Malik had so much

potential, academic as well as sports,” Romona White said. “I am here to help stop black-onblack violence. I am here to stop gun violence. I am here to bring a community together.” Anthony Bonner will be the honorary celebrity basketball guest, and James Bolden (the father of Jamyla Bolden) will speak. The honoree will be Jeannette Culpepper, organizer of F.A.S.S - Families Advocating Safe Streets. “She has done so much for our St. Louis community,” White said. The entertainment will include Lightning the Poet, the Circle Red ensemble, Carlos Ball, Mamafatou-The Spirit of Angela, Marquise Moore , Gentlemen Of Vision, Ms. Rita’s The City Rec All-Stars, Kameron Huff, Cornelius Currie, Nehemiah Holley, and Sharon Bear. For more information, contact Romona White at 314755-9249.

Free book bags at Gas Mart

A solution to the NFL’s national anthem crisis

By Justin Meehan For The St. Louis American

While the nation remains divided over the playing of the national anthem at football games, other sports and entertainment events, we are being consciously diverted from more troubling issues involving our president and vastly more troubling national events that are being ignored. I am going to solve this issue right now so hopefully we can begin to address these vastly more troubling issues. Normally when I pay my money to view a sporting event, I am paying to see a sporting event of my choice, and in no way to participate in a political rally, especially during these troubling times. Regardless, the right-wing establishment and white-wing American oligarchs have made it a law that the paying public must stand and remove their hats while the national anthem is played and expect all to obey. It has become a political

litmus test designed primarily to subjugate free speech, enforce political subjugation and to create division and discord among its citizens, especially along the racial divide – and to deter citizens from other more demanding issues. So here’s the solution: The national anthem will be played at every football game and other sporting events, but the anthem will be played at the end of the game, not before. Let’s see how many political patriots stick around while avoiding being trampled by fans and their families rush out to their parked cars. Those who want to stay can stay as long as they want. They can even play it twice.

We are in the most dangerous time since the Civil War. I hardly even blame Trump. I blame our racist citizenry and spineless white Republican elected officials.

How did this happen? White Republicans have been waving the flag in our faces, hating Communism and especially Russia, insisting on lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, family values and insisting on respect for law and order ever since Nixon. White leaders have been insisting on respect for their rules of the game and getting apoplectic when any group took issue with their financial and cultural self-serving agenda. Now Republicans stand by Trump as he lies (whose gonna pay for the Wall?), breaks all the rules, as in kowtowing to Russian subversion, reduces taxes on the rich alone, runs our national debt to its highest level, wastes billions of dollars supporting MiddleEast and Russian business partners, incarcerates infant children, insults our justice

and intelligence systems, pays off his prostitutes, denigrates women, and sides with racist bigots and hate groups. Other than John McCain, spineless Republicans choose re-election over character and principles. And the extremist Christian Right with their guns (that they say they will only be removed from their cold, dead hands) grants Trump a mulligan for his adulterous debasement of women and alleged sexual perversions. So let’s play the national anthem at the end of every game and see how many choose to stick around. And, if they do it, let Trump’s friend and fellow racist Rosanne Barr sing it for them. In the meantime, let’s get busy for the upcoming November elections and hopefully Trump’s eventual impeachment proceedings (not that things would get any better with Pence).

Justin Meehan is an attorney in St. Louis.

Romona White wearing a T-shirt with images of her son, the late Malik White

Guest Columnist Justin Meehan

Photo by Wiley Price

Gas Mart’s Abe Abdel Jabbar, 26th Ward Alderman Frank Williamson and Wiley Price IV, Democratic nominee for state representative for the 84th District, passed out free book bags for area children at the Gas Mart at Delmar and Goodfellow Avenues on Saturday, August 11. The back-to-school event was part of an ongoing effort to mend wounds after Gas Mart employees Jehad Motan and Ahmed Qandeel, were seen on video kicking a black woman,

Kelli Adams, in front of the store on July 24. Both employees were fired.

Kayla Reed on the unseen work of ousting Robert #ByeBob McCulloch

Organizer Kayla Reed of WokeVoterSTL and ActionSTL submitted a guest Political EYE column on the successful grassroots effort to defeat incumbent St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch on August 7.

On a cold night in November four years ago, I sat in a small room with other activists who had been protesting for months in Ferguson and watched Bob McCulloch smugly announce that no charges would be brought against Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown. With tears in my eyes, I left the house and joined thousands in the streets to protest this injustice. I never forgot his face on the TV screen that night, nor his halfhearted apology to the family for their loss.

That night we all came to an unanimous, nearly unspoken agreement – Bob McCulloch must be removed from office, no matter the sacrifice or effort it would take.

Wesley Bell’s victory and Bob McCulloch’s defeat is a testament to the strength of grassroots organizations in St. Louis. For the last four years we have been in the streets, yes, but we have also grown our organizations, developed new organizers, and launched campaigns around issues of justice that have shifted the public narrative and changed thousands of hearts and minds.

impact on the black community and, therefore, improve the entire St. Louis region. We worked to get Kimberly Gardner elected as the circuit attorney in St. Louis, fought against voter photo ID in 2016 and Prop P in 2017, and ran an independent campaign for Tishaura Jones when she ran for St. Louis mayor. With each campaign, our small team of newly-minted organizers became more strategic and effective.

Fast forward to May 2018. With four years of anticipation under our belts – McCulloch was re-elected five days before Mike Brown was killed – we were prepared to give our all in this prosecutor’s race. As an organization, Action STL decided this was the only race on the August ballot we would focus on. We felt that it was the most important race on the ballot – and, for us, it was personal.

We began to lay the groundwork for this victory August 9, 2014 after Mike Brown was shot down in broad daylight. Despite the pushback many of us experienced towards our commitment to protest and direct action, our conviction that no black person should endure the indignities Mike Brown did meant that our moral clarity was sharper than ever. Many of us who had never organized an event or meeting in our lives would soon be catapulted into leadership.

For example, those four years ago I was working two jobs as a pharmacy technician and furniture salesperson. Now, I have founded and currently lead Action STL, a blackled grassroots organization formerly known as St. Louis Action Council. Action STL launched our first campaign, #WokeVoterSTL, in 2016. The #WokeVoterSTL campaign is committed to year-round political education, and we focus on key candidate races and ballot initiatives that we will feel will have a massive

We found out Wesley Bell – professor and Ferguson City Council member – was running in February and knew his campaign faced several challenges from the beginning. For starters, August elections typically have the lowest voter turnout. Many voters didn’t know McCulloch was on the August ballot, and most had no idea there was a viable candidate running against him. The odds were very clearly stacked in the incumbent’s favor, and that didn’t even include the fact that he already had $200,000 in the bank. But, our moral compass told us we still had a chance.

We also knew that, for some voters in the county, it didn’t matter who the challenger was. This out-loud charge to finally get Bob McCulloch out of office was going to be enough to mobilize thousands of black voters who had been directly impacted by his administration over the last three decades. So, to fully reach and represent our community, we knew our ActionSTL work needed to be geared towards ousting Bob. He was Goliath, and we were David. With this in mind, we decided on the hashtag and launched #ByeBob. In partnering with Color of Change PAC – a national political action committee dedicated to electing progressive prosecutors – we collaborated on a digital and communications strategy. This included articles, memes, infographics and videos, all made with the goal of creating an accessible conversation around this race. We needed

to incite the same anger that brought people to the streets. We had to make sure folks understood that Bob was the reason Mike didn’t get justice. The other important part of this election is that Bob underestimated us. He didn’t show up when invited to public debates. He was arrogant from the start – much like he showed himself to be in 2014 – and we used that against him.

Our #WokeVoterSTL #ByeBob work included many sites and communities not regularly noticed, let alone prioritized, for local primary races. Action STL spent April and May registering hundreds of North County high school seniors to vote. In June we focused on voter education and worked to demystify the role of the prosecutor with our

#WokeVoterSTL brunches held in Ferguson and Dellwood. We talked about cash bail, pre-trial detention, sentencing and diversion programs so that voters understood all that was at stake with this election.

In July we hit the field. The last two weeks of the election, we hired 23 canvassers and knocked on 7,000 North County doors. Our partnership with Color Of Change PAC resulted in over 50,000 text messages sent and over 2,000 calls made on Election Day.

As voting hours wound to a close, we stood in popular North County intersections urging folks to go vote as they came home from work. In the end, #ByeBob accumulated over 1 million social media impressions and voter turnout in North County more than

doubled, which was key if Wesley was going to win.

It wasn’t just #ByeBob or Action STL that made this victory possible. ActionSTL shared an office with Rev. Cassandra Gould and Missouri Faith Voices as they called thousands of voters to educate them on the race. We laughed together, held strategy meetings, fed each other and created an open door atmosphere for anyone who wanted to volunteer or learn more about the election. These efforts were multiplied by orgs like Organization for Black Struggle joining us for weekly coalition calls. We had a shared calendar and promoted each other’s events surrounding the election. We split North County up, and we all owned our part. This was

in addition to the many groups – ACLU and MomsDemand among them – working in all parts of St. Louis County to encourage voter education and voter turnout, and many of them did not endorse a candidate either.

Overall, our organizing most prominently centered on turning over a new leaf for the county, and requiring voters to step into their power and take ownership of their role in shaping the St. Louis they wanted to see. Our coalition coordination was key, and Wesley’s campaign grew stronger as the months carried on. In addition to having a talented campaign team, he built on the energy surrounding #NoOnPropA, energized local volunteers, recruited national support and, ultimately, did what he needed to do to secure victory. Now it’s time for Wesley to turn those campaign promises into reality and usher in an era of criminal justice reform. This was a huge win for St. Louis and for the national movement that was sparked after Ferguson. Ultimately, the reality is that Bob McCulloch was elected the same year I was born, which means there is an entire generation of St. Louis County residents who have only known him as prosecutor. He unjustly prosecuted thousands and consolidated Democratic Party power for decades, and we changed that on August 7. We brought down an entire institution when everyone counted us out. We defeated Goliath. This win is for all the families who were denied true justice under his tenure. This win was a testament to our power, our organizing and our commitment to justice. This win is a message that we are only getting started. This win was for Mike Brown.

Kayla Reed

Organizer Kayla Reed speaks to WokeVoterSTL troops at the Ferguson Brewing Company on July 21. Candidate Wesley Bell is taking notes to the right.

Building up health care in North County

By Sandra Jordan

will have a new $26.6 million Siteman Cancer Center outpatient facility located next to Northwest HealthCare on Graham Road in Florissant. BJC HealthCare, Siteman and Christian Hospital broke ground at the site on Tuesday, July 31. The facility is a joint project of BJC HealthCare,

n “Having the expertise of these doctors close to home removes some of the stress and, hopefully, reduces disparities.” – Sherrill Jackson, The Breakfast Club

“Christian Hospital has served as an anchor in the community for more than 100 years, and now to be another home for a Siteman Cancer Center,” said Lee Fetter, group president for BJC HealthCare. “BJC has been here through Christian Hospital, not only as a healthcare provider, but as an employer and, most importantly, as a neighbor.”

By U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill For The St. Louis American

No matter where I go in Missouri, folks are worried about healthcare. Worried about whether they’ll be able to afford a trip to the emergency room, afraid they can’t afford their prescriptions, or anxious they won’t be able to afford coverage because they’ll lose protections that prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against folks just because they’ve had the nerve to be sick before. These fears are real – and they stick with me each and every day. Folks are seeing their prescription drug costs go up and up, while at the same time the pharmaceutical companies that make the drugs saw massive windfalls from the tax bill. Missourians are seeing Attorney General Josh Hawley join with 19 other states in a lawsuit that would gut critical protections for those with pre-existing conditions. And just this month, the Trump Administration opened the floodgates for insurance companies to offer junk health insurance plans that may not cover maternity care, emergency room visits, or prescriptions – or that could charge the elderly or those who have pre-existing conditions more for their care.

n Attorney General Josh Hawley joined with 19 other states in a lawsuit that would gut critical protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

So it’s no wonder Missourians are concerned. But what’s most shocking is instead of working together to make commonsense, bipartisan fixes that would help lower costs, many politicians have instead decided to sabotage and undermine our healthcare while letting insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry run wild. But they’ve got another thing coming for them, because when it comes to protecting Missourians’ healthcare, I don’t back down and I won’t let up.

We can’t go back to the days when cancer survivors were denied coverage, or children born with health issues are overlooked by insurance companies gripped with so much greed you’d think their CEOs are green. Missourians with pre-existing conditions deserve quality healthcare just as much as anyone else.

To get healthcare under control, we’ve got to start with basics – drug prices have got to come down. That’s why I’ve fought to pass into law my bipartisan bill to bring more competition to generic drugs.

Skyrocketing drug costs are also hurting Missouri’s seniors and costing Medicare billions more than is necessary. A report I released last week found that Medicare could save nearly $3 billion in a single year if we allowed the government to negotiate drug prices. When we don’t allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices we’re giving Big Pharma a big payout at the expense of working Missourians.

There are a lot of problems facing our healthcare system right now,

Of The St.

SITEMAN

Continued from A10

During the ceremony, Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, Siteman Cancer Center director and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, said the groundbreaking is culminating on the building of relationships that Siteman Cancer Center has had with this community.

“We are building on the work of people like Dr. Arnold Bullock, who for years has been coming up here, doing health fairs, doing screenings, prostate cancer screenings, lectures; building on Lannis Hall’s work with St. Louis American and developing minority accrual to our clinical trials; people like Melody Goodman, who developed the Community Fellows program – the only one like it in the country; people like Vetta Thompson, Bettina Drake, Amy James – who have been out here doing outreach and education programs; Matt Kruger, Graham Colditz and many, many others.”

Multidisciplinary care teams at Siteman include radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and surgeons, as well as dietitians, psychologists, nurses and other staff. Siteman also offers access to 500 clinical trials evaluating innovative cancer therapies, which often are not available elsewhere in the region.

Rick Stevens, president of

Christian Hospital, said they broke ground on the same site 43 years ago for Christian Hospital Northwest, and broke ground 15 years ago on this site for its replacement, Northwest Healthcare.

“As we listened to the community and address healthcare delivery’s shift to outpatient services, Northwest Healthcare continues today to serve as a successful model for outpatient diagnostic and emergency services,” Stevens said. “It was a welcome

milestone last July when Siteman Cancer Center opened at Christian Hospital. Since that time, we’ve been looking forward to this new gathering today to break ground on our new world-class, $26.3 million Siteman Cancer Center on this campus.”

New technology available at the North County Siteman satellite will include a linear accelerator, a machine that uses electricity to form a stream of fast-moving subatomic particles. This

creates high-energy radiation that is used to treat cancer. A computed tomography, or CT scanner, combines multiple X-ray images of the internal anatomy, so tumors or other abnormalities can be visualized.

“As too many of us know, fighting cancer takes so much of our patient focus, so much of our family and friends’ attention,” said Sherrill Jackson, founder and president of the breast cancer survivor and support network, The

Breakfast Club. “Having the expertise of these doctors close to home removes some of the stress and, hopefully, reduces disparities. Barriers such as transportation, parking, keeping appointments could be significantly reduced. It’s reassuring to know you will receive the same excellent care without driving 15 miles away to the Barnes campus.

Very soon, that care will be offered in a beautiful, new building with the latest medical equipment, right here in our

own community.”

The design of the new facility is patient-centered and will include a family lounge with a fireplace, a conference room that also will serve as a community room for social events, a healing garden donated by the Christian Hospital Foundation, and paintings by noted local artists Cbabi Bayoc and Jessica Hitchcock.

The grand opening for the new Siteman North location is expected in December 2019.

State senators applaud Diabetes Solution Center and Helpline

American staff

State Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls (D-Kansas City) and state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) applaud Eli Lilly and Company for the establishment of its new Lilly Diabetes Solution Center and Helpline. This new venture will focus on helping individuals who are unable to pay for the life-saving insulin needed to control their diabetes.

Through a full suite of services, the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center aims to significantly lower and cap

the high, monthly out-ofpocket costs for some of their customers who use Lilly insulin products such as Humalog and Humulin. The new solution center and helpline will be staffed with employees who will review each individual’s personal circumstances and work to identify low-cost options for vital, life-saving insulin products.

“According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects more than 30 million Americans, and it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States,” Curls

said. “By providing early detection and access to lifesaving insulin, I believe the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center provides patients with an opportunity to control the symptoms of their diabetes so they can live healthy and fulfilled lives.”

Nasheed noted that studies have shown that African Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes in comparison to the general public.

“I believe this lifesaving resource will make an immediate impact in my community, as well as the

cities and towns across the Show-Me State,” Nasheed said. “I am thankful Eli Lilly and Company has opened this life-saving center, and I look forward to working with their representatives to ensure my constituents, who suffer from diabetes, receive the insulin they need to live healthy and happy lives.”

Services offered through the helpline are available in English, Spanish and several other languages. The helpline offers numerous solutions for individuals searching for insulin, including: point-of-

sale savings, information on accessing insulin through free clinics and immediate support surrounding insulin needs. Individuals searching for lowcost insulin options can contact the solution center and helpline Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. by dialing (833) 808-1234. For more information, visit www.lilly.com/ diabetessolutioncenter.

YMCA hosts ‘Something for Everyone Fair’ August 22

American staff

The Monsanto YMCA will host its 5th Something For Everything Fair on Wednesday, August 22, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 5555 Page Blvd. in St. Louis. The focus of the Fair is to provide awareness and assistance to eligible St. Louisans for social and health services. Representatives from over 30 agencies will screen and register attendees for local, state and federal programs. Agency participants include CLAIM, the Missouri State Health Insurance Assistance Program. CLAIM representatives will be available to answer questions on Medicare and related services, including the Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LIS) and the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). Visitors will be able to discuss their eligibility with representatives and apply on-site if they qualify for assistance. CLAIM services are free, and confidential.

Healthcare agencies will provide free screenings for glaucoma, diabetes and perform blood pressure

McCASKILL

Continued from A10

or next month’s doctor’s visit And that’s why I won’t stop fighting to make sure Missourians get a fair deal—quality care they deserve at a price that they can afford. Taking care of each other should never be a partisan issue, and I’ll keep working with whomever I can to ease those fears and worries.

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is the senior senator from Missouri.

checks. Representatives from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Memory and Aging, and the Social Security Administration will also be present.

“The whole concept of the Something For Everything Fair is to bring agency representatives to the community most in need of health and social services,” fair organizer Mildred Boyd said. “Too often people need assistance, but don’t have the means or the knowledge of where to go or whom to call.”

TRAIL

Boyd added that one of the reasons the fair draws over 100 people annually is because the YMCA offers convenience and familiarity to residents.

“This is a one-stop neighborhood event that benefits the community and the agencies that serve them. We even have a person who trains fork-lift drivers,” Boyd said.

“We welcome everyone – no one has to pre-register – all they have to do is show up.”

The Something for Everyone Fair is free and open to the public. YMCA membership is not required.

n The new trail features four separate educational and nature-themed children’s play stations, plus a variety of adult exercise equipment, benches and new landscaping.

Continued from A10 currently raising funds for the construction of two additional family fitness trails at St. Louis County parks in South County and West County in the coming year. Trails were identified as the top priority for new investment in the County’s parks by residents surveyed in the Vision 2030 Master Plan currently being developed by St. Louis County Parks. For more information on the St. Louis County Parks Foundation, visit www. stlcountyparksfoundation.org.

Spanish Lake Park is located at 12500 Spanish Pond Road in Spanish Lake. It features two lakes, a series of hiking and biking trails, two playgrounds, tennis courts and other recreational amenities. Funded in part by a $50,000 grant from the Gateway Foundation, the Family Fitness Trail is the first in a planned series of new privately funded recreational amenities and improvement projects in various St. Louis County parks to be built by the St. Louis County Parks Foundation through partnerships with corporations, non-profit organizations and individuals. The St. Louis County Parks Foundation is a public/

private partnership started in 2015 to better connect people to their parks and bridge the gap between the public funds available and the additional money needed to care for, restore and enhance all St. Louis County parks. The foundation plans is

BJC HealthCare, Siteman Cancer Center, Christian Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine broke ground on a new $26.6 million Siteman outpatient facility next to Northwest HealthCare on Graham Road in Florissant on Tuesday, July 31.

Shalonn “Kiki” Curls

Jamilah Nasheed

YMCA community organizer Mildred Boyd connects Ollie Dowsing with online resources.

Business

was nationally recognized by the Institute for

increase equity in entrepreneurship. The report notes that

Policy Research as

of the organizations

program participants since 2014, and of those 395 were women, 393 were people of color, and 118 were born outside of the U.S.

Closing the gender gap

BioSTL nationally recognized for increasing equity in entrepreneurship

American staff

BioSTL was nationally recognized by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) as one of the organizations making strides to increase equity in entrepreneurship in its recently released report, “Closing the Gender Gap in Patenting, Innovation and Commercialization – Programs Promoting Equity and Inclusion.”

The report profiles programs designed to increase gender diversity in patenting, innovation, and entrepreneurship in a variety of settings, including academic institutions, corporations, and government and nonprofit organizations. Drawing on a program scan and interviews of selected program leaders and participants, it describes seven programs in depth and highlights how they were developed,

College and Career Fair for veterans in ESL

Carlton McGee, Todd Gilyard and Johanna Wharton –staff members SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Veteran Upward Bound – met with Billy Nunnery, veteran and Veteran Upward Bound participant, at the program’s VetMATCH College and Career Fair on Thursday, August 9, held at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) assists with vocational/technical and other post-secondary educational options such as inspiring veterans to seek higher education, preparing veterans to obtain higher education, and assisting veterans to succeed in higher education. For more information, visit http://www. siue.edu/upward-bound/ veterans.

n Since 2002, the number of firms owned by black women has increased by over 40 percent.

their successes and lessons learned, and their results in promoting gender diversity, particularly the underrepresentation of women, including women of color, among patent holders and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and occupations.

The report notes that BioSTL’s Inclusion Initiative has had 889 program participants since 2014, and of those 395 were women, 393 were people of color, and 118 were born outside of

the U.S. The program has also completed 83 “deep assessments” of businesses and trained 94 company founders. Since 2014, Inclusion Initiative participants have raised more than $39 million in capital for their business ventures.

The report notes, BioSTL’s Inclusion Initiative plans to add the following programs: · Pipeline to Prosperity: An intentional outreach program to STEM-focused women and minority individuals interested in building viable businesses or technologies in St. Louis. This program would provide a select cohort with wraparound resources including experienced mentorship, financial support, network exposure and other network connections to ensure successful growth of STEM entities.

· Venture Capital Fellows Program: A

See BioSTL, B6

Necole Powell is the new executive director of the Christian Hospital Foundation. She has more than 20 years of fundraising experience, most recently with the Southern Illinois University Foundation, where she was charged with development for the School of Medicine, Healthcare and Simmons Cancer Institute since 2014. The Christian Hospital Foundation funds efforts such as patient care, advancing medicine and technology, community benefit programs and staff education.

John Martin was honored as a Pioneer in Education by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Martin was appointed to the State Board of Education in 2014 and served until 2017. He served as superintendent in Grandview and Kansas City Public Schools, and assistant superintendent in St. Louis Public Schools. He also was first black principal of Flynn Park Elementary School in University City.

Karen Evans joined Grace Hill has a Second Acts Encore Fellow. She is tasked with helping bridge a multi-generational gap between youth volunteers and volunteers ages 50-plus at Grace Hill. She has a master of social work and is a licensed clinical social worker. This position is made possible through a grant from the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities in partnership with Encore.org.

Andrew Glass received the 2018 Staying Power Award by Mission STL, a provider of education, employment and community projects that aim to end the cycle of poverty for families in St. Louis. He is a facilitator at Fathers’ Support Center and graduate of its Family Formation who first transformed his life by helping others while in prison, facilitating classes and activities for other inmates.

Lindsey Webster was named to the Board of Directors of FOCUS St. Louis, whose mission is to educate leaders, connect leaders and facilitate the important conversations in the St. Louis region. Webster is a school counselor at Ritenour High School, where she is the Counseling Department leader. She is a 2016 graduate of the FOCUS Emerging Leaders program and she also serves on the FOCUS Connect With Committee.

Carl Overly Jr. was named to the Rising Leaders of Color Program by Theatre Communications Group, which provides professional development and networking opportunities to early-career leaders. He has worked with numerous companies, including the Black Rep, Shakespeare Festival-STL, Theatre Nuevo, Upstream Theatre, Actor’s Studio, Unity Theater Ensemble, and is also a teaching artist with Prison Performing Arts.

On the move?

Necole Powell

Karen Evans

Carl Overly Jr.

Lindsey Webster

John Martin

Andrew Glass

BioSTL

Women’s

one

making strides to

BioSTL’s Inclusion Initiative has had 889

Photo by Patricia Merritt

Trump’s trade war is economic suicide

By Don Boudreaux

Louis American

For The St.

When President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel imports, America’s largest nail manufacturer had little choice but to raise prices. Mid Continent Nail Corporation lost 50 percent of its orders as customers opted for cheaper suppliers. Within weeks, the firm laid off 60 workers. And 200 more might lose their jobs by the end of July. If the tariff isn’t lifted, the company could fold by September. Mid Continent and its employees are early victims of Trump’s trade war. There will be many more if the president continues to raise import costs.

Since the start of the year, President Trump has announced a string of new tariffs – which penalize Americans who buy imports.

In January, he imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines. In March, he directed the U.S. Trade Representative to levy $50 billion additional tariffs on Chinese imports. In June he applied tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum. This escalation shows no sign of slowing. Trump just announced his administration is preparing to impose another $200 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, on products ranging from pickles to

refrigerators. American consumers – not foreigners – will ultimately pay the bulk of the price for these trade obstructions. Consider cars. Trump has made clear that he wants higher prices for cars coming into the nation. On the campaign trail, he promised a tariff of 35 percent on “every car, every truck, and every part manufactured in Ford’s Mexico plant that comes across the border.”

Don Boudreaux

This past March, he threatened tariffs on Europe’ automobile manufacturers. But even cars produced domestically will rise in

Moody’s upgrades STL’s airport bonds

American staff

Moody’s Investors Service upgraded airport revenue bonds for St. Louis to A2, from A3, and Outlook to Stable.

Moody’s cited the upgrade based on St. Louis Lambert International Airport’s “positive trajectory of credit metrics such as liquidity, declining leverage and enplanement growth.”

“This credit upgrade shows the continuing confidence that Moody’s has in our management team at St. Louis Lambert International Airport,” said St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green. “The airport is in a strong financial position showing nearly three years of passenger growth, three credit upgrades and added domestic and international flights.”

Moody’s upgrade effects approximately $657 million in rated debt with Moody’s citing that debt service will incrementally improve over the near term with STL’s declining

cost structure and positive enplanement trend driving increasingly competitive cost per enplanement. The upgrade was further bolstered by rapid growth in connecting enplanements, new routes and increased flight frequencies and growth in passenger seats to the market.

For FY2018, ending in June 2018, the airport served 15,133,683 total passengers, a 5.4 percent increase over FY2017. As a whole, STL recorded a 29 percent increase in connecting enplanements for FY2018. FY2017 cost per enplanement for STL was $11.10, down from $11.89 in FY2016, or a decrease of 6.6 percent. Final FY2018 cost per enplanement statistics are still pending, but the Airport initially set the rate at $9.90. Moody’s cited that STL’s new service on WOW air, with international service to Reykjavik, Iceland, and Southwest Airlines continued

expansion of flights are performing better than initial expectations and is expected to contribute 2-3 percent year-over-year increase on O&D (local, originating passengers) enplanements.

In the first six months of CY2018, STL has served more than 7.5 million passengers, an increase of more than 403,000 passengers or 5.6 percent. The Airport has now recorded 34 straight months of passenger growth.

“STL’s rating upgrade reflects a continuous strategic focus on improving air service options for the St. Louis region, which has led to new routes and growth in connecting traffic,” said STL Director Rhonda HammNiebruegge. “That growth, coupled with increasingly competitive operational costs, has really given the airport great momentum in improving our financial sustainability.”

price thanks to the president’s trade interventions. As raw materials such as steel and aluminum rise in price, the cost of manufacturing vehicles will rise. Manufacturers pass those higher costs on to consumers. Even beer and soda manufacturers are fretting about aluminum costs. The damage extends beyond our wallets. As domestic manufacturing costs increase, the competitiveness of American producers decreases. Consider American Keg Company of Pennsylvania. Already, the company laid off a third of its workers

due to rising steel costs. Or take General Motors. The automobile giant announced it might have to lower wages and cut jobs.

The energy sector will also take a hit. Because American steel companies don’t produce the specialty pipes needed for many pipelines, new infrastructure projects will cost more – or be cancelled entirely.

Tariffs aren’t a one-way street – trading partners will hit back, imposing their own taxes on American exports. China already announced retaliatory tariffs on more than a hundred U.S. products like beef and automobiles – and has threatened to stop purchasing oil and natural gas from

America. The European Union, Canada, and Mexico plan to hit American exports like whiskey and motorcycles.

The U.S. economy is booming – but it depends on trade. Exports support 10 million U.S. jobs, imports support 16 million, and every single one of us has a life that’s full of items manufactured abroad.

Trump’s trade war means higher prices for Americans , lower margins and less revenue for U.S. firms, and worse jobs for workers. It’s economic suicide.

Donald J. Boudreaux is a professor of economics and Getchell Chair at George Mason University.

Black women are the lifeblood of the workforce

By Lottie Shackelford For The St. Louis American

As black women across the country stand together in solidarity to call attention to the injustice that is pay inequality, the fight for equal pay goes on. Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is the final day a black woman has to work in a year to earn what a white man made by December 31 of the previous year. It is shameful that this year, that day did not fall until August 7, as black women only make 63 cents to every one dollar our white male counterparts make.

Black women are not just the backbone of the Democratic Party, they are also the lifeblood of the American workforce. Today, women make up nearly half

of our country’s workforce, but since Trump took office, the pay gap for women has only widened. His dangerous policies, like the revocation of President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplace executive order, are proof positive that he and his administration don’t care about an issue that affects families across the country.

The Democratic Party is proud to stand in solidarity with black women in the workplace, and proud to fight for a level playing field for all. Democrats believe that women’s economic strength is American economic strength,

n Black women only make 63 cents to every one dollar our white male counterparts make.

and that’s why closing the gender pay gap is an issue we should all be fighting for. Black women are the core of our party, and we will not rest until all Black women and all working families receive fair and equal pay, so we can create a stronger America for all.

Lottie Shackelford, DNC Women’s Caucus chair, released this statement to commemorate Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.

Parents as Teachers nets $2.55M grant for program support

Parents as Teachers national center (PAT) received a $2.55 million grant from Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization that supports efforts to improve economic mobility for children and families in the United States.

PAT President and Chief Executive Officer Constance Gully said the grant will allow the organization to hire additional staff and build greater capacity to support the 1,300 partner organizations that deliver home visits to more than 193,000 families nationally, each year.

“This investment enables us to continue providing technical assistance and oversight of service providers to ensure that they are responsive to the needs

n “This investment enables us to continue providing technical assistance and oversight of service providers.”

– Parents as Teachers President and Chief Executive Officer Constance Gully

of their community and deliver the highest quality of services to families,” said Gully.

Parents as Teachers provides parent education and family support through home visits, offering child screenings and coaching that help parents understand their child’s development as families work towards self-sufficiency.

“We believe every child deserves a shot at moving up.” Jeff Edmondson, managing

director of Ballmer Group, said. “Parents as Teachers profoundly impacts families that face the most obstacles to improving their economic condition by ensuring parents are positioned to succeed and their children have the competencies they need to thrive.”

For more information, visit parentsasteachers.org or Twitter @NatlPAT.

Lottie Shackelford

n “The energy was incredible, but the positiveness of it all, I wish we could play in front of crowds like this every week.”

—

Tiger Woods, on St. Louis

Sports

Tiger took our town by storm and it was one fantastic ride

~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~

St. Louis should build a Gateway Junior Golf Academy

City should capitalize on global fame of PGA Championship

By Terry Beckmeyer For The St. Louis American

St. Louis should immediately capitalize on the global fame and karma of the PGA Championship with the possibility of becoming a national golf capital. I propose building a Gateway Junior Golf Academy on the underused city owned property just north of Gateway Elementary School in the NGA development sector.

n Businesses, business people and golfers would sponsor students and help in raising funds.

Aligned to other successful programs such as the PGA Jr. League, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and the Gateway Schools campus, businesses, business people and golfers would sponsor students and help in raising funds. The academy would teach golf and life lessons using ageappropriate curricula, facilities and equipment for students in grades 4-8. The facility would include buildings for year-round instruction, a very short 5-hole course for beginners, a short 7-hole course for intermediates, and a longer 9-hole advanced course combining the other two. All aspects should be age- and skill-appropriate, such as larger diameter cups, limited clubs in the bag, instructional signage and digital tutors on the course, all to encourage learning and success. Transportation would reach all areas of the city. Satellite facilities and programs to involve at-risk and special needs children should be included. Parent involvement would be central. Future locations and champion-caliber golf teams at city public high schools would follow. Let’s get the ball rolling today for a Gateway Junior Golf Academy.

From The easT side

By Maurice Scott, Jr.

Metro East standouts to watch

Knight, Wallace-Simms and Coldon will have major impacts on the ‘618’ side

During the first two weeks of August, I have been taking a look at some of the top players from the metro east who that have been excelling at the collegiate level around the country.

Here are three more players from the “618” area code who will have major impacts with their respective teams this season.

James Knight, Linebacker, University of Illinois

one of the top linebackers in the conference during the 2018 season. “I learned an awful lot about the quickness and strength at this level last season,” Knight said. “I feel as though I had a great spring camp and I’m ready to be a part of this winning process that’s about to happen here under Coach Lovie Smith here at Illinois.”

Tre’Vour WallaceSimms, Right Guard, Missouri

The 5’10” 215-pound linebacker from East St. Louis got his first start last season as a true freshman against Big Ten power Wisconsin. In addition, Knight played in 12 games with a breakout performance against Big Ten champion Ohio State.

Knight is also a B+ student in the classroom and he has the desire and determination to be

The 6’5,” 340-pound lineman started 13 games for the Tigers’ very potent offensive attack. He quickly emerged as one of the top offensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference.

“Tre’Vour, if he stays healthy has an opportunity to be one of the best linemen to play at Missouri,” said former Mizzou standout lineman

Howard Richards, who played for the Dallas Cowboys. Wallace-Simms earned the prestigious Iron Man Award last season by the Tigers’ coaching staff, playing the most snaps and never leaving the field for Mizzou’s offense.

Tre’Vour is an excellent student and he has the work ethic needed on and off the field to reach his potential. In

Lincoln in the early 1980s. Look out this season for the Missouri Tigers’ Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms. The coaches of the SEC are already taking notice of this potential superstar.

C.J. Coldon, Cornerback, Wyoming His parents grew up in the tough south end of East St. Louis. His father, Charles

Tiger Woods follows through with a swing during the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Cub. Woods went on to finish runner-up to winner Brooks Kowpka.

Former East St. Louis standout James Knight heads into his sophomore year at the University of Illinois as one of the top young linebackers in the Big Ten Conference.

Photo by Wiley Price

Maurice Scott

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Tiger took our town by storm and it was one fantastic ride

I’ve been to Bellerive Country Cub all of one time in my life.

Ozzie Smith held a press conference there the morning after his selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame was announced in 2002. I wish I returned on Sunday for the final round of the 100th PGA Championship.

As Tiger Woods sank a birdie putt at No. 18, pumped his fist and the crowd roared, I got misty eyed. Woods would finish second to Brooks Koepka, but his 64 on Sunday and the energy it brought to Bellerive and 5.5 million television viewers was incredible.

As Woods crossed an elevated walkway to the clubhouse to sign his score card, the camera panned out to capture the thousands of fans wildly cheering him. It wasn’t like the old days. It was a new day.

Woods might not ever capture that 15th major tournament, but this second-place finish truly put him back in the hunt. He held a final round lead last month at The Open in Scotland, but somehow Sunday’s performance seemed more impressive.

After two holes of the 72-hole tournament, Woods was three-over par. For the first nine holes on Sunday he flirted with disaster – yet he kept charging. The back nine, where he found struggles for three days, brought out the best golf we’ve seen from Woods in years.

Koepka’s 16-under made him the PGA Champion. Woods’ 14-under allowed us to look back and remember the young Tiger. It also proved this guy is far from finished as a threat to win many more golf tournaments.

Let’s go back to that bridge. Woods was interviewed on CBS, and he said the St. Louis crowd helped him throughout a challenging and thrilling weekend.

“I played hard. It was a bit of a struggle to find my game today. I was hanging in there, just grinding it out and trying to make as many birdies as possible,” he said after posting the lowest final round score in a major in his storied career.

“The fans were so positive all week. I can’t thank them enough for what they were saying out there and what it meant to me as a player … coming back trying to win a major championship again. I’m just so thankful to be here.” The St. Louis area was thankful to host your performance, Tiger.

The sand trap Ok, it was a fantastic weekend. But let’s not make it out to be more than it was. The event was far from free and it was held at an exclusive country club in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the state.

Mike DeCola, president and CEO of HBM Holdings and the tournament’s general chairman, told the Post-Dispatch, “One of the reasons I took this job is that I wanted the opportunity to show the world the other side of St. Louis.”

“We have some problems in this town that manifested them-

selves maybe in some unattractive ways, but that weren’t unjustified.

“But there’s another side to St. Louis, too. The corporate response, the responses to some of the incidents that have happened in our area are under the radar screen. Everyone wanted to focus on the bad things that happened. No one has focused on the great way our community responded to deal with the underlying causes. … It’s not what’s been getting the headlines. We were trying to give the world an opportunity to see St. Louis in a better light, and I think we did that.”

Tiger Woods tees off on Sunday during the final round of the 100th PGA Championship. Woods finished as runner-up to winner Brooks Koepka.

HBCU football game between two of its best teams. The Dome at America’s Center and Busch Stadium are available and, with the right marketing, could draw a legitimate crowd.

This is not just wishful thinking on my part. Indianapolis continues to host its Circle City Classic, which is now in its 35th year. It raises more than $5,000 in scholarships and brings together the city with several events including a parade featuring marching bands from both universities.

This year’s game on Sept. 22 at Lucas Oil Stadium will feature Howard University and Bethune-Cookman. Both schools are ranked in the HBCU Preseason Top 10. Here is the ranking: 1. North Carolina A&T (20 first place votes); 2. Grambling (1); 3. Alcorn; 4. Howard; 5. BethuneCookman; 6. Southern; 7. North Carolina Central; 8. Tennessee State; 9. Prairie View A&M; 10. Hampton. Other teams that received votes are Alabama State, Norfolk State, Florida A&Ms and Alabama A&M. North Carolina A&T is the lone HBCS school ranked in the Top 20 of the FCS national preseason poll. The Aggies are No. 14. What’s Indianapolis got that St. Louis hasn’t? Let’s get a single game here between ranked HBCU powers and see where it takes us. By the way, I haven’t forgotten the Gateway Classic. The concept should be resurrected, but the entire region would have to get behind this game for it to be a success.

My question is “how has this community responded to deal with the underlying causes?”

It was a great tournament, but let’s leave it at that.

Not missing Matheny

After Monday night’s thrilling 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals, the St. Louis Cardinals had won eight of 10 games and moved to nine game over .500. the high mark for the season. This is the same team that was .500 after a loss on July 25.

In three weeks, the Cardinals went from underachievers to contenders for a wild-card slot in the playoffs. What’s the difference? The answer is obvious. Mike Matheny is long gone. Let’s go back to August

2. Following a dramatic 3-2, ninth-inning, come-from-behind win against the Colorado Rockies, Jose Martinez had this to say:

“We’re playing better. That means we’re playing together, we’re playing more like a family. The chemistry is unbelievable. Our trust is really up right now so we have to go out there and keep doing the same every day.”

None of us really know how fractured the clubhouse was under Matheny – but obviously there was something very wrong and the culture has improved to the point that the Cardinals are back in the playoff hunt.

HBCU Top 10

St. Louis has at least two venues capable of hosting a

The Reid Roundup Willie McGee’s stock as a bench coach is on the rise. He has tutored Marcel Ozuna back to a top-notch defender in the outfield. He’s assisting the young, spirited Harrison Bader and defensively challenged Jose Martinez to round out an outfield that has been a major part of the Redbirds’ turnaround… One reason there are few black head coaches in the NFL is because there are so few offensive coordinators. Most head coaches in today’s NFL have held that position before being promoted. Keep an eye on Eric Bieniemy Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator. He’s in his first year and working with rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes… I’m a fan of Dexter Fowler, but the Cardinals have been on an absolute tear since he broke his foot and went on the DL… Some North Carolina football players sold their exclusive Air Jordan shoes and are facing various suspensions. These players will miss more games than those involved in the academic scandal that ran for years at the same school. Something’s wrong… Serena Williams is dealing with postpartum emotions. Like the true champion she is, she’s sharing her story with the world… Less than 10 NFL players protested during the national anthem during the first week of preseason games. Had the NFL not formed its ridiculous policy, the controversy would be over – except for the POTUS tweets…

Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and is a New York Times contributor. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and appears monthly on “The Dave Glover Show” on 97.1 Talk.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Photo by Wiley Price

InsIde sports

With Earl Austin Jr.

Blackwell earns international gold

Whitfield girls’ basketball

standout Aijha Blackwell has become the latest St. Louis area player to win a gold medal in international competition.

The 6’0” Blackwell was a starting guard and key player for Team USA as it won the gold medal at the FIBA U18 Americas Tournament in Mexico City last week. She enjoyed a solid week of play as she averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the USA’s six victories.

Blackwell had her two best scoring outings in the first two games of the tournament. She had 13 points and four assists in a victory over Argentina and she followed up with 13 points, four rebounds and five assists in a victory over Chile.

In the gold medal game against Canada, Blackwell had eight points, four rebounds and three steals in an 84-60 victory. She knocked down a couple of key 3-pointers in the first half to spark the USA as it pulled away from Canada.

Blackwell enters her senior

year as one of the top returning players in the state of Missouri. She has led Whitfield to the Final Four of the Class 3 state tournament the past two seasons. As a junior, Blackwell averaged 24.2 points a game to lead the St. Louis metro area in scoring. She also led the Warriors to a thirdplace finish in the state tournament.

Blackwell has been recruited from coast to coast with her final list of 12 narrowed down to defending NCAA champion Notre Dame, Louisville, DePaul, Missouri, Saint Louis U., Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi State, Ohio State, and Rutgers. With Blackwell donning the red, white and blue, she joins the growing list of St. Louis area players who have participated in USA Basketball, joining former area girls’ stars Napheesa Collier (Incarnate Word), Lauryn Miller (Kirkwood), Alecia Sutton (Parkway North) and boys’ stars Jayson Tatum (Chaminade), Carte’are Gordon (Webster Groves) and Bradley

Beal (Chaminade).

Top football prospects give commitments

A couple of the area’s top prospects from the loaded Class of 2019 gave verbal commitments in the past week. Wide

receiver Maurice Massey of Kirkwood gave a pledge to the University of Missouri while defensive end MJ Anderson of CBC gave a commitment to Minnesota.

The 6’4,” 180-pound Massey is a transfer from Francis Howell North. As a

Whitfield girls basketball standout Aijha Blackwell won a gold medal at last week’s FIBA U18 Americas Tournament in Mexico City.

junior at North, he had 54 receptions for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 6’3” 270pound Anderson is back after missing his junior season with a broken leg. He will be one of the anchors of the Cadets defense that hopes to repeat as Class 6 state champions.

Continued from C5

beat as a standout athlete in football and basketball. Coldon was one of the most heralded Crusaders ever. Now, a redshirt freshman at Wyoming, Coldon

looks to make an impact in the Cowboys’ secondary this season as he earned a starting position. Coldon was part of one of the most successful runs in Belleville Althoff athletics during his career. His high school teammate was Saint Louis U. guard Jordan Goodwin. They played together on a state-championship team in basketball and a football team that advanced to the state championship game. At 6’1,” Coldon has already

been tabbed by National Football League scouts as a top young defensive back because of his athletic ability, where he might not have to play four years of college football. Stay tuned.

Scott’s Notes: A group of the Washington Park, Illinoid action team that consists of citizens and former East St. Louis athletes cleaned a huge part of the city last Saturday. Led by precinct No. 5 committeeman Ferris Williams, the

Liddell and McKinney narrow their lists

Area basketball standouts

E.J. Liddell of Belleville West and Mario McKinney of Vashon have narrowed down their big recruiting lists to a small group of finalists. The two players were teammates during the summer on the Brad Beal Elite 17U team qualified for the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July. The 6’7” Liddell has a final five group of Missouri, Illinois, Kansas State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. Liddell was voted Mr. Basketball in Illinois and the St. Louis American Co-Player of the Year after leading the Maroons to the Class 4A state championship in 2018. The 6’2” McKinney has narrowed his final list to Missouri, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Auburn, Kansas State and Virginia Commonwealth University. McKinney will be the leader for a Vashon team that should be nationally ranked this season. He enjoyed a big performance at the Nike Peach Jam, averaging 17 points a game.

Jets 15U close out summer with two titles

The Southwest Illinois Jets 15U closed out the summer grassroots season with a couple of championships in back to back weeks. The Jets won the championship at the NY2LA Next Level in Mequon, Wisconsin, then followed up by winning the Sunflower Showcase Recruit Looks Tournament in Shawnee, Kansas. The members of the team are (in alphabetical order): Ethyn Brown (Althoff), JaMarcus Gary (Alton), Tommy Grafe (Belleville West), Dylan Harkins (Mt. Vernon), Jalil Roundtree (Edwardsville), A.J. Smith (Metro East Lutheran), Keith Smith (Alton), Caleb Valentine (SLUH), Brennan Weller (Edwardsville), Sam Yeager (Troy). The head coach is Anthony Smith.

manpower when often they are criticized for doing bad things in the Washington Park area.

Earl Austin Jr.

Coldon was a standout athlete at East Side as well. Young

C.J. chose Belleville Althoff as his high school choice and he didn’t miss a

group of former Flyer athletes refurbished an area that many of the elderly had complained

Corporate, non-profit volunteers to build school playground

On Saturday, August 18, volunteers from the Pacific Life Foundation, Edward Jones, Riverview Gardens School District, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and the community will join KaBOOM! to transform an empty site into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground in just six hours at Highland Elementary School, 174 Shepley Dr., in Riverview Gardens School District.

This past May, club members drew their dream playground. The playground was designed based off their drawings and includes a triple racer slide, monorail and lily pods. It will provide more than 400 kids in St. Louis with a safe place to play. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served over 9 million kids

BioSTL

continued from page B1

competitive program that offers select individuals the opportunity to develop and grow their expertise as analysts within BioGenerator, the investment arm of BioSTL, under the supervision of professional fund managers. This program would provide Fellows with strategic training skills and real-life investment experience.

To date, BioSTL’s Inclusion Initiative has received nine national best practice recognitions. In 2017,

JPMorgan Chase and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) recognized BioSTL as a model for regional industry cluster building in their Building Strong Clusters for Strong Urban Economies report, highlighting the fact that BioSTL has made inclusion a central part of its growth strategy.

Women owned one in five (20.8 percent) businesses with employees in the United States in 2015, which reflects growth of 25 percent since 1997, when women owned only 16.8 percent of firms with employees. The number of women-owned businesses grew at nearly four times the rate of

men-owned firms over the last two decades.

Women of color have been driving much of this growth. Since 2002, the number of firms owned by Hispanic women has increased by over 77 percent, and the number of firms owned by black women has increased by over 40 percent. In the same period, the share of businesses owned by white women grew by 8.9 percent.

For more information on BioSTL’s Inclusion Initiative, visit http://www.biostl.org/ about/inclusion/. Read the full report at https://tinyurl.com/ yd8vr8mu.

Financial Focus

By Lucien C. Blackwell

How can you help your kids pay for college?

It’s

trade school or graduate school expenses. Withdrawals for expenses other than qualified education expenditures may be subject to federal, state and penalty taxes on the earnings portion of your plan. (However, tax issues for 529 savings plans can be complex, so please consult your tax advisor before investing.) You can generally invest in

Highland Elementary School

Principal Shaun Jones with two students

Blues at the Arch is alright Mathews-Dickey to bring the funk

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

After focusing on R&B and soul for prior years with performances by Chaka Khan, El DeBarge, Brian McKnight and Ginuwine, Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club is tapping into the funk on Saturday (Aug. 18) when their 2018 Martin L. Mathews Awards Program & Benefit Concert plays the Fox Theatre.

Veteran funk band Cameo will headline the Centene-sponsored program that is part of the organization’s 3rd Annual Family Reunion festivities.

“It’s going to be a big celebration with and

Students connect dots between rap, building design at County Library hosted camp

By Kenya Vaughn OF The St. Louis American

“My name is Victor, and my rap name is Chocolate Cake.” Others could not help but laugh as the boy, in a circle of other middle schoolers, introduced himself to St. Louis rap star Howard “Chingy” Bailey and other guests for the first of the two-part culmination of HipHop Architecture Camp. After learning about design and incorporating the musical genre into building communities, Chocolate Cake joined Sprinkles, Lion (King of

the Jungle), Lil Wolf and about two dozen other young people as participants. About half of them were ready to bust a rhyme. They worked on the lyrics over the course of the week-long camp, held at the Natural Bridge Branch of St. Louis County Library two weeks ago. Over an original beat made just for their camp, they would flow in the hopes of leaving an impression on the four judges – which included Chingy and fellow rapper M.C. The winning lyricists would have their rhymes featured on the rap video they were shooting at Busch Stadium. Before the competition, the students had plenty of questions for Chingy. They wanted to know what it was like to attend the BET Awards. They were curious as to inspired him to make music. They wanted to know how old he was when he first started performing. After being inspired by Michael Jackson, Chingy was 12 years old when he started pursuing a career

Zac Harmon helped kick off the 2018 Blues at the Arch summer concert series on Friday, August 3. The series continues each Friday in August. Next week’s show will feature Skeet Rodgers and the Inner City Blues Band with Dexter Allen. The concerts conclude with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and special guest The

3rd season of August concert series continues at newly renovated grounds

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

With the type of guitar riffs that show the direct lineage between the blues and rock and roll, Zac Harmon had the audience’s undivided attention for the 2018 season opener of Blues At the Arch on Friday, August 3.

Since its inception three years ago, the summer concert series that reminds St. Louis of its rich musical history has enjoyed a steady stream of guests.

But this year, things got off to a very special start. As Harmon played, many of the guests sat surrounded by the newly remodeled Arch grounds for the first time.

The crowd was diverse in every way imaginable as they grooved to the concert, presented in partnership between the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the National Blues Museum, and the National Park Service. There were signs and arrows pointing guests to the concert, but they need only follow the sound of the howling guitar.

n “If music is medicine, then we are doctors of the blues.”

- Zac Harmon

“St. Louis is holy ground for the blues,” Harmon said as he paid homage to those who helped develop the region’s signature style of the genre and shouted out Marquise Knox as “the reigning prince of St. Louis Blues.”

Knox proved himself worthy of the Harmon’s description when he headlined the following week with featured performer Keeshea Pratt.

“You better play Marquise,” several in the audience yelled out as Knox nodded his head while working down the entire fingerboard of the guitar – and back again.

Just like in the two years prior, the lineup shows the broad range of intergenerational talent. Harmon is a seasoned bluesman who returned to his musical first love after making a name for himself as an R&B songwriter and musician with credits that include Evelyn “Champagne” King, Freddie Jackson, The Whispers, Freddie Jackson,

Sisters United

Jeremiah Johnson Band.

Photo by Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio Architect and camp founder Michael Ford works with Chingy on the students’ rap song.

Rising hip-hop star Ty Dolla $ign proved why he’s one to watch with his performance as part of the Endless Summer II Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. With Bay Area rapper G-Eazy as the headliner, the show also featured Lil Uzi Vert, YBN Nahmir and P-Lo. Photo by Lawrence Bryant

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., Aug. 17, 8 p.m., Ideal Barbershop and Five Star Empire present R. Kelly: The Memory Lane Tour. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Pkwy., 63303. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m., The Alton Little Theatre Performers present A Magical Night of Disney –Concert Celebration. Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater, 1 Henry St., Alton, IL. 62002. For more information, visit www.metrtotix.com.

Wed., Aug. 22, 8 p.m., Live Nation presents Lil Baby –Harder Than Ever Tour. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Aug. 24, 8 p.m., Stifel Theatre welcomes Earth, Wind & Fire., 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Wed., Aug. 29, 8 p.m., .Zack presents Sy Smith 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, 23rd Annual Big Muddy Blues Festival. Performances by Marquise Knox, Roland Johnson, Kingdom Brothers, Skeet Rodgers & The InnerCity Blues Band, and more. Laclede’s Landing, 710 N. 2nd St., 63102. For more information, visit www. bigmuddybluesfestival.com.

Fri., Sept. 7, 5 p.m., LouFest

U. A free festival for area university students featuring local and national bands, guest speakers, and networking opportunities. Forest Park, 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www.loufest. com/loufestu.

Sept. 8 – 9, LouFest Music

Festival featuring Gary Clark Jr., Tank and the Bangas, Michael McDonald, Keyon Harrold, The Knuckles, Anita Jackson, Ptah Williams, Mo Egeston All-Stars, Tonina and more. Four stages with alternating performances, children’s stage and village, vendor area and food court. Forest Park, 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www.loufest. com.

local gigs

Thurs., Aug. 23, 8 p.m., The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch Blues Cruise with performance by Marquise Knox, 50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard., St. Louis, MO 63102. For more information, visit https://www. gatewayarch.com/experience/ riverboat-cruises/specialtycruises/

Sat., Aug. 25, 7 p.m., A Tribute to Kem and Chrisette Michele. Voce, 212 S. Tucker Blvd., 63102. For more information, visit www. PurplePass.com.

Fri., Sept. 14, 8 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Illphonics with Black Spade 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.thesheldon.org.

special events

Through August 25, St. Lou Fringe Festival. A performing arts festival showcasing theatre and dance, storytelling and spoken word, burlesque and acrobatics, visual art and. For more information, visit www. stlouisfringe.com.

Fri., Aug. 17, 5 p.m., St. Louis World’s Fare Heritage Festival. Come out for live music, food trucks, an art village, world business expo,

Kenya Vaughn recommends

and much more. Forest Park, 5595 Grand Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 12:30 p.m., Girlz 4 Life Back to School Bash. For girls kindergarten through 12th grade. Lewis and Clark Branch, St. Louis County Library, 9909 Lewis and Clark Blvd., 63136. FOr more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 1 p.m., 5th Annual St. Louis African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar. Enjoy children’s activities, health and wellness information, prizes, vendors, and more. Crown Square Plaza, 14th St. & St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 6 p.m., Rich Girls, Real Women, Inc. presents a Back 2 School Family Bowling Night. RSVP required. Tropicana Lanes, 7960 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 7 p.m., Mathews-Dickey Awards & Benefit Concert Cameo, Doug E. Fresh, and Love Jones in the Soul Funk Fest,

hosted by Darius Bradford. Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Tues., Aug. 21, 4:30 p.m., YWCA St. Louis presents the 6th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. An international men’s march to speak out against rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www. ywcastlouis.org.

Thur., Aug. 23, 11:30 a.m., The 15th Annual Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament. Norman K. Probstein Golf Course, Forest Park, 6141 Lagoon Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit www. kwamefoundation.org.

Thur., Aug. 23, 5 p.m., 28th Annual St. Louis Crisis Nursery Celebrity Waiters Night. West County Center, 80 W County Center Dr., 63130. For more information, visit crisisnurserykids.org/events.

Aug. 24 – 26, Kinloch Forever Weekend. Commemorate the City of Kinloch’s 70th Incorporation Anniversary. Weekend

Faith Miracle Temple Church presents Marvin Sapp. For more information, see COMEDY.

eventbrite.com.

Sun., Sept. 9, 10 a.m., Show Me Reptile & Exotics Show, Machinist Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd, Bridgeton, MO 63044. For more information, visit : http:// www.showmesnakes.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ showmesnakes.

comedy

Aug. 24 – 26, The Laugh Lounge presents Damon Williams. 11208 W. Florissant Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. laughloungestl.com.

Sat., Aug. 25, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre presents Bill Maher 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

literary

Thur., Aug. 16, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Michael Kench, author of Between Hope and Fear: A History of Vaccines and Human Immunity. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108.

includes a banquet, festival, and basketball tournament. For more information, call (314) 608-1340.

Fri., Aug. 24, 9:30 p.m., Grown & Sexy Roll Bounce. All proceeds go towards college bus tours, ACT/SAT prepping, and scholarships. St. Louis Skatium, 120 E. Catalan St., 63111. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 25, 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. doors) KutNup Productions presents Sync or Swim Lip Sync competition Neosoul and R&B edition, Kappa League, 500 N. Vandeventer. For more information, call (314) 5657961.

Aug. 25 – 26, International Institute’s Festival of Nations. Featuring over 40 ethnic food booths, arts and crafts, and an international shopping bazaar. Tower Grove Park, 4256 Magnolia Ave., 63116.

Aug. 26, 5 p.m., East St. Louis Heritage Festival, hosted by legendary Olympic champion Jackie JoynerKersee, Joyner-Kersee Center, East St. Louis, IL.

Tues., Aug. 28, 5:30 p.m., Community Service Public Relations Council and the Young Nonprofit Professionals host Speed Networking for Nonprofit Professionals. Llewellyn’s, 17 W. Moody Ave., 63119. For more information, visit www. csprc.org.

Sat., Sept. 1, 3 p.m., AfroBeats Summer Fest. Featuring artist’s performances, dance performance, food vendors from various cultures, etc. Blue Dine and Lounge, 5917 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.

Thur., Aug. 23, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Robert Horsey, author of Gifted. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108.

Wed., Sept. 12, 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Library hosts authors Eion Colfer, Andrew Donkin & Giovanni Rigano, authors of Illegal. Ebo must make the hazardous voyage from Ghana to Europe. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.slpl. com.

Thur., Sept. 13, 7 p.m., DeRay Mckesson signs and discusses On The Other Side of Freedom. Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.leftbank.com.

theatre

Aug. 17 – 25, Union Avenue Opera presents Lost in the Stars. The story of a black man who kills his white neighbor in 1940s apartheid South Africa. 733 Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.unionavenueopera. secure.force.com.

Sat., Aug 18, 4:30 p.m., Gordon’s Entertainment presents “Over The Rainbow Part II,” James Eagan Theatre (inside the Florissant Civic Center), For more information, visit www.florissantmo.com Fri., Aug. 31, 7 p.m., St. Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective presents Pick the City Up. Featuring hip hop, spoken word and story magic on public health issues St. Louis cares about including gun violence. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sept. 6 – 9, TLT Productions presents Voices: Sounds of America. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m., The Kranzberg Arts Foundation Resident Benefit Showcase: Labor of Love 2018. A unique evening of dance, theatre, music, and more to support rising stars and old favorites. Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Through August 19, Contemporary Art Museum 2018 Great Rivers Biennial Featuring artists Addoley Dzegede, Sarah Paulsen, and Jacob Stanley, Amy Sherald, and Claudia Comte. On view through August 19. 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108.

Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, The Art Fair at Queeny Park. Over 100 juried artists from more than 20 states. 550 Weidman Rd., 63011. For more information, visit www. artfairatqueenypark.com.

Sun., Sept. 2, 7 p.m., Forever Fly LLC presents The Art & Soul Live Exhibit. A fusion of art, music and creativity. This event features 3 levels of live bands/entertainment, live painters and interactive games. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Through September 3, Color-ism by Work/Play Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. kranzbergartscenter.org.

Sat., Sept. 8, 12 p.m., Community Arts Festival 2018. Enjoy everything from dance and film to painting and theater. Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www. communityartsfestival.com.

Through September 30, Let’s Play Ball! Field House Museum, 634 S. Broadway, 63102. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

lectures and workshops

Aug. 20 – 23, Curve the Urge. A free abstinence education program to teach youth ages 12-17 to voluntarily practice abstinence. UMSL –

MIMH, 4633 World Parkway Circle, 63121. For more information, visit www. curvetheurge.org.

Wed., Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m., Operation Hope presents a Free Credit and Money Management Workshop. 6680 Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., Aug. 22, 11 a.m., Preventing Elderly Fraud Abuse. Monsanto Family YMCA, 5555 Page Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.stlofe.org.

Sat., Aug. 25, 10 a.m., The Pink Angels Foundation presents the I’m Every Woman Leadership Conference Bernnadette Stanis, Tina Landon, Olga Korbut, and Jasmine Guy share the stage. Harris Stowe, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. pinkangelsfoundation.org.

Wed., Sept. 12, 7 p.m., Whitaker Jazz Speaks: The Crisis in Music ft. Ted Gioia. Gioia discusses disruptions that are changing — and perhaps destroying — the music infrastructure in America. St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive St., 63018. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

health

Fri., Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m., Bet on Black! Women of Color Changing the Game of Birth in St. Louis. Participate in conversations and visions from black women leaders in maternal-infant health. Jamaa Birth Village, 8 Church St., 63135. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 10 a.m., People’s Health Center Community Resource and Health Fair, 5701 Delmar Blvd.

Sat., Aug. 18, 8 a.m., Community Healing Network Preview Day. African American practitioners of yoga, meditation, and other techniques will provide demonstrations. YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center, 2711 Locust St.,

63103. For more information, visit www.ywcastl.org.

Fri., Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m., Hatz 4 Hearts Foundation presents The Pink Carpet Community Gala. A celebration of life, survivorship, and perseverance. Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Aug. 26, 8 a.m., Young Friends of the Ville presents Trap Run 5K! An infusion of hip hop music and culture into a traditional 5K walk/run event. MLK & N. Sarah St., 63113. For more information, visit www.traprunstl.com.

Sun., Sept. 16, 8 a.m., The National Children’s Cancer Society 2nd Annual Golf Classic. Proceeds will go to families that are battling childhood cancer. Stonewolf Golf Club, 1195 Stonewolf

Trail, Fairview Heights, IL. 62208. For more information, visit www.thenccs.org/golf.

spiritual

Through August 17, The Union Missionary Baptist District Association Annual Session. Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, 2854 Abner Pl., 63120. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Aug. 18, 7 p.m., Faith Miracle Temple Church presents A Night of Poetry Feat. Preston Perry, Cheneta Jones, Chris Webb, and Jackie Hill-Perry. 870 Pershall Rd., 63137. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 25, Temple of Praise Ministries presents Empowerment Day. O Fallon

Park, 4322 W. Florissant Ave., 63115. For more information, visit www.topministriesstl.org.

Aug. 20 – 24, James Lee Ward, Sr. District, Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction presents the Auxiliaries in Ministry C.O.G.I.C. Convention: Pressing Toward the Mark. Nazareth Temple COGIC, 3300 Marshall Ave., 63114. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Fri., Aug. 31, 7 p.m., Faith Miracle Temple Church presents Marvin Sapp. 870 Pershall Rd., 63137. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Sept. 8, 4 p.m., Repreievefest Gospel Concert. Feat. local artists and special guest Sam Huddleston. Proceeds will help a local homeless shelter. New Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, 7348 W. Florissant Ave., 63136. For more information, visit www.reprievewellness. org.

Sun., Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m., Arts & Faith St. Louis Eighth Annual Interfaith Concert: Great Music of Many Faiths The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.artsfaithstl.org.

Thur., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., Major! Film Screening and Q&A. A documentary that explores the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a formerly incarcerated Black transgender activist. The Stage at KDHX, 3524 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Aug. 24, 6 p.m., L. G. Reynolds Entertainment, a St. Louis based entertainment/ media company, is hosting a live taping roundtable discussion for the documentary Vanishing Kings. Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand. For more information, call (816) 665-6545.

Kenya Vaughn recommends

East St. Louis Heritage Festival, hosted by Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee. See SPECIAL EVENTS for details.

Continued from C1

K-Ci & Jo Jo and The O’Jays,

to name a few. Dylan Triplett, a 17-year-old blues and soul prodigy, opened for Harmon. The lineup usually pairs a local favorite with a nationally renowned act. Knox is an anomaly in that he fits both in the local and national space. This upcoming Friday’s show (Aug. 17) will pair local blues veteran Skeet Rodgers and the Inner City Blues Band with Dexter Allen. The 2018 series closes with another prodigy in the form of Christone “King-

fish” Ingram. Ingram was christened the heir apparent of late blues legend B.B. King before he even reached his teens. Although barely out of high school, he’s one of blues music’s brightest rising stars. He was featured on the Netflix hit series “Luke Cage,” where he played a version of “The Thrill Is Gone” that would silence anyone who might question whether the teenager is fit to fill King’s shoes. He’ll close out the 2018 Blues at the Arch season on August 24. The finale will also feature The Jeremiah Johnson Band. As he bid farewell to the audience for his encore at the season kickoff, Harmon introduced each of his bandmates

with the distinction of “doctor.”

He offered a simple explanation to the credentials he took the liberty of giving his team of musicians.

“If music is medicine, then we are doctors of the blues,” Harmon said.

Blues at the Arch continues each Friday at 6 p.m. through August 24. The concerts are held on the Arch Grounds at the North Gateway (north end of the park, near Laclede’s Landing). Local restaurants, food trucks and drink vendors will be available. For more information, visit https://www. archpark.org/events/blues-atthe-arch or call (314) 314-8812015.

from C1

FOR the entire community … alumni, members, families, volunteers and supporters,” said Mathews-Dickey President & CEO, Wendell Covington Jr. It is being labeled a Soul Funk Fest thanks to its latest headliner.

Cameo was a staple of the 1980s with hits like “Word Up,” “Candy,” “Attack Me With Your Love,” and “Single Life.”

They come to St. Louis on the heels of a residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino last year – and was among the first resident performers of the casino when it opened in 2016.

Also on the lineup for the 2018 Martin L. Mathews Awards Program & Benefit Concert is hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh. Known for his skills as a hype man, rapper and a founding father of the art of beat-boxing, Fresh is known for his ability to get crowds moving and grooving.

Local entertainment favorites The Love Jones Band will set the stage for Cameo and comedian Darius Bradford will serve as master of ceremonies.

The evening will also all spotlight individuals for their positive contributions to the community through several award categories.

Keith Griffin, owner and publisher of DELUX Magazine

and Cillah Hall, founder and publisher of Gazelle Magazine, will receive the Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine Excellence in Media & Publications Award for demonstration of excellence in the field as it relates to community involvement and engagement.

n “It’s going to be a big celebration with and FOR the entire community … alumni, members, families, volunteers and supporters.”

- Wendell Covington Jr. Mathews-Dickey President & CEO,

Chris Krehmeyer, president & CEO of Beyond Housing, will be recognized with the Martin L. Mathews Community Action Network Partner of the Year Award for efforts in creating for-profit and nonprofit community partnerships and improving the lives of families in the greater St.

Louis region. The Benjamin F. Edwards III Memorial Award will be bestowed upon Michael Lawrence, St. Louis Market president for Bank of America, for his role as an outstanding corporate collective impact partner of the Blue Chips initiative. Anastasia Stevenson, director of Project Management at Express Scripts, is to receive the Leadership & Professional Development Advocate Award. Wardell Buchanan, a MathewsDickey member and St. Mary’s High School senior and Tayler Emerson, a Mathews-Dickey member and Marquette High School senior, will share the Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

“We were able to do great things because of great people,” Mathews-Dickey cofounder Martin L. Mathews said at his 2015 retirement ceremony, which evolved into the Martin L. Mathews Awards Program & Benefit Concert.

“[Otherwise] there is no way that we could come from a shade tree to having one of the best facilities in the country.” Funds from the evening support the multifaceted initiatives of Mathews-Dickey as an organization.

“The purpose [of this event] is to raise funds to help Mathews-Dickey continue building scholar-athletes from one generation to the next who are ready for college and the global workforce,” said Covington.

And along with the purpose, comes a huge party. Soul Funk Fest, The third annual Martin L. Mathews Awards Program & Benefit Concert sponsored by the Centene Corporation will take place at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18 at The Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard. Tickets are available at fabulousfox.com and by calling Metrotix at 314534-1111. Special packages for the 5 p.m. dinner-and-show are available at mathews-dickey. com and 314-679-5232.

CAMEO

Continued

Doug E. Fresh

Love Jones

Photo by Reed Radcliff

in music – the same age as several of the camp members.

“And in 2003 I had the number one record in the country, so I’m living proof that these things can happen if you take the time to progress and keep going,” Chingy told them. “You’ll get discouraged, but still push through it.”

“Do you still get nervous,” one student asked.

“I was nervous at first, but after a while, you get used to it,” Chingy said. “I’ve performed in front of all types of crowds – from two people to 20,000 people.”

The students were up next. They would face judges and their fellow students as a captive audience.

“We’re not laughing,” said camp facilitator Mike Ford, known internationally as “The Hip Hop Architect.” “We’re motivating everybody.”

They were asked to speak on their observations growing up in St. Louis and what they want to change. Their lyrics reflected crime and blight. A few spoke of the Ferguson unrest. But each problem the student detailed was followed up with a possible solution. Several of them were nervous, but they pressed forward, even when their voices barely raised above a whisper. Some might ask what any of

this has to do with architecture. According to Ford, the answer is “everything.”

At about the same time Chingy was riding high at the top of the Billboard charts, Ford was looking for inspiration for his master’s thesis. He had the bright idea of merging hip-hop with design.

“The Greeks and the Roman architects were inspired by their culture,” Ford said. “I wanted to create based on something my culture – on something that inspired me.”

He takes vocal cadences a rhyme sequences and creates grids to build communities.

“Man, that’s dope,” Chingy said when Ford showed him samples of what he had done with the rhymes of Lupe Fiasco and Tupac. Since graduate school, he’s gone on to develop an educational model that fuses the two seemingly unrelated art

forms. He uses rap as a cultural bridge to get young people interested in architecture.

It’s what the students had learned all week. They even developed models for reimagining the North Hanley Transit Center.

“We hear all the time about the lack of black architects,” Ford told Chingy. “But we [as black people] built the pyramids and entire civilizations – and people are still trying to figure out how we did it thousands of years later.”

He’s taken the camp across the country – including Chicago, Los Angeles and his native Detroit.

The music is the soundtrack as they get excited and inspired to hopefully eventually rebuild their own neighborhoods.

“This is the future of our communities. This is the future of music. This is the future of design,” a student said in the preview for the HipHop Architecture Camp Los Angeles music video.

“We’ve got to go to work from the bottom up,” a student rapped. “That’s how we’re gonna change it up, clean it up; build it up.”

As the judges deliberated, the St. Louis camp also had a chance to see the Detroit camp’s video, “Black Bottom.” The song is about a once prominent African-American community that became a casualty of urban development.

“Black bottom, black bottom, black bottom, black bottom, black bottom,” the St. Louis camp continued to chant after the video ended.

Once the winning verses were selected, Chingy worked with the students on the prewritten chorus. They were heading to E.I. Studios to record the song that evening, and then on to Busch Stadium to make the music video.

“We’ve got a world superstar that’s ready to help y’all–to teach y’all the chorus,” a woman working with the camp told the students to get their attention.

“You ready to listen?”

“Who’s got the mic?” she asked the students to calm the chatter as they settled back in from judging in another room. “Chingy,” the students shouted back.

When he took the floor, he told them to make sure that they added the hard “r” that has become a staple of St. Louis hip-hop thanks to Chingy’s “Right Thurr” and Nelly’s “Hot in Herre.”

Once they caught the beat – and the rhythm that Chingy laid out for them, they took the hook and ran with it.

“St. Louis, we live there. Other people just don’t care. They shoot it up, they gang it up and I be like, ‘whoa there.’ We gon’ change it up, we gon’ build it up. We gon’ change it up, we gon’ build it up.”

Photo by Carolina Hidalgo/St. Louis Public Radio

Students engaged with rap star Chingy during the Hip-Hop Architecture Camp held at St. Louis County Library’s Natural Bridge Branch on Thursday, August 2.

Celebrations

Centenarian

Anniversary to the Smiths! Curtis and Naya Smith will celebrate one year of marriage on August 19. May you be blessed with many more years together! Happy Birthday to our baby girl, Amirah Muhammad, who will turn 10 on August 21. You’re the most outgoing, caring and happy kid. We want you to have the most amazing day ever. We love you! Mommy and Daddy Happy 7th birthday to Jason Holman on August 19! From your Memaw, Mother and Sister On August 19, Elders Gilbert and Geneva Summers will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary. They pastored Redemption Church and are intern pastors of Triumphant Church West. They have three boys, two girls and 12 grandchildren. To God be the glory!

School Class of 1968 will celebrate its 50 year reunion on Friday, October 12, 2018 at the Main Street Brewing Center, 6435 West Main Street, Belleville, IL. 62223. For more information contact Linda Ward Spencer (618) 830-8221 or laws50@aol.com.

Beaumont High Class of 1978 40th Reunion Extravaganza, Save the Date: October 5-7, 2018. Call or text Marietta Shegog Shelby at 314-799-5296 for further details.

East St. Louis Sr. High

Hadley Teach classes of 1962-1963 will host their Annual Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Marvin’s Park, 4003 Camellia. Hot dogs, soda and water provided. Bring chairs, family and friends! For more information, contact: Virdell Robinson Stennis 314773-8177, Ora Scott Roberts 314-222-3662, Wilhelmina Gibson Baker 314-630-9647 or Marvin Young 314-422-5757.

Northwest High Class of 1979 is planning on cruising for our 40th class reunion and would love for you to join us! Date to sail is set for July 20, 2019 and you can feel free to contact: Duane Daniels at 314-568-2057 or Howard Day at 414-698-4261 for further information. Please don’t miss the boat!

Southwest High School Longhorns would like to announce the class reunion for the classes 1985-1989, Date: September 14-16, 2018. For more information please contact Revitra Greco (314) 358-9522 or Kim Taylor (314) 369-3537.

St. Rose of Lima (Goodfellow

& Etzel, closed 1977) will host an all-class reunion on Saturday, Sept. 8, Jewel Center, 407 Dunn Rd. See www.strosereunion.com for details.

Sumner High Class of 1979 will hold its “Bulldogs Rock the Boat” BIG 4-0 Reunion Cruise, June 22-27, 2019. For further information, email your contact information to sumner1979@ymail.com or call 314-406-4309. Join our Facebook group at Sumner High Class of ‘79.

Vashon High School Class of 1973 will celebrate its 45th reunion on Saturday, August

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, 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

of

and would

for you all to contact us. Please email us at tpjgramells@aol.com for additional information. You may also RSVP and pay by going to VashonHigh1973. myevent.com. For those not on the internet, please call Terri (Bell) Johnson 314-313-2113. Vashon High School Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40th reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada Sept. 13-16, 2018. Classmates interested in attending should contact Mrs. Vickie Young at 314-707-7053.

When a wack ruins Smart, Funny and Black. Can I tell y’all how excited I was to check out Amanda Seales’ Smart, Funny and Black event Thursday night at the Delmar Hall? The first show was sold out – and word on the curb is that it was a glorious time. I walked into the late show and saw some of my favorite woke, socially conscious and influencer folks – like Montague Simmons, Charli Cooksey, Keisha Mabry and Tracie McKeown, to name a few. After running into them, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t going to have the time of my life. Well, I didn’t. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life regretting my decision to attend the second show. What? I’m not saying anything Amanda wouldn’t say – or didn’t say – over the course of the night. She was fabulous, but trust that she was frustrated beyond belief, thanks to one of the contestants of the show. Okay. It wasn’t a standup, it was in game-show form where people use black culture as the springboard for their funny. The caveat is there is a basic minimum required level of intelligence and humor necessary to make the show work – and to say that one of the contestants didn’t have it would be an absolute understatement. I want to know if he was a last-minute replacement or what ... and how she picked him. I mean, he was black …but smart and funny … not so much … okay, not at all. Amanda even checked him on his repeated references of being a dropout as part of his “comedy” stick. It went downhill from there. Part of me hopes to my soul that he was cutting up so badly out of oppositional defiance. It was a whole entire mess and the woke folks were not amused, and by woke folks, I mean Amanda Seales too. She did not hold back one bit on him. And called Nakesha from the East Side for tagging in to try and salvage things for him – as did fellow contestant, and winner by default Brandon. If “Smart Black and Funny” comes to town again, I’ll come back. But I’ll need to know who she enlists on the front end.

Return of the Black Expo. The weekend festivities formerly known as Missouri Black Expo was repackaged by the Urban League and Black Expo Founderturned Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis VP Tom Bailey this weekend at America’s Center. I can’t say that I was mad at all. The folks were up in there for the back-to-school portion of the programming Saturday morning. I’ve heard estimates that range from 10,000-15,000. And how about that anonymous shoe donor?! Folks were lined up a country mile to get a pair. Now I’m not going to name any names, but there were more than a few folks who complained about them not being stylish enough. They were quality, shoes. I really don’t see how anybody could have expected Red Bottoms or Jordans. There I said it. I only have two major notes for the Urban Expo if it returns in 2019 – and something tells me it will. When you have a panel discussion, if you need two rows for the panelists, you need to cut the panel size in half. Also, I would recommend that they add a secular artist for Saturday evening. Fred Hammond was great on Sunday – especially since I didn’t get lowkey bamboozled into a gospel play pretending to be a concert like we all did with Festival of Praise. After months, it feels so good to speak on my undelightful surprise. I know it’s not really of interest to y’all, so I won’t beat that dead horse.

A win for G -Eazy and the Endless Summer II crew. I knew that I was going to get my life when G-Eazy sang “No Limit” but everything else was pretty much up in the air when I stopped by the Endless Summer II Tour Sunday night at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. I still had a bad taste in my mouth from when Post Malone used the n-word during his set at the gentrified Super Jam and heard that G- Eazy has taken the same unforgiveable liberty before. I was prepared to make the most dramatic of exits if I heard Gerald get too comfortable. I’m so glad I didn’t have to. Just as bad though was YBN Nahmir’s little 17-year-old self, talking about drugs, guns and murder. Lil’ boy, do you even have your driver’s permit yet? I can tell by the way somebody’s sweatshirt fits whether a person and their crew are cold-blooded assassins. And that whole group looked like a black Ben Seaver (yes from “Growing Pains”) rapping about the levels they reached on Grand Theft Auto V. Other than that, the Endless Summer II Tour was quite enjoyable. Every time I see Ty Dolla $ign, he steps his game up – and he was true to form Sunday night. Folks have certain kind of feelings about Lil Uzi Vert that I feel like we should have outgrown by 2018. Let me just put it plainly, I’m fine with a lowkey gender fluid mumble gangsta rapper. Him and his tight belly shirt quietly gave me life. If I’m being honest, it was on the verge of really good – and I know I looked like the elderly auntie getting crunk when “Bad and Boujee” played, but that’s gonna forever be my jam. He’s come a long way from when he used to walk across the stage with a mean shoulder shimmy and not much else. G-Eazy was the absolute truth on that stage – looking like John Mayer and Ryan Gosling had a secret love child. He could have kept that bleached blonde hair, but he still put on a show like a veteran. No vocal tracks, no stage full of silly hype men looking utterly useless. He cranked out song after song without a pause – and gave me a new respect for him. He talked about getting his weight up as a live performer in St. Louis, and his first major show opening for Big K.R.I.T. at The Gramophone. While I’m thrilled that G-Eazy can go from the Gramophone to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in just a few short years, I’m quietly sad that K.R.I.T. has only graduated to The Ready Room since then. I’ll charge it to privilege … if you get my drift. But I still can’t take anything away from G-Eazy based on Sunday night. His colleagues could take note. He was playing no games on that stage. Now can somebody please get him to make it official that he will no longer use the n-word in any form or fashion, so I can go ahead and officially become a fan.

Yohana and Nayod made a date night of Smart, Funny and Black Thursday night @ Delmar Hall

Ann and Miss Robbie Montgomery came through to check out the Urban Expo Sunday @ America’s Center

Jeff and Marciay made their rounds @ the Urban Expo Sunday @ America’s Center

Madison and Melissa checking out the Endless Summer II Tour starring G-Eazy, Ty Dolla $ign and Lil Uzi Vert Sunday night @ Hollywood Casino

The Radio One St. Louis team was on deck at the Urban EXPO Sunday Afternoon @ America’s Center

Smart, Funny and Black victor Brandon with NaKesha, who came through in the clutch as a lifeline for Brandon’s opponent Thursday night @ Delmar Hall

Maurice and BJ the DJ of 100.3 FM @ Urban Expo Sunday @ America’s Center

There was as much style happening behind the scenes as on the runway for Fashion Union LLC’s Culture Couture

Dana and Dolly were eager to see what Amanda Seales was serving up with Smart, Funny and Black Thursday night @ Delmar Hall

The lovely Constance came to chuckle courtesy of Amanda Seales @ Smart, Funny and Black Thursday @ Delmar Hall

Actress, comedienne, podcast host and black culture subject matter expert Amanda Seales brought her Smart, Black and Funny tour to Delmar Hall Thursday and tapped poet Corey Black to drop a verse or two on behalf of STL during the sold-out first show.

NATIONALDIRECTOR OF CONTRACTING & CONSTRUCTION

This role will require heavy engagement with construction specialists throughout the industry, working with national brokers as well as regional brokers and independents, including their specialty divisions, to identify current and emerging customer needs and to craft and deliver product and service solutions that will result in differentiation and underwriting profitability over the long term. Long term coverage solutions will span both the primary and excess casualty lines, written on both an admitted and non-admitted basis, with specific line of business responsibilities to encompass WC, GL,Auto, supported Excess/Umbrella and supported Contractor Controlled/ Owner Controlled programs. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/.

FOOD JUSTICE ORGANIZER

For a complete description visit https://www.moenvironment.org/getinvolved/job-openings.

SALARY: $36,000

Missouri Coalition for the Environment seeks Food Justice Organizer to better connect residents to the work of the St. Louis Food Policy Coalition. Organizer is responsible for 1) coordinating residents and local community groups to advance community goals around local food and 2) supporting the St. Louis Food Policy Coalition by developing a Food EquityAdvisory Board. Organizer will work with community members predominantly in North St. Louis City and County. Regular access to transportation required. Highly motivated to work with local community groups around local food issues. Demonstrated effectiveness working in a team. Good written and oral communication skills.Ability to work evenings and weekends. Send resume, cover letter, and three references to Melissa Vatterott at mvatterott@moenviron.org with “Food Justice Organizer” in subject line.

VOLUNTEER MANAGER

4BEC3B92A10E&src=stlamerican&rqid=7B734313-9902-47AD-B7C308377FC6F6AA?id=2A2725CB-7BD640E1-9E12-4BEC3B92A10E&src= stlamerican&rqid=7B734313-9902-47AD-B7 C3-08377FC6F6AA

ADVERTISE YOUR BID

detail oriented, multitasker, Excellent Benefits Apply at www.crisisnurserykids.org click on Career tab for instructions –Other positons also available! EOE

have strong typing and computer skills, excellent attention to detail, proofreading and organization skills. Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and Adobe are required. Candidates can apply online at http://www.greensfelder.com/careers. html. EOE FT RECEPTIONIST/ ASSISTANT

NOTICES, SERVICES HOMES FOR SALE & RENTALS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Brogan Dale Circle Storm Sewer under Letting No. 10380-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on September 12th, 2018 to contract with a company for: Bio-Solid Hauling Services.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 9522 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services, Homeless Services Program, is seeking proposals for the Housing Resource Commission Grant FY2019. The total funding available is $550,123.15. Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. on August 31, 2018. The mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on August 17th at 10:00 -11:30 a.m. Request For Proposal details and specifications can be obtained August 10th at the St. Louis County Bids and RFPs webpage located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ YourGovernment/BidsandRFPs

SEALED BIDS

The City of Webster Groves recreation department is accepting sealed bids for fitness circuit equipment. A pre-bid meeting will be at 9am on August 21, 2018. Final bids are due to 4 E Lockwood Ave by 3pm September 4, 2018. For more information go to www.webstergroves.org/bids Questions can be directed to Miki McKee (314)963-5656 mckeem@webstergroves.org. All rights reserved.

BID NOTICE

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on September 17th, 2018 to contract with a company for: Minority Advertising Services. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 9530 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am September 18th 2018 for: Clean Bar Screen Chambers

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on “MSD At Work”, then “Bidding on Projects”. The bid document will be identified as 9528 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 7686314 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PROMOTIONAL T-SHIRTS

The Missouri Lottery is accepting bids for the purpose of establishing a contract for promotional t-shirts. The bid document with the specifications can be obtained by going to http://www.molottery.com/learnaboutus/bid_opportunities.shtm or by contacting Melissa Blankenship at melissa.blankenship@molottery. com or 573-751-4050.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: MOTOROLA ACE RADIOS. The District is proposing single source procurement to Electronic Controls Company for this equipment because they are an authorized Value-Added Reseller in the St Louis Metro Area. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS

for Construction Services, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, P r o j e c t N o . ZASIDIQ-8012, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, Thursday, August 30, 2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

DowntownSTL, Inc. is seeking bids for providing off-duty police patrol services. A copy of the RFP can be found at downtownstl.org/bids

SEALED BIDS

Invitation to Bid – 4101 Manchester Lueder Construction Company invites you to bid on the 4101 Manchester Project. The Project is a new 7-story, 87,000 sf mixeduse building, as indicated in the Contract Documents. Bids can be emailed to dhennings@lueder.com, faxed to (402) 592-4769, or mailed to the attention of Dan Hennings at 9999 J St Omaha, NE 68127 by 2 p.m. (CT) on August 22, 2018. Project Documents are available from:

Cross Rhodes Reprographics Custom Blueprint & Supply, Inc 1712 Macklind Ave 1632 South Broadway St. Louis, MO 63110 St. Louis, MO 63104

Southern Illinois Builders Association The Builders’ Association 1468 Green Mount Road 3632 West Truman Boulevard O’Fallon, IL 62269 Jefferson City, MO 65109

SLDC Online Planroom iSqFt Project #6186953

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure temporary help services from Neopoint Consulting in an effort to support the IT Technology Plan. The District is proposing single source procurement for this service because it does not have the internal expertise to fulfill this Information Technology role. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

for Construction ServicesHVAC, Central Region, State of Missouri, Project No. ZASIDIQ-8013, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, Thursday, August 30, 2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure temporary help services from SmartGeoTech in an effort to support the IT Technology Plan. The District is proposing single source procurement for this service because it does not have the internal expertise to fulfill this Information Technology role. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on August 22, 2018 to contract with a company for: INDUSTRIAL HOSES. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 9484 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Dome @ Americas Center is seeking bids from qualified mechanical contractors for replacing existing rooftop refrigeration units and freezers with 4 individual condensing units. Including replacing refrigerant. Interested bidders must attend a pre-bid meeting and walk through which will be held at The Dome @ Americas Center, 901 N. Broadway on Monday Aug 20 2018 at 10:00 AM. Questions can be directed to Mark Gruhala mgruhala@explorestlouis.com. The facility reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Attn: All MBE (African American) Vendors & Subcontractors

St. Louis Bridge Construction Company is requesting proposals for MSD Contract Letting No. 13152-015.1, Bissell Point WWTF Influent Pump Station Bar Screen Replacement (IR) in St. Louis City, MO. Scope of work includes: Remove existing bar screens, disposal of existing bar screens, bar screen fabrication, bar screen installation, grit & debris removal, grit & debris transportation, concrete repairs, and inspect, calibrate & adjust rakes. This project bids on August 23rd, 2018. We will hold a preproposal meeting at our office on August 15th, 2018 from 4 pm to 5 pm at 655 Landmark Dr., Arnold, MO 63010. Please respond to estimating@stlbridge.com or fax 636/296-7416. Please email all questions. Equal Opportunity Employer

MWBE/DBE PreBid Meeting Notice

The SITE Improvement Association is hosting a Prebid meeting for Qualified and Certified MWBE contractors to discuss working on MSD’s Dammert and Broadway Sanitary Relief (SKME-551) Part 2 Contract Letting No. 11155-015.2

This meeting is being held on behalf of the following SITE contractor members: Fred M. Luth & Sons, Inc. 4516 McRee Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 314/771-3892

The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. August 16, 2018

SITE Improvement Association 0ffice, 2071 Exchange Drive St. Charles, MO 63303

Project plans are available from MSD. For questions regarding this prebid meeting, Contact the SITE Improvement Association office at 314/966-2950.

NOTICE: Regarding: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Teen Center of Excellence

Dear Qualified MBE/WBE Contracting Firms, KAI Design & Build is seeking qualified minority and female owned businesses for subcontracting opportunities on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Teen Center of Excellence project located within the City of Ferguson, Missouri. KAI will be holding an MBE/ WBE/DBE outreach meeting to review the scope of the project, necessary prequalification

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: 3916 S. Providence - Fit Out Space for New Urgent Care - Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO.

The project consists of an interior renovation of a retail space into an urgent care space.

Bids for this project are due on August 22, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. For any questions or would like to find out more detailed information on this opportunity, please contact Evan Fox at 636-561-9844 or ecfox@ paric.com.

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

Plans and specifications will be available to view at Paric’s Main office at 77 Westport Plaza, Suite 250, St. Louis, MO 63146. PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SEALED BIDS

for

Replace Single-Ply Roofing System, Missouri National Guard Readiness C e n t e r , C a p e Girardeau, Missouri, Project No. T180201 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 8/30/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

Notice to M/WBE Businesses

Plocher Construction Company, Inc. 2808 Thole-Plocher Road Highland, IL 62249 PH: (618) 654-9408 Fax: (618) 654-6454 bids@plocherco.com

Seeking MBE & WBE businesses for the MSD Gravois Trunk Sanitary Storage Facility Project for Union Subcontracting & Supply opportunities in the following areas: Rebar, Masonry, Metals, Carpentry, Thermal & Moisture Protection, Openings, Finishes, Specialties, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Earthwork, Exterior Improvements, and Utilities.

All interested and qualified business should contact Chuck Wagner (crwagner@plocherco.com) or Andrew Wirz (amwirz@ plocherco.com) in writing or via email to discuss the subcontracting and supply opportunities. All quotes are requested to be received by September 12, 2018 which is one day prior to the bid opening.

All proposals will be reviewed for the lowest, responsive, and responsible quote.

MSD will host a Pre-Bid conference. It will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at the Crestwood Community Center Gym – 9245 Whitecliff Park Lane, Crestwood, MO 63126. Following the Pre-Bid there will be a Diversity Fair held from 11-1 at the same location of which Plocher Construction will participate in. After 1pm, for anyone interested, there will be a site visit to the project location at 8645 Pardee Lane, Crestwood, MO 63126 from 2-4pm.

Plans and Specifications are available

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

for Controls

Upgrades to Generator & MediumVoltage

Crowder, Neosho, Missouri, Springfield AVCRAD, Springfield, Missouri, Project No. T1824-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/13/2018. For specific project

d ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/

Habilitation Center, St. Louis, Missouri, Project M1401-02No. will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/13/2018. For informationprojectspecificand ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Structural Repairs to Tunnel Way, Guhleman Forensic Buildings - East and West, Fulton, Missouri , Project No.M1804-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/13/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (the “Partnership”) solicits proposals from qualified firms to assist small and medium-size defense manufacturers in Missouri to comply fully with the cybersecurity requirements in Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012.

To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM CST on Thursday, September 6, 2018. Proposals should be sent by email to hbean@stlpartnership.com, or to St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, ATTN: Howl Bean II, 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2200, St. Louis, Missouri 63105. DBE, MBE, and WBE firms are encouraged to bid, and a five percent bid preference may be available to certified MBE firms. The Request for Proposals may be obtained from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s web site at www.stlpartnership.com. The Partnership reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive informalities therein. Any questions should be directed to Howl Bean II at (314) 615-7663 or hbean@stlpartnership.com.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

SEALED

BIDS for FORT LEONARD WOODREAD I N E S S C E N T E R , MODIFICATIONS, FIRING RANGE 18A, ST. ROBERT, MISSOURI, Project No. T1810-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for AVCRAD Phase 3A Addition,1107th Theater Aviation S

Group, Springfield, Missouri, Project No. T1808-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Construct 25 Meter Range, Camp Clark Tr

S

, Nevada, Missouri, Project No. T1838-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (the “Partnership”) solicits proposals from qualified firms specializing in commercial real estate to provide brokerage and marketing services to sell its West County Business Incubator facility, located at 743 Spirit 40 Park Drive, Chesterfield, Missouri 63005.

To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM CST on Thursday, September 6, 2018. Proposals should be sent by email to hbean@stlpartnership.com, or to St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, ATTN: Howl Bean II, 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2200, St. Louis, Missouri 63105. DBE, MBE, and WBE firms are encouraged to bid, and a proposal discount may be available to certified MBE firms.

The Request for Proposals may be obtained from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s web site at www.stlpartnership.com. The Partnership reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive informalities therein. Any questions should be directed to Howl Bean II at (314) 615-7663 or

SEALED BIDS

for Construct Unheated Storage Building, Missouri National Guard –AVCRAD, S p r i n g f i e l d , Missouri, Project No. T1729-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Roof Replacement, C o m m u n i t y Services Building, Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center, St. Joseph, Missouri, Project No. C1809-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Construct Laundry Building, Missouri National GuardCamp Crowder, Neosho, Missouri, Project No. T182501 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Roof Replacement and Other Renovations, Missouri National Guard Readiness Center, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Project No. T1803-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

for Upgrade HVAC Multiple Buildings, Camp Crowder Tr a i n i n g S i t e , Neosho, Missouri, Project No. T182201 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities SEALED BIDS for

BIDS for Owl Creek Dam,

, MISSOURI, Project No. T1821-01 will

received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/6/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

Notice To Small (SBE), Disadvantaged (DBE), Minority (MBE), Women’s (WBE), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOB) & Veteran Owned (VOB) Businesses Advertisement River City Construction, L.L.C., 6640 American Setter Drive, Ashland, Missouri 65010, (573) 657-7380 (Phone) (573) 657-7381 (Fax) Is Seeking Qualified Small, Disadvantaged, Minority, Women’s, Service Disabled Veteran Owned & Veteran Owned Businesses For The University of Missouri Patient Care Tower –3rd & 4th Floor Fitout And AHU Modifications University Of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri:Project NumberS: CP150752, CP150753, CP150754e: for subcontracting opportunities in the following areas: demolition, masonry, metals, rough carpentry, roofing, doors, glazing, painting, drywall, flooring, specialties, furnishings, fire suppression, integrated automation, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, communications, electronic security. All interested and qualified SBE, DBE, WBE, SDVOB, AND VOB businesses should contact, in writing, (certified letter, return receipt requested) Josh Sanders or Joe Seymour to discuss the subcontracting opportunities. All negotiations must be completed prior to the bid opening date of 8/02/2018@ 1:30 PM. Proposals will be evaluated in order on the basis of low responsive bid received. CERTIFICATION OF DBE/WBE/MBE/SDVOB/VOB STATUS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH BID. BID DOCUMENTS MAY BE OBTAINED BY: 1) Email your company name,

Religion

‘It’s

time for the church to write another chapter’

Rev. Starsky Wilson preaches on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church

By LaShana (Shan) Lewis

For The St. Louis American

On Saturday, July 28, at the national convocation “For Everyone Born” held by United Methodist Church’s LYNC (Love Your Neighbor Coalition) and its 13 partner organizations, Rev. Starsky Wilson was delivering the last moments of his sermon. This happened a full six months before the global denomination of the United Methodist Church will have its first special session in almost 50 years to address conflict over LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Wilson – pastor of Saint John’s Church (The Beloved Community), president & CEO of Deaconess Foundation and former co-chair of the Ferguson Commission –spoke about the biblical apostle Peter having a conversation with Jesus, in which Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved him as mentioned in John 21:15–17. He talked about Peter’s frustration over being asked so many times and having to comply that he did love Jesus. Then, Peter later denied knowing Jesus.

Regarding this act, Wilson said, “The responsibility of the community is to make that person right again and bring him back into the circle, because the witness of the entire community is on the line. It’s not just about his reputation.” Wilson then said he was tying that aspect into another one he wanted to bring up.

Wilson began with a request brought up to him by a group, “They said, ‘We’re coming to deal with these LGBTQ issues within the life of the church. We’re coming in the context of St. Louis recognizing the good work you did in Ferguson. We’re wondering if there’s some intersections that we ought to

Photo by Wiley Price

Rev. Starsky Wilson preached on LGBTQ+ inclusion on Saturday, July 28, at the national convocation “For Everyone Born” held by United Methodist Church’s LYNC (Love Your Neighbor Coalition) and its 13 partner organizations.

tend to.’”

He paused, and then said, “You can’t leave Peter out and still have a church. You can’t leave Bayard Rustin out and have a Civil Rights Movement.” The crowd clapped and cheered loudly. Wilson named other notable LGBTQ+ heroes: Barbara Jordan and her push of a liberative narrative within the U.S. Congress, Reverend Pauli Murray’s fight for the modernization of the American church, Ella Baker and her dedication to the freedom movement, and Kayla Reed’s activism within the Ferguson uprising in 2014.

“And if you don’t know the names that I just suggested to you that center and straddle the line between the racial justice movement

and the LGBT movement,” Wilson said. “If you don’t understand that these people lived full lives and we ought to address their whole self.”

A little over year and a half ago, gospel singer Kim Burrell gave her own sermon about the LGBTQ community. The speech revealed a gap between denominations and black churches, all while shows like “Ellen” cancelled her scheduled appearances. In 2015, the PEW Research Center found that 51 percent of African Americans opposed same-sex marriage. Wilson’s views offer a different, more open-minded perspective.

“If you don’t recognize these black folks who wrestled with the matter of sexual orientation before we had language and before we had ‘alphabet’. If you don’t understand the folk who had to wrestle with the reality of not being affirmed in their black community because there were no social categories for them to fully identify themselves. If you don’t know who these folks are, then you need to read another chapter.”

According to The United Methodist Church’s website, homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” But a special session of its General Conference, to be held in St. Louis in February 2019, will decide whether this is still true for the denomination and its followers. It’s obvious that Wilson has already made his decision. Wilson drove the point home that the church needed to do more to bring a light to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“We’re going to pick up the pen today, and we’re going to write another chapter,” he said. “Some questions you can’t leave unanswered. And some business you can’t leave unfinished. You recognize that what has been written is not sufficient. You understand that there’s some people who’ve been written out of the narrative. It’s time for the church to write another chapter. Pick up the pen, put down isolation, and write another chapter.”

He paused again, took a deep breath and said, “It’s time for the community to write another chapter.”

The Message

Suffering and God’s plan

Our suffering is an integral part of God’s plan to ready us for the struggle of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Suffering in some ways is a prerequisite for strengthening one’s spiritual muscle.

Take notes on this. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but (rather) painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11.

As far as I’m concerned, we’re all in training, believe it or not, to fight in God’s war. Whether being forged in a fiery furnace or stuck in a tailspin of perceived despair and hopelessness, each one of us is being battle-tested in anticipation that one day, we will be called to arms.

This struggle, these experiences, bring about wisdom, a spiritual wisdom from a spiritual perspective that I believe must be shared. It must be. Otherwise, God keeps you in a perpetual classroom where life constantly gives you a new place to go to the bathroom. You haven’t learned anything, so life keeps kicking your … well, you get the picture.

When you finally realize the one trying to tell you something is God, then a wondrous thing begins to happen. You listen more intently and learn more eagerly. Like the child who discovers walking leads to the joy of running, the possibilities seem endless. The mind says, “Tell me more.” The spirit says, ‘Thank you, Jesus.” At that very moment, it my belief that God lets us know we’re able to withstand, overcome, rise above and win the battle of carrying the message of salvation: Christ is savior.

At that moment, we also move from being in the classroom to being on the battlefield where Satan keeps score. You remember those days back in school when you actually studied and were prepared for the test? Confidence oozed from you. When God has been the lesson planner, the study partner, the instructor, it doesn’t matter how much Satan wants it to be a Netflix night.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12.

Our job then is to recognize and represent – to recognize the hell we’re going through is not without purpose. The most important message of the day is to understand who (Jesus) has suffered the most and why. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:32.

Columnist James Washington