December 3rd, 2020 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Adams recommends closing Sumner High

Ten other public schools could shut down as well

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

Approximately 11 St. Louis Public schools should be closed for good, according to a recommendation from Superintendent Kelvin Adams that was presented to the school board Tuesday evening.

On that list is Charles H. Sumner High School in the Ville neighborhood of north St. Louis. It was the first high school for Black students west of the Mississippi River when it opened in 1875. Including Sumner, seven of the recommended closings are north of Delmar Boulevard.

“So the district has a strong past — we’re not here necessarily to focus on the past but really to use the past as a benchmark for thinking about

Black state senators hope to create change

By Dana Rieck

Of The St. Louis American

n “I really believe that individuals should stay engaged to understand what’s happening and how that is impacting them.” — Sen. Karla May

As the Missouri Senate convened Tuesday, four Black Democratic senators are set to represent the St. Louis area — two of whom are making history as the state’s youngest Black male senator and the first Black man to serve in a Senate leadership role in two decades. Including a senator from the Kansas City area, Black representation now sits at five Senate seats, compared to four during the previous legislative session. They hold a majority of the Senate’s minority party, which holds eight seats against the Republicans’ 23 seats. Sen. Brian Williams represents District 14 and was elected to the Senate in 2018 when he ran unopposed; his current term ends Jan. 4, 2023. He was the only Black man serving as senator in the last session and will become the first Black man in two decades to hold a leadership role in the state Senate when he takes over as assistant minority floor leader. District 14 includes University City up through Ferguson and west through Hazelwood. For Williams, going into the next legislative session with diverse representation is critical. He said in an interview he See SENATORS, A7

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

n Five restaurants in St. Louis County were forced Tuesday to shut their doors after defying public health orders that do not allow indoor dining.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prioritized which groups will first receive COVID-19 vaccines. During a emergency meeting Tuesday, Dec. 1, of the Centers’ Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group voted to recommend: “When a COVID-19 vaccine is authorized by FDA and recommended by ACIP, vaccination in the initial phase of the … program (Phase 1a) should be offered to both 1) health care personnel and 2) residents of long-term care facilities.” Bloomberg News reports that CVS and Walgreens pharmacies will administer coronavirus vaccines to people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country. Three pharmaceutical manufacturers, Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have developed COVID-19 vaccines. The Moderna and Pfizer versions are said to have 95% effectiveness and the companies have applied for FDA Emergency Use Authorization to distribute its vaccines. On Dec. 10, the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet in open session to discuss Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals 16 years of age and older. The following week, on Dec. 17, the

with Gloria Taylor, founder and CEO of Community Women, and said she was amazed and inspired by their conversa-

See VACCINE, A6

From left: Brian Williams, Karla May, Angela Mosley and Steve Roberts, all from the St. Louis area, are ready to take their seats in the Missouri Senate.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Charles H. Sumner

Photo by Wiley Price

Those are the words of Ms. T., 28, who wants to change the trajectory of her life

her

Nelly announces ‘Country Grammar’ documentary

It seems that all roads lead to Nellyville this year as the St. Louis-born rapper recently won 3rd place on “Dancing With The Stars,” and celebrated 20 years of his first hit album, “Country Grammar” – which is being turned into a documentary. On Nov. 24 Nelly announced via Facebook video that the documentary about the story behind the album is coming soon.

“The best time of your life is the ‘come up’ because everything is new and you appreciate it,” Nelly said in the 30 sec. clip. “You ain’t got nothing to lose.”

Brandon Frankel are engaged. As People reported, the “Empire” and “Precious” star made the announcement on Instagram. “My BFF proposed and now I get to hold him forever,” Sidibe. “The funniest man I’ve ever met. The sweetest human to exist.”

She added, “I’ve learned so much about myself through him and I feel grateful and excited to learn more about the entire world with him by my side.”

Nelly has also donated at least 10 pairs of his custom-made DWTS dancing shoes for auction by the “The Teen Project,” to benefit young women survivors of human trafficking. The kicks are expected to bring in about $50,000.

Gabourey Sidibe engaged

No death penalty sought for reality TV star Tim Norman Federal prosecutors say “Sweetie Pie’s” star James Timothy “Tim” Norman will not face the death penalty. He is accused of masterminding the murder-for-hire plot that claimed the life of his nephew, Andre Montgomery, in 2015 – in order to collect $450,000 in life insurance. A filing in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Nov. 25 indicated capital punishment is off the table for Norman and Terica Ellis. The automatic death penalty review is still pending for Travell Anthony Hill. The fourth person arrested, insurance agent Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, does not face the murder-for-hire charge that triggers the death penalty review. All have pled not guilty in the case.

Marsai Martin is young, gifted, and ‘Black-ish’

Sixteen-year-old “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin has become Hollywood’s youngest executive producer. Martin, who plays Diane on ABC series, broke the Guinness World Record as the youngest Hollywood executive producer to work on a major production, on the film “Little,” in 2019. She was 14 years and 241 days old when the Universal Pictures film was released.

“It feels crazy, honestly,” Martin said in a video of her certificate presentation as reported by CNN. “A world record? That’s insane.”

Chappelle claims he was never paid for ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Netflix honored a request by come dian Dave Chappelle to remove “Chappelle’s Show” out of its lineup. This, because he didn’t find it so funny that ViacomCBS was alleg edly the only one profiting from the program, and not him. In an Instagram post reported by Black Enterprise, Chapelle said, “I signed the contract the way a 28-year-old expectant father that’s broke signs a contract, I

was desperate, I needed a way out.”

However, Chappelle said when I left that show, he never got paid. In a recent “Saturday Night Live” appearance, BE reported Chappelle said to the audience, “[ViacomCBS] didn’t have to pay me because I signed the contract. But is that right? I found out that these people were streaming my work and they never had to ask me, or they never have to tell me. Perfectly legal ‘cause I signed the contract. But is that right? I didn’t think so either.”

Is there a future for Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan? Blast reports dating rumors abound after Steve Harvey’s daughter, social media influencer Lori Harvey, and Michael B. Jordan hopped off a plane and drove off together in Atlanta. It is speculated the two may have spent Thanksgiving together at her dad’s home. Black Twitter was all

HIRING

Actress Gabourey Sidibe’s and boyfriend

Tim Norman

Nelly

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis recently recognized the outstanding work of staff, board members, volunteers and supporters, and celebrated them for their commitment to the organization and the Club kids and teens.

The Alumni Hall of Honor inductees are Sam Adams, Malcolm Crawford, Ahmad Hicks, Rashidah Ivory, Dr. Kia Moore and Dr. James Paine.

The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth, contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the Boys & Girls Club.

“This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways that our staff, board volunteers, alumni and friends contribute to the welfare of the children we serve and highlight our impact,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, Club president said.

“While we recognize the challenges of COVID-19, we believe it is important to recognize the contributions and achievements of so many Club constituents.”

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

For more than 50 years, the Clubs have been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area, while also

Alumni Hall of Honor inductees: Sam Adams (left), Malcolm Crawford, Rashidah Ivory, Kia Moore and Ahmad Hicks and Flint Fowler, president, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

Making our own choices

As of the end of November, the St. Louis region had surpassed yet another grim pandemic milestone: more than 2,300 COVID-19 deaths. Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, is referring to the situation we are facing as a “war.” And with more than 1,000 COVID patients on the brink of overwhelming our region’s hospital beds, we are very close to losing that war.

A Harvard University coronavirus tracking model predicts that if drastic action is not taken within a week — yes, this week — we will be facing a tipping point. If we pass that point, there will no longer be enough hospital beds to accommodate severe COVID-19 patients. Hospitals will begin having to make the grim decisions of who to save, and who to turn away.

As our hospitals reach this brink, though, some Missouri Republicans are trying to take away one of the few tools local governments have used to curb the spread of the virus in previous waves: local stay-at-home regulations. Following St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page’s “safer-athome” order, effective since Nov. 17, officials such as Republican Rep. Jim Murphy, of south St. Louis County, have been clamoring for change. They do not ask for more resources to enable people to stay at home longer, as one might expect. Instead, they advocate for a time limit on stay-at-home orders, so that restaurants and bars might reopen as expeditiously as possible.

coming months. We must each work in our own spheres of influence to push our leaders towards safer choices. We can hold our own houses of worship, for example, accountable for not becoming super-spreader cells.

As John Inazu, distinguished professor of religion and law at Washington University, put it in a recent opinions piece for christianitytoday.com, worship can and should be classified as an essential task. “And to say otherwise is constitutionally incorrect and politically unwise,” he wrote.

The Supreme Court of the United States, too, released a ruling last week that focused more on preserving a forced “normality” than on saving lives. In Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn vs. Cuomo, released Thanksgiving Day, the Court ruled that religious institutions may be exempted from rules limiting gatherings to 10 people or fewer, even in COVID “red” zones. Most of Missouri, with the exception of a few rural areas is currently a COVID red zone.

The Court justified this as a matter of religious freedom. While it is true that freedom of religion is something that must be upheld, the preservation of human life is a value held by all major religions. This order directly contradicts that by putting human lives at unnecessary risk. So, in the absence of much helpful government intervention, the people of the greater St. Louis area must make our own choices to protect ourselves and each other. It is imperative that we continue to limit our socializing as much as possible. We need to keep our masks on as we wait for distribution of COVID vaccines in the

While Inazu applauds the Court’s decision for its protection of first amendment rights, however, even he encourages houses of worship to take it upon themselves to keep gatherings small and keep masks on. It is not reasonable to ask people to abstain entirely from social gatherings, inperson necessary work, worship, and other fundamental parts of community life. If we look at this problem through a harmreduction framework, though, we can find ways to make this as survivable as possible while we wait for the vaccine’s release — which could happen as soon as a few months from now, if we can keep each other alive and okay until then.

“Harm reduction” refers to a set of public health policies that accept that people will do certain things that may not be the most healthy for them — in this case, for example, in-person social interaction outside your ‘bubble’ — but then triy to minimize the harm caused by those behaviors, rather than expecting people to eliminate them entirely.

Mask-wearing and individual choices to say no to attending large gatherings are harm reduction steps, but these pale when compared to the harm reduction steps our institutions and businesses can take. To make sure the year doesn’t end with completely overwhelmed hospitals and unnecessary deaths, we must pressure our businesses, community groups, and any other institution with any power to sway even a small chunk of public opinion to avoid giving in to “mask fatigue” and instead take it upon themselves to keep us safe.

COVID-19 vaccines are likely to begin rolling out by the end of this year and become widely available within months after that. But until then, we still have a chance to minimize death and pain in our families and communities. There is no ethical alternative but to do everything we can towards that end.

As

National unity fetish doesn’t really work for

By Mike Jones For The St. Louis American

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men

Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again

Lewis Carroll notwithstanding, look for Joe Biden and establishment Democrats to try to put that broken egg, the American myth, back together again, albeit with a nod toward more diversity and inclusion.

Think a movie with more Black people in the street scene (because it makes white people feel better) but not really as main characters, because the movie isn’t about us.

I thought of this well known nursery rhyme because it captures the longing and the futility in the spirit of white America in the second decade of the 21 century. Whether it’s MAGA (which Trump actually plagiarized from Reagan) or Biden’s “Build It Back Better”, the goal of white Americans is for restoration to a mythical past, a past in which they were center of the world as they knew it and they were the primary beneficiaries of how that world operated.

There was a time in the Middle Ages when people were absolutely convinced that the earth was flat and the center of the universe. Imagine the cognitive dissonance, when they came face to face with the reality that the world was not flat or the center of the universe, but was in fact round and revolved around the sun.The irrational delusional behavior of Trump and his cult is what happens when people are comforted with the reality of what they believe is not true, and never was.

These calls for healing and national unity — Lincoln’s second inaugural address is arguably the most famous —

most of us

are a regular, recurrent phenomenon in American politics. As far back as 1800, Thomas Jefferson ran for president on a platform of reclaiming the Spirit of 1776.

However, whether it’s been the Declaration of Independence at the beginning in 1776 to the New Deal in the 1930s, with stops for the Constitution, the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1877 in between, every deal for the national unity of white Americans has required the compromising of the interest of Black Americans.

In fact, Lyndon Johnson is the only president of the United States who has ever politically aligned himself with and advanced the interests of Black Americans over the objection of substantial white opposition.

Given the delusional nature of Trump’s America and our history of being compromised for by white America in these moments, it begs the question of how do you have the conversation, and if it’s possible, why do we want to have it?

Reconciliation presumes redemption, and redemption requires confession and contrition. And contrition, when it comes to racial justice, seems to be beyond the moral capacity of a substantial number of white Americans.

The notion that Black America should somehow be inclined to overlook the criminal mendacity of the last four years for the benefit of a national unity that always excluded them is both outrageous and insulting.

So how do we respond?

In my opinion the most emo-

tionally satisfying response to this was given by Jemele Hill #StickToSports, but The St. Louis American is a general circulation newspaper, so I’m unable to quote the sister. What I’ve come to understand and accept, in four decades of politics and seven decades of living, is you rarely get to give the answer you like. That’s especially true when accepting positions of leadership and are required to give up the right to your own personal positions.

That’s because your decisions, and their consequences, affect the wellbeing of others — people you don’t know and will never meet. Your moral responsibility becomes making the best decision for the most people, tactically and strategically.

Yvette Simpson, chief executive of the Democracy for America political action committee, probably offered the only reasonably sanguine response: “Unity is great, but freedom is better,” she said. “And there’s a part of this population that has sacrificed their freedom time and time again for unity, and they’re tired of it. … And so if you’re asking us to come together and that means my world doesn’t change, the people whose world needs to change doesn’t change, I don’t want that kind of unity.” Simpson’s response correctly implies we’re going to find ourselves in political discussion about national unity, whether we like it or not. With that in mind, I’m going to recommend that this emerging generation of Black leaders take heed of the advice of two formidable politicians a generation ahead of me. First, former Congressman William Clay Sr., who’s advice applies to this or any political negotiation: “Take what you can, give up what you must.” And the late President John F. Kennedy: “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”

Thank you, voters: Biden/Harris was the true public safety ticket

By Wesley Bell For The St. Louis American

With the report that the General Services Administration has initiated the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden, we can finally give thanks for a new Democratic administration in the White House. Thank you to the majority of American voters.

The defeat of Donald J. Trump, now recognized by even Trump himself, left me musing on his legacy for law enforcement professionals like myself. I find it bitterly ironic that Trump was taken seriously by so many voters as the lawand-order candidate. In fact, Trump has only made it harder for law enforcement professionals to do our jobs.

Consider, for example, he has encouraged police officers to use unnecessary force when bringing suspects into custody, as he did in July 2017 while speaking to police and crime victims on Long Island. That was disastrous advice to come from the president of the United States.

Not only is it inhumane, it’s also unconstitutional and illegal for a police officer to use more than necessary force to bring a suspect into custody.

We understand that policing is one of the (if not the) toughest jobs in the world. But, whenever a police officer commits this crime against a suspect, it makes it impossible for prosecutors like me to take the case and consider charges against their suspect.

Wesley Bell is St. Louis County prosecuting attorney. As I

Police violence against sus-

pects undermines the entire criminal justice system. That is why I founded a Conviction and Incident Review Unit in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Police accountability and integrity are crucial to successful criminal prosecution.

Police violence against suspects is also bad for prosecutors and police for a different reason. We often rely on witness testimony to bring justice to victims and to protect our community.

Our office has a staff of investigators who are integral to our efforts to keep county residents safe, but the majority of the cases we charge are brought to us by police officers. For most of the crimes committed, it is police officers who canvas the community for witnesses.

A bad actor in the police department is a black eye on all police, including those who get in the field for the right and honorable reasons of protecting the public and serving their community. However, if the community does not trust police officers, then people will not come forward as witnesses. The tension between law enforcement and certain (often less-affluent) areas and communities of color will worsen.

Fairly or unfairly, the fact remains: every lawless act by

a police officer hampers every criminal investigation and prosecution.

Crime is wrong, and violent crime is especially despicable. The vigilante instinct — to take the law into your own hands — is basic, and it’s not difficult to see how a hardened police officer might be tempted at times.

But that is just not how our system of criminal justice works. In the American system that both Trump and I swore to uphold, punishment is reserved for the courts alone.

Better than punishing crime, however, is preventing crime, and it is here where I fear Trump has done the most to make our work more difficult. After his defeat, Trump defied the U.S. Constitution for nearly three weeks in denying that he had lost a free and fair election. For fathers and mentors like myself trying to convince our children and the youth in our community to tell the truth and obey the law, how much damage has it done for them to see the most powerful and privileged man in the country shamelessly tell lies and disregard the law?

That is why I give thanks to the nearly 80 million Americans – 328,151 of them right here in St. Louis County – who voted for the real public safety ticket of Joe Biden and my fellow prosecutor Kamala Harris. Thank you for helping to make it easier for my colleagues and me to do our job in keeping our community safe.

Letters to the editor

The Gift of Glasses

Glasses aren’t a given, especially for low-income children. When kids can’t see well, they become less engaged in school — an added challenge to the current already difficult online learning environment.

According to Vision Impact Institute, vision impairment is one of the most common disabling conditions among children in the U.S. and affects 25% of all students. Imagine trying to learn virtually while painfully squinting to see a blurry computer screen.

Eye Thrive is a non-profit group that eliminates the barriers of transportation and expense that prevent too many families facing adversity from getting glasses for their children.

Eye Thrive’s programs provide everything from vision screenings and eye exams to prescription glasses made onsite, and no-questions-asked replacement glasses – completely free of charge. The gift of sight is powerful and makes a real difference in the lives of our kids.

Kate McKearn

executive

director, Eye Thrive Maryland Heights

Support Ethiopia against terrorists

I urge you to support the United States’ strategic and geopolitical interest in the horn of Africa by supporting the Ethiopian government’s effort to root out terrorism and maintain law and order in the Tigray

region.

The Tigray People Liberation Front, a group registered in the Global Terrorism Database, has committed criminal actions against innocent civilians. Actions being taken by the government are solely against TPLF and not the people of Tigray. I plead with you to:

• Support efforts of the Ethiopian government to quell terrorist attacks and bring peace and

Enlist leaders of TPLF

rorists • Provide financial and logistical support to the Ethiopian government to combat terroristic acts • Work with congressional leaders to freeze the assets of TPLF

Berhane

Guest Columnist Mike Jones

Guest Columnist Wesley Bell

Bush aids in including nurse on Biden COVID-19 Advisory Board

Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush, a registered nurse, worked with the Biden-Harris Transition team to ensure that nurses have a leading voice in the coronavirus response.

“I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Transition (team) for recognizing the contributions of nurses across the country and giving us representation on the COVID-19 Advisory Board,” Bush said in a statement. Bush represents Missouri’s First Congressional District, which covers all of St. Louis and much of northern St. Louis County, including Maryland Heights, University City, Ferguson and Florissant.

Bush issued the statement after the Biden-Harris Transition team announced Saturday the appointment of three members to their COVID-19 Advisory Board, including Jane Hopkins, a registered nurse trained in mental health.

“Representation matters, and I’m proud to have worked with the transition to secure us a seat at the table. Outside of providing essential medical attention, nurses are the backbone of trust between patients, their loved ones, and their communities,” Bush said.

“The pandemic has placed an unprecedented burden on our health care system, and nurses are bearing the brunt of this trauma, with more than 1,500 nurses dying from COVID-19 worldwide and hundreds going on strike due to unsafe working conditions.

“Jane Hopkins will be a true advocate for nurses as the Biden-Harris Transition prepares to implement a strong national strategy for defeating COVID-19.” Before she was elected to Congress, Bush worked as a clinic director in St. Louis.

What the November elections revealed

By Jamala Rogers For The St. Louis American

The November election was a reset button for a country in racist free fall. When the curtain finally goes down on the presidential race, white supremacy can take its bow as second runner up. The gap between the Democratic and Republican tickets should’ve been a gulf instead of a sliver. Black women put defiant hands on our collective hips and dared anyone to tell us we don’t count.

Anyone in the U.S. who has been paying attention never believed that we were a united country. However, the defenders of democracy continue to wonder out loud: Why was the vote so close in the presidential battle? How could 70 million still vote for Donald Trump after four years of hate, chaos, division and lies?

reached South Carolina. It was the Black vote that swept him to the top of the Democratic Party’s presidential ticket. Black Democratic strongholds in swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan pushed the Biden-Harris team over the finish line. Black folks are no longer just looking for respect for our party loyalty and hard work. We are looking for positions and power.

White people took the easy way out and wrote checks to Black causes and put up Black Lives Matter signs. They avoided having the tough but necessary dialogue with family, friends, co-workers and their faith groups about what support for Trump truly meant.

The Trump votes were a blatant affront to all the constituencies who endured the unapologetic ridicule, contempt and bias of the so-called president. Those constituencies include people of African and Mexican descent, Muslims, LGBTQAI, white women, differently abled, veterans, farmers, children, environmentalists and a few others.

I don’t know about the groups dissed by the Trump administration, but I can tell you that most Black people are not in the mood to extend olive branches to trumpians. That’s because support of this fool came with a death ticket for too many of us. The lack of leadership by that man’s regime to tackle the coronavirus has meant the unnecessary deaths of nearly 250,000 Americans. It’s not just about a vote, it’s about life.

We’re not feeling the love for the Democratic Party either. We know that Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign was on life support until he

Black women truly flexed their muscles during this election season. The ultimatum for a woman of color as Biden’s running mate was just the beginning of our righteous demands. The fruit of our labor can be seen in many local, state and federal victories across the country.

Former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abram and her movement single-handedly turned the state of Georgia blue. And now, the balance of the U.S. Senate rests in the two Senate run-offs in the Peach State. Black girl magic all over the place.

People of color felt the slap across our faces in 2016 and we didn’t have to wonder what we would endure. We knew what manner of man Trump was even then, and the burden of dealing with him has fallen squarely on our shoulders.

Bodacious anti-Trump organizing should’ve be led by fair minded white folks and resulted in a blue tidal wave in 2020. The tensions and mistrust will only subside when white America starts seriously taking down the foundational pillars of racism, like the colonial voter suppressing electoral college.

We all have our work cut out for us in a post-Trump era. The Nov. 3 celebrations were not the jubilant victory parties we had after the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the first Black president. These were more like exhaling from four years of stress and suffering.

A lot of healing must happen, and it starts with holding those accountable for the injury. Together, we must all work for the elimination of the systems of oppression that hold back the human race. We created a new path forward. Now we must be unflinching in our stride.

Jamala Rogers

Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush

same advisory committee will discuss the request for emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Inc.

“In keeping with the FDA’s commitment to ensuring full transparency, dialogue and efficiency, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, made up of outside scientific and public health experts from around the country, will meet to discuss the totality of the safety and effectiveness data provided by Moderna for their EUA submission,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. said in a news release.

“The FDA understands there is tremendous public interest regarding vaccines for COVID-19. We remain committed to keeping the public informed about the evaluation of the data of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, so that once available, the public and the medical community can have trust and confidence in receiving the vaccine for our families and ourselves.”

COVID frustration mounts locally

While all of this is very encouraging news, pandemic fatigue and frustration with public health restrictions among some people continue

Sumner

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 what we need to do in the future,” Adams said, as he began his presentation.

Adams noted that approximately 1,000 people participated in community vision workshops that sought to prioritize what the community sees as best when it comes to school consolidation.

After explaining the vari-

to rise, along with the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases.

In St. Louis County Tuesday, five restaurants were forced to shut their doors after defying public health orders that do not allow indoor dining.

“The establishments — Acapulco Restaurant, Bartolino’s South, Final Destination, OT’s Bar and Satchmo’s — had their permit to operate suspended and were ordered to immediately cease operations,” a St. Louis County Department of Public Health statement said.

The restaurants have a right to ask for a hearing before the suspension becomes final. While medical experts day

ables that went into the decision-making process — things that included enrollment demand, building condition, capacity and special programs or considerations— Adams recommended closing four high schools, one middle school and six elementary schools.

The recommended closings north of Delmar Boulevard are: Clay, Dunbar, Farragut, Ford and Hickey, all elementary schools; Sumner High School and Northwest Academy of Law High School.

wearing masks vastly reduces the chance of spreading the disease to others by limiting the sharing of air droplets and aerosols that carry the coronavirus, the DPH stated, “Indoor dining is a super-spread enabler because people take off their masks when they eat or drink. According to the CDC as well as numerous independent studies, eating indoors poses significant risk of spreading COVID-19.

“DPH contact tracers have identified a number of clusters of cases linked to eating or drinking indoors. A recent spot check showed that more than half of 74 restaurant workers who contracted COVID-19 had

worked while infectious.

“Moreover, several studies demonstrate indoor dining with anyone outside one’s household is unsafe. COVIDpositive patients were twice as likely as negative patients to eat at a restaurant in the two weeks prior to their diagnosis, one CDC study found. Also, increased spending at restaurants and bars predicts where COVID-19 outbreaks are likely to be found two or three weeks later, another study has found.”

Council political move

Some St. Louis County Council members are still trying to get around County

n The recommended closings north of Delmar Boulevard are: Clay, Dunbar, Farragut, Ford and Hickey, all elementary schools; Sumner High School and Northwest Academy of Law High School.

The other schools on the list are: Monroe Elementary, just south of the Benson Park neighborhood; Fanning Middle School in Tower Grove South; Cleveland High School in the

Local hospitals are on overload as the number of COVID patients continue to increase.

Executive Sam Page’s authority given to him in the County Charter to make decisions during an emergency. On Tuesday, the council voted 4 — 3 on a resolution aimed at his public health orders.

“Thankfully, the resolution the Council voted on last night is not legally protected. It was a symbolic vote that expressed the Council’s opinion about the public health restrictions, but the resolution did not have the force of law,” Page said during his Wednesday morning briefing.

“St. Louis County will continue to follow the County Charter, as well as state statutes and regulations, that empower

… gentrification,” board mem-

ber Donna Jones said. “We’ve been gentrified here in the city of St. Louis and I know it’s going to take a little while to get back, but are we trying to get rid of all of our land?”

Mount Pleasant neighborhood and Carnahan High School in Dutchtown.

Adams took questions about the recommendations from the board members, who expressed concerns about several things including where displaced students would turn to for schooling and if the district would lose too many buildings and parcels of land the city might need later on down the line.

“I guess my big concern is the population will turn around one day, right now we’re under

Adams said no, the district is only trying to sell some of the properties. Currently about 15 properties are up for sale.

“It’s been very difficult to get the … permission to demolish property,” he said, referring to historical preservation requirements. “And if it’s an Ittner building they automatically say ‘no.’”

William B. Ittner was an architect in the mid 19th and 20th centuries who designed over 430 school buildings in Missouri alone.

While Sumner and Northwest are magnet schools, school board Vice President

the public health director to issue the orders necessary to protect people from COVID19.The election is over. It’s time to stop politicizing the pandemic. It should never have been politicized from the start,” Page said. During the wait for a vaccine to be widely distributed, Page said the public cannot let up on efforts to keep this virus from spreading.

“So, it’s disappointing when we have people threatening our health inspectors, and they’re pushing legislation that will compromise the health and safety of our residents. If such legislation would make its way into the books, it simply means this: More people will get sick from COVID-19. More people will die.”

Health care workers implores individuals to continue to wear masks, keep a distance from others and to thoroughly wash hands, to help avoid the disease. Page said the decisions made regarding St. Louis County are based on science and from the advice of public health and hospital leaders.

“We are seeing record numbers of COVID-19 cases,” Page said. In the nine months since St. Louis County’s first coronavirus case was reported in the spring, he said 1,000 residents have died from the disease and more than 50,000 persons have been infected with it.

Susan Jones noted that the only north St. Louis high school left for students would be Vashon High School on Cass Avenue, in the JeffVander-Lou neighborhood. Residents may submit comments and questions about the consolidation plan using the form at https://bit. ly/36whSMA until 9 a.m.,Dec. 7. The board will then hold a virtual town hall for public comment on Adams’ recommendations at 6p.m. on Dec. 8, which will include a live chat opportunity to ask questions directly to Adams and the board members. Attendees will receive the link to the town hall upon submitting the form. The board is slated to vote on Adams’ closure proposal Dec. 15.

Photo by Wiley Price

Ms. T. says her three sons are everything to her, which gives her the motivation to pursue a career in public safety, with help from Community Women Against Hardship.

Senators

Continued from A1

said to pass his police reform bill by opening the dialogue with Republicans regarding his and other people of color’s experiences. Williams also wants to make advocating for women and people of color a primary focus of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

“And having that dynamic, I think is not only going to enhance the legislature in terms of talking about issues that impact Black communities and ensure that they have representation, but I think it also ensures that there is accountability in place when it comes to our colleagues to understand that diversity [and] equitable policies when it comes to Black communities should be at the forefront of the Democratic agenda — but also of the legislature — and I’m optimistic with those four we can do that.”

Sen.-elect Steve Roberts echoed Williams. The lawyer has been chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus while serving in the state House and has focused their agenda on women’s rights, women empowerment and criminal justice reform, the latter issue being the real reason Roberts said he ran for public office.

Roberts replaces Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, who reached her term limit in the senate, and will represent District 5. He will become the youngest Black senator in Missouri history to take office at age 32. District 5 encompasses the majority of St. Louis along with parts of north and south St. Louis County.

“What’s been very encouraging for me is that I’m finding a lot of my Republican colleagues are very supportive and kind of see that this mass incarceration model doesn’t work,” Roberts said. “We need to change our perspective on how we prosecute crimes and what justice this really is, because it’s not like you do your time and you come out and everything is good. I mean, in our state, you can legally be discriminated on for your employment, where you live and so it makes it hard for you to just get back on your feet.”

As for Sen. Karla May, she said she’s excited about the potential change and new energy from the recently elected senators. While she doesn’t see November’s election as a significant ideological shift in voters, she does want to remind people to remain diligent outside of election seasons.

“I really believe that individuals should stay engaged to understand what’s happening and how that is impacting them,” she said. “Knowing who your representation is is definitely key — and knowing what that person’s responsibility is and how that responsibility impacts your community. So I think that we should stay engaged along the way.”

May represents District 4 and was elected to the Senate in 2018 when she ran unopposed; her current term ends Jan. 4, 2023. May beat incumbent Sen. Jacob Hummel in the 2018 Democratic primary with 57 percent of the vote. Hummel, who is white, was elected in a special election in 2016. District 4 covers parts

n “What’s been very encouraging for me is that I’m finding a lot of my Republican colleagues are very supportive and kind of see that this mass incarceration model doesn’t work.”

— Sen.-elect Steve Roberts

of Baden and Jennings, all of Forest Park, parts of Clayton and south through St. Louis Hills.

Sen.-elect Angela Mosley’s seat in the Missouri State Senate flipped from a white representative to a Black representative when she won the Nov. 3 election in District 12. She replaced Gina Walsh, a white Democrat who reached

her term limit. District 13 represents Florissant, most of the Bellefontaine Neighborhood and up through old Jamestown.

Mosley said she hopes she and her Democratic colleagues can work together to advance the Black community.

“Hopefully we’ll have more voting power and hopefully we can get the other side to go with us on issues that would negatively affect our community,” she said. “… Hopefully, we can work together to get them to come along with us because it’s hard to get anything done for the Black community when you have so many against us.”

Sen.-elect Barbara Washington was elected to the Senate on Nov. 3 and will represent District 9, an area just southeast of Kansas City. She could not be reached for this story.

CWAH

Continued from A1

tion. It made her think about who she is, why she is here, and what is her purpose.

Those words left an impression that she considers daily and helps in making better decisions. She volunteered to assist Taylor on voter recruitment, an experience she says she will never forget.

Working with “The Vote” was a learning experience for my children and I,” Ms T. said. “It showed that some people do not care, some people are proactive in using their voice, and others are unaware.

“We didn’t speak to many, but many of the ones that we had the opportunity to connect with were receptive of the information. My children wanted to do it all over again and go door to door with more information, hopefully for the local elections the same can happen because local is just as important.

Ms. T. is looking forward to engaging

in classes at CWAH. She recently attended a Zoom class with the University of Missouri School of Nursing students. The coronavirus has made Community Women Against Hardship rethink how the agency can provide services, but more importantly, it has made the staff realize how much their services are needed.

Reach out and assist a family, or refer a family today for consideration. Community Women Against Hardship is here to provide hope for those in need. Visit our website at www.cwah.org for submission forms. Call (314) 289-7523, or email: communitywomenstl@yahoo.com , DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2020 Community Women Against Hardship continues to provide services, even in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The “People Against Poverty Campaign” continues through our partnership with the St. Louis American Newspaper assists in connecting with families in need of support. This year marks service to more than 8,500 family members in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Proudly Serving St. Louis, MO for 100 Years!

that will come after us. This Centennial Celebration is for and about Gamma Omega. However, I must thank the sorority leadership, our loving and supportive family members, our community partners, friends, and supporters for contributing to Gamma Omega’s Success. Finally, I want to thank every Gamma Omega member for the countless volunteer hours, financial and in-kind contributions, sisterly love, and commitment that made 2020 a great year. Cheers to our 100 years of service! We move into the next century with “greater laurels to win, greater tasks to begin”.

Centennial Greeting

As we move into the next century, we step in as a diverse body of nearly 400 college-trained professional women ranging in age from twenty-two to ninety-seven. We represent a broad spectrum of careers, from educators, engineers, executive directors to entrepreneurs, and everything in between. Gamma Omega’s strength is the bonds of sisterhood that has resulted in impactful contributions to the sorority and the community. At its core, Gamma Omega is a loving circle of sisters. The love we have for each other is reflected in how we celebrate members’ accomplishments and provide sisterly assistance through life’s challenges. I believe it is the love we share that has grown our chapter from six members in 1920 to 394 members in 2020. Our shared love for Alpha Kappa Alpha has resulted in Gamma Omega’s excellent chapter operations and exemplary service to the community. While 2020 presented challenges to the entire world due to the pandemic, Gamma Omega quickly pivoted to virtual support for sorors, chapter and committee meetings, and service activities. I hope that when others look back at this time in history, they will see that the 2020 members of Gamma Omega cherished the sacrifices and contributions of the members that came before us. Additionally, I hope they will know that we worked diligently to secure the future for the members

Loraine Richardson Green and AKA Central and Western Organizer Pauline Kigh Reed, Mu Graduate Chapter was chartered on December 2, 1920. In 1922, Mu Graduate was renamed Gamma Omega. The six Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Mu Graduate charter members were Hazel B. McDaniel (Delta Chapter), Helen E. McWorter (Beta Chapter), Althea Merchant (Gamma Chapter), Clara Schaffner Mosby (Gamma Chapter) Edith Stevens Rhetta (Gamma Chapter), and Mary Felicia Stevens (Gamma Chapter). For 100 years, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter has transcended time in the St. Louis community, enriching lives through scholarship, community betterment, and sisterhood. The original Chapter goals were to (1) vitalize the ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, (2) foster civic and educational movements, and (3) encourage young women to attain a college education. The Chapter has maintained these timeless goals with adaptability, resourcefulness, and updated objectives to improve and expand programs to enhance and augment service to the Community and “Service to All Mankind.”

Committed to the goals of AKA and the desire to continue her legacy in the St. Louis community, especially in the area of scholarship for African American females attending the Charles Sumner High School, six women gathered and planned the establishment of a graduate chapter at the home of Helen McWorter. With the guidance of AKA National President

On December 2, 1920, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega, the third oldest graduate chapter in the organization, was first chartered under the name Mu Graduate Chapter in St. Louis, Missouri. In the late 1910s, AKA college graduates, returning to St. Louis or relocating to the City for employment, found themselves in a city without a chapter.

It is my honor to serve as the President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Gamma Omega Chapter for this Centennial Anniversary. Gamma Omega Chapter is the 12th chapter chartered in our illustrious sisterhood, the third oldest graduate chapter, the home of the first Central Regional Director, the first Black sorority in St. Louis, and the largest Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. However, we are much more than our linage and size. Gamma Omega is: Set On SuccessA Legacy of Sisterhood, Operations, and Service Built on Success This celebration will highlight the contributions our members have made to the sorority and the community.

Kimberly R. Beck President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Gamma Omega Chapter

As

“There’s nothing

funny about COVID”

Comedian/restaurant/bar

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

Of The St. Louis American

When it comes to comedy, there is almost no taboo subject. For Maurice Rankin, a comedy veteran and owner of Shade Restaurant & Bar in Florissant, that sentiment doesn’t apply:

a Spanish

been named a 2020

Teaching

has served as the Spanish instructor at Riverview Gardens High School since 2008. She led an effort to travel abroad with students to Costa Rica. The trip was the very first airline flight and experience in another country for many students. She routinely provides students with innovative lessons and culture rich experiences to help foster their love for the Spanish

Cosmetologist Felicia CannHanson is the

owner Maurice Rankin pushes on

n “I had to come out of pock-

et to get it open and I’ll do the same to keep it running.”

— Maurice Rankin

“A lot of comedians find ways to comment on current events. Every stone will be turned over. But I just don’t find anything funny about COVID, especially since I just opened a business in the middle of the pandemic.”

Rankin has been in the comedy business for almost 20 years. He’s done BET’s ComicView, Laughapalooza and toured the world with comedy greats like Deray Davis, Nephew Tommy from the Steve Harvey Morning Show and the godfather of modern black comedy, Paul Mooney. In December 2019, Rankin was part of a comedy show with his partner and fellow comedian Princeton Dew. The show was held at Hwy 367 BBQ at 1752 N. New Florissant Road. That night, Dew told Rankin that the

owner, Chris Alexander, was considering accepting partners.

Rankin and Dew rose to the occasion. With a business plan at the ready, they went about redesigning the establishment, making it a restaurant and bar, with Alexander concentrating on the food side of the venture. Plans to open in March were derailed by the spread of the coronavirus. Still, the partners completed renovations, got liquor and food licenses, and opened in July. With a simple Facebook announcement, about 50 people came through the doors, Rankin said. It was a validating sign, so the new owners pressed on with a diversified line-up of entertainment including open mic, karaoke, stand-up comedy, and vendor “pop-up” nights. Even at 50% percent capacity, Rankin said business was good. So good in fact, that he was able to hire 13 employees.

See RANKIN, A12

More families seeking help from food pantries during coronavirus pandemic

By Andrea Y. Henderson

Louis Public Radio

rises, more people across the region are worried about where their next meal will come from. To help meet the need, food pantries and other organizations that provide food have ramped up their distribution efforts this holiday season. Directors at the St. Louis Area Foodbank and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis said they are seeing a steep increase in the demand for food. Many people across the region are lining up in distribution centers for the first time

n As businesses continue to shutter and unemployment rises, more people across the region are worried about where their next meal will come from.

because they have lost their jobs during the pandemic. The St. Louis Area Foodbank is distributing about 5 million meals a month in the St. Louis region, up from the nearly 3.1 million meals it distributed before the pandemic, said Meredith Knopp, president and CEO of the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

“We’re seeing it in our metro and our rural areas,” Knopp said of the increased need. “There’s no one who is exempt from it, and there’s so many people who are literally looking to put food on the table this holiday season for the first time.”

Knopp said people who once had their own successful businesses or worked for large corporations are now contemplating whether to pay bills or put food on the table. She also said people who are volunteering to help hand out food are in turn lining up to receive food assistance. Social service organizations have been providing meals and

See PANTRIES, A12

co-owner of Shade Restaurant & Bar in Florissant, Ranken is determined to keep his business alive.

Abena Bradley-Madkins,

teacher at Riverview Gardens High School, has

Excellence in

honoree by Emerson. Bradley-Madkins

Abena

Photo by Sylvester Brown

Felicia CannHanson

Marty Murray Jr.

Clara Scott and Kashawna Cox place groceries in the trunk of a car during the People’s Clinic Thanksgiving Turkey give-away on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at the facility’s Delmar location. At left is Mark Sanford, People’s Health Center’s executive director.

Photo by Wiley Price

How Southern Chow Chow relish made Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2020

For The American

NASHVILLE, TENN., November 19, 2020 – Winfrey Foods, LLC, is proud to have its Royal Relish Chow Chow included in this year’s Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things holiday gift list, featured in the December 2020 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com.

to us,” Karla Winfrey said. “As Oprah’s cousins, we remember her enjoying our mother’s chow chow during Sunday dinners at our home. And now she uses it under our new label. So in a way, our chow chow is probably one of her original ‘favorite things.’”

“What do you get the food lover who has everything?” Oprah Winfrey asked, in the December issue of her magazine. “My cousins Cardale, Burnice and Karla’s Chow Chow,” was her answer. “This savory-sweet relish is magic with salads, sandwiches, and eggs — or just straight out of the jar.”

“This recognition is personal

Rankin

Continued from A11

In September, after returning home from Atlanta, Rankin, too, was infected with the coronavirus. He quarantined himself for two weeks while his partners tended to Shade’s growing clientele.

But, like the stubborn beast that it is, the coronavirus did not retreat. After fluctuating capacity restrictions, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced last month that there would be no more indoor dining or big gatherings at restaurants and bars in the county. COVID-19 infections had risen to alarming rates. At the time of Page’s announcement, the county had averaged 677 new cases every day, the highest weekly average since the pandemic’s beginning. Rankin believes the new restrictions will be a mortal blow to businesses like his.

Not a quitter

Oprah used the Royal Relish on crowder peas during her 30-day vegan diet in 2019.

Cardale Winfrey said: “Our recipe is more than 70 years old and pays homage to the southern women who not only worked in and outside the home, but created and shared the earth’s goodness in a jar by canning and preserving.”

Winfrey Foods was established in 2017 by siblings Karla, Burnice and Cardale Winfrey. The trio took their

grandmother’s chow chow recipe, which had been handed down to their mother, Judy,

and tweaked it to become a flavorful, fat-free, vegan-friendly condiment that complements

in spicy, Nashville hot and original.

any meat or vegetable. Royal Relish is the signature product of Winfrey

Foods, LLC. Royal Relish is a finely blended combination of peppers, onions, cabbage, green tomatoes and spices that wakes up any dish from beans and greens to omelettes, salads, deviled eggs, potato salad, chicken salad, fish and chicken. It is used by many chefs and at select restaurants, including the luxury boxes at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Winfrey Foods’ Original, Spicy and NASHVILLE HOT Chow Chow is available for purchase in specially priced gift packs and individually at winfreyfoods.com. Specially priced gift packs are also available in the Oprah’s Favorite Things storefront on Amazon at amazon.com/oprah or on the Amazon App on iOS and Android, using the discount code: OPRAH. Royal Relish is also available at Publix stores in Tennessee.

and selling properties and was about 10 years into the comedy game — a profession he entered on a dare.

While criticizing comedians at a local comedy club, friends challenged him to enter the next open mic session. He did and “bombed” miserably. But the experience served as motivation.

“I was never one of those comedians who was the class clown. I really didn’t love it. I just didn’t want to fail. I was determined to perfect the craft.”

Armed with a three-ring binder, Rankin wrote down everything he considered funny. He kept going back to amateur comedy shows and got better and better, he said. His determination not to be a loser in comedy propelled him to be a success in the field. Today, the single father of four daughters, he relies on his stubbornness and resolve to again perfect his craft. He’s determined to see Shade survive through the perilous times of the coronavirus.

“This is really going to take a toll. We can’t do dine-in and that really sucks. You have St. Louis city on one side of us and St. Charles on the other. They’re still open (at reduced capacities) and can still do dine-in,” Rankin said. “I won’t be surprised if at the end of this lockdown half of the restaurants and bars in North County will be closed.” Shade hasn’t closed. It won’t, Rankin said, because he’s no quitter, he refuses to lose. It’s a mantra that has carried him through life.

was born. His parents dropped out of high school and worked odd jobs to provide for their children. When his parents entered their 20s, Rankin said his role as caretaker of his three siblings became prominent.

Rankin’s mother and father, Gerald and Barbara Rankin, were 14 and 15 respectively when their first child, Maurice,

“At that age, my parents were ready to go out and party. So, there I was, like 9 or 10

years old getting up, cooking and babysitting my little brothers and sisters.”

Ranken was determined to finish high school and be the first on either side of his family to complete college. But in his senior year of high school he too became a teenage parent, raising his 8-month-old daughter as a single parent.

He entered the U.S. Army, finishing his tour in the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as a combat medic with the 101st Airborne Division.

Pantries

Continued from A11

household goods for families throughout the pandemic, but the increased need for meals is now the most common request from people in the region, said Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

“When you look at what has transpired over the past nine

After the Army, Rankin kept his promise to himself and completed college. Drawn to medicine, he took a position as a business manager with St. Louis ConnectCare in 2000.

Advancing up the ranks, by 2011 Rankin was promoted to chief operations officer at the urgent care services agency.

Motivated not to fail

By the time ConnectCare closed in 2013, Rankin had theoretically planted irons in other fires. He was buying, rehabbing

months and the economic devastation and uncertainty about the future, so many individuals have come through our lines,” McMillan said.

“And so when you look at the inability to go back and get a position in the industry that you worked in for so, so many years, it really creates an economic instability and insecurity for the future, which then turns into a food insecurity for families as well, especially impacting children.”

“I had to come out of pocket to get it open and I’ll do the same to keep it running, Rankin said. “Just from the compliments and feedback we’ve been getting, I know our product is sound. Once everyone is vaccinated, I believe we’ll get a hold on this.”

Right now, the name of the game is surviving the county’s restrictions. This, too, Rankin said, will pass.

“If we can get over this hump, we’ll be OK.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

n “When you look at what has transpired over the past nine months and the economic devastation and uncertainty about the future, so many individuals have come through our lines.”

— Michael McMillan, president and CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

The Urban League hosted its 23rd annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway drive on Tuesday. It provided food, face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to 6,000 families this Thanksgiving. Last year, the organization helped 2,000 families.

McMillan said the organization requested more donations from sponsors this year to give people a sense of normalcy.

“When you look at the middle-class families that were previously doing very well and had job security and benefits and so many other things that we all take for granted in this country, just in February, then you will see a very different face of poverty that has come about because of the pandemic,” McMillan said.

Royal Relish,

Shade Restaurant & Bar in Florissant is open for business, replacing the former Hwy 67 BBQ at 1752 N. New Florissant Road.

Photo by Sylvester Brown

Photo by Gregor Halenda

Jennings schools superintendent Art McCoy announces retirement

This letter has been edited for clarity and length.

“Dear Jennings School District, Board of Education and Community:

“We have had some unprecedented and unpredictable days. Still, it has been my most distinct honor to serve the best, wisest, and multiple award-winning JSD Board of Education.

n “My elderly parents taught me to help home because home helped you become who you are today.”

— Art McCoy

Leading and seeing JSD staff, students and stakeholders standing together, facing everything and rising through epidemics and the current pandemic of COVID-19, have produced some of the most fulfilling days of my life.

“This is our Warrior Way: Loving others, uniting, fighting for what is right, leading, and teaming together to place students first, to transform the community. Our work is internationally admired and exemplary to countless people. We are proof that united we can succeed at nearly anything.

As someone who was born and raised in St. Louis and Jennings, Jennings School District is home. So, it was a humbling honor when I

received the call in the 201516 school year to come back home from Irvine, California, to lead Jennings School District as the superintendent and CEO. My elderly parents taught me to help home because home helped you become who you

are today. In the interview, you asked me to take JSD to the next level and finish my career here unless called to serve at the state or federal level.

Since returning home to Jennings over five years ago, we have accomplished so

much:

• Multiple graduating Jennings classes achieved 100% graduation, career, and college placement.

• Our Career Pathways and Academies from elementary through high schoolers provided real skills, job, and high wages for all JSD children, similar to my opportunity to become a 19-year-old certified math teacher in Rockwood School District.

• We performed at the “Accredited with Distinction” range in 2018-2019, making history: JSD is one of Missouri’s first and only districts, with over 90% of students on free meals and over 90% Black students to achieve over 90% A.P.R./accreditation.

• JSD became a 1-to-1 District of computers-to-students in 2018 and 1-to-1 Chromebooks-to-students plus broadband connectivity in 2020.

• We expanded school-based clinics by creating a preK12 federally qualified health clinic at Fairview Elementary for all medical, dental and mental health student needs; added a homeless shelter to reduce homelessness called Hope House II; created two grocery store food hubs for daily grocery shopping at the J Town Market and Fairview Food Hub; created Centers for Healing Engagement with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and more.

• JSD became the first WE District in Missouri, helping 22,000 students in Missouri join WE Schools.

• JSD had budget surpluses for all six school years and grew the reserves from 21% to nearly 30%.

• $10 million was raised externally to provide extraordinary student programs and engagement.

• We reopened Gore Elementary School as the Gore Community Elementary Center as a small business incubation center by starting the first Raising STL Hub with BJC providing parent mentors and nurses for pregnant mothers, fitness programs, and a new alternative education program for court-appointed youth.

• As the only public district in St. Louis County and city to resume in-person schooling (P-12 grade) in July 2020, JSD has had zero confirmed student transmitted COVID-19 cases to date.

Still, to everything there is a time and a season. Endings are inevitable. They are essential for new beginnings and continual progress. At the September 2019 Board meeting, I relayed to the JSD Board of Education that the 2020-21 school year would likely be my year of retirement. As a board, you graciously issued me a stellar 2020 performance evaluation and a contract through 2023. Throughout my tenure, you supported me in leading other work with business leaders and organizations because it boosted the goodwill and support of Jennings School District and enhanced the support and the success of the region. Together, we have transformed this community, state, nation, and beyond, having led:

• In public education and trailblazing how to do schooling well, even during the COVID-19 pandemic;

• Mental health and trauma-informed/wellness initiatives nationally and internationally with Mental Health America and WE Mental Health;

• Workforce development initiatives regionally to nationally with JAG and CPB American Graduate;

• On the Governor’s COVID-19 School Reopening Education Taskforce; and

• Diversity-inclusion-equity initiatives and conducting conversations on race, gender, and dismantling opposition with fire and police departments, many corporations, and schools/colleges.

Still, after much prayer and reflection, I am publicly formalizing my year-and-a-half old pronouncement to you to retire during 2021 from the Missouri k-12 public school system. I am retiring from the system, but not our mission as a chief warrior in this war against ignorance. At our first press conference in February 2016, our charge was to take Jennings to higher levels from accredited to the accredited-with-distinction range together. We, the students, staff, administrators, board and stakeholders did just that for multiple years. We have made JSD history in many ways. Most of all, we loved and led our children and the community together.

A sincere thank you to all the JSD Warrior staff, administrators, board and supporting partners for your unyielding labor of love, without whom success would be impossible and with whom nearly any success is possible.

To the parents and students, I love you and always will.

On June 30, 2021, I plan to retire as the Jennings School District Superintendent and CEO, but I will always be a JSD Warrior.

Thank you for helping to make this true.

No matter my title, everyone who knows me understands precisely what I plan on doing for decades to come, here and abroad: Educating as if our life, legacy, and liberty depend on it because they do; severing attainment gaps existing in society.

Fondly, Art McCoy, PhD

Dr. Art McCoy talked with Jennings High’s Rayvaan Lowe after taking over as the Jennings School District superintendent. McCoy announced this week that he was retiring.

Photo by Wiley Price

Let’s ‘Finish this Job’

By Vicki C. Washington

For The St. Louis American

Yes, that’s right! The 2020 Presidential election has not yet ended!

Why do we say that?

Because the Georgia Senate runoff contest is still underway — two seats are at stake and voters must make their voices heard!

The runoff process can disenfranchise traditionally underrepresented communities, so it is critical that we provide voters of color with the information they will need to participate in this important runoff election. #Finish the Job

Several groups in the St. Louis area are working with non-partisan groups: The Transformative Justice Coalition, the Voting Rights Alliance and The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda. We will send postcards to at least 1 million voters and potential voters in Georgia. This get out the vote effort prioritizes voters of color in Georgia. We expect to have postcards available sometime the week of Thanksgiving and thereafter, as soon as we receive mailing addresses from Georgia.

We could really use your assistance to motivate people to register to vote, to vote early, and to generally increase turnout so that these communities are represented in this critical decision-making process. And the nonpartisan nature of this effort makes it an ideal, nocontact volunteer activity for church and nonprofit groups committed to promoting civic participation in communities of color.

Important Dates:

Georgia Voter Registration deadline is Dec. 7

Early Voting begins Dec. 14

Election Day is Jan.5

Vicki C. Washington, St. Louis Area Voting Initiative; Jennifer Slavic Lohman, St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition, and Gena Gunn McClendon, Voter Access and Engagement, Brown School of Social Work at Washington University

If you, your organization, or group is willing to help distribute and/or write postcards please, send an email message to: Jennifer@stlvpc. org or Vicki at the stlouisareavotinginitiative@gmail.com. Lastly, if you want to help but just do not want to write postcards, please donate stamps. We still need your help because some people, who’re willing to help write postcards, are unable to afford to purchase stamps.

Please send stamps to: St. Louis Voting Initiative, P.O. Box 410366, St. Louis, MO 63141

Postcard packets (cards, messages, and addresses) will be bundled with 50 postcards, addresses and instructions. All volunteers will need to sign a non-partisanship agreement.

Just dial 211: Collaborative effort creates hotline for gun violence survivors

Volunteers from the Violence Prevention Commission and members of collaborating organizations pose for a photo in summer 2019 after canvassing in Jennings. Their orange clothing not only enhances visibility, it is the color of gun violence prevention.

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

With approximately 20-30 aggravated assaults occurring for every one homicide in the St. Louis region, United Way and the Violence Prevention Commission are working together to set up an intake process for survivors of gun violence through an existing hotline.

The gun violence intake process is designed to initiate critical intervention to interrupt the cycle of violence by offering services and support to gun violence survivors, according to Jessica Meyers, the Violence Prevention Commission’s coordinator and board member.

“The hope is that if we can coordinate these responses to folks, if we can help meet the needs, if we can provide services, then we can break them out of this cycle of violence,” she said.

The hotline has been around for years and helps connect people with a range of services from basic needs to child care to disaster relief to counseling. The gun violence intake process, however, went live a week before COVID19 shut the country down in March and was temporarily put on hold while United Way devoted all of its resources to pandemic response efforts. The intake process resumed in July and has been in service since.

folks have experienced violence, victims of violence have a higher risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder than victims of other types of trauma,” she said. “And some of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are always being on guard, sleeping, re-experiencing the event, but also having anger reactions and some heightened trauma reaction, so helping people to deal with the trauma actually reduces the likelihood that they will have the trauma symptoms that could to them committing a violent act.”

The goal is to streamline the process for people attempting to receive services so they do not become overwhelmed, which is part of the mission of the commission — coordinating a community-level response to non-fatal shootings. While data is not yet available on how many people have gone through the intake process, Meyers said the true measure of success will be what kind of services people are being referred to and whether the community is meeting all the needs of gun violence survivors.

BJC

When someone calls 211 they will be prompted to press 2, putting them in touch with a navigator who asks questions, specifically centered around their experience with gun violence and current needs, in order to put them in touch with the appropriate services. This could include mental health counseling, employment, home repair or securing housing.

Meyers said the first thing the hotline intake process seeks to do is meet people’s basic needs, so as to reduce their likelihood of being involved in future violence.

“The second thing is reducing trauma. So we know when

“What we want to know is, are we effectively getting people to the services we know about and are there continuing unmet needs that we need to try and find a way to fill,” Meyers said. Right now, the collaborative effort is focused on getting the word out about the addition to the hotline so more people know what to do when they or a loved one experiences gun violence.

“We’re not asking anyone to be an expert in all the services that are out there,” Meyers said. “We’re asking that folks know that they can tell their neighbors, their family, their friends who may have experienced this kind of trauma that they can call 211 and that there is help out there, because too often folks don’t know about the services until they’re in the position where they need them and then they don’t know what to do.”

Photo provided by Jessica Meyers

Jessica Meyers, Violence Prevention Commission coordinator and board member

“Taking Care of You”

Willie Riddle drives DAV vans in north St. Louis and north St. Louis County. He said that with the safety precautions the DAV follows he feels safe in doing his job.

Disabled American Veterans need van drivers

By Marissanne Lewis-Thompson St. Louis Public Radio

Many veterans in the region, like Muriel Leyfert, are dependent on the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network in St. Louis to make it to their doctor’s appointments. The 81-year-old said if she didn’t have access to the DAV, she’d have to rely on friends or Uber, which is a $60 expense for her.

“I’ve been with the DAV for a long time,” Leyfert said. “And if it wasn’t for that I really would be in trouble. There is no way I would be able to drive. I have bad vision, and I’m also 81 years old. So it’s best that I don’t be out on the road.”

The nonprofit group has served 5,361 veterans like Leyfert through 11 different routes including St. Louis and St. Louis County, St. Charles and the Metro East.

n A large majority of the requests for their services are in north St. Louis and St. Louis County. Right now, the route has two drivers.

However, the pandemic has made it harder to attract and keep drivers for the free transportation service.

Joseph Braun, the DAV Hospital Service coordinator-John Cochran Division, said with that kind of demand, the group needs more drivers. Many of the volunteer drivers are older adults, themselves, and are concerned about contracting the coronavirus.. As a result, some of the drivers have opted out.

“We’re not going to beat them down and make them feel like they’re 2 inches tall, because they’re doing it,” Braun said. “We understand. This is a pandemic. Their health is No. 1. It ain’t doing no good if you’re not healthy in order to transport other veterans if your own personal health is not within good standing.”

Braun said a large majority of the requests for their services are in north St. Louis and St. Louis County. Right now, the route has two drivers.

“There’s a need for transportation for veterans, but unfortunately the resource to transport those veterans to appointments isn’t there,” he said.

That’s why there’s an effort to get younger

See VETERANS, A19

‘Just in case’

With COVID, younger people are increasingly buying life insurance

By Sylvester Brown Jr. Of The St. Louis American

One day around the end of April, Amber Golden Smallwood, 41, couldn’t breathe.

“It was like an elephant was sitting on my chest,” she recalled.

The Kirkwood resident called her parents. They rushed their only child to an emergency room. Because of coronavirus restrictions, the family had to part ways at the door.

As Smallwood was wheeled away, she glanced at her parents with a frightening thought:

“This may be my last time seeing them.”

One worry Smallwood didn’t have was the thought of leaving her parents with the burden of making funeral arrangements for her.

She has an insurance policy, with a generous payout she said. Her parents, a retired teacher and retired St. Louis County police officer made sure she did. Her mother, the former cop, was most insistent, Smallwood recalled:

“Mom was very specific. She’d say, ‘this is what you all do if I get killed in the line of duty.’ She always wanted us to be prepared just in case.”

Since the spread of the pandemic, many individuals, especially those around Smallwood’s age, are buying insurance policies “just in case” they contract the virus. According to research through September from MIB Group, a data-sharing service for insurance companies, application activity has grown almost twice as fast this year for Americans 44 and younger as for those 45-59. According to a CNBC report in October, younger adults have been buying insurance in elevated numbers since the spring.

Smallwood’s mom stayed on her as she reached adulthood:

Suicide rates on the rise among youth

By Shahla Farzan St. Louis Public Radio

Sharp increase occurred after legislators relaxed state gun laws

Gun-related suicides among young people in Missouri rose sharply after legislators relaxed state gun laws, based on a new report from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, young Black people face increased rates of risk factors, including experiences of racism, higher rates of unemployment and financial and food insecurity, disparities in other aspects of health, and limited access to care.

Despite this heavy burden, Black people and individuals in other racial and ethnic minority groups have historically had relatively low rates of suicide. But this has been changing recently, especially for Black youth.

As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children aged 10-14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents aged 15-19.

By combining data from 2001 to 2015, researchers were able to examine suicides

n As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children aged 10-14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents aged 15-19.

among children ages 12 and younger and found that Black children were more likely to die by suicide than their White peers.

Missouri has had one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the U.S. for the past decade, many of which are suicides among teenagers and young adults. In 2018, a young person died every four days in the state due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Missouri lawmakers have whittled down See SUICIDE, A19

Photo provided by the Disabled American Veterans

The graph above shows suicide rates by age, race and gender from 2007 to 2016.

KurlyTaylor

Amber Golden Smallwood

Rural areas send their sickest patients to cities, straining urban hospitals

By Alex Smith For Kaiser Health News

Registered nurse Pascaline

Muhindura has spent the past eight months treating COVID patients at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

But when she returns home to her small town of Spring Hill, Kansas, she’s often stunned by what she sees, like on a recent stop for carryout food.

“No one in the entire restaurant was wearing a mask,” Muhindura said. “And there’s no social distancing. I had to get out, because I almost had a panic attack. I was like, ‘What is going on with people? Why are we still doing this?’”

Many rural communities across the U.S. have resisted masks and calls for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, but now rural counties are experiencing recordhigh infection and death rates.

Critically ill rural patients

COVID

Continued from A18

“Mom would say, ‘You’re going to need life insurance If something happens, you can’t rely on us to bury you. You cannot put that on us.’”

Smallwood is pleased that she heeded her parent’s advice. She takes comfort knowing that if she does die, her retired parents will be OK. Because she’s already determined that she will be cremated, Smallwood has left instructions for her beneficiaries to donate the remaining payout from her policy to a deserving student who needs money for college.

are often sent to city hospitals for high-level treatment and, as their numbers grow, some urban hospitals are buckling under the added strain.

Like St. Louis, Kansas City has a mask mandate, but in many smaller communities nearby, masks aren’t required — or masking orders are routinely ignored. In the past few months, rural counties in both Missouri and Kansas have seen some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the country.

At the same time, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News about three in four counties in Missouri and Kansas don’t have a single intensive care unit bed, so when people from these places get critically ill, they’re sent to city hospitals.

A recent patient count at St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City showed a quarter of COVID patients had come from outside the metro area.

Two-thirds of the patients coming from rural areas need

and I ask what funeral home they’re working with, most will say ‘oh, we don’t want to deal with that right now.’ After a person drops dead, that’s when they have to call six or seven family members to raise money.”

n “We’re all going to die. It’s not a matter of how, it’s a matter of when. I want to leave something for the people I leave behind. I have a 2-year-old son, I have a nephew as well.”

– Kurly Taylor

Smallwood said that unfortunately many black families aren’t prepared when a loved one dies. She’s a social worker at an assisted living facility in St. Louis. She said at least 90 residents have become infected with the coronavirus within the past nine months at the Too many black families, she said, aren’t prepared when their loved one dies.

“When they place them here

Suicide

Continued from A18

gun regulations in recent years, shaping them into some of the least restrictive in the nation. Gun-related suicides among young adults ages 19 to 24 had been declining since at least 1999, according to the analysis of publicly available data. But in 2007, firearm suicide rates in this age group jumped by nearly 22% after the state eliminated its permit-to-purchase requirement. The law had previously required Missourians to submit an application to their local

Veterans

Continued from A18

drivers. Currently, the DAV Transportation Network has 63 volunteer drivers and coordinators. Braun said they’ll need at least 100 to be able to properly meet the needs of all the

intensive care and stay in the hospital for an average of two weeks, said Dr. Marc Larsen, who leads COVID-19 treatment at St. Luke’s.

Dr. Rex Archer, head of Kansas City’s health department, warns that capacity at the city’s 33 hospitals is being put at risk by the influx of rural patients.

“We’ve had this huge swing that’s occurred because they’re not wearing masks, and yes, that’s putting pressure on our hospitals, which is unfair to our residents that might be denied an ICU bed,” Archer said.

A study newly released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Kansas counties that mandated masks in early July saw decreases in new COVID cases, while counties without mask mandates recorded increases.

Hospital leaders have continued to plead with Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson,

and with Kansas’ conservative legislature, to implement stringent, statewide mask requirements but without success.

Parson won the Missouri gubernatorial election on Nov. 3 by nearly 17 percentage points. Two days later at a COVID briefing, he accused critics of “making the mask a political issue.” He said county leaders should decide whether to close businesses or mandate masks.

“We’re going to encourage them to take some sort of action,” Parson said Thursday. “The holidays are coming and I, as governor of the state of Missouri, am not going to mandate who goes in your front door.”

In an email, Dave Dillon, a spokesperson for the Missouri Hospital Association, agreed that rural patients might be contributing to hospital crowding in cities but argued that the strain on hospitals is a statewide problem.

The reasons for the rural

COVID crisis involve far more than the refusal to mandate or wear masks, according to health care experts.

Both Missouri and Kansasi have seen rural hospitals close year after year, and public health spending in both states, as in many largely rural states, is far below national averages.

Cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City, have managed to slow cases, but the continual emergence of rural hot spots across Missouri has driven a slow and steady increase in overall new case numbers — and put an unrelenting strain on the states’ hospital systems.

The months of slow but continuous growth in cases created a high baseline of cases as autumn began, which then set the stage for the sudden escalation of numbers in the recent surge.

“It’s sort of the nature of epidemics that things often look like they’re relatively under control, and then very quickly ramp up to seem that

they are out of hand,” said Justin Lessler, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But bed space isn’t the only hospital resource that’s running out. Many hospitals are reporting “critical” staffing shortages. Pascaline Muhindura, the nurse who works in Kansas City, said that hospital workers are struggling with anxiety and depression.

“The hospitals are not fine, because people taking care of patients are on the brink,” Muhindura said. “We are tired.”

This story is from a reporting partnership that includes KCUR, NPR and KHN. Pull quote

Like St. Louis, Kansas City has a mask mandate, but in many smaller communities nearby, masks aren’t required — or masking orders are routinely ignored.

Smallwood has started asking relatives and residents about their funeral plans. She’s even contacted funeral homes and provides information about “pre-need agreements” policies people can prepay in advance for goods or services they or their relatives will receive upon death.

“We have to talk about this. As a social worker, I’ve gotten to where I know what these funeral homes charge. So, if you need a cheap funeral or cremation, I know where they can go.”

When asked why she thinks her demographic have increasingly bought life insurance, Smallwood said the coronavirus has made people her age re-evaluate their priorities?

“I know it has for me. This thing is killing people left and right. One minute you’re here and the next you’re gone. And if you have a wife, kids, a fam-

sheriff’s office before purchasing a handgun from licensed dealers or private sellers. Since the 1920s, it served as an “extra step” in the gun buying process, said study co-author and University of MissouriKansas City psychiatry resident Apurva Bhatt, “to make sure that those who were getting a firearm could have it safely.”

Though it’s difficult to track how many guns are purchased in Missouri each year, she said, repealing the law may have allowed more people to buy guns and made them more accessible.

“We saw a pretty drastic decline in non-firearm suicide rates, suggesting that poten-

communities they serve. As it stands, some routes only have drivers available once or twice a week.

And the pandemic is making it harder to attract more drivers.

Willie Riddle, a Marine Corps veteran, is one of the drivers on that north city and county route. Riddle said the DAV has put safety precautions

ily, or a home … yeah, you’re going to need those high (paying) policies.”

At the age of 26, Kurly Dianal Taylor is already on that page. Kurly’s parents

tially people were switching to firearm methods,” Bhatt said.

‘It’s all about access’

Previous research has found similar results, reporting a 16% increase in overall firearm suicide rates in Missouri following the law change.

Still, the trend in gun-related suicides appears to extend beyond Missouri’s elimination of the permit-to-purchase law. The University of MissouriKansas City analysis finds subsequent changes to the state’s gun laws have been followed by a spike in firearm suicide rates among teenagers.

In 2014, lawmakers reduced the legal age to obtain a concealed carry permit to 19 years

in place to protect drivers and the veterans including masks and other personal protection equipment, sanitation supplies and a partition between the front and back seats. He said he feels safe.

“I don’t do any face-to-face contact,” Riddle said. “I have plenty of PPE, and I’m very conscious of what I touch and

also insisted that he and his sister get life insurance. He got his first policy at age 22. For Kurly though, a teacher at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy High School in

old — and afterwards, gun suicide rates rose by 32% among Missouri teenagers aged 14 to 18 years old.

Though underlying factors driving the pattern are still unclear, said study co-author Jeffrey Metzner, the legislative change may have made it easier for young teens to access guns in the home.

“It’s possible as more people buy weapons that could be used in concealed carry, they’re also then not keeping them as safely,” said Metzner, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and director of acute psychiatric services at Truman Medical

who touches it after they are in and out.”

To help ease that stress on the drivers, coordinators like Braun ask veterans while they’re setting up their appointments and transportation needs if they’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. That information is then verified again before the driver picks

St. Louis, being insured is an investment in the future.

“We’re all going to die. It’s not a matter of how, it’s a matter of when,” Taylor said. “I want to leave something for the

Center. It’s not a coincidence that suicide rates among teenagers and adolescents increased after Missouri loosened its gun restrictions, said Lindsay Clukies, pediatric emergency room physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

“It’s all about access,” Clukies said. “We know that states with more restrictive firearm laws have lower rates of suicide, unintentional injuries and firearm-related injuries as a whole.”

Barring a change to state law, controlling access to firearms in the home is one of the most direct ways to reduce the risk, she added.

them up.

“Because the way this pandemic is going, you could be fine one day, the next day you could have it full blown,” Braun said.

Despite the risk, Riddle said the job is worth it. He said he’s happy to help serve fellow veterans.

“Those veterans, they’ve

people I leave behind. I have a 2-year-old son, I have a nephew as well. I have an insurance policy that accumulates cash. So, when I retire, I can pull money from the policy to start a business or my son can use the policy to go to college or start his own business.”

Taylor said there are a few key factors that he believes explain why younger people are increasingly buying life insurance policies.

“Information, as well as COVID, is at the forefront. A lot of Gen Xers and Millennials, who went to college have amassed a lot of debt. They also realize that if they want to buy a house, having a policy with cash value is important. Because of social media more people are thinking about these things.” Taylor’s father, Curly Taylor, 57, contracted the virus early in the year. Several relatives and members of his church were stricken as well, he said. Thankfully, his father has recovered. For Kurly Taylor, it was just another reminder about facing the fragility of life.

“For me, it’s just about being prepared. anything can happen and I want to make sure things are taken care of. I’m looking out for my family’s safety.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital has begun a gun screening program for all patients who come to the emergency room in an effort to provide informal safety training. Physicians ask the roughly 60,000 patients and their families who visit the ER each year whether they have guns at home and how they’re stored. Families can also take a free gun lock from a basket in the hospital’s waiting room, no questions asked. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

fought for our freedom and they served our nation,” Riddle said. “And now it’s our time to serve them.” Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to contact Joseph Braun, the DAV Hospital Service coordinator-John Cochran Division at 314-289-6443, option 2.

Kurly Taylor said that among his reasons for obtaining life insurance at a relatively young age is to be sure that his partner, Mayra Garcia-Hernandez, and their son, also named Kurly, would be provided for if he were to die.

Photo provided by Kurly Taylor

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

Don't Skip Breakfast!

Healthy Kids

If we divide the word, “breakfast” into two words we have BREAK & FAST. To “fast” means to go for a long period of time without eating. By the time morning comes, most of us haven’t eaten for sometimes ten hours or more! Our body needs a nutritious, healthy breakfast to start the new day. Kids who eat a healthy breakfast are better able to focus at school, tend to eat better (healthier) throughout the day and will have

Exercise Challenge:

Holiday Hunt

more energy. Try including whole grains, fruits and proteins into your breakfast for a nice healthy start to your day!

Try This:

Make your own healthy granola bars or small baggies of trail mix. Many recipes can be found online and having them ready-to-go will make mornings easier!

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

Now that we are into the holiday season, create your own Neighborhood Holiday Hunt. Make a list of different holiday items you want to find, before you take a walk. Your list could include a leftover Halloween pump-

kin, a fall (or Thanksgiving) decoration, Christmas wreath, Kwanzaa kinara, Hanukkah stars, etc.

Walk briskly enough to increase your heart rate, but bring a notebook to document your findings. You can also create bingo cards with the items listed in different squares. See who gets a bingo first! Change your list every few days to see what new treasures you find.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, HPE 6, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

Helping Others

Let’s think of some ways to spread holiday cheer to others this year!

> Safely bake healthy holiday snacks and deliver them to someone who serves the community and has to work on Christmas day (police, firemen, nurses, doctors, etc.)

> Clean out your closets and donate your unused coats. Many families cannot afford new winter coats this season.

> Make some holiday decorations or cards that could be donated to a local nursing home.

> Collect canned goods for local families to have plenty of food over the holidays.

> What are some other things you could do to make a difference in the lives of others this holiday season?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 2, NH 8

Cinnamon Bagel Crisps

Ingredients:

1 Whole Bagel (cinnamon or plain)

1 Tbsp Butter

1 Tbsp Cinnamon sugar

Directions: Slice stale bagel into thin rounds. Brush lightly with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 10-15 minutes in a 325 degree oven, until crisp.

Careers

Ella M. Duncan, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S

Where do you work? I am a clinical social worker, registered play therapist and private practice owner of Anchored Counseling Services.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Northwest High School in St. Louis. I then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work degrees from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, and a PhD in Family Therapy from St. Louis University.

What does a clinical social worker and registered play therapist do? I work with families and children who are having problems with sadness, worries, fears, and hurt because of bad things that have happened to them or their families. I use toys, Sandtray miniatures, and games to help them get their feelings out and to learn new ways to feel better about themselves.

Why did you choose this career? Everybody and every family will have bad things happen to them some time in their lives, like being hurt by someone else, seeing someone they love get hurt, or having deaths of loved ones and pets. I enjoy helping them know that they are not the only ones and that they can survive and become better people and families, no matter what has happened to them.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love doing Sandtray and play therapy with all ages. I think it is wonderful to get paid to “play” with children and families and to see them get better because of it. I also enjoy being in private practice where I am my own boss.

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

Discover the nature of our seasons and why the winter solstice has long been a time of celebration in this live star show.

Showtimes available through January 1. For more information, visit slsc.org/wintershow

The Science Center encourages everyone to explore safely. For information on our safety protocols, visit slsc.org/exploresafe

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

Science students use The St. Louis American’s online STEM page to research and understand careers related to forensic science.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

African-American Biomedical Engineer Treena Livingston Arinzeh

nie@stlamerican.com.

SCIENCE CORNER

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to selfrenew and change into mature cells. There are two main types: adult cells which generate replacement bone and muscle cells that are lost through injury or normal wear, and embryonic cells that are starter cells that can change and become other types of cells.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Researchers grow stem cells in labs and alter them to be specific types of cells, such as heart cells. Stem cell transplants, also known as bone marrow transplants, replace cells damaged by chemotherapy or cancer. Stem cell research has helped scientists make advances to treat Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. For more information, visit: http:// science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellularmicroscopic/stem-cell.htm.

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

See your DNA

In this experiment, you will get to witness your very own DNA.

Materials Needed:

• 20 oz. Bottled water

• 3 Clear Plastic Cups or Glasses

• Clear Liquid Dish Soap

• 1 Tbsp Table Salt

• 100 Ml Isopropyl Alcohol

• Blue Food Coloring

Procedure:

q Mix some bottled water with the salt in one of the cups.

Stir until salt is dissolved.

w Transfer 3 Tbsp of the salt water into a separate cup.

e Gargle the salt water for 1 minute without swallowing it.

r Spit the water back into the cup.

t Add one drop of dish liquid to the salt water. Stir gently. Try not to create any bubbles.

y In a separate cup, mix the alcohol and 3 drops food coloring.

u Gently pour the alcohol and food coloring mixture into the salt water cup. Tilt the salt water cup as you pour, so the alcohol mixture forms a layer on top of the salt water.

i Wait for 2.5 minutes. You should see white clumps and strings forming. The white clumps and strings are your DNA. Reflect: When you gargle and spit in a cup, some of your cheek cells entered the cup. The dish liquid breaks down the cheek membranes, allowing the DNA to enter the water. Because DNA is not soluble in alcohol, it will form a solid where the salt water layers meet.

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can observe and analyze results.

Math Games for Fun

Math games are a great way to spend time with your friends and family while sharpening your skills. Try these games and see what you think.

HOW MANY NUMBERS CAN BE MADE:

Materials Needed: A Deck of Cards • Paper and Pencils

Give each player a piece of paper and a pencil. Using the cards from 1 to 9, deal four cards out with the numbers showing. Using all four cards and a choice of any combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, have each player see how many different numbers a person can get in 5 minutes. Players get one point for each answer. For example, suppose the cards drawn are 4, 8, 9, and 2. What numbers can be made? Which player came up with the most combinations?

Which player had the highest number? Which player had the lowest number?

DID YOU KNOW?

MAKE THE MOST OF IT:

Materials Needed: A Deck of Cards

You will use cards 1 to 9. Each player alternates drawing one card at a time, trying to create the largest 5-digit number possible. As the cards are drawn, each player puts the cards down in their “place” (ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones) with the numbers showing. Once placed, a card cannot be moved. The player with the largest 5-digit number wins. For example, if a 2 was drawn first, the player might place it in the ones’ place, but if the number had been an 8, it might have been put in the ten thousands’ place. For an added challenge, practice rounding your number to the nearest ten thousands’ place, to the nearest thousand, etc. Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve a problem.

In 1997,

was Dolly.

Treena Livingston Arinzeh inherited a love of math and science from her father, who was a biochemist. When she was in high school, she witnessed her father have a stroke and become paralyzed. That was her inspiration to use her skills in math and science to find a way to help cure people in need. She had a high school teacher who encouraged her to pursue a career in engineering. Arinzeh couldn’t picture that because she had never seen an African-American engineer.

Arinzeh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University, in 1992. Two years later, she earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. In 1999, she earned a PhD in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduation, she worked as a project leader at Osiris Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that specializes in stem cell medicine. In 2001, she became a founding member of the Biomedical Engineering department at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She was an assistant professor for five years, was promoted to associate professor, and then became a full professor in 2011. Her research has focused on stem cell therapy and has led to two significant discoveries. The first discovery is that stem cells, mixed with scaffolds, can help regenerate bone growth and damaged tissue. The second discovery is that stem cells from one person can be successfully implanted into another. This technique is being replicated in bone marrow transplants.

Arinzeh was awarded the Board of Overseers Excellence in Research Prize and Medal from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from President Bush. In 2003, the National Science Foundation also gave Arinzeh a Faculty Early Career Development Award with a $400,000 research grant. She also earned the Outstanding Scientist Award from the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research, “People to Watch in 2005” in the Star-Ledger, and the Coulter Foundation Translational Award. In 2013, Arinzeh was elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Arinzeh encourages parents and teachers to help AfricanAmerican students find mentors in the STEM fields. She said, “I think they don’t see enough of us that look like them so they can identify with that career as something they can actually do.”

Learning Standards: who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

MAP CORNER

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

Activities — Rules and Consequences:

example in the newspaper of someone who did not follow a school or government rule. Write out what happened because the person did not follow the rule and who was affected most.

Analyzing logos: Look through the newspaper and find three logos that interest you. What appeals to you—the shape, the color, or something else? What does the logo say about the product or company?

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience. I can make text-to-world connections.

scientists cloned a lamb from stem cells. Her name

Living It

‘A New Husband for Christmas’ discusses marriage and divorce from Christian point of view

Film centers around marital issues and relationship restoration

By Danielle Brown Of The St. Louis American

The most wonderful time of the year has a different meaning for Kelly and Stan Stevenson

(Keyona Bledsoe and Freddie T. Cole Jr.). Instead of celebrating Christmas joy the couple is faced with making a difficult decision —will they get a divorce or will they stay married?

In the film “A New Husband for Christmas,” which premiered Nov. 1 on Amazon, Kyria Williams, playwright and producer, chronicles the rocky relationship of Kelly and Stan with Christian values emphasized at the forefront. Williams’ stage play “Marriage Works If You Work It” is the inspiration behind the film. That’s also a common saying her pastor, Raymond D. Horry of Ark of Safety Christian Church, uses to describe the hard work that goes into marriage.

“I thought the movie was great and the message was on point,” Horry said. “Marriage works if you work it, implying that you have to put in the work. Most people either quit, give up or they don’t put the work in.

“Folks faint because times get hard, so they stop working. You must keep working and that’s the name of the game for her in the film.”

Williams considers herself to be a devout Christian, someone who has a strong commitment to live their life according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She said she saw the need to incorporate faith into all her productions, especially for this film. Her convictions stem from her personal relationship with Christ.

CAM celebrates Black queer community

Qu’art and CAM join forces in Black Friday Marketplace

and Ball

By Danielle Brown Of The St. Louis American

Last weekend it was all about strut, vogue, pose and style. Qu’art, did its thing at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Qu’art (pronounced “quart”), focuses on queer art and social change.

Once again, the organization — founded by Maxi Glamour, a non-binary community activist — pulled together an evening of Black liberation and empowerment, while amplifying Black queer voices and artists. Alas, this year’s event came to its audience via Twitch, thanks to the ongoing pandemic.

Qu’art was founded six years ago by Glamour to focus on queer people through art. The organization works to help people become engaged in civil discourse about politics, using art as a vehicle for getting them in.

“2020 has been a ruckus for everyone in the world especially Black queer people,” Glamour said in an interview. “We’re going to uplift Black artists, uplift Black voices, and uplift Black people focusing on marginalized queer folks.”

The electrifying event echoed the importance of supporting Black queer artists by buying their art. This year’s featured artists were Annie Kern, Asia Johnson-Brimmage, Kyla Hawkins, Ki Patrick, Ori Tala, Mya Stevens and Tiélere Cheatem. Several participants said they enjoy incorporating the Black experience into their art, from the routine to the intergalactic.

“In my art I like to capture the Black experience because if you look at history Black people either haven’t been represented in art or have been represented in ways that are stereotypical,” Johnson-Brimmage said. “It’s an image that you get tired of seeing.”

Drag performers Majic Dyke, HarleyQuin Chesire, Glamour, Zoe Meltdown, The Vixen, Shigo Ladurée,and TiKi Vonté each commanded high-pumping, adrenaline-driven performances. In a black and white visual, Dyke lip-synched the lyrics to Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA,” decked out in Egyptian attire, looking regal and seated on a throne. Their portrayal paid homage to images from the single’s video. Chesire reimagined the fictional DC Comic character Harley Quinn with a more eclectic appeal, sporting hot pink hair with a bevy of multicolored bows.

Not to be outdone, Vonté coordinated their blue and white outfit with balloons of the same colors and used them as props to pop during their athletic performance. Glamour, the master of ceremonies, wore a gold and burgundy Victorian-themed gown. Augmenting their gown was an overdramatic, diamond-encrusted tiara with big hoops and long, cascading tresses. Kelly Rowland’s “Coffee,” blared in the background of Ladurée’s beachy vibes to allow

and

stars

Michelle Bathé will be a part of Metro Theater Company’s upcoming holiday event ‘A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading’ on Dec. 10 and 13.

Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathé join MTC reading of “A Christmas Carol”

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis

American

Sterling K. Brown has doubled down on gifting his celebrity to the worthy cause of lifting the spirits of his hometown as the region continues to grapple with the new normal of COVID-19.

The latest from the Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actor, producer and St. Louis native will most certainly spread some holiday cheer in these unprecedented times. Joined by his wife, fellow actor and producer Ryan Michelle Bathé — and several local, national and internationally renowned artists and personalities with St. Louis connections — Brown will participate in Metro Theater Company’s upcoming holiday event A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading The reading will stream for free on at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec.10 and at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13.

“While we so many of us in St. Louis can’t be together in person with as many people as we would like to be for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s, we at MTC asked ourselves what we could do to help keep bring our community together, even it could only be virtually,” said Joe Gfaller, Managing Director of Metro Theater Company.

See Qu’art, B2 n “I’ve been gone for a while, but I will never forget where I’m from.”

“Thanks to the generous support of so many who have volunteered their time and talent, we have been able to create what we hope may be a new holiday tradition for St. Louis: a reading of the beloved classic A Christmas Carol, featuring so many from across St. Louis who have brought hope and help to our community during this challenging year.”

- Sterling K. Brown

Bathé and Brown will be joined by Ellie Kemper, Judith Ivey, Ken Page, Christine Brewer, Justin Willman, Ruth Ezell, Aisha Sultan, Julius B. Anthony, Alicia Revé Like, Carl Overly Jr., Lamarr Mosley and more than two dozen others.

The lineup includes celebrities, artists, and athletes;first responders, media personalities, local leaders in literature and more.

Metro Theater Company Artistic Director Julia Flood condensed the classic Charles Dickens novel, with each reader’s excerpt on camera, stitched it all together, to create a 60-minute program.

All funds raised through donations to this event support MTC’s programs during the coronavirus pandemic to connect young people to the power and impact of theater, through live performances, virtual programs and arts-integrated classroom experiences.

Brown is a graduate of MICDS, with roots in

See Sterling, B2

Film

television

Sterling K. Brown and Ryan

Olivette. He currently stars in the top-rated NBC drama “This is Us.” His role as Randall Pearson has earned him Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Award honors.

He has also earned an Emmy nomination for a recurring performance in Amazon Prime’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and critical acclaim in the films “The Rhythm Section,” “Frozen 2” and “Waves.”

Bathé appeared in a recurring role on “This Is Us” from 2016-2018 before securing series regular roles on the CBS courtroom drama “All Rise” and the BET+ sitcom “First Wives Club.”

Born in St. Louis, Bathé was raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She and Brown met while attending Stanford University. They both went on to earn master of fine arts degrees from New York University. The couple married in 2007 and have two sons. Prior to lending his presence to various causes during the pandemic – including The St. Louis American Foundation’s first-ever virtual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala two months ago – Brown starred in the 2017 Explore St. Louis “In The Know” campaign.

He was also the guest speaker for The American Cancer Society’s Fourth Annual Champions of Hope Gala last November.

“I’ve been gone for a while, but I will never forget where I’m from,” Brown told The American ahead of the release of his films “Frozen 2” and “Waves” last year. “If you get caught up in Hollywood, you can lose sense of the humanity that allowed you to get there in the first place.” Metro Theater Company’s

A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading streams Thursday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 p.m. Reservations are free to make, but donors who give $50 with their reservation will receive a DVD of the broadcast

to enjoy as a holiday tradition for years to come. Donors who give at the $250 level will enjoy that DVD as well as a holiday gift package from Metro Theater Company. For more information, visit http://metroplays.org/christmascarol

“As I was sitting in church

getting all these uncompromising teachings of the word of God, understanding and applying the principles to my life, God confirmed to me that my assignment was to write,” Williams said.

“I believe that’s definitely where my energy, just everything, my enthusiasm, everything comes from — basically saying ‘hey the word of God works’.”

Since its release, the film currently has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating. Williams said she is grateful for the positive feedback she has received and she always aims to make content enjoyable for the viewers.

One local viewer, Leandra

Qu’art

Continued from B1

for three wardrobe changes that included a crocheted swimsuit and mountains of straight and curly hair.

Over-the-top fun continued as The Vixen showcased their fancy “Tea Party,” in mismatching prints and bold wigs.

Meltdown channeled their inner schoolgirl-meets-goth in an outfit, very reminiscent of the early 2000s.

In a much tamer portion of the evening, Glamour moderated a video panel with Phillipe Cunningham, Minneapolis City Council member — the first and only trans man of color elected to office in the United States; The Vixen, past participant in the 10th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and producer of the drag show ‘Black Girl Magic’; and Kayla Reed, co-founder and executive director of Action St. Louis, which focuses on the fight against systemic racism and violence.

When asked how queer people can combat oppression, The Vixen replied, “As long as people can be treated in a certain way it doesn’t matter if you’re one of those people, as long as that is normalized, it could happen to you.”

“You must lead with empathy, knowing that if a woman is in danger it’s a slippery slope until any other minority could be [at risk].”

Meko Lee Burr took honors

Green, has been married to her husband, Ray, for 19 years. She thinks the movie is relatable and shows a true representation of what marriage looks like.

“I love that the two main characters gave a true perspective of marriage when there are two people from two different walks of life and how bumping heads causes a divide in your home,” Green said. “I really liked that it was a realistic movie, ‘cause a lot of times you see movies and it’s just not real.”

Although “A New Husband for Christmas” is based on marriage, Williams said the film isn’t limited only to married couples. She said the film has something to offer for singles people, too. She wants fans to walk away knowing that God is real, and all things can improve by trusting in God.

All the actors in the film are from St. Louis and the entire movie was shot locally.

Williams lives in Florissant. The film was produced by Williams and her husband, Leconte Williams, through her company KMW Productions, LLC, in association with Mullen Group Productions. It was directed by Atlanta-based director Derrick Mullen of Mullen Group Productions. KMW is a Christianbased production company. Its mission is to spread the word of God through theater, films, books, and events. The company has produced four stage productions including “Love Changes Things,” “The Wakeup Call,” “Moving Forward,” and ‘Marriage Works If You Work It,’ and two movies “The Wakeup Call” movie and “A New Husband for Christmas.”’ ANHFC is available to rent or purchase here: https://www. amazon.com/New-HusbandChristmas-Keyona-Bledsoe/dp/ B08L4LBCV4

Qu’art - founded by Maxi Glamour, a non-binary community activist - pulled together an evening of Black liberation and empowerment, while amplifying Black queer voices and artists. Alas, this year’s event came to its audience via Twitch, thanks to the ongoing pandemic.

as narrator for the vogue and ball competition that closed out the evening. Midwest Mother Vanessa Ebony took the crown for Vogue Performance and Blaze Revlon killed the Runway. Art may be purchased through CAM’s Black Friday Marketplace at https://camstl.org/collections/blackfridaymarketplace/.

Sterling K. Brown, his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathé, and the couple’s two sons at the red-carpet premiere of ‘Frozen 2’ last year in Los Angeles. Brown and Bathé are among the all-star STL lineup of Metro Theater Company’s ‘A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading’ on December 10.

Art imitates life

Anna E. Crosslin, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, has been selected to receive the 2020 Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Missouri Commission on Human Rights’ Missouri Human Rights Conference, which is being held virtually.

The Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award was established by MCHR to recognize individuals who have dedicated their professional and personal lives to advancing human rights in Missouri and has been presented at its International Human Rights Day celebrations since Dec. 7, 2012.

“I have truly enjoyed working with Commissioner Anna Crosslin since her appointment by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in 2013,” said Missouri Commission on Human Rights Executive Director Dr. Alisa Warren.

Commission on Human Rights in 1958. Despite being denied admission to the journalism school of her choice, due to her race, Bluford, who was African-American, went on to become a top journalist and editor in the nation and noted civil rights leader.

“Commissioner Crosslin’s fervent dedication to our agency’s mission has made her a pleasure to work with over the years. She has a strong personal and professional commitment to serving the needs of marginalized communities and has relentlessly promoted equity and inclusion — whether it be for newcomers, workers, or businesses — in an effort to create a stronger Missouri. We are proud to honor her leadership and contributions to the advancement of human rights with this award,” she added.

The Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award was named in honor of the first woman named to the Missouri

“It is a great honor to receive this recognition from my colleagues on the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. Serving on the Commission has been an honor made even more meaningful by the presentation of this award commemorating the extraordinary life of Lucile Bluford, a true pioneer for equal rights for African Americans and women,” Crosslin said. “I’m grateful to have been selected for the Bluford award and to join the ranks of such a prestigious list of past recipients.” Crosslin has led the International Institute of St. Louis since 1978. Recently, she announced that she will retire in March 2021. Founded in 1919, the Institute provides English classes, job placement, counseling, micro-lending, refugee resettlement, and other integrative services to more than 6,000 immigrants from 75 countries annually.

She has been instrumental in the founding and operation of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, serving on the Steering Committee and as chair of its Infrastructure Committee. Crosslin also serves on the Board of the National Asian Pacific Centers for Aging (Seattle) and is a board member of the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

This program is funded at 12% at $8,700 by federal funds and 88% at $63,800 by nongovernmental sources for a total amount of $72,500. The federal funds are received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Frank James, also known as “The Curbside Artist,” paints in Forest Park on Wed. Dec. 2, 2020. The self-taught artist puts the finishing touches on a painting of the St. Louis Art Museum that he started over summer.

Religion

Former Belleville bishop Gregory becomes first Black American cardinal

The St. Louis American

Wilton Gregory has received his red hat and ring from Pope Francis, becoming the first Black American cardinal in the history of Catholicism. Gregory, 72, has been the archbishop of Washington, D.C. since 2019. He also served as bishop of Belleville, for 10 years, beginning at the end of 1993. Gregory is one of 13 bishops and priests elevated to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday. With the ceremony, Francis has appointed 73 of the 128 cardinals who can elect the next pope. Before the ceremony, Gregory said in an interview that he viewed his appointment as “an affirmation of Black Catholics in the United States,

the heritage of faith and fidelity that we represent.” In an interview in October, said he hoped the U.S. hierarchy can broaden its concept of “pro-life” so that other pressing issues can be considered top priorities along with opposition to abortion.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory

Gregory has endorsed proposals to include the history of Black Catholics in the U.S. as part of the curriculum in Catholic schools. Amid nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice this year, some Black Catholics said the curriculum should be more honest about the church’s past links to slavery and segregation, and more detailed in portraying how Black Catholics persevered. All U.S. Catholics “should know the full panoply of the heritage of Black people in the church,” Gregory said. “It’s not a full history until all the components have a rightful place in the telling of the story.”

The Message

Lip service please

I believe I had a revelation about the “Word.” It was just the result of my mind wondering about John 1:1-2.

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” How about that for a definition of the Lord. God is love notwithstanding, I found it quite illuminating that this definition is referenced on numerous occasions throughout scripture.

My revelation is based on

the simplest of insights that just make so much sense to me. The association between the tongue and the Word seemingly confirms the innate power and existence of God. How so?

The tongue a.k.a. the Word has the power to heal, the power to kill, to uplift and save, as well as to condemn and destroy. After all, the Bible tells us that God “spoke” us into existence with the utterance of one simple phrase; Let there be light.”

In my limited mental capacity, I can think of a lot of other ways to describe God.

Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being come to mind.

But the revelation of which I speak puts a different perspective in play. At a very important Pentecost, ‘They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” Acts 2:3. Hear this: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.

It’s this truth that I’m talking about. How many of you have been destroyed by a comment? How many of you have had your attitude change because of a compliment.? How many of you have been uplifted and inspired by words or better yet, how many of you have used words to inspire or uplift? How many have used words to condemn and destroy?

Remember, faith comes by hearing? The gospel of Jesus Christ is characterized as “good news” and our witness is to spread the truth by word and deed. Please recognize that our own power rests in the use of our tongues. Our entire

St. Louis Children’s Hospital: Head to Toe

BUILDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IN CHALLENGING TIMES

St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Child Health Advocacy and Outreach programs are offering services during COVID-19 to ensure we do what’s right for children and their families every day. We want healthy kids to stay healthy. Kids who are overweight are at risk of serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Our Head to Toe program gives families the tools they need during the pandemic to make healthier choices so that kids feel great and increase their self-esteem.

“The Head to Toe Program is a great resource for the St. Louis community. As a pediatrician, I often recommend these classes to my patients who are struggling with healthy lifestyle choices,” says Maggie McCormick, MD.

Her recommendations have a personal aspect as well, “My daughter and attended classes together, and we had a wonderful experience.

With the knowledge she gained at Head to Toe, my daughter is more equipped to make better choices on her own.”

Choose an Orientation Date That Work’s Best for You!

• Tuesday, December 8

• Wednesday, December 16

• Thursday, January 7

• Tuesday, January 12

• Wednesday, January 20

Each orientation is held virtually from 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

The virtual Head to Toe spring class will meet weekly for 17 weeks, Jan. 27, 2021-May 19, 2021.

For information about the upcoming class or to register for an orientation date, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS (5437). Class scholarships are available. Child Health Advocacy and Outreach programs are made possible by generous donations to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation.

There also have been calls for the Catholic church to offer some sort of reparations because of its past involvement in slavery, but Gregory said any such initiatives would have to be made by individual institutions, not by the church as a whole.

He cited the example of Catholic-affiliated Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., which is committing funds to benefit the descendants of enslaved people sold to pay off the school’s debts.

Being chosen to head Vatican departments or eventually becoming pope themselves could be in any of these new cardinals’ future. Cardinals often advise popes and pick the next pontiff by conferring among themselves and then meeting in secret conclave to

existence revolves around an understanding that we are made in God’s image and therefore accept our part in the truth of His Word, in Him being first and last and forever Word; and our being an extension of that Word.

What if you knew and internalized that the words that come out of your mouth come directly from God? What if you understood the real spiritual nature of words?

To use them unwisely is to sin against God and man. On the other hand, to use them wisely lovingly, charitably and humbly is to act according to the will of God. For me this revelation is truly a blessing because it lets me know I have a choice. I have to break some bad habits,

select one of their own to lead the Roman Catholic Church and its roughly 1.3 billion rankand-file faithful. Saturday’s ceremony, known as a consistory, was subdued compared with years past as the coronavirus pandemic put a damper on what would normally be a day of pomp and circumstance. Although St. Peter’s Basilica normally holds thousands, each cardinal was limited to 10 guests, and the basilica was mostly empty. Guests and the new cardinals wore masks. As a precaution, the cardinal candidates who traveled to Rome from abroad had been in quarantine at the Vatican for 10 days before the ceremony.

but I do have a choice when it comes to using the blessing of words to convey what is in my heart and spirit, and using them to manipulate and malign. This is powerful stuff and why not. The Bible is consistently clear on this.

“…Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.” Timothy 14:16. The Word created me. The Word saved me. Now it’s my turn. May God bless and keep you always.

Columnist James Washington

Sports

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

MICDS heads to the Show-Me Bowl for the Class 4 state championship game

The MICDS Rams have enjoyed a long and rich tradition of success on the football field. The Rams have continued their winning ways by making another trip to the Show-Me Bowl, where they will play Jefferson City Helias for the Class 4 state championship on Friday night at Jefferson City High. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. MICDS (7-0) defeated Union 56-20 to earn its trip to the state finals. The Rams will take a powerful offensive unit into Saturday’s championship game, led by junior quarterback Reagan Andrew, who has passed for 1,034 yards and 13 touchdowns and only one interception. He has also rushed for 10 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Steve Hall has rushed for 620 yards and 10 touchdowns while Shawn Putman has rushed for 473 yards and three scores. There are plenty of talented receivers for Andrew to throw to in senior Crawford Bundy and junior PJ Behan, who have combined for 11 receiving touchdowns. They are also dangerous in the kick return game on special teams. Senior Will Kacmarek is also a big target at the tight end position.

The 6’6” 240-pound Kacmarek is also an anchor on the Rams’ defensive line, along with 6’3” 300-pound senior Raphy Sowal. Senior linebacker Jalen Pace is a playmaker who has recorded four interceptions in the past two weeks, including a 24-yard touchdown return against Union in the state semifinals. He is the son of former St. Louis Ram and NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Senior linebacker Grant

Purdy leads the team in tackles. Javonte Perkins takes A-10 Weekly Honors

Congratulations to Saint Louis University senior basketball standout Javonte Perkins on being named the Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Player of the Week. A former standout at Miller Career Academy, the 6’6” Perkins averaged 27 points in two games to lead SLU to victories over SIUE and LSU in last weekend’s

Billiken Classic. Perkins shared the weekly award with senior forward Nathan Cayo of Richmond.

Perkins put on a show in the Billikens’ 85-81 victory over a highly regarded LSU team out of the Southeastern Conference. He scored a game-high 32 points while carrying the offensive load down the stretch in a high-level non-conference game. Perkins was a Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Conference Third Team selection.

Individual Weekend Standouts (State Semifinals)

• Sophomore Steve Hall of MICDS rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 56-20 victory over Union in the Class 4 semifinals.

• Senior Bill Jackson of Cardinal Ritter rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 55-46 loss to Blair Oaks in the Class 3 state semi-

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

finals.

Cardinal Ritter quarterback TJ Atkins (11) is about to be tackled by Blair Oaks’ Carson Bax (68) during Saturday’s Class 3 semifinal at Cardinal Ritter High. At right is Ritter tackle Jaylon Holmes (78).

• Senior Jalen Pace of MICDS had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in the Rams’ 56-20 victory over Union in the Class 4 semifinals.

• Receiver Fredrick Moore had four receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ 55-46 loss to Blair Oaks in the Class 3 semifinals.

• Junior Chris Skiljan of

DeSmet recorded three quarterback sacks in the Spartans’ 23-0 loss to Raymore-Peculiar in the Class 6 state championship game.

University City takes Borgia Tourney by Storm The University City Lions started their 2020-21 boys’ basketball season off in grand fashion by winning the championship of the St. Francis Borgia Turkey Tourney in Washington, Mo. The Lions looked dominant in its three victories over Union, Washington and Fort Zumwalt North. In the championship game, the Lions defeated Zumwalt North 69-48. Senior forward Jalen Hampton was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after enjoying three big performances. The 6’7” Hampton scored 26 points in the championship game, which included a number of impressive slam dunks. With the championship, the Lions served notice that they will be one of the teams to watch in St. Louis this season. Head coach Kelvin Lee returned several key players back from an 18-9 team and he has a couple of nice additions to an already talented squad. Joining Hampton up front on a talented front line are 6’4” senior Brandon Ming and 6’4” junior Carleton Thomas. Ming scored a game-high 25 points in the semifinals against Washington while Thomas is an athletic forward who can score and rebound. The leader in the backcourt is 5’10” junior Larry Abbey, who has been a starter since his freshman season. He is joined by sophomore Barry Thomas, a transfer from St. Charles. Freshman guard Bryce Spiller is an excellent 3-point shooter while junior Tyler Jackson is a tough defensive player.

Black officiating crew was right call for NFL

A gentleman named Burl Toler was hired as a full-time official by the NFL in 1965, making him the first Black official/referee in an American major sport. In 1980, the late Toler became the first Black official to work in a Super Bowl. Good for the NFL. But why did it take 55 years for the NFL to stage a game with an all-Black officiating crew?

It finally took place during the Monday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Bucs and L.A. Rams on Nov. 23. The crew consisted of referee Jerome Boger, umpire Barry Anderson, side judge Anthony Jeffries, down judge Julian Mapp, line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Dale Shaw and back judge Greg Steed. In the NFL setup, the referee is the person in charge of the crew and announces penalty calls to fans and the television audience. Because of COVID-19 protocols, the crew members could not be interviewed following the game.

officials who paved the way for me, “especially Johnny Grier, whose number 23 I wear today,” Boger said in an NFL video.

Grier became the league’s first referee in 1988 – almost a quarter of a century after Toler was hired.

Boger, Anderson, Mapp, Shaw and Jeffries often work on the same officiating crew. Johnson and Steed were included to round out the historic crew.

Of 17 NFL referees, four are Black, according to ESPN. This is a higher percentage (23.3 percent) than Black coaches and general managers in the NFL.

Boger became the third Black referee in NFL history after he was promoted in 2006 from line judge. After Grier made history, another 20 years would pass before Mike Carey became the first Black referee to work the Super Bowl in 2008.

Referee Jerome Boger (in white cap) led the NFL’s first all-Black officiating crew during the Nov. 23 Monday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Bucs and L.A. Rams. From left are line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Dale Shaw, back judge Greg Steed, Boger, side judge Anthony Jeffries, back judge Greg Steed, down judge Julian Mapp and umpire Barry Anderson.

head linesman on the opposite side of the field is to determine if any player violates the rules at the scrimmage line. He was chosen to officiate in five Super Bowl games. Beeks, who was also a St. Louis police officer, died on his birthday, Dec. 26, 2012.

The Reid Roundup

“I am humbled to stand on the shoulders of the Black

Troy Vincent, a Black former NFL star who is now the league’s executive vice president of football operations called the crew “a testament to the countless and immeasurable contributions of Black officials to the game.”

“Their exemplary performance, and to the power of inclusion that is the hallmark of this great game.”

For the record, St. Louis’ own Robert “Bob” Beeks was also a pioneer NFL referee. In 1968, the League recruited Beeks. (The

year before, the league had hired Toler in San Francisco as its first African-American official.) As the line judge, Beeks was one of seven officials on the football field (six at the time he started in pro ball.) The job of the line judge and the

After learning early Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19, Lewis Hamilton said he is “devastated” that he cannot race in Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain. “I’m gutted not to be able to race this weekend, but my priority is to follow the protocols and advice to protect others,” Hamilton wrote. Lewis, who said he is experiencing mild symptoms, tested negatively three times last week before he won the Bahrain Grand Prix last Sunday, which was held at the same race course as this week’s race. He was re-tested Monday. Hamilton secured his 7th Drivers Championship on Nov. 15 at the Turkish Grand Prix… Jason Tatum and the Boston Celtics will be without star guard Kemba Walker for the first few weeks of the NBA season that begins on Dec. 20. Walker received a stem

cell injection in his ailing left knee in October and is now on a 12-week strengthening program… Candice Lee, the SEC’s lone Black female athletic director, dismissed her Black football Coach, Derek Mason, after the Commodores were thrashed 41-0 by Missouri and fell to 0-8 last Saturday… A month into the NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a longshot to win

Alvin A. Reid

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price

The Brentwood School District seeks to hire the following positions

FT Floating Substitute Teacher

This position will be the primary substitute for “day of” vacancies at the high school and middle school during the week, Monday-Friday. If there are no substitute opportunities at the high school or middle school the substitute will report to our Elementary schools to provide floating coverage in grades K-5. Coverage will include supervision of students (recess, lunch or bus duty) and providing relief to teacher or teacher assistants in the classrooms.

Qualifications:

•Current Substitute Certificate.

OR

•Current Missouri Teacher Certificate.

•Willingness to work in our High School/Middle School and Elementary schools (K-5).

• Ability to develop and maintain positive rapport with students.

Terms of Employment

• Monday-Friday availability required

• Salary: $97/day

• Benefit Eligible: Medical, Dental and Vision

Visit the following website for to apply: www.brentwoodmoschools.org Click on the Join our Team tab at the top of the page, review the Q and A section and proceed to the link in the middle of the page, Employment Opportunities. Position is open until filled, however interviews will begin once sufficient applications have been received. Only online applications are accepted. Please No Phone Calls. EOE.

The City of Pagedale is

Officer

Responsibilities: Police Officers will protect by preventing crime, enforcing laws, apprehending suspects and monitoring traffic All applicants should log on to www.cityofpagedale.com or pick up application

At 1420 Ferguson, Pagedale, MO 63133 314-726-1112 DEADLINE to apply: December 7, 2020

PRESIDENT

St. Joseph’s Academy in Frontenac, Missouri, a private all-girl high school sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet invites applicants for the position of President. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, inspirational, and visionary leader who is a practicing Catholic, values education and is also committed to the mission and core values of the school.

For more information and to apply for this position, visit https:www.sjasearch.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

Committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Deadline to be considered for the position is December 15th, 2020.

MUNICIPAL SERVICE FOREMAN I

The City of Clayton is hiring for a Municipal Service Foreman I— Public Works. Apply by 12/06/20: https://claytonmo. applicantpro.com/jobs/ EOE

POLICE OFFICER

The City of Kirkwood, MO seeks Police Officer applicants. Minimum Requirements: Must be a U.S. citizen; be 21 years of age on or before the date of appointment; have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions; possess a valid driver’s license; meet the POST training requirements for a first class county in the State of Missouri, or currently be enrolled in a qualified academy graduating by June 30, 2021; and be in excellent physical and mental condition. Starting Salary: $63,355 per year or more depending on experience, plus a competitive benefits package. Visit https:// kirkwoodmo.aaimtrack.com/jobs/ to apply 5:00 p.m. CST; Friday, December 18, 2020 EOE

PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS

Declare Home Health Care Hiring Personal Care Attendants in St. Louis City and County (314) 201-3200

CIRCUIT COURT FISCAL MANAGER

St. Louis County Circuit Court is seeking a Fiscal Manager to perform advanced professional accounting work of considerable difficulty in supervision of the Circuit Court’s County funded accounting functions. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing technical accounting and bookkeeping activities and providing expertise in the interpretation and application of complex accounting procedures. MINIMUM

QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and 5 years progressively responsible professional experience in accounting; preferably including one year in a supervisory capacity and 1 year of public sector accounting experience; or any equivalent combination of training and experience. The salary range is $56,949.36-$93,662.40. This position is eligible for 10% addition to pay. TO APPLY: Complete an online application and submit a resume and cover letter by the end of the day on December 11, 2020: http:// agency.governmentjobs.com/stlouis/ default.cfm EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

DETENTION DEPUTY JUVENILE OFFICER

St. Louis County Juvenile Office is seeking male Detention Deputy Juvenile Officers (DDJO) to function as the supervisor of juveniles assigned to residential Detention units or to work the control desk. DDJO positions are established with a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification requiring that the candidate be of the same gender as the residential unit. DDJO positions are responsible for maintaining security and control, as well as providing direct supervision to the residents assigned to the unit. MINIMUM

QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related social/behavioral science; or four years of responsible, paraprofessional social service experience working with juvenile delinquents and/or their families may be substituted in lieu of college; or any equivalent combination of training and experience. Starting salary is $15.68-$16.68 per hour contingent upon incumbent’s level of education. DDJO positions are eligible for 10% addition to pay. TO APPLY complete an online application at http://agency. governmentjobs.com/stlouis/default.cfm Posting will remain open until vacancies are filled. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at (314)615-4471 (voice) or (314) 615-5889 (TTY) if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format. WANTED

East-West Gateway is seeking submittals from qualified firms of certified public accountants to conduct its annual audit. Submittals are due no later than 1:00 p.m. on January 5, 2021. Submittal details and specifications can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Lucas-Hunt Road (North) Resurfacing project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1560, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https:// stlouisco.munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx, until 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2020

Plans and specifications will be available on November 16, 2020 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

TO BID

Ferguson-Florissant School District

Ferguson-Florissant School District is requesting bid proposals to furnish all labor, materials and equipment to install a new cooling tower at 705 Waterford Drive Florissant, MO 63033 until Wednesday December 16, 2020 until 1:30pm CST. Bid specs must be obtained online at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact/Attention: Matt Furfaro 314-824-2418

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting bids for Meramec Greenway: Al Foster Slope Stabilization Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ and submit by December 18, 2020.

request that a copy of the application and instructions be emailed to them by contacting the SLPO office at stlphil@sbcglobal.net. SLPO office hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30

workshop. Please register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZIkdOysrDooEtxzr1qd6z0g TimwB_cBu1zr After registering, agencies will receive a confirmation email

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Webster Groves is accepting sealed bids for the Webster Groves Fire House No. 2. Bids will be accepted at Webster Groves City Hall, 4 East Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119, until 2:00 p.m. on December 22, 2020 and then opened publicly. Bidders shall submit two copies of bid proposal in sealed envelope clearly marked on outside of envelope: BID – Webster Groves Fire House No. 2.

Bid documents can be obtained at:

Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies

1712 Macklind Ave.

St. Louis MO 63110

Phone: 314-678-0087

Access digital files. Plan holder list, and addendums at: https://www.x-rhodesplanroom.com

Not less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages shall be paid to all workmen performing under this contract in this area according to the rates determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations of the State of Missouri.

The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and waive any irregularities in the best interest of the Owner.

All questions about the meaning or intent of the Bidding Documents are to be submitted by email to the following person and should include in the subject line “Webster Groves Fire House No. 2 – Bid Question(s)”. The questions shall include the specific area of work (such as “Sewer Work”), the drawing page number and/or the specification section. This will help in the distribution of the questions to the appropriate designer.

Send Questions to:

Matt Nigh

Navigate Building Solutions

Email: matt@navigatebuildingsolutions.com.

Questions/clarifications requested by the bidders must be received by Navigate Building Solutions by email not less than 5 days prior to receipt of bids. The reply will be in the form of an addendum.

Pre-bid will occur at site on December 8, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions the pre-bid meeting for this project we be held in three (3) smaller groups limited to a maximum of ten (10) participants per time slot. This pre-bid meeting is not mandatory for submission of a proposal on this project but, highly recommended. To reserve a space in one of the following timeslots contact Matt Nigh with Navigate Building Solutions.

Matt Nigh

Navigate Building Solutions

Email: matt@navigatebuildingsolutions.com.

Pre-Bid Meeting Dates / Times:(Contact Matt Nigh) to reserve your space and for location of this meeting)

Group “A”: December 8 - 11:00 am

Group “B”: December 8 - Noon

Group “C”: December 8 - 1:00 pm

NORTH CAMPUS NSF EVALUATOR RFP 2021

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks proposals on the North Campus NSF Evaluator RFP 2021. Bid documents are available as of 12/2/2020 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

Santa greets his friends from inside Shark Canyon at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station.

Everyone knows the holidays are fast approaching when they see the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in St. Louis decked out with its traditional red bow.

A traveler retrieves his ticket from a kiosk at St. Louis Lambert International Airport over the Thanksgiving weekend.

An American Airlines employee keeps her eyes on the status board as travelers pass through St. Louis Lambert International Airport over the weekend.

Worker Jalen Spencer carries a large tree to the processing area at Ted Drewes Christmas Lot in St. Louis.

Thanksgiving is over and December is here. That means that Santa Claus is coming, travelers are going, folks are buying trees — and wearing masks. Photos by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

St. LouiS AmericAn

Adams recommends closing Sumner High

Ten other public schools could shut down as well

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

Approximately 11 St. Louis Public schools should be closed for good, according to a recommendation from Superintendent Kelvin Adams that was presented to the school board Tuesday evening.

On that list is Charles H. Sumner High School in the Ville neighborhood of north St. Louis. It was the first high school for Black students west of the Mississippi River when it opened in 1875. Including Sumner, seven of the recommended closings are north of Delmar Boulevard.

“So the district has a strong past — we’re not here necessarily to focus on the past but really to use the past as a benchmark for thinking about

Black state senators hope to create change

By Dana Rieck

Of The St. Louis American

n “I really believe that individuals should stay engaged to understand what’s happening and how that is impacting them.” — Sen. Karla May

As the Missouri Senate convened Tuesday, four Black Democratic senators are set to represent the St. Louis area — two of whom are making history as the state’s youngest Black male senator and the first Black man to serve in a Senate leadership role in two decades. Including a senator from the Kansas City area, Black representation now sits at five Senate seats, compared to four during the previous legislative session. They hold a majority of the Senate’s minority party, which holds eight seats against the Republicans’ 23 seats. Sen. Brian Williams represents District 14 and was elected to the Senate in 2018 when he ran unopposed; his current term ends Jan. 4, 2023. He was the only Black man serving as senator in the last session and will become the first Black man in two decades to hold a leadership role in the state Senate when he takes over as assistant minority floor leader. District 14 includes University City up through Ferguson and west through Hazelwood. For Williams, going into the next legislative session with diverse representation is critical. He said in an interview he See SENATORS, A7

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

n Five restaurants in St. Louis County were forced Tuesday to shut their doors after defying public health orders that do not allow indoor dining.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prioritized which groups will first receive COVID-19 vaccines. During a emergency meeting Tuesday, Dec. 1, of the Centers’ Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group voted to recommend: “When a COVID-19 vaccine is authorized by FDA and recommended by ACIP, vaccination in the initial phase of the … program (Phase 1a) should be offered to both 1) health care personnel and 2) residents of long-term care facilities.” Bloomberg News reports that CVS and Walgreens pharmacies will administer coronavirus vaccines to people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country. Three pharmaceutical manufacturers, Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have developed COVID-19 vaccines. The Moderna and Pfizer versions are said to have 95% effectiveness and the companies have applied for FDA Emergency Use Authorization to distribute its vaccines. On Dec. 10, the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet in open session to discuss Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals 16 years of age and older. The following week, on Dec. 17, the

with Gloria Taylor, founder and CEO of Community Women, and said she was amazed and inspired by their conversa-

See VACCINE, A6

From left: Brian Williams, Karla May, Angela Mosley and Steve Roberts, all from the St. Louis area, are ready to take their seats in the Missouri Senate.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Charles H. Sumner

Photo by Wiley Price

Those are the words of Ms. T., 28, who wants to change the trajectory of her life

her

Nelly announces ‘Country Grammar’ documentary

It seems that all roads lead to Nellyville this year as the St. Louis-born rapper recently won 3rd place on “Dancing With The Stars,” and celebrated 20 years of his first hit album, “Country Grammar” – which is being turned into a documentary. On Nov. 24 Nelly announced via Facebook video that the documentary about the story behind the album is coming soon.

“The best time of your life is the ‘come up’ because everything is new and you appreciate it,” Nelly said in the 30 sec. clip. “You ain’t got nothing to lose.”

Brandon Frankel are engaged. As People reported, the “Empire” and “Precious” star made the announcement on Instagram. “My BFF proposed and now I get to hold him forever,” Sidibe. “The funniest man I’ve ever met. The sweetest human to exist.”

She added, “I’ve learned so much about myself through him and I feel grateful and excited to learn more about the entire world with him by my side.”

Nelly has also donated at least 10 pairs of his custom-made DWTS dancing shoes for auction by the “The Teen Project,” to benefit young women survivors of human trafficking. The kicks are expected to bring in about $50,000.

Gabourey Sidibe engaged

No death penalty sought for reality TV star Tim Norman Federal prosecutors say “Sweetie Pie’s” star James Timothy “Tim” Norman will not face the death penalty. He is accused of masterminding the murder-for-hire plot that claimed the life of his nephew, Andre Montgomery, in 2015 – in order to collect $450,000 in life insurance. A filing in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Nov. 25 indicated capital punishment is off the table for Norman and Terica Ellis. The automatic death penalty review is still pending for Travell Anthony Hill. The fourth person arrested, insurance agent Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, does not face the murder-for-hire charge that triggers the death penalty review. All have pled not guilty in the case.

Marsai Martin is young, gifted, and ‘Black-ish’

Sixteen-year-old “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin has become Hollywood’s youngest executive producer. Martin, who plays Diane on ABC series, broke the Guinness World Record as the youngest Hollywood executive producer to work on a major production, on the film “Little,” in 2019. She was 14 years and 241 days old when the Universal Pictures film was released.

“It feels crazy, honestly,” Martin said in a video of her certificate presentation as reported by CNN. “A world record? That’s insane.”

Chappelle claims he was never paid for ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Netflix honored a request by come dian Dave Chappelle to remove “Chappelle’s Show” out of its lineup. This, because he didn’t find it so funny that ViacomCBS was alleg edly the only one profiting from the program, and not him. In an Instagram post reported by Black Enterprise, Chapelle said, “I signed the contract the way a 28-year-old expectant father that’s broke signs a contract, I

was desperate, I needed a way out.”

However, Chappelle said when I left that show, he never got paid. In a recent “Saturday Night Live” appearance, BE reported Chappelle said to the audience, “[ViacomCBS] didn’t have to pay me because I signed the contract. But is that right? I found out that these people were streaming my work and they never had to ask me, or they never have to tell me. Perfectly legal ‘cause I signed the contract. But is that right? I didn’t think so either.”

Is there a future for Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan? Blast reports dating rumors abound after Steve Harvey’s daughter, social media influencer Lori Harvey, and Michael B. Jordan hopped off a plane and drove off together in Atlanta. It is speculated the two may have spent Thanksgiving together at her dad’s home. Black Twitter was all

HIRING

Actress Gabourey Sidibe’s and boyfriend

Tim Norman

Nelly

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis recently recognized the outstanding work of staff, board members, volunteers and supporters, and celebrated them for their commitment to the organization and the Club kids and teens.

The Alumni Hall of Honor inductees are Sam Adams, Malcolm Crawford, Ahmad Hicks, Rashidah Ivory, Dr. Kia Moore and Dr. James Paine.

The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth, contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the Boys & Girls Club.

“This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways that our staff, board volunteers, alumni and friends contribute to the welfare of the children we serve and highlight our impact,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, Club president said.

“While we recognize the challenges of COVID-19, we believe it is important to recognize the contributions and achievements of so many Club constituents.”

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

For more than 50 years, the Clubs have been providing after-school, teen, sports and summer programs to youth in the St. Louis area, while also

Alumni Hall of Honor inductees: Sam Adams (left), Malcolm Crawford, Rashidah Ivory, Kia Moore and Ahmad Hicks and Flint Fowler, president, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

Making our own choices

As of the end of November, the St. Louis region had surpassed yet another grim pandemic milestone: more than 2,300 COVID-19 deaths. Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, is referring to the situation we are facing as a “war.” And with more than 1,000 COVID patients on the brink of overwhelming our region’s hospital beds, we are very close to losing that war.

A Harvard University coronavirus tracking model predicts that if drastic action is not taken within a week — yes, this week — we will be facing a tipping point. If we pass that point, there will no longer be enough hospital beds to accommodate severe COVID-19 patients. Hospitals will begin having to make the grim decisions of who to save, and who to turn away.

As our hospitals reach this brink, though, some Missouri Republicans are trying to take away one of the few tools local governments have used to curb the spread of the virus in previous waves: local stay-at-home regulations. Following St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page’s “safer-athome” order, effective since Nov. 17, officials such as Republican Rep. Jim Murphy, of south St. Louis County, have been clamoring for change. They do not ask for more resources to enable people to stay at home longer, as one might expect. Instead, they advocate for a time limit on stay-at-home orders, so that restaurants and bars might reopen as expeditiously as possible.

coming months. We must each work in our own spheres of influence to push our leaders towards safer choices. We can hold our own houses of worship, for example, accountable for not becoming super-spreader cells.

As John Inazu, distinguished professor of religion and law at Washington University, put it in a recent opinions piece for christianitytoday.com, worship can and should be classified as an essential task. “And to say otherwise is constitutionally incorrect and politically unwise,” he wrote.

The Supreme Court of the United States, too, released a ruling last week that focused more on preserving a forced “normality” than on saving lives. In Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn vs. Cuomo, released Thanksgiving Day, the Court ruled that religious institutions may be exempted from rules limiting gatherings to 10 people or fewer, even in COVID “red” zones. Most of Missouri, with the exception of a few rural areas is currently a COVID red zone.

The Court justified this as a matter of religious freedom. While it is true that freedom of religion is something that must be upheld, the preservation of human life is a value held by all major religions. This order directly contradicts that by putting human lives at unnecessary risk. So, in the absence of much helpful government intervention, the people of the greater St. Louis area must make our own choices to protect ourselves and each other. It is imperative that we continue to limit our socializing as much as possible. We need to keep our masks on as we wait for distribution of COVID vaccines in the

While Inazu applauds the Court’s decision for its protection of first amendment rights, however, even he encourages houses of worship to take it upon themselves to keep gatherings small and keep masks on. It is not reasonable to ask people to abstain entirely from social gatherings, inperson necessary work, worship, and other fundamental parts of community life. If we look at this problem through a harmreduction framework, though, we can find ways to make this as survivable as possible while we wait for the vaccine’s release — which could happen as soon as a few months from now, if we can keep each other alive and okay until then.

“Harm reduction” refers to a set of public health policies that accept that people will do certain things that may not be the most healthy for them — in this case, for example, in-person social interaction outside your ‘bubble’ — but then triy to minimize the harm caused by those behaviors, rather than expecting people to eliminate them entirely.

Mask-wearing and individual choices to say no to attending large gatherings are harm reduction steps, but these pale when compared to the harm reduction steps our institutions and businesses can take. To make sure the year doesn’t end with completely overwhelmed hospitals and unnecessary deaths, we must pressure our businesses, community groups, and any other institution with any power to sway even a small chunk of public opinion to avoid giving in to “mask fatigue” and instead take it upon themselves to keep us safe.

COVID-19 vaccines are likely to begin rolling out by the end of this year and become widely available within months after that. But until then, we still have a chance to minimize death and pain in our families and communities. There is no ethical alternative but to do everything we can towards that end.

As

National unity fetish doesn’t really work for

By Mike Jones For The St. Louis American

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men

Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again

Lewis Carroll notwithstanding, look for Joe Biden and establishment Democrats to try to put that broken egg, the American myth, back together again, albeit with a nod toward more diversity and inclusion.

Think a movie with more Black people in the street scene (because it makes white people feel better) but not really as main characters, because the movie isn’t about us.

I thought of this well known nursery rhyme because it captures the longing and the futility in the spirit of white America in the second decade of the 21 century. Whether it’s MAGA (which Trump actually plagiarized from Reagan) or Biden’s “Build It Back Better”, the goal of white Americans is for restoration to a mythical past, a past in which they were center of the world as they knew it and they were the primary beneficiaries of how that world operated.

There was a time in the Middle Ages when people were absolutely convinced that the earth was flat and the center of the universe. Imagine the cognitive dissonance, when they came face to face with the reality that the world was not flat or the center of the universe, but was in fact round and revolved around the sun.The irrational delusional behavior of Trump and his cult is what happens when people are comforted with the reality of what they believe is not true, and never was.

These calls for healing and national unity — Lincoln’s second inaugural address is arguably the most famous —

most of us

are a regular, recurrent phenomenon in American politics. As far back as 1800, Thomas Jefferson ran for president on a platform of reclaiming the Spirit of 1776.

However, whether it’s been the Declaration of Independence at the beginning in 1776 to the New Deal in the 1930s, with stops for the Constitution, the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1877 in between, every deal for the national unity of white Americans has required the compromising of the interest of Black Americans.

In fact, Lyndon Johnson is the only president of the United States who has ever politically aligned himself with and advanced the interests of Black Americans over the objection of substantial white opposition.

Given the delusional nature of Trump’s America and our history of being compromised for by white America in these moments, it begs the question of how do you have the conversation, and if it’s possible, why do we want to have it?

Reconciliation presumes redemption, and redemption requires confession and contrition. And contrition, when it comes to racial justice, seems to be beyond the moral capacity of a substantial number of white Americans.

The notion that Black America should somehow be inclined to overlook the criminal mendacity of the last four years for the benefit of a national unity that always excluded them is both outrageous and insulting.

So how do we respond?

In my opinion the most emo-

tionally satisfying response to this was given by Jemele Hill #StickToSports, but The St. Louis American is a general circulation newspaper, so I’m unable to quote the sister. What I’ve come to understand and accept, in four decades of politics and seven decades of living, is you rarely get to give the answer you like. That’s especially true when accepting positions of leadership and are required to give up the right to your own personal positions.

That’s because your decisions, and their consequences, affect the wellbeing of others — people you don’t know and will never meet. Your moral responsibility becomes making the best decision for the most people, tactically and strategically.

Yvette Simpson, chief executive of the Democracy for America political action committee, probably offered the only reasonably sanguine response: “Unity is great, but freedom is better,” she said. “And there’s a part of this population that has sacrificed their freedom time and time again for unity, and they’re tired of it. … And so if you’re asking us to come together and that means my world doesn’t change, the people whose world needs to change doesn’t change, I don’t want that kind of unity.” Simpson’s response correctly implies we’re going to find ourselves in political discussion about national unity, whether we like it or not. With that in mind, I’m going to recommend that this emerging generation of Black leaders take heed of the advice of two formidable politicians a generation ahead of me. First, former Congressman William Clay Sr., who’s advice applies to this or any political negotiation: “Take what you can, give up what you must.” And the late President John F. Kennedy: “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”

Thank you, voters: Biden/Harris was the true public safety ticket

By Wesley Bell For The St. Louis American

With the report that the General Services Administration has initiated the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden, we can finally give thanks for a new Democratic administration in the White House. Thank you to the majority of American voters.

The defeat of Donald J. Trump, now recognized by even Trump himself, left me musing on his legacy for law enforcement professionals like myself. I find it bitterly ironic that Trump was taken seriously by so many voters as the lawand-order candidate. In fact, Trump has only made it harder for law enforcement professionals to do our jobs.

Consider, for example, he has encouraged police officers to use unnecessary force when bringing suspects into custody, as he did in July 2017 while speaking to police and crime victims on Long Island. That was disastrous advice to come from the president of the United States.

Not only is it inhumane, it’s also unconstitutional and illegal for a police officer to use more than necessary force to bring a suspect into custody.

We understand that policing is one of the (if not the) toughest jobs in the world. But, whenever a police officer commits this crime against a suspect, it makes it impossible for prosecutors like me to take the case and consider charges against their suspect.

Wesley Bell is St. Louis County prosecuting attorney. As I

Police violence against sus-

pects undermines the entire criminal justice system. That is why I founded a Conviction and Incident Review Unit in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Police accountability and integrity are crucial to successful criminal prosecution.

Police violence against suspects is also bad for prosecutors and police for a different reason. We often rely on witness testimony to bring justice to victims and to protect our community.

Our office has a staff of investigators who are integral to our efforts to keep county residents safe, but the majority of the cases we charge are brought to us by police officers. For most of the crimes committed, it is police officers who canvas the community for witnesses.

A bad actor in the police department is a black eye on all police, including those who get in the field for the right and honorable reasons of protecting the public and serving their community. However, if the community does not trust police officers, then people will not come forward as witnesses. The tension between law enforcement and certain (often less-affluent) areas and communities of color will worsen.

Fairly or unfairly, the fact remains: every lawless act by

a police officer hampers every criminal investigation and prosecution.

Crime is wrong, and violent crime is especially despicable. The vigilante instinct — to take the law into your own hands — is basic, and it’s not difficult to see how a hardened police officer might be tempted at times.

But that is just not how our system of criminal justice works. In the American system that both Trump and I swore to uphold, punishment is reserved for the courts alone.

Better than punishing crime, however, is preventing crime, and it is here where I fear Trump has done the most to make our work more difficult. After his defeat, Trump defied the U.S. Constitution for nearly three weeks in denying that he had lost a free and fair election. For fathers and mentors like myself trying to convince our children and the youth in our community to tell the truth and obey the law, how much damage has it done for them to see the most powerful and privileged man in the country shamelessly tell lies and disregard the law?

That is why I give thanks to the nearly 80 million Americans – 328,151 of them right here in St. Louis County – who voted for the real public safety ticket of Joe Biden and my fellow prosecutor Kamala Harris. Thank you for helping to make it easier for my colleagues and me to do our job in keeping our community safe.

Letters to the editor

The Gift of Glasses

Glasses aren’t a given, especially for low-income children. When kids can’t see well, they become less engaged in school — an added challenge to the current already difficult online learning environment.

According to Vision Impact Institute, vision impairment is one of the most common disabling conditions among children in the U.S. and affects 25% of all students. Imagine trying to learn virtually while painfully squinting to see a blurry computer screen.

Eye Thrive is a non-profit group that eliminates the barriers of transportation and expense that prevent too many families facing adversity from getting glasses for their children.

Eye Thrive’s programs provide everything from vision screenings and eye exams to prescription glasses made onsite, and no-questions-asked replacement glasses – completely free of charge. The gift of sight is powerful and makes a real difference in the lives of our kids.

Kate McKearn

executive

director, Eye Thrive Maryland Heights

Support Ethiopia against terrorists

I urge you to support the United States’ strategic and geopolitical interest in the horn of Africa by supporting the Ethiopian government’s effort to root out terrorism and maintain law and order in the Tigray

region.

The Tigray People Liberation Front, a group registered in the Global Terrorism Database, has committed criminal actions against innocent civilians. Actions being taken by the government are solely against TPLF and not the people of Tigray. I plead with you to:

• Support efforts of the Ethiopian government to quell terrorist attacks and bring peace and

Enlist leaders of TPLF

rorists • Provide financial and logistical support to the Ethiopian government to combat terroristic acts • Work with congressional leaders to freeze the assets of TPLF

Berhane

Guest Columnist Mike Jones

Guest Columnist Wesley Bell

Bush aids in including nurse on Biden COVID-19 Advisory Board

Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush, a registered nurse, worked with the Biden-Harris Transition team to ensure that nurses have a leading voice in the coronavirus response.

“I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Transition (team) for recognizing the contributions of nurses across the country and giving us representation on the COVID-19 Advisory Board,” Bush said in a statement. Bush represents Missouri’s First Congressional District, which covers all of St. Louis and much of northern St. Louis County, including Maryland Heights, University City, Ferguson and Florissant.

Bush issued the statement after the Biden-Harris Transition team announced Saturday the appointment of three members to their COVID-19 Advisory Board, including Jane Hopkins, a registered nurse trained in mental health.

“Representation matters, and I’m proud to have worked with the transition to secure us a seat at the table. Outside of providing essential medical attention, nurses are the backbone of trust between patients, their loved ones, and their communities,” Bush said.

“The pandemic has placed an unprecedented burden on our health care system, and nurses are bearing the brunt of this trauma, with more than 1,500 nurses dying from COVID-19 worldwide and hundreds going on strike due to unsafe working conditions.

“Jane Hopkins will be a true advocate for nurses as the Biden-Harris Transition prepares to implement a strong national strategy for defeating COVID-19.” Before she was elected to Congress, Bush worked as a clinic director in St. Louis.

What the November elections revealed

By Jamala Rogers For The St. Louis American

The November election was a reset button for a country in racist free fall. When the curtain finally goes down on the presidential race, white supremacy can take its bow as second runner up. The gap between the Democratic and Republican tickets should’ve been a gulf instead of a sliver. Black women put defiant hands on our collective hips and dared anyone to tell us we don’t count.

Anyone in the U.S. who has been paying attention never believed that we were a united country. However, the defenders of democracy continue to wonder out loud: Why was the vote so close in the presidential battle? How could 70 million still vote for Donald Trump after four years of hate, chaos, division and lies?

reached South Carolina. It was the Black vote that swept him to the top of the Democratic Party’s presidential ticket. Black Democratic strongholds in swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan pushed the Biden-Harris team over the finish line. Black folks are no longer just looking for respect for our party loyalty and hard work. We are looking for positions and power.

White people took the easy way out and wrote checks to Black causes and put up Black Lives Matter signs. They avoided having the tough but necessary dialogue with family, friends, co-workers and their faith groups about what support for Trump truly meant.

The Trump votes were a blatant affront to all the constituencies who endured the unapologetic ridicule, contempt and bias of the so-called president. Those constituencies include people of African and Mexican descent, Muslims, LGBTQAI, white women, differently abled, veterans, farmers, children, environmentalists and a few others.

I don’t know about the groups dissed by the Trump administration, but I can tell you that most Black people are not in the mood to extend olive branches to trumpians. That’s because support of this fool came with a death ticket for too many of us. The lack of leadership by that man’s regime to tackle the coronavirus has meant the unnecessary deaths of nearly 250,000 Americans. It’s not just about a vote, it’s about life.

We’re not feeling the love for the Democratic Party either. We know that Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign was on life support until he

Black women truly flexed their muscles during this election season. The ultimatum for a woman of color as Biden’s running mate was just the beginning of our righteous demands. The fruit of our labor can be seen in many local, state and federal victories across the country.

Former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abram and her movement single-handedly turned the state of Georgia blue. And now, the balance of the U.S. Senate rests in the two Senate run-offs in the Peach State. Black girl magic all over the place.

People of color felt the slap across our faces in 2016 and we didn’t have to wonder what we would endure. We knew what manner of man Trump was even then, and the burden of dealing with him has fallen squarely on our shoulders.

Bodacious anti-Trump organizing should’ve be led by fair minded white folks and resulted in a blue tidal wave in 2020. The tensions and mistrust will only subside when white America starts seriously taking down the foundational pillars of racism, like the colonial voter suppressing electoral college.

We all have our work cut out for us in a post-Trump era. The Nov. 3 celebrations were not the jubilant victory parties we had after the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the first Black president. These were more like exhaling from four years of stress and suffering.

A lot of healing must happen, and it starts with holding those accountable for the injury. Together, we must all work for the elimination of the systems of oppression that hold back the human race. We created a new path forward. Now we must be unflinching in our stride.

Jamala Rogers

Congresswoman-elect Cori Bush

same advisory committee will discuss the request for emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Inc.

“In keeping with the FDA’s commitment to ensuring full transparency, dialogue and efficiency, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, made up of outside scientific and public health experts from around the country, will meet to discuss the totality of the safety and effectiveness data provided by Moderna for their EUA submission,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. said in a news release.

“The FDA understands there is tremendous public interest regarding vaccines for COVID-19. We remain committed to keeping the public informed about the evaluation of the data of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, so that once available, the public and the medical community can have trust and confidence in receiving the vaccine for our families and ourselves.”

COVID frustration mounts locally

While all of this is very encouraging news, pandemic fatigue and frustration with public health restrictions among some people continue

Sumner

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 what we need to do in the future,” Adams said, as he began his presentation.

Adams noted that approximately 1,000 people participated in community vision workshops that sought to prioritize what the community sees as best when it comes to school consolidation.

After explaining the vari-

to rise, along with the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases.

In St. Louis County Tuesday, five restaurants were forced to shut their doors after defying public health orders that do not allow indoor dining.

“The establishments — Acapulco Restaurant, Bartolino’s South, Final Destination, OT’s Bar and Satchmo’s — had their permit to operate suspended and were ordered to immediately cease operations,” a St. Louis County Department of Public Health statement said.

The restaurants have a right to ask for a hearing before the suspension becomes final. While medical experts day

ables that went into the decision-making process — things that included enrollment demand, building condition, capacity and special programs or considerations— Adams recommended closing four high schools, one middle school and six elementary schools.

The recommended closings north of Delmar Boulevard are: Clay, Dunbar, Farragut, Ford and Hickey, all elementary schools; Sumner High School and Northwest Academy of Law High School.

wearing masks vastly reduces the chance of spreading the disease to others by limiting the sharing of air droplets and aerosols that carry the coronavirus, the DPH stated, “Indoor dining is a super-spread enabler because people take off their masks when they eat or drink. According to the CDC as well as numerous independent studies, eating indoors poses significant risk of spreading COVID-19.

“DPH contact tracers have identified a number of clusters of cases linked to eating or drinking indoors. A recent spot check showed that more than half of 74 restaurant workers who contracted COVID-19 had

worked while infectious.

“Moreover, several studies demonstrate indoor dining with anyone outside one’s household is unsafe. COVIDpositive patients were twice as likely as negative patients to eat at a restaurant in the two weeks prior to their diagnosis, one CDC study found. Also, increased spending at restaurants and bars predicts where COVID-19 outbreaks are likely to be found two or three weeks later, another study has found.”

Council political move

Some St. Louis County Council members are still trying to get around County

n The recommended closings north of Delmar Boulevard are: Clay, Dunbar, Farragut, Ford and Hickey, all elementary schools; Sumner High School and Northwest Academy of Law High School.

The other schools on the list are: Monroe Elementary, just south of the Benson Park neighborhood; Fanning Middle School in Tower Grove South; Cleveland High School in the

Local hospitals are on overload as the number of COVID patients continue to increase.

Executive Sam Page’s authority given to him in the County Charter to make decisions during an emergency. On Tuesday, the council voted 4 — 3 on a resolution aimed at his public health orders.

“Thankfully, the resolution the Council voted on last night is not legally protected. It was a symbolic vote that expressed the Council’s opinion about the public health restrictions, but the resolution did not have the force of law,” Page said during his Wednesday morning briefing.

“St. Louis County will continue to follow the County Charter, as well as state statutes and regulations, that empower

… gentrification,” board mem-

ber Donna Jones said. “We’ve been gentrified here in the city of St. Louis and I know it’s going to take a little while to get back, but are we trying to get rid of all of our land?”

Mount Pleasant neighborhood and Carnahan High School in Dutchtown.

Adams took questions about the recommendations from the board members, who expressed concerns about several things including where displaced students would turn to for schooling and if the district would lose too many buildings and parcels of land the city might need later on down the line.

“I guess my big concern is the population will turn around one day, right now we’re under

Adams said no, the district is only trying to sell some of the properties. Currently about 15 properties are up for sale.

“It’s been very difficult to get the … permission to demolish property,” he said, referring to historical preservation requirements. “And if it’s an Ittner building they automatically say ‘no.’”

William B. Ittner was an architect in the mid 19th and 20th centuries who designed over 430 school buildings in Missouri alone.

While Sumner and Northwest are magnet schools, school board Vice President

the public health director to issue the orders necessary to protect people from COVID19.The election is over. It’s time to stop politicizing the pandemic. It should never have been politicized from the start,” Page said. During the wait for a vaccine to be widely distributed, Page said the public cannot let up on efforts to keep this virus from spreading.

“So, it’s disappointing when we have people threatening our health inspectors, and they’re pushing legislation that will compromise the health and safety of our residents. If such legislation would make its way into the books, it simply means this: More people will get sick from COVID-19. More people will die.”

Health care workers implores individuals to continue to wear masks, keep a distance from others and to thoroughly wash hands, to help avoid the disease. Page said the decisions made regarding St. Louis County are based on science and from the advice of public health and hospital leaders.

“We are seeing record numbers of COVID-19 cases,” Page said. In the nine months since St. Louis County’s first coronavirus case was reported in the spring, he said 1,000 residents have died from the disease and more than 50,000 persons have been infected with it.

Susan Jones noted that the only north St. Louis high school left for students would be Vashon High School on Cass Avenue, in the JeffVander-Lou neighborhood. Residents may submit comments and questions about the consolidation plan using the form at https://bit. ly/36whSMA until 9 a.m.,Dec. 7. The board will then hold a virtual town hall for public comment on Adams’ recommendations at 6p.m. on Dec. 8, which will include a live chat opportunity to ask questions directly to Adams and the board members. Attendees will receive the link to the town hall upon submitting the form. The board is slated to vote on Adams’ closure proposal Dec. 15.

Photo by Wiley Price

Ms. T. says her three sons are everything to her, which gives her the motivation to pursue a career in public safety, with help from Community Women Against Hardship.

Senators

Continued from A1

said to pass his police reform bill by opening the dialogue with Republicans regarding his and other people of color’s experiences. Williams also wants to make advocating for women and people of color a primary focus of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

“And having that dynamic, I think is not only going to enhance the legislature in terms of talking about issues that impact Black communities and ensure that they have representation, but I think it also ensures that there is accountability in place when it comes to our colleagues to understand that diversity [and] equitable policies when it comes to Black communities should be at the forefront of the Democratic agenda — but also of the legislature — and I’m optimistic with those four we can do that.”

Sen.-elect Steve Roberts echoed Williams. The lawyer has been chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus while serving in the state House and has focused their agenda on women’s rights, women empowerment and criminal justice reform, the latter issue being the real reason Roberts said he ran for public office.

Roberts replaces Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, who reached her term limit in the senate, and will represent District 5. He will become the youngest Black senator in Missouri history to take office at age 32. District 5 encompasses the majority of St. Louis along with parts of north and south St. Louis County.

“What’s been very encouraging for me is that I’m finding a lot of my Republican colleagues are very supportive and kind of see that this mass incarceration model doesn’t work,” Roberts said. “We need to change our perspective on how we prosecute crimes and what justice this really is, because it’s not like you do your time and you come out and everything is good. I mean, in our state, you can legally be discriminated on for your employment, where you live and so it makes it hard for you to just get back on your feet.”

As for Sen. Karla May, she said she’s excited about the potential change and new energy from the recently elected senators. While she doesn’t see November’s election as a significant ideological shift in voters, she does want to remind people to remain diligent outside of election seasons.

“I really believe that individuals should stay engaged to understand what’s happening and how that is impacting them,” she said. “Knowing who your representation is is definitely key — and knowing what that person’s responsibility is and how that responsibility impacts your community. So I think that we should stay engaged along the way.”

May represents District 4 and was elected to the Senate in 2018 when she ran unopposed; her current term ends Jan. 4, 2023. May beat incumbent Sen. Jacob Hummel in the 2018 Democratic primary with 57 percent of the vote. Hummel, who is white, was elected in a special election in 2016. District 4 covers parts

n “What’s been very encouraging for me is that I’m finding a lot of my Republican colleagues are very supportive and kind of see that this mass incarceration model doesn’t work.”

— Sen.-elect Steve Roberts

of Baden and Jennings, all of Forest Park, parts of Clayton and south through St. Louis Hills.

Sen.-elect Angela Mosley’s seat in the Missouri State Senate flipped from a white representative to a Black representative when she won the Nov. 3 election in District 12. She replaced Gina Walsh, a white Democrat who reached

her term limit. District 13 represents Florissant, most of the Bellefontaine Neighborhood and up through old Jamestown.

Mosley said she hopes she and her Democratic colleagues can work together to advance the Black community.

“Hopefully we’ll have more voting power and hopefully we can get the other side to go with us on issues that would negatively affect our community,” she said. “… Hopefully, we can work together to get them to come along with us because it’s hard to get anything done for the Black community when you have so many against us.”

Sen.-elect Barbara Washington was elected to the Senate on Nov. 3 and will represent District 9, an area just southeast of Kansas City. She could not be reached for this story.

CWAH

Continued from A1

tion. It made her think about who she is, why she is here, and what is her purpose.

Those words left an impression that she considers daily and helps in making better decisions. She volunteered to assist Taylor on voter recruitment, an experience she says she will never forget.

Working with “The Vote” was a learning experience for my children and I,” Ms T. said. “It showed that some people do not care, some people are proactive in using their voice, and others are unaware.

“We didn’t speak to many, but many of the ones that we had the opportunity to connect with were receptive of the information. My children wanted to do it all over again and go door to door with more information, hopefully for the local elections the same can happen because local is just as important.

Ms. T. is looking forward to engaging

in classes at CWAH. She recently attended a Zoom class with the University of Missouri School of Nursing students. The coronavirus has made Community Women Against Hardship rethink how the agency can provide services, but more importantly, it has made the staff realize how much their services are needed.

Reach out and assist a family, or refer a family today for consideration. Community Women Against Hardship is here to provide hope for those in need. Visit our website at www.cwah.org for submission forms. Call (314) 289-7523, or email: communitywomenstl@yahoo.com , DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2020 Community Women Against Hardship continues to provide services, even in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The “People Against Poverty Campaign” continues through our partnership with the St. Louis American Newspaper assists in connecting with families in need of support. This year marks service to more than 8,500 family members in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Proudly Serving St. Louis, MO for 100 Years!

that will come after us. This Centennial Celebration is for and about Gamma Omega. However, I must thank the sorority leadership, our loving and supportive family members, our community partners, friends, and supporters for contributing to Gamma Omega’s Success. Finally, I want to thank every Gamma Omega member for the countless volunteer hours, financial and in-kind contributions, sisterly love, and commitment that made 2020 a great year. Cheers to our 100 years of service! We move into the next century with “greater laurels to win, greater tasks to begin”.

Centennial Greeting

As we move into the next century, we step in as a diverse body of nearly 400 college-trained professional women ranging in age from twenty-two to ninety-seven. We represent a broad spectrum of careers, from educators, engineers, executive directors to entrepreneurs, and everything in between. Gamma Omega’s strength is the bonds of sisterhood that has resulted in impactful contributions to the sorority and the community. At its core, Gamma Omega is a loving circle of sisters. The love we have for each other is reflected in how we celebrate members’ accomplishments and provide sisterly assistance through life’s challenges. I believe it is the love we share that has grown our chapter from six members in 1920 to 394 members in 2020. Our shared love for Alpha Kappa Alpha has resulted in Gamma Omega’s excellent chapter operations and exemplary service to the community. While 2020 presented challenges to the entire world due to the pandemic, Gamma Omega quickly pivoted to virtual support for sorors, chapter and committee meetings, and service activities. I hope that when others look back at this time in history, they will see that the 2020 members of Gamma Omega cherished the sacrifices and contributions of the members that came before us. Additionally, I hope they will know that we worked diligently to secure the future for the members

Loraine Richardson Green and AKA Central and Western Organizer Pauline Kigh Reed, Mu Graduate Chapter was chartered on December 2, 1920. In 1922, Mu Graduate was renamed Gamma Omega. The six Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Mu Graduate charter members were Hazel B. McDaniel (Delta Chapter), Helen E. McWorter (Beta Chapter), Althea Merchant (Gamma Chapter), Clara Schaffner Mosby (Gamma Chapter) Edith Stevens Rhetta (Gamma Chapter), and Mary Felicia Stevens (Gamma Chapter). For 100 years, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter has transcended time in the St. Louis community, enriching lives through scholarship, community betterment, and sisterhood. The original Chapter goals were to (1) vitalize the ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, (2) foster civic and educational movements, and (3) encourage young women to attain a college education. The Chapter has maintained these timeless goals with adaptability, resourcefulness, and updated objectives to improve and expand programs to enhance and augment service to the Community and “Service to All Mankind.”

Committed to the goals of AKA and the desire to continue her legacy in the St. Louis community, especially in the area of scholarship for African American females attending the Charles Sumner High School, six women gathered and planned the establishment of a graduate chapter at the home of Helen McWorter. With the guidance of AKA National President

On December 2, 1920, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega, the third oldest graduate chapter in the organization, was first chartered under the name Mu Graduate Chapter in St. Louis, Missouri. In the late 1910s, AKA college graduates, returning to St. Louis or relocating to the City for employment, found themselves in a city without a chapter.

It is my honor to serve as the President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Gamma Omega Chapter for this Centennial Anniversary. Gamma Omega Chapter is the 12th chapter chartered in our illustrious sisterhood, the third oldest graduate chapter, the home of the first Central Regional Director, the first Black sorority in St. Louis, and the largest Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. However, we are much more than our linage and size. Gamma Omega is: Set On SuccessA Legacy of Sisterhood, Operations, and Service Built on Success This celebration will highlight the contributions our members have made to the sorority and the community.

Kimberly R. Beck President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Gamma Omega Chapter

As

“There’s nothing

funny about COVID”

Comedian/restaurant/bar

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

Of The St. Louis American

When it comes to comedy, there is almost no taboo subject. For Maurice Rankin, a comedy veteran and owner of Shade Restaurant & Bar in Florissant, that sentiment doesn’t apply:

a Spanish

been named a 2020

Teaching

has served as the Spanish instructor at Riverview Gardens High School since 2008. She led an effort to travel abroad with students to Costa Rica. The trip was the very first airline flight and experience in another country for many students. She routinely provides students with innovative lessons and culture rich experiences to help foster their love for the Spanish

Cosmetologist Felicia CannHanson is the

owner Maurice Rankin pushes on

n “I had to come out of pock-

et to get it open and I’ll do the same to keep it running.”

— Maurice Rankin

“A lot of comedians find ways to comment on current events. Every stone will be turned over. But I just don’t find anything funny about COVID, especially since I just opened a business in the middle of the pandemic.”

Rankin has been in the comedy business for almost 20 years. He’s done BET’s ComicView, Laughapalooza and toured the world with comedy greats like Deray Davis, Nephew Tommy from the Steve Harvey Morning Show and the godfather of modern black comedy, Paul Mooney. In December 2019, Rankin was part of a comedy show with his partner and fellow comedian Princeton Dew. The show was held at Hwy 367 BBQ at 1752 N. New Florissant Road. That night, Dew told Rankin that the

owner, Chris Alexander, was considering accepting partners.

Rankin and Dew rose to the occasion. With a business plan at the ready, they went about redesigning the establishment, making it a restaurant and bar, with Alexander concentrating on the food side of the venture. Plans to open in March were derailed by the spread of the coronavirus. Still, the partners completed renovations, got liquor and food licenses, and opened in July. With a simple Facebook announcement, about 50 people came through the doors, Rankin said. It was a validating sign, so the new owners pressed on with a diversified line-up of entertainment including open mic, karaoke, stand-up comedy, and vendor “pop-up” nights. Even at 50% percent capacity, Rankin said business was good. So good in fact, that he was able to hire 13 employees.

See RANKIN, A12

More families seeking help from food pantries during coronavirus pandemic

By Andrea Y. Henderson

Louis Public Radio

rises, more people across the region are worried about where their next meal will come from. To help meet the need, food pantries and other organizations that provide food have ramped up their distribution efforts this holiday season. Directors at the St. Louis Area Foodbank and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis said they are seeing a steep increase in the demand for food. Many people across the region are lining up in distribution centers for the first time

n As businesses continue to shutter and unemployment rises, more people across the region are worried about where their next meal will come from.

because they have lost their jobs during the pandemic. The St. Louis Area Foodbank is distributing about 5 million meals a month in the St. Louis region, up from the nearly 3.1 million meals it distributed before the pandemic, said Meredith Knopp, president and CEO of the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

“We’re seeing it in our metro and our rural areas,” Knopp said of the increased need. “There’s no one who is exempt from it, and there’s so many people who are literally looking to put food on the table this holiday season for the first time.”

Knopp said people who once had their own successful businesses or worked for large corporations are now contemplating whether to pay bills or put food on the table. She also said people who are volunteering to help hand out food are in turn lining up to receive food assistance. Social service organizations have been providing meals and

See PANTRIES, A12

co-owner of Shade Restaurant & Bar in Florissant, Ranken is determined to keep his business alive.

Abena Bradley-Madkins,

teacher at Riverview Gardens High School, has

Excellence in

honoree by Emerson. Bradley-Madkins

Abena

Photo by Sylvester Brown

Felicia CannHanson

Marty Murray Jr.

Clara Scott and Kashawna Cox place groceries in the trunk of a car during the People’s Clinic Thanksgiving Turkey give-away on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at the facility’s Delmar location. At left is Mark Sanford, People’s Health Center’s executive director.

Photo by Wiley Price

How Southern Chow Chow relish made Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2020

For The American

NASHVILLE, TENN., November 19, 2020 – Winfrey Foods, LLC, is proud to have its Royal Relish Chow Chow included in this year’s Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things holiday gift list, featured in the December 2020 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and on OprahMag.com.

to us,” Karla Winfrey said. “As Oprah’s cousins, we remember her enjoying our mother’s chow chow during Sunday dinners at our home. And now she uses it under our new label. So in a way, our chow chow is probably one of her original ‘favorite things.’”

“What do you get the food lover who has everything?” Oprah Winfrey asked, in the December issue of her magazine. “My cousins Cardale, Burnice and Karla’s Chow Chow,” was her answer. “This savory-sweet relish is magic with salads, sandwiches, and eggs — or just straight out of the jar.”

“This recognition is personal

Rankin

Continued from A11

In September, after returning home from Atlanta, Rankin, too, was infected with the coronavirus. He quarantined himself for two weeks while his partners tended to Shade’s growing clientele.

But, like the stubborn beast that it is, the coronavirus did not retreat. After fluctuating capacity restrictions, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced last month that there would be no more indoor dining or big gatherings at restaurants and bars in the county. COVID-19 infections had risen to alarming rates. At the time of Page’s announcement, the county had averaged 677 new cases every day, the highest weekly average since the pandemic’s beginning. Rankin believes the new restrictions will be a mortal blow to businesses like his.

Not a quitter

Oprah used the Royal Relish on crowder peas during her 30-day vegan diet in 2019.

Cardale Winfrey said: “Our recipe is more than 70 years old and pays homage to the southern women who not only worked in and outside the home, but created and shared the earth’s goodness in a jar by canning and preserving.”

Winfrey Foods was established in 2017 by siblings Karla, Burnice and Cardale Winfrey. The trio took their

grandmother’s chow chow recipe, which had been handed down to their mother, Judy,

and tweaked it to become a flavorful, fat-free, vegan-friendly condiment that complements

in spicy, Nashville hot and original.

any meat or vegetable. Royal Relish is the signature product of Winfrey

Foods, LLC. Royal Relish is a finely blended combination of peppers, onions, cabbage, green tomatoes and spices that wakes up any dish from beans and greens to omelettes, salads, deviled eggs, potato salad, chicken salad, fish and chicken. It is used by many chefs and at select restaurants, including the luxury boxes at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Winfrey Foods’ Original, Spicy and NASHVILLE HOT Chow Chow is available for purchase in specially priced gift packs and individually at winfreyfoods.com. Specially priced gift packs are also available in the Oprah’s Favorite Things storefront on Amazon at amazon.com/oprah or on the Amazon App on iOS and Android, using the discount code: OPRAH. Royal Relish is also available at Publix stores in Tennessee.

and selling properties and was about 10 years into the comedy game — a profession he entered on a dare.

While criticizing comedians at a local comedy club, friends challenged him to enter the next open mic session. He did and “bombed” miserably. But the experience served as motivation.

“I was never one of those comedians who was the class clown. I really didn’t love it. I just didn’t want to fail. I was determined to perfect the craft.”

Armed with a three-ring binder, Rankin wrote down everything he considered funny. He kept going back to amateur comedy shows and got better and better, he said. His determination not to be a loser in comedy propelled him to be a success in the field. Today, the single father of four daughters, he relies on his stubbornness and resolve to again perfect his craft. He’s determined to see Shade survive through the perilous times of the coronavirus.

“This is really going to take a toll. We can’t do dine-in and that really sucks. You have St. Louis city on one side of us and St. Charles on the other. They’re still open (at reduced capacities) and can still do dine-in,” Rankin said. “I won’t be surprised if at the end of this lockdown half of the restaurants and bars in North County will be closed.” Shade hasn’t closed. It won’t, Rankin said, because he’s no quitter, he refuses to lose. It’s a mantra that has carried him through life.

was born. His parents dropped out of high school and worked odd jobs to provide for their children. When his parents entered their 20s, Rankin said his role as caretaker of his three siblings became prominent.

Rankin’s mother and father, Gerald and Barbara Rankin, were 14 and 15 respectively when their first child, Maurice,

“At that age, my parents were ready to go out and party. So, there I was, like 9 or 10

years old getting up, cooking and babysitting my little brothers and sisters.”

Ranken was determined to finish high school and be the first on either side of his family to complete college. But in his senior year of high school he too became a teenage parent, raising his 8-month-old daughter as a single parent.

He entered the U.S. Army, finishing his tour in the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as a combat medic with the 101st Airborne Division.

Pantries

Continued from A11

household goods for families throughout the pandemic, but the increased need for meals is now the most common request from people in the region, said Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

“When you look at what has transpired over the past nine

After the Army, Rankin kept his promise to himself and completed college. Drawn to medicine, he took a position as a business manager with St. Louis ConnectCare in 2000.

Advancing up the ranks, by 2011 Rankin was promoted to chief operations officer at the urgent care services agency.

Motivated not to fail

By the time ConnectCare closed in 2013, Rankin had theoretically planted irons in other fires. He was buying, rehabbing

months and the economic devastation and uncertainty about the future, so many individuals have come through our lines,” McMillan said.

“And so when you look at the inability to go back and get a position in the industry that you worked in for so, so many years, it really creates an economic instability and insecurity for the future, which then turns into a food insecurity for families as well, especially impacting children.”

“I had to come out of pocket to get it open and I’ll do the same to keep it running, Rankin said. “Just from the compliments and feedback we’ve been getting, I know our product is sound. Once everyone is vaccinated, I believe we’ll get a hold on this.”

Right now, the name of the game is surviving the county’s restrictions. This, too, Rankin said, will pass.

“If we can get over this hump, we’ll be OK.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

n “When you look at what has transpired over the past nine months and the economic devastation and uncertainty about the future, so many individuals have come through our lines.”

— Michael McMillan, president and CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

The Urban League hosted its 23rd annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway drive on Tuesday. It provided food, face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to 6,000 families this Thanksgiving. Last year, the organization helped 2,000 families.

McMillan said the organization requested more donations from sponsors this year to give people a sense of normalcy.

“When you look at the middle-class families that were previously doing very well and had job security and benefits and so many other things that we all take for granted in this country, just in February, then you will see a very different face of poverty that has come about because of the pandemic,” McMillan said.

Royal Relish,

Shade Restaurant & Bar in Florissant is open for business, replacing the former Hwy 67 BBQ at 1752 N. New Florissant Road.

Photo by Sylvester Brown

Photo by Gregor Halenda

Jennings schools superintendent Art McCoy announces retirement

This letter has been edited for clarity and length.

“Dear Jennings School District, Board of Education and Community:

“We have had some unprecedented and unpredictable days. Still, it has been my most distinct honor to serve the best, wisest, and multiple award-winning JSD Board of Education.

n “My elderly parents taught me to help home because home helped you become who you are today.”

— Art McCoy

Leading and seeing JSD staff, students and stakeholders standing together, facing everything and rising through epidemics and the current pandemic of COVID-19, have produced some of the most fulfilling days of my life.

“This is our Warrior Way: Loving others, uniting, fighting for what is right, leading, and teaming together to place students first, to transform the community. Our work is internationally admired and exemplary to countless people. We are proof that united we can succeed at nearly anything.

As someone who was born and raised in St. Louis and Jennings, Jennings School District is home. So, it was a humbling honor when I

received the call in the 201516 school year to come back home from Irvine, California, to lead Jennings School District as the superintendent and CEO. My elderly parents taught me to help home because home helped you become who you

are today. In the interview, you asked me to take JSD to the next level and finish my career here unless called to serve at the state or federal level.

Since returning home to Jennings over five years ago, we have accomplished so

much:

• Multiple graduating Jennings classes achieved 100% graduation, career, and college placement.

• Our Career Pathways and Academies from elementary through high schoolers provided real skills, job, and high wages for all JSD children, similar to my opportunity to become a 19-year-old certified math teacher in Rockwood School District.

• We performed at the “Accredited with Distinction” range in 2018-2019, making history: JSD is one of Missouri’s first and only districts, with over 90% of students on free meals and over 90% Black students to achieve over 90% A.P.R./accreditation.

• JSD became a 1-to-1 District of computers-to-students in 2018 and 1-to-1 Chromebooks-to-students plus broadband connectivity in 2020.

• We expanded school-based clinics by creating a preK12 federally qualified health clinic at Fairview Elementary for all medical, dental and mental health student needs; added a homeless shelter to reduce homelessness called Hope House II; created two grocery store food hubs for daily grocery shopping at the J Town Market and Fairview Food Hub; created Centers for Healing Engagement with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and more.

• JSD became the first WE District in Missouri, helping 22,000 students in Missouri join WE Schools.

• JSD had budget surpluses for all six school years and grew the reserves from 21% to nearly 30%.

• $10 million was raised externally to provide extraordinary student programs and engagement.

• We reopened Gore Elementary School as the Gore Community Elementary Center as a small business incubation center by starting the first Raising STL Hub with BJC providing parent mentors and nurses for pregnant mothers, fitness programs, and a new alternative education program for court-appointed youth.

• As the only public district in St. Louis County and city to resume in-person schooling (P-12 grade) in July 2020, JSD has had zero confirmed student transmitted COVID-19 cases to date.

Still, to everything there is a time and a season. Endings are inevitable. They are essential for new beginnings and continual progress. At the September 2019 Board meeting, I relayed to the JSD Board of Education that the 2020-21 school year would likely be my year of retirement. As a board, you graciously issued me a stellar 2020 performance evaluation and a contract through 2023. Throughout my tenure, you supported me in leading other work with business leaders and organizations because it boosted the goodwill and support of Jennings School District and enhanced the support and the success of the region. Together, we have transformed this community, state, nation, and beyond, having led:

• In public education and trailblazing how to do schooling well, even during the COVID-19 pandemic;

• Mental health and trauma-informed/wellness initiatives nationally and internationally with Mental Health America and WE Mental Health;

• Workforce development initiatives regionally to nationally with JAG and CPB American Graduate;

• On the Governor’s COVID-19 School Reopening Education Taskforce; and

• Diversity-inclusion-equity initiatives and conducting conversations on race, gender, and dismantling opposition with fire and police departments, many corporations, and schools/colleges.

Still, after much prayer and reflection, I am publicly formalizing my year-and-a-half old pronouncement to you to retire during 2021 from the Missouri k-12 public school system. I am retiring from the system, but not our mission as a chief warrior in this war against ignorance. At our first press conference in February 2016, our charge was to take Jennings to higher levels from accredited to the accredited-with-distinction range together. We, the students, staff, administrators, board and stakeholders did just that for multiple years. We have made JSD history in many ways. Most of all, we loved and led our children and the community together.

A sincere thank you to all the JSD Warrior staff, administrators, board and supporting partners for your unyielding labor of love, without whom success would be impossible and with whom nearly any success is possible.

To the parents and students, I love you and always will.

On June 30, 2021, I plan to retire as the Jennings School District Superintendent and CEO, but I will always be a JSD Warrior.

Thank you for helping to make this true.

No matter my title, everyone who knows me understands precisely what I plan on doing for decades to come, here and abroad: Educating as if our life, legacy, and liberty depend on it because they do; severing attainment gaps existing in society.

Fondly, Art McCoy, PhD

Dr. Art McCoy talked with Jennings High’s Rayvaan Lowe after taking over as the Jennings School District superintendent. McCoy announced this week that he was retiring.

Photo by Wiley Price

Let’s ‘Finish this Job’

By Vicki C. Washington

For The St. Louis American

Yes, that’s right! The 2020 Presidential election has not yet ended!

Why do we say that?

Because the Georgia Senate runoff contest is still underway — two seats are at stake and voters must make their voices heard!

The runoff process can disenfranchise traditionally underrepresented communities, so it is critical that we provide voters of color with the information they will need to participate in this important runoff election. #Finish the Job

Several groups in the St. Louis area are working with non-partisan groups: The Transformative Justice Coalition, the Voting Rights Alliance and The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda. We will send postcards to at least 1 million voters and potential voters in Georgia. This get out the vote effort prioritizes voters of color in Georgia. We expect to have postcards available sometime the week of Thanksgiving and thereafter, as soon as we receive mailing addresses from Georgia.

We could really use your assistance to motivate people to register to vote, to vote early, and to generally increase turnout so that these communities are represented in this critical decision-making process. And the nonpartisan nature of this effort makes it an ideal, nocontact volunteer activity for church and nonprofit groups committed to promoting civic participation in communities of color.

Important Dates:

Georgia Voter Registration deadline is Dec. 7

Early Voting begins Dec. 14

Election Day is Jan.5

Vicki C. Washington, St. Louis Area Voting Initiative; Jennifer Slavic Lohman, St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition, and Gena Gunn McClendon, Voter Access and Engagement, Brown School of Social Work at Washington University

If you, your organization, or group is willing to help distribute and/or write postcards please, send an email message to: Jennifer@stlvpc. org or Vicki at the stlouisareavotinginitiative@gmail.com. Lastly, if you want to help but just do not want to write postcards, please donate stamps. We still need your help because some people, who’re willing to help write postcards, are unable to afford to purchase stamps.

Please send stamps to: St. Louis Voting Initiative, P.O. Box 410366, St. Louis, MO 63141

Postcard packets (cards, messages, and addresses) will be bundled with 50 postcards, addresses and instructions. All volunteers will need to sign a non-partisanship agreement.

Just dial 211: Collaborative effort creates hotline for gun violence survivors

Volunteers from the Violence Prevention Commission and members of collaborating organizations pose for a photo in summer 2019 after canvassing in Jennings. Their orange clothing not only enhances visibility, it is the color of gun violence prevention.

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

With approximately 20-30 aggravated assaults occurring for every one homicide in the St. Louis region, United Way and the Violence Prevention Commission are working together to set up an intake process for survivors of gun violence through an existing hotline.

The gun violence intake process is designed to initiate critical intervention to interrupt the cycle of violence by offering services and support to gun violence survivors, according to Jessica Meyers, the Violence Prevention Commission’s coordinator and board member.

“The hope is that if we can coordinate these responses to folks, if we can help meet the needs, if we can provide services, then we can break them out of this cycle of violence,” she said.

The hotline has been around for years and helps connect people with a range of services from basic needs to child care to disaster relief to counseling. The gun violence intake process, however, went live a week before COVID19 shut the country down in March and was temporarily put on hold while United Way devoted all of its resources to pandemic response efforts. The intake process resumed in July and has been in service since.

folks have experienced violence, victims of violence have a higher risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder than victims of other types of trauma,” she said. “And some of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are always being on guard, sleeping, re-experiencing the event, but also having anger reactions and some heightened trauma reaction, so helping people to deal with the trauma actually reduces the likelihood that they will have the trauma symptoms that could to them committing a violent act.”

The goal is to streamline the process for people attempting to receive services so they do not become overwhelmed, which is part of the mission of the commission — coordinating a community-level response to non-fatal shootings. While data is not yet available on how many people have gone through the intake process, Meyers said the true measure of success will be what kind of services people are being referred to and whether the community is meeting all the needs of gun violence survivors.

BJC

When someone calls 211 they will be prompted to press 2, putting them in touch with a navigator who asks questions, specifically centered around their experience with gun violence and current needs, in order to put them in touch with the appropriate services. This could include mental health counseling, employment, home repair or securing housing.

Meyers said the first thing the hotline intake process seeks to do is meet people’s basic needs, so as to reduce their likelihood of being involved in future violence.

“The second thing is reducing trauma. So we know when

“What we want to know is, are we effectively getting people to the services we know about and are there continuing unmet needs that we need to try and find a way to fill,” Meyers said. Right now, the collaborative effort is focused on getting the word out about the addition to the hotline so more people know what to do when they or a loved one experiences gun violence.

“We’re not asking anyone to be an expert in all the services that are out there,” Meyers said. “We’re asking that folks know that they can tell their neighbors, their family, their friends who may have experienced this kind of trauma that they can call 211 and that there is help out there, because too often folks don’t know about the services until they’re in the position where they need them and then they don’t know what to do.”

Photo provided by Jessica Meyers

Jessica Meyers, Violence Prevention Commission coordinator and board member

“Taking Care of You”

Willie Riddle drives DAV vans in north St. Louis and north St. Louis County. He said that with the safety precautions the DAV follows he feels safe in doing his job.

Disabled American Veterans need van drivers

By Marissanne Lewis-Thompson St. Louis Public Radio

Many veterans in the region, like Muriel Leyfert, are dependent on the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network in St. Louis to make it to their doctor’s appointments. The 81-year-old said if she didn’t have access to the DAV, she’d have to rely on friends or Uber, which is a $60 expense for her.

“I’ve been with the DAV for a long time,” Leyfert said. “And if it wasn’t for that I really would be in trouble. There is no way I would be able to drive. I have bad vision, and I’m also 81 years old. So it’s best that I don’t be out on the road.”

The nonprofit group has served 5,361 veterans like Leyfert through 11 different routes including St. Louis and St. Louis County, St. Charles and the Metro East.

n A large majority of the requests for their services are in north St. Louis and St. Louis County. Right now, the route has two drivers.

However, the pandemic has made it harder to attract and keep drivers for the free transportation service.

Joseph Braun, the DAV Hospital Service coordinator-John Cochran Division, said with that kind of demand, the group needs more drivers. Many of the volunteer drivers are older adults, themselves, and are concerned about contracting the coronavirus.. As a result, some of the drivers have opted out.

“We’re not going to beat them down and make them feel like they’re 2 inches tall, because they’re doing it,” Braun said. “We understand. This is a pandemic. Their health is No. 1. It ain’t doing no good if you’re not healthy in order to transport other veterans if your own personal health is not within good standing.”

Braun said a large majority of the requests for their services are in north St. Louis and St. Louis County. Right now, the route has two drivers.

“There’s a need for transportation for veterans, but unfortunately the resource to transport those veterans to appointments isn’t there,” he said.

That’s why there’s an effort to get younger

See VETERANS, A19

‘Just in case’

With COVID, younger people are increasingly buying life insurance

By Sylvester Brown Jr. Of The St. Louis American

One day around the end of April, Amber Golden Smallwood, 41, couldn’t breathe.

“It was like an elephant was sitting on my chest,” she recalled.

The Kirkwood resident called her parents. They rushed their only child to an emergency room. Because of coronavirus restrictions, the family had to part ways at the door.

As Smallwood was wheeled away, she glanced at her parents with a frightening thought:

“This may be my last time seeing them.”

One worry Smallwood didn’t have was the thought of leaving her parents with the burden of making funeral arrangements for her.

She has an insurance policy, with a generous payout she said. Her parents, a retired teacher and retired St. Louis County police officer made sure she did. Her mother, the former cop, was most insistent, Smallwood recalled:

“Mom was very specific. She’d say, ‘this is what you all do if I get killed in the line of duty.’ She always wanted us to be prepared just in case.”

Since the spread of the pandemic, many individuals, especially those around Smallwood’s age, are buying insurance policies “just in case” they contract the virus. According to research through September from MIB Group, a data-sharing service for insurance companies, application activity has grown almost twice as fast this year for Americans 44 and younger as for those 45-59. According to a CNBC report in October, younger adults have been buying insurance in elevated numbers since the spring.

Smallwood’s mom stayed on her as she reached adulthood:

Suicide rates on the rise among youth

By Shahla Farzan St. Louis Public Radio

Sharp increase occurred after legislators relaxed state gun laws

Gun-related suicides among young people in Missouri rose sharply after legislators relaxed state gun laws, based on a new report from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, young Black people face increased rates of risk factors, including experiences of racism, higher rates of unemployment and financial and food insecurity, disparities in other aspects of health, and limited access to care.

Despite this heavy burden, Black people and individuals in other racial and ethnic minority groups have historically had relatively low rates of suicide. But this has been changing recently, especially for Black youth.

As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children aged 10-14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents aged 15-19.

By combining data from 2001 to 2015, researchers were able to examine suicides

n As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children aged 10-14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents aged 15-19.

among children ages 12 and younger and found that Black children were more likely to die by suicide than their White peers.

Missouri has had one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the U.S. for the past decade, many of which are suicides among teenagers and young adults. In 2018, a young person died every four days in the state due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Missouri lawmakers have whittled down See SUICIDE, A19

Photo provided by the Disabled American Veterans

The graph above shows suicide rates by age, race and gender from 2007 to 2016.

KurlyTaylor

Amber Golden Smallwood

Rural areas send their sickest patients to cities, straining urban hospitals

By Alex Smith For Kaiser Health News

Registered nurse Pascaline

Muhindura has spent the past eight months treating COVID patients at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

But when she returns home to her small town of Spring Hill, Kansas, she’s often stunned by what she sees, like on a recent stop for carryout food.

“No one in the entire restaurant was wearing a mask,” Muhindura said. “And there’s no social distancing. I had to get out, because I almost had a panic attack. I was like, ‘What is going on with people? Why are we still doing this?’”

Many rural communities across the U.S. have resisted masks and calls for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, but now rural counties are experiencing recordhigh infection and death rates.

Critically ill rural patients

COVID

Continued from A18

“Mom would say, ‘You’re going to need life insurance If something happens, you can’t rely on us to bury you. You cannot put that on us.’”

Smallwood is pleased that she heeded her parent’s advice. She takes comfort knowing that if she does die, her retired parents will be OK. Because she’s already determined that she will be cremated, Smallwood has left instructions for her beneficiaries to donate the remaining payout from her policy to a deserving student who needs money for college.

are often sent to city hospitals for high-level treatment and, as their numbers grow, some urban hospitals are buckling under the added strain.

Like St. Louis, Kansas City has a mask mandate, but in many smaller communities nearby, masks aren’t required — or masking orders are routinely ignored. In the past few months, rural counties in both Missouri and Kansas have seen some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the country.

At the same time, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News about three in four counties in Missouri and Kansas don’t have a single intensive care unit bed, so when people from these places get critically ill, they’re sent to city hospitals.

A recent patient count at St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City showed a quarter of COVID patients had come from outside the metro area.

Two-thirds of the patients coming from rural areas need

and I ask what funeral home they’re working with, most will say ‘oh, we don’t want to deal with that right now.’ After a person drops dead, that’s when they have to call six or seven family members to raise money.”

n “We’re all going to die. It’s not a matter of how, it’s a matter of when. I want to leave something for the people I leave behind. I have a 2-year-old son, I have a nephew as well.”

– Kurly Taylor

Smallwood said that unfortunately many black families aren’t prepared when a loved one dies. She’s a social worker at an assisted living facility in St. Louis. She said at least 90 residents have become infected with the coronavirus within the past nine months at the Too many black families, she said, aren’t prepared when their loved one dies.

“When they place them here

Suicide

Continued from A18

gun regulations in recent years, shaping them into some of the least restrictive in the nation. Gun-related suicides among young adults ages 19 to 24 had been declining since at least 1999, according to the analysis of publicly available data. But in 2007, firearm suicide rates in this age group jumped by nearly 22% after the state eliminated its permit-to-purchase requirement. The law had previously required Missourians to submit an application to their local

Veterans

Continued from A18

drivers. Currently, the DAV Transportation Network has 63 volunteer drivers and coordinators. Braun said they’ll need at least 100 to be able to properly meet the needs of all the

intensive care and stay in the hospital for an average of two weeks, said Dr. Marc Larsen, who leads COVID-19 treatment at St. Luke’s.

Dr. Rex Archer, head of Kansas City’s health department, warns that capacity at the city’s 33 hospitals is being put at risk by the influx of rural patients.

“We’ve had this huge swing that’s occurred because they’re not wearing masks, and yes, that’s putting pressure on our hospitals, which is unfair to our residents that might be denied an ICU bed,” Archer said.

A study newly released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Kansas counties that mandated masks in early July saw decreases in new COVID cases, while counties without mask mandates recorded increases.

Hospital leaders have continued to plead with Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson,

and with Kansas’ conservative legislature, to implement stringent, statewide mask requirements but without success.

Parson won the Missouri gubernatorial election on Nov. 3 by nearly 17 percentage points. Two days later at a COVID briefing, he accused critics of “making the mask a political issue.” He said county leaders should decide whether to close businesses or mandate masks.

“We’re going to encourage them to take some sort of action,” Parson said Thursday. “The holidays are coming and I, as governor of the state of Missouri, am not going to mandate who goes in your front door.”

In an email, Dave Dillon, a spokesperson for the Missouri Hospital Association, agreed that rural patients might be contributing to hospital crowding in cities but argued that the strain on hospitals is a statewide problem.

The reasons for the rural

COVID crisis involve far more than the refusal to mandate or wear masks, according to health care experts.

Both Missouri and Kansasi have seen rural hospitals close year after year, and public health spending in both states, as in many largely rural states, is far below national averages.

Cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City, have managed to slow cases, but the continual emergence of rural hot spots across Missouri has driven a slow and steady increase in overall new case numbers — and put an unrelenting strain on the states’ hospital systems.

The months of slow but continuous growth in cases created a high baseline of cases as autumn began, which then set the stage for the sudden escalation of numbers in the recent surge.

“It’s sort of the nature of epidemics that things often look like they’re relatively under control, and then very quickly ramp up to seem that

they are out of hand,” said Justin Lessler, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But bed space isn’t the only hospital resource that’s running out. Many hospitals are reporting “critical” staffing shortages. Pascaline Muhindura, the nurse who works in Kansas City, said that hospital workers are struggling with anxiety and depression.

“The hospitals are not fine, because people taking care of patients are on the brink,” Muhindura said. “We are tired.”

This story is from a reporting partnership that includes KCUR, NPR and KHN. Pull quote

Like St. Louis, Kansas City has a mask mandate, but in many smaller communities nearby, masks aren’t required — or masking orders are routinely ignored.

Smallwood has started asking relatives and residents about their funeral plans. She’s even contacted funeral homes and provides information about “pre-need agreements” policies people can prepay in advance for goods or services they or their relatives will receive upon death.

“We have to talk about this. As a social worker, I’ve gotten to where I know what these funeral homes charge. So, if you need a cheap funeral or cremation, I know where they can go.”

When asked why she thinks her demographic have increasingly bought life insurance, Smallwood said the coronavirus has made people her age re-evaluate their priorities?

“I know it has for me. This thing is killing people left and right. One minute you’re here and the next you’re gone. And if you have a wife, kids, a fam-

sheriff’s office before purchasing a handgun from licensed dealers or private sellers. Since the 1920s, it served as an “extra step” in the gun buying process, said study co-author and University of MissouriKansas City psychiatry resident Apurva Bhatt, “to make sure that those who were getting a firearm could have it safely.”

Though it’s difficult to track how many guns are purchased in Missouri each year, she said, repealing the law may have allowed more people to buy guns and made them more accessible.

“We saw a pretty drastic decline in non-firearm suicide rates, suggesting that poten-

communities they serve. As it stands, some routes only have drivers available once or twice a week.

And the pandemic is making it harder to attract more drivers.

Willie Riddle, a Marine Corps veteran, is one of the drivers on that north city and county route. Riddle said the DAV has put safety precautions

ily, or a home … yeah, you’re going to need those high (paying) policies.”

At the age of 26, Kurly Dianal Taylor is already on that page. Kurly’s parents

tially people were switching to firearm methods,” Bhatt said.

‘It’s all about access’

Previous research has found similar results, reporting a 16% increase in overall firearm suicide rates in Missouri following the law change.

Still, the trend in gun-related suicides appears to extend beyond Missouri’s elimination of the permit-to-purchase law. The University of MissouriKansas City analysis finds subsequent changes to the state’s gun laws have been followed by a spike in firearm suicide rates among teenagers.

In 2014, lawmakers reduced the legal age to obtain a concealed carry permit to 19 years

in place to protect drivers and the veterans including masks and other personal protection equipment, sanitation supplies and a partition between the front and back seats. He said he feels safe.

“I don’t do any face-to-face contact,” Riddle said. “I have plenty of PPE, and I’m very conscious of what I touch and

also insisted that he and his sister get life insurance. He got his first policy at age 22. For Kurly though, a teacher at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy High School in

old — and afterwards, gun suicide rates rose by 32% among Missouri teenagers aged 14 to 18 years old.

Though underlying factors driving the pattern are still unclear, said study co-author Jeffrey Metzner, the legislative change may have made it easier for young teens to access guns in the home.

“It’s possible as more people buy weapons that could be used in concealed carry, they’re also then not keeping them as safely,” said Metzner, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and director of acute psychiatric services at Truman Medical

who touches it after they are in and out.”

To help ease that stress on the drivers, coordinators like Braun ask veterans while they’re setting up their appointments and transportation needs if they’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. That information is then verified again before the driver picks

St. Louis, being insured is an investment in the future.

“We’re all going to die. It’s not a matter of how, it’s a matter of when,” Taylor said. “I want to leave something for the

Center. It’s not a coincidence that suicide rates among teenagers and adolescents increased after Missouri loosened its gun restrictions, said Lindsay Clukies, pediatric emergency room physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

“It’s all about access,” Clukies said. “We know that states with more restrictive firearm laws have lower rates of suicide, unintentional injuries and firearm-related injuries as a whole.”

Barring a change to state law, controlling access to firearms in the home is one of the most direct ways to reduce the risk, she added.

them up.

“Because the way this pandemic is going, you could be fine one day, the next day you could have it full blown,” Braun said.

Despite the risk, Riddle said the job is worth it. He said he’s happy to help serve fellow veterans.

“Those veterans, they’ve

people I leave behind. I have a 2-year-old son, I have a nephew as well. I have an insurance policy that accumulates cash. So, when I retire, I can pull money from the policy to start a business or my son can use the policy to go to college or start his own business.”

Taylor said there are a few key factors that he believes explain why younger people are increasingly buying life insurance policies.

“Information, as well as COVID, is at the forefront. A lot of Gen Xers and Millennials, who went to college have amassed a lot of debt. They also realize that if they want to buy a house, having a policy with cash value is important. Because of social media more people are thinking about these things.” Taylor’s father, Curly Taylor, 57, contracted the virus early in the year. Several relatives and members of his church were stricken as well, he said. Thankfully, his father has recovered. For Kurly Taylor, it was just another reminder about facing the fragility of life.

“For me, it’s just about being prepared. anything can happen and I want to make sure things are taken care of. I’m looking out for my family’s safety.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital has begun a gun screening program for all patients who come to the emergency room in an effort to provide informal safety training. Physicians ask the roughly 60,000 patients and their families who visit the ER each year whether they have guns at home and how they’re stored. Families can also take a free gun lock from a basket in the hospital’s waiting room, no questions asked. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

fought for our freedom and they served our nation,” Riddle said. “And now it’s our time to serve them.” Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to contact Joseph Braun, the DAV Hospital Service coordinator-John Cochran Division at 314-289-6443, option 2.

Kurly Taylor said that among his reasons for obtaining life insurance at a relatively young age is to be sure that his partner, Mayra Garcia-Hernandez, and their son, also named Kurly, would be provided for if he were to die.

Photo provided by Kurly Taylor

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

Don't Skip Breakfast!

Healthy Kids

If we divide the word, “breakfast” into two words we have BREAK & FAST. To “fast” means to go for a long period of time without eating. By the time morning comes, most of us haven’t eaten for sometimes ten hours or more! Our body needs a nutritious, healthy breakfast to start the new day. Kids who eat a healthy breakfast are better able to focus at school, tend to eat better (healthier) throughout the day and will have

Exercise Challenge:

Holiday Hunt

more energy. Try including whole grains, fruits and proteins into your breakfast for a nice healthy start to your day!

Try This:

Make your own healthy granola bars or small baggies of trail mix. Many recipes can be found online and having them ready-to-go will make mornings easier!

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

Now that we are into the holiday season, create your own Neighborhood Holiday Hunt. Make a list of different holiday items you want to find, before you take a walk. Your list could include a leftover Halloween pump-

kin, a fall (or Thanksgiving) decoration, Christmas wreath, Kwanzaa kinara, Hanukkah stars, etc.

Walk briskly enough to increase your heart rate, but bring a notebook to document your findings. You can also create bingo cards with the items listed in different squares. See who gets a bingo first! Change your list every few days to see what new treasures you find.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, HPE 6, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

Helping Others

Let’s think of some ways to spread holiday cheer to others this year!

> Safely bake healthy holiday snacks and deliver them to someone who serves the community and has to work on Christmas day (police, firemen, nurses, doctors, etc.)

> Clean out your closets and donate your unused coats. Many families cannot afford new winter coats this season.

> Make some holiday decorations or cards that could be donated to a local nursing home.

> Collect canned goods for local families to have plenty of food over the holidays.

> What are some other things you could do to make a difference in the lives of others this holiday season?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 2, NH 8

Cinnamon Bagel Crisps

Ingredients:

1 Whole Bagel (cinnamon or plain)

1 Tbsp Butter

1 Tbsp Cinnamon sugar

Directions: Slice stale bagel into thin rounds. Brush lightly with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 10-15 minutes in a 325 degree oven, until crisp.

Careers

Ella M. Duncan, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S

Where do you work? I am a clinical social worker, registered play therapist and private practice owner of Anchored Counseling Services.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Northwest High School in St. Louis. I then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work degrees from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, and a PhD in Family Therapy from St. Louis University.

What does a clinical social worker and registered play therapist do? I work with families and children who are having problems with sadness, worries, fears, and hurt because of bad things that have happened to them or their families. I use toys, Sandtray miniatures, and games to help them get their feelings out and to learn new ways to feel better about themselves.

Why did you choose this career? Everybody and every family will have bad things happen to them some time in their lives, like being hurt by someone else, seeing someone they love get hurt, or having deaths of loved ones and pets. I enjoy helping them know that they are not the only ones and that they can survive and become better people and families, no matter what has happened to them.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love doing Sandtray and play therapy with all ages. I think it is wonderful to get paid to “play” with children and families and to see them get better because of it. I also enjoy being in private practice where I am my own boss.

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

Discover the nature of our seasons and why the winter solstice has long been a time of celebration in this live star show.

Showtimes available through January 1. For more information, visit slsc.org/wintershow

The Science Center encourages everyone to explore safely. For information on our safety protocols, visit slsc.org/exploresafe

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

Science students use The St. Louis American’s online STEM page to research and understand careers related to forensic science.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

African-American Biomedical Engineer Treena Livingston Arinzeh

nie@stlamerican.com.

SCIENCE CORNER

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to selfrenew and change into mature cells. There are two main types: adult cells which generate replacement bone and muscle cells that are lost through injury or normal wear, and embryonic cells that are starter cells that can change and become other types of cells.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Researchers grow stem cells in labs and alter them to be specific types of cells, such as heart cells. Stem cell transplants, also known as bone marrow transplants, replace cells damaged by chemotherapy or cancer. Stem cell research has helped scientists make advances to treat Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. For more information, visit: http:// science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellularmicroscopic/stem-cell.htm.

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

See your DNA

In this experiment, you will get to witness your very own DNA.

Materials Needed:

• 20 oz. Bottled water

• 3 Clear Plastic Cups or Glasses

• Clear Liquid Dish Soap

• 1 Tbsp Table Salt

• 100 Ml Isopropyl Alcohol

• Blue Food Coloring

Procedure:

q Mix some bottled water with the salt in one of the cups.

Stir until salt is dissolved.

w Transfer 3 Tbsp of the salt water into a separate cup.

e Gargle the salt water for 1 minute without swallowing it.

r Spit the water back into the cup.

t Add one drop of dish liquid to the salt water. Stir gently. Try not to create any bubbles.

y In a separate cup, mix the alcohol and 3 drops food coloring.

u Gently pour the alcohol and food coloring mixture into the salt water cup. Tilt the salt water cup as you pour, so the alcohol mixture forms a layer on top of the salt water.

i Wait for 2.5 minutes. You should see white clumps and strings forming. The white clumps and strings are your DNA. Reflect: When you gargle and spit in a cup, some of your cheek cells entered the cup. The dish liquid breaks down the cheek membranes, allowing the DNA to enter the water. Because DNA is not soluble in alcohol, it will form a solid where the salt water layers meet.

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can observe and analyze results.

Math Games for Fun

Math games are a great way to spend time with your friends and family while sharpening your skills. Try these games and see what you think.

HOW MANY NUMBERS CAN BE MADE:

Materials Needed: A Deck of Cards • Paper and Pencils

Give each player a piece of paper and a pencil. Using the cards from 1 to 9, deal four cards out with the numbers showing. Using all four cards and a choice of any combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, have each player see how many different numbers a person can get in 5 minutes. Players get one point for each answer. For example, suppose the cards drawn are 4, 8, 9, and 2. What numbers can be made? Which player came up with the most combinations?

Which player had the highest number? Which player had the lowest number?

DID YOU KNOW?

MAKE THE MOST OF IT:

Materials Needed: A Deck of Cards

You will use cards 1 to 9. Each player alternates drawing one card at a time, trying to create the largest 5-digit number possible. As the cards are drawn, each player puts the cards down in their “place” (ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones) with the numbers showing. Once placed, a card cannot be moved. The player with the largest 5-digit number wins. For example, if a 2 was drawn first, the player might place it in the ones’ place, but if the number had been an 8, it might have been put in the ten thousands’ place. For an added challenge, practice rounding your number to the nearest ten thousands’ place, to the nearest thousand, etc. Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve a problem.

In 1997,

was Dolly.

Treena Livingston Arinzeh inherited a love of math and science from her father, who was a biochemist. When she was in high school, she witnessed her father have a stroke and become paralyzed. That was her inspiration to use her skills in math and science to find a way to help cure people in need. She had a high school teacher who encouraged her to pursue a career in engineering. Arinzeh couldn’t picture that because she had never seen an African-American engineer.

Arinzeh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University, in 1992. Two years later, she earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. In 1999, she earned a PhD in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduation, she worked as a project leader at Osiris Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that specializes in stem cell medicine. In 2001, she became a founding member of the Biomedical Engineering department at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She was an assistant professor for five years, was promoted to associate professor, and then became a full professor in 2011. Her research has focused on stem cell therapy and has led to two significant discoveries. The first discovery is that stem cells, mixed with scaffolds, can help regenerate bone growth and damaged tissue. The second discovery is that stem cells from one person can be successfully implanted into another. This technique is being replicated in bone marrow transplants.

Arinzeh was awarded the Board of Overseers Excellence in Research Prize and Medal from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from President Bush. In 2003, the National Science Foundation also gave Arinzeh a Faculty Early Career Development Award with a $400,000 research grant. She also earned the Outstanding Scientist Award from the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research, “People to Watch in 2005” in the Star-Ledger, and the Coulter Foundation Translational Award. In 2013, Arinzeh was elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Arinzeh encourages parents and teachers to help AfricanAmerican students find mentors in the STEM fields. She said, “I think they don’t see enough of us that look like them so they can identify with that career as something they can actually do.”

Learning Standards: who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

MAP CORNER

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

Activities — Rules and Consequences:

example in the newspaper of someone who did not follow a school or government rule. Write out what happened because the person did not follow the rule and who was affected most.

Analyzing logos: Look through the newspaper and find three logos that interest you. What appeals to you—the shape, the color, or something else? What does the logo say about the product or company?

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience. I can make text-to-world connections.

scientists cloned a lamb from stem cells. Her name

Living It

‘A New Husband for Christmas’ discusses marriage and divorce from Christian point of view

Film centers around marital issues and relationship restoration

By Danielle Brown Of The St. Louis American

The most wonderful time of the year has a different meaning for Kelly and Stan Stevenson

(Keyona Bledsoe and Freddie T. Cole Jr.). Instead of celebrating Christmas joy the couple is faced with making a difficult decision —will they get a divorce or will they stay married?

In the film “A New Husband for Christmas,” which premiered Nov. 1 on Amazon, Kyria Williams, playwright and producer, chronicles the rocky relationship of Kelly and Stan with Christian values emphasized at the forefront. Williams’ stage play “Marriage Works If You Work It” is the inspiration behind the film. That’s also a common saying her pastor, Raymond D. Horry of Ark of Safety Christian Church, uses to describe the hard work that goes into marriage.

“I thought the movie was great and the message was on point,” Horry said. “Marriage works if you work it, implying that you have to put in the work. Most people either quit, give up or they don’t put the work in.

“Folks faint because times get hard, so they stop working. You must keep working and that’s the name of the game for her in the film.”

Williams considers herself to be a devout Christian, someone who has a strong commitment to live their life according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She said she saw the need to incorporate faith into all her productions, especially for this film. Her convictions stem from her personal relationship with Christ.

CAM celebrates Black queer community

Qu’art and CAM join forces in Black Friday Marketplace

and Ball

By Danielle Brown Of The St. Louis American

Last weekend it was all about strut, vogue, pose and style. Qu’art, did its thing at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Qu’art (pronounced “quart”), focuses on queer art and social change.

Once again, the organization — founded by Maxi Glamour, a non-binary community activist — pulled together an evening of Black liberation and empowerment, while amplifying Black queer voices and artists. Alas, this year’s event came to its audience via Twitch, thanks to the ongoing pandemic.

Qu’art was founded six years ago by Glamour to focus on queer people through art. The organization works to help people become engaged in civil discourse about politics, using art as a vehicle for getting them in.

“2020 has been a ruckus for everyone in the world especially Black queer people,” Glamour said in an interview. “We’re going to uplift Black artists, uplift Black voices, and uplift Black people focusing on marginalized queer folks.”

The electrifying event echoed the importance of supporting Black queer artists by buying their art. This year’s featured artists were Annie Kern, Asia Johnson-Brimmage, Kyla Hawkins, Ki Patrick, Ori Tala, Mya Stevens and Tiélere Cheatem. Several participants said they enjoy incorporating the Black experience into their art, from the routine to the intergalactic.

“In my art I like to capture the Black experience because if you look at history Black people either haven’t been represented in art or have been represented in ways that are stereotypical,” Johnson-Brimmage said. “It’s an image that you get tired of seeing.”

Drag performers Majic Dyke, HarleyQuin Chesire, Glamour, Zoe Meltdown, The Vixen, Shigo Ladurée,and TiKi Vonté each commanded high-pumping, adrenaline-driven performances. In a black and white visual, Dyke lip-synched the lyrics to Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA,” decked out in Egyptian attire, looking regal and seated on a throne. Their portrayal paid homage to images from the single’s video. Chesire reimagined the fictional DC Comic character Harley Quinn with a more eclectic appeal, sporting hot pink hair with a bevy of multicolored bows.

Not to be outdone, Vonté coordinated their blue and white outfit with balloons of the same colors and used them as props to pop during their athletic performance. Glamour, the master of ceremonies, wore a gold and burgundy Victorian-themed gown. Augmenting their gown was an overdramatic, diamond-encrusted tiara with big hoops and long, cascading tresses. Kelly Rowland’s “Coffee,” blared in the background of Ladurée’s beachy vibes to allow

and

stars

Michelle Bathé will be a part of Metro Theater Company’s upcoming holiday event ‘A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading’ on Dec. 10 and 13.

Sterling K. Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathé join MTC reading of “A Christmas Carol”

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis

American

Sterling K. Brown has doubled down on gifting his celebrity to the worthy cause of lifting the spirits of his hometown as the region continues to grapple with the new normal of COVID-19.

The latest from the Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actor, producer and St. Louis native will most certainly spread some holiday cheer in these unprecedented times. Joined by his wife, fellow actor and producer Ryan Michelle Bathé — and several local, national and internationally renowned artists and personalities with St. Louis connections — Brown will participate in Metro Theater Company’s upcoming holiday event A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading The reading will stream for free on at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec.10 and at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13.

“While we so many of us in St. Louis can’t be together in person with as many people as we would like to be for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s, we at MTC asked ourselves what we could do to help keep bring our community together, even it could only be virtually,” said Joe Gfaller, Managing Director of Metro Theater Company.

See Qu’art, B2 n “I’ve been gone for a while, but I will never forget where I’m from.”

“Thanks to the generous support of so many who have volunteered their time and talent, we have been able to create what we hope may be a new holiday tradition for St. Louis: a reading of the beloved classic A Christmas Carol, featuring so many from across St. Louis who have brought hope and help to our community during this challenging year.”

- Sterling K. Brown

Bathé and Brown will be joined by Ellie Kemper, Judith Ivey, Ken Page, Christine Brewer, Justin Willman, Ruth Ezell, Aisha Sultan, Julius B. Anthony, Alicia Revé Like, Carl Overly Jr., Lamarr Mosley and more than two dozen others.

The lineup includes celebrities, artists, and athletes;first responders, media personalities, local leaders in literature and more.

Metro Theater Company Artistic Director Julia Flood condensed the classic Charles Dickens novel, with each reader’s excerpt on camera, stitched it all together, to create a 60-minute program.

All funds raised through donations to this event support MTC’s programs during the coronavirus pandemic to connect young people to the power and impact of theater, through live performances, virtual programs and arts-integrated classroom experiences.

Brown is a graduate of MICDS, with roots in

See Sterling, B2

Film

television

Sterling K. Brown and Ryan

Olivette. He currently stars in the top-rated NBC drama “This is Us.” His role as Randall Pearson has earned him Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Award honors.

He has also earned an Emmy nomination for a recurring performance in Amazon Prime’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and critical acclaim in the films “The Rhythm Section,” “Frozen 2” and “Waves.”

Bathé appeared in a recurring role on “This Is Us” from 2016-2018 before securing series regular roles on the CBS courtroom drama “All Rise” and the BET+ sitcom “First Wives Club.”

Born in St. Louis, Bathé was raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She and Brown met while attending Stanford University. They both went on to earn master of fine arts degrees from New York University. The couple married in 2007 and have two sons. Prior to lending his presence to various causes during the pandemic – including The St. Louis American Foundation’s first-ever virtual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala two months ago – Brown starred in the 2017 Explore St. Louis “In The Know” campaign.

He was also the guest speaker for The American Cancer Society’s Fourth Annual Champions of Hope Gala last November.

“I’ve been gone for a while, but I will never forget where I’m from,” Brown told The American ahead of the release of his films “Frozen 2” and “Waves” last year. “If you get caught up in Hollywood, you can lose sense of the humanity that allowed you to get there in the first place.” Metro Theater Company’s

A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading streams Thursday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 p.m. Reservations are free to make, but donors who give $50 with their reservation will receive a DVD of the broadcast

to enjoy as a holiday tradition for years to come. Donors who give at the $250 level will enjoy that DVD as well as a holiday gift package from Metro Theater Company. For more information, visit http://metroplays.org/christmascarol

“As I was sitting in church

getting all these uncompromising teachings of the word of God, understanding and applying the principles to my life, God confirmed to me that my assignment was to write,” Williams said.

“I believe that’s definitely where my energy, just everything, my enthusiasm, everything comes from — basically saying ‘hey the word of God works’.”

Since its release, the film currently has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating. Williams said she is grateful for the positive feedback she has received and she always aims to make content enjoyable for the viewers.

One local viewer, Leandra

Qu’art

Continued from B1

for three wardrobe changes that included a crocheted swimsuit and mountains of straight and curly hair.

Over-the-top fun continued as The Vixen showcased their fancy “Tea Party,” in mismatching prints and bold wigs.

Meltdown channeled their inner schoolgirl-meets-goth in an outfit, very reminiscent of the early 2000s.

In a much tamer portion of the evening, Glamour moderated a video panel with Phillipe Cunningham, Minneapolis City Council member — the first and only trans man of color elected to office in the United States; The Vixen, past participant in the 10th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and producer of the drag show ‘Black Girl Magic’; and Kayla Reed, co-founder and executive director of Action St. Louis, which focuses on the fight against systemic racism and violence.

When asked how queer people can combat oppression, The Vixen replied, “As long as people can be treated in a certain way it doesn’t matter if you’re one of those people, as long as that is normalized, it could happen to you.”

“You must lead with empathy, knowing that if a woman is in danger it’s a slippery slope until any other minority could be [at risk].”

Meko Lee Burr took honors

Green, has been married to her husband, Ray, for 19 years. She thinks the movie is relatable and shows a true representation of what marriage looks like.

“I love that the two main characters gave a true perspective of marriage when there are two people from two different walks of life and how bumping heads causes a divide in your home,” Green said. “I really liked that it was a realistic movie, ‘cause a lot of times you see movies and it’s just not real.”

Although “A New Husband for Christmas” is based on marriage, Williams said the film isn’t limited only to married couples. She said the film has something to offer for singles people, too. She wants fans to walk away knowing that God is real, and all things can improve by trusting in God.

All the actors in the film are from St. Louis and the entire movie was shot locally.

Williams lives in Florissant. The film was produced by Williams and her husband, Leconte Williams, through her company KMW Productions, LLC, in association with Mullen Group Productions. It was directed by Atlanta-based director Derrick Mullen of Mullen Group Productions. KMW is a Christianbased production company. Its mission is to spread the word of God through theater, films, books, and events. The company has produced four stage productions including “Love Changes Things,” “The Wakeup Call,” “Moving Forward,” and ‘Marriage Works If You Work It,’ and two movies “The Wakeup Call” movie and “A New Husband for Christmas.”’ ANHFC is available to rent or purchase here: https://www. amazon.com/New-HusbandChristmas-Keyona-Bledsoe/dp/ B08L4LBCV4

Qu’art - founded by Maxi Glamour, a non-binary community activist - pulled together an evening of Black liberation and empowerment, while amplifying Black queer voices and artists. Alas, this year’s event came to its audience via Twitch, thanks to the ongoing pandemic.

as narrator for the vogue and ball competition that closed out the evening. Midwest Mother Vanessa Ebony took the crown for Vogue Performance and Blaze Revlon killed the Runway. Art may be purchased through CAM’s Black Friday Marketplace at https://camstl.org/collections/blackfridaymarketplace/.

Sterling K. Brown, his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathé, and the couple’s two sons at the red-carpet premiere of ‘Frozen 2’ last year in Los Angeles. Brown and Bathé are among the all-star STL lineup of Metro Theater Company’s ‘A Christmas Carol: A St. Louis Virtual Holiday Reading’ on December 10.

Art imitates life

Anna E. Crosslin, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, has been selected to receive the 2020 Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Missouri Commission on Human Rights’ Missouri Human Rights Conference, which is being held virtually.

The Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award was established by MCHR to recognize individuals who have dedicated their professional and personal lives to advancing human rights in Missouri and has been presented at its International Human Rights Day celebrations since Dec. 7, 2012.

“I have truly enjoyed working with Commissioner Anna Crosslin since her appointment by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in 2013,” said Missouri Commission on Human Rights Executive Director Dr. Alisa Warren.

Commission on Human Rights in 1958. Despite being denied admission to the journalism school of her choice, due to her race, Bluford, who was African-American, went on to become a top journalist and editor in the nation and noted civil rights leader.

“Commissioner Crosslin’s fervent dedication to our agency’s mission has made her a pleasure to work with over the years. She has a strong personal and professional commitment to serving the needs of marginalized communities and has relentlessly promoted equity and inclusion — whether it be for newcomers, workers, or businesses — in an effort to create a stronger Missouri. We are proud to honor her leadership and contributions to the advancement of human rights with this award,” she added.

The Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award was named in honor of the first woman named to the Missouri

“It is a great honor to receive this recognition from my colleagues on the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. Serving on the Commission has been an honor made even more meaningful by the presentation of this award commemorating the extraordinary life of Lucile Bluford, a true pioneer for equal rights for African Americans and women,” Crosslin said. “I’m grateful to have been selected for the Bluford award and to join the ranks of such a prestigious list of past recipients.” Crosslin has led the International Institute of St. Louis since 1978. Recently, she announced that she will retire in March 2021. Founded in 1919, the Institute provides English classes, job placement, counseling, micro-lending, refugee resettlement, and other integrative services to more than 6,000 immigrants from 75 countries annually.

She has been instrumental in the founding and operation of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, serving on the Steering Committee and as chair of its Infrastructure Committee. Crosslin also serves on the Board of the National Asian Pacific Centers for Aging (Seattle) and is a board member of the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

This program is funded at 12% at $8,700 by federal funds and 88% at $63,800 by nongovernmental sources for a total amount of $72,500. The federal funds are received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Frank James, also known as “The Curbside Artist,” paints in Forest Park on Wed. Dec. 2, 2020. The self-taught artist puts the finishing touches on a painting of the St. Louis Art Museum that he started over summer.

Religion

Former Belleville bishop Gregory becomes first Black American cardinal

The St. Louis American

Wilton Gregory has received his red hat and ring from Pope Francis, becoming the first Black American cardinal in the history of Catholicism. Gregory, 72, has been the archbishop of Washington, D.C. since 2019. He also served as bishop of Belleville, for 10 years, beginning at the end of 1993. Gregory is one of 13 bishops and priests elevated to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday. With the ceremony, Francis has appointed 73 of the 128 cardinals who can elect the next pope. Before the ceremony, Gregory said in an interview that he viewed his appointment as “an affirmation of Black Catholics in the United States,

the heritage of faith and fidelity that we represent.” In an interview in October, said he hoped the U.S. hierarchy can broaden its concept of “pro-life” so that other pressing issues can be considered top priorities along with opposition to abortion.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory

Gregory has endorsed proposals to include the history of Black Catholics in the U.S. as part of the curriculum in Catholic schools. Amid nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice this year, some Black Catholics said the curriculum should be more honest about the church’s past links to slavery and segregation, and more detailed in portraying how Black Catholics persevered. All U.S. Catholics “should know the full panoply of the heritage of Black people in the church,” Gregory said. “It’s not a full history until all the components have a rightful place in the telling of the story.”

The Message

Lip service please

I believe I had a revelation about the “Word.” It was just the result of my mind wondering about John 1:1-2.

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” How about that for a definition of the Lord. God is love notwithstanding, I found it quite illuminating that this definition is referenced on numerous occasions throughout scripture.

My revelation is based on

the simplest of insights that just make so much sense to me. The association between the tongue and the Word seemingly confirms the innate power and existence of God. How so?

The tongue a.k.a. the Word has the power to heal, the power to kill, to uplift and save, as well as to condemn and destroy. After all, the Bible tells us that God “spoke” us into existence with the utterance of one simple phrase; Let there be light.”

In my limited mental capacity, I can think of a lot of other ways to describe God.

Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being come to mind.

But the revelation of which I speak puts a different perspective in play. At a very important Pentecost, ‘They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” Acts 2:3. Hear this: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.

It’s this truth that I’m talking about. How many of you have been destroyed by a comment? How many of you have had your attitude change because of a compliment.? How many of you have been uplifted and inspired by words or better yet, how many of you have used words to inspire or uplift? How many have used words to condemn and destroy?

Remember, faith comes by hearing? The gospel of Jesus Christ is characterized as “good news” and our witness is to spread the truth by word and deed. Please recognize that our own power rests in the use of our tongues. Our entire

St. Louis Children’s Hospital: Head to Toe

BUILDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IN CHALLENGING TIMES

St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Child Health Advocacy and Outreach programs are offering services during COVID-19 to ensure we do what’s right for children and their families every day. We want healthy kids to stay healthy. Kids who are overweight are at risk of serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Our Head to Toe program gives families the tools they need during the pandemic to make healthier choices so that kids feel great and increase their self-esteem.

“The Head to Toe Program is a great resource for the St. Louis community. As a pediatrician, I often recommend these classes to my patients who are struggling with healthy lifestyle choices,” says Maggie McCormick, MD.

Her recommendations have a personal aspect as well, “My daughter and attended classes together, and we had a wonderful experience.

With the knowledge she gained at Head to Toe, my daughter is more equipped to make better choices on her own.”

Choose an Orientation Date That Work’s Best for You!

• Tuesday, December 8

• Wednesday, December 16

• Thursday, January 7

• Tuesday, January 12

• Wednesday, January 20

Each orientation is held virtually from 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

The virtual Head to Toe spring class will meet weekly for 17 weeks, Jan. 27, 2021-May 19, 2021.

For information about the upcoming class or to register for an orientation date, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS (5437). Class scholarships are available. Child Health Advocacy and Outreach programs are made possible by generous donations to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation.

There also have been calls for the Catholic church to offer some sort of reparations because of its past involvement in slavery, but Gregory said any such initiatives would have to be made by individual institutions, not by the church as a whole.

He cited the example of Catholic-affiliated Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., which is committing funds to benefit the descendants of enslaved people sold to pay off the school’s debts.

Being chosen to head Vatican departments or eventually becoming pope themselves could be in any of these new cardinals’ future. Cardinals often advise popes and pick the next pontiff by conferring among themselves and then meeting in secret conclave to

existence revolves around an understanding that we are made in God’s image and therefore accept our part in the truth of His Word, in Him being first and last and forever Word; and our being an extension of that Word.

What if you knew and internalized that the words that come out of your mouth come directly from God? What if you understood the real spiritual nature of words?

To use them unwisely is to sin against God and man. On the other hand, to use them wisely lovingly, charitably and humbly is to act according to the will of God. For me this revelation is truly a blessing because it lets me know I have a choice. I have to break some bad habits,

select one of their own to lead the Roman Catholic Church and its roughly 1.3 billion rankand-file faithful. Saturday’s ceremony, known as a consistory, was subdued compared with years past as the coronavirus pandemic put a damper on what would normally be a day of pomp and circumstance. Although St. Peter’s Basilica normally holds thousands, each cardinal was limited to 10 guests, and the basilica was mostly empty. Guests and the new cardinals wore masks. As a precaution, the cardinal candidates who traveled to Rome from abroad had been in quarantine at the Vatican for 10 days before the ceremony.

but I do have a choice when it comes to using the blessing of words to convey what is in my heart and spirit, and using them to manipulate and malign. This is powerful stuff and why not. The Bible is consistently clear on this.

“…Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.” Timothy 14:16. The Word created me. The Word saved me. Now it’s my turn. May God bless and keep you always.

Columnist James Washington

Sports

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

MICDS heads to the Show-Me Bowl for the Class 4 state championship game

The MICDS Rams have enjoyed a long and rich tradition of success on the football field. The Rams have continued their winning ways by making another trip to the Show-Me Bowl, where they will play Jefferson City Helias for the Class 4 state championship on Friday night at Jefferson City High. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. MICDS (7-0) defeated Union 56-20 to earn its trip to the state finals. The Rams will take a powerful offensive unit into Saturday’s championship game, led by junior quarterback Reagan Andrew, who has passed for 1,034 yards and 13 touchdowns and only one interception. He has also rushed for 10 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Steve Hall has rushed for 620 yards and 10 touchdowns while Shawn Putman has rushed for 473 yards and three scores. There are plenty of talented receivers for Andrew to throw to in senior Crawford Bundy and junior PJ Behan, who have combined for 11 receiving touchdowns. They are also dangerous in the kick return game on special teams. Senior Will Kacmarek is also a big target at the tight end position.

The 6’6” 240-pound Kacmarek is also an anchor on the Rams’ defensive line, along with 6’3” 300-pound senior Raphy Sowal. Senior linebacker Jalen Pace is a playmaker who has recorded four interceptions in the past two weeks, including a 24-yard touchdown return against Union in the state semifinals. He is the son of former St. Louis Ram and NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Senior linebacker Grant

Purdy leads the team in tackles. Javonte Perkins takes A-10 Weekly Honors

Congratulations to Saint Louis University senior basketball standout Javonte Perkins on being named the Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Player of the Week. A former standout at Miller Career Academy, the 6’6” Perkins averaged 27 points in two games to lead SLU to victories over SIUE and LSU in last weekend’s

Billiken Classic. Perkins shared the weekly award with senior forward Nathan Cayo of Richmond.

Perkins put on a show in the Billikens’ 85-81 victory over a highly regarded LSU team out of the Southeastern Conference. He scored a game-high 32 points while carrying the offensive load down the stretch in a high-level non-conference game. Perkins was a Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Conference Third Team selection.

Individual Weekend Standouts (State Semifinals)

• Sophomore Steve Hall of MICDS rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 56-20 victory over Union in the Class 4 semifinals.

• Senior Bill Jackson of Cardinal Ritter rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 55-46 loss to Blair Oaks in the Class 3 state semi-

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

finals.

Cardinal Ritter quarterback TJ Atkins (11) is about to be tackled by Blair Oaks’ Carson Bax (68) during Saturday’s Class 3 semifinal at Cardinal Ritter High. At right is Ritter tackle Jaylon Holmes (78).

• Senior Jalen Pace of MICDS had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in the Rams’ 56-20 victory over Union in the Class 4 semifinals.

• Receiver Fredrick Moore had four receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ 55-46 loss to Blair Oaks in the Class 3 semifinals.

• Junior Chris Skiljan of

DeSmet recorded three quarterback sacks in the Spartans’ 23-0 loss to Raymore-Peculiar in the Class 6 state championship game.

University City takes Borgia Tourney by Storm The University City Lions started their 2020-21 boys’ basketball season off in grand fashion by winning the championship of the St. Francis Borgia Turkey Tourney in Washington, Mo. The Lions looked dominant in its three victories over Union, Washington and Fort Zumwalt North. In the championship game, the Lions defeated Zumwalt North 69-48. Senior forward Jalen Hampton was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after enjoying three big performances. The 6’7” Hampton scored 26 points in the championship game, which included a number of impressive slam dunks. With the championship, the Lions served notice that they will be one of the teams to watch in St. Louis this season. Head coach Kelvin Lee returned several key players back from an 18-9 team and he has a couple of nice additions to an already talented squad. Joining Hampton up front on a talented front line are 6’4” senior Brandon Ming and 6’4” junior Carleton Thomas. Ming scored a game-high 25 points in the semifinals against Washington while Thomas is an athletic forward who can score and rebound. The leader in the backcourt is 5’10” junior Larry Abbey, who has been a starter since his freshman season. He is joined by sophomore Barry Thomas, a transfer from St. Charles. Freshman guard Bryce Spiller is an excellent 3-point shooter while junior Tyler Jackson is a tough defensive player.

Black officiating crew was right call for NFL

A gentleman named Burl Toler was hired as a full-time official by the NFL in 1965, making him the first Black official/referee in an American major sport. In 1980, the late Toler became the first Black official to work in a Super Bowl. Good for the NFL. But why did it take 55 years for the NFL to stage a game with an all-Black officiating crew?

It finally took place during the Monday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Bucs and L.A. Rams on Nov. 23. The crew consisted of referee Jerome Boger, umpire Barry Anderson, side judge Anthony Jeffries, down judge Julian Mapp, line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Dale Shaw and back judge Greg Steed. In the NFL setup, the referee is the person in charge of the crew and announces penalty calls to fans and the television audience. Because of COVID-19 protocols, the crew members could not be interviewed following the game.

officials who paved the way for me, “especially Johnny Grier, whose number 23 I wear today,” Boger said in an NFL video.

Grier became the league’s first referee in 1988 – almost a quarter of a century after Toler was hired.

Boger, Anderson, Mapp, Shaw and Jeffries often work on the same officiating crew. Johnson and Steed were included to round out the historic crew.

Of 17 NFL referees, four are Black, according to ESPN. This is a higher percentage (23.3 percent) than Black coaches and general managers in the NFL.

Boger became the third Black referee in NFL history after he was promoted in 2006 from line judge. After Grier made history, another 20 years would pass before Mike Carey became the first Black referee to work the Super Bowl in 2008.

Referee Jerome Boger (in white cap) led the NFL’s first all-Black officiating crew during the Nov. 23 Monday Night Football game between the Tampa Bay Bucs and L.A. Rams. From left are line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Dale Shaw, back judge Greg Steed, Boger, side judge Anthony Jeffries, back judge Greg Steed, down judge Julian Mapp and umpire Barry Anderson.

head linesman on the opposite side of the field is to determine if any player violates the rules at the scrimmage line. He was chosen to officiate in five Super Bowl games. Beeks, who was also a St. Louis police officer, died on his birthday, Dec. 26, 2012.

The Reid Roundup

“I am humbled to stand on the shoulders of the Black

Troy Vincent, a Black former NFL star who is now the league’s executive vice president of football operations called the crew “a testament to the countless and immeasurable contributions of Black officials to the game.”

“Their exemplary performance, and to the power of inclusion that is the hallmark of this great game.”

For the record, St. Louis’ own Robert “Bob” Beeks was also a pioneer NFL referee. In 1968, the League recruited Beeks. (The

year before, the league had hired Toler in San Francisco as its first African-American official.) As the line judge, Beeks was one of seven officials on the football field (six at the time he started in pro ball.) The job of the line judge and the

After learning early Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19, Lewis Hamilton said he is “devastated” that he cannot race in Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain. “I’m gutted not to be able to race this weekend, but my priority is to follow the protocols and advice to protect others,” Hamilton wrote. Lewis, who said he is experiencing mild symptoms, tested negatively three times last week before he won the Bahrain Grand Prix last Sunday, which was held at the same race course as this week’s race. He was re-tested Monday. Hamilton secured his 7th Drivers Championship on Nov. 15 at the Turkish Grand Prix… Jason Tatum and the Boston Celtics will be without star guard Kemba Walker for the first few weeks of the NBA season that begins on Dec. 20. Walker received a stem

cell injection in his ailing left knee in October and is now on a 12-week strengthening program… Candice Lee, the SEC’s lone Black female athletic director, dismissed her Black football Coach, Derek Mason, after the Commodores were thrashed 41-0 by Missouri and fell to 0-8 last Saturday… A month into the NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a longshot to win

Alvin A. Reid

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price

The Brentwood School District seeks to hire the following positions

FT Floating Substitute Teacher

This position will be the primary substitute for “day of” vacancies at the high school and middle school during the week, Monday-Friday. If there are no substitute opportunities at the high school or middle school the substitute will report to our Elementary schools to provide floating coverage in grades K-5. Coverage will include supervision of students (recess, lunch or bus duty) and providing relief to teacher or teacher assistants in the classrooms.

Qualifications:

•Current Substitute Certificate.

OR

•Current Missouri Teacher Certificate.

•Willingness to work in our High School/Middle School and Elementary schools (K-5).

• Ability to develop and maintain positive rapport with students.

Terms of Employment

• Monday-Friday availability required

• Salary: $97/day

• Benefit Eligible: Medical, Dental and Vision

Visit the following website for to apply: www.brentwoodmoschools.org Click on the Join our Team tab at the top of the page, review the Q and A section and proceed to the link in the middle of the page, Employment Opportunities. Position is open until filled, however interviews will begin once sufficient applications have been received. Only online applications are accepted. Please No Phone Calls. EOE.

The City of Pagedale is

Officer

Responsibilities: Police Officers will protect by preventing crime, enforcing laws, apprehending suspects and monitoring traffic All applicants should log on to www.cityofpagedale.com or pick up application

At 1420 Ferguson, Pagedale, MO 63133 314-726-1112 DEADLINE to apply: December 7, 2020

PRESIDENT

St. Joseph’s Academy in Frontenac, Missouri, a private all-girl high school sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet invites applicants for the position of President. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, inspirational, and visionary leader who is a practicing Catholic, values education and is also committed to the mission and core values of the school.

For more information and to apply for this position, visit https:www.sjasearch.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

Committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Deadline to be considered for the position is December 15th, 2020.

MUNICIPAL SERVICE FOREMAN I

The City of Clayton is hiring for a Municipal Service Foreman I— Public Works. Apply by 12/06/20: https://claytonmo. applicantpro.com/jobs/ EOE

POLICE OFFICER

The City of Kirkwood, MO seeks Police Officer applicants. Minimum Requirements: Must be a U.S. citizen; be 21 years of age on or before the date of appointment; have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions; possess a valid driver’s license; meet the POST training requirements for a first class county in the State of Missouri, or currently be enrolled in a qualified academy graduating by June 30, 2021; and be in excellent physical and mental condition. Starting Salary: $63,355 per year or more depending on experience, plus a competitive benefits package. Visit https:// kirkwoodmo.aaimtrack.com/jobs/ to apply 5:00 p.m. CST; Friday, December 18, 2020 EOE

PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS

Declare Home Health Care Hiring Personal Care Attendants in St. Louis City and County (314) 201-3200

CIRCUIT COURT FISCAL MANAGER

St. Louis County Circuit Court is seeking a Fiscal Manager to perform advanced professional accounting work of considerable difficulty in supervision of the Circuit Court’s County funded accounting functions. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing technical accounting and bookkeeping activities and providing expertise in the interpretation and application of complex accounting procedures. MINIMUM

QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and 5 years progressively responsible professional experience in accounting; preferably including one year in a supervisory capacity and 1 year of public sector accounting experience; or any equivalent combination of training and experience. The salary range is $56,949.36-$93,662.40. This position is eligible for 10% addition to pay. TO APPLY: Complete an online application and submit a resume and cover letter by the end of the day on December 11, 2020: http:// agency.governmentjobs.com/stlouis/ default.cfm EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

DETENTION DEPUTY JUVENILE OFFICER

St. Louis County Juvenile Office is seeking male Detention Deputy Juvenile Officers (DDJO) to function as the supervisor of juveniles assigned to residential Detention units or to work the control desk. DDJO positions are established with a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification requiring that the candidate be of the same gender as the residential unit. DDJO positions are responsible for maintaining security and control, as well as providing direct supervision to the residents assigned to the unit. MINIMUM

QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related social/behavioral science; or four years of responsible, paraprofessional social service experience working with juvenile delinquents and/or their families may be substituted in lieu of college; or any equivalent combination of training and experience. Starting salary is $15.68-$16.68 per hour contingent upon incumbent’s level of education. DDJO positions are eligible for 10% addition to pay. TO APPLY complete an online application at http://agency. governmentjobs.com/stlouis/default.cfm Posting will remain open until vacancies are filled. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at (314)615-4471 (voice) or (314) 615-5889 (TTY) if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format. WANTED

East-West Gateway is seeking submittals from qualified firms of certified public accountants to conduct its annual audit. Submittals are due no later than 1:00 p.m. on January 5, 2021. Submittal details and specifications can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Lucas-Hunt Road (North) Resurfacing project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1560, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https:// stlouisco.munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx, until 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2020

Plans and specifications will be available on November 16, 2020 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

TO BID

Ferguson-Florissant School District

Ferguson-Florissant School District is requesting bid proposals to furnish all labor, materials and equipment to install a new cooling tower at 705 Waterford Drive Florissant, MO 63033 until Wednesday December 16, 2020 until 1:30pm CST. Bid specs must be obtained online at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact/Attention: Matt Furfaro 314-824-2418

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting bids for Meramec Greenway: Al Foster Slope Stabilization Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ and submit by December 18, 2020.

request that a copy of the application and instructions be emailed to them by contacting the SLPO office at stlphil@sbcglobal.net. SLPO office hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30

workshop. Please register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZIkdOysrDooEtxzr1qd6z0g TimwB_cBu1zr After registering, agencies will receive a confirmation email

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Webster Groves is accepting sealed bids for the Webster Groves Fire House No. 2. Bids will be accepted at Webster Groves City Hall, 4 East Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119, until 2:00 p.m. on December 22, 2020 and then opened publicly. Bidders shall submit two copies of bid proposal in sealed envelope clearly marked on outside of envelope: BID – Webster Groves Fire House No. 2.

Bid documents can be obtained at:

Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies

1712 Macklind Ave.

St. Louis MO 63110

Phone: 314-678-0087

Access digital files. Plan holder list, and addendums at: https://www.x-rhodesplanroom.com

Not less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages shall be paid to all workmen performing under this contract in this area according to the rates determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations of the State of Missouri.

The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and waive any irregularities in the best interest of the Owner.

All questions about the meaning or intent of the Bidding Documents are to be submitted by email to the following person and should include in the subject line “Webster Groves Fire House No. 2 – Bid Question(s)”. The questions shall include the specific area of work (such as “Sewer Work”), the drawing page number and/or the specification section. This will help in the distribution of the questions to the appropriate designer.

Send Questions to:

Matt Nigh

Navigate Building Solutions

Email: matt@navigatebuildingsolutions.com.

Questions/clarifications requested by the bidders must be received by Navigate Building Solutions by email not less than 5 days prior to receipt of bids. The reply will be in the form of an addendum.

Pre-bid will occur at site on December 8, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions the pre-bid meeting for this project we be held in three (3) smaller groups limited to a maximum of ten (10) participants per time slot. This pre-bid meeting is not mandatory for submission of a proposal on this project but, highly recommended. To reserve a space in one of the following timeslots contact Matt Nigh with Navigate Building Solutions.

Matt Nigh

Navigate Building Solutions

Email: matt@navigatebuildingsolutions.com.

Pre-Bid Meeting Dates / Times:(Contact Matt Nigh) to reserve your space and for location of this meeting)

Group “A”: December 8 - 11:00 am

Group “B”: December 8 - Noon

Group “C”: December 8 - 1:00 pm

NORTH CAMPUS NSF EVALUATOR RFP 2021

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks proposals on the North Campus NSF Evaluator RFP 2021. Bid documents are available as of 12/2/2020 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

Santa greets his friends from inside Shark Canyon at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station.

Everyone knows the holidays are fast approaching when they see the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in St. Louis decked out with its traditional red bow.

A traveler retrieves his ticket from a kiosk at St. Louis Lambert International Airport over the Thanksgiving weekend.

An American Airlines employee keeps her eyes on the status board as travelers pass through St. Louis Lambert International Airport over the weekend.

Worker Jalen Spencer carries a large tree to the processing area at Ted Drewes Christmas Lot in St. Louis.

Thanksgiving is over and December is here. That means that Santa Claus is coming, travelers are going, folks are buying trees — and wearing masks. Photos by Bill Greenblatt/UPI