December 7th, 2017 Edition

School district rating upgrade

Normandy granted provisional accreditation

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

For three years,

Superintendent

Charles Pearson of the Normandy Schools Collaborative has helped the school district rebuild its foundation piece by piece, after hitting rock bottom. He knew the district had done the work and met the state’s requirements to earn provisional accreditation status –after having its accreditation stripped in 2012 and paying millions of dollars every year to send its students to learn in other districts. Still, he said he was anxious at

See NORMANDY, A6

An independent investigation has concluded that Chris Koster and police withheld DNA evidence in the 2012 civil rights lawsuit over the officer-involved shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith.

Stockley DNA evidence withheld

Mount Beulah Missionary Baptist Church Deacon James Nathan hammered a cross in the ground for Lanna Green, who lost her son Andrew Green to violence in 2017, at the church in Hanley Hills on Saturday, December 2. In the background are the church’s pastor, Rev. E.G. Shields Sr.; Rev. Earl E. Nance Jr. of Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church; and Jennings Mayor Yolanda Austin.

Planting crosses for homicide victims

Former Stenger fundraiser charged with gun crimes

‘Defendant’s conduct and use of epitaphs indicate his actions to be motivated by race’

By Rebecca Rivas Of The

St. Louis American

Matthew Lieberman, who has worked on fundraisers for St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger and other local Democrats, has been charged with several felonies after he called an Amoco employee an N-word and then fired shots into the gas station’s kiosk at Skinker Boulevard and Interstate-64 on November 28. He also faces charges for a similar action at a Jack-in-theBox on Hampton Avenue that same night. Lieberman, 38, was charged on November 30 with three counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. According to the probable cause statement, “The defendant’s conduct and use of epitaphs indicate his actions to be motivated by race.” His cash-only bond is set at $250,000. As of Friday afternoon, he was still in custody.

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Former Missouri Attorney General

Chris Koster’s administration and the Board of Commissioners for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department withheld DNA evidence in the 2012 civil rights lawsuit over the officer-involved shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith, an independent investigator found.

Current Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley announced on December 5

See DNA, A7 Independent investigation finds violations in Anthony Lamar Smith lawsuit

193 murders to date in city and county memorialized on Saturday

By Jessica Karins For The St. Louis American

Holding a poster covered with dozens of photos of a smiling young man throughout different stages of his life, Lanna Green helped place a small wooden cross onto the lawn of Mt. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Hanley Hills. Both the photos and the cross were memorials to her son, Andrew, who died seven months ago in a shooting that is still unsolved.

“Today’s his birthday,” Green said on Saturday, December 2. “He would have been 30 years old as of today.”

n “One homicide is one too many.” – Mt. Beulah Pastor E.G. Shields Sr.

Andrew Green was one of three victims in a triple homicide in Pine Lawn on April 26, part of a pattern of murders in St. Louis County that is trending.

Continuing what is now an annual tradition, members of Mt. Beulah Missionary Baptist

See VICTIMS, A7

n Lieberman recently helped organize a fundraiser for St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger in September. Matthew Lieberman

Lieberman leads two fundraising firms –Majority Strategies LLC and RAL Strategic Investment Group LLC – and has worked with several of the region’s top Democrats, including Stenger and former St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who first reported the story. Lieberman recently helped organize a fundraiser for Stenger in September. A spokesman for Stenger’s campaign said Lieberman was never employed by the Stenger campaign, though did not dispute that he has assisted with fundraisers. Lieberman was hired by and worked for the Slay campaign between about 2008 and 2012 as a fundraiser, Slay told the American “I never witnessed, sensed, or ever heard of any racist behavior, tendencies, or language from him at any time,” said Slay, now an attorney at Spencer Fane LLP. “If I had, he would have been fired on the spot. I do not tolerate that kind of behavior. He was let go from the campaign in about mid-2012 after displaying erratic behavior – of course, nothing even close to the conduct for which he was arrested.”

See CRIME, A6

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Three members of Xscape to be managed by Tamar’s ex Kandi Burruss will not record new music with Xscape, and the other three ladies are said to be moving forward with a new manager. According to Hiphollywood.com, Xscape with Tiny Harris, Tameka and LaTocha Scott will be managed by Tamar Braxton’s soon-to-be-exhusband, Vincent Herbert. Herbert also recently signed rapper Remy Ma.

Meek Mill denied bail

“He continues to be a danger to himself based upon a history of continuous use of illegal drugs, and is an increased and greater flight risk because he already has been sentenced to a term in state prison and gave false information to authorities when he was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri,” Brinkley said.

However, Meek’s legal team is planning to appeal the decision.

Meek Mill has spent the past month in prison after a judge sentenced him to two to four years behind bars for violating his probation – and Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley threw out the rapper’s attorneys request for bail last week.

“We are very disappointed with Judge Brinkley’s decision to deny Mr. Williams bail, which continues this travesty of justice,” Brian J. McMonagle who is leading Mill’s legal team, told E! News. “He has never missed any court dates, and poses absolutely no threat to the community making him an ideal candidate for bail, a conclusion the District Attorney did not oppose. We intend to immediately appeal this decision so Mr. Williams can be released from prison while we continue to work to overturn this wrongful and unjust sentence.”

The lawyers have also filed a motion to have Judge Brinkley thrown off the case as they believe she “imposed a harsh sentence, even though the rapper’s probation officer and prosecutor had not asked for him to be jailed.”

The motion adds that Judge Brinkley

“repeatedly offered inappropriate personal and professional advice to the defendant, who had become a successful professional entertainer during the pendency of this case.”

Patti LaBelle outs Luther on live TV

Diva Patti LaBelle outed late R&B legend Luther Vandross during a recent episode of “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen “We talked about [his being in the closet]. Basically, he did not want his mother to be...although she might have known, but he wasn’t going to come out and say this to the world,” LaBelle told Cohen on the show. “And he had a lot of lady fans and he told me he just didn’t want to upset the world.”

Terry Crews suing alleged groper

According to TMZ. com, actor Terry Crews is suing WME agent

Adam Venit. Crews recently made headlines when he claimed Venit stuck his tongue out at Crews provocatively and grabbed his genitals in front of his wife at a Hollywood party. Crews said after the alleged assault, he pushed Venit away, and turned to Adam Sandler and yelled, “Adam, come get your boy! He’s grabbing my [expletive].” Crews says on his way home from the event Adam Sandler called and asked if he was ok, and Crews responded that he was surprised he got molested at age 48. Crews says Venit called him and apologized, claiming he was just not himself that night. Crews says he met with WME’s chairman Ari Emanuel, who apologized for Venit’s behavior. Crews says he told Emanuel he feared retaliation, but Emanuel said Venit, “did not have that level of power, despite his title as head of the Motion Picture Department.”

Crews says he’s suffered psychologically and says he has never felt more emasculated and objectified. He also believes is career is in jeopardy after speaking out. He is seeking unspecified damages.

Sources: TMZ.com, Hiphollywood.com, E! News, Bravo.com

Terry Crews

Patti LaBelle

Meek Mill

‘TFA

Warren Morgan now

By Pat Matreci

For The St. Louis American

As the new executive director of Teach For AmericaSt. Louis, Warren Morgan said his immediate priority is to listen.

Morgan leads a network of approximately 600 Teach For America (TFA) corps members and alumni who teach in underresourced schools and work in many fields that impact education to advance equity in St. Louis.

Morgan wants to spend his first year at the helm getting out in the community, meeting with partners, school leaders, students and community members. He thinks the only way to continue achieving organizational goals is by listening.

“I want to listen while implementing some of the takeaways to make an impact in the long run,” Morgan said.

A native of Dolton, Illinois, Morgan has nearly 11 years of experience in policy and education. He most recently completed a White House Fellowship to broaden his knowledge of leadership, policy formulation and current affairs. His White House Fellowship spanned the Obama and Trump administrations.

“Although each administration was different, I learned that there is power in the collective,” Morgan said.

“In the Trump administration, I worked on supporting some of the Promise Zone work in communities

all across the country. It was designed for communities looking to improve education, jobs and health. It was a great demonstration of the power of the collective. I started my work by doing listening calls with those in the community, and I realized that their collective efforts was the real power to change.”

That was a take-home lesson for his next position. “TFA can be a huge part of broader community change,” he said. Morgan also served as the academic superintendent for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s turnaround schools.

Under his leadership, schools outperformed the district’s graduation rate, decreased suspensions, and made significant gains in literacy and attendance.

Morgan, who also served as principal in Chicago Public Schools, is a TFA alumnus.

After earning his master’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Morgan became a TFA corps member and accepted his first assignment in 2007 as a science teacher at Yeatman-Liddell Junior High School. There he earned Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2009.

“As any first-year teacher, it was very challenging to balance the preparation needed to ensure you had rigorous and engaging lessons,” Morgan said. “I always wanted the class to be engaging, like when I included rap videos for different elements to the periodic table in my science

class. I wanted to connect students to the content.”

He also discovered that teaching is one of the most important jobs in the country.

“Everyone is going to encounter some form of education. I realized for the first time that the onus was on me, the teacher, to educate the students,” Morgan said. “There

Morgan’s work experience also includes a stint as a bill analyst for the Illinois Senate, where he saw first-hand some of the issues faced by public education.

Throughout his professional career, Morgan has strived to be a change agent for education reform from the classroom to the capital. And that’s why the

n “At Teach For America, we say that ‘One Day’ we’ll get this right. That if everyone understands the issues and we have a community that gets it right, we’ll work ourselves out of a job.”

are a lot of teachers who are not receiving the professional development they need to be their best for students each day. I realized how important strong leaders and schools are to our communities.”

position with TFA appealed to him.

“I’ve always wanted to influence education policy by way of education, and having an understanding of teaching helps me to support teachers

support,” he said.

“We also have many organizations looking to solve the issue, but we’re not all working together to make that happen. I see this in lots of cities, as well as here in St. Louis. In Missouri, you have two urban pockets – St. Louis and Kansas City – and everything in between doesn’t face what we experience. It can feel like in the region, it’s just up to the region, but we need the state support that makes it possible to do the work.”

and institutions,” Morgan said.

“At Teach For America, we say that ‘One Day’ we’ll get this right. That if everyone understands the issues and we have a community that gets it right, we’ll work ourselves out of a job. More specifically now, we know that ‘One Day’ is a lifetime commitment.

My joining TFA is a lifelong commitment. It’s my life’s calling and mission. I believe everyone who comes to the movement feels the same way, always connected to solving the problem of ‘One Day.’”

Morgan said one of the biggest challenges for education reform is that some individuals just don’t believe that students from certain backgrounds can succeed.

“St. Louis is like many other urban areas where you have a lot of people who care about the issues, but a lot of people questioning how we are going to get this done when we have a lack of resources – monetary resources, human capital, programs and additional

Long-term, Morgan sees a real need to re-energize the community around TFA, which has been in St. Louis since 2002.

“People know about us and have determined in their mind what it is we do, without really understanding our movement,” he said. “We didn’t have this when I joined the corps 10 years ago. I’d love to mobilize our corps and alumni to help everyone understand our mission and further drive our impact.”

Morgan also hopes to expand TFA partnerships and reach through corps members and alumni.

“Our district leaders need the support of many different organizations to help them achieve their goal,” he added. “I want TFA to think about how we can help our district partners to transform education. We want to serve and support them.”

For more information about Teach For American, visit www.teachforamerica.org.

Photo by Wiley Price

Editorial /CommEntary

Democrats must not tolerate sexual predators

Few in Congress have fought harder for progressive causes than U.S. Rep. John Conyers and U.S. Senator Al Franken.

Conyers, who is 88 years old, was first elected to Congress in 1965. He founded the Congressional Black Caucus, sponsored a bill to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday, and has advocated for a single-payer national healthcare system.

Franken took office in 2009 and quickly remade his image from a comedian into a serious lawmaker. He also has been a vocal supporter of a single-payer healthcare system, has worked to strengthen protections for victims of sexual assault, and has fought for transparency in the finance industry.

Both have been progressive champions. Democrats should reject both, and Franken should resign. Conyers, who announced his retirement on Tuesday without admitting guilt in the accusations against him, should come clean. The standard of conduct for our elected representatives must be high. Although everyone is entitled to due process before being convicted of a crime, holding elected office is a privilege. It is a position of esteem, and should be treated with honor and dignity. Honesty, integrity, and treating others with respect must be part of the standard. And behavior that crosses that line shouldn’t be tolerated.

inappropriate behavior, some documented by photographs. Franken, unlike Conyers, has apologized for his actions and expressed his regret.

The women of who have courageously come forward to speak truth to power deserve to know that we stand with them. We believe them. The sexual harassment they endured is not welcome anywhere, and especially not in Congress. When those lines are crossed, there is no question about what should happen to the perpetrator: They are no longer welcome in public office. John Conyers and Al Franken, for all the good they have done, have not lived up to the high ethical standard we have – and should have – for our elected officials, regardless of the shameful example of Trump’s presidency.

This lofty rhetoric seems naïve if not delusional in these days with Donald Trump as U.S. president. The man who bragged about being able to sexually assault women, the man who endorsed an accused pedophile, the man who himself has been accused by so many women of sexual harassment that we lost count – this man is our chief law enforcement official and commands the largest military in the world. But we cannot call into question his personal behavior if we do not also demand that progressive leaders must also live up to that same high standard.

Both Conyers and Franken have been credibly accused of sexual harassment. Conyers entered a settlement agreement, forcing taxpayers to pay off one alleged victim. He has defended himself and denied wrongdoing, even when retiring with more claims against him pending. And Franken has now been accused by several women of

In fact, the example of Trump compels that we become more, not less, vigilant that progressives live up to the standards by which Trump fails. When the sitting U.S. president who is a Republican is endorsing for U.S. Senate a man who stands credibly accused of pedophilia in his past, and the president has his own history of boasting about (and allegedly pursuing) predatory sexual behavior, Democrats must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct in their own party.

We are reminded how skillfully the Trump campaign muddied the waters about Trump’s horrific comments on the Access Hollywood tape by parading before the public – live on Facebook before a presidential debate in St. Louis, no less – a group of women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual conduct. Hillary Clinton’s intimate connection to a powerful Democrat with his own history of sexual misconduct allegations was one of many reasons Trump was elected despite so many actions that should have disqualified him. It will be a sad day in Congress when Franken steps down. We will miss his and Conyers’ advocacy on important issues. We honor their contributions, but how they treated women is much more important than their policy positions, and Democrats can’t afford to be equivocal about sexual misconduct. Their political careers should be over. We must not concede our moral authority as we resist this dangerous president and his party that enables his outrageous and reckless behavior.

Trump’s problem is serious – and getting worse

How long are we going to pretend that President Trump is fully rational? How long are we going to ignore the signs that he is dangerously out of control?

Trump’s supporters comfort themselves with the idea that he’s being crazy like a fox – that all the outrageous lies, abrupt reversals, bizarre pronouncements and vicious personal attacks are calculated to achieve some rational goal. He’s just playing to his base, perhaps, or distracting everyone from unpopular legislation cutting taxes for the rich, or trying to deceive other world leaders into thinking he might be unhinged and therefore should be accommodated. But what evidence is there of calculation? Congress may indeed pass a slappedtogether tax bill, but there is no indication Trump even knows what’s in it. That would be his first and only significant legislative accomplishment. His approval rating plummeted after the inauguration and has been stuck at 40 percent or below since June, according to Gallup. He has managed to alienate our closest allies – even drawing a rare rebuke from British Prime Minister Theresa May – and created a vacuum in world leadership that China is happily beginning to fill. The logical thing to do, at this point, would be to come up with a new strategy. But Trump stays his wild and erratic course, as if he simply cannot help himself.

The most alarming development is the revelation that Trump continues to entertain paranoid conspiracy theories. According to both The

Washington Post and The New York Times, Trump still clings to the ridiculous “birther” theories about where former President Barack Obama was born. The papers also reported that Trump has privately claimed the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, in which he bragged about harassing and assaulting women, was somehow forged or doctored.

You will recall that Obama’s birth in Hawaii has been definitively proved; and also that Trump acknowledged the “Access Hollywood” tape when it surfaced last year and gave a televised address apologizing for it. It would be one thing if Trump were broadcasting this nonsense for a reason. I’d feel better even if he had a nefarious reason – to appeal to racists who cannot accept the legitimacy of the first black president, say, or to encourage his base to doubt everything they see and hear in the media and instead to trust only him. But Trump has raised these off-the-wall subjects in private conversations with aides, associates and a sitting U.S. senator.

It is one thing to create a fantasyland for political ends. It is another thing altogether, however, for Trump to fall into his own rabbit hole and actually believe what he once knew to be untrue.

For decades, when he was a publicity-seeking developer

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

GOP tax plan will worsen income inequality and federal debt

By U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore Guest columnist

I know Paul Ryan. Before he became speaker of the House, we shared flights to and from the Capitol. We’ve sat through countless hearings and markups together. Despite our political differences, we respected each other.

But now, as the GOP’s dangerous tax plan passed the Senate, it’s time to take off the gloves and hold him and the president to task for their malicious proposal.

After nearly 10 years serving with Speaker Ryan on the Budget Committee, I learned to decipher the coded discourse he uses when discussing tax policy. I learned to see past his doublespeak and see his policies for what they are: Wall Street over Main Street politics. So, here are the facts that he and the president don’t want you to know, devoid of that classic Ryan polish, magic asterisks, and fuzzy math.

The tax proposal before the Senate raises taxes on those earning as little as $10,000 a year, cuts Medicare and Medicaid, and adds another $1.5 trillion to the national debt to pave the way for huge corporate tax cuts. Not only will it create massive deficits, but it fails to stimulate any meaningful economic growth. Sadly, Speaker Ryan’s shiny veneer on his plan – meant to evoke images of shared wealth among the middle class – is as empty as Donald Trump’s health care promise that “everybody’s got to be covered.”

Elimination of middle-class deductions will not be offset by doubling the standard exemption, effectively raising

taxes on families, especially for families with more than two children. Changes and cuts to health programs like Medicare and Medicaid will make our population poorer and sicker. Tax on college endowments and interest on student loans will make college less affordable for students. Taxing state and local taxes will devalue the homes of countless Americans and make it harder and more expensive for states to provide services for their people.

The huge deficits this bill creates will likely preclude the country from investing in badly needed new infrastructure and nearly ensure future fiscal crises and government shutdowns. It’s difficult to understand why Congress would want to treat teachers buying pens and paper for their students differently than businesses buying the very same pens and paper. It’s hard to fathom why it makes sense to allow deductions for private school tuition but to no longer allow students to deduct the cost of student loans. It’s simply illogical that these GOP proposals copy S-corporation loopholes that proved so disastrous when tried by Kansas that Republicans in that state had to reverse their own tax plan.

and social-climbing Manhattan playboy, Trump’s method was to fabricate his own reality; he even called gossip columnists and pretended to be a publicist named “John Miller” or “John Barron” in order to sing his own praises. But he employed this shtick with a wink and a smile, knowing it was all a game. Increasingly he sounds and acts as if he thinks his make-believe is real.

One of the things that first drew attention to Trump as a presidential candidate was his public speaking style – freeassociation, basically, with no discernible filter between brain and lip. Follow one of his speeches and you can track how his mind works. On November 27, at a White House ceremony honoring Navajo code talkers, he bizarrely slipped in his “Pocahontas” slur against Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who wasn’t there and had nothing to do with the event. On November 29, at a Missouri rally touting the tax bill, he came to a line about how it would add “rocket fuel” to the economy, paused a second, and then reprised his “Rocket Man” insult of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Kim’s state-controlled media has called Trump an “old lunatic.” That the rival, nucleararmed leaders speak the same language is not comforting.

Maybe Trump is rattled by the Great Reckoning on sexual harassment and assault. Maybe he is worried about the steamrolling Robert Mueller investigation. Or maybe his mental state is just deteriorating. Whatever the problem is, it’s serious – and it’s getting worse.

Tax reform that closes loopholes and promotes fairness and prosperity for all is long overdue, but the bill that passed the House on a partisan vote and the Senate proposal are not reform. In fact, the two bills deform and complicate the Internal Revenue Code making it less fair and less efficient and will increase income inequality. Despite this bleak reality, Republicans are attempting to convince Americans to support this plan, claiming that trickle-down tax cuts pay for themselves and that working people will get a huge pay increase as a result. These assertions have been so thoroughly debunked by mainstream economists and studies that at this point they are just flat-out lies. In fact, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies have already indicated their intent to distribute tax cuts to their shareholders, not workers.

Letters to the editor

Trump will pay

It is apparent that some of us have lost our way. When you have a president in power that rules over the law of God, a man it seems that we are powerless to stop, that is saying a lot about us as human beings to allow this to happen. The morality of this man is so low until you wonder if he came from the same world that we live in.

A privileged white man who would use his power to destroy his own people let alone people of color. The greed, lack of empathy and self-absorption is beyond belief. To have all the wealth in the world and still seek for more is beyond comprehension especially for those who have nothing.

President Trump will pay for everything he has done to others but more so for his sins against God – the one who has the final say over all our lives, who says we should love one another as we love ourselves.

Dorothy Dempsey, St. Louis

Shame to see her ousted

The removal of Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven is completely without merit, and anyone who cares about Missouri’s schools should be outraged. Dr. Vandeven challenged the status quo and got real results for Missouri students, teachers and taxpayers. It’s a shame to see her ousted by the governor in a political power grab.

State Sen. Gina Walsh Bellefontaine Neighbors

OK to scam again

President Trump, by attempting to install someone to lead the Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau who has called the CFPB a “sick, sad” joke, is sending a strong statement to Wall Street banks, student loan corporations, and predatory payday loan and credit card companies that it is once again OK to scam consumers. It’s the latest example of Trump abandoning his populist promises from the campaign to serve the demands of big corporations and Wall Street.

The CFPB is an incredibly successful consumer watchdog that has already returned nearly $12 billion to consumers and helped 29 million people get relief – student loan borrowers, seniors, families and other

A recent survey of economists overwhelmingly came to the conclusion the GOP tax plan would not produce significant GDP gains, but would substantially increase the national debt. The 2000 Bush tax cuts didn’t pay for themselves as the national debt piled up, they didn’t produce the promised economic growth, and they certainly didn’t trickle down to workers in the form of a big wage increase. We have been down this road before. We know that tickle down hasn’t worked, doesn’t work, and won’t work. Our country has the wealth inequality and deficits to prove it. Our country desperately needs real tax reform, but all Speaker Ryan and the GOP are trying to sell us is more crony capitalism and donor welfare labeled as “reform.” Gwen Moore

consumers who were preyed upon or defrauded by powerful financial interests that refused to play by the rules. The American people need a CFPB director who will serve the people and not the powerful. Mick Mulvaney is not that person. The Dodd-Frank law makes clear that Leandra English is the rightful acting director of the CFPB until the Senate confirms someone else. President Trump should nominate a new director committed to fulfilling the CFPB’s mission as a consumer watchdog.

Randi Weingarten, president, AFT

Commentary

Columnist

Eugene Robinson

Al Franken

John Conyers

Banker teaches money management to youth

On November 17, Cheryl Walker, Community Development director for Stifel Bank & Trust taught the importance of money management to Lee-Hamilton Elementary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District as that month’s Secret Eagle. Lee-Hamilton Eagles welcome surprise guest speakers to their school every month. Secret Eagles speak about how they were “born to soar” and how they have shown caring, respect, and self-control in their lives to be the successful people they are today. Walker spoke at the school assembly about the importance of saving, giving, spending and investing money, then came as a community vendor to the school’s Community Outreach Evening on November 20 to talk to families about the importance of home ownership and credit. Jill Loyet, principal of Lee-Hamilton, said, “Students look at Mrs. Walker and see a successful black woman making a difference in the world of money management and in her community.”

Missouri offers biliteracy awards to graduating students

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is introducing the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy Program. The Missouri Seal is awarded by local school districts to graduating students who have proven a specific level of proficiency in English and any other world language, including sign languages. The graduating class of 2018 is the first class to be eligible for the program.

“Learning another language helps open new worlds and cultures for our students,” said Ryan Rumpf, director of the English learners program at DESE. “We’d like to see many students take advantage of this opportunity to distinguish themselves as bilingual as they continue their education or begin a career.”

All Missouri graduating students are potential candidates for one of two awards: the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy and the Distinguished Missouri Seal of Biliteracy. Local school boards determine whether they wish to offer the awards to their students. Several Missouri businesses have pledged support for the program, as have some state universities. Missouri State University, Missouri Southern State University and the University of Central Missouri have committed to offering 12 hours of credit to students earning the Missouri Seal.

“We appreciate the support of Missouri businesses and these universities for this new opportunity for students,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “We encourage others to make similar commitments to help better prepare our future workforce.”

The Missouri Seal is a policy-level commitment that aligns with DESE’s goal of preparing students for a lifetime of success. The policy meets or exceeds the suggested criteria collaboratively developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages association, the National Council of State Supervisors for Language, and the National Association for Bilingual Education.

How do we stop these senseless crimes and murders?

By Anita Thomas Ozier For The St. Louis American

I sit here thinking about the lives of young AfricanAmerican men, my grandsons, nephews or innocent bystanders who can become a victim of a senseless murder at a moment’s notice. I ponder on how to stop these senseless crimes and murders by men chosen to protect and serve our community.

While I know for a fact there are good police officers protecting our city, there are yet a handful of officers who should be released from their duties without pay or who actually should be in jail. We advocate for police body cameras, but when we have video of wrongful actions it can be dissected and used to justify nonsense. I prayed St. Louis would be a city willing to stand up for justice and finally say if any police officer abuses his powers he will be found guilty. However, we heard the words of a judge who will retire in a few months saying this police officer is not guilty on all charges and that an urban heroin dealer not in possession of a firearm would be an “anomaly.”

n Why are our jails full and so many of our schools abandoned?

We can no longer tolerate our laws to be violated by those put in charge to serve and protect. All lives matter, but society shows us the continued need for the Black Lives Matter movement. Inequality and injustice exist. Just look around, and open your eyes and ears. It exists in schools, health care, housing, employment and in the different neighborhoods within our city. We need to stop looking at the color of skin and putting profits over people. We need to find ways to encourage and support each other. Even a baby knows right from wrong. Have you ever wondered how so many drugs and guns get into our neighborhoods? Why are our jails full and so many of our schools abandoned? I know people are hurting, hearts are broken, families torn. It’s sad. We have officers living more prosperous in other places after they have committed murder and left our city even more frustrated and alienated by their injustices.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. The 1st Amendment gives us the right to free speech and to assemble peaceably. However, the sentence for theft, vandalism, jaywalking, possession, illegal distribution or fleeing pursuit should not be murder.

Let’s wake up! Pray for one another. Treat others as you want to be treated. Walk worthy of God. Use your voice and your vote for change. Stand against racism, inequality and injustice. We all bleed red, and want quality of life.

Anita ThomasOzier

Continued from A1

the Missouri State Board of Education’s December 1 meeting, when the board made its final decision. When he heard the board vote 8-0 in favor of returning the district’s provisional status, he said it was quite emotional.

“This is bigger than just Normandy,” said Pearson, also a longtime Normandy resident who started his teaching career in the district. “This community has always stuck behind the school. Even with the transfer program, 900 students left but there were over 3,000 who stayed. So people really want this to be a quality system.”

The new status will take effect on January 2.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recommended the provisional accreditation based on “improvements in student performance, operations, and school culture and climate.”

The district’s scores have been in the provisionally accredited range for the past two years, and its near-term finances have improved, according to DESE.

State board member Mike Jones said ultimately Normandy was able to do what its neighboring districts, Jennings and Riverview

CRIME

Continued from A1

Lieberman was a frequent customer at the Amoco on Skinker, according to the gas station employee’s statement to police. On November 28 at about 11 p.m., he pulled up

Gardens, have also done. And that was to dig in deep. “They all made strategic decisions based on the facts on the ground,” Jones said. “They coached the players that they had. They didn’t take a theory off the shelf and say, ‘Now you all got to fit into this.’”

In 2014, the state board took full control of Normandy’s troubled finances. Then known as Normandy School District, it was reorganized as Normandy Schools Collaborative.

Governance was turned over to a Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB), whose initial members were appointed by the state board. In 2015, the JEGB hired Pearson, who had been part of the appointed board and then was interim superintendent. In the past three years, Normandy has raised its scores on the Annual Performance Report (APR) – which measures things like student performance, attendance and graduation rates for school districts – from 7.1 percent in 2014 to 62.5 percent in 2017. In 2014, the district only earned 10 points out of a possible 140 on the APR. The district quadrupled that number earning 42.5 points in 2015. Last year, the collaborative earned 76.5 points on the state’s report card for public schools. And in 2017, the collaborative earned 87.5

in a brown Mercedes sedan, bought a pack of cigarettes and then gave the employee “an offensive hand gesture.”

The employee came out of the kiosk to ask the defendant why he did that. While sitting in his Mercedes, Lieberman allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the employee and called him an N-word. The employee

points. With the reclassification, Normandy is no longer required to participate in the student transfer program. The state law requires unaccredited districts to pay tuition for their students to transfer to surrounding accredited districts. Normandy also paid for transportation for transfer students to attend schools in the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles County.

The collaborative has reached agreements with the current receiving school districts to allow transfer students to continue through

retreated back into the kiosk’s door and then he heard multiple gunshots. Lieberman allegedly then pulled around to the door of the kiosk and fired two more shots into the building.

Surveillance footage shows the defendant pulling out the handgun and then pulling around to the kiosk door, according to court records.

Normandy Superintendent Charles Pearson talks with secondgraders Carlos Hernandez-Roque and Ryleigh Gill in the library at Lucas Crossing Elementary School.

the end of the 2017-2018 school year while capping the tuition amount at $7,000 per student. Some districts will allow the transfer students to attend their current school until they reach the next transition point; high school students may stay at their school until graduation.

Pearson said earning the provisional accreditation was a short-term goal. Their longterm journey is expressed in the vision and mission statement they wrote in September: “The Normandy Schools Collaborative is changing lives today, educating for the

Bullet casings at the scene were the same make and model of those later found in Lieberman’s possession.

Less than 15 minutes later, Lieberman allegedly went to the Jack-in-the-Box on Hampton Avenue, where employees told police that he “became irate,” shouted similar racist remarks and shot his gun while driving in his Mercedes, according to charging documents.

Lieberman has also now been connected with an incident in September where he threatened Black Lives Matter protestors with a gun.

During the second day of protests after the

future.”

Pearson said Normandy students are getting the support that they need through a collaboration with 35 service providers – everything from behavior specialists and counselors to sending home backpacks of food and providing medical care. And they are making changes to the system that will provide a strong future, he said.

“I need that out there so people know where we are headed,” Pearson said.

Some upcoming improvements include establishing a kindergarten

Jason Stockley verdict was announced, protestors encountered an irate driver on Forest Park Parkway near Skinker Boulevard. At first, the protestors were arguing with the driver because of the traffic the protest was causing. Then one of the protestors shouted, “He’s packing.” Protestors looked into the car and confirmed to the rest of the crowd that he had a gun, The American reported in September. The argument continued while other protestors tried to deescalate the situation as fast as possible. The Riverfront Times reported that the license plate of that driver’s car was “0028,” which

center and reinstating Advanced Placement, dualcredit/dual-enrollment courses at the high school. They will also concentrate on smallgroup instruction for English language arts, reading and mathematics, and provide trauma-informed training for all staff.

They will build a new Early Learning Center to house the collaborative’s PreK and kindergarten programs, and they are changing the configuration of elementary schools from grades 1-6 to grades 1-8. In preparation for the return of the seventh and eighth grade students, the elementary schools are being renovated and expanded, with Jefferson and Washington also having new library media centers and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) studios added.

The construction projects are scheduled to be complete by the 2019-2020 school year and will be funded using the Proposition N bond issue money that voters approved in April.

“We have made significant progress and will continue to do the work,” Pearson said. “We have 3,200 students and their families counting on us to do what’s necessary to become fully accredited.”

was the same plate number as Lieberman’s Mercedes. State Rep. Alan Green, chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, said he hopes his colleagues and the Democratic Party will join the Black Caucus in boycotting Lieberman’s business.

“Matthew Lieberman’s actions were both dangerous and reprehensible,” Green said. “The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus stands against all racially motivated criminal acts. It is our expectation that Lieberman’s actions will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Photo by Wiley Price

VICTIMS

Church placed 193 crosses on their front lawn on Saturday. Each cross represents a victim of homicide in St. Louis city or county during 2017.

The number is higher than it was in 2016, and there were still 29 days left in the year.

Mt. Beulah Pastor E.G. Shields Sr. said it has always been difficult to discern the exact number of homicides, especially in the county. Shields stays in touch with the county medical examiner’s office to get as close as possible to memorializing each one.

“One homicide is one too many,” Shields said. “As I watch the news day after day, I’m outraged at the many senseless murders that take place day after day in our community.

Backed up by the Mt. Beulah men’s chorus, Shields and other members of the clergy spoke about what could be done to prevent these murders, and advocated for finding healing in prayer and church community.

“I don’t have a political

DNA

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 the investigator’s conclusion that “both the Koster administration and the board were aware of DNA evidence in the case, but this evidence was not timely disclosed in discovery.”

Attorney Albert Watkins represented Smith’s daughter, Autumn, in a 2012 federal wrongful-death lawsuit against then-St. Louis Police Officer Jason Stockley and the police department. Watkins said this evidence would have been critical in aiding the family’s lawsuit.

“The victims are not just Anthony Lamar Smith and his daughter and fiancé, but it’s every resident,” Watkins said, “because our federal court system has been comprised. And because of that, our Civil Rights Act has been compromised. You cannot have one form of justice for whites and one form of justice for blacks.”

Stockley shot and killed Smith on December 20, 2011, after he and his partner chased Smith at speeds over 80 miles an hour. Stockley was heard on an internal police car video saying they were “going to kill this [expletive], don’t you know it,” and then shot him five times after Stockley’s

solution, a judicial or economic solution,” Shields said. “But what I do offer is a biblical and spiritual solution.”

The event had another message, though, one Shields understands well. He called the crosses “a visual statement and protest against guns and gun violence in our community.” Shields’ own daughter died by gun violence in 1986. In addition to the crosses placed on December 2, Mt. Beulah welcomes any community member to place a cross on its lawn as a memorial for a friend or family member who has died violently.

Rev. Earl E. Nance Jr. of Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church said like the country as a whole, St. Louis has had more than its share of violence in the past year and that religious communities have a duty to reach out to young people.

“We cannot give up on our children,” Nance said. “We must save the ones that can be saved, that want to be saved, that look to us for guidance and for leadership. And I just believe that God has not brought us this far to leave us.”

partner stopped Smith by crashing into his vehicle.

Stockley claimed he acted in self-defense because Smith was reaching for a gun. In 2016, Stockley was charged with first-degree murder in this case. During his bench trial this August, DNA experts testified that they found had no trace of Smith’s DNA on the gun he was supposedly reaching for.

Stockley’s DNA, however, was present on the firearm, which prosecutors said supported their argument that Stockley planted the gun in Smith’s car after killing him. There is video evidence of Stockley getting something –what exactly is not shown – out of a bag in the squad car and then entering Smith’s vehicle.

Stockley was acquitted on September 15, sparking protests that have yet to cease. The DNA evidence was presented in his murder trial, though the prosecution’s expert witness testified under cross-examination that the DNA evidence does not prove that Smith never handled the gun, only that Stockley did and Smith’s prints weren’t on it. Watkins said the DNA evidence is of “significant value” in the civil rights case.

Koster’s office represented the police commissioners and Stockley in the 2012 lawsuit because the city’s police department then was under

Lanna Green believes that, too. There are a lot of factors she thinks contribute to violence, from loose gun control laws to the decline of prayer in schools. In the social climate she grew up in, Green said, her son would not have died.

There are no suspects that Green knows of in her son’s murder, although Crimestoppers has offered a $5,000 reward for information.

Andrew Green left behind six children; the youngest, named after him, is seven months old. Lanna Green remembers her son as a lover of children, women and life in general. She does not think he was involved in anything that would have led to his death.

But although there are plenty of things Green said may have prevented her son’s murder, there’s little she can imagine now that would lessen her pain.

“I’ve been going through it for seven months, and I’ll still be going through it when they do solve the case,” Green said. “Because he’s not here no more. I don’t laugh with him no more.”

Jessica Karins is an editorial intern for the St. Louis American from Webster University.

state control. The police board agreed to a $900,000 settlement in June 2013, contingent upon complete confidentiality –meaning Watkins had to shred all the evidence he gathered during the case.

During the civil case, Watkins signed a global discovery request – which meant if there were DNA analysis completed for the gun, he should have gotten it. But Watkins never received any DNA lab analysis, he said.

In a September 18 letter to Hawley’s office, Watkins raised various allegations, primarily that Koster had failed to produce two specific items of evidence to him prior to the June 20, 2013 mediation and settlement of the lawsuit: evidence that only Stockley’s DNA was found on the revolver seized from Smith’s vehicle, and a video

recording purportedly made by a citizen in the area of the 2011 shooting incident. Watkins had raised these concerns in June 2016 as well, but they went unanswered, according to investigators.

Former federal prosecutor Hal Goldsmith, now a partner at Bryan Cave, led the independent investigation into Watkins’ allegations.

Goldsmith concluded that there was a “clear discovery violation on behalf of the City of St. Louis.”

Because of attorneyclient privilege and client confidentiality, Hawley’s office could not release the full report without signed waivers from the police board and Stockley, Hawley stated.

Hawley said they have requested waivers from the board and Stockley to allow public access to the full report,

but have not yet received them.

Hawley released an edited version of Goldsmith’s detailed report. The investigator didn’t find any evidence that Koster or the police department had or knew of the December 20, 2011 civilian-recorded video until it was first published by the Post-Dispatch on June 3, 2016.

However, regarding the laboratory evidence identifying Stockley’s DNA on the Taurus revolver, Goldsmith stated that the Koster’s office was aware of and failed to turn over that information prior to the settlement with Smith’s family.

The police laboratory technician who analyzed the DNA recovered from those swabs, Dr. Karen Preiter, compared it to the known DNA of Smith and Stockley, and concluded in her February 14, 2012 report that Stockley’s

Lanna Green helped place a small wooden cross in memory of her son Andrew Green onto the lawn of Mt. Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Hanley Hills on Saturday, December 2. He would have been 30 years old on that day, but was killed in a triple homicide in Pine Lawn on April 26. He was one of 193 murder victims in St. Louis city and county in 2017 memorialized by Mt. Beulah on Saturday.

DNA was recovered from the revolver, while the Smith’s DNA was not. Additional DNA evidence was recovered from a screwhead on the Taurus revolver during June, 2012, analyzed by Preiter and, as documented in her July 31, 2012 written report, again found Stockley’s DNA but not Smith’s. Neither of Preiter’s written laboratory reports were produced to Smith’s family in discovery prior to the settlement, investigators found.

Watkins said the family will now go back to court and file a motion for contempt and seek to reopen negotiations and move forward with the case.

“This is not a case that is over,” Watkins said. “Today we got the truth, tomorrow we get justice.”

Photo by Wiley Price

County Council and Stenger clash again over 2018 budget

Chair, members claim executive is not providing information they need to make decisions

By Jessica Karins For The St. Louis American

Conflicts in the St. Louis County government continued on Wednesday, November 29 as the County Council met to discuss whether they would be able to pass a 2018 budget by the end of the year.

Several council members expressed concerns that they did not have enough information to put together a budget, saying other members of the county government had not gotten back to them with information they had requested.

“We have no figures, we have nothing to work with here,”

Councilwoman Hazel Erby said.

The council began by discussing possible uses of the funds from the county’s Proposition P, approved in a vote on April 4. The proposition approved a sales tax raise of one-half of one percent, earmarking the funds for public safety expenditures like hiring more police officers, providing dashboard and body cameras and increasing officer training.

A budget for use of these funds was created by St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, but some employees of the police department are unhappy with it. The meeting was attended by members of civilian professional staff and security officers who felt more of the funds should go towards providing them with raises, which they said they had received infrequently in the past.

The council, though, did not have the information they wanted to make that decision.

“Have we seen the breakdown, at all, of anything they’ve proposed to do

raises.

with the Prop P money?” Erby asked.

Her colleagues muttered their agreement that they had not.

“I suggest that we get a copy of that, because what I would like to see happen with the Prop P money is that they go back to the drawing table completely, because you left off so many people – the security guards and case managers, justice services, justice support staff,” Erby said. “All those people have been left out or given menial raises.”

The members of the council expressed uncertainty about what Proposition P funds would be spent on and whether there were areas they could pull funds from for additional

Even beyond Proposition P, the future of St. Louis County’s budget is far from secure. In November, County Executive Steve Stenger issued his budget proposal, and it looked like bad news for the county’s financial solvency.

“While the public safety sales tax is budgeted to maintain a surplus in each of the next five years, existing county services will continue annual deficits that have occurred each year since 2014,” the proposal said. “Absent any changes to revenue structure or programs and services, this portion of reserves will be exhausted in 2019.”

Despite this, Stenger’s budget

proposal did not contain any substantial cuts, and County Council Chair Sam Page is concerned. Page, who has previously called the situation an “impending financial crisis,” said at the meeting that the county will have to either cut services or increase revenue.

As the meeting wore on, the members of the council consulted the county charter for answers about what would happen if they were unable to pass a budget by the end of the year.

The charter calls for the budget from the previous year, divided into proportional one-month increments, to be distributed until the council is able to pass a new budget. But

it’s not yet clear if this would mean new sources of funding, like the Proposition P money, could not be dispersed. It could also spell trouble for departments like transportation and parks, which face higher expenses during the upcoming winter months than the rest of the year.

The meeting was also attended by Jeff Waegner, the county’s chief of policy in the county executive’s office. According to Waegner, the council members had adequate time to ask any questions when their meetings were attended by county department heads.

Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray disagreed. “We had questions after most of the meetings, if not all of them,” Gray said. According to the council members, those questions were not answered, and budget director Paul Kreidler, who was asked to attend Wednesday’s meeting, did not.

“We had this conversation six weeks ago, that just because the council hasn’t been engaged, in the past decade, significantly in the budget process doesn’t mean that we’re not going to look at our responsibility as it’s spelled out in the charter,” Page said. “By the charter, we have a pretty big role in the budget process.” Erby said in previous years the council has been provided with immediate responses by department directors, but something has changed this year.

“I just know that it’s different now than it has been in the past,” Erby said. This is not the council’s first clash with Stenger’s office in recent months. In October, the County Council filed a lawsuit against the executive’s office, alleging that a current hiring freeze in the county auditor’s office was infringing on the council’s jurisdiction and preventing essential functions of the county.

Page said the county council had been deprived of essential information, whether intentionally or not.

“Most of the answers to our questions were ‘we’ll get back to you on that,’” Page said. “And, you know, they’re not getting back to us.”

Jessica Karins is an editorial intern for the St. Louis American from Webster University.

Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis County Council Chair Sam Page, Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray and Councilwoman Hazel Erby at a January 3 council meeting.

Putin’s tax cuts –and a challenge for Obama

St. Louis American editorial board

The Republican push to cut taxes massively to serve the interests of the rich and to make serfs of the rest of us greatly serves the interests of one president. He is President Vladimir Putin, and these are his tax cuts.

Beyond dispute, Putin ordered a campaign of disruption of the American electoral system. The media have not been entirely correct to say that his goal was to defeat Hillary Clinton and elect Donald Trump because Putin probably did not believe that would happen. His goal simply was and is to disrupt and to weaken America, his greatest adversary.

A recently published blockbuster, “Collusion: Secret Meetings, Dirty Money, and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win” by Luke Harding, longtime Moscow correspondent for the British newspaper

The Guardian, sets forth a compelling case that Russia has played Trump for its own interests starting as early as the 1980s. Back then, Harding writes, the Soviet intelligence service, the KGB, was working to draw “prominent figures in the West” into collaboration. A form the KGB used for evaluating targets asked, “Are pride, arrogance, egoism, ambition or vanity among subject’s natural characteristics?”

Harding presents overwhelming evidence of a web of relationships between the Kremlin, Trump and members of Trump’s circle. The financial ties between Russians and Trump will prove to be astounding, to say nothing of the information the Russians may have about his conduct in Russia. It is time, says New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg, for this country “to come to terms with substantial evidence that the president is in thrall to a foreign power.”

What is Putin’s goal? To weaken our country. He is succeeding brilliantly. Putin’s stooge in the White House has divided us by race, religion and ethnicity; he has demonized the press and other truth tellers; he has devastated our diplomatic leadership in the world; he is destroying our trade relationships around the globe; and he has weakened NATO and our other military alliances. There also, of course, is the constant lying about almost everything. Putin could not have done this on his own.

Trump is his indispensable tool.

And now the Republican enablers in Congress are going to give Putin the biggest gift of all – massive tax cuts of $1.5 trillion that will shift wealth further toward the already rich and reduce the revenue of the federal government to the point that we only will have money to pay interest on the national debt and to underfund our military. Forget education, environmental protection, and public health. We will have enough money to wage nuclear war on North Korea but not enough money to clean up the mess these two psychopaths – Trump and Kim Jung Un – will create.

The Republican-only tax bill, in its present form, also will put the hurt on state governments to make up for federal cuts in Medicaid, Medicare and other governmental programs that separate the low middle-income groups from thirdworld poverty.

Republicans are so hell-bent to give their donor class this tax cut that they will not reign in the Putin stooge who is dismantling our democratic system. The media keep us hoping that there are a few patriots in the Republican Party to stop this madness. Imagine what patriots

Republicans would be if these things were occurring with a Clinton or Obama in the White House. But, sadly, today we have only partisans, not patriots.

The Democrats thus far have been feckless and paralyzed. There is one effective Democrat who knows the truth about all of this but he has been strangely quiet for the most part. President Obama, you knew the Russians were hacking our 2016 election and you did not speak up. You probably did not think Trump would win. But you and we now know how severely Putin’s stooge is damaging our country.

It is time, Mr. Obama, for you to speak up. Yours is a voice that commands attention greater than any other Democratic leader. We cannot wait for the next leader to come along – we need someone to speak now and to encourage the next generation that may be able to save our country.

In the past, Mr. Obama, you have brilliantly spoken truth to power. You now may be out of governmental power, but we hope you are not out of truth. It is time again for you to speak against this existential threat to the rule of law and our democracy.

Vladimir Putin’s goal simply was and is to disrupt and to weaken America, his greatest adversary.

‘Major’ support for Innovative Concept

Elson Williams, Major Brands community affairs liaison, recently delivered the company’s support to Innovative Concept Academy, which was founded in 2009 by then-Judge Jimmie Edwards, who is now St. Louis’ director of Public Safety. Innovative Concept, part of St. Louis Public Schools’ Alternative Education program, serves students age 10 through 18 who lack other educational options due to behavioral violations “in a manner that recognizes and responds to the risk factors present in the community that may otherwise negatively impact the lives of these youth,” according to its mission.

Human Rights program focuses on criminalization of students

The 21st Annual Human Rights Celebration will be held 3-5 p.m. Sunday, December 10 at the Missouri History Museum, Lindell Blvd and DeBaliviere. The theme is the criminalization of students in schools.

Panelists include Rev. Dietra Wise Baker, Metropolitan Congregations United; Naomi Warren, high school counselor; and Khadijah Wilson, high school student. They will explore issues of discrimination that youth face at school

based on race, religion, sexual orientation and citizenship status. They will also address school discipline and the role of police inside the school.

Winning essays will be read from area students whose submissions focused on the same theme, and Unsung Human Rights S/Heroes will recognized. The program is free and open to the public and sponsored by the St. Louis Coalition for Human Rights in partnership with the Missouri History Museum.

Public libraries offer free online high school degree program

By Kristen Sorth For The St. Louis American

There are 90,000 adults living in St. Louis County and St. Louis city without a high school diploma. Let me say that again - 90,000 adults.

That number was completely shocking and left me wondering about the impact on those individuals, their families and all of us in the St. Louis region. I went looking and discovered some sobering statistics.

Those with a high school diploma will earn over 36 percent more for a median annual income. In the end, the lifetime earnings of high school dropouts are $260,000 less than peers who earn a diploma.

Due to this lack of earning potential, 21.4 percent of those individuals without a high school diploma in St. Louis County are living in poverty. Educating these adults is critical to mitigating poverty in the region.

The unemployment rate for residents without a high school diploma is substantially higher than the Missouri rate of 4.1 percent. For residents of St. Louis County, the average rate of unemployment for those without a high school degree is 17.3 percent.

That number and those statistics convinced me of the importance of a program the St. Louis County Library and St. Louis Public Library launched on October 2. This partnership gives our patrons, 25 years of age and older, the opportunity to enroll in an online high school degree program.

The Career Online High School program is a fully accredited online high school diploma and career certification program that features an online learning environment. Several libraries around the country have already implemented it. The program includes academic coaches and support instructors,

including an onsite program manager at the library. In addition, both libraries offer access to public computers and free Wi-Fi for all patrons.

Upon completion, students graduate with a high school diploma and a career certification in eight areas: Childcare and Education, Certified Protection Officer, Office Management, Commercial Driving, Homeland Security, General Career Preparation, Retail Customer Service, and Food and Hospitality.

The two library systems are coming together to offer this program to address a need in our region and to offer a new solution that is free to the participants. This partnership allows us to demonstrate how regional cooperation can make our community stronger by providing a new option for adults in St. Louis County and St. Louis city to pursue educational opportunities.

Despite years of attention from researchers and policymakers, the high school dropout problem continues to be a serious concern in the United States. One in five

students drops out of high school every year. Black and Hispanic/Latino students are still graduating about nine and six percentage points behind the national average, respectively. Young people leave school because of complex life circumstances and personal or family barriers. Others leave because schools intentionally or unintentionally push them out with antiquated approaches to school discipline and suspensions. Many others leave because how they learn, how they demonstrate learning, and what they most care about are not connected to their experiences in school. I am already overwhelmed by both the impact this program will have and the need in our region. Since the launch date in October, 1,054 individuals have filled out an online self assessment to enroll in the program. While I am in awe of that number, I am humbled by the need, hopeful of the impact, and thrilled at the thought of attending the high school graduations that will take place at the Library. If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, visit https://www.slcl.org/cohs or https://www.slpl.org/cohs/ for more information about the program and to complete the online assessment.

Kristen Sorth is director of St. Louis County Library.

Rev. Dietra Wise Baker

Guest Columnist Kristen Sorth

G. Dahley Mensah, LMSW, QMHP, Healthcare Outreach Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter

• Plan for post-holiday letdown after out-of town guests have gone back home. Arrange for in home care so that you can enjoy a movie or lunch with a friend and reduce some of the post-holiday loneliness you may feel.

• Attend an Alzheimer’s support group that will allow you discuss ways to overcome holiday stress.

–

800.272.3900 –if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

• Call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline

• Maintain your health. If you don’t care for yourself you will not be able to care for anyone else. Don’t skip medications or medical appointments. Do your best to exercise and eat properly to help sustain your energy and try to avoid alcohol.

• Prepare family and friends with an honest appraisal of your loved one’s condition -this can help avoid uncomfortable situations.

• Prepare your loved one for the upcoming holiday events by talking about and showing photos of family members and friends who will be visiting.

• Try to maintain a regular routine as much as possible throughout the season.

• Scale back on shopping and gift giving. Friends and relatives will understand.

• Simplify decorating. It is not only time consuming but can be confusing (blinking lights) and sometimes unsafe (wires, cords, candles) for the person with the disease. Instead, you might plan an outing to look at holiday lights and decorations.

It is not being selfish and you should not feel guilty.

• Do only what you can reasonably manage; and give yourself permission to say no.

• Decide which traditions are most important to you and which you can live without.

• Make sure family members understand your caregiving situation and set realistic expectations about what you can and cannot do. No one should expect you to maintain every holiday tradition or event.

Caregivers often battle feelings of stress, guilt and anger, and those feelings can increase with the pressure to fulfill all the traditional holiday obligations. There are simple, positive steps you can take to more fully enjoy the blessings of the season.

Caregiver Tips for the Holidays

• Plan time for breaks and/ or a nap for the person with the disease. Raven Carroway Faith Outreach Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter

• Keep an eye on the person with the diseasewatch for overstimulation and tiredness.

• Turn the television off and turn the music down.

• Keep the lights on to keep the room bright.

On the Cover: Jimmie and Betty Billups talk with Alzheimer’s Association care consultant Janese Prince. Janese is one of six social workers on staff who conduct free care consultations with families. These are private and confidential one-on-one meetings to address current needs and issues and also make plans for the long term. Care consultations can be done at the Alzheimer’s Association office on Olive, near 170; a partnering healthcare location such as Christian Hospital; a Care Consultation day in the community; and also by phone. Call the Helpline, 800.272.3900, to learn more and schedule an appointment near you.

The Atrium, Belleville, IL 4th Saturday, 3pm –618.235.9300 Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO (Note: Start date is Jan. 20, 2018) 3rd Saturday, 10am800.272.3900

Last Tuesday, 1pm –314.340.6839 SWIC’s Programs & Services for Older Adults, Belleville, IL 2nd Tuesday, 2:30pm (even months) –618.234-4410 (x 7031) Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL 2nd Tuesday, 6pm (odd months) –618.257.5900

Mother of Good Counsel Home, St. Louis, MO Last Saturday, 10:30am –314.4462425 SarahCare of Bridgeton, Bridgeton, MO 2nd Tuesday, 6pm –314.291.5210 Missouri Veteran’s HomeNorth, St. Louis, MO

• Have a quiet room so the person with Alzheimer’s can relax or visit quietly with one or two people.

• Make nametags for everyone attending.

• Have everyone pick a job to do, even if this is a change for the family who always relied on mom to do everything in preparation for the big meal. Day of get-together

Helpline, 800.272.3900. Nurses & Company, St. Peters, MO 2nd Thursday, 7pm –636.926.3722 Delmar Gardens North, Florissant, MO 3rd Saturday, 9am –314.355.1516

• Hold events earlier in the day to avoid evening confusion for the person with Alzheimer’s.

• Consider multiple small holiday meals with fewer people, instead of one large gathering.

• Arrange for a family meeting (face-to-face, phone call, or email) to discuss holiday celebrations.

Participation in a support group can be an empowering experience, helping individuals feel better prepared to cope with their unique situation, more able to confront their daily problems, and more hopeful about their future. Listed below are several monthly support groups in the area. For information and assistance finding additional groups, contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7

Why is it helpful?

There are a number of things families can do to minimize stress and maximize the enjoyment of being together and celebrating the season with a family member living with Alzheimer’s. Planning

Modifying

Holiday

Celebrations

Adrienne Holden, MSW, MPH, LMSW, ACSW, Director of Medical & Research Initiatives, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter

• Avoid judging and critiquing the caregiver. Instead, offer support and also talk about how you can help, from a distance.

• Rethink gift giving for the caregiver. Purchase movie tickets or a restaurant gift certificate and arrange for someone to handle caregiving during that time. Or consider a certificate for household or yardwork service.

• Inquire as to what tasks can be done around the houselaundry, yard work, cleaning, home repair, etc.

• Offer to run errands.

• Sit and visit with the person with the disease, so the caregiver can go shopping or finish up holiday preparations.

• Ask how the caregiver is doing; and give them time to discuss their feelings and concerns.

If you’re traveling home this holiday season, consider how you can help the primary caregiver while you’re visiting. Some simple things you can do:

Care for the Caregiver

What is it? An Alzheimer’s Association support group is a safe place to learn, offer and receive tips, and meet others coping with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Meetings typically take place monthly. They are free and open to the public.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

Janese Prince, MSW, Care Consultant, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter

• Be aware of your feelings and attitudes. The person can sense these things. You show your feelings in your tone of voice as well as your body and facial expressions.

• If you don’t agree with what the person is saying, let it go. Do not argue. The person with dementia cannot understand reasons or explanations.

• Do not talk down to the person. Include her/him in the conversation.

• Smile, nod, pat, hug, touch, hold hands and other signs to aid understanding.

• If the person cannot find a word or uses a word that confuses you, try helping. If you understand what she/he means, do not correct wrong words.

• If the person gets upset, remain calm.

• Be patient and give them time to talk.

• Limit the number of questions.

• Use simple words and sentences.

• Speak slowly and in a low, soft tone.

• Smile and use other friendly facial expressions.

• Shake hands and make eye contact. Bend down and get on the same level with them.

• Tell the person who you are, even if you are a family member.

• Approach the person from the front and address them by name.

For families living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the holidays can be bittersweet and challenging. Festivities can agitate, confuse, and over stimulate persons with the disease. Care partners can be overwhelmed by trying to maintain holiday traditions while providing care. Holiday gatherings and family get-togethers can become stressful and uncomfortable. Take a deep breath. With some planning and adjusted expectations, as well as tips from the Alzheimer’s Association staff, your celebrations can still be happy, memorable occasions.

Finding Joy in the Season

Rev. Regina L. Lowe Director of Community Programs, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter

Presiding Elder Rev. Edmund E. Lowe, Sr. Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter

3. Pray –It has been proven that prayer helps to center us and places everything in perspective. As we near the end of 2017 and greet 2018 with hopeful and positive anticipation, we encourage you to seek peace in all you do. Though it’s often spoken of, it’s rarely achieved. We hope you and your family find it this season and that it lasts throughout the year.

2. Rest –This is one thing that all health professionals can agree, rest is our friend.

1. Meditate –Sit still and quiet, taking 7 deep breaths until you stop feeling anxious, repeat as needed.

Rev. Regina L. Lowe

–Extend words of kindness, care and concern for all. Be kind and considerate to all and find ways to create a safe and pleasant environment. Toward Men –Life is about relationships. Take the time to create new relationships and nurture long lasting ones. Create a safe, nurturing and affirming space for everyone. Keep in mind the needs of every generation of the family. Set aside a few minutes each day to replenish your body, mind and soul.

–All of your surroundingshome, work, school, place of worshipevery place you spend time and energy, should be a place where peace abounds. Goodwill

The holiday season brings with it a whirlwind of activity -shopping, cooking, family gatherings, office get-togethers, etc. All of this activity can create stress and cause strain in our relationships. We encourage you to take time amidst all the activity, to pause, reflect, and refocus. The familiar words, given to us by the angels in Luke 2:14, “ Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men ” provide a helpful guide for navigating the holidays. Peace –Isaiah 26:3 says it best, you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. This verse reminds us to keep our minds on our creator, or whatever source of spiritual power you seek and believe in. Seek peace. Do what you can to ensure that family members are at peace as well. Earth

2:14)

Communicating with a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia can be challenging. Due to brain degeneration, the person has difficulty finding the words to adequately express themselves and they often have trouble understanding what you are trying to say.Consider the following tips to aid communications and also help the person with Alzheimer’s feel relaxed and safe:

Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Men (Luke

December 7 –13, 2017

Adrienne Holden

Raven Carroway

Janese Prince

ElderPresiding

Rev. Edmund E. Lowe, Sr.

Greitens prepares for $9B ‘educational sting’

If you value public education, now is the time to wake up to what’s going on at the state level.

In the past three months, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has appointed 10 members to the State Board of Education, only five of whom still remain on the board because they were willing to do his dirty work.

And that was to fire Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven

After one failed attempt on November 21 – and the governor subsequently removing and replacing another board member before the next meeting – Greitens’ appointees were finally able to oust Vandeven at a December 1 closed meeting with a 5-3 vote.

voluntarily participating into being conned out of $9 billion annually,” Jones said. But before con-artists can trick you out of the money, Jones said, they have to convince you that you have a problem for which they have the solution.

Mike Jones (who also serves on The St. Louis American’s editorial board), Vic Lenz and Charlie Shields voted against the change in leadership.

The obvious question is: Why did they want her gone? Jones said there was no empirical basis for her termination.

“She had been an outstanding employee during her 12 years and as commissioner for the last two years,” said Jones, who represents the St. Louis region on the board. “She had earned the confidence and trust of educators and parents throughout the state of Missouri. What the flunky five said in the executive session was the culture of Missouri public education needed to change and that’s why the leadership needed to be changed.” Jones adamantly believes that it’s all about the money. Missouri spends approximately $9 billion annually on K-12 public education, he said.

“The firing of Margie Vandeven is the first card of an educational sting designed to trick the Missouri public into

Greitens issued a statement after the meeting that firing Vandeven was “a major step in the right direction” in improving public education in the state. He cited the need to pay teachers more and to decrease the amount of overpaid education administrators. However, it’s not the commissioner’s job to raise teacher salaries. State legislators set the base pay for teachers, and it’s up to the individual districts beyond that. Greitens didn’t specify any action he plans to take. Certainly Greitens’ move has nothing to do with the $100,000 gubernatorial campaign contribution that he received in August 2015 from scandalridden billionaire hedge-funder and charter-school bank-roller Steven A. Cohen. Or the $100,000 he received from the family of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, a proponent of privatizing education. More on this later.

Going rogue

There are so many incredible aspects about this situation that it’s hard to know where to start. First, Greitens has sworn in these board members – two of which were replaced only 24 hours before the board meetings – but the Missouri Senate has not approved any of these folks. That means that Greitens’ appointees are able to do all this damage without confirmation by the Senate, which doesn’t come back into session until January. One Republican senator said that he plans to filibuster

pressure from the governor to fire Vandeven.

Political ploy

In Vandeven’s exit statement, she hinted that she wasn’t willing to play the governor’s game.

“The job of commissioner in Missouri is traditionally not a political role,” Vandeven said. “But, at the moment, political forces are eclipsing educational decisions. Although I did not come to Jefferson City to engage in political fights, I am willing to fight for children and educators.”

The Springfield News-Leader obtained email exchanges between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Greitens’ office to find out why he might have wanted to ax Vandeven.

But in early September, Will Scharf, the governor’s policy director, emailed Vandeven, stating, “After reviewing the ESSA state plan prepared by DESE, the Governor will not be signing on this time.”

“Thank you for the update,” Vandeven replied. “Will he be providing a reason for not signing?” Scharf wrote, “We don’t plan to provide a document outlining our concerns, but I’m happy to discuss them with you if you’d like to meet in the next week or two.”

The News-Leader reported that Vandeven tried multiple times to set up a meeting with Scharf throughout September.

the confirmation of these candidates. State Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, told the Springfield NewsLeader that the governor’s appointments were “rather an extreme effort to create a board that would vote exactly as he wanted on the commissioner issue.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s just not proper procedure,” Romine said. “It’s not a fully vetted process.”

If the Senate doesn’t confirm these appointments, then the members will be removed immediately. The board’s next regular meeting is set for January 9, 2018.

However, four of Greitens’ appointees requested to have a special meeting to approve the search process for finding another commissioner. The requesting members were Eddy Justice, Popular Bluff; John “Doug” Russell, Lebanon;

Marvin “Sonny” Jungmeyer, Russellville; and Jennifer Edwards, Springfield.

The open meeting will be held via phone at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, and there will be a line for media and others to listen in.

One of the board members whom the governor appointed and then removed is now suing him. In his lawsuit, John “Tim” Sumners of Joplin alleges that Greitens removed him from the board only because he wouldn’t be pressured to vote to fire Vandeven. Greitens replaced him with Edwards just before the meeting. In another lawsuit, a Springfield teacher accuses the state board of violating the Sunshine Law. Both lawsuits have hearings on December 15. Melissa Gelner also told St. Louis Public Radio that she was removed from the board in September because she rebuffed

Every state is required to submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Education to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced No Child Left Behind. The template for state plans was revised this year and supported by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, whose family – as mentioned –contributed heavily to Greitens’ campaign.

Emails show that Vandeven had a meeting with the governor’s office in late July to talk about Missouri’s ESSA plan. Then in a friendly message, she told him that he had until August 3 to sign the plan. Governors are not required to sign the plans, but the absence of a signature generally means he doesn’t approve of it.

The State Board of Education - which at that time had two Greitens appointees on it - unanimously approved the plan at an August 15 meeting, the News-Leader reported.

Vandeven reached out to the governor’s office again August 25 and 28 to talk about issues, including the plan.

“Emails indicate the two had discussed a potential meeting in early October, but it is unclear whether they ever sat down or whether Greitens ever offered a reason for refusing to sign the ESSA plan,” according to the News-Leader’s report.

Jones believes that the governor aims to push forward the school privatization agenda of his contributors. To see whom this agenda will impact, he said to look at the numbers.

There are more than 900,000 students throughout the state72 percent of them are white, 16 percent are black and 8 percent are other minorities. About three-fourths of the state’s 519 school districts are rural. Districts in urban areas make up 8 percent of the districts and educate the majority of the state’s black students. The only areas currently authorized by state law to have charter schools are St. Louis city and Kansas City. Jones believes the for-profit school privatizers have their sights set on the rural areas.

“The urban black districts don’t represent a big enough market,” Jones said. “In fact, Kansas City and St. Louis are probably saturated with charters. The growth and the money is in the white districts, rural and suburban. It’s no longer a black thing.”

Photo by Wiley Price

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens speaking about crimefighting in North St. Louis on July 10. More recently, the governor has been fighting with the State Board of Education in an effort to fire Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven, and finally succeeded on December 1 after appointing 10 new members to the state board in three months.

People’s health clinic opens in Ferguson Schnucks

Collaboration by Centene, Schnucks and BJK People’s Health Centers

By Sandra Jordan Of The St.

Louis American

A grocery store in Ferguson now houses a full-service health clinic thanks to a collaboration between Centene Corporation/ Home State Health, Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers and Schnucks Markets.

“We need health care. The population here needed access to easily affordable health care,” said Michael F. Neidorff, chairman and CEO of Centene. “It’s all part of creating the community, getting it back on its feet.”

Centene Charitable Foundation provided the initial $1.3 million investment for the clinic and will provide multi-year support for its operations. Schnucks donated the physical space for the clinic inside the store, and People’s provides staffing and medical services. It’s expected to serve approximately 8,000 patients annually.

The turnabout was swift as Schnucks announced early this year it was moving from its Cool Valley location on South Florissant Road into the former Shop-N-Save space at 49 N. Florissant Rd., at the corner of Airport

Road in Ferguson. The area at the front of the store, previously a self-bagging area, became the perfect place to situate a health clinic.

“We created the space and built the four walls and enclosed it, and then Centene and People’s Health Care took it and outfitted it,” said Todd Schnuck, Schnucks Markets chairman and CEO. “It’s great for the health and well-being of the community and especially in an area where people may not

Webster U joins global fight against HIV

By Beth Stroble For The St. Louis American

Good health is a human right. At Webster

University, our leaders, faculty and students address challenges to make a critical difference both locally, reflecting our home campus presence, and globally, with our worldwide footprint of campuses on four continents. We are a university that cares about threats to the quality of our lives and in the world. AIDS is such a threat; it is experiencing a resurgence, especially affecting women and minorities.

n “We are a university that cares about threats to the quality of our lives and in the world. AIDS is such a threat.”

– Elizabeth Stroble

Earlier this year, Webster announced a partnership with the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, Inc. (ARDN), a definitive effort to address the difficult reality of more than 36 million people globally living with HIV and 12,000 living in Missouri in 2016. ARDN is a perfect partner for Webster because of its history supporting the African renaissance through the power of sport, art, education and culture, and work to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals as set out by the United Nations. To help with that effort, we are mobilizing youth in the Midwest region and in West Africa to contribute to the goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2030. Webster University will announce a set of global initiatives for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in 2018. Details will be presented in concert with Richard Gant, chair of ARDN’s Arts and Culture Committee;

See STROBLE, A15

SLU receives grant to increase diversity in nursing

Federal funds will pay for mentors, stipends for 40 students

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

Over the next four years, the School of Nursing at Saint Louis University will receive $1.5 million in federal funds to support disadvantaged students with student mentors, faculty mentors and pre-entry work experiences. In addition to the mentoring, selected students will receive stipends for support their nursing education. It is a U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) nursing workforce diversity grant that will help SLU’s School of Nursing increase the recruitment, enrollment, retention and graduation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. African American and Hispanic/Latino students are underrepresented in nursing education. “These funds will help increase diversity within SLU School of Nursing,” said Teri Murray, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing.

n “Racially diverse students, from populations currently underrepresented in nursing, will be paired with peer mentors, faculty mentors and seasoned nurse mentors.”

–Teri Murray, SLU School of Nursing

“Racially diverse students, from populations currently underrepresented in nursing, will be paired with peer mentors, faculty mentors and seasoned nurse mentors who are out working in the field.” The peer mentors are upper-division nursing

See SLU, A15

Over the next four years, the School of Nursing at Saint Louis University will receive $1.5 million in federal funds to support disadvantaged students with student mentors, faculty mentors and pre-entry work experiences.

Beth Stroble

Photo by Wiley Price

Ferguson Councilwoman Ella Jones, Centene Corporation Chairman and CEO Michael Neidorff, Ferguson Mayor James Knowles, Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers President and CEO Dwayne Butler, and Schnucks Markets, Inc. Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck cut the ribbon November 29 to officially open a full-service People’s Health Center inside the Ferguson Schnucks, located at 49 N. Florissant Rd.

Link Market opens at Wellston Transit Center

Open enrollment at HealthCare.gov closes Dec. 15

By Janet Trautwein Columnist

This year’s Affordable Care Act open enrollment period started November 1 and only runs 45 days on HealthCare. gov, until December 15. In past years, it ran until late January, and will run longer this year in some state exchanges. Americans only have another week to decide on a 2018 health plan.

Millions of Americans are visiting HealthCare.gov or the online insurance exchange run by their state to shop for 2018 health plans. Many will be confused by what they find. Premiums have increased significantly. The most popular “silver” exchange plans cost

CLINIC

Continued from A14

34 percent more, on average, than they did in 2017. Skimpier bronze plans cost 18 percent more. Generous gold plan premiums have risen 16 percent. Many insurers won’t offer exchange plans at all. There will be just a single exchange insurer in nearly half of all counties.

Luckily, Americans don’t have to settle for exchange plans. They can also buy coverage “off-exchange.” And they may want to consider consulting a certified health insurance agent or broker to determine whether exchange or off-exchange plans are right for them. Exchange plans are generally more attractive

get to a doctor as frequently as they should. If we can improve the health of the community, it makes it a better place to live.” Medical services offered at the clinic include primary and urgent care for adults and children ages 3 and older, immunizations, labs, and dental services through its mobile unit. “We will also have individuals who can help them get health insurance for their family if they don’t have it, connecting them to Gateway to Better Health, connecting them to the Affordable Care Act,” said Dwayne Butler, president and CEO at BJK People’s Health Centers. Patients can get referrals to additional health services, such as Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) services,

SLU

Continued from A14

students who can assist the incoming students as they navigate academic life and nursing school. SLU will collaborate with SSM Health, the Black Nurses

STROBLE

Continued from A14

Christopher Miles, the global motorsport marketing adviser for ARDN, who will utilize Starting Grid’s various global motorsport activations to further amplify the UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” and “Racing To Zero” HIV/AIDS advocacy campaign; and Dorinda Walker, vice president of Consumer

of Association of Greater St. Louis, and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses to identify professional mentors for selected nursing students.

“Mentoring has been shown to be effective for students from underrepresented backgrounds in serving as role models,

Strategy and Key Initiatives with Multicultural Marketing, Prudential U.S. Businesses. Other participants in the process are Djibril Diallo, director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for West and Central Africa; Jay-Jay Okocha, a former professional footballer; and Webster representatives from Webster’s Accra, Ghana campus. Webster recently contributed to the Global

n Off-exchange plans aren’t subsidized. So they may be a better fit for the roughly 40 percent of Americans who earn too much to qualify for subsidies.

for individuals and families who earn less than 400 percent of the poverty level. That’s because these folks -individuals taking home less than $48,240 or families of four bringing in less than $98,400 -- qualify for subsidized coverage. But they can only claim those subsidies through the exchanges. Off-exchange plans aren’t subsidized. So they may be a better fit for the roughly 40

percent of Americans who earn too much to qualify for subsidies. Some of these plans also generally allow enrollees to visit a wider range of doctors and hospitals. About 5.4 million people purchased offexchange plans in 2017. Most people could use assistance when picking a plan. Less than four in 10 Americans are “very confident” that they can select the health insurance plan that’s right for them. Only

n Medical services offered at the clinic include primary and urgent care for adults and children ages 3 and older, immunizations, labs, and dental services through its mobile unit.

women’s health, X-rays, mammography and signing up for social services.

“One will come here because they know that People’s is here,” Butler said. “One is going to be a mom

or a dad with a few children in-tow who come to buy a loaf of bread, and they will find out there is a health center here and our services will be able to connect them to getting primary care at one of our

assisting students to navigate college life and the profession, and in general showing the student the ropes,” Murray told the American. “Each of the students in the project will be assigned a professional nurse mentor, a nursing faculty mentor, and an upperclassman nursing student mentor (near-peer) during the course of their nursing education.”

The freshman and sophomore students will receive stipends, which include $5,000 to assist with tuition, books and fees, a $200 monthly stipend toward food/ housing and a monthly Metro transportation pass, as needed.

The program also includes

Alliance of Mayors & Leaders from Africa & African Descent (GAMAD) held in Accra and will lead, in partnership with Djibril Diallo, an African Study Trip with other leaders of higher education in spring 2018.

The joint ARDN/Webster plan will engage students from St. Louis and throughout our world-wide university in the focus on AIDS through communications initiatives, such as video storytelling

projects, social media, digital media productions, and gaming; public health initiatives, including public policy and community engagement; and thought leadership.

Webster University is an inclusive, diverse community that mobilizes students to make a difference. Our established global orientation positions us to assume a leadership role for this challenge by activating academic networks around

4 percent of people can define common insurance terms like “deductible,” “co-pay,” “coinsurance,” and “out-ofpocket maximum.” Health insurance agents and brokers can help these folks understand the benefits and drawbacks of various plans. Most of these professionals have 10 or more years of experience in the industry. Three out of four spend “most” or “a lot of” their time explaining options to clients. Agents are often able to find better deals than consumers would have found on their own. Premiums are 13 percent lower in counties with the most brokers. Plus, agents and brokers generally don’t charge for advice.

centers, if not here.” Butler said potent partnerships like the one between Peoples, Schnucks and Centene will be critical to efforts to heal vulnerable communities in the area.

“They have an opportunity to meet up with some health resources that they probably otherwise wouldn’t have or they may have to go all the way across town to get to either the clinic at Berkeley or another health care facility,”

the University 101 program to prepare students for college life and a dedicated retention specialist.

These professionals play a pivotal role in helping people sign up for coverage. In California, for instance, agents and brokers signed up 525,000 people for exchange plans in 2014. That represented 40 percent of the state’s total exchange enrollees. By helping people sign up for either exchange or offexchange plans, brokers and agents can ensure a larger, more representative pool of enrollees. That will help stabilize the individual market and reduce future premium spikes.

Janet Trautwein is the CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters.

said Ferguson Mayor James Knowles. “But it’s right here where they have to come every week to shop, and it gives them access and resources to help them connect with quality health care.”

The People’s clinic in the Ferguson Schnucks, 49 N. Florissant Rd., is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“There is so much in the literature/research that the financial challenges can be most pressing for students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds,” Murray said. “Because of this, the grant provided monthly stipends so that students could perhaps work less and thus have more time for their studies.”

the world, as we frequently address wide-reaching issues such as increasing diversity in our communities and providing opportunities to non-traditional learners. In doing so, we aim to help the next generation find their voices and facilitate strategic actions. We believe in being world changers – both through our own behavior and as advocates. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to tackling problems like

The HRSA grant funding will assist a total of 40 students, or 10 students each year.

HIV/AIDS, which threatens populations locally, nationally and internationally. Together with our exemplary partners, we are eager to launch a powerful multi-faceted approach to these troubling issues. For me and many of today’s leaders, the answer to the question “who is our neighbor?” must be both local and global.

Beth Stroble is president of Webster University.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

RightEating on a Budget

Circuit Training

Deck the Halls— Safely!

Nutrition Challenge:

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

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

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

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

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

Chastity Johnson, RPSGT

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

Create a list of 6-10 different kinds of exercise. You can ask your health or P.E. teacher for suggestions. You and your friends should spread out in an open room. Each friend chooses a different exercise. Set a timer for two minutes. For

This time of year many of your family, friends and neighbors are putting up holiday decorations. Stay safe this holiday season by following a few simple rules:

> Never use Holiday Lights with broken or frayed wiring.

(And make sure there are no empty bulb sockets!)

> If you decorate a real tree in your house, place it far away from a fireplace or electric space heater. Dried-out trees are extremely flammable!

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

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

those two minutes you work hard to see how many times you can do the exercise you chose. When the timer goes off, switch places and reset the timer – until you have all done each of the exercises.

Keeping your heart rate up and

> Keep pets and younger siblings away from tiny, poisonous or electrical decorations.

> If you use candles, never leave one unattended, keep it away from anything flammable, and make sure it is in a glass or fire-proof container (and out of reach of small hands or pets).

> Remember that some holiday plants are poisonous including holly berries and mistletoe!

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

breathing heavily helps build a stronger heart, burn calories and increases your lung capacity.

Set a goal to do Circuit Training at least three days a week with your friends!

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

Where do you work? I am a polysomnographic technologist at Barnes Jewish West County Hospital. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Parkway West High School. I then earned a BA in psychology with a chemistry minor from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and an MBA from Webster University, St. Louis.

What does a sleep technologist do? I am kind of like a mind reader, only I read brainwaves, not thoughts. Like Santa Claus, I know when you are sleeping or awake by reading the brainwaves an EEG displays on a computer screen. I am also like a superhero who helps save the day and night by providing people with treatment options, like a CPAP, that reduce/eliminate snoring and stopping breathing episodes.

Healthy Snacks

This allows them to sleep more sound and wake up feeling rested and ready for the day.

Why did you choose this career? I love to investigate and find solutions. I also love helping people have a better quality of life which includes having more energy to exercise, eat nutritious food, and have fun when hanging out with friends and family. Being a sleep technologist allows me to do all these things and more.

Directions: Combine all ingredients (except coconut) in a bowl. Pat into 8 cookies and press lightly into coconut.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I get instant fulfillment and gratification from witnessing a person’s health condition go from poor to great in one night of treatment. It is very rewarding knowing that I played a role in adding years to a person’s life and seeing people find inner strength to do things they never thought possible.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Saint Louis Zoo is a wonderful science and students of all levels and abilities. We offer a variety of programs, tours and learning opportunities.

Visit stlzoo.org/education for a complete list of our program offerings and teacher resources.

Banteng calves are born with red coats. During their first year of life, bantengs develop their characteristic white stockings and rump patches. At this time, juvenile banteng bulls’ coats gradually turn from red to black.

SCIENCE CORNER

If you have seen a sickle, a rounded tool used for cutting wheat, then you can imagine the crescent shape of a sickle cell. In the body, red blood cells carry oxygen to all of your cells. Round is the best shape for red blood cells because they can move easily. Sometimes, the blood cells are shaped like a sickle. This particular shape does not travel well and often gets caught inside smaller blood vessels. When this happens, there is pain in the bones. It also affects other organs, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys.

When the body recognizes that the

What Is Sickle Cell Anemia ?

sickle cells do not work properly, they destroy them. Unfortunately these cells are destroyed more quickly than new cells are made. Therefore, the body does not have enough red blood cells and the person becomes anemic. Since this particular cause of anemia is the sickle-shaped blood cell, it is called sickle cell anemia.

For more information, visit: http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_ problems/blood/sickle_cell.html

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting detail.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

The Shrinking Egg Trick!

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN AMERICAN CELLULAR BIOLOGIST: John K. Haynes

John K. Haynes was born October 30, 1943, in Monroe, Louisiana. His parents, a teacher and a principal, valued education and Haynes was able to begin first grade at just four years old. He attended Morehouse College when he was seventeen and received his bachelor’s degree in biology in 1964. Six years later, he obtained his doctorate degree in biology from Brown University. It was at Brown University that Haynes began his research on sickle cell anemia. He worked with Vernon Ingram, the scientist who discovered the amino acid difference between normal blood cells and sickle cell hemoglobin. From there, Haynes became a junior faculty member at Meharry Medical School and continued his study of sickle cells in the Department of Genetics and Anatomy. In 1979, he returned to Morehouse College as a biology professor and the director of the Office of Health Professions. He created a program for high school students interested in the medical field. Agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and the National Institute of Health (NIH) helped Haynes recruit minority students into science. In 1991, he went to Brown University to continue his work on sickle cells. He has served as Dean of Science and Mathematics at Morehouse College since 1999. Haynes has published papers on cell biology, as well as studies on undergraduate STEM education.

Questions:

q What do you think a cellular biologist does?

w Would you like to be a cellular biologist? Why or why not?

Materials Needed:

1 Plastic Container

• Vinegar

• 2 Ziploc Sandwich Bags

• Clear Corn Syrup

• 1 Raw Egg • 1 Glass

Disappearing Egg

Shell Directions:

q Place raw egg in container and cover with vinegar. Notice the egg bubbling from the chemical reaction.

w Leave the egg in the vinegar for 2 days, then take it out and wash off the vinegar. The egg is now shell-less and clear.

Shrinking Egg Directions:

q Fill the Ziploc bag halfway with corn syrup.

MATH CONNECTION

Scientists often rely on measurements when they are collecting data. In this activity, you will practice converting measurements. Remember the Rule!

1296

62

w Place the shell-less egg in the bag. Take careful note of the size of the egg. Now place the bag in the glass for support.

e Check the egg in a few hours, then again the next morning. Did it look bigger or smaller? Let the egg sit for 3 days, by now you should see a size difference.

r Remove the egg from the corn syrup, and gently wash it. The egg should look shriveled, and you can feel the yolk.

t Fill another Ziploc bag halfway with water, and put the egg in it. Let it sit supported by the glass for a few days. Does it continue to shrink or does it grow back to normal?

Analyze: Look up the definition for osmosis. How do you think osmosis affected this process?

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete a procedure. I can make predictions and

Converting measurements!

e Why is there a strong connection between biology and medicine?

Learning Standards: I can read biographies of individuals who have made contributions to science.

MAP PREP

Use the newspaper to complete these activities:

Activity One: Look through the newspaper for pictures, stories, and advertisements that demonstrate how people change the environment. Remember to identify the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why.

Activity Two: Many natural hazards make the news: earthquakes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes. Look for a newspaper story or a picture about a natural hazard. Identify the natural hazard and its effect on people and places.

Learning Standards:

I can use a newspaper to locate information. I can summarize an article and recognize cause and effect.

Ms. Clark’s Hanrahan Elementary Class, Jennings School District

In the Jennings School District, Hanrahan Elementary School teacher Ms. Clark shows students Michelle Green, Orlando Arthur, Kyla Jackson and Deabrae Aldridge

STEM builder for class. Photo: Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis celebrates its 50th anniversary celebration at the Great Futures Gala www.bgcstl.org

The “Great Futures Gala” is the largest fundraiser benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and focuses on the Youth of the Year process and the great futures our kids attain through their Club experiences. The Gala showcases the youth who embody the ideals of the Club’s mission to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. During the Gala, Michaelmonique Mayo was announced as the organization’s Youth of the Year, won the inaugural Wanda & Michael DeHaven Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year scholarship in the amount of $5,000 and, a Honda Accord courtesy of Frank Leta Automotive Group, also a first for the Club’s Youth of the Year!

Co-chairs – David & Thelma Steward Event Co-chairs: John & Karen Meara; Vanessa Cooksey; and, Dave & Penny Queller

Grace Hill program helps women gain entrepreneurial skills

Opportunities

Workshop in Business opportunities graduates new class

Chris Presley was appointed director of Operations for the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. He leads the operations team and manages the enrollment aspects for prospective and admitted MBA students at the consortium, an alliance of 19 top-tier MBA programs across the country. The consortium’s mission is to enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership.

Cynthia P. Davis joined Bi-State Development Agency/Metro as director of Program Development and Grants. She is responsible for the agency’s capital budget and grants. She has over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance and grants. She attends Central Baptist Church, where she is a member of the music and PR ministries and serves on the COUER Foundation board.

By Jessica Karins For The St.

Louis American

Porscha Anderson’s experience as a small business

n “It really was a pretty comprehensive 16 weeks. It definitely takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication.” – Porscha Anderson, on Grace Hill’s Workshop in Business Opportunities

program. About 30 women graduated from the 16-week business development course, which helps

Lecia Rives, facilitator/ counselor for Grace Hill’s Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO); Alyce HerndonWilson, Grace Hill Women’s Business Center director; Narmen Hunter, WIBO facilitator/ counselor; and Jamie Amerson, facilitator/ counselor, at WIBO’s graduation ceremony on Friday, December 2.

Duane Foster received the Maritz Arts & Education Fund Teachers grant. He is fine arts coordinator for the Normandy Schools Collaborative. He will use the $3,000 grant to grow the Operation Elementary Piano Lab Phase 2 project. Students in the program have studied other instruments and learned music theory.

Betherny Williams was promoted to the North St. Louis County area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation. She has been with the department for more than 13 years. Previously she was the senior construction inspector and worked on major projects such as the Stan Musial Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, where she serves as financial secretary for her local chapter.

Police Officer Robert Howard recently received a Life Saving Award for saving the life of a woman on Highway 367. He also was just named vice president of the YWCA Policy Counsel, as well as recognized as Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year along with several other police officers.

Bioscience group hires black execs to build STEM partnership

Deborah Patterson and Sherita Haigler join STEMSTL leadership

By Tavia Gilchrist For

Sherita Haigler Deborah Patterson

See STEM,

Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge was elected vice president of the Joint Executive Governing Board of the Normandy Schools Collaborative. She works at Express Scripts as a senior director of governance and systems for corporate procurement. She previously worked for Anheuser-Busch and Bank of America. She is a graduate of Normandy High School. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

Chris Presley

Duane Foster

Pamela WestbrooksHodge

Robert Howard

Cynthia P. Davis

Betherny Williams

The Grace Hill Women’s Business Center hosted a graduation event for its 2017 graduating class from the Workshop in Business

program on Friday, December 2.

Is Secretary DeVos delaying or denying student loan protections?

By Charlene Crowell Columnist

In case you haven’t yet heard, Richard Cordray, the first-ever director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), resigned in late November. President Trump’s unlawful appointment of Mick Mulvaney to serve as the Bureau’s acting director signals a distinct shift in the bureau’s future.

Since enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, this column has chronicled how the consumer’s financial cop-on-thebeat was working on their behalf. Besides powerful enforcement authority to bring nearly $12 billion in restitution and forgiveness to financially-harmed consumers, CFPB’s director is also legally empowered to promulgate rules that bring clarity and transparency over a range of financial services.

negotiated rulemaking process for it and another key rule known as Borrow Defense to Repayment that was set to take effect this year.

With neither rule available to financially harmed consumers, a series of negotiated rulemaking sessions on each was scheduled to revisit both rules. From November 13-15, the first negotiated rulemaking was held on the rule known as Borrower Defense to Repayment. Another convening to address the Gainful Employment rule was held December 4 through 7.

The ballooning and unsustainable debt of student loans is a key area in which the CFPB took strong enforcement actions during the Obama Administration. But the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pledged to curb CFPB’s actions and appointed an Education secretary, Betsy DeVos, to delay if not deny much of what CFPB accomplished, particularly in student lending.

For example, the Gainful Employment rule was finalized in 2014 and took effect in 2015. Even so, Secretary DeVos has called for a new

Thousands of students who enrolled in now-defunct programs were left with debts that the department’s delay in rulemaking only worsens. What they do have are academic credits that no accredited educational institution will accept, and/or certificates and degrees that do not provide the requisite skills and knowledge in the fields studied. Any delay in their ability to secure financial forgiveness adds only more stress to an already lengthy wait. Additionally, schools with poor performing records continue to enroll students and enlarge the scope of the national student debt crisis. Currently, the Department of Education has approximately 95,000 pending complaints seeking relief under the Borrower Defense rule.

When the negotiated rulemaking session for

n Thousands of students who enrolled in nowdefunct programs were left with debts that the department’s delay in rulemaking only worsens.

Borrower Defense to Repayment was held, participating consumer advocates noticed a slanted towards between business interests compared to those who supported consumers and students. The rulemaking session included industry lobbyists, representatives of

for-profit colleges, consumer advocates and government officials. Participant requests to make the proceedings publicly accessible were denied. The federal Department of Education refused to allow live-streaming of its rulemaking despite its availability and that it is frequently utilized at every level of government.

“These sessions and rules will impact millions of Americans, most of whom do not live in the District of Columbia or cannot afford to miss days at work,” noted Ashley Harrington, a Policy counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and a negotiated rulemaking participant.

“Many of those left outside the meeting room and its process are the very same students who have been and will continue to be most affected by predatory practices at the institutions these committees are examining. With over 44 million Americans in debt for $1.4 trillion in loans, we all need as much transparency as possible.”

GRACE HILL

continued from page B1

women of color who want to start or have recently started a business learn the skills they need to be successful. The course is demanding – it meets four nights a week for three hours, covering topics ranging from record-keeping and human resources to law and ethics for business owners.

“It really was a pretty comprehensive 16 weeks,” Anderson said. “It definitely takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication.”

Women begin the program at various stages of their business development; some have already opened their doors, while others are just starting out. Anderson was already running her business when she entered the program, but she said women who were not as far along in the process also made substantial progress.

“There is a benefit at every level of the program,” Anderson said. “The class is still of value to them.”

Patrice Gardner, the program coordinator, said the goal of WIBO is to address the unique challenges that women, especially women of color, face when they set out to become entrepreneurs.

“Sometimes their resources

South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State and West Virginia.

The largest number of student loan complaints came from one of five states that tallied 2,600 complaints or more: California, New York, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania. In these states and three others – Georgia, Illinois and Ohio – debt totals tallied by complaints ranged from a low of $53 billion in Georgia, to a state high of $129 billion in California.

Commenting on these findings, Seth Frothman, CFPB’s student loan ombudsman, said, “These complaints help us to recognize and work to stop industry practices that harm consumers and can serve as the first step in a process that halted industry practices harming some of the most vulnerable individuals, saved hundreds of millions of dollars for tens of thousands of student loan borrowers, and strengthened aspects of the student loan repayment process to protect millions of consumers.”

The Gainful Employment rule would require that career and technical training schools lead to income levels that enable its students to afford their student loan repayments. Particularly for black and other consumers of color, higher education has been preached as the best way to earn entry into America’s middle class, and reach financial independence. To finance educational costs, many of these consumers borrowed more heavily than other consumers before unfortunately discovering what they were promised was not being delivered.

While student borrowers grapple with rising debts, a recent CFPB report showed that during the past five years, more than 50,000 student loan complaints were filed. Additionally, more than 10,000 other related debt collection complaints were filed on both private and federal student loans. As the report details student loan complaints by state, it is proof that student debt is indeed a national problem on multiple measurements.

For example, CFPB’s analysis found that the growth in the number of student loan complaints exceeded 100 percent in 11 states: Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina,

are limited and those resources that are available, they may not be aware of,” Gardner said. When these women are able to access resources, Gardner said, the positive impact can be profound. Resources owned by women of color provide jobs and investment back into their own communities, Gardner said.

n “Sometimes their resources are limited and those resources that are available, they may not be aware of.”

– Patrice Gardner, program coordinator for Grace Hill’s Workshop in Business Opportunities

Anderson’s company is a perfect example. Many of her clients are themselves prospective business owners or have another financial goal they can only reach by improving their credit or establishing credit for the first time.

“We create a plan of action to help them to take it a chunk at a time,” Anderson said.

After an initial free financial consultation, Anderson helps her clients develop plans to improve their FICO credit scores with financial decisions

Transparency has been CFPB’s watchword – not just in student loans; but in every lending area. Now with a new acting director, a slow drag on rules could turn into a stop. And all the while, consumers with any unresolved or pending complaints on file with CFPB are forced to wait to learn their financial fates.

“The Gainful Employment and Borrower Defense to Repayment rules work together to protect borrowers and their families at both ends of college attendance,” noted CRL Policy counsel Whitney BarkleyDenney, a participant in the GE negotiated rulemaking.

“If properly enforced, GE would stop deceptive and predatory programs from enrolling new students. Borrower Defense to Repayment helps borrowers who have already been deceived get back on their feet. Borrowers and taxpayers deserve to know that the Department of Education is looking out for them - from the time they are making their enrollment decisions until they finish paying their last student loan.”

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.

they can make 30 days at a time.

Like Gardner, Anderson said one of the most valuable things she gained from participating in the WIBO program was a network of fellow business owners. Through connecting with another WIBO graduate who came to the program as an instructor this year, Anderson was able to open an office space for New Directions for the first time. The event on December 2 was not only a graduation, but also an opportunity for the graduating class to showcase their businesses to the public.

“It’s a very nice event, just to honor them on this step in their entrepreneurial journey,” Gardner said.

In the future, Anderson hopes to expand her client list and her online presence. She expects that New Directions will be able to double its profits within the next 12 months.

“Now that I have these resources, there is really no excuse why, going forward, I can’t be successful,” Anderson said.

Contact Grace Hill Women’s Business Center at 314-584-6700 or wbcinfo@ gracehillsettlement.org.

Jessica Karins is an editorial intern for the St. Louis American at Webster University.

Charlene Crowell

Education secretary, Betsy DeVos

n “We are exploring other options about Gelo. He’s out of there.”

— LaVar Ball, on removing his middle son LiAngelo Ball from UCLA’s basketball program and school.”

Sports

still in the running for Stanton; Giants fire rare black GM

~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~

Standouts shine in prep and collegiate basketball

The Vashon Wolverines graduated a stellar six-man class that netted back-to-back Class 4 state championships in 2016 and 2017.

The 2017-18 edition of the Wolverines is a young and dynamic team that is looking to make their own way and create their own legacy. These young Wolverines made their first big statement last Saturday night when they knocked off perennial Illinois state power Chicago Whitney Young 81-73 at the Chicago Elite Classic.

Junior guard Mario McKinney has emerged as Vashon’s newest standout and he put on a show on Saturday night with a game-high 32 points, including 15 points in the fourth quarter where he simply took over the game.

Guard Cam’Ron Fletcher, a talented 6’5” sophomore, had his own coming out party as well as he scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in his first game on the high school big stage of a national event.

The Whitney Young game was the first in what will be many big tests for the Wolverines as they embark on another national schedule.

Webster Classic begins today

Defending Class 5 state champion Webster Groves will begin its season today by hosting the 18th Annual Webster Classic at Roberts Gym. The tournament will also feature Class 3 state champion Northwest Academy, Soldan and Lee’s Summit North and Staley from the Kansas City area. The semifinals of the tournament will be held on Friday night at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The championship game will be played on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

LiAngelo and LaMelo’s NBA dreams deferred after father removes them from school

LaVar Ball had beaten the odds. The man who once averaged 2.2 points as a forward at Washington State, and spent a few years as an NFL practice squad player, finally made it big. Ball was thrust into the spotlight when his talented trio of sons, Lonzo LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball made a name for themselves by torching opposing defenses at Chino Hills High School. The Ball boys all received scholarship offers from UCLA. Everything was going great for the Ball family. Lonzo Ball, the oldest, showed out during his freshman year for the Bruins. His impressive season led to him being drafted by his hometown Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick of the NBA Draft. LiAngelo Ball was headed to UCLA. LaMelo Ball was considered a consensus top-5 point guard in the class of 2019. The 16-year-old also became a bona fide social media star. LaVar Ball even launched a clothing and footwear line, Big Baller Brand, to put his family on the path to greatness. The fields had been tilled. The seeds had been sown and watered. All that was left for LaVar was to sit back, kick his feet up and enjoy the harvest. Of course, anybody who has observed LaVar Ball since he burst into the public eye knew that would be virtually impossible. The only cameras or microphones the Ball family patriarch doesn’t like are the ones which aren’t pointing in his direction. In the beginning, Lavar Ball’s antics were mildly annoying. Once it became clear that he was the ultimate trolls, he became mildly entertaining. However, as the spotlight grew, so did his already gigantic ego. Now, he is in the habit

Ball ‘til you fall

of making

Earl Austin Jr.

LaVar Ball’s decision to pull LaMelo Ball out of high school over a dispute with the school’s incoming basketball coach.

Two months later, Big Baller Ego is back at it again. Monday, the Los Angeles Times reported that LiAngelo Ball has withdrawn from UCLA at the urging of his

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Earl Austin Jr.

Just a few months ago, things were laid out perfectly for the Ball family. Lonzo was drafted by the Lakers, LaMelo was ready to be the sole star for Chino Hills High School, LiAngelo was set to begin his freshman year at UCLA. All LaVar had to do was sit back and chill. His entire familiy was set up for success. Now everything has changed.

Photo by Wiley Price

Lutheran North’s junior forward Kaylynn Hayden (5) goes up for two of her 14 points during Tuesday night’s game against Ritenour. The Lady Crusaders went on to defeat the Lady Huskies 65-45.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Cardinals still in running for Stanton; Giants fire rare black GM

As Christmas approaches, the St. Louis Cardinals still have a chance at landing a nice gift – but it comes with a big cost.

Multiple reports indicate that the Cardinals and San Francisco Giants have met with Giancarlo Stanton and his representatives, presented trade offers that the Miami Marlins find acceptable and are awaiting a decision from the reigning National League MVP.

Craig Mish of Sirius radio reported that the Cards’ offer includes pitcher Sandy Alcantara and a willingness to take on more of Stanton’s huge contract than the Giants.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported that the edge could still be the Giants because of the West Coast location.

that looks a lot like the 2017 model.

Let’s talk about the Marlins. There was a rush of excitement when the MLB announced that an ownership group including Derek Jeter had acquired the franchise. Jeter and company had enough money to buy the team, but apparently not enough to sustain it. They have made it clear they are taking the team backward before moving forward.

“Several people with ties to the Marlins who have known Stanton said that they believe Stanton is much more likely to approve the Giants than the Cardinals for geographic reasons; he’s from the Los Angeles area and lives in Hollywood Hills,” wrote Heyman.

But there is hope.

“Those prognostications were based on dealings with Stanton before the respective meetings, of course, and as stated previously, the mere fact Stanton met with both teams is a sign he’s willing to consider either,” according to Heyman.

I just can’t shake the feeling that the Cardinals will once again finish as the runner-up in the race. The front office will then say, “we gave it our best shot.” We can then look forward to seeing a 2018 version of the Cardinals

They fired popular frontoffice members including Jeff Conine, insulted Andre Dawson and other former Marlins who worked for the team with $25,000 annual salary offers and continue pennypinching at every opportunity.

But this takes the cake.

The Marlins fired longtime scout Marty Scott while he laid in a Florida hospital bed following surgery to have a cancerous tumor and polyps removed from his colon. He also needs a kidney transplant. He was terminated on Oct. 16 – and his contract would set to expire on Oct. 31. “Derek Jeter doesn’t owe me anything,” Scott told Yahoo Sports. “Probably in their hearts they did what they thought was right. I know based on certain aspects of the game, I probably was making too much money. But we all love the game. We’re all in it together. I just think 40 years was worth more than a spank on the butt and see you later. I’m very hurt.”

A Giant mess in New York

Former New York Giants GM Jerry Reese certainly

must carry a bulk of the responsibility for the football fiasco that cost him his job.

The benching of Eli Manning, a 2-10 record and a franchise in disarray led ownership to dismiss Reese and suddenly inept head coach Ben McAdoo on Monday. There is no telling when

McAdoo will return to the sideline, but Reese could be back as soon as next season.

Reese, who became just the third black GM in NFL history when the Giants hired him in 2007, was at the helm during the team’s Super Bowl seasons of 2007 and 2011.

For those who doubt a black man can help build a Super Bowl champion, Reese is proof they are wrong. He also rose to the position through perseverance and tenacity.

He was hired by the Giants as a scout in 1994 and earned a promotion to assistant in the pro personnel department in 1999. In 2002 he was named director of player personnel.

The Giants were 41-51 in the six seasons following that last Super Bowl and longtime coach Tom Coughlin was fired after the 2015 season.

Reese survived and, with ownership’s permission, hired Giants’ offensive coordinator McAdoo as head coach. Reese was allowed to spend $200 million on free-agent defensive players, including former St. Louis Ram cornerback Janoris Jenkins. The Giants posted a 11-5 mark and reached the playoffs. But the Giants got blasted 38-13 by the Green Bay Packers and were a mess this year.

Reese’s biggest shortcoming was failure to build an offensive line that could protect the immobile Manning and fuel a consistent run game.

However, he did make several amazing picks during his drafts, including 2014

first-rounder wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and 2015 second-round pick Landon Collins

“I don’t think there was any one final straw (that led to Reese’s firing),” co-owner John Mara said. “I just think that where we are as a franchise right now, you know, we’re 2-10. We’ve kind of been spiraling out of control. I just felt like we needed a complete overhaul. I don’t think there was any one event or one final act to precipitate that.”

Mara said during a Monday press conference he told Reese, “I have no doubt that he will get another shot with another franchise and that at some point in time, I’m going to be answering questions from people about why I got rid of him in the first place.’’

There should be several GM openings in the NFL following the season and Reese will certainly be considered a candidate – if he wants to work next season. The word out of Cleveland is that Hue Jackson could survive a 0-16 season and remain the Browns head coach. His team has been competitive in most games and shows no sign of quitting.

Sashi Brown, who carries the title of executive vice president – football operations, is being thrown under the bus in Cleveland. If Reese landed there, a black GM would replace a black GM.

Celebration begins

Grambling State University rallied to top Alcorn State 40-32 last weekend to win its

second consecutive SWAC title and the right to meet undefeated North Carolina A&T in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 16 in Atlanta. The Tigers’ success has made head coach Broderick Fobbs a candidate for at least one job opening. According to Football Scoop, Fobbs is a candidate for the Louisiana-Lafayette head coach position.

Fobbs is 39-10 at Grambling with three SWAC Western Division titles, two league titles and a HBCU national championship. He was interviewed by Louisiana-Monroe before that job went to Matt Viator in 2015.

Grambling topped North Carolina Central 10-9 in the 2016 Celebration Bowl, which is owned and presented by ESPN Events.

ESPN Events and 100 Black Men of Atlanta organize events including a youth symposium, robotics showcase, gospel night and fan experience. The game kicks off the college bowl season and will air on ABC at 11 a.m. Saturday Dec. 16 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, is a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and can also be heard on Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box.” His Twitter handle is #aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Multiple reports indicate that the Cardinals and San Francisco Giants have met with Giancarlo Stanton and his representatives, presented trade offers that the Miami Marlins find acceptable and are awaiting a decision from the reigning National League MVP.

Girls prep basketball players to watch in 2018

By Earl Austin Jr. Of the St. Louis American

Here is a look at some of the top girls basketball players to watch this season.

Jordyn Brooks 5’8” (MICDS): Senior forward who averaged 13.7 points in leading the Rams to a 24-3 record as a junior.

Tyra Brown 5’6” (Pattonville): Senior guard who averaged 16.1 points a game as a junior.

Madison Buford 5’9” (Lutheran North): Junior guard who averaged 11 points and five rebounds to lead the Crusaders to the Class 3 Final Four.

Aijha Blackwell 6’0” (Whitfield): Talented junior forward who led the Warriors

LaVar Ball (right) has now pulled both LaMelo Ball and LiAngelo Ball (not pictured) out of school after disputes with the coaches of Chino Hills High School and UCLA. He’s now hoping they can take an overseas route to the NBA.

to a berth in the Class 3 state championship game. Averaged 20 points a game as a sophomore.

Jayla Everett 5’10”

(Kirkwood): New Mexico signee who averaged 17 points a game to help the Pioneers to the Class 5 state championship.

Brooke Flowers 6’5” (Metro): Saint Louis U. signee who averaged 21 points a game and led the area in blocked shots as a junior.

Myriah Noodel-Haywood 5’11” (Edwardsville): Kansas State recruit who helped the Tigers to a berth in the Illinois Class 4A state championship game.

Sonya Morris 5’9”

(Incarnate Word): DePaul recruit who averaged 15 points in leading the Red Knights to

the Class 4 state championship.

Kaylah Rainey 5’8” (Belleville East): Talented guard who averaged 15 points in leading the Lancers to a 20-10 record.

K.K. Rodriguez 5’7”

(Webster Groves): Tulsa recruit who averaged 16.6 points a game while leading Webster Groves in assists.

Jaidah Stewart 5’9” (Kirkwood): Webster Groves transfer who averaged nearly 19 points a game as a junior. She has already signed with Minnesota.

Amaya Stovall 5’7” (Parkway North): DePaul recruit who averaged 12.7 points and 3.6 assists as a junior.

Kelsie Williams 5’9”

CLUTCH

Continued from B3 father. Apparently LaVar Ball was upset that his son’s indefinite suspension for last month’s infamous, international shoplifting incident in China.

“He might as well be in jail,” LaVar Ball told the LA Times. “I’m not going to let UCLA take the fire out of my boy by not letting him play for two months.

Nevermind the fact that LaVar Ball didn’t care about taking the fire out of LaMelo Ball by not allowing him to play for his final two years of prep basketball. The decision to pull LaMelo Ball from UCLA

PREP

Continued from B3

GAC-Suburban Challenge on Tap for next week

The 2017 GAC-Suburban Basketball Challenge will be held next week at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. The annual week-long event features teams from the Gateway Athletic Conference and St. Charles County against teams from the Suburban St. Louis conferences. This year’s event features 17 games, starting on Monday, December 11 and concluding on Saturday, December 16. A few of the marquee matchups to watch at the GAC-Suburban Classic next week include Parkway South vs. Fort Zumwalt South, Thursday, Dec. 14 at 8:30 p.m.; Hazelwood Central vs. Francis Howell, Friday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m.; Parkway Central vs. Wentzville Liberty, Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.; and Jennings at Duchesne on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8:30 p.m.

*Sager Shootout at MICDS

MICDS will be hosting the first Sager Shootout on Saturday, which will pit four Missouri schools against four Illinois schools. The event will benefit the Sager Strong Foundation, in honor of the late Craig Sager the long-time NBA television reporter, who died last December of leukemia.

The schedule of the Sager Shootout includes Clayton vs. Freeburg, noon; Priory vs. Mater Dei, 1:30 p.m.; MICDS

makes no sense whatsoever. After all, UCLA could’ve easily booted the three players involved in stealing once they were returned to the U.S. Various reports suggested that the players might be reinstated to the team as early as the end of Dec. 29, when conference play begins. However, neither the coaching staff, nor the school had made any public statements as to a potential timeline for reinstatement and that must have eaten away at LaVar Ball. He shown time and time again that when he doesn’t get his way, he’s not afraid to take his Ball and go home. LiAngelo Ball’s withdrawal from UCLA likely means that LaMelo Ball will never set foot on campus. His amateur status

vs. Mascoutah, 3 p.m.; and Duchesne vs. Pinckneyville, 4:30 p.m.

Tournament Champions

Several early-season tournaments were held last week to start the regular season. Whitfield won the Pattonville Tournament with a 62-51 victory over Jennings. The Warriors were able to avenge a lost to Jennings, who won the tournament last year.

Hazelwood Central won the championship of the Vianney Tournament with a 64-37 victory over Ladue. The Hawks

was already in doubt when Big Baller Brand launched a signature shoe for the 16-year-old. Now, after the incessant headaches that the father brings, it would be no surprise to see UCLA remove itself from the Ball business.

What does that mean for LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball?

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported that Harrison Gaines, the Ball family’s agent, has reached out to teams in Europe and China about the possibility of signing LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball to professional contracts.

I’d have to imagine that the possibility of the younger two Ball boys playing profession-

also posted convincing victories over Gateway STEM and Farmington en route to the championship.

Mehlville won the Southside Classic with a 55-48 victory over John Burroughs. Sophomore guard King Waller was the individual standout with 23 points to lead the Panthers to the victory. In the semifinals, Waller also scored the game-winner in the final seconds of a 36-35 victory over Lindbergh.

Parkway Central won the championship of the Gerald Linneman Classic with big victories of district rivals Parkway

(Hazelwood Central): SIUE recruit who averaged 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds as a junior.

DeAnna Wilson 6’0” (Cardinal Ritter): A junior who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds a game as a sophomore.

Top Girls Teams to Watch

Incarnate Word: The Red Knights reclaimed their spot at the top by winning the Class 4 state championship. IWA returns a strong group, led by senior guard Sonya Morris, who has signed with DePaul.

Kirkwood: The defending Class 5 state champions return an excellent guard in New Mexico signee Jayla Everett, along with point guard Mikayla Wallace. Webster Groves

ally in Europe must be music to Magic Johnson’s ears. The Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations should be ecstatic at the idea of LaVar Ball flying halfway across the globe.

Earlier this week, the Lakers began enforcing what many are referring to as the “LaVar Ball rule.” The rule forbids media from conducting interviews in or near the section reserved for family members and associates of Lakers players. The policy has been in effect for years, but was never strictly enforced by the time until recently.

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that the Lakers decided to enforce the rule after a string of criticisms directed at the team by LaVar Ball.

In early November, LaVar Ball criticized the Lakers coaching staff in an interview with The Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus

“They’re soft. They don’t know how to coach my son. I know how to coach him,” LaVar Ball said. “I tell him to go get the victory. Stop messing around.”

This week, the father went on Sirus XM’s NBA Radio and stated, ““[Lonzo’s] disgusted. He’s not used to losing like this. The Lakers should build around Lonzo. Why are they sitting him down and not starting him the 4th quarter? This is why the record is raggedy.”

Let’s not even talk about the public, mind-numbing feud with the current White House occupant.

Maybe LaVar Ball can do

North, Parkway South and Parkway West. The Parkway North girls also won the championship of the Linneman Round Robin by going 3-0 last week.

On the girls’ side, Lutheran North defeated Metro League rival MICDS 61-60 to win the Lutheran St. Charles Tournament. Junior guard Maddie Buford scored a gamehigh 28 points to lead Lutheran North to the victory.

transfer Jaidah Stewart, a Minnesota signee, makes Kirkwood a strong threat to repeat.

Edwardsville: Tigers return 6’0” forward Kate Martin and 5’10” forward Myriah Noodel-Haywood from a team that played for the IHSA Class 4 state championship a year ago.

Parkway North: The Vikings will field another strong squad, which will be lead by DePaul recruit Amaya Stovall, a four-year starter at guard.

Lutheran North: The Crusaders return a strong nucleus from last year’s Class 3 Final Four team, led by 5’9” junior guards Madison Buford and Jordyn White and junior point guard Raevyn Ferguson.

Whitfield: The Warriors were Class 3 state runners-up last year. They return talented 6’0” junior Aijha Blackwell, 5’10” senior Taylor LawsonHicks and adds 6’0” transfer Tajah Foster-Walker.

Civic Memorial: The Eagles return another strong group of players from last year’s successful squad, led by senior Kaylee Eaton.

MICDS: The Rams won 24 games a year ago and return a balanced team, led by seniors Jordyn Brooks, Lindsay Park, Landys Hughes, Kayla Work and sophomore Jessica Brooks.

Cardinal Ritter: The Lions should continue their winning ways with the return of 6’0” junior DeAnna Wilson and 5’3” junior point guard Kori Tomlin.

it. Maybe he can find a way to navigate his two younger sons through an overseas basketball adventure, back to the NBA. However, it would’ve been a much easier path to sit in sunny California while LaMelo tore it up at Chino Hills, LiAngelo put up points in the Pac-10 at UCLA and Lonzo continued to flirt with triple doubles as a Los Angeles Laker. But then the cameras and the spotlight would’ve been aimed at the Ball boys and not their attention-starved dad. So instead, Lavar’s three sons will continue to have gigantic targets on their backs, while their dad sports a gigantic grin for any camera he can find. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

The junior standout forward from MICDS in St. Louis enjoyed a big weekend on the Saints’ weekend road trip in the Kansas City area. The 6’6” Thompson had 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots in the Saints’ loss to William Jewell. He followed up with 18 points, eight rebounds

The sophomore standout from Gateway STEM is having another big season in leading the Archers to an undefeated start and national ranking. The 5’10” Wilson had 14 points, 13 rebounds and six steals in a 94-55 victory over Kankakee. She had 17 points, 14 rebounds and four

In the semifinals, Buford had 18 points and six rebounds in a 59-48 victory over Francis Howell Central. As a sophomore, Buford averaged 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds to lead the Crusaders to a 23-9 record and a thirdplace finish in the Missouri

and four dunks in Maryville’s victory at Rockhurst. For the season, Thompson is averaging 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 65 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line. Thompson was a twotime All-State player during his prep career at MICDS.

the St. louiS AmericAn college AthleteS of the Week Robin Thompson Maryville University – Basketball and 20 points and 15 rebounds in a 73-61 victory over State Fair. For the season, Wilson is averaging 15 points and 11.6 rebounds a game for the 8-0 Archers, who are currently ranked No. 7 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association rankings. She was a first-team NJCAA All-American as a freshman last season.

STEM

continued from page B1 career paths, and Deborah fit that mold perfectly,” Johnson said. “She’s someone with the experience and the relationships who can lean into this and put some work into it.”

Recruited out of retirement with a new job title of “Champion,” Patterson’s role includes building relationships with major stakeholders, from corporate executives to community-based mentors, in support of STEM-based programs.

“I’m not a ceremonial champion, I’m in there, rolling up my sleeves, to bring people to the table and figure out strategies to keep them at the table,” she said.

Patterson retired as president of Monsanto Fund in March 2016, after 16 years at the helm. Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Co.

Haigler’s role as the group’s “Catalyst” includes working side-by-side with Patterson to manage partnerships and the day-to-day operations of the effort. Her experience includes senior positions in account and relationship management and sales for several area companies, including GE Healthcare, Centene Corp. and SBC.

“Haigler brings a significant amount of experience to the table in a role that is about building relationships and a structure for collaboration and managing that process and a direct delivery of services,” said Christian Greer, a STEMSTL board member and chief officer of science, education and experience at St.

Louis Science Center.

“Her passion for the work and style of open communication are really essential for the building work needed for STEMSTL.”

The long-term goal of STEMSTL is part of an overarching vision for the future of St. Louis, where students of all races and incomes are trained in STEMbased careers and eligible for a

n “Our job is to understand where the gaps in service are and how do we leverage what we have to do more with STEM learning.”

–

Deborah Patterson, STEMSTL

pipeline of jobs in the region’s growing bioscience and technology industries.

“Growth in the region is dependent on promoting accessible and equitable opportunities for everyone,” said Johnson of BioSTL. “We need to have really comprehensive, connected and cohesive pipelines for career pathways for everyone in St. Louis.”

The region is already poised for a thriving STEM ecosystem, said the Science Center’s Greer, referring to the city’s growing hub of bioscience companies and research-based hospitals and universities, a major source of innovation and jobs for the region.

“We need to find a more effective and efficient way of working together to pool

resources and shared assets and link our missions to effect change in raising the STEM IQ of the city,” Greer said.

Part of the work includes studying the current web of STEM programs and finding gaps that prevent some students from participating.

For example, “the Boy Scouts have a STEM badge and nationally the Boys and Girls Clubs have a STEM platform, but these groups might not be close to the people who need it,” Patterson said. “Our job is to understand where the gaps in service are and how do we leverage what we have to do more with STEM learning.”

Over the next two years, Patterson and Haigler will follow a national roadmap created by the STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative to cultivate a local STEM network. That process includes a series of events to introduce the ecosystem to students, teachers, school science organizations and employers.

In the future, Haigler foresees collaborations with school districts to establish a clear STEM-based learning pathway that extends from Pre-K through college. In-class STEM-learning experiences will be extended into afterschool programs, connecting students to a network of museums, libraries and sciencebased institutions.

And as the ecosystem flourishes, Patterson envisions a STEM-trained workforce beyond the teen years, equipped with critical thinking skills and real world opportunities.

“Ultimately,” she said, “we want our young people to be STEM-literate members of our community with access to good paying jobs.”

Financial Focus

By Ana Stringfellow

Can you afford to retire early?

Living It

‘Tis the season for soul

Fantasia delivers Christmas class act at Peabody Opera House

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

“I know y’all are used to me taking my shoes off and getting ugly with it, but there won’t be none of that tonight,” Fantasia told the nearly sold-out crowd of The Peabody Opera House.

In a silver, black and gold metallic backless evening gown with sleek finger waves in her hair, Fantasia’s presence was reminiscent of the vintage glamour and elegance of singers like Billie Holiday or Lena Horne. It was a different Fantasia – and it was intentional.

“I want everybody out there to know that there’s nothing that I can’t do,” Fantasia told the crowd before the show got started. It was a bold statement to make on the front end of the show, but she proved herself right by evening’s end –and later reminded them that she said she would while they were in the palm of her hands. With the posture and decorum of a big band vocalist, Fantasia stood in front of a music stand with her shoulders back and held high. It was a different Fantasia – at least at first.

“Tonight, I bring you jazz. I bring you vocals. Tonight, I am no longer Fantasia,” she said. “I am Mrs. Taylor. Let me take you on a journey –back to when music was mmm-mmm good.”

She briefly let loose with a few commercial breaks of the down-home Fantasia her fans love over the course of the night, but was mostly composed and subtle. Still soulful, but noticeably subdued and understated. In doing so, she gave them even more reason to love her.

There were Christmas trees in the background and the holiday spirit in the air as Fantasia dove right into selections from her latest album “Christmas After Midnight.”

The evening felt less like a concert and more like a one-woman show. The performance gave a “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” vibe. Fantasia wrapped personal family stories around seasonal classic music such as “Merry Christmas Baby,” and “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto.”

“Leave it to James Brown to tell Santa Claus to go to the ghetto,” Fantasia said after putting her own spin on the funky black holiday classic.

An ‘Unforgettable’ Christmas show

Holiday show framed around music legend Nat King Cole plays Westport Plaza

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Chicago-based performer Evan Tyrone Martin didn’t know it at the time, but suiting up as music legend Nat King Cole was a role he had been preparing his whole life.

His grandmother had hundreds and hundreds of 45s in her basement and he would listen to them with her every time he went to her house. Cole was one of her favorite artists of all time. “I knew all about his music because I grew up listening to him,” Martin said. “I loved impersonating people vocally when I was a kid. I was just playing around when I was a kid.”

His intimate knowledge of the essence of Nat King Cole came in handy years later as a performer for his role in Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of “Far From Heaven.”

The musical director of the show took notice and introduced Martin to Michael and Angela Ingersoll, who had been waiting for a talent worthy of filling Cole’s shoes for a production framed around his music and life story for their Artist Live Lounge, a concert series that mounts

By Kenya Vaughn Of The

Louis American

At the end of October, the Detroit Free Press announced that Lonely Planet – one of the largest travel book publishers in the world – was set to name Detroit the second-best city in the world to visit in 2018.

n After my stay, I found myself singing the city’s praises for their work to restore the metropolis’ identity.

Eclipsed only by Seville, Spain, The Motor City immediately outranks Canberra, Australia and Hamburg, Germany – and has the distinction as the only destination in the continental United States to make the cut in the top ten of Lonely Planet’s coveted list. It might be hard to fathom a city haunted by a reputation of blight and bankruptcy to emerge as a top tourist destination. But anyone who has been there recently – particularly within the past year – will describe a downtown area that defies assumptions of urban decay thanks to an emerging and bustling metropolis that is fresh, eclectic and splashed with creativity. And by anyone, of course I mean me. Before my visit to Detroit this past spring, my main frames of reference were the mayoral scandal of Kwame Kilpatrick, their historic 2013 bankruptcy filing, and most detrimentally that it was the city that produced my college boyfriend. I appreciated Detroit for the Motown legacy, the Isaiah Thomas era of the Pistons and for providing the set up for the storyline in “Beverly Hills Cop.” But that was about it.

However, a junket organized by Pure Michigan that promised a snapshot of the arts and culture scene left a lasting impression, to say the least. After my stay, I found myself singing the city’s praises for their work to restore the metropolis’ identity. Based on what I experienced, a new and improved Detroit has risen from its obstacles. The new development combined with the cultural staples will more than likely inspire a migration of tourists and transplants. In two short, but jam-packed days of connecting with Detroit, I developed such an affinity that I still occasionally keep up with the Detroit’s progress as they continue to rebuild –which is how I stumbled upon the news of their impressive (and well-deserved) Lonely Planet ranking.

St.

Miranda’s

Cole”

Playhouse

Photo by Lawrence Bryant Fantasia opted for an elegant, understated performance during her nearly sold-out performance at Peabody Opera House Friday night as she performed selections from her holiday album ‘Christmas After Midnight.’

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

holiday haps

Fri., Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m., Black Funders of St. Louis First Annual Holiday Social. Celebrate the holidays while collecting toys to benefit the families of the Sickle Cell Association. DK Annex, 2727 S. Jefferson, Ste. 207 & 209, 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Fri., Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m., Black Funders of St. Louis First Annual Holiday Social.

Celebrate the holidays while collecting toys to benefit the families of the Sickle Cell Association. DK Annex, 2727

S. Jefferson, Ste. 207 & 209, 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Dec. 8 – 10, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Winter Celebrations. Inspired by cultures near and far, performances and art activities will honor timeless traditions and create new experiences for the whole family. One Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.slam. org/winter.

Fri., Dec. 8, 6 p.m., Artists First presents Deck the Walls (With Art and Love) Live music, food, and most importantly art. Kappa Community Center, 500 North Vandeventer Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. artistsfirststl.org.

Dec. 8 & 9, Unity Theatre Ensemble returns to the stage with an encore of its original gospel musical, Make a Joyful Noise, Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.

Fri., Dec. 8, 7 p.m., The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108.

Sat., Dec. 9, 6 p.m., Phil Woodmore Singers

Christmas Concert. Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. facebook.coom.

Sun., Dec. 10, 4:45 p.m., The Worship Arts Ministry presents A Spotless Rose, Hope for the World: Worship for Lessons & Carols The story of Christ’s birth through Scripture, music, and congregational song. Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman Blvd., 63113. For more information, visit www.graceumc-stl.org.

Sun., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Gospel According to Jazz Christmas Concert. Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 5553 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www. friendlytemple.org.

Sun., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Salem Christmas at The Sheldon. Enjoy live music by Grammy Award winner, BeBe Winans, Salem’s modern worship band Divine Hours, and Salem’s Chancel Choir. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. salemstlouis.com.

Dec. 7 – 17, An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas feat. Evan Tyrone Martin Playhouse at Westport Plaza, 635 West Port Plaza Dr., 63146. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., Dec. 8, 7 p.m., The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108.

Sat., Dec. 9, 9 a.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Alumnae Chapter presents Breakfast with Santa. Pancake breakfast, photos with Santa, toys, and more. Innovative Concept Academy, 1927 Cass Ave., 63107. For more information, visit www.DST-SLA.org.

The Guide

Kenya Vaughn recommends

Sat., Dec. 9, 8 p.m., 5th

Annual Holiday Toy Drive. Music by DJ Chanda with special guest BJ the DJ. Bring a new, unwrapped toy. Mac’s Banquet Room, 315 Belle St., Alton, IL. 62002.

Sun., Dec. 10, 4:45 p.m., The Worship Arts Ministry presents A Spotless Rose, Hope for the World: Worship for Lessons & Carols The story of Christ’s birth through Scripture, music, and congregational song. Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman Blvd., 63113. For more information, visit www.graceumc-stl.org.

Sun., Dec. 10, 7 p.m., Gospel According to Jazz Christmas Concert. Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 5553 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www. friendlytemple.org.

Thur., Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., Gospel Christmas: A Soulful Celebration with Dianne Reeves. Reeves joins the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and IN UNISON Chorus. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.slso. org.

Fri., Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m., Peabody Opera House presents A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage. Join the Peanuts gang in the journey to uncover the true meaning of Christmas. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. peabodyoperahouse.com.

Sat., Dec. 16, 2 p.m., Joyful Noize! Rockn’ The Holidayz – A Rock n’ Roll Holiday Show. This is also a comic book release party. Proceeds benefit Metro Theater Company. Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Dec. 16, 2 p.m., The Legend Singers host the Annual Soulful Sounds of the Season Concert and Bazaar. Guest performance by the Community Gospel Choir of St. Louis. Prince of Peace Church, 9350 Natural Bridge Rd., 63134. For more information, call (314) 6165906.

Dec. 16 – 17, Better Family Life Membership Association presents the 34th Annual Kwanzaa Holiday Expo. A shopping experience to purchase unique items and

support many local businesses mostly Black-owned. 5415 Page Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Dec. 19 – 21, Jazz St. Louis Big Band plays Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.tickets.jazzstl.org.

Sat., Dec. 23, 3 & 7 p.m., Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. The Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103.

Dec. 26 – 28, 7:30 p.m., Peabody Opera House presents ELF the Musical The hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole.

Through Jan. 1, Missouri Botanical Garden presents Garden Glow. Enjoy s’mores, festive drinks, and more than one million lights throughout the garden. 4344 Shaw Blvd., 63110. For more information, visit www. missouribotanicalgarden.org.

concerts

Sat., Dec. 9, 8 p.m., RobinSound Productions presents Too Short Live in Concert. Mystic Grille, 11836 W. Florissant Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Dec. 13 – 16, Jazz St. Louis presents Take 6. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.tickets.jazzstl.org.

Fri., Dec. 15, 6 p.m., Fubar presents Kyng Kane. 3108 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. fubarstl.com.

Fri., Dec. 15, The Marquee presents Plies. 1911 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www.themarqueestl.com.

Sat., Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., Chaifetz Arena presents Xscape: The Great Xscape Tour. With Monica and Tamar Braxton. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.thechaifetzarena. com.

Sat., Dec. 16, 8 p.m., The Ambassador presents Master’s Touch with special guest Zena. 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. thenewambassadorstl.com.

Sun., Dec. 17, 7 p.m., The Ready Room presents SZA – The CTRL Tour. 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. thereadyroom.com.

Sun., Dec. 17, 8 p.m., Rockhouse Entertainment and Party in Peace present Chief Keef. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Dec. 29, LooseCannon Ent. Presents Resolution 2017: Lil Wayne & Migos, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www. thechaifetzarena.com.

special events

Thur., Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m., The St. Louis Area Foodbank’s Young Professionals Board invite you to Friends of the Foodbank Volunteer Night 70 Corporate Woods Dr., 63044. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Dec. 9, 2 & 7 p.m., Scottrade Center presents The Original Harlem Globetrotters. 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. scottradecenter.com.

Sat., Dec. 9, 9 a.m., Open Sky St. Louis Hiring Fair. Find out about open positions at EAGLE Prep and Compass Educational Programs. 2900 S. Grand Blvd., 63118. For more information, email bonita. jamison@openskyeducation. org.

Sun., Dec. 10, 5 p.m., Simply Beautiful Fashion Show. O’Fallon Park Rec Complex, 4343 W. Florissant Ave., 63115. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., Dec. 13, 11 a.m., National Career Fairs presents St. Louis Career Fair. Doubletree Westport Hotel, 1973 Craigshire Rd., 63146. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis presents the 5th Annual Whitney M. Young Society Reception. Anheuser-Busch Biergarten, 1200 Lynch St., 63118. For more information, visit www.ulstl.com.

Fri., Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m., The Pageant presents The Irreplaceables Tour. As seen on the hit show Dance

Salem Christmas at The Sheldon featuring Grammy Award winner BeBe Winans. See HOLIDAY HAPS for details.

Moms, The Irreplaceables (Kendall, Chloe & Kalani) will perform a cutting-edge dance followed by a Q&A with the girls and their moms. 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Dec. 16, 11 a.m., 8 th Annual NAACP St. Louis County Soulful Jazz Brunch Extravaganza. We will feature small businesses in the shopping bazaar, a silent auction, fashion show and musical performances. Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel, 191 Westport Plaza, 63146. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

comedy

Fri., Dec. 8, 7 p.m., Improv Shop hosts a Night of Comedy. Proceeds benefit United 4 Children. 3960 Chouteau Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. united4children.org.

literary

Thur., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Peter Hayes author of Why?: Explaining the Holocaust. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. left-bank.com.

art

Sat., Dec. 9, 1 p.m., St. Louis Women of Color Artisan Collective Winter Pop Up. We will have a variety of vendors including Jorbaum, Heavenly Sinful Delights, LLC, BLK MGK Woman, and more. Mesa Home, 2619 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Fri., Dec. 15, 8 p.m., Environmental Music & Arts Project: The Bloom Experience and Hello Jizoo. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Dec. 16, 11 a.m., STL Craft Mafia presents Merrily

Made: Gifts and Goods A shopping event featuring 30 local artists, makers, and independent businesses. St. Louis Artists’ Guild, 12 North Jackson Ave., 63105. For more information, visit www. stlouisartistsguild.org.

Sat., Dec. 16, 1 p.m., Holiday Market in Strauss Park. A holiday crafts bazaar featuring 20 local artists selling a host of original artwork, gifts and more. Strauss Park in Grand Center Arts District, 3534 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. grandcenter.org.

Sun., Dec. 17, 5 p.m., Magnify presents Karter’s Christmas Party. Kids ages 1 – 10 can dance, paint, and enter to win gifts. Magnify Art Gallery, 904 S. 4th St., 63102. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Through December 31, Mickalene Thomas: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd. St. Louis, 63108. For more information, visit http://camstl. org/ or call (314) 535-4660.

lectures and workshops

Sun., Dec. 10, 3 p.m., Human Rights Day 2017. A special panel discussion on the condition of human rights in our contemporary society. Missouri History Museum. Sun., Dec. 10, 3 p.m., Human Rights Day 2017. Join us for a special panel discussion on the condition of human rights in our contemporary society. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For

information, visit www. tappingourgenius.eventbrite. com.

theatre

Dec. 7 – 10, Ignite Theatre Company presents Seussical The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sun., Dec. 10, 1 p.m., Civic Arts Company presents Race. A one-act play based on Studs Terkel’s Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

Through Dec. 10, The Fox Theatre presents The King and I. The story of the unconventional relationship that develops between the King of Siam and a British schoolteacher. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. fabulousfox.com.

more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

Thur., Dec. 14, 6 p.m., Connect Learning presents Urban Education Design Challenge. Explore ways in which the community and educators can work together to improve urban education in St. Louis. Missouri History Museum. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., Dec. 14, 9 p.m., Sonic Arts United presents Tapping Our Genius feat. Damon Davis. This is a quarterly series for those with an interest in the sonic arts community. St. Louis Hop Shop, 2600 Cherokee St., 63118. For more

Sun., Dec. 10, 2 & 6 p.m., Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. thechaifetzarena.com.

Dec. 27 – 31, Fox Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

health

Sat., Dec. 9, 10 a.m., Free Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Event. Meet with a health insurance Navigator to help find the health insurance plan that fits your needs and budget. Holiday Inn, 313 Salem Pl., Fairview Heights, IL. 62208. For more information,

visit www.sihf.org/openenrollment.

Sat., Dec. 9, 11 a.m., Double Dutch ShowcaseHealthy Schools Healthy Communities. Wohl Rec Center, 1515 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63113. For more information, call (314) 286-0539 or email HSHC@bjc.org.

Tues., Dec. 19, 2 p.m., Seniors Home Care presents Free Family Caregiver Training. Learn about incontinence care, home safety, Alzheimer’s/dementia, handling caregiver stress, and more. 504 Marshall Ave., 63119. For more information, visit www.seniorshomecare. com.

Sat., Dec. 9, 6:20 p.m., A.K.A The Collective’s Christian Christmas Concert. The group will perform original hits from their debut CD entitle “Christ-A-Must: Vol. 1”. St. Louis Mills Mall (Entrance #3), 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd., 63042. For more information, visit www. ChristAMust.com.

Sun., Dec. 10, 4:45 p.m., The Worship Arts Ministry presents A Spotless Rose, Hope for the World: Worship for Lessons & Carols. The story of Christ’s birth through Scripture, music, and congregational song. Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman Blvd., 63113. For more information, visit www.graceumc-stl.org.

Thur., Dec. 7, 6 p.m., The Color Purple Film Screening. Register at the screening to win tickets to the stage play. Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. guestlist.co/events.

The Ready Room presents SZA – The CTRL Tour. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Kenya Vaughn recommends

This week “An Unforgettable Christmas with Nat King Cole” will come to the Playhouse at Westport Plaza for a ten-day run.

artist than people tend to give him credit for.”

Continued from C1

the Christmas version.” The show has been tailored specifically for the season, but still provides a snapshot into Cole’s extensive catalog.

“Normally we do about 23 of Nat’s biggest hits. We do ‘The Christmas Song’ no matter what time of year we do the show,” Martin said. “But this version 40 percent Christmas music. It’s a nice healthy dose of Christmas and you’ll still be able to hear a lot of the favorites from his career.”

Martin said the show focuses on his successes as a pioneering black star of popular music, but also sheds light on some of Cole’s trials and tribulations.

“He was ranked alongside all these great artists like Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra – and these fantastic, top-rated performers, yet he was a person who couldn’t stay in the same hotel as them when they went to different venues,” Martin said. “That brother just held his head high and said, ‘I’m singing anyway.’ He was a pioneer in so many ways. I think he was a far more revolutionary

Cole used his music break barriers in the newly formed medium of television, becoming the first African-American to host a variety program with “The Nat ‘King’ Cole Show” in 1956, though show would only last a year on air.

Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark,” Cole is quoted as saying when asked about the lack of sponsorship that led to the show’s cancelation.

“Nat had to boldly move forward,” Martin said. Though his presence personified class and grace, Cole caught hell on and off the stage because of the color of his skin. When he moved his family into an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood in the early 1950s, the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross in his yard. He was physically attacked while on stage in Birmingham, Alabama.

“Tony Bennett still tells stories about how he thought Nat King Cole was one of the most talented performers to ever live and it broke his heart to see how Nat was treated when they were out together,” Martin said. “They would go to clubs and Tony and Frank would go through the front door and Nat

would have to go through the kitchen – even though he was headlining the club.”

Much of the show will be about ushering people into the holiday spirit through Cole’s catalog of Christmas classics.

Martin admits he still gets chills every time the music starts for the “Christmas Song,” which he says sums up everything the season is about.

Embodying Cole gave Martin reverence for not only Cole, but all the artists who had to deal with racism and bigotry and still managed to pave the way for the performers of this generation.

“The fact that I am able to go and perform in front of audiences that are black white and other from age 18-90 and be able to tell this story… I’m just grateful to be able to tell his story,” Martin said. “And because of him, I’m able to be a black performer that can walk through a front door.”

An Unforgettable Christmas with Nat King Cole will play the Playhouse at Westport Plaza from December 7-17. Tickets are on sale now, and may be purchased through MetroTix at www.metrotix.com or by calling 314/534-1111.

FANTASIA

Continued from C1

The journey was also a memory lane that gave insights about her family experiences during the holidays –particularly her grandparents. She shared an ongoing narrative about her grandfather’s love of “brown liquor.” She brought down the house with her rendition of “Give Love On Christmas Day” – which she told the crowd was her grandmother’s favorite song.

TRAVEL

Continued from C1

Immediately after landing, we dove right in to soaking up the art scene. We enjoyed a quick lunch at Supino Pizzeria and headed over to 1xRun (one-time-run), which specializes in limited edition prints and original artwork from emerging contemporary artists and is the host of Detroit’s Inner State Gallery. We were given a behind the scenes tour of the start to finish process from creation to shipping and all the intricate multi-tasking of their operation required for them to keep up with the demand, and their unique niche of a daily release of limited edition runs.

The next stop was the Heidelberg Project. Originated by Tyree Guyton in the late 1980’s, he created an outdoor urban arts experience from the personal belongings that he found while cleaning up the abandoned properties and vacant lots along Heidelberg Street. Vibrantly painted houses and remnants of a once vibrant neighborhood are repurposed through themed collections of items like shoes, discarded car parts and other items that typically signal abandonment. The pieces pay homage to the people and neighborhood that once spanned for blocks on end and gives the experience of a sculpture park within the community of the few residents who remain in the neighborhood. The Heidelberg project is reminiscent of a super-scaled version of the recent exhibitions of Pulitzer Arts Foundation’s Raumlaborberlin’s 4562

She also infused a few of her non-holiday hits and was true to her recurring theme of using herself as an example of one’s ability to triumph over the circumstances that life brings and come to a place of healing. The moment for her inspirational message came as the intro to her hit “Lose To Win Again.” She “got ugly” for a moment with an interlude from the EU go-go classic “Da Butt,” and with her own “Collard Greens and Cornbread.” She also performed her mid-tempo hit “When I See You” before returning to the regularly

Enright and PXSTL combined with a striking likeness to The Griot’s ‘Eminent Domain/Displaced’.

Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney would be my home during the visit. The converted commerce building was a bit dark, but contemporary and elegant.

A short walk from the hotel was the soul food restaurant Savannah Blue (1431 Times Square – yes, there’s a Time’s Square in Downtown Detroit as well). Listen, if you are a foodie – particularly a “soul foodie” – make this eatery a top priority for your visit. Go hungry. As a matter of fact, go starving – because if you have so much as a rice cake before you sit down at Savannah Blue (https://savannahbluedetroit. com), EMT might have to carry you down the stairs and deliver you to your respective lodging. The fried chicken breasts were the size of a human face -and had the nerve to be juicy, flavorful and delicious. I’m almost moved to tears as I reflect on the tenderness of the massive oxtails and can still taste the cheddar risotto garnish. The collard greens would get any southern grandmother’s approval. The entrees and sides were so filling that I couldn’t bring myself to indulge in the desserts that included cobbler, bread pudding and sweet potato pie.

The next morning was spent at Detroit Institute of Arts. Rivera Court, from Mexican Mural Movement founding father Diego Rivera sets the tone for the world-class museum. The entire space is filled by Rivera’s “Detroit Industry” (1933) a mural that illustrates his interpretation of

scheduled format of the show. A small choir joined her on stage for “Hallelujah” and “Total Praise,” the Richard Smallwood contemporary gospel standard that she also works into her secular show. The show ended with the black holiday music classic “This Christmas” by St. Louis’ own Donny Hathaway. Rising singer and actress Demetria McKinney opened the show. She proved herself to the crowd as a vocalist to watch over the course of her brief set – particularly with her Whitney Houston tribute medley.

The Ford Motor Company and manages to weave in the social and political climate of the city where the auto manufacturer is based. The DIA has more than 100 galleries, covers 658,000 square feet and is regarded as among the top six museums in the United States with an encyclopedic collection. During my visit, I was able to see work from the 1400s to the present – including artists from Van Gogh to Kehinde Wiley. The DIA also gave a taste of how new technology can enhance the museum experience with an augmented reality, thanks to a partnership with Google. A Pokémon Go-like experience uses Android devices to guide visitors to designated areas within the museum and give 3-D bonus visuals to engage with the artwork further. In addition to Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, there was also a visit to the Motown Museum. The guided tour was the most underwhelming of the trip – but walking through the walls that created the sound that changed the landscape of popular music gave an even greater appreciation of what Motown founder Berry Gordy was able to accomplish from such humble beginnings. It almost seems impossible to grasp that a pair of tiny houses linked together produced some of the biggest names in music – just like it might seem hard to wrap one’s head around the city’s ability to rise to become a leading travel destination. But Motown and the city that birthed the music prove that both are possible. For more information on Detroit as a tour destination, visit www.visitdetroit.com

Celebrations

Advocacy Award

Ron Jackson, retired nonprofit executive and champion for children, has been awarded the Jerry Paul Youth Advocacy Award from Neighborhood Houses for his outstanding commitment and dedicated efforts to assist, empower and advocate for children and youth in the greater St. Louis area. Neighborhood Houses supports lowincome children and families in the inner core of St. Louis City and serves as the largest provider of afterschool programming at no cost in the St. Louis Public Schools.

Reunions

Beaumont Class of 1968 will celebrate its 50-year reunion June 8-10,2018. Yes, Class ‘68 will begin Milestone celebration 6th month on 8th day. Our 2018 meetings in preparation will be held at STL County library located

7606 Natural Bridge at 1:00 p.m.. Dates are (Saturdays) January 13, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 and June 2. For more information call (314) 8698312 or email bhsco1968@ att.net. Pass the word and lets celebrate!

Beaumont High Class of 1973 is planning its 45th reunion for next year! Please check the Beaumont Facebook page for scheduled meetings and conference calls. Any questions, contact: Rita at 314241-5419.

Beaumont High Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year

reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@ sbcglobal.net.

Homer G. Phillips and St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing is planning an all class reunion in June 2018. Please send your name, address and telephone number to: Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc., P.O. Box 8033 St. Louis, Missouri 63156.

McKinley Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion July 27-29, 2018 at the Embassy Suites-Airport. For more information please

Birthdays

Happy 75th Birthday to Sammiestean Watson Perry on December 9! She has four children, 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. To God be the glory!

Happy 72nd Birthday to John Wayne on December 9! We love you very much. Portia, John, Tony, Cassie & Alex

Happy Birthday to my other mother and auntie, Min. Jerry (Terry) Williams Scott on December 11! We love you so much auntie, and we thank you for taking all six of us kids into your home.

contact Barbara Lindsey, Barbara_Lindsey@icloud.com or Marvin Woods, mwoods@ projectcontrolsgroup.com , (314) 647-0707.

Northwest High School Class of 1978 is planning its 40-year reunion for next year. PLEASE reach out to our classmates, tell them get ready for this. If you have any questions please contact Sly at (314) 397-0311 or email us at northwestbluedevils@78gmail. com. Check us out on Facebook Northwest High School-Class of 1978.

Soldan Class of 1978 is planning their 40th class

reunion. The dates are June 1, 2 and 3. For more information: call (314) 4139088.

Sumner Class of 1976 Annual Christmas Party, Saturday, December 23, 2017, 7 pm at DEJAVU II Cafe, 2805 Target Dr. 2 for 1 drink specials (5:30 - 7:30pm), free parking, No cover charge but $5 (40-Yr Class Reunion Attendees & Guest) or $10 for all others for the Catered Food. Limited Reserved Seating AVAILABLE until 10pm. (Doors open 5pm/ closes 1am) For more info, call B. Louis at 314.385.9843.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103 FREE OF CHARGE

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Swag Snap of the Week

Fabulous and festive Fantasia. Nothing but death could have kept me from Fantasia’s concert at The Peabody Opera House Friday night. Was anybody else about to have a nervous breakdown and start smoking cigarettes trying to find a parking space? After Friday, I’m convinced that The St. Louis Blues fans call off work just to post-up in the prime spots until it’s time to head to the game. But you came to hear about the concert, so I’ll get to it. Demetria McKinney came out with Ola Ray hair and a hot red sequined catsuit that paid homage to the one and only Diana Ross. That, or she was keeping with Fantasia’s “Christmas After Midnight” theme by dressing as a sexy glass ball ornament. It was a cute enough set, the folks got life from her Whitney tribute. Fantasia proved that she had graduated from Celie to Shug Avery with the glamour overload she brought to that stage for her headlining set. That metallic backless evening gown was life. She was a hair flower away from serving a seductive Billie Holiday. She knew folks were ready to see her sweat, stomp the stage down and holler as usual, but she was giving Fantasia Deveraux instead. They were a bit bothered at first, but quickly got over it when she still slayed vocally while keeping her composure, for the most part, as she delivered Christmas classics from her holiday album seasoned with a few sprinkles of her original music. I wasn’t the least bit mad at her set – I was low-key thrilled that she showed us that she’s grown into a multifaceted entertainer. Though I could have lived without all the talk about her grandfather’s love of brown liquor, the whole thing was extremely cute. While Fantasia only gave us a few little minutes of hollering, a woman in the audience with a fur vest and matching purse shouted our whole section down. I was expecting her to be the one to kick her shoes off and stomp down the aisle at any second. I was so traumatized that I woke up out of my sleep shouting “yesssssss,” “that’s right,” “that’s my girl… I love me some Fantasia,” “you betta sannnnng Fantasia” and “you betta say that.”

ARTC and Bloom unite. Urb Arts was at capacity once again for the ARTC First Friday Gallery Walk. This month I couldn’t help but notice the diversity within the crowd that’s usually made up of the black creative community. My girl Bloom had it looking like the Festival of Nations up as the crowd spilled out into the sidewalk. She’s a woman of color, but she caters to a mixed crowd because of her eclectic musical style that is two parts Evanescence, one-part Lady Gaga and 100 percent life. And the folks came through to check for her –from the woke community to the skater boys.

The Alphas birthday train. The ice-cold brothers of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha celebrated their big 7-5 with a good time and a glamourous gala this weekend. I managed to head to MOOD Friday night where their festivities popped off with a good old-fashioned frat party. Well, it was more of a grown folks frat party, but it was still quite fun. Alphas of all ages – and by all ages, I mean 25-45 – were in the building repping for the black and gold. I swung by after Fantasia did her thing and the club was already at capacity before 11 p.m. I had every intention of attending the gala, but I was hemmed up at The Pageant, which I’ll get into right now.

The Bad Boy waiting game. I can’t say that I expected to be blown away by the Bad Boy Holiday Jam featuring Mase and Lil Kim with special guest Tiffany Foxx at The Pageant Saturday night. And I got just what I expected. I didn’t expect for things to take as long as they did to get started. Even with DJ Kut tearing it up on the tables, I was starting to think that there was some sort of behind the scene crisis. Just when I started to worry, Mase jumped out on stage serving abominable snowman realness with a floor-length white-hooded mink coat and a Dollar Tree French Montana for a hype man. He had to be burning up in that doggone coat. Word on the curb is that Mase somehow expected that he would be the one to close the show and Lil Kim and Tiffany Foxx were his opening acts. How Sway? I’ve decided that he was suffering from heat related delusion because of that coat. He gave a cute enough brief set. I wasn’t disappointed, but I expected more. But I thought, “oh well, the less I get of Mase, the more I’ll get of Lil’ Kim.” Wrong (in my Charlie Murphy True Hollywood Story voice). I know y’all want me to talk about her face, but there’s really nothing new to say. I’ll get straight on to the show. She did several snippets, let Tiffany Foxx slide on stage for a few selections and hit it. Tiffany, girl, you really let it all hang out, didn’t you? Well, if I was built like that, I can’t promise that I wouldn’t wear a high cut thong to the bank, grocery store or library or bible study. I’m just sayin’…God knew what he was doing by not making me a brick house. Tiffany’s two songs were cool and there seemed to be genuine stage chemistry between her and Kim. Because I got what I signed up for, I decided I was going to look at the bright side of the show. Oh, Kim’s belt and her boots were cute. That’s all I got. Now while I wasn’t expecting the hip-hop show of the year by any stretch, I was irritated that I spent almost four hours in The Pageant for 40 minutes of performance.

Bria brings ‘em back. Speaking of curvy bombshells, chocolate goddess and veteran vixen Bria Myles had MOOD going up for the second day in a row Saturday night. Her outfit was not as provocative as Tiffany’s, but still looked like something Grace Jones would’ve shocked the girls with by wearing on somebody’s daytime couch in the 1980s. The boys drooled, and the girls partied. It was a good night.

Jasmine of AKA and Courtney of ZPB stepped in to party with the brothers of Alpha Eta Friday @ MOOD Lakes The Voice and Katarra continued the celebration of Queens during lyrical Therapy’s ladies’ night Sunday @ UrbArts

Tierra Fluker and Jeanny Riley talked innovation during Mocha Lattes Take Flight Girls fundraiser Friday @Gourmet Soul

Dallas of Beyond Entertainment, Latoya Franklin and Tate Brown with hiphop veteran Mase Saturday night @ The Pageant for The Bad Boy Holiday Jam

Cool Boi RC and Lamont were posted @ The Marquee before the crowd arrived for the silent party Friday

Emanuel and his sister Erin teamed up with a few friends to help him celebrate the big 4-0 Thursday @ The Marquee

Nothing that could stop Tiera Bag and J Hustle from turning up Friday night @ Obar

Courtney and Jerrime came through to see the Queencert and the new artworks on display @UrbArts Friday

Ashely and Lola Ogbara curator of the 3rd annual Queen Pleasure’s exhibition @1st Friday Art Walk in Old North

Rap royalty Lil Kim a.k.a. The Queen Bee with Orlando Watson of RockHouse Ent. Backstage for the Bad Boy Holiday Jam starring Kim and Mase with special guest Tiffany Foxx Saturday night at The Pageant. Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Photos by V. Lang

Eddie, Joseph and Triple Crown @ MOOD Friday in celebration of the Alpha Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha’s 75th anniversary

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT (PM)

• Director of PM- Demonstrated construction project lead ership and experience over contracts & bidding, budgets, staff, & with City/Fed agencies. MO Lead paint Designer & Risk Assessor. Able to climb 40’ ladder. Computer literate & knowledge of building systems. Bachelor’s degree & 10 years experience as construction PM.

• Loan Processor- Knowledgeable of HUD guidelines, verifies data, calculates income, & determines eligibility. Computer literacy required &

& minimum 5 years experience. Valid driver’s license, reliable, insured, licensed vehicle required. Submit cover letter & resume to hhrp.jobs@missionstl.org by 12/15/17

Mission St. Louis is an EOE.

PROJECT DIRECTOR

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs for children in grades kindergarten through five in the St. Louis region. The Project Director works with the Executive Director to manage operations for the CDF Freedom Schools program. The position’s primary responsibility is to manage adequate staff to operate three program sites and ensure overall quality as outlined by the standards of the CDF Freedom Schools program. The Project Director will serve as liaison between Deaconess Foundation and the three program sites, maintain the safety of all staff and students, ensure that the CDF Freedom Schools Integrated Reading Curriculum is implemented with fidelity, and ensure that appropriate program staff inputs data in CDF’s reporting system. To apply for this position, visit Deaconess Foundation’s website - http://deaconess.org/cdf-freedom-schools-project-director.

ASSEMBLY JOBS Window mfg. co. has assembly jobs now! Temp-to-perm, 1st shift, 40 hr/wk, mid-Stl County. Tape measure & power tool skills and 75# lifting req’d. $10.00/hr, We take Appl. Mon.Wed., & Fri. 9am-11am Nextemps Staffing, 314-727-1060, Jerry. Search Nextemps on craigslist.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

A small not-for-profit is seeking application for the position of Chief Operating Officer to open January 1, 2018. The candidate must possess a comprehensive understanding of notfor-profit organizational functions and systems that include planning, administration, resource development and marketing. The position assist the CEO in the effective management of the agency. Candidates who have a least five years of demonstrated effectiveness in a nonprofit setting will be considered. An undergraduate degree is required, with an advanced degree such as MBA or Masters in Nonprofit Management highly desirable. Recent retirees can also apply. Send resume and salary requirement to P.O.Box 23247, St. Louis, Mo. 63156

POLICE OFFICER

The City of Richmond Heights is accepting applications for Police Officer. Apply at www.richmondheights.applicantpro. com/jobs/ by Sunday, December 17, 2017. EOE

SEALED BIDS

Sealed bids must delivered

time. If you elect to mail your bid, it must be mailed to 11221 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131. Creve Coeur Fire District Engine House #2

• Work Package 25 – Exterior Building Signage

There will be a Pre-bid Meeting scheduled on December 7th,

The bid package will be available for viewing after November 28th, 2017 at the following locations: Smartbidnet.com https://secure.smartbidnet.com/External/PublicPlanRoom.aspx?Id=328295

The Fire District reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive informalities therein to determine the lowest and best bid, and to approve the Bond. The prevailing wage law is in effect on this project. No Bid may be withdrawn for a period of Sixty (60) days subsequent to the specified time for receipt of Bids.

A Bid Bond or Certified Check made payable to the Owner, in the amount of 5% of the Base Bid shall accompany the Bid Packages as a guarantee that the bidder, if awarded the Contract, will furnish a satisfactory Performance and Payment Bond; execute the Contract; and proceed with the work. Upon failure to do so, he shall forfeit the deposit or amount of the Bid Bond as liquidated damages, and no mistakes or errors on the part of the Bidder shall excuse the Bidder or entitle him to a return of the deposit or Bid Bond.

If a Bid Bond or Certified Check is not attached to the bid at the time of the opening, the bid will not be read or considered for the project.

Bidders must be in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Fair Employment Practices Commission. The

fax).

SITE COORDINATOR

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs for children in grades kindergarten through five in the St. Louis region. The Site Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations and supervises staff of one CDF Freedom Schools site. The position’s primary responsibility is to ensure the proper implementation of the CDF Freedom Schools program model by managing daily site activities.

The Site Coordinator will train and manage staff, maintain the safety of all staff and students, coordinate afternoon activities, filed trips, family engagement initiatives and volunteer responsibilities and ensure that the CDF Freedom Schools Integrated Reading Curriculum is implemented with fidelity.

To apply for this position, visit Deaconess Foundation’s website - http://deaconess.org/cdf-freedom-schools-site-coordinator.

SERVANT LEADER INTERN

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs for children in grades kindergarten through five in the St. Louis region. The Servant Leader Intern serve as classroom facilitators delivering an Integrated Reading Curriculum to a class of no more than ten students for 7 weeks during the summer. The Servant Leader Intern will lead afternoon enrichment activities, chaperone field trips, and lead parent workshops and community outreach activities.

To apply for this position, visit Deaconess Foundation’s website - http:// deaconess.org/cdf-freedom-schoolsservant-leader-intern.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 18 505, Science Lab Renovations, Phase 3, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, until 2:00 p.m. local time Tuesday, December 19, 2017. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 300 South Broadway (Room 423, Fourth Floor). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office at the above address, or by calling (314) 539-5015.

THE VILLAGE OF HANLEY HILLS CANDIDACY FILING IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2017 AT 8:00 A.M. AND WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 AT 5:00 P.M. PLEASE SEE THE CITY CLERK FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING ELECTION CANDIDACY. Election Day: April 3, 2018 Candidacy Information can be obtained from: The Village of Hanley Hills 7713 Utica Drive St. Louis, MO 63133

SEALED BIDS

for C o n s t r u c t i o n Services, Kansas City & St. Joseph Regions, State of Missouri, Project No. ZASIDIQ-8006, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, Thursday, January 11, 2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the CRACKSEALING FY2018 Project will be received by the City of Clayton, Finance Department, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105, until 1:00 pm local time, on December 19, 2017. The bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 1:05 pm local time, on December 19, 2017 in City Hall Conference Room A, 1st floor, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105.

An optional pre-bid meeting will be held at 1:00 pm local time, on December 11, 2017 in City Hall Conference Room A, 1st floor, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105.

The Scope of Work includes preparing and sealing of cracks and joints in city streets and alleys, providing traffic control and other incidental items as indicated on the construction drawings and specifications. It is anticipated this work will take place December-February 2017/18, weather permitting. Bid packages will be available November 30, 2017 for free download by registering at www.claytonmo.gov/vendors.

A bid security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid amount must accompany each bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.

THE CITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY BID AND TO WAIVE ANY IRREGULARITIES IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

The City of St. Louis, Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Communicable Disease is requesting proposals from local organizations, community agencies, universities, local governmental entities and other interested parties eligible to receive funds to provide the following services: HIV Prevention Services (Risk Reduction Activities)

Interested parties are encouraged to respond to the solicitation for proposal beginning Friday, November 17, 2017. An Request for Proposal (RFP) packet may be obtained from Franda Thomas, Health Services Manager I, 1520 Market Avenue, Room 4027, by either calling 314-657-1461 or via email ThomasF@stlouis-mo.gov. Interested parties may also download the RFP from the City of St. Louis website at http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/procurement.cfm.

A mandatory Bidder’s Pre-Application conference will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the address referenced above at 3:00 PM. The deadline for submitting proposals is 5:00 PM, Friday, December 15, 2017 at the address referenced above.

SEALED BIDS for Abate and Replace Piping, various, Moberly Correctional Center, Moberly, Missouri, Project No. C1601-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/28/2017 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

BIDS for Sewer Replacement, H i g g i n s v i l l e Habilitation Center, Higginsville, MO, Project No. M1610-02 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30PM, 12/14/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for the construction of Meramec Place Apartments. This is the renovation of five existing apartment buildings consisting of 42 units with the addition of a community center and laundry room in basement areas. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Tues., December 19, 2017 at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at SIBA, FW Dodge, Construct Connect, MOKAN, Cross Rhodes Reprographics, and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Mr. James Geerling with any questions or to submit a proposal at jamesg@altman-charter.com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671.

MWBE Prebid Meeting Notice

The SITE Improvement Association is hosting a Prebid meeting for Qualified and Certified MWBE contractors to discuss working on MSD’s Harman Estates Pump Station Replacement Project Contract Letting No. 12297-015.1

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

The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 14, 2017 SITE Improvement Association 2071 Exchange Drive, St. Charles, MO 63303

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

Declaration of Candidacy

Two (3) three-year terms for the office of Director on the Ferguson-Florissant School Board will expire in April 2018.

Anyone interested and qualified to file for the office must submit a Declaration of Candidacy which can be picked up at the District’s Administration Center, located at 1005 Waterford Drive in Florissant, Missouri from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on days the district is open.

Under Missouri law, the first day to file as a candidate is Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. and filing closes at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. All other filings will occur between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on days when the district is open. School district offices will be cclosed Monday, December 25, 2017 through Friday, January 5, 2018.

The annual election for the Board of Education is Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

A person who wishes to file for candidacy for the Board of Education must be:

1. A citizen of the United States

2. At least 24 years old

3. A resident taxpayer of the school district

4. A resident of the state of Missouri for at least one year

In addition, the candidate must follow these procedures:

1. File a declaration of candidacy

2. Line up for filing pursuant to district Policy 4013

INVITATION TO BID

You are invited to submit a bid proposal on the USDA NITC UPS Replacement project for General Services Administration located at the Goodfellow Federal Complex, 4300 Goodfellow Blvd., Bldg. 104, St. Louis MO 63120. The USDA Rural Development requested the existing data center A and B side UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) be removed and replaced with new UPSs and migrate existing C side UPS loads to the new A and B side UPS units. The project will include removing existing units and replace with new in a phased schedule to maintain continued operations of the data center. Tarlton is soliciting bids for the following work: concrete, demolition, and electrical work. Please note that this is a design/build project. Tarlton encourages small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women owned, veteran owned, and service disabled veteran owned small business concerns to bid this project. Subbids are due at 1:30 p.m. on December 14, 2017. These may be emailed to Scott Snyders at SWSnyders@tarltoncorp.com. Any questions regarding this bid may be directed to Scott Snyders at 34.633.3358. Tarlton is an equal opportunity employer.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of First Publication: 12/7/2017

City of St. Louis: Community Development Administration (CDA) Planning & Urban Design Agency (PDA) Saint Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) 1520 Market Street St. Louis, Missouri 63103 314-657-3700 / 314-589-6000 (TTY)

On or after 12/15/17, the City of St. Louis (“the City”) will submit a request to the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the release of the following funds, under Title I of the Housing & Community Development Act of 1974, PL93-383, as amended, 42 U.S.C.-5301 et seq., to undertake the following programs comprising part of the City’s 2018 Action Plan, within the City:

For Sale Rehab & New Construction of Housing Program, under Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $ 2,100,000.00, and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds [Award # M-18-MC-29-0500] totaling $1,786,317.00, for the purpose of reinvesting in the City’s aging housing stock, through an estimated 15 single-family rehabilitation projects, an estimated 20 single-family construction projects, and an estimated 75 multi-family units, 55 newly constructed and 20 rehabilitated, at locations to be determined;

Healthy Home Repair Program Loan Pool, under CDBG funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $1,256,162.00, for the purpose of assisting low- to moderate-income homeowners through an estimated 103 emergency repair projects and an estimated 119 comprehensive repair projects, at locations to be determined;

Carondelet Minor Home Repair Program, under CDBG Funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling

$40,000.00, for the purpose of providing minor home repairs to low- to moderate income homeowners, through an estimated 40-55 small repair projects;

Minor Home Repair Program, under CDBG Funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $300,000.00, for the purpose of providing minor home repairs for the elderly, through an estimated 350-450 small repair projects, at locations to be determined;

Harambee Tuckpointing/Youth Training Program, under CDBG Funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $100,000.00, for the purpose of providing tuckpointing services to low- to moderate income homeowners, through an estimated 24 projects;

North Newstead Minor Home Repair Program, under CDBG Funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $60,000.00, for the purpose of providing home repairs to low- to moderate income senior and disabled homeowners, through an estimated 20-30 repair projects

UL (Urban League) Minor Home Repair Program, under CDBG Funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $100,000.00, for the purpose of providing home repairs to low- to moderate income senior and disabled homeowners, through an estimated 20-30 repair projects;

Neighborhood Commercial District Managers & Commercial Incentives Program, under CDBG funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $ 700,000.00, for the purpose of reviving neighborhood commercial districts, through an estimated 75 façade and exterior improvement projects, at locations to be determined, at least 5 public improvement projects in commercial districts of low-to-moderate income residents at locations to be determined, and at least 1 project in the Dr. Martin Luther King Commercial District, to assist communities with food-access, at a “food desert” location to be determined;

Business Development Support Program, under CDBG funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling

$200,000.00, for the purpose of encouraging commercial and industrial development through financial assistance loans to up to 3 businesses, at locations to be determined;

Dutchtown Satellite Program, under CDBG funds [Award # B-18-MC-29-0006] totaling $ 450,000.00, towards the partial renovation of an institutional building for youth programs operated by Gene Slay’s Girls and Boys Club of St. Louis. This building is located at 4753 S. Grand, St. Louis, Missouri 63111

The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City’s PDA, at the address listed above, and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M to 4 P.M, by contacting Mark G. Jefferies, PDA, Environmental Review Officer, at (314) 314-657-3874.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Mark G. Jefferies, Environmental Review Officer, PDA, at the address listed above. Comments and questions pertaining to these programs can be directed to Alana C. Green, Executive Director, CDA, at the address listed above. All comments received by 12/14/2017 will be considered by the City prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The Certifying Officer of the City of St. Louis, Lyda Krewson, in her capacity as Mayor, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City to use these program funds.

OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City’s certification for a period of 15 days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City; b) the City has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD/ State; or d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58.76) and shall be addressed to Ms. Dee Ann Ducote, Community Planning & Development Director, HUD, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103 (314) 418-5257. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Lyda Krewson, Mayor Certifying Officer

considered, proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, December 29, 2017. Proposals may be sent to 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2200, St. Louis, MO 63105, Attn: Howl Bean II, or by e-mail to hbean@stlpartnership.com. DBE, MBE, and WBE firms are encouraged to bid.

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

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

www.stlamerican.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

INVITATION FOR EQUIPMENT BIDS

East-West Gateway Council of Governments is seeking bids for a rugged micro robot, inflatable shelter tent & GPS units. Bids are due January 5, 2018. Funding provided by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. MBEs / WBEs are encouraged to submit bids. Find details at www.ewgateway.org or by calling 314-421-4220 ext. 208.

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

The Locust Business District, a special taxing district in the City of St. Louis, is seeking vendors to provide the following services:

Trash Removal

to the RFPs.

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race,color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference,limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Angelita at 314-289-5430 to place your rental/real estate ad today!

Religion

Prophetic call to address economic injustice

Isaiah calls on every one of us to be ‘repairers of the breach’

By Rev. Emmett Baker For The St. Louis American

The prophet Isaiah calls on every one of us to be “repairers of the breach,” or individuals who work to mend the injustices that tear at the fabric of our society. This breach, between black and white and rich and poor, has never felt more apparent.

The breach is the deep racial and economic inequality that splits our region straight down Delmar Boulevard. If we want to be repairers of this breach, we need to comprehensively address the economic injustice that feeds our racial divide. We cannot win racial justice for our region without real economic justice and development for black neighborhoods.

So, as our region’s leaders attempt to lure Amazon’s new headquarters and its 50,000 jobs, we need to discuss what fixing this breach really means for the working families of our city and our county.

The Ferguson protests in 2014 brought into even sharper focus the divisions that split our region, and the Ferguson Commission put forward a plan for bridging that gap. It emphasized the need to ensure that any tax incentives offered to companies and corporations are serving the working people who need it most.

As our city and county put together a still-secretive package to lure Amazon to St. Louis, we need to have community benefits agreements and a living wage as part of the package for all workers. After all, the last time a corporation came in promising wonderful new things, St. Louis working families were left behind.

Since 2005, St. Louis County issued approximately $260 million in bonds to Express Scripts for redevelopments and in 2013 offered the company $9.1 million in

Economic disruption has been a key organizing strategy in protests of the notguilty verdict in the Jason Stockley murder trial, as shown on this sign at a demonstration in St. Louis on September 25.

property tax breaks. Being a recipient of taxpayer money, Express Scripts has the responsibility to do right by taxpayers by creating good jobs and making our region a better, more equitable place for everyone. But the company isn’t living up to that promise for communities that surround its North St. Louis County headquarters. While the site has been a boon for whitecollar workers, neither blue-collar workers nor service workers have enjoyed similar benefits. The contracted janitors who keep Express Scripts clean barely make ends meet on little more than minimum wage. Every day they clean a Fortune 100 health care company yet lack access to comprehensive, affordable health care coverage for themselves or their families. The workers who bottle prescription drugs for distribution, the core of the corporation’s operations, make poverty wages. That’s not responsible corporate citizenship. A recent study by Apartment List shows that, between 2005 and 2015, wages for blue collar and service workers have shrunk by 4.6

percent and nearly 7 percent, respectively, making it harder to afford housing or keep the lights on. If taxpayers foot the bill for corporate incentives, then the recipients, whether it be a company already based here or one we’re trying to bring, have the duty to lift up our entire city with a true living wage. Our region needs jobs, but not just any jobs. They must be good ones, jobs that help give families up and down the economic spectrum the opportunity to provide for their families and pay the bills.

St. Louis cannot repeat the sins of the past. No more corporate handouts to companies like Amazon or Express Scripts unless they truly commit to lifting up all of our communities. The inequality and injustice in the Greater St. Louis area runs wide and deep. It’s up to us to be repairers of that breach, with or without the support of our supposedly responsible corporate citizens.

Rev. Emmett Baker is a pastor at the BethEl Baptist Church and is a member of the St. Louis Worker’s Rights Board.

Alone in faith

In my office I have a poster which states, “One man with courage makes a majority.” Until recently, I had never associated this powerful statement with the life and death and life of Jesus Christ. But the courage of faith coupled with the commitment to act on that faith sometimes leaves you in the unenviable position of being alone.

Have you ever found yourself so committed to a course of action, so positive in your convictions and your resolve, so steadfast in your purpose that nothing could change your mind or your behavior? I suppose we should all be so blessed to at least once in our lives to know that we know that we know.

Can you now imagine Jesus, so sure, so confident, so right that even in death, He knew that He knew? I must then ask the question of you and myself. What do you know? What does your faith and courage allow you to be the majority of, when numerically, you’re in the minority?

Columnist James Washington

At some time during your faith walk, you will find yourself walking absolutely by yourself. Inevitably, one day, it will become necessary for you to take a position of faith that will perhaps alienate us from so-called friends and family, just as Jesus was alienated from the hierarchy of the church of His day. Expect to one day be forced to take a stand based solely on faith.

On that day you consciously decide to choose the Lord instead of the world. You know that you know.

People who are recognized in this world as having principles and integrity are supposed to be honored for their stances even when they go against popular opinion. The Bible teaches us that those men and women of God were often victimized, sometimes ridiculed and often times crucified. The Bible also lets us know these are the exact people we should emulate. These people, who are our faith examples, lived lives set apart.

We’ve all heard the phrase “stepping out on faith.” Reality suggests that this is a very scary sometimes lonely place to be. The beauty of this spiritual reality is God cannot show up until you step out. Our struggle with faith then is clearly trying to recognize its power. Without the absolute conviction of the inherent power of faith, we never get a chance to experience the Hand of God at work in our own lives.

We’re afraid. It’s probably the biggest fear that we have with the most devastating of consequences to believe that you know, versus knowing that you know.

Do you believe or don’t you? If you do, prove it. Put some effort behind your vocal commitments. We so easily sound like it’s a forgone conclusion regarding our faith, when in actuality we shy away from the courage it takes to stand alone and stand for God in this world.

Photo by Vincent Lang