December 8th, 2022 edition

Look Inside to Be ‘Drawn In’

SThet. LouiS AmericAn

Sad day for St. Louis

By Rachel Lippmann

St. Louis Public Radio

office holders headed to federal prison

Three former St. Louis aldermen will spend between three and nearly four years in federal prison for their roles in a corruption scheme around development incentives.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark handed down the sentences Tuesday to former board President Lewis Reed, former 21st Ward Alderman John CollinsMuhammad and former 22nd Ward Alderman Jeffrey Boyd. All three pleaded guilty in August to accepting cash, cars, and other gifts in exchange for helping a developer get incentives.

See PRISON, A7

Raphael Warnock is the winner

He downs Trump-backed Herschel Walker

By Donnell Suggs Atlanta Voice

Democrats secured a 51-49 U.S. Senate majority on Tuesday when Sen. Raphael Warnock triumphed over Republican candidate Herschel Walker. Warnock secured 51.35% of the vote, compared to Walker’s 48.65%.

“Thank you, Georgia,” Warnock told jubilant supporters after making his way to the stage late Tuesday evening.

n Warnock praised the large turnout for a runoff election, saying “Voting is faith put into action, and Georgia, you have been praying with your lips and your legs.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart and to God be the glory,”

Warnock praised the large turnout for a runoff election, saying “Voting is faith put into action, and Georgia, you have been praying with your lips and your legs. Your hands and our feet. Your head and your hearts.”

Warnock added,

“After a hard-fought campaign you’ve got me for six more years.”

The road to victory Tuesday night was more like a roller coaster to victory the first couple hours following the polls closing at 7 p.m. At 8:45 p.m., as supporters were dancing and mingling at Warnock’s watch party at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Walker led by more than 29,000 votes (1,072,820-1,043,104), according to Associated Press estimates.

The fact 58% of the votes had been counted at that point did nothing to dampen the mood of Warnock supporters and that evening’s DJ who proclaimed, “We winning tonight.”

With 67% of the vote counted Warnock jumped back in the lead by just over 16,000 votes (1,247,238-1,231,752). A gospel group took the stage to perform a number of songs. When Walker took the lead again with 71% of the votes counted (1,310,774-1,308,091) the

Heroic Tuskegee Airman passes at age 100

Christopher W. Newman flew 84 WWII missions

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Christopher W. Newman, a pilot graduate of the Tuskegee Flight School who survived two crashes and flew 84 missions as a fighter pilot in World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen, passed away at the age of 100 on Oct. 21, 2022. Newman was born on April 18, 1922 to Frank and Marye in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. He was raised and educated in the Mill Creek area of St. Louis and graduated from Vashon High School. He told the Post-Dispatch in 2012 “a big parade” for aviator Charles Lindbergh began his interest in flying planes.

Christopher W. Newman

“When he flew across the ocean, he was the first man to fly solo. I was impressed by the way that airplane flew. That is when I got impressed about airplanes.”

He joined the U.S. Army Air Corp and was sent to Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala., for flight training. He graduated on Oct. 1, 1943, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He rose to the rank of Captain while completing 66 long-range missions.

“That was the first thing in my life that I really, really wanted to do,” Newman said in a 2006 documentary.

“I almost washed out in the beginning, and it

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Mayor Tishaura Jones took the historic step of establishing a volunteer commission to explore and recommend opportunities for reparations in St. Louis on Wednesday. She was joined in Room 200 by advocates and community members as she signed Executive Order #74.

“I am totally supportive of this. It is long overdue,” she said shortly before adding her signature to the order.

“Let’s be frank. It is time for our people to win.” Kayla Reed, Action St. Louis executive director, said she is eager to “open the dialogue.”

“I’m excited about what is possible. It is time to look honestly and forthrightly at our past” and its impact on us now. People in North city need to know how it got that way. What decisions were made.”

York City

New

unveils ‘Donald Suggs Jr. Way’

Photo by Julia Beverly / The Atlanta Voice

Sen. Raphael Warnock celebrates his Senate victory victory with his children, daughter Chloé (left), and son, Caleb.

Photo by Brian Munoz / St. Louis Public Radio

Keke Palmer pregnant with her first child

Keke Palmer The award winning actress revealed to the world that she and her boy friend Darius Jackson ing a child, her first.

“There’s some rumors going around, people have been in my comments saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby, Keke’s pregnant,’ and I wanna set the record straight — I am!” Palmer explained on a recent episode of Live before ripping open her jacket to show her baby bump.

“I gotta say, though, it is bad when people on the internet spread rumors about you y’all, but it’s even worse when they’re correct. I mean, like, I was trying so hard to keep it on the down low, cause I got a lot of stuff going on, you know?

But honestly this has been the biggest blessing, and I am so excited. Guys, I’m going to be a mom.”

T.J. Holmes off air on ABC in light of multiple personal scandals

T.J. Holmes seems to not know how to be Multiple sources tell Page Six the “GMA3” host allegedly had at least three affairs, including dalliances with his co-host Amy Robach and producer Natasha Singh. The sources allege he had relations with another colleague at the network. He has been married to Marilee Fiebig since 2010. Holmes nor his representatives have commented on the allegations.

Holmes and Robach, both married, left their spouses after an alleged months-long affair. They’ve been questioned about it dating back to 2017, when host Robin Roberts confronted them about the rumors

Holmes had a three-year affair with Singh that started in 2016. Singh has since divorced and told Page Six “no comment” when the outlet reached out.

It is reported that Fiebig discovered the affair in 2019 after finding several emails.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., inducts Fantasia as an honorary member

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., welcomes Fantasia to Greekdom. The ladies of the organization inducted her as an honorary member.

She posted an Instagram video of her being inducted into the sisterhood during the sorority’s Centennial Founders’ Month.

Chicago natives Jennifer Hudson and Common, after the rapper picked her up from her talk show in Burbank, California, on Sunday (Dec. 4).

They walked closely and were in conversation before stepping into Common’s car. They star in the upcoming action thriller “Breathe.

“Welcome to the sisterhood SoRHOr!!!! ” one of her followers commented on the post while another wrote, “Congrats Soror! You were already my sister but now you are truly my Soror!” and another commented with, “Welcome to Greekdom!!! One of the best accomplishments you could ever have!”

Jennifer Hudson, Common, a rumored couple

Sparks are rumored to be flying between

Hudson responded to speculation about she and Common dating back in September.

“People create their narratives of it and it’s like, OK, you know, how you feel,” she said.

“We shot a film together and he played my husband. We gotta eat in between those moments.”

The pair’s rumored romance comes a year after Common and Tiffany Haddish dated for 16 months. They reportedly broke up because of their busy schedules.

Common has never married, but is father to a 24-year-old daughter, Omoye Lynn, whom he shares with his ex Kim Jones.

He’s been in multiple high-profile relationships including Erykah Badu Serena Williams, Taraji P. Henson, and Angela Rye Hudson shares a son David Jr., 13, with ex-fiance, wrestler David Otunga. They split in 2017.

Sources: PEOPLE, Page Six, Black America Web, Daily Mail

Black Dems in Jeff City jump into action early

Underdogs have plenty of bite

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

Although outnumbered, Missouri

Black legislators are primed take on the super majority of Republicans in Jefferson City.

With several GOP members prefiling bills that would strip the city of St. Louis of control of its police force, state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, on Tuesday condemned the legal assaults on self-governance.

“Once again, certain representatives from beyond my city’s borders believe they know best for the City of St. Louis even when they only ever come here to catch a Cardinals or Blues game,” Aldridge said.

“This proposed language would deprive my constituents of local control and enforce over-policing of predominantly Black communities.”

A statewide ballot measure in 2012 returned control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to the mayor of St. Louis’ office after 152 years under state control and an appointed board of police commissioners. Currently, Kansas City, Missouri is the only major municipality in the United States with a police force not directly under local control.

Aldridge said policymakers should address root causes of crime, including the lack of quality employment opportunities, livable wage jobs, and accessible and affordable health care, including mental health care.

“Solving the issue of crime in urban areas is much more complex than simply throwing more police at the problem, and these bills target St. Louis City residents and deprive them and their local elected officials of the ability to adopt innovative strategies to

combat violent crime,” Aldridge said.

“I promise to those who elected me that I will fight against these bills with every fiber of my being.”

Following Kevin Johnson’s execution on Nov. 29, Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chair Marlene Terry D-St. Louis County, called his sentencing “yet another occasion where the justice system in Missouri fell short of providing full justice.

On November 15th, a St. Louis County Circuit Court appointed prosecutor, Edward Keenan, filed a motion to vacate Kevin Johnson’s conviction. He wrote that “unconstitutional racial discrimination infected this prosecution” by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch

“Too many Missourians have suffered from racially biased policing and prosecution as well as inadequate funding for the Missouri State Public Defender System. Meaningful criminal justice reform will continue to be a top priority for the MLBC this coming session,” she said.

“Members of our caucus are filing legislation that will improve policing, the court system, and the Department of Corrections. Additionally, we will partner with community leaders, elected officials in both parties, and local and statewide law enforcement officials to create a fairer justice system in Missouri.”

State Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, has pre-filed legislation that will reinstate the requirements needed to obtain a permit to conceal and carry a firearm. Missouri repealed the permit requirement during the 2016 legislative session.

“I’m tired of asking how many more tragedies it will take before the Legislature takes action to thwart our

state’s high murder rates and enact common sense gun laws,” said Sen. Williams.

“While conceal and carry permit requirements won’t eradicate the violent crime that is plaguing our state, at the very least, those who carry firearms will be appropriately trained and on the radar of law enforcement. I cannot and will not look another child in the face without knowing I am doing everything I can to protect them.”

State Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, has pre-filed legislation that would make it an unlawful offense for a minor to possess a concealed firearm

or handgun. The offense would be a Class A misdemeanor, but would not include a person under the age of 18 who possesses a concealable firearm or handgun at a shooting range or while under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or adult supervisor.

“Forty-three U.S. states have specific laws against possession by a minor and there is a federal provision prohibiting juveniles from possessing handguns that is enforceable in every U.S. state - except Missouri.” Sen. Roberts said.

“The Missouri Legislature’s 2021 passage of the ‘Second Amendment

Preservation Act’ means Missouri is the only state in the union to have zero checks on kids who are too young to drive possessing guns. This has tied up our police and made the citizens in our neighborhoods fearful. Fixing this problem makes our communities safer.”

Legislators started pre-filing legislation for the upcoming session on Dec. 1. The 102nd General Assembly will convene in Jefferson City for the start of the 2023 legislative session on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Photo courtesy of Missouri Independent

State Sen. Brian Williams has pre-filed a bill that will reinstate the requirements needed to obtain a permit to conceal and carry a firearm. Missouri repealed the permit requirement during the 2016 legislative session.

Guest Editorial

“It’s

been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. The same can easily be said about the love for power.”

Generational change without compromising character

By David W. Marshall

In a speech given in his home state of Kentucky, Sen. Mitch McConnell would say:

“One of my proudest moments was when I looked Barack Obama in the eye and I said, ‘Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.’” The 11 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee followed suit by signing a letter saying they had no intention of consenting to any nominee from President Obama. As a result, no proceedings of any kind were held for Obama’s nomination.

With so much attention today being given to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, it is easy to forget what happened to Garland in the spring of 2016. With the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, an icon in conservative circles, Merrick Garland was nominated by then-President Obama to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. It was considered to be a safe pick. Widely regarded as a moderate, Garland had been praised in the past by many Republicans, including influential senators such as Orrin Hatch of Utah. But even before Obama had named Garland, then-Senate Majority Leader McConnell declared any appointment by the sitting president to be null and void. He said the next Supreme Court justice should be chosen by the next president, who was to be elected later that year. With McConnell blocking Obama’s pick, it left the Supreme Court with an empty seat for more than a year, until President Trump’s nominee Neil Gorsuch was sworn in. The unorthodox move by McConnell could not be stopped by scores of scholars or by the Democrats as the minority party. Law professors, historians and political scientists urged the Senate to at least have a process for Garland as a duly appointed nominee with impeccable qualifications. It turned out to be a classic power move by McConnell and no one was in position to stop him.

larly regarding those in leadership positions. Which brings us to Mike Pence. Does the quest for power cause one to totally give up their selfrespect?

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger has a valid point: “Mike Pence, if after January 6, he had fully divorced Donald Trump, and would have gone out and spoken about it, he would be the Ron DeSantis right now. He would be the guy that over the last two years was able to make a compelling case to the Republican base who trusts him, even if at the moment they don’t like him, I think he could be the alternative to Donald Trump. Now, I have no idea where he stands.” Pence was always the faithful vice president. But it is difficult to understand how a violent mob can chant “hang Mike Pence” and President Trump makes no effort to insure Pence’s personal safety. Yet Pence seems unwilling to publicly draw attention to Trump’s actions of disrespect as being unworthy of a sitting U.S. president. While Pence wants to be president himself, he remains intimidated by the individual power of Trump and the collective power of Trump’s voting base.

The disrespect to Pence and his family was not enough for the former vice president to take a strong consistent public stand with dignity. The country and the January 6 House Committee needed a courageous Mike Pence to speak to the American people about the “Big Lie” and it didn’t happen. The examples of McConnell and Pence are only a few of many, but they illustrate different ways in which political power exposes one’s true character.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

L.A. Mayor-elect Karen Bass is champion of equity

By Marc Morial

“Karen Bass has a long history of always being on the side of the people, fighting for the people, fighting for the people whose voices aren’t in the room but must be present. That’s who Karen Bass has always been. It’s who she will always be.”

The National Urban League and the civil rights community have had few champions in Congress as tenacious and effective as Rep. Karen Bass of California.

Earlier this year, the National Urban League worked closely with Chairwoman Bass and the Congressional Black Caucus on negotiations that led to President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety.

She and I partnered last year to highlight racial equity in COVID vaccines, and she advocated fiercely for the National Urban League’s priorities in the federal COVID relief responses. She has been a mainstay of our annual Legislative Policy Conference.

Now, the House of Representatives’ loss is the City of Los Angeles’ gain. We are proud to congratulate Rep. Bass as she prepares to be sworn in as the first woman to hold the office of Mayor of Los Angeles.

the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I am perhaps a little biased but I am convinced that mayors are the most important elected officials in the country. Cities are the economic engines of the nation. They are laboratories of innovation. When a failure of leadership at the federal level crippled the nation’s response to the COVID pandemic, our mayors stepped into the breach.

The election of Rep. Bass, a longtime social justice advocate and coalitionbuilder, can be seen as a rejection of raciallydivisive policies such as the “toughon-crime” agenda advocated by her opponent, and the underhanded scheming revealed by a leaked recording of city council members making crude, racist remarks.

the first to lead a state legislative body when she was sworn in as Speaker of the California State Assembly in 2008. She earned the 2010 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her leadership during the state’s budget crisis, which “put an end to years of government inaction and sidestepping of the difficult decisions.”

It’s been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. The same can easily be said about the love for power. Meaning unchecked greed can be a major cause of society’s problems. It can be the greed for money as well as greed for power. In regard to the pursuit for power, not every individual or group can responsibly handle the power given to them without misusing it. The abuse of political power prevented the seating of a Democratic president’s judicial choice to the Supreme Court. The Republicans knew had Garland been considered by way of a fair process, he might have pulled a few majority-party members across the aisle. Years later, it is no surprise immediately after Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, the same Mitch McConnell said President Trump’s nominee to replace her “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.” The influence that power can have on elected officeholders can be sickening at times, particu-

These examples give us reasons to appreciate the career of Nancy Pelosi even more as she announces her retirement from Democratic leadership after two decades. There are reasons why House Speaker Pelosi is hated. She gets things done the right way. She is a skillful, effective and seasoned legislator who is a true leader with character. Whether you agree or disagree with her policies, Nancy Pelosi’s manner in which she wields her power has never compromised the respect of her leadership position or the institution she represents. She is the epitome of a leader who can be trusted with the power that comes with the position.

With her retirement, it is time to pass the baton to a new generation of leaders. It appears Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is poised to succeed the first female House speaker by becoming the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress.

As Jeffries served as an impeachment manager in President Trump’s first impeachment trial, it represents the degree of trust Pelosi has in him. With the party of obstructions and investigations taking control in Congress, Nancy Pelosi’s trust in Hakeem Jeffries means a lot.

David Marshall is a Washington Informer, NNPA editorial columnist

A mighty thank you to the St. Louis region Commentary

By Michelle Tucker

THANK YOU!

What an extremely special year this has been for our United Way, celebrating 100 years of impact and serving this region. We are celebrating this unique accomplishment because of a century of dedication and generosity from volunteers, donors, staff and each of you. We have raised and invested nearly $3 billion and, more importantly, we’ve helped millions upon millions of our neighbors. This organization began with a small group of everyday people coming together with the simple goal of wanting to help their neighbors. One hundred years later, the mission is the same, and this organization is stronger because of the millions of sup-

porters who have joined us in that effort. During every campaign, I am reminded of the spirit of selflessness and generosity that our community is known for. This year is no different, especially as this community stepped up during the devastating and historic flooding that impacted so many this summer while continuing to respond to challenges stemming from the recent pandemic and everyday stressors.

This is why I am proud to call this region my home and

why I remain optimistic about our future. No matter what challenges this community may face, we stand together, eager to lend a helping hand.

This year, our combined fundraising, fueled by thousands of donors, local businesses, partners and key organizations across the region has resulted in an amazing $79 million raised overall by United Way in 2022, which includes $67.45 million through our community’s fall campaign.

On behalf of United Way, our 160 safety net partners, and the more than 1 million local people who are helped each year because of you, THANK YOU!

Michelle Tucker is president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis

Her inauguration on Dec. 12 also will mark the first time in history that the nation’s four largest cities, will be led by Black mayors. She joins Eric Adams of New York, Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, and Sylvester Turner of Houston.

As a former big-city mayor myself, and a past president of

Mayor-Elect Bass is the ideal leader to bring together a city struggling to confront rising crime and a homelessness crisis. Her experience as an emergency room physician assistant treating individuals who were homeless, in the grip of substance abuse, and victims of crime and violence inspired her in 1990 to found the Community Coalition to address the root causes of injustice.

Her breakthrough as the first woman and second Black mayor of L.A. is just the latest in her long history of blazing trails for Black women. In 2004, she entered office as the only Black woman serving in the California state legislature. She was

Letter to the editor

Voting brings people together

Voting is like going to church. And it was only fitting that I realized this while working the polls at Christ’s Southern Missionary Baptist Church on Nob. 8. As a student election worker, I was able to witness Americans coming together for a civic and moral purpose, but also just to be together.

I overheard the endless good morning’s, the take care’s and how ya’ doing’s, each one routine and yet meaningful. I watched everyone come together: my next-door neighbors, mom and dad, familiar faces I recognized and that recognized me from some distant memory of me when I “was this tall.” People knew each other; they shook hands, pounded fists, came together before “getting on with” their days. Entire families greeted each

When the election of the most ethnically and culturally diverse Congress in United States history swelled the ranks of the Congressional Black Caucus to a historically large membership in 2018, it was Karen Bass they turned to for leadership. With members serving as five full committee chairs, and 28 subcommittee chairs, the CBC under her watch advanced major racial justice priorities including establishing a record of continued voter suppression efforts around the country, laying the foundation for passage of the John Lewis Voting Advancement Act. She was the primary sponsor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the most transformative legislation on policing to ever pass in a chamber of Congress. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she was instrumental in includes passing the First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform in decades. While Karen Bass might have won the mayoral election, the real winners are the people of Los Angeles, who have an opportunity to usher in a new era of inclusive, more equitable civic leadership.

Marc Morial is National Urban League president and CEO

All letters are edited for length and style

other. Mothers and fathers brought their children with them, had them wait in line and watch their parents fill out their ballots. They wanted their children to experience something important to them, so hopefully they’d take it upon themselves when they turned 18 years old. The older gentlemen and ladies took their time filling out their ballots; on their way out and in they gossiped for a moment, talked football with their high school buddies, and nodded to the faces they see every morning. Voting brings people together in exciting ways. People get elected and propositions get passed in the process. Voting is as dull as it is enjoyable, as governmental as it is social, and a chore as it is a church.

G.F. Fuller John Burroughs High School senior

Columnist Michelle Tucker

Guest Columnist David W. Marshall

Columnist

Marc H. Morial

agency’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Erise Williams, Jr., MPH, co-founder, president and CEO of Williams & Associates, joined the community on Dec. 1 in celebrating the opening of the agency’s third service center.

The event was held on World AIDS Day.

Health agency opens new service center on World AIDS Day

St. Louis American

St. Louis based Williams & Associates, Inc., a minority community based public health agency addressing minority health disparities and health equity, observed World AIDS Day 2022 on Dec. 1 with the opening of its South City Service Center.

Its centers provide preventive health services and outreach services to reduce opioid use and overdose rates within the St. Louis region, along with other co-morbidities such as HIV/ AIDS and Hepatitis B and C.

The ART-Dacity To Survive: A Tribute To World AIDS Day 2022, included an open house of the service center, along with art work of local minority artist.

Williams & Associates, Inc’s south city service center is located at 3030 South Grand Boulevard, Suite 201 (off-street parking available in the rear of the building).

The open house included free and confidential HIV testing services, PrEP education and enrollment, as well as application assistance for those eligible for health insurance through the Medicaid expansion program.

According to the agency’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Erise Williams, Jr., MPH, “Even though tremendous strides have been made in the area of HIV/AIDS treatment and

improved health outcomes for those living with HIV, Black and poor people are still getting infected with HIV at disturbing rates, and dying from AIDS.

“Poor access to preventative health services, linkage to HIV care and treatment remain as barriers to ending the AIDS epidemic nationally and worldwide,” he said.

Williams added that the increasing number of community members challenged with opioid addiction and overdose means the St. Louis region is confronting a double epidemic that is exacerbated by HIV/AIDS stigma, and the shame of substance misuse.

Williams & Associates, Inc’s., also operates public health service centers in north St. Louis City at 3737 North Kingshighway, Suite 206 in the Tandy Medical Center building, and in north St. Louis County at 3533 Dunn Road, Suite 228 in Florissant.

HIV testing and counseling services as well as STD testing and treatment services are available at all three locations. Substance misuse linkage to treatment, recovery support services, mental health services are available at the three locations.

Narcan, the rescue drug used to treat those who have overdosed from opioid, is distributed in noted high risk areas throughout St. Louis City and County.

What’s going on, America?

By Wendy Gladney

Growing up in the era of Motown, I came to appreciate the talents of Diana Ross, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Four Tops and of course, the Jackson 5. But, one of my favorite singers was Marvin Gaye. Not only was he talented, but he was also very conscious.

If he was alive today and was witnessing the crime, violence, hate, police brutality and racial injustice in our society, he would once again ask what is going on? In 1971, Marvin Gaye released a protest song, that soon became a national anthem titled, “What’s Going On.” It was a powerful and groundbreaking song at the time. Some have stated that it is the most influential recording in modern musical history.

During the last few weeks, we have seen three football players from the University of Virginia senselessly murdered, four students at the University of Idaho were discovered in their shared off-campus home dead, a 22-yearold gunman entered an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs and killed five people while injuring 25 others, and now Walmart is not even safe.

There are hate crimes still being done towards not only Black people, but also Jewish and Asian people. Let us not forget that there is still a war in Ukraine. The stirring lyrics of Marvin Gaye’s song are as relevant today as they were over a half-century ago.

“Mother, mother there’s too many of you crying. Brother, brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying. You know we’ve got to find a way to bring some lovin’ here today. Father, father, we don’t need to escalate. You see, war is not the answer for only love can conquer hate.” he final verse says, “Picket lines and picket signs, don’t punish me with brutality. C’mon talk to me so you can see what’s going on, yeah, what’s going on, tell me what’s going on.” I am a true believer that love can conquer hate if we are willing to give it a try.

If we do not figure out soon “What’s Going On” when it comes to mass murder, child abuse, domestic violence, bullying, police misconduct, suicide, gun violence, and international conflict, it is safe to say that the end time is coming sooner than any of us desire. One of the saddest national statistics is that homicide is the leading cause of death among young Black men and contributes significantly to the shortened lifespan of the Black male.

80-90% of Black victims are killed by another Black individual, and about 52% of the murder victims were acquainted with their assailant. Young Black males represent 2% of the U.S. population, but accounted for about 38% of the gun homicide deaths last year.

Black homicide rates are seven to eight times those of whites. What is going in the Black community? Our community is in dreadful need of meaningful and sustainable homicide prevention centers with programs of prevention, research and treatment. America, what is going on? Black communities, what is going on? God and love are the answer. Not hate.

Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on.

Wendy Gladney is a Los Angeles Sentinel columnist

Photo by Nancy Fowler / St. Louis Public Radio

staff

Wendy Gladney

Jones said she will review the commission’s work “to chart a course that restores the vitality of Black communities in our city after decades of disinvestment. We cannot succeed as a city if one half is allowed to fail.” The Commission will be comprised of nine members. All must live in the City of St. Louis, and must represent different backgrounds, including at least one civil rights advocate, clergy member, attorney, academics, public health professional, and youth.

According to the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) reparations is defined as “a process of repairing, healing and restoring a people injured because of their group identity and in violation of their fundamental human rights by governments, corporations, institutions and families.”

About a year ago, 25 local organizations sent a memo to Mayor Jones’ administration, requesting establishment of a reparations commission to address “the longstanding harms of racial exclusion, occupation, and economic divestment done to Black people and communities in the

Newman

Continued from A1

scared me to death, but I made it. But my determination to make it … I put everything I had into it because, golly, our class started with 72 in it, and we graduated 23.” He deployed to Italy with the 100th Fighter Squadron, part of the 332nd Fighter Group. The 100th Fighter Squadron flew its first combat mission on Feb. 4, 1944, flying P-39 Airacobras. On his 24th mission, Lt. Newman was forced to crashland his plane in Italy. The P-39 caught on fire, trapping

City of St. Louis.” For years, we have been talking about the disparate outcomes that have long existed for Black St. Louisans. We have introduced terms like systemic racism and racial equity into the everyday language to better understand the

Newman inside.

“I thought I was dead until I heard a guy say, ‘Spray it here,’” Newman said in the documentary. “The firefighters would come up and put foam on it. I rolled the window down and said, ‘Get me out of here!’

He was hospitalized for two months with his injuries, but he clamored to return to battle in the sky. He returned to the 100th Fighter Squadron and in April his 332nd Fighter Group had upgraded to new P-47 Thunderbolts. The group later received new P-51 Mustangs. His fighter group escorted B-17 bombers to Munich, Germany on Sept. 22, 1944,

status quo,” said Blake Strode, ArchCity Defenders executive director said as the organizations prepared for a reparations Teach In on Oct. 15 at Central Baptist Church.

“A lot of people have different opinions and feeling on what [reparations] means. What

and Newman was forced to bail from his plane after it was hit by anti-aircraft fire.

“Everything was going through my mind,” Newman said in a 2002 interview.

“It was a life-threatening emergency. When I was coming down in the chute, I was bleeding. I had a one-man rubber dinghy. It was just a matter of waiting. I could see airplanes flying over. I was out there for six hours.”

After two weeks’ rest,

it looks like,” Strode said on Wednesday.

The Reparation Commission will explore the history of racebased harms in the city; reveal the present-day manifestations of that history; and, ultimately, propose a method and potential funding resources for directly

Newman was flying again. After WWII ended, he was recalled for action in the Korean War in 1950. He completed another 97 combat missions over the course of two years before being honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1952.

“I learned a lot and I got a few scars, but I was glad that I did it,” Newman said in the documentary. “I didn’t regret it at all.”

After returning to St. Louis,

repairing the harms that have been inflicted.

Jones is a member of the Mayors Organizing for Reparations and Equity (MORE) Coalition, and is engaging with other mayors “to explore best practices and align goals around reparations.”

Newman became known as a reliable, hard-working and supportive father. He worked as a U.S. postal clerk, then the Defense Mapping Agency.

In 2007, St. Louis Lambert International Airport re-dedicated a mural “Black Americans in Flight,” honoring African American pilots who broke color barriers. Newman attended the ceremony, and his portrait is on the fourth panel.

Christopher Newman married Ernestine Perry in 1948, and they raised four children in St. Louis to adulthood. He would have six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sisters, one

As Mayor Tishaura Jones signed Executive Order #74 establishing a volunteer commission to explore opportunities for reparations in St. Louis on Wednesday she was joined in the room by advocates and community members. From

are

Jones said the commission “is the latest effort by the administration to explore opportunities for reparations at the local level.”

Those interested in applying to serve on the commission can apply at the city’s website, www.stlouis-mo.gov

daughter and many cousins. His surviving family, three children, nieces, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will always cherish his memory.

“Chris will always be remembered as a Tuskegee Airman; but to those of us who knew him best he was the steady, loyal and resourceful man who touched so many lives,” his family said in a statement.

“I guess I’m sentimental,” Newman said in the documentary.

“I’m glad the [Tuskegee Airmen] turned out. I’m glad we are known as good, patriotic Americans.”

Christopher W. Newman as a Tuskegee Airman

left

Kayla Reed, Zoë Griffin, Cathy “Mama Cat” Daniels, Mike Milton, Mayor Jones, Rev. Mike Higgins, Kristian Blackmon, and Blake Strode.

Photo courtesy of Office of the Mayor

Warnock

Continued from A1

of a clue of which way the race went. The same ballroom was filled with Warnock supporters and media from all around the country just a few weeks ago on Election Day, November 8. The room emptied after 2 a.m. with another election on the horizon.

A record number of Georgians continued to take advantage of the early vote. More than 1.8 million Georgians voted early, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. There are more than 7 million Georgians registered to vote and though many were expected to skip the runoff, an election just weeks from Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the turnout was strong. With 79% of the vote counted, Warnock continued to lead with over 50.1% of those votes in his favor (1,438,2421,430,318). With 80% of the vote in, Walker regained the lead by 8,000 votes (1,468,7821,460,985).

Minutes later with 83% of the votes accounted for, Warnock would take his largest lead, going ahead by more than 11,000 votes with still more to come in from heavily Democratic Fulton, Dekalb, Gwinnett, Clayton and Henry counties.

Prison

Continued from A1

Reed and CollinsMuhammad were each sentenced to three years, nine months in prison. Boyd will spend three years behind bars — his sentence was lighter because the amount of money he accepted meant his crime was considered less severe under federal sentencing guidelines.

Each man will face three years of supervised release and must pay back the “ill-gotten gains” from the scheme. For Reed, that means an $18,500 fine. Collins-Muhammad will have to pay back $19,500 and Boyd $23,688.

All three of the sentences were just below the maximum set out in those guidelines and well above the sentences of probation that attorneys for all three had requested.

Federal prosecutors had asked Clark to stay within the guidelines, which called for prison terms of 2½ to about four years.

Collins-Muhammad, looking haggard in a slim-fitting gray suit, was the first to appear in front of Clark shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. His family,

Meanwhile, Walker dominated the smaller counties such as Hall, Telfair, Coffee, Mitchell. Those counties finished tabulating their votes rather quickly.

When 90% of the vote was

along with the Rev. Darryl Gray, sat in the front row of the courtroom.

Collins-Muhammad told Clark he had not been able to sleep since he “made the choice to do what I did.” But, he said, he came to appreciate getting caught by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith, who has investigated public corruption in St. Louis for more than a decade.

“It made me take a hard look in the mirror,” he said. “I am not the elected official that I wanted to be.”

Boyd, wearing a blue suit with a blue striped tie, stepped in front of Clark shortly after 3 p.m.

“The facts are, Your Honor, I screwed up,” he said.

He teared up multiple times while addressing the court, especially as he apologized to his wife and children, who were seated in the front row. In addressing his separate insurance fraud case, Boyd confirmed the name of the businessperson at the center of the three indictments, as well as a separate case in St. Louis County.

Boyd said he first met Mohammed Almuttan in August 2020 and eventually accepted car repairs and cash

in Warnock held an 8,000vote advantage (1,644,6591,636,197). With only major counties left to count the victory was in hand.

“I am a proud son of Savannah, Georgia,” Warnock

from him.

Boyd said he later crafted the insurance scheme out of guilt for not offering to pay for those repairs. In that scheme, he lied about the ownership of several vehicles damaged in an accident at a used car lot in Jennings owned by a relative of Almuttan’s so the company that provided insurance to the used car business, Best Place Auto Sales, would cover the cost of that damage. Boyd also admitted to inflating the insurance claim to make additional money. The agency, based in North Carolina, never paid out on the claim.

“To suggest that it was bad judgment would be kind,” Boyd said of the insurance fraud scheme. “It was very stupid, and I regret it every day.”

Boyd also helped Almuttan arrange to purchase a tract of city-owned land at 4201 Geraldine at a price well below what the city was offering.

At the time of his interactions with Boyd, Reed, and Collins-Muhammad, Almuttan was facing his own legal troubles. He was sentenced in October to four years in federal prison for selling contraband cigarettes but is appealing that sentence Reed’s family, including his wife, Mary Entrup, and

Sen. Raphael G. Warnock waves to the crowd after winning re-election to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 in Atlanta.

it’s gonna add up,’” he said.

proclaimed. “I am Georgia.” Walker’s concession speech had come about a half hour earlier.

“One of the things I said when they called the race, I said ‘the numbers doesn’t look like

his two sons, were in the courtroom when Boyd received his sentence. But that did not reduce their shock when Reed took his turn in front of Clark. Entrup, as well as many of Reed’s former staff from his days as board president, left the room as soon as the 45-month sentence was announced.

Reed, in a black suit with a light-colored, patterned tie, fidgeted while seated, often digging his nails into the tabletop. He often leaned his elbow on the podium as his attorney, Scott Rosenblum, addressed the judge, though he stood up straight when it was

“But one of the things I want to tell all of you is you never stop dreaming. I don’t want any of you to stop dreaming. I don’t want any of you to stop believing in America. I want

his time to speak.

“No words can express my remorse to my family and to those who supported me and trusted me,” he said. “My unprecedented body of work has stood as a source of pride for my family. All that changes now.”

Reed urged residents of St. Louis to separate their “just indignation” at the actions by him and his former colleagues from city government at large.

None of the men’s former colleagues at the Board of Aldermen attended the marathon hearing, which was moved from Clark’s usual

you to believe in America and continue to believe in the constitution and believe in our elected officials most of all.” Walker most likely would not have won the Republication nomination without the support of former President Trump and his backers.

President Biden congratulated Warnock and thanked Georgia voters.

“Tonight, Georgia voters stood up for our democracy, rejected Ultra MAGAism, and most importantly: sent a good man back to the Senate. Here’s to six more years,” Biden said.

Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on Twitter, “Georgia voters said they wanted a Senator who would fight for them—and made it a reality when they reelected [Raphael Warnock.]”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted “Senator Warnock’s well-earned victory is a victory for Georgia, and a victory for democracy and against MAGA Republican extremist policies.”

While the Democratic Party had secured a majority based on Harris making any needed tie-breaking votes, the additional seat means it will hold majorities on the Senate’s committees instead of having to split membership evenly with the GOP.

courtroom on the 14th floor to a larger one on the third floor to accommodate the crowds that gathered to observe.

“The approximately 300,000 residents of St. Louis, and the multitude of individuals who operate businesses in the city, all depended upon the defendants to do the right thing as their elected officials, and to provide them with their honest services,” Goldsmith wrote in the government’s sentencing memo. “Through their continuing criminal conduct these defendants abused their positions of trust in a substantial and harmful way.”

Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice

Donald Suggs Jr. Way

A street sign is unveiled in the East Village, New York City honoring a St. Louis native

By Dawn Suggs Word In Black

The St. Louis American

On a bright, crisp morning in October, a crowd of Donald Suggs Jr.’s friends, neighbors, and family from across the country gathered at the southwest corner of East 6th street and Avenue B in New York City’s East Village. In front of a verdant community garden, they witnessed the unveiling of the street sign “Donald Suggs Jr. Way,” 10 years and 10 days after Donald’s death.

As 3rd District council member Carlina Rivera told those gathered: “To his friends and neighbors, he was the mayor of the East Village. He is remembered by many as a tireless activist for LGBTQ+ rights, an influential writer, and a caring friend.”

As I remarked during the street sign ceremony, “Donald was a trailblazer, the first person some of us knew to come out of the closet and say proudly he was a Black gay man.” I loved Donald because he was my brother, but also because of how much he stood up for who he was and for his community. No doubt, if Donald was still here, he would be using his megaphone as a media activist — and his wellhoned platform full-throttle as a journalist and national pundit — to protect, uplift, and empower LGBTQ+ folks of color as courageously and charismatically as he did when he walked the streets of New York.

The recent uptick in antiLGBTQ rhetoric and laws fans the flames of intolerance and hatred against LGBTQ+ people and fuels the fire of those who wish to harm them, as so tragically born out in the recent mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which left five people dead and many more injured.

This violence, along with the crisis of Black trans people murdered, Black students being bullied, and “Don’t Say Gay” bills in schools, makes it even more crucial that we honor Black gay activists like Donald who have been through the fire and fought for justice — and that we know their stories and pick up the torch they carried.

Today, the block on East 6th street between Avenues A and B in “Alphabet City” is almost unrecognizable since the days Donald lived there, except for the gardens, the barbershop, and the bear statue that resides in front of Josie’s bar.

Ten years ago, one might run into half a dozen neighbors who had lived on 6th street since 1969; and all would agree that the neighborhood changed for the better in 1970 when a methadone clinic opened up close by. They would tell you about all the buildings that were set on fire in the neighborhood, allegedly gutted by property owners, and they remember when “The Godfather II” was filmed at Josie’s Bar (Joe’s at the time) and at the stoop across the street. Today, enclosed makeshift structures for outdoor dining, a New York mainstay of the pandemic, line and obfuscate the view of one side of the street while a row of blue rental bikes dominates much of the other.

Donald, a Black gay man, who cut a sharp and statuesque sartorial figure, usually dressed in black, can no longer be spotted walking to his home on East 6th Street with his head held high. Dr. Luis Ramirez, who Donald considered his “gay son,” spoke during the street sign unveiling ceremony, “It was just so magical to see him walking,” Luis said while reminiscing about Donald teaching him how to walk down East 6th Street in heels like Naomi Campbell.

Nowadays, according to Fred Brown, a former employee of Josie’s Bar who knew Donald, “Turnover in this neighborhood is so fast.”

Gentrification has shifted the demographics of the neighborhood, and with the pandemic

came malaise and an exodus of many longtime residents.

“The pandemic left everyone in need of community and connection, so I think a celebration of Donald would be very well received,” Fred said a week before the unveiling ceremony.

How the East Village Became Home

Our sister Dina Suggs, a U.S. diplomat, spoke at the street sign ceremony., “I’m really, really happy that he was able to die right here in his neighborhood [The East Village] that really was like his skin,” Dina said. “We were eccentric kids from the Midwest, and Donald was an incredible curator of culture, and so much that was underground even when there was no internet!”

“Hello, daddy, hello, mom I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb

Hello world I’m your wild girl

I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb”

– The Runaways

When Donald was a teenager, he told us about the Runaways, the prepunk girl band that blasted onto the rock scene in the late ‘70s. In addition to listening to Top 40 R&B of the day, funk, and bebop that our father loved, we embraced the rebellion and embodied restlessness expressed through rock music, and avant-garde art and culture.

He loved Andy Warhol, Nico and the Velvet Underground, John Waters, Divine, Bowie, Lee Brewster, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, and, of course, the notorious Josephine Baker, the legendary Black entertainer and civil rights activist born in East St. Louis, across the river from where he grew up.

Donald Marthell Suggs Jr. was born in Dover, Delaware, on Friday, March 13, 1961, the first child of Betty Ann Bateman Suggs, a teacher from Indianapolis, and Donald Marthell Suggs, an oral surgeon from E. Chicago, Indiana. Shortly after our dad’s stint in the Air Force — when Donald was still an infant — the young family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Dina and I were born.

In St. Louis, our family became active in the local arts scene and civil rights. Donald was a high-achieving student who ordered his first pair of leather pants from a catalog, became interested in experimental film, and taught himself how to make Super 8 films as a

teenager. He nourished his love of the French language and culture in Rennes, France, where he spent his last year in high school.

Donald left the Midwest to attend Yale University in 1979. “His leadership helped usher in numerous “firsts” at Yale, including the 1982 Gay Lesbian Awareness Days, the inclusion of LGBT delegates at Yale freshman orientation weekend, and a ground-breaking series of gay-straight raps at which many straight students met out gay people for the first time. Donald also is remembered with immense gratitude by the many Yalies whom he inspired and mentored during their personal journeys out of the closet,” wrote the Yale Alumni Magazine after his death.

authentic selves led them there.

One of his favorite pastimes was strolling down the block, striking up conversations with his neighbors, new and old, and nurturing a sense of community.

Former companion Cass recollected, “I can’t count how many times we were walking around the Village, and someone would just come up to him, really happy to see him. And they were often thanking him for something he’d already done for them or at least helped them to achieve. He had the capacity to welcome people into his life in such an open, genuine way and make people feel like family.”

Conversely, Donald was critical of folks that “misbehaved” in the neighborhood, as he put it, and was protective of his neighbors. He would quickly check or situate with precise words an outsider, perhaps a frat boy, who behaved disrespectfully in the neighborhood, but if they came peacefully, so did he.

A Pioneer in LGBTQ+ Media Activism

an American village, post-segregation — largely a community of Black professionals and liberal whites whom our parents bonded and socialized with.

As a gay youth in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, before one was of drinking age, there weren’t a lot of outlets for expressing oneself in St. Louis. Donald always credited flamboyant gay people, drag queens, and trans folk, in particular, for paving the way for everyone else under the LGBTQ flag. He emphasized that they had to take the most heat.

The Village in Manhattan, where LGBTQ folks stood up for themselves at Stonewall, was a place Donald dreamed of. It was a place where he imagined he could be himself completely.

Dina remembers our brother as “always challenging norms, always percolating, and so creative. He was the best present wrapper and handicrafter… I cherish the [exquisite] dolls and teddy bears that he made for me. They remind me of his playfulness.”

Donald yearned to live in New York. In some respects, the St. Louis world Donald grew up in was like a village,

He always attributed his understanding of what constituted “good home training” — being respectful of elders, women, children, and those with different abilities to being raised in St. Louis, but he couldn’t wait to escape some of his Midwestern confines.

He loved that his East Village neighborhood was full of many people like himself whose hunger for acceptance and creative expression of their

ocally saved people’s lives with HIV and AIDS,” Rivera said. She added, “I know many of us have experienced that loss directly, and it is still something we live with.”

The Street Sign Effort Rivera, the council member of District 3, introduced the bill to the New York City Council to have the southwest corner of 6th Street at Avenue B co-named Donald Suggs Jr. Way. At every stage, after presentations to the Transportation Committee, Manhattan Board 3, and finally to the New York City Council, made up of all districts throughout Manhattan, the bill was passed unanimously.

The years-long effort to rename 6th Street between A & B began shortly after Donald died, unexpectedly, of heart disease on Oct. 5, 2012. Around the time that a memorial service was being planned for him, a group of friends and family, led initially by Jennifer Callahan, a friend of Donald’s and former Village resident, began to organize a tribute to him, co-naming the block of 6th Street, his stomping grounds and where he resided, “Donald Suggs Jr. Way.”

The Donald Suggs Jr. Street Naming Project formed and eventually partnered with fiscal sponsor Grassroots Leadership five years after Donald’s death. A person proposed for the co-naming has to be deceased several years prior to the initiation of the co-naming and must have made a significant contribution to the community over the long term recognized by a large swath of its residents, according to district guidelines. Grassroots Leadership helped raise funds to hire a project coordinator, who worked with me to identify and collect the signatures of over 75% of the almost 600 businesses and people who lived on the block in bustling New York City.

“Donald pioneered media activism by working with LGBTQ youth to produce videos on preventing the spread of HIV. Really broadening people’s understanding of what that meant, and how to live with each other in dignity and respect,” Council Member Rivera said when she opened the street naming program that Saturday morning. Donald also wrote extensively as a freelance journalist for publications ranging from The New York Times to The Advocate. He appeared regularly on The Ricki Lake show as a commentator on topics from women who fall in love with gay men to modern white backlash.

In 1991, Donald founded People Using Media to do Prevention, or the PUMP project. PUMP taught young people from neighborhoods devastated by HIV how to produce HIV prevention videos, which they then brought back to their own communities to teach their peers how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.

In 2007, PUMP alums joined with Better World Advertising and Salt and Pepper Media to co-produce a television prevention education ad campaign by and for Harlemites, which ran on MTV, VH1, BET, NY1, and Logo.

“His work to bring healthcare into Black and Latino LGBTQ communities unequiv-

Addresses and names had to be verified, and many residents proved difficult to find and follow up with. Gabriella Sonam, who lived in the East Village and knew Donald personally, dug in her heels as project coordinator and collected the final signatures, and helped submit the petition to the Transportation Committee of Manhattan Board 3. She also worked closely with the Board and Council Member Carlina Rivera’s office to make sure the legislation was voted on during the height of the pandemic and the street sign would be installed this fall while the weather permitted.

Bob Libal, the director of Grassroots Leadership at the time, spoke of the influence that Donald, a media consultant of the organization, had as a cultural critic who trained and mentored young media producers, and broadened the discussion of intersectionality, advocating for civil rights, healthcare, and equity for LGBTQ+ people of color.

Donald’s efforts reached beyond New York to Iowa, Arizona, Texas, and eventually, Central, South America, and the Caribbean while he worked within African and Latinx immigrant communities in New York.

“Donald’s impact was far-reaching and felt by the next generation of media-makers and organizers. After Donald passed, activists from the LGBT and Black Lives Matter movement reached out about his inspirational impact on their work,” Libal said.

Dr. Stephanie Factor, an infectious disease specialist, commented shortly after his death that Donald’s HIV/AIDS prevention work was often cited for changing the landscape of American HIV messaging campaigns. He pioneered new ways to reach people of color who were disproportionately impacted by the transmission of HIV from See SUGGS JR, A9

Donald Suggs Jr. with his parents Donald and Betty in 1965.

Photos courtesy of the Suggs family

After the unveiling of the Donald Suggs Jr. Way program concluded on Sat., Oct. 15, 2022, family and friends embraced, chatted and posed with a replica of the street blade. Left to right: Dina Suggs and Delali Suggs-Akaffu hold the replica and a poster board of a photo of Donald Suggs Jr. from the 1980s, Dawn Suggs, Nancy Jo Sales, Tony Gerber, Lynn Nottage, Melkamu Gerber and City Council person Carlina Rivera.

Photo courtesy of the Suggs family

Donald Suggs Jr.

sexual partners, primarily men, who “on the down-low,” had unprotected sex with other men but didn’t consider themselves gay, and didn’t relate to messaging targeted at gay white men.

Speaking Out Against Homophobia in Music

Early in his career, Donald produced an investigative piece about New York youth who were out or recognizably LGBTQ and had to leave school or go to an alternative high school because of the abuse and the threats of violence they faced.

He later became known and was attacked by some for daring to speak out and write about homophobia within the music industry and hip hop, in particular, most notably speaking out against Buju Banton’s homophobic screed “Boom Bye Bye,” a rap that fantasizes about killing gay people and men referred to in Jamaican slang as “batty bwoy”:

“Boom bye bye

Inna batty bwoy head

Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man Dem haffi dead”

Donald, who was working as a public relations director for GLAAD at the time the record was released and being played on radio stations throughout the U.S., gave the following response to the New York Times about Bantu’s homophobic statements and defense:

“We think his statements are unfortunate… but this issue is about violence, and we felt that it was important for him to say that it’s not acceptable, which he did.”

Eventually, Mercury Records, Bantu’s new record label in 1992, agreed to make PSAs against hate speech due to the pressure put on by the public, and most pointedly, Donald through his work at GLAAD.

“Oh you make me feel mighty real

You make me feel mighty real

Make me feel – mighty real

Make me feel – mighty real

Make me feel – mighty real

Make me feel – mighty real”

-Sylvester

Groundbreaking Support of the Transgender Community

At a Manhattan Community Board meeting in 2020, John Grauwiler, an 6th street neighbor, who came out to speak publicly in favor of the street

co-naming, talked about meeting Donald in the early ‘90s — and how Donald was an ally and advocate for the transgender community at the time.

“I was a 27-year-old boy who was deeply immersed in queer culture. Many of my friends were transgender. Donald, at that time, was volunteering for a transgender organization on 29th and Eighth Avenue that uplifted transgender sex workers,” Grauwiler said.

“He invited me, shortly after meeting him, to the organization to meet and talk with people who were there, as well as others who were organizing and supporting, uplifting, and keeping trans workers safe,” Grauwiler said.

“I brought some of my friends with me, some who were trans, some who are not, and it was a truly powerful experience for all of us. My friends said that they felt — some of them, who at the time were sex workers — they didn’t realize that this existed. It was through Donald that friends of mine were able to sort of feel some empowerment and have a touchstone to a place that actually offered them support.”

Council Member Rivera had this to say about Donald’s career as a journalist who reported on the trans community: “As a writer for The Village Voice, he wrote the first major article about the largely Black and trans Harlem ballroom scene [“Venus Envy, The Harlem Balls Take on The World.”] It’s culturally such a significant part of New York City. And I’m just so glad that we can mention not just the ballroom scene, but of course, our trans community, it’s one of the most historically marginalized communities in history and we have so much work to do.”

It just so happens that at the time the street naming project passed the committee for Manhattan Board 3 and moved to Rivera’s chamber, Rivera was co-sponsoring a bill to repeal what is commonly known as the “Walking while trans” law.

This New York statute from the ‘70s was disproportionately used by police to harass and arrest trans women of color for the clothes they wore or the way they stood on the street; if arrested, they had to carry it on their record, restricting their ability to get jobs off the street. Donald would have been strongly supportive of the repeal, and it seems fitting that Rivera was the councilwoman who also presented the bill to co-name 6th Street in honor of Donald to the New York City Council. Fortunately, the ban was repealed in February 2021, hundreds of warrants dating

back to 2012 were vacated, and even older warrants are expected to be dismissed.

Solidarity and Alliance –

Perfect Ways to Love

“I feel like this street sign is going to remind all of us of who Donald was and help us remember that we can be like that too,” said Donald Suggs Jr. Street Naming Project Coordinator Gabriella Sonam. “You know, Donald was a wonderful example of how to be a neighbor, how to be a citizen of the block, of the city, of the world.”

And we can take our cues from Donald’s legacy. There’s even more to be done today in the U.S. — beyond the limited granting of same-sex marriage rights — to federally legislate, enshrine the rights, and protect the very existence of LGBTQ+ people in this country, trans people of color in particular.

Extreme right-wing dogma and social media posts that attack LGBTQ+ people endanger lives, threaten health, healthcare, housing, education, and access to information for this already vulnerable population further stigmatized by anti-LGBTQ policies and legislation, such as the “Don’t Say Gay” bills from Miami to Missouri.

New York passed The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (“SONDA”) in 2002, but Missouri has yet to pass The Missouri Nondiscrimination Act prohibiting discrimination based on gender and sexual identity and orientation, first introduced in 1998.

It is the hope of those who spoke about Donald and attended the unveiling ceremony of the Donald Suggs Jr. Way sign, that the recognition of Donald will inspire others, particularly young people, to continue the fight for human rights — especially for the rights of LGBTQ+ people of color, those most marginalized and mistreated — which Donald held so dear.

Donald’s gay son Dr. Luis Ramirez concluded his remarks at the unveiling by saying he is “happy to see that Donald keeps expanding like the universe… And now he’s gonna be here (referring to the sign). Ramirez added that “hopefully [we’re] going to be able to remember all the queer people that we can — immortalize the work that a gay Black man [did] in this community.”

Ramirez said Donald created solidarity, formed alliances, and demonstrated “a perfect way to love — for everybody. So Donald, we’re gonna love him forever.”

“Are

a statesman or a politician?”

“What I have to decide is, are you a statesman or a politician?” Federal Judge Stephen Clark asked former 21st Ward alderman John Collins Muhammad on Tuesday afternoon. “Is there a ‘stress of the soul,’” Clark asked. Muhammad, along with fellow disgraced former aldermen, Jeffrey Boyd and Lewis Reed, was sentenced to 45 months of incarceration in federal prison. Reed also received 45 months, and Boyd received 36 months; all three will have to serve three years of supervised release after they are released from their yet-to-be-determined prison facilities.

Clark expressed what troubled him the most about each defendant’s respective involvement in tax abatement bribery with “John Doe,” identified as North City gas station owner Muhammad Almuttan For Collins Muhammad, the judge expressed his concerns about the “ease” with which the young alderman committed his admitted crimes. There was “no hesitation in giving your price,” Clark stated, and added that Collins Muhammad had taken bribes like they were an “appropriate, acceptable, and uneventful way of doing business in the City of St. Louis.” As for Boyd, what the judge found most objectionable was that his victims were seemingly countless, citing statements several victims impacted provided to the court. “But for the letters of support,” Clark said, he would have given Boyd a much more harsh sentence.

Judge Clark spoke to Reed last. He was joined in the courtroom by notable figures including lobbyist Dave Sweeney, former 24th ward committeewoman Teri Powers, his former chief of staff Tom Shephard, and Reed’s wife, former Judge Mary Entrup Standing next to his attorney, famed criminal defense lawyer Scott Rosenblum, Reed was asked the same question as the other two: are you a statesman, or are you a politician?

Reed, Judge Clark decided, was just another politician. This finding was greeted with vigorous head-shaking and disapproving whispers of Reed’s family and friends in the gallery. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith reminded the court - and audience - that for 15 years, Reed served as the second-highest elected official in the City of St. Louis. Goldsmith recounted with some irony the 2013 mayoral election, when Reed challenged thenmayor Francis G. Slay. Back then, Reed held a press conference to accuse Slay of engaging in pay-to-play politics.

“Every dollar in St. Louis goes through the Board of Estimate & Apportionment,” Goldsmith said. Reed had a seat

at that table. Reed’s wife and family hushedly voiced their disagreement with these statements. It seems as if they didn’t believe that Reed was guilty of the crime he committed - and admitted. But what troubled Clark the most about Reed’s behavior was “how coolly and calculated he accepted bribes from Doe.”

A politician, Clark said, “does not experience stress of soul.” Acknowledging Reed’s life barriers and how he overcame them, Clark noted that Reed initially refused to resign as President of the Board of Aldermen because he claimed that he did nothing wrong and that Reed had lied to FBI investigators when he was first confronted about the bribes he accepted.

After announcing Reed’s sentence of 45 months of incarceration, Entrup angrily grabbed her belongings and stormed out of the courtroom, with her family loudly in tow. Reed’s behavior, Clark said, was a “scar that will long be on the City of St. Louis.”

The three aldermen will receive their facility assignments in the coming days, and each will be given a date to report to that facility. Collins Muhammad was fined $19,500, Boyd was fined $23,688, and Reed was fined $18,500.

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile the Board of Aldermen is in the midst of a power struggle between new Board President Megan Green and...the majority of her colleagues who happened to have endorsed her recent opponent, fellow alderman Jack Coatar (Ward 7). With the impending Aldergeddon - where every single ward seat will be up for election - and ward reduction. It was expected that the Board was going to experience some chaos, but the timing of some of the disagreements just can’t be ignored. Of course, there were some expected attacks by Alderwoman Sharon Tyus (Ward 1) on President Green’s first day presiding over the Board, and then there is the recent repeal of 2012 oversight reform for the firefighters pension, opposed by F.I.R.E., the union that represents Black firefighters, and supported by Tyus. For years, the “other” firefighters’ union has been fighting to repeal a decade-old law that placed a city-dominant (read: independent) board in charge of the firefighters’ pension fund, instead of firefighters who, you know, probably have conflicts of interest. But Alderman Tom Oldenburg (Ward 16) pushed the bill through committee and the full board. The Mayor’s office hasn’t yet indicated whether or not Mayor Jones will veto the board bill.

Despite his cocky statements, Oldenburg is not expected to have enough votes to override a mayoral veto.

As the bickering continues and aldermen try to differentiate themselves from the forming packs, more newcomers are expected to enter ward races for the March 2023 nonpartisan primary. Remember: under St. Louis City’s new municipal election laws, city voters will get to vote for as many candidates as we want during the primary, where political party designation is left off the ballot. The top two vote receivers will then move on to the general election in April. For most of the new aldermanic wards, a path to victory will not be an easy one.

Interestingly, (per the Board of Election’s November 30 report, the most recent one on the date of our publishing), no one has filed for alderperson of Ward 11. Tyus also has not yet filed to run for Ward 12, leaving one to wonder if her courting of firefighter and police union groups goes beyond the boundaries of her fiefdom. Could Tyus be considering a run for President of the Board of Aldermen in the spring?

• • • •

We’ve noticed that Show Me Victories has been getting a lot of local air time recently, but we want to know: where are their victories?

By the EYE’s count, the Michael Kelley-led political operation losses included Coatar’s recent bid for Board President, Reed’s 2021 mayoral run, Alex Lange’s 2020

challenge to County Councilman Ernie Trakas, and former County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch’s 2018 race. To their credit, they did win (barely in a multi-candidate primary race) Lyda Krewson’s 2017 mayoral race, as well as Reed’s 2019 aldermanic president race, and Steve Stenger’s 2018 county executive race. Two of those three terms won were cut short by federal grand jury indictments and convictions.

Not an impressive record to stand on, yet political consultant Braxton Payne has become a frequent guest on KMOX’s Dave Glover Show, and Kelley himself has his Fox 2 segment, “Hancock and Kelley,” with Republican political consultant John Hancock

Why are these politicos being upheld as reputable observers of local politics when their records show otherwise? What gives them credibility?

Can you imagine the outrage if KMOX or Fox 2 gave free air time to the Mayor’s office and allowed a spokesperson to speak uninterrupted for 15, 20, 30 minutes about progress made by Mayor Jones’ administration? And yet, these Kelley group-paid political operatives are given free rein to do so by local media. In addition they are not being held to the same journalistic standards expected by others in the industry.

So why are paid politicos being given free air time as “personalities,” to push the political agenda of their clients?

Answer: because the Kelley Group’s white privilege allows them to keep failing up.

“Taking Care of You”

St. Louis under siege

‘Tripledemic’ of COVID, RSV and flu in full force

While the ‘Tripledemic’ of COVID-19, RSV and flu has invaded the St. Louis area, Dr. Kanika Cunningham, St. Louis County Public Health Officer, says “We’re not at a crisis level…yet.” She is concerned there are more cases of influenza compared to this time last year.

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

Sam, a 65-year-old city resident, had a sneaky feeling he should have passed on Thanksgiving dinner at his daughter’s house. He said he was feeling “draggy” that morning and afternoon. He went to his daughter’s but had to leave early. That evening and the next seven days he said he took

a “walloping” from “something.” He thought he might have had the flu but the symptoms didn’t seem to fit.

Unlike Sam, Anna, 51, of Black Jack, MO got sick before the holiday. For about two weeks, she said she was “full of mucus, coughing and congested” but had no temperature or fever. She was never diagnosed but a nurse friend told her she most likely had the respiratory syncytial virus or RSV.

St. Louis County resident Janice, 40, started feeling flu-like symptoms the day after Thanksgiving. At first, she relied on overthe-counter medications but eventually went to a doctor because they weren’t working. She tested negative for Covid and the flu but while there she received her vaccines and a booster for both illnesses. Janice is still not

See ST. LOUIS, A13

December can be a good time for some reflection, so I thought I’d take a look back at my health columns from the past year. With the help of my colleagues, we were able to cover a wide range of topics – from sun-safety, healthy sleep and greenspaces to macular degeneration, cancer and mental health.

Notably, for such a diverse set of columns, there was one key theme that ran throughout: Small changes in our behaviors can be powerful tools for improving our mental and physical health. That’s an important message for any time of year, but maybe even more so right now as we head into the busy winter holidays. So, keeping with that theme, here are 18 quick, healthy wins you can pick from to work into your days between now and the new year. While it’s great if they’re part of a plan to slowly build up to bigger health and fitness goals, they don’t have to be. They can just be stand-alone victories that help keep our health and wellness in mind as we navigate our way through the end of this year and beginning of the next.

For healthier eating – and drinking

1. Say “no, thank you” to whipped cream –at least sometimes.

2. Pick a day to go meatless and cheese-less. Bonus: Go even healthier with a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

3. Choose the small size when ordering a sweet, holiday-flavored coffee drink. Bonus: Try unsweetened coffee or tea instead, with just a dash of milk.

4. Switch up the order of foods in your cupboards and fridge. Move healthier choices (fruits, vegetables, nuts) to where they’re easier to see and grab.

5. Instead of alcohol, choose fizzy water or an alcohol-free beer or spirit at your next holiday gathering.

For keeping moving

6. Pick a day where you take a five-minute standing and easy stretching break every hour.

7. Try walking for some of your close-by errands instead of taking a car or transit (if you can do it safely).

8. Take your kids to the indoor playground at your local rec center.

9. Pick a morning and commit to fitting in

See COLDITZ, A13

Mom, who helps abused children, in a health battle

Chevon Williams seeks living liver donor

St. Louis American staff

Chevon Williams is a 43-year-old wife and mother with “a very active, 4-year-old daughter.’

She holds a master’s degree from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s degree from WilberForce University a historical Black College (HBCU) and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She serves as a child protection investigator, focusing on allegations of child abuse and neglect.

“I have serviced many communities and protected children for over 20-years,” Williams said. She is also one of more than 11,000 people in the United States are waiting for a new liver, according to the Department of Human Services Office of Minority Health. Livers are the second most-needed organ after kidneys, and about 900 African Americans are on the wait list.

n Chevon Williams is one of more than 11,000 people in the United States are waiting for a new liver, according to the Department of Human Services Office of Minority Health.

“For the past few years, I have been living with a chronic liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) that has progressed over the last several months and the only cure is a liver transplant,” Williams explains.

“My doctors believe my condition is a genetic/inherited disorder because I don’t drink alcohol, smoke, or take un-prescribed medications. Because of my liver

See WILLIAMS, A13

Williams, her daughter, and husband are hoping she can find a match and a volunteer for a living liver transplant. She is one of more than 15,000 people in America awaiting a transplant.

The St. Louis American

Chevon

Photo courtesy of medicalnewshubb.com

Photo courtesy of Williams family

Dr. Graham A. Colditz

“Taking Care of You”

Effort to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage in Missouri back on table

By Rebecca Rivas Missouri Independent

In May, a bipartisan proposal to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for lowincome women in Missouri to a full year after they’ve given birth was close to gaining approval from the state legislature.

But as the legislative session came to a close, the bill became collateral damage in the Republican Party’s bitter infighting, between the seven-member conservative caucus and the 17 Republicans generally aligned with leadership.

This happened even though Missouri has the 8th highest maternal mortality rate in the country.

The annual report by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was published in August. It

St. Louis

Continued from A12

certain what she had exactly. The names of these individuals have been changed but there’s a familiar strain in their stories. All were sick during the month of November, and none are exactly sure what winter illness they had.

For months now health experts have warned of a potential “tripledemic,” an unscientific term that refers to an alarming rise in RSV, flu, and COVID-19 cases. December through March is usually the peak flu activity season but this year, across the country, influenza numbers are peaking early.

The City of St. Louis’ Department of Health just issued a Health Advisory to provide the status of winter respiratory viruses in the City. As of Dec 6, there have been 1,269 reports of Influenza (A) and 46 reports of Influenza (B) with a total of 1,315 influenza reports.

Influenza (A) accounted for 97% of total influenza reports while Influenza B accounted for 3%, according to the report. Of note was 600 new reported cases between November 20 and 26.

The most concerning increase, according to the city report, was with older populations. New influenza cases for the 50-64 age group increased by 184% and the number of new cases in the 65 plus age

Williams

Continued from A12

is compiled by the state’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review board assessed maternal deaths from 2017 to 2019, and it holds chilling news for African American mothers.

It found Black women in Missouri were three times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than white women.

In addition, women on Medicaid are eight times more likely to die within one year of pregnancy than their counterparts with private health insurance.

On Dec. 1, Republican Sen. Elaine Gannon of De Soto again filed the proposal, as legislative pre-filing opened.

“Taking care of Missouri’s most vulnerable population is an issue we should all be able to support,” Gannon said in a press release. “I look forward to getting the bill across the finish line this year and taking

group increased by 625% in the past two weeks.

As of Nov. 27, there were 1,779 cases of influenza A and 15 cases of influenza B in St. Louis County. Influenza A accounted for 99.2% of all influenza cases. Overall, according to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, influenza (A) has accounted for 98.2% of influenza cases for the 2022-2023 influenza season.

Last week, St. Louis Children’s Hospital reported that Flu and RSV cases have spiked exponentially in the last two weeks with a 300 percent jump in RSV and other respiratory illnesses from the same time last year.

Local experts aren’t surprised by the rising numbers.

“We’re not at a crisis level…yet” said Dr. Kanika Cunningham, St. Louis County’s newly appointed Public Health Officer. Cunningham is also a part-time physician with Family Care Health Center clinics.

“It’s concerning that we’re seeing more cases of influenza compared to this time last year,” Cunningham continued, adding: “And there are multiple reasons that explain this. There’s been a decrease in vaccination rates, we’re down from previous years. Other factors going on as well is that COVID pandemic fatigue has really set in. People are re-socializing; many are tired of isolating so, trying to get people to wear masks now as opposed to last year is a little

on the national liver transplant waitlist and wait for a deceased donor.”

Black women severely impacted

care of Missouri’s mothers and their children.”

Four essentially identical bills have been filed in the House, with sponsors that include Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit.

The legislative session will begin on Jan. 4.

The bill takes advantage of a provision within the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress in 2021 that allows for states to extend postpartum coverage Medicaid covers pregnancy and postpartum care for women with incomes up to 196% of the poverty guideline, but it ends 60 days after a birth.

Since then, 26 states and Washington D.C. have extended coverage, including Kansas, Georgia, and Tennessee, according to the press release.

When Gannon filed this legislation last year, both the Senate and House versions of the bill faced no opposition in committee, with organizations like Planned Parenthood, Missouri Right to Life and Kids Win Missouri all testifying in support.

The Mortality Review study found that each year an average of 61 Missouri women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy, putting the state’s pregnancy-related mortality ratio at 25.2 deaths per 100,000 births.

Overall, 74.5% of deaths were determined to be preventable — with a little over half of those deaths occurring between 43 days and one year postpartum.

The report found disparities continued to persist in which women are at a higher risk of dying during or after childbirth. Mental health conditions

were the leading underlying cause of death, with all pregnancy-related deaths attributed to a mental health condition determined to be preventable. Patients whose birth was covered by Medicaid made up the largest percentage of pregnancy-related deaths at nearly 53%.

Among the top recommendations outlined in the report was for the state legislature to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant Missourians to one-year postpartum — what lawmakers failed to accomplish this past legislative session.

Meanwhile, a bill passed in 2018 by lawmakers to authorize the extension of Medicaid benefits to a year postpartum for women with substance use disorders was quietly paused by the Department of Social Services earlier this year

Photo courtesy of nmchealth.org

There are several reasons for the increasing ‘Tripledemic” of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, according to regional health officials. One is a drop in COVID-19 vaccinations and another is groups of people gathering for social events.

different. Again, there are multiple factors in play compared to previous seasons.”

The White House and public health officials warned that the country will likely face another wave of COVID-19 infections as the weather gets colder and people travel and gather for the holidays. Yet, COVID-19 booster shot uptake remained low before Thanksgiving.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC),

also noted alarming rates of flu vaccine fatigue or inaction. She recently cited a survey conducted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases that found that less than half of US citizens planned to get a flu shot this season even though seven in ten (70%) admitted knowing “it’s the best way to protect against the flu.”

The CDc recently announced a growing number of US states (33) are experi-

encing “high” or “very high” respiratory virus activity with seasonal flu activity “elevating across the country.” In the week ending November 19, nearly 1 in 10 deaths nationwide (9.4%) was due to pneumonia, influenza or COVID19- “well above the seasonal baseline of about 6%,” the agency noted. Additionally, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 6.2 million illnesses, 53,000 hospitalizations and 2,900 deaths from influen-

Missouri’s maternal mortality rate has increased since the early 2000s, and August’s report underscores the state’s abysmal ranking that has previously been in the bottom quarter of states nationwide

“Too many children in Missouri are growing up without mothers, who suffered a preventable death,” said Dr. Daniel Jackson, maternal fetal Medicine fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and former chair of the Missouri PAMR Board in the press release.

“Expanding Medicaid coverage through one full year postpartum would substantially reduce maternal mortality across the state.”

Rebecca Rivas covers civil rights, criminal justice, and immigration for the Missouri Independent

za this season.

Another “tripledemic” concern is that the flu and COVID-19 share very similar symptoms which makes it hard to tell which of the two one might have. Although one symptom that seems unique to COVID is loss of taste or smell, both viruses can cause fevers, chills, headaches, cough, muscle soreness, fatigue, vomiting and shortness of breath.

RSV can infect anyone but is most dangerous in infants and the elderly. Symptoms are more similar to the common cold and tend to run their course with only mild intensity in adults and older children. However, with infants and the elderly, symptoms can be more severe, can include fevers and wheezing and may require hospitalization.

While RSV has hit children hard across the country, Dr. Cunningham said St. County is seeing a decrease in cases. “The rate of RSV cases is decreasing right now-which is a good thing-but the other two; influenza and COVID, those rates are going up.”

The best defense for all three illnesses are vaccinations, Cunningham stressed.

“There are respiratory navel swabs, rapid tests to detect whether it’s COVID-19 or influenza or RSV or other types of Rhinoviruses. The best remedy is to get tested.” Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

Of those awaiting liver transplants, nearly 2,500 of them die every year waiting on a liver transplant.

“My doctors and I are worried this could happen to me,” she said.

“Normally, someone who needs a liver would be placed

Colditz

Continued from A12 condition, my quality of life has decreased significantly.”

an exercise class or some other physical activity before your day gets busy.

For better sleep 10. Say “no, thank you” to that afternoon tea or coffee, or choose decaf instead.

Williams said the criteria which is used to determine how sick you are and how likely you will receive a liver does not work well for PSC patients.

“While I wait on a liver, my condition worsens but my chances of moving higher on the wait list decreases. My best option is to receive a transplant from a living donor.”

11. Pick a night to get to bed 30 – 60 minutes earlier than you would normally.

12. Pick a night to go without any screens once you get in bed. Bonus: Silence your phone or leave it in another room (if you’re able to be out of contact).

For mental health

13. Pick an hour (or even an afternoon) to fully unplug

To help resolve the organ donor shortage and save lives, living donor liver transplantation was developed. The procedure allows a healthy adult to donate a portion of their liver to the patient in need.

Unlike most organs, the liver has the remarkable ability to regenerate. The donor’s remaining liver grows to its original size within weeks. Only a small portion of the donor’s liver, not the entire liver is donated.

Prospective donors must

– from social media, news, podcasts or just screens in general.

14. Try to take some time for yourself, especially when things get stressful. Visit with friends, take a yoga or stretching class or go for a walk (if you can do it safely).

15. If you’re in a mental health crisis, call 988 –Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

be under 50-years old. Each potential donor will be evaluated individually.

“Receiving a match as soon as possible is of the utmost importance before I become too sick to receive a transplant,” Williams said the procedure would take place in Philadelphia at the Penn Medicine facility, “which has a high success rate with this type of surgery.”

There is a special protocol in place to meet the needs of distance liver donors and min-

For overall health

16. If you haven’t yet, pick a day to get your flu vaccine and COVID booster. Bonus: Make plans for your family to keep up to date on vaccines.

17. Call your doctor or clinic about scheduling any missed or upcoming cancer screenings.

18. If you smoke, spend five minutes checking out

imize their time away from home. It’s important to note that it will be necessary to stay local to Philadelphia approximately three to four weeks after discharge from the hospital to ensure that recovery is proceeding as expected.

To accommodate patients, the Penn Transplant Institute offers lodging at the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House, a guest house for transplant patients and their families and caregivers.

smokefree.gov. Bonus: Text QUIT to 47848 to receive daily text messages to help you stop smoking, from smokefree.gov.

As we make our way through the month’s celebrations, family visits, colder weather and, yes, sometimes stresses, it can be more important than ever to look after our health and wellness. These simple behaviors may be just what we need to do that – and

“Your donation will allow me to be here for my husband and daughter. I will be able to help my daughter choose her prom dress, attend her graduation, and be there as the mother of the bride,” Williams said. For more information about liver donation, visit www.penntransplant.donorscreen.org/ Register/Now The “Become a Living Donor” button links to the health screening questionnaire. The Living Donor Transplant line is (215) 3498220.

head toward a happy and healthy 2023. It’s your health. Take control.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

NEWSPAPER

Dining Out.

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

What Is ASize?Serving

GRAINS Keep ‘em Whole!

The Smart Way!

Be A Team Player!

Staying Active

(Naturally) DuringSummer!the Smart Summer Eating!

Do This. Not That!

Warm Up & Cool Down

Exercise Game

First Day of Spring!

Deck the Halls— Safely!

Smart Choices

Tech-Neck

Why do they call it

When we’re lucky enough to have a chance to go out for dinner, there are a few ways to stay healthy with our food

Nutrition Challenge:

Sugared soft drinks are one of the highest contributors to childhood obesity. “An extra soft drink a day gives a child

Once you’re out of school, many of you may have a lot of extra time on your hands to be snacking. Resist the urge to eat sweet, salty, fried and high-calorie non-nutritious snacks this summer.

We each need at least 3 servings per day of whole grains. But what does that mean? How can we know what foods contain whole grains?

See if the restaurant will let you “share” a meal. Many meals are two, three or more times an actual serving size.

becoming obese,” according to a recent study published in

Look at the ingredients list of a package of food you are about to eat. If the word “whole” is used, then there is most likely a whole grain ingredient. A few items that don’t use the word whole

As soon as you’ve divided your plate into the right size servings, ask your server for a to-go box. Go ahead and box up what you don’t need to eat right away. You can enjoy

In our “Super-Size” world, we can easily lose track of what an actual serving size means. When reading labels on a food or drink product, you can determine the nutrients, sodium, fiber, sugar and calories of a serving size. But be careful; just because it looks like one small bottle

Another fun way to increase your physical activity is to become part of a

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

It’s important that before you embark on any kind of exercise to remember two things: warm up and cool down. Start with some slow

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

> Ask the server how the different menu items are prepared. Fried, sautéed, and

Getting plenty of whole grains in your diet can improve your health and reduce your chance for some chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Visit wholegrainscouncil.com for more information.

lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to.

Create a Smart Summer Eating plan with your parents. Ask their help in finding nutritious snacks and meals for the

Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.

As the weather gets warmer, there are many ways that we can enjoy ourselves outdoors and stay healthy over the summer. Some naturally active things you can do include:

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

Healthcare Careers

> Decide you’re going to switch from soda to water.

summer. Delicious juicy, ripe fruits are all around and are healthy for you too! Make it your goal to come back to school in the fall healthier and happier!

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

> Avoid gravies, cheese sauces and other kinds of toppings that often just add fat and calories.

Lancet. The average sugared soft drink contains 10 teaspoons of sugar — and that’s just a small, 12-ounce can! How much sugar is in one of those huge, 64-ounce drink cups from the convenient store? It’s easy to cut back on the amount of sugar in your diet — replace those cans of soda with ice-cold water!

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

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

> After 3-4 weeks, this change will become a habit.

Review: What are some nutrition tips you learned by following The St. Louis American’s Healthy Kids page this school year? Send your answers to nie@stlamerican.com.

of soda — it may not be considered one serving size. For example, a 20-oz bottle contains 2.5 servings. So if the bottle states “110 calories per serving,” that means the entire bottle contains a total of 275 calories! Remember to watch those serving sizes and you’ll have better control over what you’re eating and drinking.

> Stick with water to drink. Not only will you save money, but you won’t be adding in extra calories from a sugarfilled drink.

> Every few days increase the amount of water and decrease your soda intake.

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

even simmered can all mean, “cooked in oil.” Instead, choose baked or grilled options.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4,

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

When you automatically reach for water instead of soda, it has now become a lifestyle change!

Where do you work? I am a family nurse practitioner for BJC Medical Group.

Where do you work? I am an Epic Principal Trainer for inpatient orders.

Where do you work? I am an EMT – B at Abbott EMS in Belleville, Illinois.

Where do you work? I am a school nurse at Monroe Elementary School.

> What are other ways to stay healthy while dining out?

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

As spring approaches, warmer weather allows us all to get more outdoor exercise. Here are some ways to become a more active person.

Where do you work? I am a school nurse with St. Louis Public Schools.

and movement (like walking) to increase your heart rate

little. Warm up for

> Help with yard work: planting, weeding, etc.

> Walking to the store when possible.

> Wash your parent’s car.

March 20, 2021, is the first day of spring. With spring comes warmer weather and longer days (later sunset). Make it a habit to spend as much time playing outside as the weather allows.

Secondly, when you are finished with any kind of strenuous (very active) exercise, take some time to cool down. You can slowly stretch your arms and

sports team. This teaches you sportsmanship, cooperation, commitment and discipline. Find a sport you enjoy and practice enough to try out for the

Instead of playing video games — play baseball, football, badminton, or some other active game.

good five minutes before increasing your heart rate.

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

> Play, play, play outside as much as you can!

Staying active, getting your heart rate up and opening your lungs will help you start off next school year happier and healthier!

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

legs again, and continue with reduced speed movements until your heart rate begins to slow down.

Review: What are some exercise tips you learned by following The St. Louis American’s Healthy Kids page this school year? Send your answers to nie@ stlamerican.com.

and breathing. You want to have fun, but it’s also a great way to help keep your heart, lungs and body healthy.

team! What team sports are available in your area? Possible options are baseball, soccer, football and basketball. Being a part of a formal team keeps you regularly active. And as a bonus — you’ll make new friends along the way!

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Lindbergh High School. I then attended the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where I studied biology.

First, locate either a deck of cards or two dice. Next you’ll need to make a list of different types of exercise: jumping jacks, sit-ups, lunges, etc. Write each exercise item on a small piece of paper or index

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:

Some fun outdoor games to play include tag, kickball, basketball, Frisbee, and bicycling. Choose activities that increase your heart rate

Instead of surfing the ‘Net — go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

> NEVER walk on a “frozen” pond, lake, river or any other body of water. Just because it looks frozen does not mean it is safe.

Break into small groups and define what it means to be a bully. Share your ideas with the class. Did you have the same things listed (as the other groups) that you would consider as bullying behavior?

How much time do you spend each day looking down at a phone, laptop or video game?

> Never use Holiday Lights with broken or frayed wiring. (And make sure there are no empty bulb sockets!)

card and fold into a small square. Put these squares into a bowl. Take turns rolling the dice (or drawing a card) and selecting an exercise from the bowl. The total number on the dice or card tells you how many of the exercise you must do. Face cards (king,

Make a list of your favorite 10 activities to do outdoors. Compare your list with your classmates and create a chart to see what are the most popular.

Can you think of other ways to be more active? Going outside and staying active not only increases your heart rate and burns calories, but it also helps you build friendships!

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

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

This warm-up and recovery period is important for your heart health. It also helps to reduce the amount of muscle pulls and strains.

Learning Standards: HPE1,

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

queen or jack) should all count as the number 10. Aces are “wild” and you can do as many as you want! To really challenge yourself, have one person roll the dice and the second can select the exercise. See who can complete the exercise challenge first!

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Where did you go to school? I graduated from McCluer High School. I then earned a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. And finally, I earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Maryville University.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Sumner High School. I then earned Associate Degree in Nursing from Forest Park College and a BS in Business Administration from Columbia College.

Over the last 35 weeks we have discussed many smart choices that you can make to help you stay safe and healthy. Break into small groups and list as many Smart Choices that your group remembers. Now individually, choose one that you think is very important. Describe in your own words what that smart choice is, and how you can remember to make the right choice in the future. Name a new “smart choice“ that you will make this summer.

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

Ham Pinwheels

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE 5, NH 1

Ingredients:

Cracker-wiches

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

Now back in your groups, create a newspaper ad that includes at least two of the following:

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Illinois. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and certificate in Public Health from Kent State University in Ohio. A Master of Healthcare Operational Excellence is expected December 2023 from Washington University in St. Louis.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from McCluer North High School. I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Meramec College in Kirkwood and completing my bachelor’s degree at Webster University in Webster Groves.

What does a family nurse practitioner do? Each day I have office visits with patients to help treat new health conditions and/or manage established health conditions. I perform physical examinations on patients, order labs, read x-rays results, and more.

Where do you work? I am the founder and distance counselor for Goal Driven Counseling, LLC. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, IL: same as former first lady Mrs. Michelle Obama. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I also completed two more years of supervision and exams to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri.

What does a school nurse do? I assess the concerns of students who are ill, injured or experiencing alterations in their normal health. Nurses screen daily staff, students and visitors for safety. Monroe School is a pilot school for Covid-19 test sites in partnership with the city.

What does a school nurse do? I love giving students medications, so they’re able to focus on learning. I clean and bandage wounds. I use medical equipment like a stethoscope, for example, to evaluate whether or not my asthmatics are breathing well. Moreover, I teach and promote healthy habits to my students.

What does a Licensed Clinical Social Worker do? I use technology to help teens and young adults explore their emotions, better understand their feelings, work through relationships, and address common challenges completely online through a computer, tablet, or smart phone. Similar to a Facetime call, I support and guide my clients from the comfort of their home or private location where they are comfortable

A BMI (Body Mass Index) is a generic way to calculate where your weight falls into categories (thin, average, overweight, obese). However, it’s a good idea to remember that a BMI may not take into consideration many things such as athleticism (how athletic you are), your bone density and other factors. Discuss your BMI with your

> If you are with someone that falls through the ice, first run (or call) for help. Do not try to go out onto the ice to help your friend. You can fall through the ice too.

> 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!

doctor if you have any questions. The formula to calculate your BMI is 703 X weight (lbs) ÷ height (in inches/squared) or search

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH5, NH 7

Chiropractors around the country see young patients every day suffering from back, neck and head-aches resulting from the extra strain you put on your body when you look down for long periods of time.

> How bullying hurts others.

> What to do if you are bullied.

“BMI Calculator” to find an easy fill-in chart online. If your number is high, what are some ways to lower your BMI?

Look through the newspaper for examples of ad layouts and design. Discuss the words “compassion,” “empathy” and “sympathy.” How do they each play into your response to bullying at your school?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, HPE 7, NH 5, NH 7 Ice can be dangerous for several different reasons.

> When walking on icecovered roadways or sidewalks, take baby steps. Walk carefully and slowly.

A couple of quick tips that will reduce that strain on your neck are:

> 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).

> Also — remember to look up! Icicles injure numerous people every year. If you see large icicles forming over your front steps, ask your parents to use a broom handle to knock them off to the side before they break loose from your gutters.

1. Most importantly — take breaks! Have a goal of a 3 minute break every 15-20 minutes. Move around, stretch your neck and relax, without looking down!

Easy Hummus

Ingredients:

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career to help improve the health of my community.

8 Saltine crackers

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

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

> What other ice hazards are there?

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

2. Set your tech device in a holder to keep it at eye level, reducing the need to look down.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

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

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Dip Ingredients:

4 Tbsp Peanut butter

Ingredients:

Ingredients: 1/2 Cp Vanilla Greek yogurt, 3 Tbsp Natural peanut butter, 1 Ripe banana (sliced and frozen), Splash of vanilla (optional) 6 Ice cubes

2 Large Strawberries

1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

Directions:

1 Garlic clove, crushed

1 Tbsp Honey (optional)

1 cup blueberries 1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

2 Tsp Cumin, 1 Tsp Olive oil, ½ Tsp Salt

up the tortilla and cut into ½ inch pinwheels.

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy with baked tortilla chips or raw vegetables.

Directions: Blend all ingredients until Smooth. Makes 2 yummy smoothies!

Directions: Spread peanut butter on four of the crackers and top with sliced strawberries. Drizzle with honey and top with the other crackers to make four cracker-wiches.

Directions: Drop each blueberry into the yogurt. Using a spoon, swirl around to coat and place each blueberry on a cookie sheet topped with parchment paper. Freeze for at least an hour.

What does an EMT do? My day-to-day includes helping others when they aren’t feeling their best. I also assist getting them to the hospital when they can’t take themselves. Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others problem solve. Also, I have twin stepsons, one who wants to be a police officer, and the other who wants to be a doctor. I thought that being an EMT helped me to meet them both in the middle. And, back in 2018, I had my own medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The paramedic that took care of me was so comforting and assuring that I realized that becoming an EMT is an honorable career. I now work with that same paramedic, at the same company.

Why did you choose this career? I am a St. Louis native, and was an asthmatic child who experienced frequent hospitalizations. Besides having the influence of nurses in my family, the local nurses who helped take care of me were my “angels” and always managed to nurse me back to health, thus sparking my interest.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? Many chronic health conditions (diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) are preventable, and early detection is key. Thus my favorite part of the job is partnering with patients to establish and manage a plan to help them each live a long and healthy life.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy being a support to teens and young adults in a very challenging phase of life that can be overwhelming. I enjoy teaching them how to best take care of themselves so they can live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Why did you choose this career? I love nursing because there are many opportunities in hospitals, schools, clinics and offices, insurance, legal and research. My passion is working in the schools with students, parents, staff and community partners.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy when a child tells you, “I want to be a nurse.” And best of all, I love the smiles, hugs and “thank-yous”.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy meeting and learning about new people and cultures every day. I also like the adrenaline of driving fast with sirens going to get to an emergency quickly.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

What does an Epic Principal Trainer do? My background in healthcare is a Registered Nurse (RN) and I have always loved learning. As a Principal Trainer, I teach Providers (Nurse Practitioners (NP), Physician Assistants (PA) and Physicians) how to use EpicCare (or Epic for short), which is a computer system clinicians use to record the health information of their patients. Teaching can take place by learning in-person, virtual (e.g., Zoom or Teams) and e-learnings. I assist in creating real-life training lessons, building and maintaining patients for those training sessions, as well as developing e-learnings. Epic is always improving! I work with analysts who create the updates for Epic and once complete, I develop the education for training. Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because it allows me to combine healthcare with information technology (IT) and education. A Principal Trainer is comparable to an Instructional Designer who studies how people learn and create education with that purpose in mind. Technology changes the way, and access to, how we learn every day. This career allows me to be innovative in education and healthcare IT. What is your favorite part of the job you have? Learning is a lifelong journey, and I am excited to be a part of helping others learn!

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

My childhood health challenges have given me sensitivity to children suffering with illness. After being given a new lease on life, I consider it an honor to be in a position to promote health to the children of my community, in whatever capacity I serve – in turn, being their “angel.”

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love that my job makes talking about mental health not as scary and even makes it kind of cool. I love that I get to build valuable relationships with so many people that trust me to be there for them. I love that no matter where my clients are, we can simply connect with a video call and I can not only support them through hard times, but lots of good times as well.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3 Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

Lenetee Allen, BSN, RN

Banana PB Smoothie

Marnay Howard, EMT - B

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

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

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Students enjoy studying physics by building catapults using popsicle sticks, rubber bands and plastic spoons, during Boeing Day at the 2022 Summer Science Academy.

Photo by Cathy Sewell

Building Bridges

Civil engineers who design bridges are problem solvers. Their goal is to create a structure that will allow people and vehicles to travel over railroad tracks, roads, rivers, and other obstacles. The bridge design must be able to support the necessary weight and withstand earthquakes, strong winds, freezing and thawing. The design and cost of the bridge also needs to be considered. Bridges must be maintained, just like roads. There are many types of bridges, including beam bridges, arch bridges, suspension bridges, cantilever bridges, truss bridges, and cable-stayed bridges. Bridges need to withstand two forces: tension and compression. Tension is the force created when

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Background Information:

The goal of this experiment is to create a paper bridge that can support 100 pennies.

Materials Needed:

• Piece of 81/2” x 11” Paper

• 6 Books • 100 Pennies

• Ruler Procedure:

SCIENCE STARS

African-American Civil Engineer

Karl W Reid

an object is pulled, such as a rope in tug of war. If a bridge cannot support the tension, it will snap (imagine a rubber band pulled too far). Compression is the force created when pressure is placed on an object to push it down and shorten the length. Imagine your finger applying pressure to compress a marshmallow. If a bridge cannot support the compression, it will buckle. In order to support tension and compression, engineers need to redistribute the weight that is applying pressure.

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

Build a Paper Bridge!

the bridge support before it collapses? What happens if the pennies are in the center of the bridge or spread across the bridge?

Karl Reid is the executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers, which has over 30,000 members who are black engineers that succeed academically, professionally, and personally. These engineers also have a positive impact in their community. Dr. Reid was chosen for this position after he worked for 15 years at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to help low income and minority students receive access to college. Dr. Reid has also served as executive director of Engineering Outreach Programs for MIT’s School of Engineering. He worked to recruit minority students in the STEM related careers. Reid was born and raised in New York. His parents encouraged his success in education and Reid looked up to his older brother, who excelled in math and science, and the brothers both attended MIT. At MIT, Reid earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Materials Science and Engineering. He became involved in Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society, which he states helped boost his confidence and leadership skills. Reid then earned his Doctorate of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. After graduation, Reid worked for 12 years in the computer industry.

q Make two stacks of books of equal height. Put them 6 inches apart.

w Make a bridge by putting a sheet of paper across the books.

e Put some pennies on the bridge. How many pennies can

MATH CONNECTION

Today’s word problems are all about travel!

z Joyce drove 256 miles at 64 miles per hour. How long did Joyce drive?

x If Gary bicycled 18 miles at 12 miles per hour, how long was Gary travelling?

c It took Rick 3.5 hours to ride to Clarkson’s house at 55 miles per hour. How far is it between Rick’s house and Clarkson’s house? ________

v If Rachel skated 22 miles at 8 miles per hour, how long was Rachel travelling? ________

DID YOU KNOW?

r How can you make the bridge stronger? Can you change the design of your bridge to support more pennies? Try bending, folding, or tearing the paper.

t Test your bridge again by adding pennies one at a time. How many pennies can your bridge support?

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results and draw conclusions.

b Sharon rode a bike to Shirley’s house. It is 20 miles from Sharon’s house to Shirley’s house. It took Sharon 5 hours to get there. How fast did Sharon go? ________

n If Paula sailed 15 miles at 6 miles per hour, how long was Paula travelling?

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem. I can make text-to-world connections.

In his free time, Reid volunteers at the Reid Temple AME church where he directs Christian education. He also writes a blog about striving for academic achievement. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, the DC STEM Network Advisory Council, and the American Society of Civil Engineers’ “Dream Big” IMAX Movie Technical Advisory Council. He was named one of the “Top 100 Executives in America” by Uptown Professional magazine. Dr. Reid has received the NSBE Golden Torch Award for “Minority Engineering Program Director of the Year” and the Outstanding Advisor of the Year award from the MIT Academic Resource Center. Dr. Reid is also a recipient of the YMCA Black Achievers Award, the MIT Presidential Award for Community Service and the MIT Excellence Award.

To read Karl W Reid’s blog and advice for school success, visit: http://karlwreid.com/.

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made a contribution in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One — Antonyms: Find five sets of antonyms in the newspaper. Clip them out and then double-check your answers with a dictionary or thesaurus.

Activity Two — Slogans: Companies create slogans to use in advertising. Slogans help customers connect with the business and remember the company name, product, or service. Find five slogans in the newspaper. State what you like or dislike about the slogan.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can use resource materials. I can evaluate text. I can create text-to-world connections.

The Eads Bridge over the Mississippi River was the first arched steel truss bridge in the world.

The Golden Gate Bridge has been declared as one of the modern wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Fall 2015 issue of the NSBE magazine.

UMSL, MU program seeks to accelerate DEI in region

New partnership launches in January

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

The Office of Diversity Equity & Inclusion at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) along with the MU Extension Equity Diversity and Inclusion Council will begin a program surrounding equity and inclusion in January 2023.

The Chancellor’s Certificate in Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace is an interactive cohort-based online professional development program that analyzes the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The program is open to professionals in the St. Louis region.

According to Dwayne James, MU Extension Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion director, a ver-

sion of the program has been offered to faculty and staff in the University of Missouri System since 2015.

However, the university didn’t have the resources to make it available more broadly, the partnership between UMSL and MU Extension makes the program more accessible to all professionals in the Greater St. Louis area.

“We believe it will be a benefit to people in all types of organizations because the concepts are foundational and broadly applicable,” said James.

Participants in the online program will learn how to be an advocate and lead around diversity and inclusion issues. Work effectively in a diverse work environment, and make workspaces more welcoming for all employees. The course fee is $450, however, discounts are available for UMSL employees and alumni, professionals in government and education as well as non-profits.

“The program is designed to build individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace,” said James.

See DEI, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Lester promoted to VP at Clayco

Clayco’s Dan Lester, Sr., MCA has been promoted to VP of field culture and inclusion. Lester will lead the strategic integration of inclusion education and training on all Clayco jobsites nationwide ensuring that inclusion is embraced as best practice by all project execution teams of the enterprise. He is responsible for designing, executing, and evaluating education, and training that provides project execution teams in the field with foundational and practical knowledge of inclusion as it relates to their individual job roles and responsibilities.

honored with teaching award

LaRhonda L. Wilson, associate professor of sociology at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, is one of two recipients honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award. The veteran educator – who also serves as the College’s Center for Teaching and Learning coordinator – and Lisa Ebert of Jefferson College were tapped winners from a pool of 12 finalists recognized at the awards dinner Nov. 30 at the Missouri Community College Association’s 58th Annual Convention and Tradeshow Awards.

Mims elected to partner at Dowd Bennett

Arsenio L. Mims is an associate attorney at Dowd Bennett LLP wherein he concentrates on products liability defense, corporate internal investigations, sports law, and representing clients in both the defense and prosecution of matters involving fraud and the False Claims Act.

Arsenio also defends clients in multi-district litigation proceedings across the United States, and assists in all aspects of litigation proceedings, including case strategy, discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal. He obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.

Dwayne James is the new DEI head at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

LaRhonda

LaRhonda L. Wilson

Dan Lester, Sr.

Arsenio L. Mims

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of LSEM

Home

Continued from B1

the growing needs of our clients and the community we serve,” said Dan Glazier, Legal Services executive director.

“The new location offers great access to I-70, I-64 and I-44, Bi-State buses on Market St. and the Pine St. Metrolink. In addition, we are excited to move downtown. We will be closer to some of the courts we frequent and our community and educational partners.”

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has completed a community-based needs assessment about legal needs of persons living with low income and low opportunity.

Glazer said assessment included focus groups and surveys to the client population, and social service organizations, in addition to volunteer lawyers and court personnel.

“The Legal Services Board, which is closely connected to the community served by having 33% of its members be client-eligible persons, prioritized the types of legal work to be done in 2023. Included are: Children/Youth, Including Education, Consumer/ Economic

DEI

Continued from B1

“At the end of the course, they are equipped with tools and ideas that they can bring to their workplace for enhancing DEI.”

A study by McKinsey & Company and The Society for Human Research Management (SHRM) evaluated the performance of organizations with different levels of workplace diversity. They found that organizations that exhibit gender and ethnic diversity are, respectively, 15% and 35% more likely to outperform less diverse organizations. Similarly, organizations with more gender and racial diversity bring in increased revenue, more customers, and higher profits.

Organizations with diverse environments have increased job satisfaction amongst employees, increased levels of trust, and higher engagement levels. Not only do DEI programs lift morale and overall attitude on an employee level, but they also provide a multitude of benefits that can be seen at every level of the business.

Even though the program offers discounts, some professionals don’t fit the criteria to qualify for the discounted price. James says he hopes employers and other organizations

Stability, Community and Economic Development, Disability, Elderly, Family Law [Preventing Domestic Violence, Adult or Child Abuse and/or To Stabilize Families], Health, Housing [Including Homelessness].

Also, Immigration, Income Maintenance [Including Unemployment Compensation], Public Benefits, Probate [Avoiding Homelessness or Impoverishment of a Family], and Tax Matters [Situations Where the Client’s Employment or Home May Be Affected.]

Legal Services’ new offices will provide 10,000 sq. ft. more than the current space. The entire 11th and part of the 12th floor in Peabody Plaza will be occupied by Legal Services and over 90 of its employees.

The new space features 75 offices, a reception area, six conference rooms which provide private spaces for client meetings and cubicle space for over 50 interns, from Saint Louis University, Washington University and other educational institutions, and volunteers. Parking is free and there will be reserved spaces for clients.

“Community outreach and education are an important part of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s mission,” said Karen

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s new offices will provide 10,000 sq. ft. more than the current space. The entire 11th and part of the 12th floor in Peabody Plaza will be occupied by Legal Services and over 90 of its employees.

Warren, Associate Director of Administration & Community Engagement.

“With our relocation to downtown St. Louis, we will continue to look for the best ways to connect with our client community and community partners. Legal Services is committed to ensuring our services are accessible to the communities we serve.”

Peabody Plaza is owned by Seth Berkowitz, a former Legal Services intern, and Sidartha Singh, managing directors of Briar Meads Capital.

“Briar Meads Capital is extremely proud to become the new hosts for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, support its vital mission, and provide accommodations suitable for their dedicated attorneys and staff. From our own personal experience with Legal Services, we know this organization to be vital to their clients and the community it serves,” said Berkowitz.

Glazier said, “We are profoundly grateful to have found a new home in downtown St. Louis, and we are confident that this move will significantly benefit our clients as well as our employees, volunteers, and the community.

will invest in their employees’ professional development.

The program welcomes grant funders or donors who would be willing to cover the costs for individuals and organizations who cannot afford it.

But what about the folks that otherwise wouldn’t really have an interest in this type of development, how do UMSL and the MU Extension plan to reach that community?

James says the course is designed to meet people where they are, there is no expectation or need for prior knowledge.

“We intentionally create a learning environment that is conducive to people asking questions, taking risks, and sharing their perspectives without judgment,” said James.

“The course is not simplistic and the field of DEI is so broad that even the “choir” will have plenty to learn.”

James says the idea of the DEI program is for participants to learn that all of our actions impact our workplace environments and our communities.

The St. Louis community as a whole will benefit by having employers in the community who are equipped to be allies and advocates for DEI, which will impact our region bit by bit.

“The program is designed to build individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.”

James says the course is designed to meet people where they are, there is no expectation or need for prior knowledge.

“We intentionally create a learning environment that is conducive to people asking questions, taking risks, and sharing their perspectives without judgment.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Dwayne James said, “The program is designed to build individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.”

Photo courtesy of LSEM

n “Deion Sanders isn’t a traitor to Black people. He isn’t a savior for Colorado. He is what every other big-time college coach is: a capitalist.”

– Mike Freeman USA TODAY

reporter

Sports

DECEMBER 8 – 14, 2022

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

STL turns into title town with three more prep football crowns

A tremendous year of St. Louis area high school football concluded last weekend with three additional state championships coming home.

East St. Louis and CBC got the ball rolling by winning state titles during the Thanksgiving weekend. That merely set the stage for St. Mary’s, Cardinal Ritter, and Francis Howell, which rolled to respective state championships last weekend in convincing fashion at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

St. Mary’s blasted fellow Archdiocesan Athletic Association member St. Dominic in the Class 4 state championship game. Later that evening, Francis Howell took care of Fort Osage 49-21 to win the Class 5 state title. Cardinal Ritter defeated Reeds Spring 46-7 to win the Class 3 state championship.

St. Mary’s state championship marked consecutive titles for the Dragons, outscoring their two opponents 98-0 in the two ShowMe Bowl appearances. Standout seniors Chase Hendricks and Jamal Roberts scored two touchdowns each to lead the Dragons’ offensive attack.

For Cardinal Ritter and Francis Howell, the respective state championships were the first in school history. Both teams finished the season with perfect 14-0 records.

Cardinal Ritter’s Marvin Burks Jr. rushed for 118 yards and scored four touchdowns while standout receiver Fredrick Moore had eight receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Not only was it the first state title for Francis Howell, but it was the first championship from a school from St. Charles County in 40 years. St. Charles High was the last team to win a state title back in 1982.

Junior quarterback Adam Shipley enjoyed a dominant performance for the Vikings as he rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He also passed for 89 yards and two more scores.

Midwest Showdown Shootout on Dec. 10

Event coordinator Terrell Ramey of Rameybasketball has assembled another quality lineup for the Dec. 11 Midwest Showdown Shootout. The showcase at Ritenour High will feature six games with teams from Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee.

Game 1: Ritenour vs. Columbia Battle, 1 p.m. – Host Ritenour has an improved team

this year. The Huskies are led by 6’2” senior guard Grayson Rogers. Battle features one of the state’s top junior prospects in 6’7” junior Tate McCubbin.

Game 2: Lift for Life vs. Romeoville (IL), 2:30 p.m. – Lift for Life returns several key players from last year’s Class 4 state quarterfinalist team. They include 6’7” junior Lajuan Johnson and guard Dennis Olds. Romeoville features Loyola (MD) recruit Troy Cicero and junior guard Meyoh Swansey.

Game 3: DeSmet vs. Fayatte Ware (TN), 4 p.m. - DeSmet has a strong, young team com-

ing off the championship of the Arvest Classic in Springfield last weekend. The Spartans are led by 6’4” senior guard Justin Duff. Fayette is led by 6’8” senior forward Damarion Yates. They finished 26-7 a year ago.

Game 4: PRISE Academy (MO) vs. Chicago Prep Academy, 5:30 p.m. – A battle of Midwest prep school powerhouses. PRISE, located in Columbia, is led by 6’7” Kaylon Mason and 6’5’ Christian Campbell. Top junior prospects Mike Jones and Tristian Ford lead Chicago Prep.

Game 5: East St. Louis vs. Chicago

SportS EyE

With Alvin A.

Reid

Hillcrest, 7 p.m. – A prime-time matchup featuring two of the top teams in the state of Illinois. East Side features the area’s top prospect in 6’6” senior Kansas State

Game 6: Cardinal Ritter vs. Miller Career Academy, 8:30 p.m. – Cardinal Ritter has advanced to three consecutive state tournament Final Fours. Standout juniors Clayton Jackson and Nashawn Davis lead the Lions. Senior guards

and

Deion Sander’s has a mountain to climb to turn Colorado around

Deion Sanders watched as embattled Florida State University football coach Mike Norvell marched his team to an impressive 9-3 record and a berth in the Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma.

Had Norvell not turned it around in 2022, Deion Sanders might have returned to the school where he played as its head coach. Sanders is saying goodbye to Jackson State University after three years for a Power 5 Conference School – and it is far from a power. Sanders will take over as Colorado head coach after Saturday’s Celebration Bowl against North Carolina Central in Atlanta. The Buffaloes went 1-11 in 2022. Money is an influencer.

Sanders will receive a reported

$29.5 million over five years before bonuses and incentives.

A $5 million salary pool has been created to hire assistants and staff.

His four-year agreement with JSU was worth a reported $1.2 million, and Sanders must pay a buyout of about $300,00. Somehow, his departure speech to his team reached social media moments after Sanders concluded it. Go figure.

“I would like for y’all to hear it from me and not anyone else,” said the Florida native.

“In coaching you get elevated, or you get terminated. Ain’t no other way. I have chosen to accept the job elsewhere next year,” he said. Later, he spoke to his new players in Colorado. He was blunt to say the least.

“Those of you that we don’t run off, we’re going to try to make you quit,” Sanders said. “I want ones that don’t want to

quit, that want to be here, who want to work, who want to win.”

He told them current JSU players, including his quarterback son, Shedeur, and five-star receiver recruit Winston Watkins, would be joining him at CU.

“When I get here, it’s gonna be change. So, I want you all to get ready to go ahead and jump in that (transfer) portal,” Sanders said.

It’s bold talk, and Sanders knows it. He knows that most of the players on the 1-11 team he was talking down to would start for most HBCU teams,

including his 2022 Jackson State Tigers. I wish Sanders good luck. I hope the fan base and Colorado administrators have patience. This job will not be easy. The remaining members of the PAC-12 Conference could care less about “Coach Prime” and his promises.

CU Athletic Director Rick George said, “It had to be a redo from top to bottom.”

“That’s why I’m going to give Coach Prime the latitude to do what he needs to do. We’ve talked about resources and what he needs. He’s going

to shoot for the sky just like we did in this hire. We shot for the highest point we could, and I think we got what we shot for.”

Only time will tell if Colorado has shot itself in the foot.

The Reid Roundup

The US Men’s National Soccer Team reached the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup, only to lose to the Netherlands 3-1 in the round of 16. In four games, the American’s scored three goals. The team’s next goal should be finding more talent, and that will happen when it starts finding more players of color… Fred McGriff was unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Hall’s “Contemporary Era” committee. Players needed 12 votes to reach the Hall. Don Mattingly received eight and pitcher Curt Schilling, who has no problem with sharing his racist and homophobic views, received seven votes. Seventime MVP Barry Bonds and seven-time Cy Young Award winner pitcher Roger Clemens received less than four votes. And baseball wonders why it has a problem… Deshaun Watson took over as Cleveland Browns quarterback last Sunday and was awful. He was 12-for-22 for 131 yards and threw an interception. Watson also refuses to comment on the dozens of sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him… Bradley Beal signed a five-year, $251-million free-agent deal to remain with the Washington Wizards last summer. He didn’t sugarcoat why in an interview on former NBA star Gilbert Arenas’ podcast. “I’m just being frank. There was nowhere else for me to go [as a free agent] where I can be like, ‘Oh, I can go win.’ It was teams that strategically wasn’t what I wanted.”

Alvin A. Reid

recruit Macaleab Rich and 6’5” senior Cal-State Fullerton recruit Antwan Robinson. Hillcrest will be led by 6’9” senior Akron recruit Darrion Baker.

Charles Nelson

Nehemiah Reedus lead Career Academy.

Earl Austin Jr.

sports

Cardinal Ritter’s Marvin Burks (1) rushes for some of his 118 yards on 21 carries during the Missouri class 3 football championship Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 at Fourot Field.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Deion Sanders destined for Colorado

Photo courtesy of Colorado U.

Neosha Franklin named VP of Community Impact Network

The Community Impact Network, a private operating foundation based in Wellston, announced that Neosha Franklin will be its vice president of engagement.

Franklin brings to her position vast experience in the St. Louis nonprofit sector, working with organizations and donors on community outreach, grant-making, and reframing narratives around important social issues. In her position at the

Network, a newly created role, Franklin will lead community outreach, marketing, and communications.

Franklin most recently was director of communications at the St. Louis Community Foundation, where she oversaw messaging, promotion, media relations, digital strategy, and community engagement. In that role, she led Give STL Day, a 24-hour day of online giving that has generated over $26 million for St. Louis area

nonprofits in the past five years. “I am excited to lead the Network’s engagement efforts as we listen to and learn from the people in the 24:1 area on how the Network can best contribute to the community’s strengths,” said Franklin. “This new position allows me to build upon my prior work with local, civic, and regional leaders to ensure philanthropic efforts in the St. Louis region make a lasting impact.”

The Network serves the 24:1 community, which consists of the municipalities and sections of unincorporated north St. Louis County that together make up the Normandy Schools Collaborative district. Building on its longstanding commitment to building equity, the Network now focuses on serving those who create opportunities for people in the 24:1 community to learn, live, and leave a legacy.

REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund awards grants to community partners

The REALTOR® Housing Assistance Fund (RHAF), the charitable arm of St. Louis REALTORS®, awarded funds to its 2022 grant recipients on November 30, 2022. The ceremony occurred at the Association’s headquarters at 12777 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63141, starting at 10 a.m. It was attended by Association leadership and staff, along with representatives from the individual organizations. This annual event, known as the “RHAF Grant Giving

Spire is enhancing two assistance programs, following a Nov. 30 approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Earlier last month, Spire expanded the eligibility criteria for its DollarHelp program. These efforts build upon the

Celebration,” was streamed live on Facebook. 2022

RHAF Chairperson Jennifer Guffey and 2022 RHAF ViceChairperson Marcellus Duffy co-hosted the ceremony. “It’s important to note RHAF is a 100% volunteer effort on the

part of St. Louis REALTORS® members and staff,” Duffy added. “Nearly 100% of every dollar donated to RHAF flows through to our donees.”

The following local organizations received grants at the ceremony:

Spire expands two customer assistance programs

more than $27 million in federal, state and Spire energy assistance funding Spire helped customers access during fiscal year 2022. Expanded access to assistance includes the following changes:

Payment Partner Program

The Payment Partner Program provides a monthly bill credit and matches payments toward past due amounts for individuals who qualify. Spire is expanding eligibility so that customers with house-

hold incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level may qualify; this is up from the current eligibility level of 200%. The expansion of the program is anticipated to go into effect later this month.

Critical Medical Needs Program

The Critical Medical Needs Program will assist customers experiencing a medical emergency and suspend potential disconnection of their service for up to 30 days. Spire will

provide financial support for this assistance network along with other utilities in partnership with the United Way. The program requires certification from a health care provider or case worker and is targeted to launch in March of next year.

A record-setting number of women will serve in state legislatures in 2023

A record number of women will soon serve in state legislatures, breaking the previous cap of female lawmakers by at least 69 seats and bringing total representation to more than 32%, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. States will have at least 2,376 female lawmakers in 2023, including both women elected in 2022 and holdovers.

That is an increase in the number of women writing and voting on state laws from the current record of 2,307 women set in 2022. Another 59 races this year with female candidates are too close to call.

Democrats hold the lead with 1,560 members, while Republicans have 795. The remaining female state lawmakers don’t belong to a major party or are independent. CAWP, which is a unit of the

Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey, noted that means GOP female lawmakers make up just 33.5% of women state legislators. In Missouri, women will

hold 45 seats in the 163 member House and 12 – the most ever – in the state Senate. There were 50 women in the General Assembly before November’s election.

Neosha Franklin

Living It

The proclamation of ‘Emancipation’ Bounce

Will

Smith

drama is noble attempt at enslaved man’s reallife freedom journey

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

With the new Will Smith drama, Emancipation, headed into theaters and streaming via Apple + on Friday, December 9, the “do we need another ‘slave movie’” debate has been reignited. Let us settle it once and for all, shall we? Yes, we need another “slave movie.” In fact, we need as many as it will take to drive home the point that the descendants of enslaved people all over the world – the United States in particular – owe a debt to their ancestors that they can never truly repay. That is not to say that there isn’t a need for full representation of broad and diverse history of Black people. However, bypassing the experience of the enslaved does eliminate a critical expression of the triumphant will of Black people. And Emancipation makes the case that we need another “slave movie” to illustrate that

Arts and Education Council to celebrate special year

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

The Arts and Education Council is preparing for its 2023 St. Louis Arts Awards on Jan. 30, 2023 and the organization will also celebrate 60 years of service in February.

A&E hosted a reception last month where 25 artists, organizations and individuals were announced as honorees including lifetime achievers Barbara Berner, St. Louis Children’s Choirs artistic director and CEO; Judy Best, artistic director at Best Dance & Talent Center; and Dr. Eugene B. Redmond, Emeritus Professor of English SIUE and poet laureate.

“All the amazing artists, art representatives, and supporters of the arts know that we are so proud of you and we honor you,” said Lyah LeFlore, CEO and president of A&E. Lois Conley, founder and executive director of The Griot Museum of Black History will be honored with the Art Innovator award along with Maria Ellis, music educator and choral conductor.

“It’s a wonderful experience especially

in moving one’s people forward.

survival – and unyielding sacrifice for the sake of the survival of others – can be the most radical, revolutionary act in moving one’s people forward.

The film is inspired by a true story. It does

n With his portrayal of Peter, Will Smith is forced to carry a film without his wheelhouse of ingredients that have made him a box office guarantee for the better part of a quarter-century.

its best to give insight into the life of a man in a photo that many credit as giving a visual that truly depicts the brutal horror against humanity that was the institution of slavery in America. In the widely distributed photo, only one side of the elderly man’s face is visible, but his entire back

– that has been so viciously lashed that his skin appears to be infused with leather. His name is Gordon, but thanks to the 1863 photo, he is also referred to as “Whipped Peter.” His back only told part of the story. The film reveals he was an enslaved Haitian who was sent to Louisiana to work on some of the most vicious plantations in the south. He is a man of family and a man of faith. A series of unfortunate events take him on a quest to find a nearby Union Army battalion so that he can take up arms and join the fight to free his people. With his portrayal of Peter, Smith is forced to carry a film without his wheelhouse of ingredients that have made him a box office guarantee for the better part of a quarter-century. His impeccable comedic timing, natural charm and authentically organic chemistry are not applicable in Emancipation. And yet Smith’s Peter –stripped down to the emotions of anguish, determination, and faith to the extreme of oppositional

See Film, C8

when you’re among people who do the same kinds of things that you do and they take time to recognize your work,” Conley said.

Arts veteran Suzanne Palmer, Director of Fine Arts at Normandy Collaborative Schools, is recipient of Art Educator of the Year: Legacy. Palmer’s expertise ranges from kindergarten to high school. She worked with Saint Louis Public Schools for ten years and has worked with Normandy for 25 years.

“I tell my parents and students if you want to be a star, come through my classroom, and I’ll do my best to make you a success if that’s what

Dr. Eugene B. Redmond, ShevarŽ Perry, Cbabi Bayoc, Diane Davenport, Thomasina Clarke, Dottie Marshall Englis, and John Russell.

Sir Eddie C + Friends hit hometown stage on Dec. 9

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

Sir Eddie C’s vintage ice cream uniform has become a signature aesthetic that he first sported with the release of his three-song 11-minute EP “Gelato.” He will be decked out in the motif when he hosts “Sir Eddie C + Friends,” featuring Zado, and KVtheWriter on Friday, Dec. 9 at Jamo’s Central Stage located, 3524 Washington Ave Grand Center. His 1950’s-inspired attire includes a crisp white button down top with a black bowtie, a bubblegum pink cardigan, white slacks, and a black belt. He says it is his way of paying homage to old school service workers, while rolling out a fun and innovative concept different from his music peers in St. Louis.

“All my favorite artists have really cool rollouts, visuals for their projects,” Eddie said. “I wanted to show people there’s still a place for that, definitely in hip hop music. There’s still a space for a creative world building around the music.”

n “All my favorite artists have really cool rollouts, visuals for their projects. I wanted to show people there’s still a place for that, definitely in hip hop music. There’s still a space for a creative world building around the music.”

- Sir Eddie C

While dining with friend Nyara Williams (photographer and videographer) at The Gelateria Coffee Company, Eddie noticed the colors of the different gelato flavors. It would become a theme.

“Gelato” features “Bounce,” “godbody, (feat. Be.Be)” and “Free Market.” He said “Bounce” is the best accident he’s ever had.

“When my producer [Dez Niboh] played the beat I thought it sounded like an ice cream truck,” he said.

“I wanted something that hit hard. I knew I needed something with some bounce.”

“godbody,” produced by MadKeys, was inspired by Eddie murmuring lyrics to Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call,” over the beat. From there he developed the song’s content.

you want,” Palmer said.

The awards celebration is also seeking sponsors to recognize two tables for educators and teachers in light of the recent Central Visual Performing Arts High School fatal shooting.

“The name of our organization is Arts and Education Council, I need all of you to cast the net to your server to your network cause this year we are making two tables special for teachers and educators,” LeFlore said.

“Faithful” from Common’s “Be” album is the vision behind “godbody.” A line where Common asks, “What if God was a her?” gave Eddie the idea to write a song celebrating women’s beauty, especially Black women.

“I remember seeing girls and saying you look better than good,” he said. “I was searching for a way to show good.” He raps “Girl, you looking like the king of kings. Godbody, you deserve a ring,” on the track.

Photo Courtesy of Apple+

Will Smith, Charmaine Bingwa and cast from “Emancipation,” makes the case that we need another “slave movie” to illustrate that survival wwcan be the most radical, revolutionary act

Photo by Tyler Small | Sir Eddie C’s Instagram

Sir Eddie C is hosting a “Sir Eddie C + Friends” performance featuring Zado, and KVtheWriter on Friday, Dec. 9 at Jamo’s Central Stage located at 3524 Washington Ave Grand Center.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

One-day Gospel Fest at the Missouri History Museum

By Cicely Hunter, Missouri Historical Society

“Mother” Willie Mae Ford

Smith (1904–1994) was gifted with a remarkable voice that carried her across the country and helped establish St. Louis as a place where gospel music lives on through the current generation. Born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Smith spent her earliest years in Memphis, attending Prospect Church with her family, and then St. Louis, where Smith sang at True Light Church and eventually expanded her reach as a solo vocalist with her daughter as her accompanist. She later became ordained as a minister, preaching at Lively Stone Apostolic Church for 30 years.

Smith once proclaimed that she sang “the Christian blues.

I’m like the blues singer; when something’s rubbing me wrong, I sing out my soul to settle me down.” With her “building wrecker” contralto voice, flowing robes, and oversized glasses, Smith embodied the ideal gospel balance of loving warmth and towering power. In the late 1920s, she organized a “soloists training bureau” at the National Convention of Gospel Choirs. She was soon known as the top teacher in the country. Among her countless students were Mahalia Jackson, Dinah Washington, and Aretha Franklin.

While Smith performed at churches and revivals for decades, her first album didn’t come out until she was 69, and a 1972 appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival marked her first real exposure to wider audiences outside of the gospel world. In 1988 she received a National Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

In honor of Smith and St. Louis’s contribution to gospel music, the Missouri History Museum will host a free OneDay Gospel Fest in collaboration with TV and film producer Monica Butler, the founder of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame Missouri. On Saturday, December 10, from 12pm to 6pm, explore the gospel music genre through live performances;

Winter celebrations at the Saint Louis Art Museum

the St. Louis Sound exhibit; and a screening and discussion of the 1982 documentary Say Amen, Somebody, which shares the intricate history of gospel music in the US. The film, much of which was shot in St. Louis, spotlights Smith’s legendary story. Before the screening, enjoy a conversation with three local gospel legends featured in the film, Zella Jackson Price, Dr. Marabeth Gentry, and Ethel Foster. Butler, who will emcee the Gospel Fest, describes how her passion for the preservation of gospel music centers on the “foundation of faith, family, and fellowship. This foundational core exists to preserve our community’s gospel music legacy through the Gospel Music Hall of Fame Missouri. This longtime community pillar sits beautifully in Holy Corners, where the legacy of generations before us used the beautiful melodies made in the church from faith and fellowship as a community.”

“Gospel music comes from the same cultured community that needed spiritual upliftment during slavery and the struggles of the civil rights movement,” Butler continues. “Gospel music was the gateway to freedom with chants, songs, and spiritual hymns. This story is now the dream and determination of four young church girls who grew up attending New Bethlehem Baptist Church together with the vision of ensuring gospel music’s rich history

and sound for St. Louis and worldwide. We strive to make the bells ring again.”

When asked what she hopes people will take away from the One-Day Gospel Fest, Butler mentions “a heartfelt spiritual awakening that inspires and enlightens guests on gospel music’s cultural history and future. Also, we hope people will be excited to see what the Gospel Music Hall of Fame Missouri can do for our community and country while uniting gospel voices worldwide. We want to showcase the magic of gospel music and bring people of all musical and cultural backgrounds as we celebrate this aspect of Black culture. Gospel music can empower any community and inspire all races and religions through the POWER of SONG.”

Butler adds, “Gospel music has had the most significant impact on my life. It is a genre that beats any other musical genre because it’s the only genre that keeps us connected with God on a personal and professional level. Now, I believe it’s become my time and mission to show the world how gospel music has been in every step of development in this country.”

For more information, visit mohistory.org/events/one-daygospel-fest. The St. Louis Sound exhibit is open through January 22, 2023.

Celebrate the holiday season at the Saint Louis Art Museum on Saturday, December 10, and Sunday, December 11, at Winter Celebrations, a festival of free performances and art activities inspired by traditions from around the world. Winter Celebrations is an annual event that invites families and visitors of all ages to come together to enjoy art and community.

Family members of all ages can participate in hands-on artmaking on both festival days. At the Create Lab, visitors can make art to take home inspired by the winter season. Make one or both art projects inspired by the art museum’s collection — a personalized hot chocolate relief sculpture or a winter outfit for a miniature figure.

There are several performances over the course of the weekend that are not to be missed! Join us on Saturday for a performance by the Dance Center of Kirkwood as they perform excerpts from the Nutcracker at 11 am and Afriky Lolo for an immersive African drumming experience at 2 pm.

The Saint Louis Art Museum is proud to host Afriky Lolo, a West African dance non-profit corporation that is committed to bringing West African dance and culture to the St. Louis, Missouri, community through teaching and performing. These performances reflect the rich culture of West Africa, and each dance performed by Afriky

WINTER CELEBRATIONS

Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 10 am-4 pm Saint Louis Art Museum FREE

is enhanced by traditional West African costumes. This performance is supported by the Dana Brown Endowed Fund for Education and Community Programs.

SAVE THE DATES: 2022 Kwanzaa Celebration: Teseto Yalew–Young, Gifted, and Black Saturday, December 31, 2022, | 10 am–2 pm CST

Join us on Sunday at 11 am for a special performance by St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, a community-driven ensemble celebrating the Japanese art of taiko drumming. At 3 pm, enjoy vibrant Hispanic arts and culture with Hispanic Festival, Inc. as they perform Colombian dances.

Other highlights throughout the weekend include a museumwide scavenger hunt and a festive photo booth from 10-4 pm to capture a special family memory. For more information about Winter Celebrations

and to see the full schedule of events, visit slam.org. Enjoy a day of culture, performance, and tradition during one of the region’s biggest Kwanzaa celebrations. Celebrated at the Museum for more than 20 years, the free annual Kwanzaa Celebration is presented in partnership with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. Although the event is free, tickets are required for the auditorium performance. Tickets will be available on-site only at the Museum on December 31 starting at 10 am. Limit of 6 tickets per person.

2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Friday, January 13, 2023| 6-7:30 pm CST

Inspired by depictions of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement by Pulitzer Prizewinning photographer Moneta Sleet Jr., local Black artists will respond to Sleet’s photographs through their original performances. The evening will also include a talk by Tabari Coleman, training consultant and social justice advocate, Tabari Coleman. Although the event is free, advance tickets are recommended. These programs are supported by the Dana Brown Endowed Fund for Education and Community Programs.

Lolo

The One-Day Gospel Fest at the Missouri History Museum celebrates St. Louis’s gospel music legacy.

2022 Kwanzaa Celebration: Teseto Yalew–Young, Gifted, and Black Saturday, December 31, 2022.

Legend Singers

bring “Wonder of Christmas” to Ferguson Baptist Church

The Legend Singers Chorale Ensemble will present its holiday concert “The Wonder of Christmas” at 4 p.m. Saturday Dec. 17, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Ferguson, 333 N. Florissant Road.

The 2022-23 season is the Legend Singers’ 82nd, and the ensemble has had a concert filled Christmas season. The choir performed last week at Kirkwood United Methodist Church in a pair of concerts. Kenneth Brown Billups founded a choral group in

1940, and it was comprised 18 singers in the National Youth Act Music Project, a program of the Works Progress Administration.

Billups, a Sumner High School graduate, attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City on a music scholarship and played varsity basketball. He graduated from Lincoln with a degree in biology in 1940. In 1947 Billups earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. After teaching at Douglass High School in Webster Groves, Billups returned to

Photo by Tim Lloyd / St. Louis Public Radio

In 2018, The Legend Singers performed during the ‘Out of The Ville’ Listening Party. Established in 1940 by the late Kenneth Phillips, the historic ensemble will present a Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Saturday Dec. 17, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Ferguson.

Sumner and would later create and supervise the honors music program in the St. Louis Public Schools.

As president of the National Association of Negro

By Froswa’ Booker-Drew

As I get older, I recognize that feelings are real and yet, they can be dangerous. Our feelings, if unchecked, can wreak havoc and confusion.

I recently received a voicemail from an angry lady. She was livid about something that happened to her and spewed frustration. I called her back, and she apologized for being in her feelings and reacting too quickly.

I wasn’t responsible for the situation and informed her that she needed to reach out to a different entity. She continued to apologize after realizing that she had gotten upset without having clear information.

She’s not alone. Sometimes, we respond without thinking things through and truly assessing what is going on. Relationships have been destroyed, trust broken, and jobs terminated because of the need to respond. If more people paused and thought of the consequences of their actions, they might be more apt to do things differently. According to Dr. Bryn Farnsworth, “… feelings are the conscious experience of emotional reactions. Strictly speaking, a feeling is the side product of your brain perceiving an emotion and assigning a certain meaning to it.” Your feelings become

thoughts which can then become an action— they are all connected.

In Luke 15:11-32, we see an example of a young man who thought he knew more and requested his inheritance from his father. He probably allowed his feelings to validate his decision and instead of staying in a place of stability and comfort, he squandered his finances with nowhere to live.

Musicians, he influenced the St. Louis music scene, and his Legend Singers have included Grace Bumbry and Robert McFerrin. He served as director of the Legend Singers until his

to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

“Luke 17: When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving

20: So, he got up and went to his father.” When we make rash decisions, we are like this young man. Instead of consulting God (represented by the Father in this passage), we allow our feelings, bad information, and other people’s opinions to sway us into choices that are not in our best interests.

Are you talking to God about your emotions and feel-

death in 1985.

Doris Jones Wilson, a legendary musician, composer, and award-winning choral director, served as Legend Singers’ director until her retirement in 2019.

Dwayne Buggs has served as director since Wilson’s retirement. He holds a Master of Music degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and devoted almost four decades to education.

His service included being a vocal music director, choral director, and curriculum Coordinator for K-12 Fine and Practical Arts in the Normandy and Ferguson-Florissant School Districts.

He was also artistic director and Dean of Arts at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School during the last five years of his educational career.

Buggs is currently the Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church minister of music. He is also the piano accompanist for the Westbrook-Green Concert

ings before acting? Are you allowing the presence and Word of God to inform your decisions, your feelings, and your thoughts before reacting or seeking the advice of others?

The Bible speaks about emotions and their power.

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV) It is okay to experience our feelings because they are a gauge.

We cannot allow our feelings to control us in such a way that we make decisions that harm us and others. It’s not that you don’t pay attention to how you feel. You should but you cannot allow your feelings to be the sole indicator in your decision making. It is about listening to God to direct you, seeking wise coun-

Choir of East Saint Louis, Illinois. The Legend Singers perform with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Illinois University Symphony, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

The Legend Singers mission: -Perform and preserve the music and performance practices of African Americans.

-Perform music by nonAfrican American composers who have been influenced by African American music forms and performance practices.

-Develop Outreach programs that educate the community and public and to continue the tradition of excellence in artistic performance of African American Coral music.

There is no admission charge for “The Wonder of Christmas” concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at First Baptist Church of Ferguson, 333 N. Florissant Road. For additional information, visit www.legendsingers.org.

sel, and taking an inventory of what is going on objectively.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. Our emotions and feelings are real. They are data. And just as data doesn’t tell the entire story, your feelings don’t either.

Froswa’ Booker-Drew is founder and CEO of Houston Soulstice Consultancy and a Houston Defender Network religion columnist

VETERANS EDUCATION AND TRAINING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

The state of Missouri is accepting applications for an Assistant Director with Veterans Education and Training in the St Louis area. Application deadline is December 12, 2022. Starting salary is $47,736. View job description and application instructions at https://mocareers.mo.gov/ hiretrue/ce3/job-board/ 5effe9b2-4b89-494b-ac76c45e25190768/48f16fdd-d91641a8-820f-14916fbff1eb?jb=true

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

The St. Louis Mental Health Board (MHB) is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Executive Assistant with a starting salary of $51K and a highly competitive benefit package. For the full job posting visit www.stlmhb.com/ about-us/careers.

MANAGER – EDI DATA INTEGRATION

Professional position that contributes to the accomplishment of the Information Services department and ensures we are successful in implementing the overall enterprise data strategy. This position will oversee and manage the Safety National EDI Data Integration team, in the Information Services Department.

To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/

COORDINATOR –

HUMAN RESOURCES – TALENT MANAGEMENT

Mid-level staff position which provides administrative and logistical support, contributing to the efficient operation of Safety National’s talent management initiatives of the Human Resources Department, under the supervision of the Assistant Vice President of Learning and Development. To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

BOOKMOBILE DRIVER

The St. Louis County Library is seeking qualified applicants to fill the position of full-time Bookmobile Driver. The position is responsible for driving the bookmobile to assigned location to provide quality Library service to customers and also performs clerical duties assigned with this position.

A High School diploma or GED required. Must be able drive a truck and trailer. Must have a valid driver’s license with a good driving record. Salary - $34,320 plus paid benefits. Apply online at https://www.slcl.org/ content/employment

Equal Opportunity Employer.

MEDICAL COST MANAGER

Mid-Level, Full-Time Professional Position reporting to Managing Director of Medical Management unit. Responsible for assisting Claims Department personnel with medical bill-related issues. Assignments are complex requiring the exercise of strong knowledge, discretion, use of sound judgment, and initiative.

To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/

DIRECTOR, CEDED REINSURANCE

Mid-level professional, responsible for assisting the reinsurance placement and analysis in concert with the Treaty Committee. All job duties and responsibilities must be carried out in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The School District of Jennings encourages qualified persons interested in running for a position on the Board of Education to file to be a candidate in the April 4, 2023 election. Interested persons may file at the St. Louis County Board of Elections office located at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074.

Candidates can file between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from December 6 through December 27, 2022. (On the last day of candidate filing only, candidate filing ends at 5:00 p.m.)

First day filers will select a number by random drawing to determine placement on the ballot. After the first day, candidates will be placed on the ballot in the order of their filing.

Board of Election offices will be closed on December 8, 23, and 26, 2022. The office may be closed due to inclement weather. The public must adhere to St. Louis County building entry requirements.

There are three positions available with three-year terms. These positions are currently held by Mrs. Tammy Dailey, Mrs. Miranda Jones, and a vacant seat that was held by Mr. John Schlereth.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

ORTHWEIN ANIMAL NUTRITION CENTER RFPS 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified vendors to submit proposals for the Orthwein Animal Nutrition Center for Bones and Meat RFP, Whole Insect Prey RFP, Whole Rodent Prey RFP and Complete Feeds and Supplements RFP 2022. Bid documents are available as of 12/7/2022 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

HANKINS CONSTRUCTION BID OPORTUNITY

Project: Nottingham

Culinary Kitchen Renovation

Estimator: Stephen Hankins

Owner: SLPS

PLEASE SEND ALL BIDS TO OFFICE@ HANKINSMIDWEST.COM

If you need help accessing the specifications for this project, please call 314-426-7030.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for LAN Room-Fire Suppression System Replacement, Lottery Headquarters Bldg. Jefferson City, MO Project No. N2201-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/22/22. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Upgrade HVAC and BAS, Community Supervision Center St. Joseph, MO, Project No.

C2011-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/10/23. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

Bids for RENOVATE SUB (ACID) LAB, MO Geological Survey (DNR) Rolla, MO Project No. W2001-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/29/22. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

America’s Center is seeking RFP’s from qualified companies to provideTELECOMMUNICATIONS, INTERNET, DATA AND WIFI SERVICES for America’s Center. Bid packages available Monday, December 5th, 2022, at 9am at the Administrative Office at 701 Convention Plaza, or by visiting: https://explorestlouis.com/meetingsconventions/americas-center/ Interestedcommunications-rfp/ bidders must attend a mandatory pre-bid conference & walk thru Monday, December 19th10am CST at America’s Center Facilities Office Conference Room B. Contact Jeanice Baker at 314-992-0631 with any questions. The facility reserves the right to reject any or all bids. EOE.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of First Publication: 12/8/22

City of St. Louis: Community Development Administration (CDA) 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63103 314-657-3700 / 314-589-6000 (TTY)

On or after 12/16/22, 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 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) 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 2023 Action Plan, within the City:

For Sale Rehab & New Construction of Housing Program, under CDBG funds [Award # B-23-MC-29-0006] totaling $5,407,853.00, and HOME funds [Award # M-23-MC-29-0500] totaling $3,142,204.00, for the purpose of reinvesting in the City’s aging housing stock, by providing funding for rehabilitation or new construction of approximately 105 units in targeted areas throughout the City, at locations to be determined;

Healthy Home Repair Program Loan Pool, under CDBG funds [Award # B-23MC-29-0006] totaling $1,000,000.00 (part of the City of St. Louis Emergency Home Repair Program) for the purpose of assisting low- to moderate-income homeowners through an estimated 162 emergency repair projects at locations to be determined; Mission St. Louis Energy Efficiency, Weatherization and Accessibility Program, under CDBG Funds [Award # B-23-MC-29-0006] totaling $289,180.00 for the purpose of providing minor home repairs to low- to moderate-income homeowners through an estimated 100 small repair projects (part of the City of St. Louis Energy Efficiency, Weatherization, and Accessibility Program [EEWAP]);

Neighborhood Commercial District Facade Improvement Program, under CDBG funds [Award # B-23-MC-29-0006] totaling $310,000.00, for the purpose of reviving neighborhood commercial districts, through an estimated 40 facade and exterior improvement projects at locations to be determined;

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 these projects is on file at the City’s CDA, at the address listed above, and may be examined or copied, by appointment, weekdays 8 A.M to 4 P.M, or visit https://www. onecpd.info/environmental-review/environmental-review-records to review the HUD ERR.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Emergency Generator, Infrastructure, St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center - South, Project No. M1908-01 REBID, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/12/2023 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Wyncrest Drive Bridge No. 266 project, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1292, Federal Project No. BRO-B096(007), will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/ default.aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on January 18, 2023

Plans and specifications will be available on December 5, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids)

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting proposals for Merchandising Services.

Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids for details and submit by December 16, 2022.

NORMANDY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC NOTICE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

The terms of current Normandy Schools Collaborative (NSC) Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB) members William Humphrey and Anthony Neal are set to expire on June 30, 2023, and an election will be held to fill their positions. The newly elected members will join the JEGB at the April 2023 board meeting.

The public will vote for candidates for the JEGB on the April 4, 2023, ballot. Individuals who wish to run as a candidate must apply within the next three weeks. Per state statute § 162.083, RSMo, the filing period for the April election begins Tuesday, December 6, 2022, and closes on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Candidates must be residents of the Normandy Schools Collaborative geographic footprint. Per the Missouri School Board Association, school board candidates must meet the following requirements:

• A U.S. citizen.

• A resident taxpayer of a district or voters of the district in urban districts.

• A resident of Missouri for at least one year.

• At least 24 years old.

For residents who would like to run for one of the two seats on the JEGB, please contact the JEGB Secretary Alexandria Barnett at 314-493-0400 or by email, albarnett@normandysc.org. Information is also available at www.normandysc.org

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Bids for Elevator Replacement at Governor’s Mansion, Project No. O2036-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/10/2023 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities ROANOKE CONSTRUCTION SEEKS BIDS FOR MODERATE REHAB IN ST LOUIS CITY

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Trey McCarter, CDA, Community Development Planner II, at the address listed above. All comments received by 4 p.m. on 12/15/2022 will be considered by the City prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City certifies to HUD that, Nahuel Fefer, in his capacity as Executive Director, 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 the City’s above-referenced HUD 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. Renee Ryles, Acting Community Planning & Development Director, HUD, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103 (314) 418-5405. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Nahuel Fefer, CDA Executive Director Certifying Officer

501 (c) (3) organizations to submit an application for its 2023 Responsive Grants cycle. Grant requests must not exceed $10,000 and used solely for programs that provide services to St. Louis city residents. Agencies may submit only one application per grant cycle. The original and two copies of

(total of three) and all attachments are included. Applications will not be accepted by email or fax. They may be delivered to the SLPO office by U.S. mail or hand delivered. Postmarked applications will not be considered for funding. The application form, along with instructions for completion and required attachments, are available under the Grants tab on the SLPO’s website at www.stlphilanthropic.org and on the SLPO Capacity Building website at https://slpocapacitybuilding.org. Agencies may also request that a copy of the application and instructions be emailed to them by contacting the SLPO office at (314) 534-4452 or support@ stlphilanthropic.org. SLPO office hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On Wednesday, December 14th at 10:00 a.m., the SLPO Board will host a Grantwriting workshop aimed at assisting agencies in their preparation of the 2023 Responsive Grants application. Organizations interested in submitting an application are highly encouraged to attend the workshop.

committed to increasing organizational capacity for organizations, helping them achieve and, often, exceed their goals. The capacity building workshops will be available at no cost to agencies. In addition to grantwriting, workshops in the areas of Change Management and Human Resources will be offered in the Spring of 2023. Please see the SLPO website for more information and registration.

Project: Gateway STEM Emergency Shower/ Eyewash Station Replacement

Estimator: Stephen Hankins

Owner: SLPS PLAESE SEND ALL BIDS TO OFFICE@ HANKINSMIDWEST.COM

If you need help accessing the specifications for this project, please call 314-426-7030.

Roanoke Construction has been selected to be the General Contractor for the renovation of Hillvale Apartments. The project consists of (146) units in (11) existing buildings and the construction of a new community building.

Needed trades include, but are not limited to:

Site Work Grading

Storm Sewers

Asphalt paving

Sidewalks and curbs

Fencing

Carpentry

This project is being funded utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits. We anticipate that construction will begin in February 2023 and will take fourteen months to complete. This project requires 25% MBE and 10% WBE participation and Section 3 compliance. A pre-bid meeting will be held on December 14th at 2 p.m. We will meet at 5830 Selber Ct, St. Louis, MO 63120.

Bids will be due December 21st at 10 a.m.

All questions should be submitted via email to: Jacqueline True Director of Preconstruction bids@roanoke-construction.com www.roanoke-construction.com

St. LouiS american Bids &

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District), the Owner, will receive sealed bids for Bissell - Coldwater - Missouri - Meramec Public I/I Reduction (2023) Contract D under Letting No. 12586-015.1, at its office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 2:00 PM, local time, on Thursday, December 22, 2022. All bids are to be deposited in the bid box located on the first floor of the District’s Headquarters prior to the 2:00 p.m. deadline. Bids may, however, be withdrawn prior to the opening of the first bid. BIDS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AND READ IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BID DUE DATE/TIME AT 2350 MARKET STREET.

The Work to be performed under these Contract Documents consists of:

The work to be done under this contract consists of the rehabilitation of approximately 58,329 lineal feet of sanitary sewers, varying in size from 6-inches to 30-inches in diameter, utilizing cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) methods, 59 manholes, 808 service connections, and 23 point repairs. The project is with in the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Boundaries, inside the city(ies) of Ballwin, Fenton, and Sunset Hills, in the State of Missouri. The work will be per formed in various quantities at various sites.

All prospective bidders must prequalify in the Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) category, and be certified prior to the Bid Opening. Prequalification forms for obtaining said certification may be obtained from the Owner at the above mentioned address. All bidders must obtain drawings and specifications in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

This project will be financed through the Missouri State Revolving Fund, established by the sale of Missouri Water Pollution Control bonds and Federal Capitalization Grants to Missouri. Neither the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, its divisions, nor its employees will be party to the contract at any tier. Any Bidder whose firm or affiliate is listed on the GSA publication titled “List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Non-Procurement Programs” is prohibited from the bidding process; bids received from a listed party will be deemed non-responsive. Refer to Instructions to Bidders B-27 for more information regarding debarment and suspension.

Nondiscrimination in Employment: Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order 11246. Requirements for bidders and contractors under this order are explained in the specifications.

Plans and Specifications are available from free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 2731 S. Jefferson Ave St Louis, MO 63118. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites the submission of bids from Women and Minority Business Enterprises.

UMSL WILLIAM L. CLAY CENTER FOR NANO SCIENCE ROOF REPLACEMENT

Color Art Construction, a general contractor is seeking competitive bids for a roof replacement project at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The project scope includes but is not limited to demolition, tuck pointing, flashing, roof railings, rough carpentry, roofing, sky lights and lightning protection. A bid walk is scheduled for Thursday December 8th at 10:00am. Bids should be emailed to Color Art Construction Thursday December 22th by noon. Please email your bid or any questions to bidrequestsCAC@color-art.com.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting proposals for Merchandising Services. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids for details and submit by December 16, 2022.

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/ DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

Patient Care Tower – Radiology Expansion (CP221611)

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com Phone: 573-682-5505

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Closure of Multiple Lagoons and Wells, Central Missouri Correctional Facility, Project No. C1919-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 15, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Horn Branch Reclamation Project, Henry County, Project No. Y2204-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/10/2023 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks is seeking bid applications for the concession operation at Washington State Park in De Soto, Missouri. The concession opportunity includes the operation of lodging, including 11 cabins, watercraft rental and floats, swimming pool and swimming pool concession with visitation of more than 300,000 annually.

Interested parties need to register on the official offeror list by contacting Mike Zielinski at (573) 751-6758 or email mike.zielinski@dnr.mo.gov. Registrations can be completed online at https:// missouribuys.mo.gov/

BIDS

Pine Lawn City is seeking Audit Bids Due Wed Nov 7, 2022 To 6250 Steve Marre Ave Pine Lawn, MO 63121 Also Pine Lawn seeks Bids for Website Update due Friday Dec 9, 2022 @ address noted above (314) 261-5500

“Free Market” produced by MadKeys is written from two different perspectives. Verse one is inspired by people who bought Gamestop stock for super cheap and were trying to crash the stock for their own personal gain. What he got from it was that regular people and poor folks were trying to finesse the stock market and then ultimately got caught.

“I am used to seeing Black people or marginalized people try to get ahead and then the [rug] gets pulled from under them,” he said.

“We finally figured out a way to try to get over in the system because it’s all sides of currency and stock manipulation going on in the stock market from other people. But as soon as we get into it and figure it out, it’s like, ‘Oh, no you can’t play the game that way.’” Eddie says he takes the most pride in “Free Market,” and he honors his late mother on the track as well.

“I got to honor my mom on the second verse and that’s super important to me,” he said. “I did that all while using financial terms. That’s why I ended with thanking her for investing in me. People talk about market investment but her investment was in a different kind of way for me as a person, a son.”

Vibrant pastel colors with three scoops of ice cream on a cone each mimicking “Bounce” “godbody” and “Free Market’s” symbolism accompany Eddie’s staple homemade ice cream truck prop. He uses the prop in performances and various popup shows.

“Gelato is an experience,

it’s a funeral for being too cool for stuff,” he said. “Everybody wants to be so cool in hip-hop sometimes, where they miss out on is having fun.”

Eddie’s Gelato experience was curated to appeal to at least three senses: see, hear, and taste.

His first pop-up show was at Gelateria where he showcased different flavors of gelato. He also has had pop-up events at The Dark Room and Sophie’s Artist Lounge featuring signature cocktails named “Gelato,” three singles and ice cream from Reale Street Ice Cream Co.

Eddie’s single “Little Black Boy,” was featured on BET Jams in 2020 and on March 14, 2021 for 314 Day. Outside of the song he also has the Little Black Boy Foundation where he’s partnered with The Village PATH to provide mental health resources to young Black boys and men.

“Merch wasn’t a priority anymore during the COVID-

19 quarantine,” he said. “The last thing I wanted to do was to have people buy a t-shirt. People lost their jobs. I wanted to help people with the song and be a service to the community.”

Eddie is a Belleville, Illinois native. He wrote his first mixtape in high school. He was also introduced to the St. Louis’ creative scene in high school. His childhood friend and a friend’s cousin invited them to Made Monarch parties. These were gatherings that assemble people interested in fashion, music, and other arts.

“I remember them [Made Monarchs] throwing these cool forward-thinking artsy parties,” he said. “I learned I didn’t have to go to New York or Los Angeles to go to these pop-ups and cool installation shows.”

Eddie is hosting a “Sir Eddie C + Friends” performance featuring Zado, and KVtheWriter on Friday, Dec. 9 at Jamo’s Central Stage located at 3524 Washington Ave Grand Center.

defiance – is a performance few could have imagined when he stepped on screen as a rapperturned-actor.

Fuqua takes quite the opposite approach. He incorporates themes and formulas he has used in his action films and crime capers that gives Emancipation the feel of a hybrid between the Smith-led film I Am Legend and USA Network’s brilliant, but shortlived drama Underground Plenty of time Fuqua’s creative liberties work, especially with the action thriller pace of the film. And while the muted color palate is a brave risk, inconsistences in tones and hues as the story progresses

are a distraction from the color scheme that that is somewhere in between color and black and white.

Fuqua carefully avoids the “good white people” trope that is a mainstay in movies that attempt to detail America’s most horrific sin. But the unbelievable moments that are typically reserved for blockbuster action flicks are a deterrent and relentless wide shots are a distraction.

And writer Bill Collage never quite gives Peter the hero treatment he deserves with the minimal dialogue. The film gives more context to Gordon’s life and experience, but the bare bones script doesn’t make provisions for insight into his thoughts and feelings. The determination in the face of unflinching cruelty and terror is the morale, but more story would have been sincerely

p.m. with the dinner, awards, and entertainment at 6:30 p.m.

Continued from C1

The 2023 St. Louis Arts Awards is Monday, Jan. 30, 2023 at Chase Park Plaza Hotel. A reception begins at 5

appreciated. Smith’s performance is aided by Charmaine Bingwa’s portrayal of Peter’s wife Dodienne and a scene stealing performance by Mustafa Shakir as Captain Andre Cailloux.

Let’s be clear – films that depict the experience of enslaved people are not a cultural betrayal to Black people. That distinction should be reserved for roles and films that feed into the false narratives of moral bankruptcy, diminished interest in family and films that glorify crime and violence without context regarding systemic racism and oppression. Emancipation opens in theaters in select cities, including St. Louis, on Friday, December 9. The film will also be available to stream on December 9 via Apple +. The film is rated R with a running time of 132 minutes.

An after-show party will follow the ceremony at 9 p.m. The dress code is formal, with the theme The Great Gatsby meets The Cotton Club.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate the best and brightest people in organizations that inspire us all on a

basis, [who work] to make St. Louis a beautiful, enriching place to live, learn and play,” LeFlore said. For tickets, information, and a full list of honorees, visit https://keeparthappening.org/.

Photo by Martell Stepney

with Be.Be.

Photo Courtesy of Apple+

Begin your 2023 career search

Starting a new year can be the perfect time to think about your goals for the next year and to look for new career opportunities. Stifel Bank & Trust is here to offer tips for your career search and feature some of our available roles.

The first step you can take before beginning your career search is to update your resume. Your resume is the first impression you will make on your future employer. It should highlight your strengths, skills, and relevant experience. Focus on the achievements that show a recruiter what makes you the perfect fit for the role, but try to be concise and create opportunities to expand on what is on a written page in the interview. Your resume should feature the following:

• Contact information

• Your most recent work experience

• Education (if applicable)

• Skills/Proficiencies

• Licenses & Certifications

Some applications require you to submit a cover letter as well. This is another opportunity for you to show why you are interested in that role and what makes you a strong candidate. Your cover letter should be the same length as your resume, one page or less.

Topics you can write about include:

• Why would you like to work for that specific company?

• What makes you a standout candidate for that role?

• Why would you be successful in the position and within the organization?

• How would your past experience or education benefit you in this role?

Once your resume and cover letter are complete, you are ready to apply. Research some local companies in the industry you may be interested in or specific types of roles across various industries to create a targeted opportunity list. Check job websites frequently as new openings postfrequently. Most applications will require some of the same information that is already on your resume. Try to dedicate time each week to checking for new postings, completing applications, and checking the status of previous applications until you receive an invitation to interview.

Stifel Bank & Trust is looking for professionals who are ready to do what it takes to help our clients achieve their goals. Headquartered in St. Louis, with clients across the U.S., this is a place where you can build a challenging, rewarding career with one of the financial industry’s most diverse, creative and growing teams. Stifel Bank & Trust is a place where new ideas are welcome and fresh thinking is encouraged. Apply for a role today, or join our Talent Network to see where your skills fit best.

One of the upcoming opportunities at Stifel Bank & Trust is Commercial Credit

Analyst I. This position has a June 2023 start date and is an opportunity to join a growing team focused on business lending. The Credit Analyst will have exposure to both private and public companies over a wide variety of industries, cash flow and other types of lending. This role will work with lending teams analyzing client financial statements and review performance based on risk profile.

A current opening at Stifel Bank & Trust is Bank Client Support Specialist. This position focuses on customer service and supports both bank and Stifel’s brokerage operations. The Specialist would be responsible for various operational tasks to support banking clients and internal associates. Following our banking policies and procedures, including information security policies, is also key to this role. For additional information on the above roles and other current openings, please visit https://www.stifelmortgage. com/Careers.html

Stifel’s bank and trust companies are affirmative action and equal opportunity employers. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

St. Louis Sports & Entertainment Career Fair on Dec. 11

The St. Louis Ambush signed veteran Kevin Ellis to a three-year contract before the start of the 2022-23 season. The Ambush and TeamWork Online are hosting an employment fair on December 11, at St. Charles Family Arena for those interested in sports and entertainment careers.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Ambush

UMSL launching two DEI online educational initiatives

One course open for staff, students, and another offered for community

By Heather Riske UMSL Daily

Those interested in exploring the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace can further their knowledge with two online courses kicking off in January.

In collaboration with MU Extension, the University of Missouri–St. Louis Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is launching two DEI online educational initiatives next month that will be co-facilitated by Marlo Goldstein Hode UMSL’s senior manager of strategic diversity initiatives and Dwayne James, MU Extension’s equity, diversity, and inclusion director.

The first, “Diversity 101: DEI in the Academic Workplace,” is open to faculty and staff across all University of Missouri System universities, as well as MU Extension employees from around the state. The interactive online course will help participants gain knowledge, awareness and communication skills for “providing leadership around diversity and inclusion issues; working more effectively with people from backgrounds different than your own; and for making our campuses more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”

While the course has been offered at UMSL for the past few years, this is the first time since 2016 that will be open of faculty and staff at all four universities and the first time it will include MU Extension

faculty and staff in the same cohort.

“Since this cohort is open to all faculty and staff in UM System as well as MU Extension from around the state, I expect it’ll be a very diverse crowd in terms of where they’re located and what their positions are within the university system,” said Goldstein Hode, senior manager of Strategic Diversity Initiatives. “I think it should be really interesting.”

The course is fully online and asynchronous, meaning that participants can complete the coursework on their own time, and it runs January through June. It’s broken into 10 modules, featuring a new module every week or two, starting with foundational topics before moving on to more challenging ones such as implicit bias, microaggressions and privilege. Each module features a short video, an additional activity to help participants process what they’ve learned and a discussion forum to engage with other participants across the state. The course also features four live Zoom dialogues on Feb. 1, March 8, April 26 and June 7. Goldstein Hode says the discussion is where much of the learning happens. “The heart and soul of this course are the discussions, whether they’re asynchronous or in the Zoom sessions,” she said. “The content of the course provides some new ideas and concepts, but the learning really comes from engaging in hearing how other people see it and their

experiences. When you have to write out your thoughts, it gives you a chance to process and reflect a little bit more deeply, so that helps your learning. Also, when you read and reply to other people’s posts, you get to gain a lot of different perspectives.”

The course wraps up with participants developing an action plan to apply what they’ve learned to their life and workplace by creating SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, TimeStamped) goals. Upon completing the course, they earn a digital credential

The second online program is the “Chancellor’s Certificate in Advancing DEI in the Workplace,” which is open to anyone in the greater St. Louis community and also runs from January to June 2023. The

course is structured similarly to “Diversity 101,” featuring many of the same weekly modules, online discussions, interactive activities and Zoom sessions. But where “Diversity 101” focuses strictly on academic workplaces, the Chancellor’s Certificate applies these concepts to workplaces outside of campus. For their final assignment, participants analyze the current DEI practices at their own organization as well as strategies and tactics to improve.

A pilot program for the certificate was small but successful, featuring participants across different industries such as law enforcement, health care, Homeland Security and education. Goldstein Hode is hopeful that having individuals from different backgrounds come

together in the cohort will only further participants’ understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion.

“It’s a great way to network with people who you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to engage with and really get a lot of different perspectives,” she says. “While there are some overarching commonalities about diversity, equity and inclusion, what it actually looks like in different contexts is different. When you’re talking about DEI in health care versus DEI in an educational institution or in law enforcement, it’s very different. But also a big focus of this course is to look at specificity – what does it mean here in this particular organization, or in this particular area of the city? This will really be a tremendous way for people to broaden their under-

standing of what DEI is.”

For Goldstein Hode, opening up diversity, equity and inclusion programming to those outside the UMSL community is just another way for the university to fulfill its mission of building inclusive prosperity.

“As an anchor institution, it is part of our mission to engage with and support the St. Louis community and workforce,” she says. “Quality, intensive DEI education is not always so easy to find, so this program is meant to be an affordable and accessible professional development opportunity for the St. Louis-area workforce. Hopefully, employers will take advantage of the opportunity to build their employees’ capacity to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organizations.”

Two DEI online courses – one open to UM System and MU Extension employees and the other open to anyone in St. Louis – will kick off next month.

WGU Missouri offers affordable, education needed for career advancement

The changing workforce has caused people around the region to reevaluate their careers and make plans to move into a higher-paying position or a different field altogether. For many, this process includes going back to college to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree to help strengthen their skillsets and make themselves more marketable to potential employers.

For those choosing to go back to school, it’s important to remember that flexible and affordable options in higher education exist that are respected by employers and offer the degree programs and required skills needed by employees to advance their careers.

For instance, WGU Missouri, which is based in Clayton, is focused on ensuring students leave college with a respected degree that has prepared them for the field they are looking to enter. The university, which is fully online and nonprofit, offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand fields of IT, Business, K-12 teacher education and health professions, including nursing. These degree programs provide skills that are in demand by modern workplaces and can help open the door to high-paying and fulfilling career opportunities.

WGU prides itself on making college accessible to busy adults by providing an accelerated and affordable pathway to earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The university’s unique competency-based learning model enables students to leverage previous education, training and work experience – instead of time spent in a classroom – to earn their degrees faster. Students complete their programs by studying on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they

demonstrated they’ve mastered the subject matter. This means students don’t have to wait for a semester or term to end to progress through their courses and is the perfect option for those who need a flexible, affordable option in higher education.

WGU Missouri also offers an innovative tuition model. While most universities charge tuition by the credit hour, WGU offers flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term. When considering yearly tuition costs, this is half the cost of the national average yearly bachelor’s degree tuition price and almost three times less than the average yearly master’s tuition degree price on a national level. Coupled with the university’s competency-based model, this means students can take as many courses as they are able to complete in one term and not be charged any extra fees, so many students end up graduating much faster. In fact, most students complete their bachelor’s degrees in an average of 2.5 years.

WGU provides its graduates with outstanding postgraduation outcomes while keeping tuition and fees remarkably low by industry standards. On average, students graduating from WGU see a salary increase of $18,200 within two years of graduation and earn $25,900 more within four years of earning their degree.

To help motivate adults who are looking to go back to school in the New Year, WGU Missouri is offering a variety of scholarships – with values ranging from $2,500 to up to $10,000 - to new students. To learn more about the university and available scholarships, visit missouri. wgu.edu.

WGU Missouri, which is based in Clayton, is focused on ensuring students leave college with a respected degree that has prepared them for the field they are looking to enter. The university, which is fully online and nonprofit, offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand fields of IT, Business, K-12 teacher education and health professions, including nursing.

St. Louis construction firm sees minorities and women as keys to labor shortage

By Danny Wicentowski St. Louis Public Radio

In spring 2015, Kevon White knew he needed a better job. His wife was pregnant with triplets, and his family was about to grow from three to six children. His job at a local casino just wasn’t going to cut it.

Eventually, White’s job search led him to McCarthy Building Cos. Now, after several promotions, he’s working for the company as a foreman.

“I just went on the hunt,” White said, reflecting on his job path during Friday’s St. Louis on the Air. “I knew I wasn’t going to hit the lottery.

I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But I just started my journey … looking for another job.”

White’s path from being completely inexperienced in the skilled construction field to overseeing other workers is an example that the construction industry desperately needs to replicate, said Ryan Molen, senior vice president at McCarthy. “We have this workforce that’s aging out,” Molen observed during Friday’s show. “We need to grow the workforce. But we also need to increase diversity.” The shortage of skilled labor is being felt both locally and nationally. Molen

identified multiple variables behind the shortage, such as older workers taking advantage of good retirement benefits and burnedout workers leaving the industry during the pandemic. But he argues that replacing those workers will take new strategies and training programs — and that means reaching out to people who have not historically been involved in the industry, particularly women and minorities.

construction field on the radar of young people and engaging with kids as early as grade school. “A lot of folks are not considering construction [jobs], because they’re just not aware of them,” Molen said. He added that many kids simply haven’t been exposed to “how great those jobs are, what the benefits are, what kind of pay there is.”

Another part of McCarthy’s strategy involves putting the

Molen said McCarthy has organized multiple training programs geared to students, including sponsoring “STEM Saturdays” at the Parkway

School District and hosting a training session with female students from more than a dozen area high schools, demonstrating examples of drywall framing, electrical work and formed concrete.

Still, there’s a lot of work to be done to reverse the current shortage of skilled workers. The 2021 State of the St. Louis Workforce Report found that local employers need an average of 42 days to fill positions for construction laborers, despite those workers earning an average of $57,000.

Workers also continue to leave the industry: Earlier this week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released

its March 2022 data on hiring and labor turnover — and found that the month’s reported “quits” in the national construction industry are up by 69,000. In total, 389,000 construction workers left the industry in March. But Molen says he’s optimistic about the industry’s future, especially when McCarthy can attract and retain employees like White. White’s triplets, meanwhile, just turned 7. He told St. Louis on the Air that he credits his kids with giving him the push that brought him to McCarthy — and to an industry that was willing to invest the time and training in a fresh hire.

Do you want to change careers or jobs?

By STL.works

No one is immune to falling into a slump at work. There are a multitude of reasons that keep us from leaping into the work day, excited to contribute:

• You have a bad manager

• You’re the bad manager

• You dislike your coworkers

You’re unhappy with your salary

• You’re unhappy with your progression within the company

• You’re unhappy with your benefits

• You have issues with the company’s culture While all of these have the potential to send you searching for a career change, it’s important to stop and consider if a company or practice area change would be all you need to stay on your current career path. If you like what you do — and just not who you’re doing it for — your efforts are best spent finding a new team, department, or company to work for.

What are you lacking in your current career?

Again, there are a multitude of reasons why people seek new career paths. It’s important to clearly define what yours are. It will give you the ability to avoid them when evaluating what you want to do next. In no particular order, here are the top reasons why most of us consider a career change:

• Dissatisfied with pay or salary potential

• Lack of healthcare or savings benefits

• No clear growth path for your position

• No opportunity to learn or advance skills

• Seeking a less stressful career

• Seeking a better work-life balance

• Seeking a better alignment

between personal values and professional work

You might tick all these boxes, or you may have a completely different set of reasons why you’re seeking a midlife career change. Again, regardless of your reasons it’s just important to diagnose them now so you can avoid going through the same disappointments in the future.

Where can I start?

If you’re reading this you’ve likely already been wanting a new position, job, or considering a career change. There are three important steps you should walk through:

1. Evaluate your finances. It’s truly a luxury to just be able to quit your job and figure it out later. For the vast majority of us we rely on our current job to pay our bills, for our health care benefits, and more. You need to look at your finances for two reasons: to determine what you want to be making and to determine what the path looks like to get there. Be practical. If you want to make a career change but the earning potential doesn’t align with the salary you need to support yourself, you’ll need to make some personal adjustments. Is the reduced salary worth it? Make sure you’re not trading one problem for another. If the career change you want to make will require education and training that can’t be done while working your current position, you’ll need to evaluate your monthly costs and save so you can cover your expenses during your training and transition into a new career.

2. Lean on the experience and expertise of others. You need to talk to people who have made a career change and people who are in the industry you are interested in pursuing. Ask them why they made a career change, how

they did it and what they would change if they had to do it over again. Ask about specialities, practice areas, and local companies you might be interested in working for. You’re letting others know you have interest, giving them an opportunity to help if they can.

3. Educate yourself on the skills and experience you lack.

While tapping your network will give you a baseline expectation for what you need to know, you’ll still need to do your due diligence in assessing what further level of training or education is needed to make a career change.Sometimes a career change looks enticing but doesn’t truly align with our abilities or interests.

Are you building on skills you already have?

Are you interested in learning these new skills, or do you see them as a barrier to your potential new career?

Are their local or online programs available to you to learn these skills and what are the associated costs?

Will you be able to complete the courses while working your current job?

Are there companies offering training on the job or tuition reimbursement?

What is a good midlife career change?

As adults it’s important that we maintain the youthful belief of no limits — we just need to pair that with reality. If you’re seeking a midlife career change in St. Louis, understanding the market opportunity across industries is important to choosing a path that has potential. Easy career changes that pay well are not as elusive as you might think. As a resource for St. Louis job seekers, STL. works knows the following industries are booming. They offer innovative paths towards skill and knowledge building, making them a more

attractive option for those who want to change careers without reentering a traditional education pathway.

Trades

Trade jobs are in high demand in the St. Louis area and nationwide. Careers in HVAC, as a plumber or pipefitter, carpenter, welder, electrician, and a heavy machinery or automotive mechanic have an average salary potential of $80,000 per year.

Technology

Technology is a critical component for all businesses. If you like the idea of keeping your career options open, technology is your golden ticket. Careers in web development, system architecture and analysis, cybersecurity

analysis, technical support, and app development are available across companies, industries, and locations. Along with accelerated programs and coding workshops, many companies will hire and train new employees into technology positions. Getting paid to learn will likely seem foreign to those of us still paying off student loans, but the technology sector is hungry for new talent so now is an opportune time to get started.

Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing jobs encompass both the trades and technology and offer incredibly satisfying work for people who prefer to work with their hands and enjoy being able to physically see what they’ve helped to build through their efforts. Careers as a machinist,

quality control inspector, CNC programmer, and precision machine engineer are available for those who are willing to invest in technical training through a certification program, training course, or associate’s degree.

Healthcare

If you want to work in an industry where you’re making a difference, it’s hard to beat healthcare.If a career as a radiology technologist, medical lab technician, pharmacy technician, physical therapy assistant, medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, or registered nurse interests you there are multiple pathways to gain the skills and experience needed to enter the field of healthcare.

Kevon White

What to know about a career in the growing home healthcare industry

(StatePoint) Medical professionals, patients and their families are increasingly seeing the value of home care, and the industry is expected to grow. In fact, home health and personal care aide job openings are projected to grow 33% from 2020 to 2030, with experts predicting an estimated 8.2 million job openings in homebased care by 2028. Industry experts say that workers from all backgrounds, not just nursing, will be needed now and in the future.

“If you enjoy working with people and helping others when they need it most, a job as a home care or hospice nurse, home health aide, personal companion or caregiver could be a good fit for you,” says Jennifer Sheets, president and chief executive officer of industry leader, Interim HealthCare Inc. “Likewise, if you’re currently a medical professional seeking more flexibility and to be reminded of why you entered the field in the first place, home healthcare can offer greater job satisfaction and a much-needed change of pace.” To help potential job candidates understand this growing industry, Interim HealthCare is sharing some quick insights:

Why In-Home Care?

Home care describes personal care and support services provided to an individual in their home. Often referred to as senior care, it provides help with the activities of daily living as well as companionship to those who need support to maintain their independence at home. Home healthcare on the other hand, entails medical-based care to help patients recover from an illness or injury, or to provide in-home medical oversight and ongoing care for complex, chronic med-

ical conditions. Many families and patients can testify to the various ways home care can be a game-changer, and a growing number of physicians and medical professionals are recommending home health services to patients of all ages because it delivers cost-effective, high-quality care in the setting where patients most often want to be -- home. Among these services are in-home nursing,

physical, occupational and speech therapy, hospice care and bereavement services.

What Employers Want

Those in the know at Interim HealthCare say that being compassionate, trustworthy, dependable and having the ability to work independently can help you thrive in the field of home care.

“Made for This,” Interim’s current recruitment campaign, highlights the company’s need for registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, along with certified nursing assistants, home care aides, home physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Veterans, with their track record of serving and protecting others, are encouraged to apply for a home care

job, along with anybody who thrives in a job that offers variety, challenge and new faces and places.

What to Look for in Employers

Seeking a career in the field of home care? Be sure you work for a home healthcare organization with a positive work culture that has your

in mind. That includes offering good worklife balance, flexible schedules, rewarding assignments and competitive pay. The employer should also prioritize your continuing education and professional development by offering advanced learning opportunities and room for growth, along with additional perks like tuition discounts, to make it all possible.