February 13th, 2020 Edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Chaplain preaches at New Horizon

Barry C. Black led prayers during impeachment hearing

By

Pastor B.T. Rice described the end of the impeachment hearing of President Donald J. Trump when introducing his friend Chaplain Barry C. Black, the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, who spoke at the celebration of the 22nd anniversary of Rice’s church, New Horizon Christian Church, on Saturday, February 8. Black leads prayers for the U.S. Senate and led

prayers during the impeachment hearing, which had concluded three days before.

“At the end of the hearing, they were thanking the ranking members,” Pastor Rice said. “They were thanking the ushers, the pages, the secretaries, the administrators. But they failed to thank the chaplain – the one who brought solace to the place, the one who brought the holy ghost.”

Chaplain Black did not need to be brought up

Progress of McKee’s projects under scrutiny

‘We have nothing to show for it,’ alderwoman says of NorthSide Regeneration

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Saying that developer Paul McKee Jr.’s publicly funded projects have made “satisfactory” progress in 2019 is “not a correct reflection of reality,” according to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s chief of staff. On February 5, Krewson vetoed a bill that reviewed the annual progress of 21 tax increment financing projects (TIFs). The Board of Aldermen passed the bill without much debate on January 17.

The main target of the mayor’s contention was the NorthSide Regeneration project, where the bill listed the TIF amount as $490.6 million. The development project covers much of North St. Louis and was originally awarded a $390 million TIF amount. (The mayor’s spokesman is checking if this is a typo.)

“We are going to have them scrutinize closer,” said Steve Conway, the mayor’s chief of staff. “We need to make sure when you say that something is making progress that it’s actually making progress.”

When asked how McKee’s NorthSide development project has impacted North St. Louis, Conway said, “That’s about a two-hour answer. The city is taking a legal position on where he’s at on those things.”

By Sophie Hurwitz

Friday,

By Sophie Hurwitz

University City Children’s Center students Charlette Smith (4) and Marlyn Jones (5) work on shapes with teacher Marquise Williams during the center’s 50th Anniversary celebration

February 7.

Photo by Wiley Price

See BLACK, A6

Chris King Of The St. Louis American

See McKEE, A7

For The St. Louis American

Paul McKee Jr.

Photo: National Association of Social Workers

Chaplain Barry C. Black

Susan Rice, Joe Scarborough support Gayle King after Snoop’s condemnation

Former national security adviser Susan Rice told rapper Snoop Dogg to “back the [expletive] off” from CBS News journalist Gayle King after the rapper slammed King related to an interview about late NBA legend Kobe Bryant King came under attack on social media last week after a clip from a recent interview she conducted with former WNBA star Lisa Leslie on “CBS This Morning” that included a question about Bryant’s 2003 sexual assault allegation went viral.

“We expect more from you, Gayle,” Snoop Dogg said in an Instagram video last week, where he hurled insults at King. “Respect the family and back off [b-word expletive], before we come get you.”

In response, Rice tweeted, “This is despicable. Gayle King is one of the most principled, fair and tough journalists alive. You come for Gayle King, you come against an army. You will lose, and it won’t be pretty.”

In a later Instagram video, Snoop Dogg clarified that he is a “non-violent” person, adding he didn’t want any harm to come to

King and he wasn’t threatening her. He said he just wants her to “have a little more respect for Vanessa, her babies and Kobe Bryant’s legacy.”

Snoop Dogg had joined with others, including LeBron James, 50 Cent and Bill Cosby, in criticizing King for asking Leslie whether Bryant’s legacy had been complicated by the accusation.

King called the social media clip distributed by CBS from the wide-ranging interview “out of context,” adding that she was “very angry” with the network.

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough media silence is deafening” regarding Snoop Dogg’s comments about King.

“People like Katy Perry with Snoop in the past. People like our dear friend Martha Stewart who’s working with him now,” Scarborough said. “’It’s time for people to speak out,” he said.

“Again, let’s just keep this very simple, because it is very simple. A black female journalist asked a tough question, in the middle of a wide-ranging interview, and because of that her life was threatened.

‘We’re coming to get you’ and the New York Times doesn’t write an editorial about this? The

Washington Post doesn’t write an editorial, the Wall Street Journal doesn’t, nobody talks about [it]?” Scarborough said.

Oprah Winfrey tearfully admitted that said her best friend King is “not doing well” amid the backlash. “She has now death threats and has to now travel with security and she’s feeling very much attacked,” Winfrey said. “She feels she was put in a really terrible position. In the context of the interview, everyone seemed fine – including Lisa Leslie.”

Dwyane Wade goes public with 12-year-old child’s gender transition

In an interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” retired NBA star Dwyane talks about the gender transition of his child. Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home… first, Zion. I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion,” Wade told DeGeneres.

““Zion, born as a boy, came home and said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward, I’m ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as she and her. I’d love

for you guys to call me Zaya’.

“So, that was our job to go out and get information, to reach out to every relationship we have.”

Jussie Smollett indicted for allegedly staging hate crime

A Cook County, Illinois grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against actor Jussie Smollett for making false reports to police that he was a victim of a hate crime, a special prosecutor said Tuesday. The former “Empire” star, who is gay and black, said he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack near his Chicago apartment on January 29, 2019.

Chicago police investigated the case as a hate crime but later said the actor orchestrated the incident and paid two men who were acquaintances from the TV show on which he starred to stage the incident for publicity. Smollett has repeatedly denied making up or orchestrating the attack. Dan K. Webb, the special prosecutor assigned to investigate how local prosecutors handled the actor’s case, said in a statement that Smollett’s prosecution is “in the interest of justice.”

Sources: CNN.com, Twitter.com, Instagram.com, NBC.com, CBS.com, MSNBC.com

Gayle King

Galloway posts 200K pages of Sunshine Law records online

Parson silent on auditor’s call for governor to do the same

By Sophie Hurwitz

For the St. Louis American

On January 24, Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced a new transparency initiative: a website where she is making every completed Sunshine Law request for records made to her office available online free of charge. On January 31, she then called on Governor Mike Parson to do the same with Sunshine Requests to his office. Galloway will be running against Parson in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Governor Parson told The American “Governor Parson is a firm believer in transparency” but did not respond as to whether his office would create a website like Galloway’s.

The Sunshine Law requires public officials and public bodies to make all nonclassified records, which can include everything from meeting minutes to police reports to emails, available to any member of the public that requests them in the manner indicated in the law.

Though some municipal politicians have created similar databases – St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones has Sunshine records dating back to 2013 available on her website –Galloway is the first state-level official to take this action. Now, over 200,000 pages of

Sunshine-requested documents are available on her website for the public.

“As Missouri’s independent watchdog, I consistently encourage governments at all levels to adopt policies that strengthen the trust of taxpayers,” Galloway said.

“We’re setting a new standard for transparency by posting Sunshine requests made to my office and our responses. This is the public’s business, and it should be publicly accessible.”

The move has been applauded by the Missouri Press Association, among others.

During Galloway’s tenure, she noted in a press release, she has never charged fees to any individual or entity for the fulfillment of any Sunshine Law request. This is different from the process used by many other public entities, who are under current law allowed to charge for the release of records under the Sunshine Law – including attorney’s fees to determine which records should be publicly accessible and which should not.

Parson, for example, charged attorney Elad Gross $3,618 for a public records request—an amount which Gross is now suing over, while running for Missouri attorney general as a Democrat. Gross’ lawsuit, currently in the Court of Appeals, alleges that these fees are deliberately leveraged to make public

WHAT WILL POWER THE FUTURE?

n “When public business is done, it should be done in an open and transparent way, and I want to lead by example.”

– Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway

records inaccessible. Gross’ suit is backed by the ACLU of Missouri, the Sunshine and Accountability Project, and the Missouri Freedom Center.

Gross also claims that Attorney General Eric Schmitt is encouraging Parson and others to apply these fees (though Schmitt himself does

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not charge for Sunshine records from his office).

As attorney general, Schmitt is responsible for ensuring proper application of the Sunshine Law. He displays the number of requests to his office on its website. He has had a Sunshine data portal available to the public since March

2019. Unlike Galloway’s website, Schmitt’s portal does not provide the text of any documents requested, or the specific titles of the documents, or their specific subject matter. It only lists the number of requests and complaints by region and month.

“Ensuring that government is as open and accountable to its citizens as possible is an important duty of my job as custodian and enforcer of the Sunshine Law,” said Schmitt. “In instances where the Sunshine Law is not being enforced or followed properly, we will take action wherever possible to ensure that citizens are able to properly follow what their government is doing.”

He has recently filed lawsuits against the cities of Bel-Ridge, Wood Heights, and Garden City for alleged Sunshine Law violations.

According to another 2020 challenger for attorney general, Schmitt’s own record on transparency is “in need of improvement.”

“The attorney general’s office, like other public agencies, should maintain the greatest degree of transparency while carrying out its supportive and lawenforcement functions,” said Richard Finneran, a former federal prosecutor also running for attorney general as a Democrat. “Auditor Galloway’s initiative is a big step in the right direction.”

Gross agreed. “Because so many of these files are electronic, it’s easy to just put them online,” Gross said. “It’s not like she’s charging an attorney to do it. She’s decided what is closed and what is open. And, really, there’s no reason why any government entity shouldn’t be putting that stuff online for the public to see right now. It should be standard.”

For Galloway, this move is a step towards updating Sunshine Law proceedings to reflect the realities of a world in which most data exists and is shared online. She noted that the Missouri State Sunshine Law was implemented over 45 years ago, well before e-mail and modern technology.

“I would like to see the Sunshine Law updated to address the new realities of technology,” said. She said she hopes that other state governing bodies will follow her lead – in particular, the office of the governor, which she hopes to run starting next year.

“When public business is done, it should be done in an open and transparent way,” Galloway said, “and I want to lead by example.”

The State Auditor’s fulfilled Sunshine requests from 2015-present can be viewed at https://app.auditor.mo.gov/ sunshinepostings/index.aspx.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway spoke at the opening of the Missouri Democratic Party’s office in St. Louis on February 1. Galloway is running for governor as a Democrat.

Editorial /CommEntary

Parson needs to really want to fix the problem he created

Precisely one year ago as this newspaper is going to press on February 12, The St. Louis American was first to report, as far as we are aware, on an alarm that Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) was starting to ring. “More than 50,000 eligible children dropped from Medicaid in MO,” the headline of our news report stated. The culprit was clearly indicated: state government logistics were to blame for the alarming 9 percent drop in coverage.

Because nothing was done by the Parson administration to rectify the problem, then or since, that number has doubled in the past year. The Springfield News-Leader reported on February 11 that “more 100,000 people have been removed from Missouri’s Medicaid rolls in the past two years.” This unforced error and state governmentsponsored human tragedy is both unnecessary and unacceptable. The Parson administration must act immediately to stop the bleeding – literally and figuratively – and work double-time to restore medical coverage to those needy individuals, so many of them children, who lost this important benefit, to which they are eligible by law, through no fault of their own.

n This unforced error and state governmentsponsored human tragedy is both unnecessary and unacceptable.

As we reported a year ago, “Cumbersome paperwork, state computer systems that don’t communicate with one other, call center troubles and language barriers are causing some children in Missouri to fall through the cracks and get kicked off of Medicaid benefits.” Even at that time, LSEM was ringing the alarm bell with the Parson administration and getting no relief, which sent the agency to the media.

“We have regular discussions with the state agency, so we talked with them about what was happening,” Joel Ferber, director of Advocacy for LSEM, told us a year ago. “They have dual computer systems. One of the many problems is, when they were all on the same computer system, if the family renewed for SNAP or food

stamps that would automatically extend the Medicaid. Now, families could have just been renewed in SNAP, but the two systems don’t talk to each other, so if they renew Medicaid, it wouldn’t automatically renew SNAP. And they also don’t necessarily record an address change.” LSEM was not alone in noticing the growing crisis and calling attention to it. Tim McBride, a health economist who heads the Missouri MO HealthNet Oversight Advisory Committee, told The American a year ago that “the system broke down after the state decided to do ‘redeterminations’ of eligibility of mostly women and children – and to do so through the mail, giving recipients only 10 days to respond.”

Additionally, McBride told us, there were major problems with the call center – staffing and work that are outsourced to a private call center. “We’ve heard stories of people waiting 45 minutes or an hour or more, then getting cut off or their paperwork getting lost in the system, and so I think that’s a big part of the problem too,” McBride told us a year ago.

Parson is the state’s flag bearer for the Republican Party, which is so quick to blame government (“the deep state”) for so many of our social problems. In this case, these are departments of state government under Parson’s direct control that are causing immediate, dire and needless suffering for more than 100,000 people in the state whose health coverage is provided by federal and state law.

As we reported one year ago to this date:

“Ferber said the evidence of error is clear; now the state needs to really want to fix the problem it created.” One year later, the evidence of error is clear; now the state needs to really want to fix the problem it created. As American folk singer Don McClean sang in his great portrait song about Vincent Van Gogh: “They would not listen, they did not know how. Perhaps they’ll listen now.”

As I See It - A Forum for Community

Issues

We now have a president who sees himself as above the law

By Senator Bernie Sanders For The

St. Louis American

There are two questions for me to answer as a juror in the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump: whether President Trump is guilty of abusing his power as president for his own political gain and whether he obstructed Congress in their investigation of him.

The first article of impeachment charges President Trump with abuse of power when he “solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States Presidential election.” Based on the evidence I heard during the Senate trial, Trump “corruptly solicited” an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son in order to benefit his own reelection chances. To increase the pressure on Ukraine, President Trump then withheld approximately $400 million in military aid from Ukraine. Finally, according to the charges, even when Trump’s scheme to withhold aid was made public, he “persisted in openly and corruptly urging and soliciting Ukraine to undertake investigations for his personal political benefit.”

So, on this first article of impeachment, it is my view that the president is clearly guilty.

The second article of impeachment asserts that Trump obstructed Congress in its investigation of Trump’s abuse of power, stating that Trump “has directed the unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by the House of Representatives pursuant to its ‘sole Power of Impeachment.” According to the warped logic of the arguments presented by the president’s counsel, there are almost no legal bounds to anything a president can do so long as it benefits his own reelection. If a president cannot be investigated criminally or by Congress while in office, then he or she would be effectively above the law. President Trump, who raised absurd legal

arguments to hide his actions and obstruct Congress, is clearly guilty here as well.

Now frankly, while the House of Representatives passed two articles of impeachment, President Trump could have been impeached for more than just that. For example, it seems clear that Donald Trump has violated both the domestic and foreign emoluments clauses. In other words, it appears Trump has used the federal government, over and over, to benefit himself financially.

In 2018 alone, Trump’s organization made over $40 million in profit just from his Trump hotel in D.C. alone. And foreign governments, including lobbying firms connected to the Saudi Arabian government, have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at that hotel. That appears to be corruption, pure and simple.

In addition, there is significant evidence that Donald Trump committed obstruction of justice with regard to the Robert Mueller investigation by, among other actions, firing the FBI director, James Comey.

One of the difficulties of dealing with President Trump and his administration is that we cannot trust his words. He is a pathological liar who, according to media research, has lied thousands of times since he was elected. During the trial, I posed a question to the House impeachment managers: given that the media has documented President Trump’s thousands of lies while in office — more than 16,200 as of January 20, 2020 — why would we be expected to believe that anything President Trump says has credibility?

Sadly, we now have a president who sees himself as above the law and is either

This was a spineless perpetuation of a dangerous cover-up

By U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri For The St. Louis American

This was not an exoneration, it was a spineless perpetuation of a dangerous cover-up.

Republicans in the U.S. Senate turned a blind eye to the facts, refused to allow witnesses and documents that would have uncovered the whole truth, and surrendered congressional oversight to an amoral president who tramples on the U.S. Constitution, puts national security at risk for his own benefit, and repeatedly places himself above the rule of law.

As U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) noted, “The president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a ‘mountain of overwhelming evidence.” Senator Alexander is absolutely right. The core of the case against the President is glaringly simple, and the evidence is overwhelming.

Donald J. Trump is guilty of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. These are inescapable facts proven by the House managers.

LPresident Trump abused his power by withholding $391 million in congressionally appropriated military aid to Ukraine to coerce our ally who is under Russian attack into digging up negative information to be used against Trump’s potential 2020 opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden. The nonpartisan General Accounting Office has determined that this was a violation of federal law. And in doing so, Donald Trump solicited something of value from a foreign entity to help his reelection campaign. That is a felony violation of federal election law. He then executed a complete obstruction of congressional oversight by refusing to respond to lawful subpoenas issued by the U.S. House. Future congresses will wonder why, given the opportunity to call witnesses and review documents,

etters to the editor

Clarification

ignorant or indifferent to the Constitution. And we have a president who clearly committed impeachable offenses.

The evidence of Trump’s guilt is so overwhelming that the Republican Party, for the first time in the history of presidential impeachment, obstructed testimony from witnesses – even willing witnesses. It defies basic common sense that in a trial to determine whether the president of the United States is above the law, the Senate would not hear from the people who could speak directly to President Trump’s behavior and motive. Leader Mitch McConnell’s handling of this trial, unfortunately, was nothing more than a political act.

Yet this impeachment trial is about more than just the charges against President Trump. What this impeachment vote will decide is whether we believe that the president, any president, is above the law.

Last week, Alan Dershowitz, one of President Trump’s lawyers, argued to the Senate that a president cannot be impeached for any actions he or she takes that are intended to benefit their own reelection. That is truly an extraordinary and unconstitutional assertion. Imagine what such a precedent would allow an incumbent president to get away with for the sake of their own reelection. Hacking an opponent’s email using government resources? Soliciting election interference from China? Under this argument, what would stop a president from withholding infrastructure or education funding to a given state to pressure elected officials into helping the president politically?

A Republican acquittal of Donald Trump won’t just mean that the current president is above the law, it will give a green light to all future presidents to disregard the law so long as it benefits their reelection.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders represents Vermont as an Independent.

Although we believe that Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner is accurate in her civil suit against Mayor Lyda Krewson and others where she accuses Krewson of participating in an effort, led by her police department, to undermine the authority of the circuit attorney, and we believe that for this reason the mayor would support the state Legislature empowering the Missouri attorney general to take cases from her police department, the mayor’s spokesman claimed that she had not read House Bill 1900 or taken an official position on it when our editorial was published last week asserting that she supports the bill. We have invited the mayor to speak to us about the bill and have been waiting for her to read it for a week now.

Residency is not a panacea

Joel Sjerven’s article on police residency was interesting but contradictory. Joel posits that St. Louis should maintain its police residency requirement. He cites circumstances and data to support his contention and suggests that imposed residency enhances diversity. If that’s righteous, St. Louis should have a racially diverse police force as a result of imposing city residency in May 1973. But he inexplicably argues that it doesn’t!

I don’t often agree with Mayor Krewson, but she is right on the residency issue; it should be removed. Imposed residency is a proven hindrance to recruiting (cf. Kerner Commission Report of 1968, et al).

St. Louis’ residency requirement is rooted in a bygone era when few if any cops had personal cars or telephones and patrol of the city was on foot. So, it made sense to require that officers be close-at-hand in case of emergency. The city also had a good transportation network which contributed to timely response, and affordable housing was plentiful.

But that’s in the past. Today’s instant communication on a variety of platforms, automobile ownership and residential proximity to the metro highway system render the residency argument moot.

Joel’s contention that only resident cops care for the safety and wellbeing of city residents is not true. It’s also a slap in the face to non-resident officers who relentlessly do the job, despite police management idiocy and political interference. Residency is not a panacea.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

The city needs this I attended a conference sponsored by Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner to discuss her efforts to establish restorative justice in the

Senate Republicans chose to put their heads in the sand instead of preserving and protecting the separation of powers, effectively making this president unaccountable to the power of Congress.

Donald Trump’s lawless actions put our national security at risk for his own political benefit. His total obstruction of Congress, without consequences, will permanently alter the balance of power the founders fought so hard to create to safeguard our republic.

As Chief House Manager Adam Schiff said so well, “The facts will come out. The witnesses that the president refuses to produce and the documents that he continues to conceal will be revealed. And if you rob this country of a fair trial, there can be no meaning to the outcome.”

Senate Republicans fear Donald Trump more than the judgment of history and the will of the American people. They will come to regret that choice in November and in perpetuity.

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.

criminal justice system via her office. Full disclosure: I arrived late due to a deflated tire. However, I heard enough to realize that the city needs this. The way it was explained to us is that offenders will be given an opportunity to reconcile with victims and the community through restitution of time and money, which can lead to rehabilitation. During the Q & A period, we found that a couple of cases are being used to establish the criteria for this criminal reform. Her office is also working with others groups to keep low-level offenders and the accused out of the system. The office needs money and partners to work with it to accomplish its goal

Marian Miller, St. Louis Applause for Schupp

I applaud state Senator Jill Schupp for filing a bill requiring background checks for all gun sales in Missouri, as noted in The St. Louis American. Background checks are one of the best ways of keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous offenders. Senator Schupp’s bill would close loopholes in the current law, which allow criminals to evade background checks by purchasing firearms online or at gun shows. We are lucky to have a lawmaker like Senator Schupp who is willing to take concrete steps to address the issue of gun violence.

Greg Campbell, Creve Coeur

Guest Columnist Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay

Guest Columnist Bernie Sanders

Community College recognizes Normandy for partnership

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley recently honored the Normandy Schools Collaborative for its longtime partnership in the campus’ early college programs. Normandy received the Dr. Rance Thomas Excellence in Community Partnership Award at the January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Normandy was recognized for being one of the first districts to sign on and consistently enroll high school students to simultaneously pursue their diploma and associate degrees. Normandy Superintendent of Schools Charles J. Pearson (center) is shown here with Rance Thomas (left), community leader for whom the award was presented, and Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Florissant Valley provost.

Have symphony musicians teach for free at your school

The Symphony In Your School (SIYS), Secondary program brings Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians into the classroom to interact with and mentor middle or high school band and orchestra students. This free opportunity is designed to support efforts to inspire students and the school community and encourages ongoing participation in music program. The application deadline is March 27. Apply at https://tinyurl.com/ SLSO-schools.

Nominate a Parkway graduate for the Alumni Hall of Fame

The public has until 4 p.m. on April 3 to nominate a Parkway graduate for the Parkway Alumni Hall of Fame. Candidates must have graduated from a Parkway high school at least 10 years ago and made an enduring impact on the lives of others through their career or community endeavors. Past inductees have included graduates who have worked in the fields of science, law, education, the arts, community service, religion, business or sports, but any field is open for consideration. The nomination form is at https:// tinyurl.com/ParkwayHOF.

We must show up to fight against hate

By Leyla Fern King For The St. Louis American

A city divided. Tear gas. Flamethrowers. Angry faces screaming from crowds. Hatefilled, pain-filled marches. Suffering. All accumulating into one, unforgettable summer of hate.

You may remember the protests that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia during the summer of 2016. During this summer of hate, angry white supremacists and neo-Nazis made an attempt to take over a small Virginia town, carrying swastikas and torches, with an intent to keep things rooted in the past.

It all started when a 15-year-old girl started a petition to take down a set of Confederate monuments scattered around downtown Charlottesville, commemorating figures like Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jackson. With many people in the town praising the statues and others hoping for their demolition, Charlottesville became so divided that members of the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups entered the town in support of the statues, making it essential for those in Charlottesville to protest their hatred.

struggle with being open with people about my political opinions, I’ve found that I’ve become more inclined to be honest about them. For example, over the summer I attended the St. Louis Pride Parade with a few friends. Immediately after leaving Pride, I went to Mass and youth group. At any other point in my life, I would have refrained from mentioning Pride to my youth group friends, but on this day I engaged in an open dialogue about it with a few kids. It was freeing; it felt good.

While working with the youth leadership program Cultural Leadership, I stopped in Charlottesville for a few hours to meet with Jalane Schmidt, a University of Virginia professor known for her activism during the summer of hate. Schmidt emphasized the importance of rejecting passiveness and standing strong in the face of hate.

Throughout my year with Cultural Leadership, I was constantly reminded of the necessity of standing up for my beliefs. Constantly being surrounded by kids my age who organize and participate in protests inspired me to put forth positive change as well. I’ve never been one to go out to protests. I’ve always been the type of person to know where I stand on key issues and what moral guidelines I live by, yet I have never felt comfortable sharing them with people who didn’t already agree with me.

But how strong could my beliefs possibly be if I don’t want to share them? What I believe means nothing unless I act upon it. My experience in this program forced me to think critically about my own actions as well as lack of actions. Before joining Cultural Leadership, I was hesitant to share any semblance of my beliefs with my friends at my Catholic church, in fear of starting an argument or ending relationships. And while I still

Cultural Leadership has allowed me to be more honest with myself and others about my ideologies, but knowing what you believe isn’t enough; you have to be willing to fight for it. We might all agree that white supremacy is bad, that the Ku Klux Klan is bad, that neo-Nazis are bad, but if these groups came to St. Louis, would we be out in the streets protesting them? When we met with Jalane Schmidt, she said of white supremacists: “I don’t want to live in the world they’re building.” This is the attitude we all must have – not necessarily a willingness to die in protest, but at least the willingness to join. Calling groups like the Ku Klux Klan evil does nothing to stop them from being evil. Organizing protests does. Going to protests does. Supporting protestors does.

And while we all have this picture of what protesting looks like in our heads, of people with signs marching in the streets with loud chants, that’s not always what protesting looks like. Protesting is as easy as pointing out injustice when you see it, such as calling out friends when they make a racist or homophobic joke. Protesting can be calling state representatives and advocating for your point of view. Protesting comes in all shapes and sizes, negating any excuse not to participate.

We must all reject passiveness and remain active in our activism. If we don’t show up to fight, groups with evil intent and hatred in their hearts will. Change is a give-and-take relationship. If we do nothing good, then nothing good happens. We must fight evil with our good. Because in the wise words of civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis: “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”

For more information on Cultural Leadership, call 314-725-3222, email info@ culturalleadership.org or visit http://www. culturalleadership.org/.

Leyla Fern King is a junior at John Burroughs School, represents her grade on its Student Court and serves on the Executive Board of its Diversity Education Through Communication organization.

Leyla Fern King

to the sanctuary. He had been seated in the sanctuary with Pastor Rice and a cohort of clergy throughout the service. He had been rising and rejoicing and singing throughout scripture readings, gospel selections led by the pastor’s brother, a small girl reciting a Langston Hughes poem from memory, and three youth praise dancing.

The chaplain, who has known the pastor since high school, is very familiar with service at New Horizon. In 22 years, he has missed one anniversary.

“I thought, by way of introduction, I would ask you to stand and say, ‘Thank you, Chaplain Black, for speaking the word that God still lives amongst us fools,” Pastor Rice continued. “Stand and say, ‘Thank you, Barry Black, bishop of the U.S. Senate, who lifts up the name of Jesus.”

After the congregation – a full house of members and guests – rose and thanked the chaplain along with the pastor, Chaplain Black held the room in thrall for an hour of testimony. He started speaking in sing-songy rhymes that recounted the morning service up until that moment in playful, affectionate terms. He ended an hour later by edging his speech into a guttural delivery of gospel that drew in Minister of Music Kyle Kelly on organ. In that hour of testimony, Chaplain Black would do many things. Without naming a single person involved in the impeachment, he indicted the process that he had just

Juveniles

Continued from A1 determine whether they will be tried in Family Court as a child

finished praying over. He narrated his lifelong friendship with Pastor Rice. He said that in heaven his bald head would be restored to a glorious afro. He said Jesus’ hair “was like wool and looked like an afro.”

He quoted B.B. King. He confessed to sin. He testified to his struggle. He described his suffering over the Kansas City Chiefs’ poor performance for the first three quarters of Super Bowl LIV. He interpreted scripture with such profundity

or in general court as an adult. For African-American youth, the hearing more often than not ends with them certified to be tried as adults. The 2017 Missouri Juvenile and Family Division Annual

n Embedded here, if you listened closely – and this was an intensely attentive audience – was his spiritual analysis of the impeachment hearing.

that he had the other clergy in the sanctuary literally leaning forward. He delivered not one but three messages that he said the holy ghost had prepared for him to share.

But, first, he wanted to reassure his old friend that

Report showed that 74 percent of African-American youth who went through the process that year were certified to be tried as adults, compared to 26 percent of their white peers. This disparity decreased

his heartfelt thanks had been appreciated but not necessary, even though the Senate majority leader who led the acquittal of the accused president had overlooked him in giving thanks.

“B.T. is my buddy, so he

somewhat in the 2018 data, though it was still present that year, with 56 percent of African-American youth who went through the hearings certified as adults compared to 50 percent of white juveniles. Once juveniles are certified

lesson in a larger message about learning how to accept rejection. The frame tale for that message was being a boy knocking on doors selling subscriptions to Christian publications to earn money for his Christian studies. He persevered through 25 doors of rejection before talking his way into a home where a compassionate woman called all of her friends and recruited them as his donors. Also embedded here, if you listened closely – and this was an intensely attentive audience – was his spiritual analysis of the impeachment hearing.

“The deceitfulness of witches will choke you if you let it choke you,” Chaplain Black said. “Just keep on planting. Don’t become weary. Stay in the road we trod. But don’t become weary. You’re going to reap if you fade not.” He had not mentioned the names of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or President Trump. He had mentioned no political party. He had said nothing partisan. But in shrugging off being overlooked by the Senate majority leader, he had preached against letting the deceitfulness of witches choke you while you are doing good work.

gets upset if somebody doesn’t thank me for something like that,” Chaplain Black said.

“But Romans 8:11 says the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of me.

See, I got resurrection power inside of me. And I always get thanked. I was sitting in the chamber when they were doing this,” thanking everyone but him, “and the holy ghost said, ‘I’m proud of you, boy.’ I got my thanks.”

He embedded this spiritual

to be tried in adult court, they cannot appeal to have their status –and therefore, their potential sentencing – back to a juvenile level until their trial is over in the general court. Because these cases often take a year or more to be resolved, many juveniles are too old to be moved back to the juvenile justice system when the adult trial is over.

Honse’s client, an AfricanAmerican boy known in court records as D.E.G., has experienced this system. After a short hearing at the age of 16 (his alleged offense happened when he was 15), he was assigned to the adult justice system. Since then, according to Honse, “he has had two birthdays while sitting in an adult jail.”

D.E.G., like many others, might turn 18 before he is able to appeal his certification under the current system. By that point, Honse argues, the human damage to D.E.G. may be irreversible. Honse and D.E.G. are arguing that, instead of only being able to appeal for reinstated status as a juvenile after a lengthy trial and sentencing as an adult, juveniles should be able to appeal for that status at any point during their court processing.

In this election season, in a service conducted between the first two presidential primary elections, those of Iowa and New Hampshire, he also gave no endorsement. But he did thank God for an endorsement.

“We thank You,” Chaplain Black addressed God, at the end of his sermon, after he had called sinners to join him before the altar, where they were holding hands and singing gospel, “for your endorsement of the efficacy of the ministry of New Horizon.”

fact built into the system by statute and by institution,” Honse wrote in a brief. He echoed the DOJ’s findings that the structure of St. Louis County juvenile courts makes it impossible for there to be a complete separation of powers and then argued that this structural flaw extends across the state.

“The roles of judge, prosecutor and probation officer are blurred, and positions traditionally held by members of the executive branch are filled by employees who answer to the court’s judges,” the DOJ concluded in 2015.

“These conflicts of interest are contrary to separation of powers principles and deprive children of adequate due process.”

n “Even if the juvenile did it, there’s still a lot more to the certification decision than just whether the juvenile is guilty of that offense or not.”

– Public Defender Tim Honse

“Our goal is for juveniles to be able to appeal that certification right out of the gate,” Honse said.

Honse’s case relies heavily on information from a 20132015 audit of the St. Louis County Family Courts, in which the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) discovered that the Family Courts were not affording juveniles due process, as deputy juvenile officers – the people who effectively act as prosecutors in juvenile certification cases – were on the same payroll as judges, if not directly answerable to said judges.

The audit also found that this effect was particularly damaging to African-American youth navigating the court system. The recommendations the DOJ made, Honse argues, cannot be implemented completely until state law is changed.

“Many of the failings they observed in St. Louis County are part and parcel of Missouri’s delinquency proceedings across the entire State of Missouri and are in

Honse said that the certification process for minors like D.E.G. is unfair because the juvenile officers doing the sentencing are employees of the court (although judges have not held hiring and firing power over juvenile officers since 2016). Family courts have no separate prosecutorial branch, meaning that the juvenile officers who determine that juveniles may be tried by adults

“answer to the court’s judges” across the state, Honse said.

“A lot of what I did in this case is just say, ‘This stuff is out there, and you guys are ignoring it,” Honse said.

The opposing counsel, however, argued that the current process is reasonable in that it reflects the federal process and that “the trial itself functions as a corrective for any reliance on inaccurate allegations made at the transfer stage.” Even if a child is certified as an adult too quickly or in error, the state argued, that certification will be corrected at trial.

“That is 100 percent wrong,” Honse said. “The certification decision is about the juvenile, about whether the juvenile can benefit from the juvenile process. It’s two different decisions entirely. Even if the juvenile did it, there’s still a lot more to the certification decision than just whether the juvenile is guilty of that offense or not.”

Chaplain Barry C. Black interpreted scripture with such profundity that he had the other clergy in the sanctuary, like Pastor Brandon Blake of New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church, literally leaning forward when he delivered the sermon at the celebration of the 22nd anniversary of New Horizon Christian Church on Saturday, February 8.

Photo by Wiley Price

Janitors

Continued from A1

for most janitors this increase will not bring them to the “$15 now” that the union’s protests loudly demanded.

But it is not an insignificant increase: among the 2,100 janitors covered by the threeyear contract, it would put around $15.3 million into the local economy. These are “the highest raises janitors have ever seen,” said Desideri. “They came together, showed their strength in the street, and won their strongest contract ever because of it.”

Janitor Michelle McNeal described the sense of relief that many union members felt at finally having a contract they could agree on.

“It’s been a very good reaction,” she said. “Everybody was all surprised about some of the things that we were able to change. It was a good response. Everybody was like, ‘Okay, yeah, this is the light at the end of the tunnel.’”

Eugene Hubbard, an SEIU Local 1 executive board member and CleanTech janitor

McKee

Continued from A1

In June 2018, city officials attempted to end the development agreement for the NorthSide Regeneration project. The default notice that the city issued to McKee stated, “After a decade, the promised redevelopment has not come, nor is there any indication that it will.”

The project’s lender Bank of Washington then sued the city, and the litigation is still ongoing.

This fall the aldermen approved $8 million in incentives for a three-bedroom hospital and emergency room

for COCA, said that though negotiations were “a long process,” he was happy that the issues janitors were most concerned about based on a union survey were covered.

“I’m happy to say we got something on every last one of those issues on the survey,” Hubbard said.

— a project that falls within the NorthSide Regeneration footprint. However, project leaders have since not been able to confirm that the facility will be able to accept Medicaid or Medicare — despite the hospital being located in the middle of one of the most impoverished and medically underserved areas in the region.

The American asked Conway if the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) would be scrutinizing the project leaders’ promise that the hospital is going to be able to accept clients with Medicaid and Medicare. Conway said he would look into it.

Freestanding emergency rooms — which is what project

The group was also able to include new protection clauses in their contract. Although, as Desideri said, there was some pressure from CleanTech to incorporate less healthcare coverage in the new contract, that has not happened. They have also gained paid sick days and paid funeral and

leaders have called the facility — are not recognized by the federal government and cannot accept Medicaid and Medicare. In fact, studies have found that freestanding emergency rooms end up costing patients more than standard emergency room fees.

“Patients are getting hit with astronomical medical bills that they wouldn’t get if they were coming out of a hospital,” Alderwoman Annie Rice (D-8th Ward), who is a civil rights and immigration attorney, testified about the hospital board bill. “If the care is going to come attached with a massive medical bill,” she said, then it will bankrupt patients.

The American has repeatedly

bereavement day protection, which was not in their prior contract.

SEIU Local 1 janitors will additionally have their gender identity and expression listed as a protected category in their contract now, meaning that none of them can now be legally fired for their gender

tried to reach David Lenihan, who is not a medical doctor but is leading the medical side of the hospital project, but has not received a response.

Last week, the project’s attorney Joseph Dulle said that he believed having the three-bedroom hospital attached to the emergency room would be enough to get federal recognition. The American asked if they had official confirmation or a legal opinion reflecting that, and Dulle said that he didn’t know.

Having three beds is enough to get state recognition for a hospital license, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

identity or the way that they present gender. Next, Hubbard says, the union will continue moving towards the goal of their campaign, called “One St. Louis” – which ultimately plans to create pressure for a living wage for all jobs in the St. Louis area. For SEIU Local 1, that means continuing to work with graduate students and fast food workers, both under the SEIU Local 1 umbrella.

It also means expanding the scope of their union’s reach. Hubbard noted that there has been some interest in the union from non-unionized janitors who have been closely following the campaign. “Now that we’ve built our campaign, the struggles still continue,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard, who is 70, said that being arrested in pursuit of this contract was worth the risk. “It was worth it,” he said. “We got a lot of attention. We got the community to really listen. We said, ‘By any means necessary.’ So we showed up and showed out.”

Since the janitors launched their fight in October, the offices of Mayor Lyda

But as far as being a provider of Medicaid or Medicare, the federal government decides.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes the final decision on who qualifies to be a provider, and that’s an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to federal law, a hospital can be recognized as a Medicaid and Medicare provider if it primarily is engaged in providing to inpatients. The agency specifies that an inpatient is someone who “will require hospital care that is expected to span at least two midnights.”

Alderwoman Cara Spencer (D-Ward 20) was one of the sole votes against approving

Krewson and County Executive Sam Page have put the wages of city and county employees, respectively, on a path to $15 an hour. BJC HealthCare, the largest employer in the region, has done the same for its employees. Collectively, according to an SEIU Local 1 press release, these efforts have led to “more than 4,000 working families [seeing] their wages rise across the city and county.” The effort has been framed as an economic and racial equity issue since the beginning, and as the janitors gain their new contract, many in the region see it as a step towards equity in St. Louis. “By coming together for One St. Louis, janitors are leading the way in making our region more equitable across racial lines for working families,” said Forward Through Ferguson Executive Director David Dwight IV. “Business, civic and elected leaders have an ongoing role to play in raising wages and creating good-paying union jobs to ensure all working people have the opportunity to thrive.”

incentives for the hospital.

“When basic questions couldn’t be answered about the basic medical services provided there, you have grave concerns,” Spencer said, regarding the hospital’s ability to accept Medicaid. Spencer also said the aldermen, herself included, should have done more “due diligence” before passing the TIF progress bill, particularly considering the city’s current litigation with McKee.

“It’s an incredible amount of incentives he’s gotten, and we have nothing to show for it,” Spencer said. “The McKee development model has not worked, and it’s time to take a different approach.”

Janitors and allies protested in downtown St. Louis on Monday, January 27 in support of a $15 an hour wage for the city’s janitorial workers.

Photo by Wiley Price

Doneisha

Belmar retiring as St. Louis County police chief

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon M. Belmar announced his retirement on Monday, February 10 after nearly 34 years of service, six of those as police chief. He will leave the department at the end of April.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said that this was the “natural course” of Belmar’s plans.

“I have said all along that change begins at the top and it did, with my appointment of four new members to the five-member police board,” Page said in a statement. “I encouraged Chief Belmar to lead the police department through the transition, and he has.”

Belmar became police chief in January 2014, just eight months before the Ferguson unrest. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice criticized the county police’s militarized response to the protests in Ferguson, under Belmar’s leadership. The DOJ also argued that the St. Louis County Police Department was overly focused on its SWAT team and placed too much emphasis on tactical skills over community policing. (Belmar disagreed.)

however, he has done little to adequately address the problem.”

ESOP’s December statement came after the county police established a new Diversity and Inclusion Unit. Belmar appointed as the unit’s inaugural commander Lt. Keith Wildhaber, who recently won a discrimination case against the department after being told by others on the force to “tone down his gayness.” Later in the day on February 10, Page announced that the county had reached a $10.25 million settlement with Wildhaber.

While the unit’s creation was a good step, the ESOP said that the fact that there was no selection process for “such an important assignment” signaled a lack of sincerity.

“We question the strength of the motivation for meaningful change as the creation of the unit came only after [the department] was hit with a multi-million dollar civil lawsuit brought by thenSergeant Wildhaber who has been chosen to head the new unit,” ESOP stated.

Conviction Integrity Unit.

Twenty-four years ago, Johnson was convicted of murdering Marcus Boyd on October 30, 1994, though evidence shows that Johnson was at a friend’s house and would not have been able to commit the crime. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In July, Gardner’s prosecutors asked Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan to set aside Johnson’s 1995 murder conviction. Gardner’s team alleges that former prosecutors and police fabricated evidence to get the conviction of an innocent man.

nationally who are looking to increase accountability,” said Miriam Krinsky, executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution. “And it could embolden those who are trying to push back on these reformminded leaders.”

Some claim that Belmar hasn’t risen to the challenge of changing the culture that the DOJ criticized him for.

The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), a police association of city and county officers who promote racial equity, has continuously battled with Belmar on equity issues.

“Chief Belmar has been consistently tone-deaf to the concerns raised by African Americans regarding discriminatory practices and disparate treatment of minorities relative to hiring, selection to specialized units, disciplinary actions and promotions,” ESOP said in a December 18 statement. ESOP claimed that the department “has had a race issue long before Chief Jon Belmar;

The St. Louis County Police Department did not create an inclusion unit after then-Lieutenant Rick Hayes was terminated in 2013 for instructing several county officers to racially profile and arrest African Americans in the South County area, ESOP stated. Hayes is now back on the force. There was no unit established after Officer Nikki Brown, a black female officer, filed a detailed 21-page complaint alleging that county police department employees not only subjected her to sexual harassment but discriminated against her and also several African-American recruits within the police academy, ESOP stated.

Page said the process of changing the police department’s leadership will be “thoughtful and orderly.”

“I have already begun

discussing future leadership with members of the police board, and I look forward to working with them as the next police chief is chosen,” Page said. “This is an opportunity for an open dialogue about the future of the police department. I am confident that the future will be built on a strong foundation that already exists.”

That dialogue will surely move forwards at the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, February 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hazelwood East Early Childhood Center, 12555 Partridge Run in Florissant.

“This is a departure from past practice where meetings have been held at the police headquarters during the day,” noted Thomasina Hassler, a recent appointee to the board.

Lamar Johnson and conviction integrity

Does an elected prosecutor have the authority to correct the wrongful convictions of their predecessors?

This week, 45 elected prosecutors from around the country signed and submitted a brief to the Missouri Supreme Court fervently arguing that they did.

“When an innocent person becomes enmeshed in the gears of that system, the officials empowered by the public to turn on the machinery are not powerless to turn it off,” they state in an amicus curiae brief filed on Monday, February 10. “It would be a perverse system indeed if elected representatives may ask the courts to imprison innocent citizens but not to free them.”

The brief was submitted as part of the Lamar Johnson case, which the Supreme Court is currently reviewing and is being closely watched by elected prosecutors nationwide. It’s a case dredged up by St. Louis Circuit Attorney

Hogan brought in Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt to represent the state, which is what voters elected Gardner to do. Schmitt has argued all the way to the state’s highest court that Gardner doesn’t have the authority to ask for a new trial if she thinks an innocent person has spent more than two decades in prison wrongfully.

The Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling in the Johnson case would impact other prosecutors throughout the state, including St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, who have also established a Conviction Integrity Unit.

“If allowed to stand, this decision would not only leave Lamar Johnson behind bars, but create a severe barrier to justice for any person wrongfully convicted in Missouri by blocking the ability of prosecutors to ask courts to remedy such cases, thus rendering all conviction integrity efforts across the state null and void,” said Bell, a signatory to the brief.

Through 2018, Conviction Integrity Units have been responsible for producing 344 exonerations nationwide, according to the brief.

“A loss in this case could also send a message to those who are trying to undermine

The brief argues that nationally Conviction Integrity Units have grown into a “recognized benchmark” for local prosecution offices, and they are now “well-settled vehicles” for reviewing and seeking to overturn convictions when there is evidence of actual innocence or misconduct by prosecutors or law enforcement. By the end of 2018, such units operated in 44 jurisdictions across the country, including in many of amici’s own cities and counties.

“Although prosecutors serve as legal representatives of the state, they are not onedimensional advocates charged with obtaining convictions and resisting the reversal of a wrongful conviction at all costs,” the brief states. Gardner has faced fierce resistance during her tenure as prosecutor, and she recently filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of St. Louis, the St. Louis Police Officers Association and other individuals. The lawsuit argues that the resistance and attacks aimed at ousting her from office are racially motivated. The pushback to Gardner’s Conviction Integrity Unit is a reflection of the pushback she is facing, one signatory said.

“Allowing politics to determine whether relief is granted or denied in a case where there are credible claims of innocence and serious concerns about prosecutorial and law enforcement misconduct is unconscionable,” said Andrew Warren, state attorney of Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, another signatory to the brief. “This is a matter of justice for Lamar Johnson and the integrity of our system.”

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Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon M. Belmar, observed by Roland Corvington, who resigned as chair of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners in October.

Persecution, prosecution and Kimberly Gardner

In 1998, the women’s unit of the Organization for Black Struggle read a piece by feminist bell hooks as part of our political education session. It totally changed our outlook about being black women. Inspired, we named ourselves Sistahs Talkin’ Back. I’ve been thinking about hook’s “Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black” since standing on the steps of the Carnahan Courthouse with six resilient black women from around the country.

A quote in the chapter

“Talking Back” puts the public service experiences of these fiercely committed sistahs into sharp view: “those who stand and struggle side by side is a gesture of defiance that heals, that makes new life and new growth possible.” That talking back is more than a “gesture of empty words.” It is the “liberated voice.”

Since taking office nearly four years ago, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner has been forced to expend valuable resources – time, money and opportunities – to defend herself personally and professionally. This sounded all too familiar to Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy; Portsmouth, Virginia, Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales; Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida State’s Attorney Aramis Ayala; and Suffolk County, Massachusetts District Attorney Rachael Rollins.

The women came in an unapologetic show of solidarity with Gardner and the lawsuit she was forced to file. These black sistah-warriors boldly represent the less than 1 percent of prosecutors of color in an ocean of white men – men who have been dogged in their alleged pursuit of justice

through an anti-black lens. Their actions have wreaked havoc on our families and communities for generations. Gardner made an extraordinary move on her own behalf after months of racist slander and relentless legal maneuvers to obstruct her office’s progress. Using the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, Gardner filed a federal lawsuit calling out the City of St. Louis, the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) and other white conspirators who have tried to weave a tangled web for her. A liberated voice will lead to acts of liberation. For Gardner, these other prosecutors and other commanding women who are talking back and standing up, there have been and will be consequences. They will undoubtedly prevail, but at what cost?

Currently St. Louis has four AfricanAmerican women in citywide offices. In addition to Gardner, Darlene Green is comptroller, Tishaura O. Jones is treasurer, and Mavis Thompson is license collector (she previously served as circuit clerk for the 22nd Judicial Circuit when it was an elected position). They can all tell stories of the challenges they face in white male-dominated spaces. They all know what it’s like to have their voices muted, their political goals derailed, their successes diminished. We should expect the attacks on Gardner to intensify in the coming months. That’s because the Democratic primary

for her office comes up in August. It is necessary for the likes of Jeff Roorda (SLPOA business agent), Special Prosecutor Gerard Carmody, City Counselor Julian Bush, the Dowd crowd and other defenders of the white status quo to paint the circuit attorney as incompetent and incapable. In the court of public opinion, they don’t have to prove she is guilty of these charges. They just need to create doubt, enough doubt to force cracks in her community support –enough doubt to warrant voters withholding their enthusiasm at the ballot box.

This all connects with Mayor Lyda Krewson’s plan to eliminate, outsource or consolidate city offices and services. It puts her in cahoots with the Republicandominated General Assembly and the SLPOA to divert cases traditionally prosecuted by the circuit attorney’s office to the Missouri attorney general. HB 1900 is sponsored by a white, non-city state rep from St. Charles County.

What is happening to the Circuit Attorney’s Office is not just a thing for black people to be concerned with. Gardner represents the city and all its citizens. Our tax dollars are being used to both persecute and prosecute her. This is about fairness and justice. It’s about exposing racist hypocrisy when different rules are made as new players enter the field. If we stand up as bell hooks has encouraged us to do, I know that we can find that place of healing and build a city of new life and growth possibilities. We who believe in freedom must move forward because sistahs ain’t gonna stop talkin’ back and standin’ up. Those days of being silenced are over. Let the liberated voices of women be heard and felt.

Panel of Black Abstract Artists at Art Museum

Three Black artists represented in The Shape of Abstraction will discuss current dialogues surrounding abstract art at the Saint Louis Art Museum on Friday, February 21 at 7 pm. The program is moderated by Rehema C. Barber, chief curator, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. She will be interviewing artists Nanette Carter, Bill Hutson, and James Little about their sources of inspiration and the evolution of their studio practices.

A former Romare Bearden Fellow at the Saint Louis Art Museum, Rehema C. Barber has curated several notable exhibitions, and has contributed to numerous publications including the Saint Louis Art Museum’s Shape of Abstraction catalogue.

Nanette Carter’s artworks are in collections across the globe and she has received several grants including the National Endowment for the Arts. She has exhibited internationally with her most recent solo exhibitions in Osaka and Kyoto, Japan.

Bill Hutson is an active visual artist who has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions. He currently serves as the Jennie Brown Cook and Betsy Hess Cook Distinguished Artistin-Residence at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

During his youth, Memphisborn James Little experienced the turbulence following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. This profoundly impacted Little’s approach to life and art. He is recognized as an accomplished colorist and his work is represented in many museums and private collections.

In late 2017, Ronald and

Talking Abstraction: An Evening with Artists

Friday, February 21, 2020

7 pm, The Farrell Auditorium, Saint Louis Art Museum, $5/Free for Members

Join Rehema C. Barber, Chief Curator, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts with artists Nanette Carter, Bill Hutson and James Little.

Monique McRipley Ollie announced the donation of the Thelma and Bert Ollie Memorial Art Collection to the Saint Louis Art Museum.

The collection, named in honor of Ron’s parents, features 81 works of art by five generations of Black artists that have revolutionized abstract art since the 1940s, including Carter, Hutson, and Little. This program is supported by the Ronald M. and Monique

M. Ollie Education Endowment Fund for Abstraction by Black Artists and the Trio Foundation of St. Louis. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Museum’s Information Centers or through MetroTix at metrotix.com or 314.534.1111. All tickets purchased or reserved through MetroTix incur a service charge; the service charge is waived for tickets purchased or reserved at the Museum.

Columnist Jamala Rogers

MIKE GETS IT.

THE ENDURING LEGACY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES TO STAND IN THE WAY OF CREATING WEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

CHILDREN WITH A GOOD EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE KEY TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.

MIKE GETS IT DONE.

MIKE’S GREENWOOD INITIATIVE IS A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL APPROACH TO CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICANS. IT INCLUDES:

•Creating 1 million new Black homeowners.

•Supporting the development of 100,000 new Black-owned businesses.

•Investing $70 billion in neighborhoods that need it most.

DURING HIS TIME AS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, MIKE:

•Increased teacher salaries by 43% and Black student graduation rates by 53%.

•Reduced crime to historic lows by cutting the murder rate in half and reducing juvenile detention by 36%.

MIKE BLOOMBERG IS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC

“TakingCareofYou”

To stop cancer, you must spot cancer

St. Louis-area chapter of The Links, Inc. received training to become breast health equity ambassadors and to share information about breast health and breast cancer prevention to the community from the American Cancer Society at a Breast Health Equity Symposium held February 1 at Parkview Tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Links, Inc. members become community ambassadors for breast health awareness

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

Over 75 community members, most from the St. Louis area chapters of The Links, Inc., were part of a Breast Health Equity Symposium held February 1 at Parkview Tower at BarnesJewish Hospital. They trained to become breast health ambassadors in the community to spread breast cancer prevention facts and the importance of early detection to reduce breast health disparities. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women. American Cancer Society data says there are 265,000 new cases of breast cancer each year, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women – accounting for 40,000 deaths annually. (The

n “AfricanAmerican women have a 90 percent higher mortality rate in the St. Louis region compared to white women.”

– Lannis Hall, MD

number one killer is lung cancer.) They discussed St. Louis County

Health Department data which highlighted the differences in survival between AfricanAmerican women and white women in the region.

“African-American women have a 90 percent higher mortality rate in the St. Louis region compared to white women,” said Links member and clinical oncologist Lannis Hall, MD, of Barnes Jewish Hospital, who chaired the symposium.

The Links organization has a national breast health initiative, and some local Links members recently completed e-learning modules on breast health, which stresses the importance of knowing family history and risk factors for breast cancer. Risk factors

By Lora Gulley For The St. Louis American

Medicaid is a program vital to the health of hundreds of thousands of Missourians. The issues are talked about at a high level, but the impact is felt everyday by those receiving Medicaid – or those who are not receiving Medicaid, but should be. Far too often decisions are made without the voices of those impacted, and there are several possibilities for this trend to continue. But if you are armed with information to take action, we can break that cycle.

We have seen a lot of news about Medicaid including budget issues and bills at the state level. Why should we care?

All of these bills, budget items and campaigns can impact what new research is telling us: that our kids are not getting the coverage needed to ensure they are growing up healthy. Whether it’s work requirements creating an additional barrier to receiving this care or expansion ensuring that entire families are covered, it’s important our communities understand what is going on, how it impacts us, and what we can do about it.

How do we sift through all the information and news about Medicaid to best understand it?

Rather than thinking about each piece separately, think about them by impact: barriers to care, the budget, and how the program operates. They form the Medicaid services families experience in everyday life and can help us understand how and where to take action to advocate for an effective insurance plan.

We have heard a lot about barriers, especially lately with the drop of hundreds of thousands of kids off the Medicaid rolls. What kinds of barriers are decision makers working with?

It is the Medicaid program’s responsibility

Weight training offers important health benefits

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your friends enjoy using the weight machines and free weights at the fitness center. And you see the results of their hard work — toned muscles and an overall improved physique. You’d like to start a weight training program, but you’re not sure you have the time. Think again.

Weight training is a type of strength training that uses weights for resistance. Weight training provides stress to the muscles, causing them to adapt and get stronger, similar to the way aerobic conditioning strengthens your heart. Weight training can help you tone your muscles, improve your appearance and fight age-related muscle loss.

Weight training can be performed with free weights, such as barbells and dumbbells, or by using weight machines. You can also increase

n If you’re a beginner, you may find that you’re able to lift only a few pounds. That’s OK.

Can help you tone your muscles, improve your appearance and fight age-related muscle loss your strength through other types of resistance exercises, such as by using your body weight or resistance bands.

You don’t have to be in the weight room for 90 minutes a day to see results. For most people, short weight training sessions a couple of times a week are more practical than are extended daily workouts. You can see significant improvement in your strength with just two or three 20- or

See WEIGHTS, A13

Weight training provides stress to the muscles, causing them to adapt and get stronger, similar to the way aerobic conditioning strengthens your heart.

Lora Gulley

Photo courtesy of The Links, Inc.

“TakingCareofYou”

Cancer

Continued from A12

for breast cancer include family history and heredity, a history of biopsies, hormone replacement therapy, diets high in saturated fat, high alcohol intake, weight gain and obesity.

Links member Tawana Thomas-Johnson, national vice president for Diversity and Inclusion at the American Cancer Society in Baltimore, Maryland, was in St. Louis for the symposium. She said the Links and the ACS have a national partnership designed to support advancing the ACS mission in all communities, through its Health Equity Ambassador Links (HEAL).

“In St. Louis, there were approximately 50 Links that were trained as Health Equity Ambassadors,” Thomas Johnson told The American “We talked a little bit about cancer disparities; about breast cancer disparities among black

Weights

Continued from A12

30-minute weight training sessions a week. That frequency also meets activity recommendations for healthy adults.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends incorporating strength training exercises of all the major muscle groups into a fitness routine at least two times a week.

Weight training offers important health benefits when done properly. But it can lead to injuries, such as sprains, strains and fractures, if it’s not done correctly. For best results, consider basic weight training principles.

Learn proper technique. If you’re new to weight training, work with a trainer or other fitness specialist to learn correct form and technique. Even experienced athletes may need to brush up on their form from time to time.

Gulley

Continued from A12

to ensure accessing and maintaining insurance is as simple as possible for eligible individuals. We are seeing attempts to do the exact opposite, creating new barriers that individuals and families must overcome to get health insurance. Mainly, this is through work requirements the state Legislature is working to put on the ballot this year. These would require all Medicaid recipients to report 80 hours of work per month or that they are exempt from said work based on the law. This rule creates a barrier to care.

On the contrary, we see Medicaid expansion proposed

As

women; and we also conferred certificates upon the trained Health Equity Ambassadors who will be going out in the community to reach women with breast cancer prevention and early detection information.”

Hall said the symposium reinforced their e-training and put forth the Links’ next steps.

“Our call to action is to educate women and families in our communities about the importance of lifestyle modification for prevention of breast cancer and early detection through annual screening with mammography,” Hall said. “The Link sisters were educated on the Show Me Healthy Women program, which offers free screening to women who meet income and age guidelines. Each Link was called to education 20 women or more in the community who are not routinely screened.”

On average, AfricanAmerican women are diagnosed with breast cancer

n Tawana Thomas-Johnson of the American Cancer Society (ACS) said of the Links’ breast health initiative, “It’s a great way for ACS to reach communities of color, and it’s being delivered by trusted messengers.”

at a younger age and at a more advanced stage. Hall said African-American women have a higher incidence of developing breast cancer under age of 45; one-third of African-American women develop breast cancer before the age of 50; and AfricanAmerican women present with later stage disease and with more aggressive subtypes and pathologic features.

Hall said to stop cancer, you must spot cancer. She reminded participants that mammograms help to detect breast cancer before it is

clinically apparent – giving health care providers a twoyear lead time on survivorship, which is higher in women who get regular screenings. Breast cancer screenings have resulted in at 30 percent reduction in mortality, and high-risk women should consider MRI screening, Hall said. In 2018, the Society of Breast Imagers and the American College of Radiology recommended adding black women to groups considered at high risk for breast cancer. They recommend that all African-

American women should begin breast cancer screening by age 40, and they should begin discussions with their health care provider about screening at age 30. Breast cancer selfawareness should begin at age 20. According to Breastcancer. org, other women considered in the high-risk category include women with a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer; those who have gotten chest or face x-rays; women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent; women with a strong family history of breast cancer, especially a parent or sibling; a personal history of breast cancer; women with dense breasts; and women who may have benign breast conditions.

Although the Links are leading it in St. Louis, Thomas-Johnson said they are making breast health equity a collaborative effort and partnership. The symposium also included Dr. Tim Eberlein, director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center; Dr. Denise

Warm up. Cold muscles are more prone to injury than are warm muscles. Try brisk walking or another aerobic activity for five or 10 minutes before lifting weights.

Do a single set of repetitions. Theories on the

for the ballot as well, which would provide coverage for an additional 200,000 Missourians.

What else impacts the program’s operation?

Work requirements would be more paperwork and another way for individuals to lose coverage if they are unable to accurately report work or exemption. Expansion would change the threshold for who is eligible for coverage, including hundreds of thousands more individuals who are likely uninsured and paying for healthcare out of pocket. We also have a budget line item in 2020 and proposed again for 2021 for $34 million of the state budget to go to “Medicaid Transformation,” which

best way to approach weight training abound, including countless repetitions and hours at the gym. But research shows that a single set of exercise with a weight that fatigues your muscle after about 12 to 15 repetitions can build muscle efficiently in most people and

could either positively impact families by streamlining the program or negatively impact families by making changes without participation from impacted communities.

How do decisions about the Medicaid budget impact Medicaid recipients?

The way the money works for Medicaid can change how the entire program is run, which changes the services Medicaid recipients have access to. Right now, there is a bill in the state Legislature that would change the way the federal government funds its part of this state program. Currently, the federal government gives a percentage of the cost to run the program. This bill would change that, so the

can be as effective as three sets of the same exercise.

Use the proper weight. The proper weight to lift is heavy enough to tire your muscles after about 12 to 15 repetitions. You should be barely able to finish the last repetition.

federal government pays a set rate, regardless of the costs, in exchange for more state control over how the program is run. This means that if the costs for running the program go up, the state must either find a way to pay for them or cut services. Transformation and expansion play a role as well. Transformation has an opportunity to streamline the program to save money, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that those changes will have a positive impact on Medicaid recipients. Medicaid expansion has proven to save states money on Medicaid by gaining additional federal dollars, freeing up more money in the budget.

How does all this this directly impact the black

Start slowly. If you’re a beginner, you may find that you’re able to lift only a few pounds. That’s OK. Once your muscles, tendons and ligaments get used to weight training exercises, you may be surprised at how quickly you progress. Once you can easily do 12 to

community?

The racial disparities in healthcare are stark; black babies are 2 times more likely to die than white babies in the St. Louis region, regardless of income and education levels.

Research tells us that changes to Medicaid coverage will play a critical role in addressing these racial inequities. For many black families, Medicaid not only plays an essential role in access to care, it also translates into financial flexibility, allowing for limited dollars to be spent on meeting other basic needs, such as housing, food or medicine. When we see so much happening around Medicaid from operational barriers to budget changes that impact every aspect of the program, we must understand how they

“It’s been incredibly successful,” Thomas-Johnson said of the Links’ breast health initiative. “We did it as a pilot initially in the eastern area of Links and had a lot of success there, and so it has just rolled out nationally this year. It’s a great way for the ACS to reach communities of color with messaging, and it’s being delivered by trusted messengers.”

For more information on the American Cancer Society, visit https://www.cancer.org/.

15 repetitions or more with a particular weight, gradually increase the weight.

Take time to rest. To give your muscles time to recover, rest one full day between exercising each specific muscle group. You might choose to work the major muscle groups at a single session two or three times a week, or plan daily sessions for specific muscle groups. For example, on Monday work your arms and shoulders, on Tuesday work your legs, and so on.

Lean muscle mass naturally decreases with age. If you don’t do anything to replace the muscle loss, it’ll be replaced with fat. But weight training can help you reverse the trend — at any age. As your muscle mass increases, you’ll be able to lift weights more easily and for longer periods of time. You’ll also help to maintain your bone density, better manage your weight and improve your body’s metabolism.

impact us and make our voices heard.

How do we take action?

We can vote, we can educate, and we can run for office. We must ensure our friends and neighbors are registered to vote, and then we must ensure they understand the issues to inform their vote. When we don’t see someone on the ballot that is representing us and our community, we should find someone who does and we support them in a run for office. That person may be you. We need to talk about how to change our path forward, away from upholding systemic racism and towards building equitable systems. Lora Gulley is director of Mobilization and Advocacy for Generate Health.

Hooks Anderson, primary care physician; Dr. Ingrid Taylor, family medicine physician; Sherrill Jackson, founder of The Breakfast Club support group for breast cancer survivors; Katie Manga of Gateway to Hope; a video by Susan G. Komen St. Louis; and Karen Morrison, Villajean Jones, JoAnne Wilson, Arlene Moore of The Links. The event was hosted by the Archway, Gateway and St. Louis chapters of The Links.

St. Louis-area chapter of The Links, Inc.

Photo courtesy of The Links, Inc.

Healthy Kids Kids

Healthcare Careers

Why Am I Eating?

Nutrition Challenge:

A good healthy habit to start is to eat only when you’re hungry. While this might sound obvious, very few of us actually do it.

Counting Steps

EatingMyJournal

Walking is one of the best ways to stay active. Throughout the day you can look for ways to increase the amount of steps you take. You can walk around the living room while watching TV. You can take the

Animal Safety

While animals can be cute and furry, we should all be careful anytime we are around any kind of animal (especially if it isn’t your own pet). A dog you see while walking down the street might seem friendly, but if it doesn’t know you it could be afraid and jump up on you, or bite. When you see someone walking a dog,

Keep an Eating Journal for a week to see when and why you ate. Was it because you were bored? Did you eat when you were sad or upset? Or maybe you ate just because it’s what you

stairs instead of an elevator, or maybe you can walk to a nearby store instead of riding in a car.

Some studies show that kids that take about 12,000 steps per day are healthier. Consider purchasing a pedometer. This small,

always do. (Perhaps you usually eat a snack when you sit down to watch a movie.)

Now try to make it a habit to wait until your stomach tells you that you’re hungry before you eat. You’ll eat a lot less junk food… and you’ll be healthier!

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

inexpensive device clips onto your waistband and measures how many steps you take a day. Challenge yourself to increase the amount of walking you do. Try adding in more and more walking each and every day.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 4, NH 1

it’s always a good idea to ask the dog’s owner if it’s ok to pet the dog.

And finally, if you see an unleashed dog (or any kind of wild animal) wandering around, do not approach the animal or attempt to pick it up. Wild animals are scared of you and may lash out at you in fear.

Learning Standards: HPE 5, NH 5

Beet Chips

Ingredients:

3 Med Beets

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice beets very thin, drizzle with oil and put in a single layer on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt/pepper. Bake s minutes, until crisp.

Arie Bennett Patient Access Lead

Where do you work? I am the Patient Access Lead in Radiology at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance from Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a Master of Health Care Management from Jones International University, Denver, Colorado.

What does a patient access lead do? My job is different from day to day. I could be in the radiology department in the morning, and then I cross over to the Emergency Room towards the evening or night. But the bulk of my responsibilities include registration, making sure that the front desk staff, along with myself, are registering patients correctly and in a timely manner.

Why did you choose this career? When my father’s health started to decline and some of my own personal health issues happened, I was going to many medical appointments. I was in contact with a lot of different people with different roles and that is what made me decide upon pursuing a degree in health care management, which landed me where I am today.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy interacting with different people and getting to meet people from all over the world that come into our hospital for care and services. My vacation list has grown since working here! I also love that I can be a listening ear to parents and patients when they come in. My coworker said, “You are like a Dr. Phil over there.” LOL I have grown to know and learn about so many different medical conditions while working here and I can say that some of the children that walk through here are super heroes and they remind me on a daily basis to never give up on myself, even when I might want to.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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 314-289-5422

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

6th grade teacher

Simpson how to find STEM lessons in the newspaper’s NIE page.

Louis American

SCIENCE CORNER

What is a stroke? When the brain is flooded with blood and can’t get oxygen, it is a stroke. Strokes can cause sickness, brain damage, muscle weakness, and even death. During a stroke, a person will often experience numbness on one side of the body, a bad headache, dizziness, loss of balance, and difficult speaking. It is important to get help immediately. Sometimes, strokes can be treated with medicine or surgery.

Strokes

There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic is caused from a blocked blood vessel. This blockage may be from a clot or a clogged artery. Hemorrhagic is caused when a weak or thin blood vessel bursts and blood spills out. High blood pressure weakens

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Your senses are much more effective when they are used together. In this experiment, you will see how your senses help each other.

Materials Needed:

• Cardboard Box • Scissors • Sock

• 5-10 Small Items to Place in the Box • Volunteers

Procedure:

q Cut a hole in the box that is big enough to fit your hand through for this experiment.

w Place your items in the box.

MATH CONNECTION

Flex those brain muscles as you answer these word problems!

z A fifth grade class sold 250 tickets to a play. They sold 160 adult tickets at $7.50 each, and 90 children’s tickets at $5.00 each. They donated ½ of the money to charity. How much money did they donate? ______

DID YOU KNOW?

blood vessels and is usually the cause of hemorrhagic strokes. Doctors can diagnose strokes by using MRI imaging and CT scans. In order to prevent strokes, it is important not to smoke. This weakens your blood vessels and your immune system. Eat healthy. Limit fat intake and eat a lot of whole grains to keep your blood vessels clear from plaque. Be active. Regular, physical activity keeps your blood vessels healthy and strong. Check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and keep an eye on diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

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

e Ask a volunteer to place a sock on their hand. They will place their hand in the hole and see how many items they can identify in the box.

r Next, the volunteer will repeat step 3 without the sock. Are they more successful identifying objects without their sense of touch affected?

t Finally, take the lid off the box and allow the volunteer to see all of the items.

Analyze: How does the sense of sight and touch work together?

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

x Jim, Carla and Tommy are members of the same family. Carla is 5 years older than Jim. Tommy is 6 years older than Carla. The sum of their three ages is 31 years. How old is each one them? ______

c How many minutes are in one week? ______ How many minutes are in one month? ______

v A painter charges $250 for materials and $35 per hour for labor. The total cost of painting an office is $372.50. How many hours did it take the painter to paint the office? ______

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

SCIENCE STARS

African-American Writer and Health Consultant

Andrea King Collier

Andrea King Collier is a writer, health editor, columnist, and national health consultant from Lansing, Michigan. She focuses on health issues in the AfricanAmerican community. She earned degrees in journalism and political science from Indiana University and is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and Medical Journalism for the National Cancer Institute. She started writing for national magazines, but expanded to include social media, websites, blogs, and photography. She has worked with Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance, the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Health Power, Inc., and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Collier has written two books. “Still With Me: A Daughter’s Journey of Love and Loss,” was written about the last year of her mother’s life. Collier was raised by a strict single mother who remarried when she was twelve years old. Upon learning her mother had cancer, Collier invited her mother to live with her and her family. The last year of her mother’s life was spent finding peace with their relationship, as well as finding peace with cancer. The ladies rekindled their love of collecting vintage Barbies. In this book, Collier writes about her personal relationship with her mother and about health issues and how they affect the entire family.

“The Black Woman’s Guide to Black Men’s Health,” was coauthored with Dr. Willarda Edwards, whom Collier met at an NAACP conference. Collier believes that African-American men are more likely to eat right, be active, and seek medical attention if they have an informed woman in their life. This book is divided into chapters that focus on the following health issues: lung, prostate and colon cancer, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and violence against young black men. Each chapter contains facts, treatment and prevention information, personal stories from celebrities and non-celebrities, and questions and answers with the doctor. The book also focuses on how to select an insurance plan and find a health care provider, as well as how these topics affect the African-American community.

Many of Collier’s articles focus on health, wellness, and prevention. She believes strongly in supporting agriculture and making fresh foods available in urban communities. Colllier believes in strong family and community support. She says, “My parents raised me to believe I could accomplish anything. I’ve never shied away from trying new technology, applying for fellowships or attending professional conferences that allow me to build upon my success.”

To read a collection of Andrea King Collier’s articles, visit: http://civileats.com/author/acollier/.

Learning Standards: person who has made a contribution to the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math.

MAP CORNER

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

Activities —

Help Wanted: Read the classified ads and find a job that lists a salary. Calculate the hourly wage, daily wage, weekly wage, monthly wage, annual wage and wages over a three year period.

Editorials: Find examples of editorials that were written to inform the reader, interpret the news for the reader, entertain the reader, and persuade the reader. As you read the editorial, underline the facts and circle the opinions.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can identify author’s purpose. I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

Hanrahan Elementary School

Ishia Bailey shows students Jaquan Coppage, Nhyla Warren, Courtney York, Lamar Henderson and Quiari

Photo by Wiley Price / St.

Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones visited with Herzog Elementary students on March 1, 2019 to tell

program.

Treasurer Jones releases

‘Report to the Community’

Four

Ferguson Commission

report

calls-to-action answered, working on more

By Sophie Hurwitz For The St. Louis American

In St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones’ 2020 “Report to the Community,” she noted that the Office of the Treasurer had implemented four of the calls to action from the Ferguson Commission’s 2016 report and is working on two more.

“The Ferguson Commission report was not meant to sit on a shelf,” Jones said. “My office has been implementing their calls-to-action because we all benefit from an equitable region which expands opportunity for all.”

One of those calls for action was a livable wage for all. In pursuit of that goal, Jones raised the minimum wage for those working in her office to $15/hour in May 2019.

n “This school year, the College Kids program reached 16,000 children’s savings accounts with over $1.1 million.”

– St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones

“All work deserves dignity, and all work matters,” Jones said. “We are really serious about making sure that people stop making poverty wages, and it’s made a hell of a difference in our employees being able to make a livable wage and take care of themselves and their families.”

On January 17, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson followed suit, ordering the minimum wage for all city workers raised to $15 an hour. Then on January 30, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page followed suit, announcing a plan to raise the wage of all county workers to $15 by 2022.

Another call to action in the Ferguson Report that Jones has answered is the call to “create universal child development accounts,” where the Treasurer’s Office was named by the Ferguson Commission as one of the directly accountable bodies. Jones is answering that call through her ongoing College Kids Savings program, which provides every student enrolled in St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) and charter schools with

See JONES, B2

Census Job Fair at Harris-Stowe on February 15

Angela Fleming Brown was named chief executive officer of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC). Previously she was acting CEO. She joined the RHC in October 2007 as a strategic planning associate for the Eastern Region’s Behavioral Health Initiative. She was instrumental in developing and implementing Gateway to Health, a federal $30 million a year program that ensures access to health care for 22,000 low income, uninsured individuals in St. Louis city and county.

Martel Hulsey joined Kwame Building Group, Inc. as business developer and diversity monitor. His responsibilities include creating business and marketing opportunities and maintaining existing client communications. As diversity monitor, he oversees construction sites to ensure and verify minority involvement on projects. He has four years of experience in the marketing industry. Kwame Building Group is an employee-owned construction management firm.

Malinda Ice is among 4,768 teachers nationwide to renew their certification as a National Board Certified Teacher. She is principal of Parker Road Elementary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. National Board Certification is designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. Created by teachers, it is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.

Basil Kincaid was one of 10 local artists awarded a $20,000 grant from the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis as part of its annual Artist Fellowship program. Kincaid is a post-disciplinary artist who has exhibited work in New York, Miami, Boston, San Francisco, St. Louis, and the Kavi Gupta Gallery in Chicago. Kincaid recently debuted a museum performance at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

U.S.

Sherri Brown promoted to vice president of Multicultural Sales and Development at Visit Tampa Bay. An East St. Louis native, she has led or been directly involved in Visit Tampa Bay successfully securing multiple major multicultural conventions including; Prince Hall Shriners, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the Latin American Motorcycle Association, The Church of God in Christ-AIM Convention, and The International Indian Film Awards, also known as Bollywood.

Chauncey Granger was the focus of “Inspiration by Example,” a program celebrating the lives of St. Louis-area African-American trailblazers at the Missouri History Museum. He is the principal of Hazelwood East High School and has more than 20 years of experience in education in various roles including truancy officer, special education teacher, adjunct professor at Lindenwood University, and assistant principal.

On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican.

St. Louis

them about the College Kids savings

New vehicle for STEM education

Jones

continued from page B1

the opportunity to save for college.

“This school year, the College Kids program reached 16,000 children’s savings accounts with over $1.1 million in assets to help students in SLPS and charter schools attain their dreams of college or vocational training,” Jones said in a statement.

Though this is not exactly what the report called for –which was an expansion of the current grant-matching Most 529 program into an automatic full-coverage, opt-out system – it makes progress towards a similar goal.

The other two fiscal Ferguson Commission recommendations that Jones’ office has announced success in both involve financial empowerment and education. One is to raise awareness of development accounts like those utilized in the College Kids program. In pursuit of this goal of awareness and education, the Treasurer’s Office has used radio PSAs, along with more direct methods in the schools, like sending

American staff

World Wide Technology Raceway, through a partnership with the Steward Family Foundation and World Wide Technology, is committed to taking motorsports to the classroom in an effort to introduce more children to the concept that education is fun and exciting. Its newest educational and promotional asset is a cutaway NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series racer that will be used at various science, technology, engineering and mathematics events hosted by the race track throughout the St. Louis region.

The STEM vehicle features exposed and cutaway components to show the inner workings of a NASCAR race truck. The vehicle has cutaway cylinder heads and engine block to expose the inner workings of a racing engine. With the removal of the right side of the body and half of the hood and deck lid, the truck provides a perspective of the strong build and safety components used in racing.

In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a tire-changing component so that the truck can be used for pit stop simulations.

“World Wide Technology Raceway, the Steward Family

Foundation and World Wide Technology take great pride in our efforts in the St. Louis region,” said race track owner and CEO Curtis Francois, “and this program adds another layer of excitement to what we are doing together.”

During the 2020 season, the track’s charity, Raceway Gives, will feature robotics competitions, drone racing and the Jr. 500 karting program. In conjunction with area school districts, a STEM zone –called STEM Lane – will be included in each of the track’s INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA events in conjunction with area school districts.

materials home in student backpacks. In a similar call, the

Ferguson Commission called on the St. Louis region to concentrate financial services

through empowerment sites, which are places that merge traditional banking sites with financial education sites. Through the Treasurer’s Office of Financial Empowerment, she has been working towards that goal of creating permanent empowerment sites by holding financial literacy workshops.

This past fiscal year, the office held 85 workshops with over 1,200 participants to enhance credit, money management, lending, and more, Jones said. The Office of Financial Empowerment

also has a permanent office in City Hall, which offers walkin free financial counseling. At a recent public event in Florissant announcing the United Church of Christ’s retirement of $12.9 million in medical debt, Jones opened the office’s doors to anyone in the region.

“We at the Office of Financial Empowerment offer free, one-on-one and group counseling for increasing your credit and money management,” Jones said, noting that it is open to anyone,

regardless to where they live in the region. She invited people to come to Room 220 of St. Louis City Hall, to call 314622-4700 or visit www.stlofe. org. Jones said her office also is actively working towards ending predatory lending and strengthening community reinvestment, both also accountable to Ferguson Commission calls to action. Read the “Report to the Community” at https://tinyurl. com/Treasurer-2020.

Community College reports phishing attack that exposed 5,127 individuals

On January 13, St. Louis Community College discovered a successful cyberattack on staff that resulted in the exposure of sensitive information – including name, student identification number, date of birth, address, phone numbers, and email addresses – for 5,127 individuals. Social Security numbers also were exposed for 71 of those individuals.

Most of the accounts compromised by the phishing attacks were secured within 24 hours of the incident, and all accounts were secured within 72 hours of the incident, according to a statement from the college released on Tuesday, February 4. Before announcing the attack, according to the statement, information needed

Job Fair

continued from page B1

in English, if applying in the 50 states or Washington, D.C. (bilingual applicants are needed and are encouraged to apply)

• Be registered with the Selective Service System or have a qualifying exemption, if you are a male born after December 31, 1959

• Undergo fingerprinting and pass a criminal background check and a review of criminal

Social Security numbers also were exposed for 71 of those 5,127 individuals.

to be collected and analyzed from multiple systems to identify all of the impacted individuals and ensure the accuracy of the information that was contained in employee email accounts.

The college stated that is in the process of notifying affected individuals. It has contacted the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General and the Family Policy Compliance Office of the breach. The college also will require all faculty and staff to be re-trained in handling and

records performed by the Census Bureau

• Commit to completing training.

• Be available to work flexible hours, which can include days, evenings, and weekends.

Most jobs require employees to:

• Have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle, unless public transportation is readily available

• Have access to a computer with internet and an email account (to complete training).

sharing sensitive information within 30 days. The Federal Trade Commission urges anyone who gets a phishing email – a fraudulent email asking for personal information – to forward it to the AntiPhishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg. org. If you get a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726). Also, report the phishing attack to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

If you think a scammer has your information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, the FTC advises that you go to IdentityTheft.gov where you’ll see the specific steps to take based on the information that you lost.

“This is the best part-time job in America,” Clay said in a release. “Not only are you earning good money, you’re helping our community get its fair share of federal funding and political representation at all levels. Over $650 million per year in federal funding is allocated via census data. I’m inviting the community to get hired and get counted.” For more information, call (314) 367-1970 or go to 2020census.gov/jobs.

St. Louis Treasurer

Tishaura O. Jones visited with KIPP Wisdom Academy kindergarten students on April 5, 2019 to tell them about the College Kids savings program.

n “I’m happy we have the same team.”

— Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, on his 46-7 team not making a NBA trade deadline deal

Sports

CBC’s Love to play in Nike Hoops Classic

Central High basketball star Arthur McFadden passes

CBC basketball standout Caleb Love added a pair of basketball honors to go along with his recent selection to the McDonald’s AllAmerican Game in April.

The 6’3” Love was selected to play in the Nike Hoops Summit, which will be held on April 10 in Portland, Oregon. The Nike Hoops Summit will pit Team USA against a group of International All-Stars. Love will play on the team of high school stars from the USA. Love has also been selected to play in the Iverson Classic in Philadelphia from April 22-24. The game is named after former NBA star and Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

RIP Arthur McFadden

Arthur McFadden

Earl Austin Jr.

Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of former Central High basketball star Arthur McFadden, who recently passed away at his home in Meridian, Idaho. He was 62.

The 6’5” McFadden was one of the greats of the Public High League during his career at Central from 1974-76. He formed one of the great dynamic duos with forward Johnny Parker to lead the Redwings to a 75-6 record and two berths in the Missouri Class 5 state championship game.

As a sophomore in 1974, McFadden averaged 19 points a game and shot 53 percent from the field. He had his best season as a junior when he averaged 21 points and nine rebounds and earned St. Louis PostDispatch All-Metro First Team honors. As a senior in 1976, he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds a game. McFadden was named to the St. Louis American PHL Dream Team in 1975, 75 and 76. He was a Class 4 All-State selection in 1974 and ’76 and a Post-Dispatch All-City District player in 1974-76. There will be a memorial service for Arthur McFadden on Saturday, February 29 at Agape Christian Center (2410 Gardner Dr.) in St. Louis. The service will begin at 11 a.m.

Top scorers hook up at Hancock

Two of the top scorers in the St. Louis area got together on Monday night as Chris Hill of Brentwood matched up against Sam Richardson of Hancock. Hill is the top scorer in the St. Louis metro area at 28.4 points a game while Richardson is fourth at 26.8 points a game.

Hancock picked up a 79-74 victory as both players shined in their individual dual.

‘If you can’t beat ‘em,

Why John Burroughs removing Lutheran North from its schedule makes no sense Lutheran North (14-0), won its sixth state championship and its first since

Disbelief is an understatement. My jaw dropped wide open, like a cartoon character, when I learned that John Burroughs decided to remove Lutheran North from its football schedule. As a graduate of Lutheran North, the decision just didn’t make sense. Though I graduated from North many moons ago, I have vivid memories of circling John Burroughs and MICDS our schedule as the toughest teams that the Crusaders would face in any given season. Those teams were hard-nosed, wellcoached and talented. You knew there would be big hits and bruises after facing off against the Bombers. It is not just ancient history that Burroughs was considered an elite program. This is the same program that sent Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys) and Foye Oluokun (Atlanta Falcons) to the NFL. It is the same football program that

was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. It’s the same program that won a state championship in 2015. It’s the same program that boasts a total of nine state championships and six runner-up finishes. Yet, Ben Fredrickson of the Post-Dispatch reported that despite an even 5-5 head-to-head record over the past decade, Burroughs made the decision to drop Lutheran North from its schedule.

“Burroughs believes Lutheran North is now too far ahead,” Fredrickson wrote. Wait! What? Keep in mind that the Bombers and the Crusaders are both members of the Metro League. By shunning Lutheran North, Burroughs now joins Priory and Principia as Metro League teams who refuse to play the Crusaders. In a seven-team league (including North), three teams now refuse to play Lutheran North.

It was the first time in school history that the Lutheran North Crusaders finished unde

feated. After the season, John Burroughs School, a ninetime state champion, announced it would become the third school in the Metro League to remove the Crusaders from their schedule.

Sistrunk

Lutheran North’s Laila Blakeny (25) drives past Vashon’s Raychel Jones (5) during action Thursday, February 6, at Lutheran North High. The Lady Crusaders of Lutheran North went on to defeat the Lady Wolverines 50-47.

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Dad was there just at the right time for first-time NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is on top of the world.

The Boston Celtics small forward, who starred first at Chaminade then Duke before entering the NBA, will compete in his first NBA All-Star Game this coming weekend in Chicago. He has quickly become the Celtics’ “go-to guy” in clutch situations, as was proven in his team’s 112-111 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb.

9. His 26-point, 11-rebound performance, which included several clutch threepoint shots, was key to the come-from-behind win.

All-Star Games, we have to go back three weeks. Instead of being atop the world, it came crashing in on him.

Tatum’s father Justin had joined him in New Orleans to take in the game between the Pelicans – with rookie Zion Williamson – and the Celtics.

A pregame ritual when the Tatum’s are together usually includes a pre-game meal. This time it was at a Popeye’s near the team hotel.

As Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston wrote on Monday, “The Celtics offense started humming when it utilized the clever ‘get Tatum the ball.’ strategy. Whenever Tatum was on the bench, his absence was noticeable.”

He is averaging 22.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game – all career highs –for the 37-15 Celtics. He was drafted by LeBron James on Sunday for Team LeBron in the All-Star Game and then learned that he is the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

Tatum averaged 29.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists last week, the Celtics went 4-0 and were riding a seven-game win streak heading into a Tuesday night road game against Houston. If the Celtics’ MVP vote came today, he would probably be the winner. When he steps on the floor as an Eastern Conference reserve, and plays in what should be the first of many

Suddenly, the younger Tatum’s phone began buzzing unceasingly. Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people had been killed in a helicopter crash.

“I just (saw) his soul leave,” Justin Tatum told NBC Sports Boston.

“Because he thought he heard some news of Kobe’s passing. We both couldn’t believe it. We were energetic, talking the whole time. When we found out, it was just dead silence for the rest of the trip until we found out it was real news.”

It was real. Shockingly real.

Tatum’s advice to his son on that terrible day will probably drive him for the rest of his career.

“What you need to do is play through him and do what Kobe would like you to do,” Justin said he told Jayson.

“And that’s become a great player.”

Following Bryant’s death, Jayson Tatum said Kobe was “Somebody I really looked up to and really was like my hero, the reason I started playing basketball, to becoming a friend, a mentor, someone I could talk to and help me out with a bunch of things on and off the court.”

Tatum, his fellow All-Stars and the entire NBA world will use the weekend’s festivities as a tribute to the late Bryant.

James had planned to draft Tatum’s teammate, Kemba Walker, but Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis

Antetokounmpo nabbed him for Team Giannis.

“That was my next pick,” James shouted during the televised draft.

Tatum will get his first chance to display his All-Star talents during the weekend when he defends his title in the 2020 Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Saturday Night.

Beal blasts being snubbed

Another St. Louis area native is also having the best season statistically of his NBA career, but he was passed over as an Eastern Conference All Star – and he ain’t happy about it.

“I’m a little (ticked) about it,” Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal told reporters after he learned he was not selected as a reserve.

“I was kind of expecting it, honestly. It’s disrespectful, but the real ones know, so I’m just going to keep competing and I’m going to try to get my team to the playoffs.”

At 18-33, the Wizards

are three games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth –and final – Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Inspired by his team’s growing playoff chances and his All-Star Game snub, Beal has been on fire.

In the three games following his disappointing news, Beal averaged 35.3 points, including a 43-point performance against the Golden State Warriors.

Beal is averaging 29.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, which are all career highs.

He’s also sick of losing, and he recently let his front office know it.

“I don’t like losing, so it’s going to keep blowing up for me until we start winning and changing our culture,” Beal said in mid-January.

The culture he is referring to will only change “by winning games, having that winning attitude, winning habits.”

Beal, who signed a contract extension in October, cannot be traded until the offseason.

If Beal’s hope was for the Wizards to improve through a trade, he again was disappointed. His team did nothing before the trade deadline passed on Feb. 6.

Cheerleader brawl

For the first column of the year, I wrote that hopefully the coming months would not bring more scandal, cheating and untidy behavior to the area prep sports scene.

Well, the peace lasted all of six weeks.

In video that has gone internationally virile, a “cheer off” between East St. Louis and Trinity cheerleaders before a game in an Alton tournament

erupted into a brawl that embarrassed themselves, their schools and this entire region.

Posted on YouTube, the incident is nearing 400,000 views.

A Trinity cheerleader got close to one of her East S. Louis counterparts. Pushing and shoving followed. Then the fists started flying. Both schools have wisely cancelled the respective squads’ seasons.

“We expect our teams to conduct themselves in a manner that will protect the safety of athletes, officials, coaches and spectators at sporting events,” East St. Louis Superintendent Arthur R. Culver said in a written statement.

“We regret that our cheerleading team did not conduct themselves in a manner commensurate with these expectations.”

Trinity released a statement saying, the fight “was inconsistent with our mission. All Trinity Catholic students are ambassadors of our school and therefore are held to high academic, social and behavioral standards.”

The Reid Roundup

The Boston Celtics small forward, who starred first at Chaminade then Duke before entering the NBA, will compete in his first NBA All-Star Game this coming weekend in Chicago.

The St. Louis Battlehawks won their season opener in Dallas last Sunday and XFL games did well in the ratings throughout the region. Head coach Johnathan Hayes did an excellent job throughout the hard-fought game and sound bites of him during the game demonstrated that he is an excellent teacher of football… While it was expected, North Carolina A&T is leaving the HBCU filled MidEastern Athletic Conference to join the Big South. The move becomes official July 1, 2021. North Carolina A&T chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. said “This move makes great sense for our student-athletes, for our fans and for our bottom line. We will always have a place in our hearts for the MEAC.”… The Washington Redskins hired Jennifer King as a full-time coaching intern, making her the first black woman to hold this position in NFL history… Aja Smith has been signed by WWE as the first black female referee in the wrestling organization’s history. A tearful Smith was captured on video upon learning the news and she said, “Having this platform as a female, as a female of color, is really an honor and I’m so thankful to be given this moment.”… Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, who has not played since the end of the 2016 season, says he has recovered from the snapped Achilles tendon that cost him a chance with the New Orleans Saints in 2018. He is training with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman in Dallas and, based on a Tweet saying “I’ll see y’all there,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II might help out.

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

Alvin A. Reid

The spectacular Mahomes, Jackson and Murray

Named Offensive Rookie of the Year, MVP and Super Bowl MVP

It was a tremendous season for black quarterbacks in the National Football League.

The culmination of this great year of the black quarterback took place during Super Bowl weekend when three talented players achieved the highest honors in the game.

Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals was voted the Offensive Rookie of the Year in the NFL. A former Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma, Murray threw for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes. He injected some excitement into a franchise that hit rock bottom.

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens was the

Clutch

Continued from B3 edge, there has been zero talk about Burroughs removing MICDS from its schedule.

It’s fair to ask, what’s the difference? If the Crusaders are too big and bad for Burroughs, why isn’t the same true for MICDS?

Beyond the politics of the move, Burroughs’ decision to duck to Crusaders sends a terrible message to its students. The old adage favored by cynics used to be, “If you can’t beat them, join them.”

I guess the 2020 version of that has evolved into, “If you can’t beat ‘em, duck ‘em.” All athletic teams have ups and downs. Look no further than the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors went 40 years without winning an NBA championship. Then the team appeared in five-straight NBA Finals – earning three championships.

This season, with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on the sidelines, the Warriors have the worst record in the NBA. Should the Warriors simply remove the Lakers and Clippers from their schedule because they can no longer compete?

Mizzou football has lost six straight games against Georgia. Should the Tigers petition to remove the big, bad Bulldogs from the schedule? No. Those suggestions are laughable. So too is the decision by Burroughs to bypass the Crusaders. If Burroughs can’t compete with Lutheran North, the coaches should be working harder on developing better schemes and plays. The players should be putting more time in the weight room and the video room. After all, this week we saw the 30th anniversary of the greatest upset in boxing history. It was February 11,

Hoops

Continued from B3

The 6’5” Richardson had 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals while the 6’2” Hill had 36 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Big Match-up at Cardinal Ritter tonight

runaway choice for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. A former Heisman Trophy winner at Louisville, Jackson was a unanimous choice for the MVP award after a record-setting season.

Jackson passed for 3,127 yards with 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Jackson also rushed for 1,206 yards, which is a new record for quarterbacks. He also scored seven rushing touchdowns as he led the Ravens to a 14-2 record and the league’s best regular season record.

Patrick “Showtime”

Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs walked away with the biggest prize of all as he led his team to a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Mahomes was voted the Super Bowl MVP after leading the Chiefs to their first world title in 50 years.

Mahomes was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player last season after throwing 50 touchdown passes. He followed up this season with a tremendous post-season run in which he rallied the Chiefs from a deficit of 24, 10, and 10 points in three playoff games. Mahomes had 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions in the playoffs.

1990 when James “Buster” Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, shocked the world by knocking out Mike Tyson in Tokyo. Nobody believed that Douglas deserved to be in the same stratosphere as Tyson, much less in the same ring. Yet Douglas put in the work. Tyson underestimated his opponent. The rest is history. What would sports be without stunning upsets? What if the St. Louis Blues gave up when the team sat in last place at the halfway point a season ago? What if the 25-10 NC State Wolfpack decided not to show up to play the 31-2 Houston Cougars in the 1983 NCAA Tournament Championship Game?

Instead of preparing to pull off an improbable victory – instead of working to make history - a Hall of Fame football team decided to take its ball and go home. That decision is a bigger L than it could have ever suffered on the field.

Two of the top contenders for the Class 3 state championship will meet tonight when Father Tolton from Columbia comes east to visit Cardinal Ritter in a Archdiocesan Athletic Association game tonight. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Father Tolton is ranked No. 2 in the latest state rankings while Cardinal Ritter is ranked No. 4. Cardinal Ritter is led by 6’3” junior Mario Fleming, who is averaging 20.1 points a game. Fleming is joined in the backcourt by 6’0” senior Glenn Valentine and 6’0” sophomore Luther Burden III. The Lions also have a talented front line, led by 6’7” senior Garry Clark and 6’6” senior Brandon Ellington. Father Tolton features one of the top underclassmen in the state in 6’10” sophomore Jevon Porter, who is a member of the talented Porter basketball family. He is joined by a talented group of guards in seniors Nathan Schwartze, Deuce

All-Star Weekend predictions

The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is upon us. That means a host of exciting contests and activities lie ahead. Here are my picks for the winners of the most-exciting events.

Skills Challenge: I’d love to see STL’s Jayson Tatum defend his Skills Challenge crown from a year ago. Unfortunately, I think he may have used up all his luck with that half-court heave in the 2019 contest. I’m taking one of the OG’s in the competition – Khris Middleton defeats Jayson Tatum 3-Point Contest: Trae Young has a chip on his shoulder after being bypassed for the 2020 Team USA Olympic basketball team. I think he’ll use the 3-Point contest and the AllStar Game to put Team USA on notice that it made a big mistake. Trae Young defeats Buddy Hield

Slam Dunk Contest: The dunk contest welcomes

Tatum and Chase Martin, who is the son of Mizzou head basketball coach Cuonzo Martin.

Top Girls action this weekend

One of the big girls’ matchups this weekend will be when Kirkwood pays a visit to Parkway North on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. Other good games on tap will be Webster Groves vs. Sullivan on Saturday in the championship game of the Union Tournament; MICDS at John Burroughs in a Metro League showdown on Friday at 6 p.m. and Parkway Central at Hazelwood Central on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

followed up with 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in a victory over Parkway North.

back former winner Dwight Howard and a guy who should be a former winner in Aaron Gordon. But the bigs don’t stand much of a chance against the small guys with big hops. Derrick Jones Jr. defeats Pat Connaughton in a tremendous

battle of high flyers. Both can fly but Jones is just different All-Star Game: Giannis Antetokounmpo is an outstanding basketball player but is not the real MVP when it comes to being an All-Star captain. He likes to select hun-

gry players. Sometimes, talent just wins out. Team LeBron defeats Team Giannis for the second straight season. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch online at stlamerican. com and on Twitter @ishcreates.

Though he faces stiff competition in the NBA Dunk Contest, Derrick Jones Jr. is the clear favorite for the title.

‘Rent-A-Bank Schemes and New Debt Trap’

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters leads defense against new trend in predatory lending

By Charlene Crowell

American

St. Louis

For The

Once upon a time in Washington, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act that also created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

For the first time, a federal agency was charged to be the consumers’ financial cop on the beat. In its first four years, CFPB received 354,600 consumer complaints that led to $3.8 billion in restitution.

But now, under a different administration, deregulation has swung the public policy pendulum in the other direction.

identified as the lender on the borrower’s loan document.

However, the payday lender immediately buys the loan from the bank and does every function related to the loan. In these partnerships, the payday lender bears at least 90 percent of the risk of borrowers’ defaulting on their loans,” Waters said.

A bold effort to benefit business and commerce focuses on growing customers, while taking the teeth out of consumer protection with the blessings of federal regulators.

Payday lenders are among the biggest beneficiaries of this policy about-face. Instead of a string of state legislative initiatives, favorable federal regulators are stepping up to help these predatory lenders with the cooperation of banks.

On February 5, a panel of public policy experts testified before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D- California). The hearing was entitled “Rent-ABank Schemes and New Debt Traps.”

“In a simple agreement between the bank and the payday lender, the bank is

“The payday lender then claims the right to charge consumer borrowers triple-digit interest rates because the lender is in partnership with a state- or nationally-charted bank that is exempt from usury laws by the National Bank Act.”

Several panel members agreed.

“Predatory rent-abank lending exists for two simple reasons: there are no federal interest rate limits for most lenders, and most banks are exempt from state rate caps,” noted Lauren Saunders, testifying on behalf of the National Consumer Law Center.

“Rent-a-bank schemes enable banks to help predatory lenders target communities that the banks are not serving with responsible products, offering loans the banks do not directly offer in their own branches. This is exactly the kind of predatory lending that the CRA is designed to prevent.”

Creola Johnson, a chaired professor at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, testified, “Through my research, I found that payday lenders want to keep borrowers in the dark. That is what renta-bank partnerships do. The consumer’s interactions are

only with the payday lender, but the contract identifies some other entity as the lender.”

“Communities of color, often largely segregated due to the history of redlining and other federally operated or sanctioned racially exclusionary housing policies, experience higher rates of poverty, lower wages, and higher cost burdens to pay for basic living expenses. Payday lenders peddling unaffordable loans cause particular harm to these communities,” noted Graciela Aponte-Diaz, director of Federal Campaigns with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).

“Indeed, the communities most affected by redlining are the same who are saturated

by payday lenders today.

Multiple studies have found that payday lenders are more likely to locate in more affluent communities of color than in less affluent white communities.”

CRL’s payday polling and research underscores AponteDiaz’ concerns.

A consumer poll commissioned by CRL and conducted from January 9-15 by Morning Consult surveyed approximately 10,000 registered voters and found that:

• 70% of voters support a 36% annual interest rate cap on payday and consumer installment loans

• 62% have an unfavorable view of payday lenders

• And 61% prefer a payday loan rate cap that is even smaller than 36%.

Today, 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted strong rate caps for short-term loans. For the remaining 32 states, triple-digit interest loans are legal and highly profitable. According to CRL, every year predatory short-term loans snatch an estimated $8 billion in fees from the pockets of America’s working poor: $4.1 billion in payday lending, and $3.8 billion in car-title loans.

Keep in mind that the typical payday loan of $350 comes with an average annual percentage rate of 391%. For lenders, the predictable result is that one loan will often

be re-borrowed 10 times or more in a year. Similarly, car-title loans that use a personal vehicle as collateral is re-borrowed an average of eight times, with one of every five borrowers losing their car in repossession. Fortunately for consumers, a pending bipartisan House bill would end tripledigit lending with a 36% rate cap on all consumer loans. Sponsored by U.S. Representatives Jesús Chuy García (D-Illinois) and Glenn Grothman (D-Wisconsin), the legislation is known as the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act, H.R. 5050. An identical companion bill in the Senate, S. 2833, is led by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Ohio’s Sherrod Brown.

The measures would grant all consumers and inactive military the same protections now afforded active duty service men and women under the Military Lending Act (MLA). MLA was enacted with bipartisan support and imposes a 36% rate cap. Endorsed by several organizations including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, and UnidosUS, at press-time, 11 co-sponsors signed on to the legislation and additionally includes Members of Congress from California, Michigan, New York, and Texas.

Charlene Crowell is the deputy communications director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@ responsiblelendingorg.

Charlene Crowell

A splendid ‘Long Walk’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I have been giving you my heart for the last 20 years,” Jill Scott told the sold-out crowd who came to see he at the Fox Sunday night. “And I’ve had a hell of a time.” At the turn of the millennia, singer/actress/ poet Jill Scott introduced herself with a proverbial mic drop that was “Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1.” Even with the neosoul movement in full swing – an era in R&B that saw musicians like Maxwell, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, her collaborative partners The Roots and others remix the genre by reverting to instrument driven and emotionally compelling music of its origins – Jill Scott stood out.

To quote her own lyrics (from “He Loves Me”), Scott and her album were “different and special in every way imaginable.” Unapologetic and authentic, her full figure, afro and unique sound became symbols of self-love as her album dissected the delights and dysfunctions of love with sprinkles of black empowerment, self-renewal and political statements.

Sunday night Scott reminded the fans – and herself – of the masterpiece that was “Who Is Jill Scott?” 20 years after its original release, and the magical relationship she has enjoyed with fans for two decades because of it.

“Thank you so much,” Scott told the crowd as she wiped away tears of joy from her face. “Thank you so much for singing along, too.”

After a pleasant spin session from St. Louis’ own DJ Kut, Scott gave fans exactly what they hoped for when she took the stage to celebrate the album’s anniversary. Except for the bonus track “Try,” they got the whole entire thing. And aside from a few miniscule reroutes, she served up the 16 selections as they appear on the album.

She opened the show with the first track on the album “Do You Remember.” In a stunning metallic jumpsuit, Scott appeared on stage as timeless as the album. She looked and sounded spectacular in the jumper and big hair that gave the appearance of a disco queen as opposed to a soul goddess. As she sang the song, classic black couples from television and film played on a screen behind the band. Scenes from “House Party,” “The Royal Family” and “The Jeffersons” were just a few.

She switched earrings and shoes early on in the show for comfort and for the sake of the drama within her breakthrough single “Getting’ in the

An Oscar for St. Louis’ Lion Forge

David Steward II among producers behind Academy Award winner “Hair Love”

By Kenya Vaughn Of The

St. Louis American

“We did it, ‘Hair Love’ is officially Oscar nominated,” David Steward II exclaimed through his company Lion Forge Animation’s Facebook Page last month. “Congratulations to my fellow producers: Matthew Cherry, Karen Toliver, Monica Young and Carl Reed!!!”

Through the short film about an African American father and daughter bonding over him learning to comb her natural hair, he joined his sister Kimberly Steward (“Manchester By the Sea”) on the short list of African American Academy Award nominated film producers. The Stewards are the only siblings – African American or otherwise – in the awards nearly 90-plus year history to share the distinction.

Way,” which plays out a confrontation with a love rival that is discovered through the spoken word piece “Exclusively.”

Midway through the show, Scott changed into an African inspired kimono with an etching of her likeness on the back.

Scott was intentional as she presented the deconstructed love story – the willingness to fight for love and the fullness of finding

So hard to say goodbye

M.C. honors late mother with ‘Monday,’ premieres video at Marcus Des Peres

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

As he fought back emotions, local veteran rapper M.C. admitted that his latest song “Monday” was one he never, ever wanted to write. A tribute to his late mother Arleen Bills, who passed away recently after a battle with cancer, M.C. premiered the video on Sunday –what would have been her birthday.

“Writing this record, I really just sent it to a few friends and family. It wasn’t something that I was going to release to the public,” M.C. told the crowd. “But the text messages I received… the phone calls, people crying after hearing it. People were saying you’ve got to put this out. People have got to hear this.” As he does with everything he does, M.C. presented the video with an extra element of

swag. He rented out a theater inside of the Marcus Des Peres Cinemas for a Sunday matinee.

“She’s here right now – happy she’s being honored in this way,” singer and “Monday”

On Sunday, February 9, David brought Oscar gold to St. Louis when the film won “Best Animated Short” at the 92nd Academy Awards. “What we have been able to accomplish Matthew, Karen, and the entire team behind the film, is not only remarkable, but inspiring,” David said in a statement via Facebook following the Academy Award win of “Hair Love.”

n “Any 3D artists follow me? I got an Oscar worthy short film idea to go along with this image,” Matthew Cherry, a former NFL Player, tweeted back in 2016.

“We are grateful to the Academy for recognizing this film and all of the love that went into making it.” The film was written by Matthew Cherry and directed by Cherry, Everett Downing, and Bruce W. Smith.

“‘Hair Love’ was done because we want to see more representation in animation,” Cherry said as he accepted the Academy Award on Sunday. “We wanted to normalize black hair.” Cherry said as he also called for the federal passage of the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) Act, a California law that prohibits discrimination based on hair style or texture.

Along with David Steward II (and Lion Forge), Karen Rupert Toliver, Stacey Newton, Monica A. Young Carl Reed, Peter Ramsey, Frank Abney, Jordan Peele, Andrew Hawkins, Harrison Barnes, and Yara and Keri Shahidi were among the producers.

“In cartoons, that’s when we first see our movies and it’s how we shape our lives and think about how we see the world,” Tolliver said in her remarks on behalf of the team of producers at the ceremony. The film’s path to Academy Award victory began with a simple, yet profoundly prophetic tweet.

“Any 3D artists follow me? I got an Oscar worthy short film idea to go along with this image,” Cherry, a former NFL Player, tweeted back in 2016. The image was of a black man sitting with his daughter at a computer. He had his chin endearing-

producer Bradd Young told the capacity crowd as he prepared to introduce M.C. and Vega Heartbreak, who sings the hook on the song.

‘Chuck Berry: Brown

See Jill, C4

Craig Thomas, Bradd Young, M.C. and Vega Heartbreak at the premiere for the video ‘Monday’ Sunday afternoon at Marcus Des Peres Cinema.

See M.C., C4

Photos by Wiley Price

Jill Scott delighted fans during her sold-out presentation of the “Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1” 20th Anniversary Tour Sunday night at The Fox Theatre.

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

black history

Sun., Feb. 16, 10 a.m., Black History Month Unity Mass Bishop Fernand Cheri is the Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans. St. Alphonsus Liguori ‘Rock’ Church, 1118 North Grand Blvd., 63106. For more information, visit www. stalphonsusrock.org.

Sun., Feb. 16, 9 a.m., Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church invites you to a Black History Production. 2854 Abner Pl., 63120. For more information, call (314) 3898204.

Wed., Feb. 19, 4 p.m., Saint Louis University African American Studies Keynote Lecture. Guest speaker is Dr. Christian Greer, Fordham University professor of Political Science, and MSNBC contributor. Busch Student Center, Saint Louis University, 20 N. Grand Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 977-2242.

Thur., Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis and the Integration of Baseball. Maplewood Public Library, 7550 Lohmeyer, 63143. For more information, visit www. maplewoodpubliclibrary.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Lift Every Voice: Black History Month Celebration. 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.slso. org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., Do You Know Your Black History Trivia Event. Union Memorial United Methodist Church, 1141 Belt Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www. unionmemorialstl.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., The Legend Singers Choral Ensemble presents the Annual Festival of African-American Spirituals. Workshop will

be Feb. 21 – 22 – learn vocal style, performance practice and ensemble techniques. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Feb. 23, 3 p.m. doors, Community Women Against Hardship Black History Month Concert featuring Ferguson native Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold. For more information, call (314) 289-7523 or email: communitywomenstl@yahoo. com

Tues., Feb. 25, 4 p.m., Why Black Study? Why Now? The Black faculty at SLU will discuss the continued relevance of Black Study at SLU and throughout the Academy. Pere Marquette Gallery, DuBourge Hall, 221 N. Grand Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 977-2242.

Fri., Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m., Black History Trivia Night. Ferguson Community Center, 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, visit www. brownpreneurs.org.

Sat., Feb. 29, 10 a.m., Black History Month – The Story of Black St. Louis Bus Tour. The tour introduces participants to the rich African American history of St. Louis since its founding in 1764. Griot Museum of Black History, 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

concerts

Fri., Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., Chaifetz Arena presents the St. Louis Music Festival feat. Teddy Riley with Blackstreet, Bobby Brown, Jagged Edge, SWV, El DeBarge, and special host Doug E. Fresh. 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Feb. 14, 8 p.m.,

Kenya Vaughn recommends

Whitaker World Music Concerts presents Angelique Kidjo. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., Lindenwood University presents The Isley Brothers. J. Scheidegger Center, 2300 W. Clay St., 63301. For more information, visit www. lindenwood.edu.

Wed., Feb. 19, 8 p.m., The Pageant presents Raphael Saadiq – The Jimmy Lee Tour. 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Feb. 19 – 23, Jazz at the Bistro presents Tim Warfield Organ Band ft. Terell Stafford. Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. jazzstl.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 8 p.m., A Night to Remember with Melba Moore and Howard Hewett Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Mar. 4 – 8, Jazz at the Bistro presents Etienne Charles: Creole Soul. Jazz St. Louis,

3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.jazzstl.org.

local gigs

Thur., Feb. 20, 8 p.m., The Ready Room presents Tarrus Riley. 4295 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.thereadyroom.com.

Sun., Feb. 23, 5 p.m. (4 p.m. doors) Chuck Flowers and Acoustic Soul, BBs Jazz Blues and Soups, 700 S. Broadway. For more information, visit www.artistecard.com/cflowers

special events

Feb. 14 – 15, The Transformed Marriages Ministry hosts 2020 Marriage Event: Love & Respect. 4140 Page Blvd., 63113. For more information, visit www.Transformation Christianchurch.org.

Sat., Feb. 15, 9 a.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Saint Louis Alumni Chapter presents Teen Summit: Squad Goals. Middle school age to high school age students are invited to learn about making

metrotix.com.

Sat., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., NPHC Unity Party. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Feb. 15 – 16, 11 a.m., Taste of Soulard. Sample the many Cajun flavors Soulard has to offer on this self-guided tasting and pub crawl. Soulard Neighborhood, 63104. For more information, visit www. stlmardigras.org.

Sun., Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m., The Twisted Poet’s Evening With the Stars. Performances by comedian Jason Nelson, poets Dawn Michel and Poet Lightning, violinist Bell Darris, and more. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thur., Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., Norwegian Cruise Line Job Fair. We are hiring for waiters, cooks, laundry personnel, housekeeping, and more. Marriott St. Louis Grand, 800 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

money, staying fit, being your authentic self and more. University City High School, 7401 Balson Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Feb. 15, 11 a.m., Phyllis Wheatley YWCA Committee on Administration presents the 50th Annual Alberta E. Gantt Fashion Show: 5 Decades of Fashion. Marriott Airport, 10700 Pear Tree Ln., 63134. For more information, www.ywcastl.org/event/ fashion.

Sat., Feb. 15, 7 p.m., Mardi Gras Prom Fleurissant Style. Prizes, live music, raffles, king and queen, and the chance to relive or create prom memories. 1 James J. Eagan Dr., 63033. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m., Ashleyliane Dance Company presents Love Spell: An Evening of Dance, Hair, and Fashion.. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., The St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society invites you to Valentine’s a la Flamenca: ¡Solo Flamenco! Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.

Thur., Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m., The St. Louis American Foundation 10th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Four Seasons, 999 N. 2nd St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., Best Dance and Talent Center 3rd Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser. Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., Best Dance and Talent Center 3rd Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser. Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball. City Hall, 1200 Market St., 63102. For more information, visit www. stlmardigras.ticketspice.com.

Feb. 21 – 23, Working Women’s Survival Show. St. Charles Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plz., 63303. For more information, visit www.discoverstcharles. com/event/working-womenssurvival-show.

Sat., Feb. 22, 10 a.m., Soundwave Comic Xpo. A creative playground for people to enjoy our guest panel

The Pageant presents Raphael Saadiq – The Jimmy Lee Tour. See CONCERTS for details.

discussions, cosplayers, hall of heroes, artist and vendor booths, musical performances and gaming. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. soundwavecomicxpo.com.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter invites you to their 2020 Jabberwock: My Purpose Is Evolving. Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Feb. 22, 6 p.m., Mound City Bar Association Trivia Night. Ameren Corporate Office, 1901 Choteau Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.moundcitybar.com.

Sun., Feb. 23, 2 p.m., Sip Shop & Support Mixer. Live DJ along with mini fashion show. Book T’s Boutique, Mid Rivers Mall, 1600 Mid Rivers Mall, 63376. For more information, call (314) 6903660.

Tues., Feb. 25, 9 a.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Presents: 2020 AKA Day at the Capitol Missouri. The day will include the bus ride to Jefferson City State Capitol with a panel discussion and luncheon at Lincoln University. Bus leaves at 6 a.m. For more information, call (314) 5410378.

Thur., Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m., 7th Annual Whitney M. Young Society Reception. Anheuser-Busch Biergarten, 1127 Pestalozzi, 63118. For more information, visit www. ulstl.com.

Thur., Feb. 27, 6 p.m., St. Louis University Black Alumni Association Happy Hour and Game Night. Up-Down STL, 405 N. Euclid Ave., 63108.

Sat., Feb. 29, 11 a.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Alumnae Chapter invites you to Founders Day

Kenya Vaughn recommends

Luncheon. With special guest speaker Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie. The America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, visit www.dst-sla.org.

Sat., Feb. 29, 2:30 p.m., Better Family Life’s 7th Annual Jr. Unity Ball. Enjoy the 5th Annual America Scores Poetry Slam, awards ceremony, art activities, special guests, and more. 5415 Page Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. bflyouth.org/jrunityball.html.

Sun., Mar. 1, 1 p.m., Off White: The Wedding Show 2020. Palladiu, 1400 Park Ave., 63104. For more information, visit www. offwhitestl.com.

Sun., Mar. 8, 3 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Lambda

Chapter invite you to The Phirst Experience Fashion Show. 1600 N. Broadway, 63102. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 14, 9 a.m., Phenomenal I Am Women’s Conference: Still I Rise. Bridgeton Conference Center, 12259 Natural Bridge Rd., 63044. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Saturdays, 8 a.m., The Ferguson Farmers Market Plaza at 501, 501 S. Florissant Rd., 63135. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

comedy

Fri., Feb. 21, 8 p.m., Hilarryous Productions & SWCX present But Baby I Love You part 6 feat. Larry Greene, Libbie Higgins, Rick

Sun., Mar. 8, 3 p.m., Dream Builders 4 Equity & YourWords STL present Dreams Made Real: Book Signing & Poetry Slam. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

art

Fri., Feb. 14, 7 p.m., City Museum After Dark: Tunnel of Love. Art show and sale, tarot readings, airbrush artists, photo booth, and more. 750 N 16th St., 63103. For more information, visit www. citymuseum.org/events.

Sat., Feb. 15, 3 p.m., Black Votes Count: Then & Now, Juried Art Show. A multimedia juried visual art exhibition that is open to artists 18+ living in the St. Louis region. Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visitwww.slpl.com.

Royal, Charlie Winfrey, and Nick Nichols. Sun Theatre, 3625 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

literary

Thur., Feb. 13, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Candacy Taylor, author of Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America. 300 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. left-bank.com.

Tues., Feb. 18, 7 p.m., Speakers Tour: Dying to Live. Danielle Vella, discusses her book, Dying to Live, and shares the stories of refugees and migrants. 1 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.jrsusa. org.

Thur., Feb. 27, 6 p.m., Mound City Bar Association @ Contemporary Art Museum. Dr. Reynaldo Anderson will offer a discussion followed by a curated presentation of art from the Afrofuturism genre. 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.moundcitybar.com.

theatre

Feb. 19 – Mar. 8, The Black Rep presents Ntozake Shange’s “Spell #7,” AE Hotchner Studio Theatre inside Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth. Tickets are available at www. theblackrep.org/, or by calling the box office at 314-5343807.

Feb. 21 – 23, Fox Theatre presents RENT. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Through March 1, Metro

Theater Company presents Ghost, Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, visit www. metroplays.org

lectures and workshops

Mon., Feb. 17, 12 p.m., Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice invites you to a Lunch & Learn in Reverse: A Conversation with Dr. Laurie Punch. Dr. Punch is the newly appointed member of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners. The T STL, 5874 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Mon., Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Michael Smerconish presents Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right: American Life in Columns. Playhouse at Westport Plaza, 635 West Port Plaza, 63146. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Wed., Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m., Decision-Making: Using Award Letters to Assess Affordability. Students will understand college financial aid award letters, compare financial aid packages, and determine next steps as they prepare to attend college. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, 6825 Clayton Ave., 63139. For more information, visit www.sfstl.org.

Thur., Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m., We Live Here and AIGA St. Louis invite you to Designing Equity. UMSL at Grand Center, 3651 Olive St., 63108. For more information, call (314) 516-6779.

Sat., Feb. 29, 6 p.m., Queen of Resilience presents SIP & Speak. An evening of networking, conversation, giving back, music, and hors d’oeuvres. Fresh & Co. Studio, 4366 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Community Women Against Hardship Black History Month Concert featuring Ferguson native Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold. For more information, see BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES.

“Hair Love” writer, co-director and co-producer Matthew Cherry is joined by David Steward II, the team behind “Hair Love” and DeAndre Arnold, the Texas teen who may not be allowed to walk at his high school graduation because of his refusal to cut his dreadlocks. Arnold was invited to attend the Academy Awards as a guest of the filmmakers as a result of the controversy.

by

ly rested on the crown of her head – and her huge afro puffs were positioned on each side of his face.

In the summer of 2017, Cherry began a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter to get the support he needed to fund the story that the image compelled him to write.

In less than a week, the “Hair Love” Kickstarter raised his goal of $75,000. By the end of the 30 days he set out to raise the funds, he had more than $280,000, which holds the Kickstarter record for an animated short.

The concept of “Hair Love”

extended beyond the film and channeled children’s literature. Cherry teamed up with animator Vashti Harrison to create what became a New York Times Bestselling book of the same name while funds for the film were being secured.

“The hair is almost a third character in the book,” Harrison said. “We worked really hard at finding Zuri’s hair texture. It was definitely not something I saw in books as a kid.”

“Often when you hear stories about black fathers, there’s this misconception that we are not involved,” Cherry added. “And there was an article I read recently that actually showed that African Americans are actually the most involved in our kids’ lives. I just wanted to represent that in book form.”

That representation transitioned seamlessly into the animated short after a final push for funds connected Lion Forge and other producers. The Sony Animation project played in theaters around the world during the previews of “Angry Birds II” before it landed on internet video platforms such as YouTube.

“‘Hair Love’ embodies the spirit of our company at its core,” Steward said. “The film exemplifies both our pursuit of honest and top-quality content which represents audiences of all kinds, as well as the belief that something can grow from a humble passion to a force for change, with undeniable influence on the entertainment industry at large.”

Continued from C1

a soulmate and the heartache of losing that love and the self-discovery that happens during the healing process.

“Real love is a risk,” Scott told the crowd in several personal and community empowerment sermons she delivered over the course of the evening. “Love is to forgive yourself. Love is saying, ‘I will let go of the pain.’ Love is saying, ‘I’m open to learn, and I’m open to listen.’”

The lessons continued as she moved through the narrative that “Who Is Jill Scott?” provides through songs like “It’s Love,” “Honey Molasses,” “Love Rain,” “Slowly, Surely” and “One is the Magic.”

“You are going to [expletive] up. You are going to get it wrong,” Scott said. “You’re going to be misled at some point. The [expletive] is going to be wack. But you will rise again, and again, and again. This is life, darling. She is a marathon. She is not a sprint.” She became emotional as she talked about her own journey through music – which wasn’t without pitfalls and shortcomings as she provided inspiration to those who are still on the path to their purpose. “I’ve been a maid for a theater company. I worked demolition – I tore down walls and used a jackhammer. I [expletive] up my back because I didn’t know how to use it,” Scott said. “I served 3,742 scoops of ice cream. I must have called at least 12 people because telemarketing is the worst.” She shared the heartache of

watching her first album’s slow climb – how she cried when the album sold 8,000 copies its first week.

“Next week it was 16K, then it was 32 – and it kept on going. I couldn’t imagine.” The fans who sang along to every single word couldn’t imagine anything else. She vented he frustrations with the music business with “Dear Mr. & Mrs. Record Industry” from “The Original Jill Scott From The Vault Vol. 1,” which was one of only two selections not from “Who Is Jill Scott?”

The other would be her encore “Golden,” from her sophomore album “Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Volume 2,” because she thought the song was the perfect note to end on. “Twenty years,” Scott said. “What a ride.”

Continued from C1

“This is about love.”

The video, directed by Craig Thomas, begins with M.C. leaving the hospital, jumping into his car and beating on the steering wheel to vent his frustration regarding the devastating loss.

“This wound still deep like that cut came yesterday,” M.C. raps. “The pain is strong, these days is long. I’m in a daze day after day they say it’s a phase that can’t be the case. I don’t want to move on, how can I smile when you not around. You my motivation, wanted you to be proud. You will never fade in my heart so this pain won’t ever ease up. I will never let go of that bond that’s between us.”

“I ain’t never felt no pain like this before” Vega sings on the chorus.

The song also features M.C.’s daughter Young Marlee Mar.

“She told me, ‘Daddy, I want to be on the track too,’” M.C. said. “I knew she was going through her own pain. I had her counselors at school saying she would go to them and say she misses her Ya Ya.” M.C. then played a second clip from earlier in his career that featured his mother in the video and was all about his quest to make her proud of him through success in the music industry and as a person.

“I played that from like 8 years ago to show y’all that the love I have for my mom has been the same when she was here and it’s at a higher level now,” M.C. said, having to pause more than once to get his emotions in check. He said his respect level for her has reached a new tier since her passing as he sees through fatherhood the sacrifices she made while raising him – as well as what she was able to accomplish and provide for the family all while enriching his life.

“Growing up as a kid, you grow up with that youthful ignorance,” M.C. said. “It

don’t matter if you come from a one-parent household or a two-parent household, strong parents never let you see them sweat, they just take care of business. It’s hard to know what you are missing when you are not missing it.”

Family, friends, music industry peers as well as friends and former classmates of his mother filled the theater to the point where guests were lined along the aisles. They cheered him on and encouraged him every time he became choked up during his presentation before and after he played “Monday.” An encore viewing of the video was requested by the audience – and was obliged.

“I hurt every day,” M.C. said. “But I have to realize that the reason is that I’m hurting is because she was an exceptional human being and that’s what I try to hold on to.”

For more information on M.C., he can be found @rcbmc on Instagram.com/rcbmc And as Rcb Mc on Facebook.com and at www. richcityboys.com.

Hair

Continued from C1

M.C.

Photo Courtesy of Instagram

Jill Scott

Photo

Wiley Price

Celebrations

Reunions

Beaumont Class of 1965 has scheduled its 55-year reunion celebration for the weekend of Sept. 25-26th 2020. The Meet and Greet (9/25) and Dinner/Dance (9/26) will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Airport, 4450 Evans Place, St. Louis, MO 63134. Cost is $100 per person.

Make your check payable to Beaumont Class of 1965 & mail to: Verdell Thomas Marshall, 1224 Hudson Hills Drive, 63135. For additional info contact Geraldine Reid (314)868-8284.

Beaumont Class of 1970 has scheduled its 50th class reunion celebration for the weekend of 10/16/2010/18/20. The banquet will be held at The Embassy Suites (downtown), 610 N. 7th St. We are currently working on finalizing plans to make this our best reunion yet! Please forward your

current contact info to: beaumontclassof1970@gmail. com, so that we can keep you informed.

Central High School Class of 1970 is in the process of planning its 50 year reunion in 2020. We are trying to locate former classmates. If you would like to receive additional information as we plan this momentous occasion, please provide your contact information to either Lillian McKinney at mamajoyce314@icloud. com or (314) 335-9760, Eric Armstrong at elarmstr@

Drive to Success

Scott McClendon of St. Louis received the annual Gateway Drive To Success Award Scholarship at the Gateway Kartplex banquet. The Gateway Kartplex kart racing facility is located inside World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. This scholarship is presented to a deserving individual who has faced extreme obstacles in life that have obstructed their dream to go racing. The Kartplex aims to help them overcome those challenges and fulfill their quest of competing in motorsports. This award will help a person who has demonstrated passion and commitment to our sport by providing them with an Ignite K3 kart to use for the 2020 racing season.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or

yahoo.com or (918) 6503385, Sabra Morris-Pernod at Saboots@centurytel.net or (314) 703-0812.

Soldan Class of 1975 Reunion Committee is currently seeking all classmates to celebrate our 45th high school reunion in September 2020. Additional details to follow. Please submit your current contact information to Committee members Ms. AnnieSue Preston (314) 606-5618, Mr. Arvell Roberts, (314) 319-4937, or send info to SOLDANCLASS1975@

Nidec Motor Corporation St. Louis, Missouri 8050 West Florissant, St. Louis Mo 63136

Using exp w/Electromagnetic design concepts & permanent magnet motor design, apply theoretical & practical skills in electromagnetic motor design and development for precision motor brushless DC motor drive systems. Reqs: Bach’s or frgn equiv in EE. Send CV to Nicholas.Emas@nidec-motor. com. Please reference code: LL-01

JANITORIAL - HIRING

Full & Part-Time positions, 3 Shifts Background check. Steady work history preferred. Apply at 314 N. Jefferson at Olive. M - F, 9A to 5P. Must have two forms of I.D.

EXECUTIVE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The Brentwood School District seeks to hire the following position

SEASONAL FIELD STAFF

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking positions for Seasonal Field Staff. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids/ and submit by March 13, 2020.

Washington University in St. Louis offers rewarding opportunities in various fields at all levels, with positions in engineering, nursing and health care, research, administration, technology, security and more.

ARCHS is seeking an Executive Administrative Assistant reporting directly to the CEO, and secondarily providing administrative support to the senior leadership team and Board of Directors in a well-organized and timely manner. Responsibilities Include: Serving as the primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies on all matters pertaining to the CEO. Organizes and coordinates executive outreach and external relations efforts. Manages CEO’s calendar and makes company-wide travel arrangements. Maintains funding database, and provides minimal financial support to CFO. Take dictation and minutes and accurately enter data. Produce reports, presentations and briefs. Develop and carry out an efficient documentation and electronic filing system. Requirements: 5 yrs experience or executive level assistance (preferred). Full comprehension of office management systems and procedures. Excellent knowledge of MS Office. Exemplary planning and time management skills. Up-to-date with advancements in office equipment and applications. Ability to multitask and prioritize daily workload. High level verbal and written communications skills. Ability to be discrete and confidential. Submit a letter of application, resume and salary history to careers@stlarchs.org or visit: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/ARCHSJob? Position=Executive%20 Assistant by February 29, 2020. NO phone calls please. Research Nurse Coordinator I. job # 46502. Job description: This Memory and Aging Project nurse serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary team collecting data from research volunteers and their study partners in a longitudinal study of memory and thinking in persons with and without dementia. A nursing license is required; a BSN and two years of nursing experience is preferred. Candidates must be proficient in basic nursing skills and have excellent interpersonal skills. On the job training is provided regarding the conduct of clinical research and the administration of standardized cognitive tests.

Executive Director, Administration - Alumni and Development Programs (A & D)job #46823 The Executive Director is responsible for leading A&D Administration, including financial, human resources, facilities, general technology, training, and talent management functions, as well as strategic planning projects. A critical duty of the Executive Director is to work with senior A&D leadership on large-scale, strategic organizational initiatives. Alumni & Development Programs has a significant annual operating budget with compensations expense and non-compensation expenses for travel, events and consulting that support A&D programs.

Administrative Assistant III, Administration and Development Services – job # 46422

The Administrative Assistant is responsible for administrative duties in the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration and Development Services. Responsibilities include supporting the Associate Vice Chancellor in the areas of calendar management, scheduling meetings, telephone support, processing payments, and special projects. The incumbent will have superior attention to detail, outstanding oral and written communications skills, and advanced computer skills.

Professional Liability Manager - Professional Liability Program – job # 46115

Manages the investigation of claims alleging medical professional liability. Analyzes and evaluates incident reports and lawsuits. Reviews medical records and performs interviews of members of the health care team. Prepares investigative reports for Director and Legal Counsel regarding potentially compensable events covered by the Self-Insured Professional Liability Program, and other reports as requested by Senior Management. Coordinates case development and case management. Participates in risk financing efforts. Promotes patient safety; develops working relationships with Director of Patient Safety regarding ongoing patient safety improvement efforts; develops and provides education programs to departments; coordinates communications with affiliated hospitals.

Business Director - Pulmonary and Critical Care - job # 46886

Position is responsible for maintaining accounting functions and establishing financial objectives in accordance with the department’s operational and strategic plans. Responsible for the general ledger and financial reporting. Works with the department Chairman to plan and develop the capital equipment, operations and personnel budgets. Administers and monitors defined budgets by regularly reviewing expenses, investigating variances and taking corrective action as necessary. Directs the preparation of all monthly IDX reports. Reviews reports to identify trends. Implements strategies to maximize reimbursement for the department. Supervises coding and charge capture group in maintaining systems for charge capture, coding and data entry. Acts as primary liaison with WUSBCS. Performs financial review and analysis, reimbursement analysis and budget development and analysis. Assists the department Chairman in establishing business plans. Facilities Technician II (Energy Management Technician) (Swing Shift) - Building Services –job # 46384 This position performs duties of a communication gathering center for Washington University School of Medicine. Dispatch received messages or information to the appropriate security or maintenance personnel. The ideal candidate will have the following required qualifications: Equivalent of a high school diploma, two years of experience in carpentry, plumbing and/or energy management and possess a Class E Missouri or Illinois Class D driver’s license. Facilities Control Technician III - Building Services (OFMD) – job # 46383 Position acts as the onsite maintenance technician for assigned areas, prioritizing and accomplishing or securing assistance for accomplishing a variety of maintenance conditions and problems. Performs preventive maintenance and repair. The ideal candidate will have the following required qualifications: A high school diploma and an equivalent of two to four years of related experience in skill trade functions with demonstrated ability to perform varied maintenance tasks. For a full description of these positions and other career opportunities, please visit https://jobs.wustl.edu/ to apply. Click search jobs and enter the job ID number.

We seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us in a supportive environment that encourages boldness, inclusion and creativity. EO/AA/VET/Disability Employer

Principal responsibility is to manage the District’s financial operations and annual budget preparation. Position will have the sole responsibility for ensuring effective and efficient operation of accounting, financial planning, payroll and risk management, through establishing the finance and accounting policies and procedures for the District.

Position will supervise Accounts Payable Specialist and Payroll Specialist

For complete description and minimal qualifications and hiring timeline, please visit our district website www.brentwoodmoschools.

org Click on the Join Our Team tab at the top of the page, review the Q and A section and proceed to the link in the middle of the page, Employment Opportunities. Position is open until filled, however review of applications and interviews will be completed per hiring timeline listed on our website. Please No Phone Calls. EOE.

DECLARE HOME HEALTH CARE

Hiring Home Health Care Aids in the St. Louis City and County (314) 201-3200

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 503, Renovation for Nursing Simulation Lab, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, February 18, 2020. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Voluntary Pre-bid Meeting: 10:00AM, February 7, 2020, Florissant Valley, Renovation for Nursing Simulation Lab, Engineering Building, Room E161

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 301, Renovation of 3rd Floor Areas for Nursing Program, St. Louis Community College at Wildwood, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, February 27, 2020. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Voluntary Pre-bid Meeting: 10:30 AM, February 12, 2020, Wildwood, Renovation of 3rd Floor Areas for Nursing Program, Wildwood, 3rd Floor Elevator Lobby An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College

will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 20 406, Classroom Renovation in L-024 at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park Campus, until 2:00 p.m. local time February 20, 2020. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Voluntary PREBID MEETING:

February 10, 2020

1:00pm, Forest Park, Library 1st Floor Entrance

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT

is seeking a General Contractor for the Webster Groves School District; Alterations and Additions to Hixson Middle School.

Sealed bids are requested from qualified contractors for additions and alterations to the school referenced above. A mandatory pre bid meeting will be conducted on Thursday March 5th, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at Hixson Middle School. Bids will be received by Mr. Robert Steuber, WGSD Construction Project Manager, on Thursday April 2nd 2020 by 2:00 p.m., at the District Service Center Building, 3232 South Brentwood Blvd, Webster Groves Mo 63119. Public bid opening will follow immediately thereafter.

The Invitation to Bidders will be available online @ www.webster.k12.mo.us, (under RFP heading) Thursday February 27th, 2020. The owner reserves the right to reject any and or all proposals

WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT

is seeking a General Contractor for the Webster Groves School District; Safety/Security and Accessibility Improvement Projects.

Sealed bids are requested from qualified contractors for additions and alterations to multiple buildings as part of the project referenced above. A mandatory pre bid presentation will be conducted on Friday March 6th, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. at the District Service Center Building with building site visits on March 13th and March 16th. Bids will be received by Mr. Robert Steuber, WGSD Construction Project Manager, on Tuesday March 31st 2020 at 2:00 p.m., at the District Service Center Building, 3232 South Brentwood Blvd, Webster Groves Mo 63119. Public bid opening will follow immediately thereafter.

Instructions to Bidders will be available online @ www.webster. k12.mo.us, (under RFP heading) Tuesday February 25th, 2020. The owner reserves the right to reject any and or all proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR BID

IMPACT Strategies, Inc., as the selected General Contractor, is requesting Subcontractor proposals for the St. Clair County Transit District – ATS Alterations – Task Orders 001, 002, 003 & 004 project in Belleville and East St. Louis, IL. Trade work involves interior finish and design/build MEP work. This is a tax-exempt project and will require certified payroll based on the current St. Clair County Prevailing Wage Rates. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Friday, February 14, 2020 at 10:00 AM, starting at the Belleville (718 Scheel Street, Suite C, Belleville, IL) location and then proceeding to the East St. Louis location.

The St. Clair County Transit District encourages participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for their construction projects. A goal of 25% DBE business or employee (workforce) utilization has been set for this project.

Bid documents are posted at IMPACT Strategies, The S.I.B.A Plan Room (O’Fallon, IL) and McGraw Hill Dodge Plan Room.

Proposals are to be submitted to IMPACT Strategies, Inc, by 2:00 PM on February 26, 2020. Bids should be emailed to Emily Yost. eyost@buildwithimpact.com

and Mainstream Voucher Program

Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation (JFCAC) is giving notice that beginning March 3, 2020 applications for the Section 8 tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher Program and Mainstream Voucher program will be accepted in Franklin and Jefferson Counties

The waiting list will be open to all households; however, certain preferences will be granted to applicants who either live or work in Jefferson or Franklin County at the time of their application. In addition to this preference, families who meet one of the following criteria will receive additional points on the waiting list. These include families who are transitioning out of institutional and other segregated settings (this does not include a correctional facility), at serious risk of institutionalization, homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or previously experienced homelessness and are currently a client in a permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing project as referred by the Missouri Balance of State or local Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry System.

JFCAC’s Housing Choice Voucher and Mainstream Program provide rental assistance to help low income families obtain affordable housing which is safe, decent, and sanitary. A household where the sole member is an emancipated minor is not an eligible household. To be eligible for a Mainstream voucher, there must be one disabled household member who is between the ages of 18 and 61.

Applications will be accepted beginning March 3, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. Applications will be taken at #2 Merchant Dr. in Hillsboro, Missouri and at 1020 Plaza Court Suite B in St. Clair, Missouri. These housing offices are open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m Applicants will be placed on the waiting list by the date and time their completed application is received in one of the JFCAC’s housing offices and by preference Applications may also be requested by phone (636-789-2686 ext. 1401 or 1415) or mail beginning March 3, 2020 Completed applications must be mailed or hand delivered to one of our housing offices. Faxed or electronic submissions will not be accepted. There is an after-hours drop box at both office locations.

Applications will be made available in an accessible format upon request from a person with disabilities or with limited English proficiency. Reasonable accommodations for those with special needs may be arranged by calling (636) 789-2686 option 3. Relay Missouri Service users may call 711 or 800-735-2966 TT/TTY or 866-735-2460 VOICE.JFCAC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, familial status, ancestry, disability, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation; and operates in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure an agreement with G & W Electric for vendor support for SF6 Gas services. The District is proposing a single source procurement for this service. Any inquiries should be sent to ltreat@stlmsd.com.

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

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive Sealed Proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 11:00 a.m. on March 16, 2020 to contract with a company for: BYPASS PUMP RENTAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

A Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on March 3, 2020 at 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103. It is highly recommended that prospective Proposers attend.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10298 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid.

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

BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking Bids for Resetting Tree Pit Pavers at Gateway Arch National Park. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids/ and submit by February 24, 2020.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Kayser Ave. - Waller Ave. Storm Sewer under Letting No. 11545-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Monday, March 16, 2020, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION-St. Louis County Drain Layers License Required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL STATIONARY CONVEYOR SYSTEM

RAIL UPGRADE, PHASE II-B MUNICIPAL RIVER TERMINAL 14 NORTH MARKET STREET ST. LOUIS, MO, 63102

The City of St. Louis Port Authority will receive sealed bids for the installation of a stationary conveyor system at the Municipal River Terminal on 2/19/2020. For more info, visit https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/sldc/procurement/index.cfm

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Brunston Dr. #4875 Bank Stabilization under Letting No. 11623-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Friday, March 13, 2020, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: NATURAL CHANNEL STABILIZATION Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Visitor Map Brochure RFP 2020

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified contractors to print, store and deliver as needed the Saint Louis Zoo 2020 Visitor Map Brochure. Bid documents are available as of 2/12/2020 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: CUES PARTS AND SERVICE. The District is proposing a 3-year single source procurement to EJ Equipment. Any inquiries should be sent to acooper@stlmsd.com.

LETTING #8717

RELOCATION OF FAA ASDE-X FACILITY AND AIRPORT BEACON at St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service, Room 208, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103 until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 17, 2020, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps. org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City and State laws (including MBE/WBE policies). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. in the Ozark Conference Room (AO-4066) at the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Virtual Plan Room).

LETTING #8716 PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING RENOVATIONS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 3rd, 2020, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/ planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A mandatory pre-bid walk thru for all contractors bidding on this project will be held at PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 5600 CLAYTON AVENUE, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63110, FEBRUARY 18, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. All bidders are encouraged to attend.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

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

VACANT LAND FOR SALE OR LEASE

1014 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO

Request for Proposals: www.stltreasurer.org/ avada_portfolio/request-for-proposal-topurchase/

BID

K&S Associates, Inc. is soliciting MBE/WBE/SDVE/DBE/VBE for the following project for the month February – MU, Columbia –Sinclair School of NursingNew Construction & Water Line Replacement. Plans and Specs Can be viewed at www.ksgcstl.com Submit Bids to estimating@ksgcstl.com or Fax 314-647-5302 Contact Dennis Dyes @ 314-647-3535 with questions

BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting Bids for Office Moving Services. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ and submit by March 10, 2020.

BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting proposals for Construction Management Services. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ and submit by March 5, 2020.

AUCTION

The following people are in debt to Gateway Storage Mall of Belleville, Columbia, & Dupo. The contents of their storage unit(s) will be sold at auction to compensate all or part of that debt. Auction will be held online with Jersey County Auctions starting on March 4, 2020 at 9:00 am. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids.

Units Col. 30-Brian Killingsworth, Col. 48, 120, 126-Janet Gotto, Dupo 65-Jennifer Goforth, Dupo 89-Pudge Richardson, Dupo 105-Amanda Venus, Dupo 128-Twila Lambert, Dupo 148-Raymond Schlemmer, Dupo 401-Junior Macke, Dupo 403-Roy Venus, Bel. 217-Chris Ciszczon, Bel. 402-Debby Hedrick, Bel. 416-Angela Davis, Bel. 510-Marion Houston, Bel. 518-shawna Kindred, Bel. 532-Beverly Driver, Bel. 547-David Barth, Bel. 618-Aaron Muhamed, Bel. 633-Rachelle Russell, Bel. B01-Latrice Eiland, Bel. B05-Anissa Wilbourn, Bel. B08 & E01-Jonas Unaeve, Bel. B13-Chasity Orr, Bel. D21-William Collins, Bel. E05-Mary Owens, Bel. E10-Lamont Hudson, Bel. F08-Joe Vassen. Bel. G12-Breize White, Bel. G42-Shane McCottrell, Bel. H04-Erisha Moore.

For all rules, regulations and bidding process, contact Jersey County Auctions. All other questions, please call 618-744-1588 or mail 300 Rueck Road, Columbia, IL 62236.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Construct Solar Array, Macon Field Maintenance Shop, Missouri National Guard, Macon, Missouri, Project No. T1929-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 3/5/2020 via M i s s o u r i B U Y S . Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

BID

Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is soliciting bids from MBE/WBE/ SDVE/DBE subcontractors and suppliers for work on the Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Bids are due Thursday, February 27, 2020 by 1:00 pm and can be faxed to (573) 392-4527 or emailed to shawn@cms-gc.com. For more information, call Shawn @ (573) 392-6553.

Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUESTS FOR BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting Bids for Riverfront Vendors - St. Louis City Riverfront Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ and submit by February 28, 2020.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The St. Louis County Port Authority (the “Port”) will hold a public hearing at 5:00 P.M. on Friday, February 21, 2020, at the STLVentureWorks office located at 315 Lemay Ferry Road, MO 63125, to discuss the “Lemay Streetscape Project” improvements. The project is funded by Community Development Block Grant 2008-DI-85. Project activities funded through the grant include the installation of new sidewalks, decorative street lighting, identifying signage, and raingardens to reduce flooding along a ¾-mile corridor of Lemay Ferry Road between Hoffmeister and Military. The grant also funded the installation of approximately 800 feet of new storm water piping beginning at the intersection of Regina and Horn, which helps to reduce flooding and has also facilitated new commercial construction. All interested citizens and groups are encouraged to attend the scheduled hearing.

For additional information or if you require special accommodations at the hearing, please contact Dana Cook at 314-615-7663 or email dcook@stlpartnership.com.

PATROL OFFICER

PROJECT ANALYST

Responsible for initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing information technology projects using a formal project management methodology with guidance from Project/ Program Managers and for organization and administration of processes and documentation for the Enterprise Program Management Office.

SENIOR CENTER

VAN

TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST

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

Applicants

•

website at www.covenanthousemo.org

OPERATING SYSTEMS ENGINEER II

Demonstrates a deep understanding of Microsoft Windows operating systems (Server 2012, 2016 and Win10) SCCM, Active Directory, Group Policy Objects, Server and Workstation patching methods and networking concepts as they relate to server and desktop computing.

Working knowledge of Cisco UCS, NetApp OnTAP, VMware vSphere and Citrix helpful. To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

PRINCIPAL (K-8)

Responsible for various tasks related to: categorizing and imaging incoming mail, processing corporate mail, and storage duties.

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

PROJECT MANAGER & ASST. PROJECT MANAGER

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking a Project Manager and Asst. Project Manager. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ and submit by February 20, 2020.

SENIOR REINSURANCE CLAIMS MANAGER

Responsible for handling assigned reinsurance claims from initial assignment to closure including aggregate claims with Annual Aggregate Deductibles, as well as provide assistance in various administrative functions associated with the Assumed Reinsurance Line of Business. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

Young Leaders is just around the bend. One week from today I will be giving y’all a lewk inspired by the legendary corporate outerwear game of Olivia Pope when I traipse up into the St. Louis American Foundation’s 10th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Awards and Networking Reception on Feb. 20 at The Four Seasons.

I don’t want to give too much of my ensemble away, but if you see someone twirl up out of a fabulous winter white cape to reveal an opulent matching belted peacoat and alabaster shaded leather gloves, it’s probably me. Last week I named names, so as we countdown the days, I will simply remind everyone that the cream of the crop as far as the present AND the future will be occupying the sixth floor of the Four Seasons from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. So if you want to be mingling in the best company as far as rising stars, you absolutely do not want to be absent. And regardless of how you are already moving, you will leave the building wanting to do even more thanks to the spirit filled inspiration that Rebeccah Bennett serves up as mistress of ceremonies. Be sure to get your tickets if you don’t have them already. Visit www. stlamerican.com or call (314) 533-8000.

STL representing at the Oscars. I was so happy to see Bruce Franks Jr. walk the red carpet of the Academy Awards in Hollywood as the subject of Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan’s Academy Award nominated film “St. Louis Superman.” Listen, I remember back when he was rocking the mic as Oops in the Building. Seeing him go from rapper, to activist, to politician to Hollywood A-Lister brought my heart joy over the weekend, do y’all hear me?! And even though “St. Louis Superman” didn’t take home top honors in the “Documentary Short” category, I couldn’t be prouder of Bruce if I tried. But I will tell you what; another St. Louis superman did clutch a golden trophy. That’s right, David Steward II and his Lion Forge Animation was among the producers for Matthew Cherry, Everett Downing Jr. and Bruce Smith’s “Hair Love,” which earned a “Best Animated Short” Academy Award Sunday night. That’s right. There is a black man right here in our city with an Academy Award to his credit. I all but wrote my own acceptance speech when the news broke early in the awards – and was almost late to see Jill Scott so that I could see the win live and in the flesh. And shout out to his sister Kimberly Steward for being one of only three African American women producers with a film that earned a “Best Picture” Oscar nomination, along with Oprah Winfrey and Octavia Spencer (who won as a producer of “Green Book”). I’ll tell you what, don’t let anybody convince you that we need to look outside of our own area code for inspiration, because we are and have always been major contributors to the culture! Phenomenal Jilly from Philly. Jill Scott came to St. Louis to slay – and did exactly that as she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album “Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1” Sunday night at The Fox. It is my favorite of all the Jill Scott albums – and we all know she has some bangers. She did not disappoint, and performed the whole doggone thing and hardly anything else – which gave all of us our life and reason for being. There was not a seat to be had as she gave us a show she seemingly started preparing for as soon as she released that album 20 years ago, because the whole thing was flawless from start to finish. That shape was snatched, that face was beat to the gawds and those edges were laid. As she went track by track to remind us why she was our best friend in the head from the get! I also love how she changed some of the lyrics to show that she was a grown woman and a lowkey savage. I think I might hop in her DM’s to ask if her stylist can get that selfportrait embroidered Afrocentric kimono in a 2X for a friend of a friend. I am the friend of a friend. All the folks came through with seat slayage. Dameon Christian, I know folks thought you were serving drive through car wash realness with your custom jacket, but your Harley Quinn homage was not lost on me. If I go through and name all the folks that were giving me life at the show besides J-I-L-L- S-C-OT-T, I would be here all night, so I will keep my focus on Jill. I will say that even though I know the year just started – despite that long January that makes me feel like I’m already in July – she’s going have the show to beat for 2020’s best of. Hot African vibes at Pepper. Listen, I know y’all know I keep saying that my boy Ono is a sure thing as far as clocking wins for parties up in the club, but I have to say it again after Saturday night at The Pepper Lounge for AFroLituation. Don’t blame me because I have to keep saying it. Blame him because he keeps doing it. The crowd was so deep that the heat and humidity probably felt like home for the native Africans. I wish I had been able to get there sooner into the vibe when they were deep into the African music. If y’all haven’t heard the new crop of stars coming out of the diaspora, they are a whole entire vibe. I was hoping to juke to Burna Boy, but quite honestly, the crowd was so tight that I could barely expand my chest wide enough to take a deep breath, let along hit an Atilogwu step. I know this to be true by how I got swept up in the in that “Swag Surf” as I tried to head towards the door to make my exit. I thought that wave was going to carry me to the coast of the Mother Land.

A night for black love and black music. For those of you who have been off the grid in Coronavirus quarantine, I thought I would remind y’all that the 2020 St. Louis Music Festival is going down Friday (that’s right on Valentine’s Day) at the Chaifetz Arena. I’ve seen all of the acts on the bill more than once recently, but that doesn’t make me any less excited to see SWV, El DeBarge, Teddy Riley, Blackstreet, Jagged Edge and Bobby Brown take me back to the 90s and beyond. I’ll be the first to admit that Bobbaye and El have mixed bags over the years, but when he came to town as part of RBRM (Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike) he held his own and gave us a show. And El didn’t disappoint at the Urban Expo either when he hit the stage this summer.

Linda, Maurice and Lesi were in the place to be for one of the best Superbowl parties in town last Sunday hosted by Tommy Wilder

Vega Heartbreak, Craig Thomas, Mocha Latte, Omar and M.C. @ the ‘Monday’ video premiere Sunday @ Marcus Des Peres Cinemas

Artist Bojo posing in front of her work with Volume Speaks at the opening reception for the ‘I Am A Revolutionary’ Exhibit Friday @ UrbArts

New author Brian Temple (center) with April and Cory as he celebrated the release of his debut book ‘Product of STL’ two Saturdays ago @ Afro Logic

Ariel, Lexi, Kim and DJ Jewel were just a few of the guests @ Marcus Des Peres Cinema to see the debut of M.C.’s video ‘Monday’ Sunday afternoon

Vanessa, Koran and Nichol cheered on St. Louis’ own Bruce Franks Jr. at a special Oscars viewing party in his honor Sunday @ The House of Soul

Jessica treated her father Ed to the best birthday gift he could ask for, the opportunity to jam to Jill Scott Sunday night @ The Fox

Joe enjoyed a packed house with friends like Craig as he celebrated his birthday Saturday night @ The House of Soul

Seat neighbors Shayla and Tracy became fast friends as the grooved to the magnificent sounds of Jill Scott Sunday night @ The Fabulous Fox

Melve and Kacy Shahid got about the business of Brunch-ish @ Quattro inside the Westin Hotel

St. Louis’ own Bruce Franks Jr. walked the red carpet at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 9 in Hollywood. He was the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary short “St. Louis Superman” by Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan.

Photo courtesy of House of Soul via Facebook

Photos by V. Lang

Celebrating Black History

Blues, NHL celebrate Black History

During the recent NHLAll Star festivities in St. Louis, the St. Louis Blues and the NHL held a special screening of the movie “Willie,” a documentary of the first black hockey player to play in the NHL (Willie O’Ree) and how he forever changed the game. Following the movie screening, there was a special roundtable discussion with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Executive Kim Davis, form St. Louis Blues player Jamal Mayers, and Blues Chairman and Governor Tom Stillman. The event was held at the newly opened Boys & Girls Club Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson.

Right: Kim Davis, NHL Executive Vice President for Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs; Tom Stillman, Chairman and Governor of the St. Louis Blues; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman; and emcee and sports broadcaster Mike Claiborne.

Dred Scott to be inducted into Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame

Along with Kit Bond, Dr. Patricia Dix, Wendy Doyle, Bob Holden

By Chris King

Of The St. Louis American

One of American history’s most influential and iconic civil rights pioneers – Dred Scott – is among the 2020 inductees to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame, which is curated by Missouri State University.

“Born a slave, Dred Scott was a civil rights pioneer. He made history by suing for his and his family’s freedom. After years of appeals and court reversals, the case, known as Dred Scott vs. John F. Sandford, made it to the U.S. Supreme Court,” the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame noted in an announcement.

See Scott, D2

By William L. Clay

For The St. Louis American

Designating February as Black History Month and revisiting great accomplishments of a great race is a worthy endeavor. Educator, historian Carter G. Woodson initiated the practice in 1926 as a Week of Black History. It was celebrated in February between the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and the death of Frederick Douglass (February 20).

A sign that I saw displayed in a small Del Ray, Florida museum quoting an old African proverb gives sufficient reason for us black Americans to document our own history. It read, “Until the lion develops a historian, tales of the hunt will continue to glorify the hunter.” That catchy saying validates the idea that each person should define himself or herself. That one sentence explains why it is a first priority for African Americans to write the true history of our country and include our people among its developers. If people of color do not define themselves, celebrate their leaders, and identify their contributions, then someone else (the hunter) will.

debased and distorted.

Persons of ebony complexion, whose actions have positively impacted the lives of a significant number of people of all colors, have an obligation to share our worthwhile contributions, and to explain them in their proper context.

In speaking to a freshman class at a junior college, I stressed the importance of African Americans writing our own history that does not necessarily follow the traditional normal omissions and revisions of what now claims to be an accurate recording of American events.

Citing the strife and sacrifice of black people that existed during slavery and the subsequent years since Emancipation, it would be irresponsible not to teach our young people about the horrors endured during the era of segregation, discrimination, and attempted annihilation of our race through organized and generally approved lynching.

Our ancestors made worthy contributions to the development of our country, and those achievements must be written down for future generations to review. Unlike the days of slavery

If past history is any barometer for predicting, the accomplishments of our people have been and will continue to be deliberately omitted,

Presenting sPonsors

Portrait of Dred Scott in 1857 by J.H. Fitzgibbon Missouri Historical Society Collections

Photos by Wiley Price

The Week of Black History was celebrated in February between the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and the death of Frederick Douglass (February 20).

New Jersey Devils fans Jonah Scott 8, a four-year veteran in the sport of hockey, with his father, Jeff Scott, as they visit the National Hockey League’s Black Hockey History Tour Truck that pays tribute to blacks in hockey. Guest Columnist William L. Clay

“The court issued its decision on March 6, 1857, which said the Scotts were not citizens, neither were any slaves; therefore, they had no rights to be respected. This case served as a major catalyst for the American Civil War. Scott’s legacy lives on in the fight for equality and justice through the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.”

The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation was founded by Lynne Jackson, the great-great granddaughter of the Dred and Harriet Scott, a resident of the St. Louis Area and the foundation’s president.

“This unexpected honor for Dred Scott is very exciting,” Jackson told The American. “This additional honor speaks to the growing awareness of the importance of the case the Scott’s persevered to see through, which has an ongoing effect today.” Scott, who died in St. Louis in 1858, will be inducted as a “legacy” awardee. He will be inducted along with former U.S. Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond, obstetriciangynecologist Dr. Patricia Dix,

Women’s Foundation President and CEO Wendy Doyle, and former Missouri Governor Bob Holden on April 17.

“Inductees are selected based on their support of public affairs and engaged citizenship,” the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame noted on its website.

“The selection process will recognize that public affairs is not restricted to politics, humanities or the social sciences, but that its presence is found in all areas that require critical thinking, participation and the willingness to work for the common good.”

Previous African-American inductees include author Maya Angelou, former Congressman William L. Clay, educator Phyllis Washington, poet Langston Hughes, Judge Jimmie Edwards, plant scientist George Washington Carver and St. Louis American Publisher Donald M. Suggs, who was inducted in the inaugural class of 2014 along with former President Harry S. Truman and former U.S. Senator John Danforth.

Jackson recalled the history of her ancestors’ being recognized for their leadership.

“Prior to 2007, the only local public markers we had were the plaque on the gate of the Old Courthouse placed by

Congressman Bill Clay, the headstone at Calvary Cemetery and the star in the St. Louis Walk of Fame,” Jackson told The American “Since then, the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation bought the Dred and Harriet Scott Statue, Dred Scott’s bust is now in the Hall of Famous Missourians in Jefferson City. He is also permanently at Laumeier Sculpture Park, and the Scotts have a Diamond in the Gateway Classic Walk of fame. Just up the road from the Missouri State University, Dred Scott has another star in the Walk of Fame in Marshfield, Missouri, where the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation will hold its 10th Reconciliation Forum this April 24.”

Up to six Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame recipients are honored annually, with each induction class including up to one legacy award. Nominate someone at tinyurl. com/Nominate-PAHOF.

The induction ceremony will take place at the White River Conference Center in Springfield. The black-tie optional dinner event is from 6-8:30 p.m. April 17. Tickets are $40 and tables are $750. Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/PAHOFtickets.

Solomon Thurman Jr. recognized for Lifetime Achievement

History

Continued from D1

when it was punishable by death in some areas to teach blacks to read and write, it should be a badge of honor today to document those heinous times.

Today, the civil rights achievements of a generation of courageous men and women, young and old are in jeopardy. In recent years, a cadre of hate-filled individuals, some in important positions,

Solomon Thurman Jr. posed with Nancy and Ken Kranzberg as he received the Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award that they sponsored as part of the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis’ 29th St. Louis Arts Awards on Monday, January 27 at The Chase Park Plaza presented by the Centene Charitable Foundation. Thurman is a visual artist, educator, local art historian, activist and co-owner of 10th Street Gallery with his wife Pat SmithThurman. He is also known for helping secure the commission for and the creation of the Black Americans in Flight mural at St.

have shamefully emerged publicly to vehemently oppose the basic citizen rights of minorities and women.

In commemorating Black History Month, it is urgent and important to recognize not only the denial of opportunities in past times that crippled our advancement as a people, but also to rededicate ourselves to future progress. Always remember those in prior years who gave their lives in the mighty struggle against bigotry and racism. As we honor those presently engaged in hand-tohand combat in the trenches fighting to sustain and advance

what we have already gained, let us join them in the fray. William L. Clay represented Missouri’s 1st Congressional District from 1968-2000 and is the author of “Clarence Thomas: A Black Knight in Tainted Armor,” “The Jefferson Bank Confrontation,” “Bill Clay: A Political Voice at the Grass Roots,” “Racism in the White House: A Common Practice of Most United States,” “Just Permanent Interests: Black Americans in Congress, 1870–1991” and “To Kill or Not to Kill: Thoughts on Capital Punishment.”

Louis Lambert International Airport.

Photo by Suzy Gorman

Black Caucus pushes Black History Month agenda

By Chris King

If

Walthall Moore, Missouri’s first black state legislator

“Rep. Moore battled against Republicans and Democrats, but most importantly he fought for education in the black community, reorganizing Lincoln Institute into Lincoln University and improving its funding.”

Louis voters will be authorized to decide whether a taxing district should be expanded to establish an African-American History Museum. And the Missouri General Assembly will formally renounce the Missouri Supreme Court’s 1852 Dred Scott decision.

State Rep. Kevin Windham, D-Hillsdale, is sponsoring HB 1939, which would designate May 1 as Walthall Moore Day in Missouri. May 1 is the birthday of Moore, Missouri’s first black state legislator. A St. Louis Republican, Moore was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1920 but lost his seat in 1922 following redistricting. He returned to the House in 1924 and was re-elected in 1926 and 1928

“State Rep. Walthall Moore was a profile in the political courage and mental fortitude that Missourians hold dear to this day nearly 100 years later,” Windham said in a statement.

State Rep. Wiley Price, D-St. Louis, is sponsoring HB 1399, which would designate March

n “State Rep. Walthall Moore fought for education in the black community, reorganizing Lincoln Institute into Lincoln University and improving its funding.”

– State Rep. Kevin Windham

6 as Dred and Harriet Scott Day. March 6, 1857 was the date the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Missouri Supreme Court’s 1852 ruling, which had reversed the St. Louis trial court’s decision that the Scotts should be freed.

“Having a Dred and Harriet Scott Day in Missouri would further help spread the education of these onceenslaved individuals whose

story is still all to poorly known,” Lynne Jackson, president of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation and the great-great granddaughter of the Scotts, told The American State Rep. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City, filed HB 1381 designating the third week in September as Historically Black College and University Week in recognition of the importance of historically black institutions of higher education, particularly Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis.

State Rep. Alan Green, D-Florissant, filed HB 1826, which would authorize voters in St. Louis city and county to decide whether the existing local zoo and museum taxing district should be expanded to establish an African-American History Museum. He also filed HB 1827, which would use revenue from an existing tax on visiting athletes and entertainers to fund an annual Juneteenth Heritage and Jazz Festival to be celebrated in either Kansas City, St. Louis or St. Louis County.

Black Caucus Chairman Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 74, which calls upon the Missouri General Assembly to formally renounce the Missouri Supreme Court’s 1852 decision that denied Dred and Harriet Scott freedom.

“The March 22, 1852 Dred Scott Decision of Missouri has never been renounced,” said Lynne Jackson of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.

“We are very hopeful that in 2020, we will see HRC 74 passed that will condemn this state decision. This action will effectively set straight the fact that the 1852 decision was purely political and went against the justice that was due Dred and Harriet Scott, laying the groundwork for the further infraction of 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision.”

2020 Black History MontH celeBrations

Thurs., Feb. 13, 4 p.m., Road to the Vote: Doing My Part, St. Louis Public Library –Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 13, 5 p.m., Game Night: 15th Amendment, St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid. For more information, visit www. slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 13, 6 p.m., Association of Black Collegians Trivia Night, Buder Commons, 650 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141. For more information, e-mail: mreyes@ maryville.edu

Thur., Feb. 13, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Candacy Taylor, author of “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America.” 300 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. left-bank.com.

Sat. Feb. 15, 3 p.m., Black Votes Count: Then & Now, Juried Art Show Reception, St. Louis Public Library –Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Sun., Feb. 16, 9 a.m., Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church invites you to a Black History Production. Support our youth as they take on a blast from the past. 2854 Abner Pl., 63120. For more information, call (314) 389-8204.

Sun., Feb. 16, 10 a.m., Black History Month Unity Mass Bishop Fernand Cheri is the Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans. St. Alphonsus Liguori ‘Rock’ Church, 1118 North

Grand Blvd., 63106. For more information, visit www.stalphonsusrock.org.

Sun., Feb. 16, 10 a.m., Black History Observance, Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 4859 St. Louis Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115.

Sun., Feb. 16., 3 p.m., Joys of Glory Black History Month Program, Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 4859 St. Louis Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115.

Mon., Feb. 17, 12 p.m., Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice presents a Lunch & Learn in Reverse: A Conversation with Dr. Laurie Punch. Dr. Punch is the newly appointed member of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners. The T STL, 5874 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sun., Feb. 16, 9 a.m., Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church invites you to a Black History Production. 2854 Abner Pl., 63120. For more information, call (314) 3898204.

Wed., Feb. 19, 4 p.m., Saint Louis University African American Studies Keynote Lecture. Guest speaker is Dr. Christian Greer, Fordham University professor of Political Science, and MSNBC contributor. Busch Student Center, Saint Louis University, 20 N. Grand Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 9772242.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 4 p.m., Game Night: Political Warfare, St. Louis Public Library – Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 4 p.m., Road to the Vote: Doing My Part, St. Louis Public Library – Carondelet Branch, 6800 Michigan Ave. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thur., Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis and the Integration of Baseball. Maplewood Public Library, 7550 Lohmeyer, 63143. For more information, visit www.maplewoodpubliclibrary.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., Set The Night to Music featuring Love Jones The Band, St. Louis County Library – Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., S. For

more information, visit https:// www.slcl.org/black-historycelebration

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., Best Dance and Talent Center 3rd Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser. Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus presents Lift Every Voice: Black History Month Celebration with special guest soloist Marlissa Hudson. An evening of music that celebrates the music of African American and African cultures. 718 N. Grand

Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.slso.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., The Legend Singers Choral Ensemble presents the Annual Festival of African American Spirituals. Workshop will be Feb. 21 – 22 – learn vocal style, performance practice and ensemble techniques. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., Do You Know Your Black History Trivia Event. Union Memorial United Methodist Church, 1141 Belt Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www.unionmemorialstl.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., The Importance of Voting: A Panel Discussion featuring Tishaura O. Jones, Treasurer, City of St. Louis; Michael Butler, Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar, City of St. Louis; Gena Gunn McClendon, Director, Voter Access and Engagement and Financial Capability, Center for Social Development, Washington University; Carol Strawbridge, League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis, A meet and greet with the panelists will follow immediately after the discussion. St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Sun., Feb. 23, 10 a.m., Black History Observance, Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 4859 St. Louis Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115.

Wed., Feb. 26, 6 pm., Association of Black Collegians Family Dinner, Buder Commons, 650 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141. For more information, e-mail: mreyes@

maryville.edu

Sun., Feb. 23, 3 p.m. doors, Community Women Against Hardship Black History Month Concert featuring Ferguson native Grammywinning trumpeter Keyon Harrold. For more information, call (314) 289-7523 or email: communitywomenstl@ yahoo.com

Tues., Feb. 25, 4 p.m., Why Black Study? Why Now? The Black faculty at SLU will discuss the continued relevance of Black Study at SLU and throughout the Academy. Pere Marquette Gallery, DuBourge Hall, 221 N. Grand Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 977-2242.

Fri., Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m., Black History Trivia Night. Ferguson Community Center, 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, visit www. brownpreneurs.org.

Sat., Feb. 29, 10 a.m., Black History Month – The Story of Black St. Louis Bus Tour. The tour introduces participants to the rich African-American history of St. Louis since its founding in 1764. Griot Museum of Black History, 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Feb. 29, 1 p.m., The Gift of Gospel featuring emcee Pastor Shaun Williams, gospel music artist Jean Vann and additional performances by Christ Pilgrim Rest Children’s Choir, violinist Andrea Bell Darris and others. St. Louis County Library – Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., S. For more information, visit https://www. slcl.org/black-history-celebration

Centene Corporation presents

BLACK HISTORY

How Their Life Changed Yours

24–27,

His Life

Thomas Augusta

Alexander Thomas Augusta was born in 1825, in Norfolk, Virginia, as a free man. As a young adult, Alexander wanted nothing more than to be a doctor, but was unable to in the United States due to racial discrimination. Augusta would not let blind hatred stand in his way. So in 1850, he

went north to Trinity Medical College in Toronto, Canada. After graduating, Alexander Thomas Augusta became a doctor.

During the American Civil War, Augusta was compelled to give medical aid to newly regimented African-American troops in the North, known at the time as, “Colored Regiments.” In 1862, Alexander Thomas Augusta wrote President Abraham Lincoln a letter detailing the role he wished to play in the war. Lincoln approved; so Augusta became the first commissioned African-American medical officer in the Union Army.

How His Life Changed Yours

In 1864, in Washington, D.C., Alexander Thomas Augusta attempted to ride a trolley to the courthouse to save himself a walk in the rain. Patriotic as he was, dressing in military uniform that morning did not keep him dry, or prevent the racism he would face. The trolley driver insisted he could not ride in the covered “Whites Only” section, and would have to get drenched up front instead. Refusing to take such abuse, Augusta was then ejected from the platform and worked his way through the mud to court.

He wrote to the judge about the trolley driver's crimes against him as his reason for being late to court. His letter was later printed in both New York and Washington newspapers. Within a year spent advocating, a new law was passed guaranteeing equal enjoyment of all railroad privileges for all people in the District of Columbia.

Wed., Feb. 19, 4 p.m., Saint Louis University African American Studies Keynote Lecture with speaker Dr. Christian Greer, Fordham University professor of Political Science and MSNBC contributor.