February 13th, 2025 edition by The St. Louis American

St. LouiS AmericAn

Salute to Business Networking and Awards Luncheon

Corporate growth

Jeremy Williams a dynamic leader with Bayer team

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Jeremy Williams says he has always been interested in science.

“I’ve been a science geek as long as I can remember,” he told the St. Louis American.

Williams came to the United Sates as an immigrant of African descent from Georgetown, Guyana to attend Swarthmore College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and French.

His talent could have led him in many directions, but fate sent him to St. Louis where he attended Washington University and earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics in 1999.

Williams said he gained “broader exposure” at Wash U. and through “a lucky coincidence,” was a co-founder scientist of the start-up company

See WILLIAMS, A6

Mayoral candidates clash on issues

Crime, snow among topics

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

St. Louis American

If icy stares were laser beams, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones could have burned holes in Alderman Cara Spencer’s back as she paced the floor during Monday’s forum.

Jones clearly objected to Spencer’s soliloquy, “Governments are failing our communities, and the city of St. Louis is failing our communities,” said Spencer.

“And if I’m elected mayor, what I’ll do to rebuild trust is root out corruption in every single city department…zero tolerance for corruption.”

Despite the occasional eyeroll or piercing glances, Jones kept her composure by repeatedly informing the

audience that she was not going to talk about what she was “going to do” but “I’m going to tell you what we’ve already done.”

During her introduction, Jones reminded the crowd of the conditions in City Hall when she took office: “We inherited a whole host of antiquated systems and have been working really hard to improve those sys-

Alphonso Trottman, dental pioneer, passes

By Melanie Trottman

For The St. Louis American

Alphonso Trottman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, at a time when U.S. hospitals and schools were segregated, racial discrimination was rampant, and opportunity for Black people was scarce – especially one with a single teenage mother of limited means, a father he never knew, and a temporary stay at an orphanage, with his older brother, while their mother sought a better life for them in East Chicago, Indiana. He died as an attentive, beloved father of three; former U.S. Air Force Officer; retired trailblazing orthodontist and dental professor who built thriving practices and mentored many in dentistry and beyond; and as an advocacy-oriented thought leader who by age 30 was featured in U.S. news articles about the scarcity of dental care, especially orthodontics, for Black people. Throughout, his belief in justice and faith in God fueled his passion for helping the underserved, bravery to break down barriers, and tenacity to achieve with his signature mix of outspokenness, earnestness, and grace. Simply put, he made a way out of no way with help from key people. His life was a series of firsts: He was the first Black orthodontist in Missouri (and one of few in the U.S. then), among

Crime continues to drop in city

‘Building a safer St. Louis’

By Avin A. Reid St. Louis American

The trend of receding crime in the city of St. Louis continued in January, as did the effort to seize control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department by state legislators.

In 2024, according to police statistics, the city recorded an 11-year low in homicides. There was a continuation in the decrease in violent and property crimes in January of 2025, with the number of homicides committed – a 55% reduction compared to January of 2024.

“Each life lost or affected by crime is one too many, so these continued improvements encourage us to keep the momentum going,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said in a release.

“We will keep building a safer St.

Mayor Tishaura Jones responds to criticism from mayoral candidate Cara Spencer about government corruption during Monday’s mayoral forum. She was joined at the forum by Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler and Andrew Jones.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Jeremy Williams serves as Head of Climate LLC, Digital Farming and Commercial Ecosystems for the Crop Science division of Bayer.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Alphonso Trottman

Tributes poured in for Irv Gotti after untimely passing at 54

The hip hop community is still in shock over the sudden passing of Murder Inc. Records founder Irv Gotti.

The record executive, music producer and entrepreneur passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., was 54.

The cause of death has not been announced, but the music mogul suffered several strokes in recent years. He also battled diabetes-related issues. Some of the biggest names in the urban community paid tribute to Gotti for his contributions to the culture. Def Jam Records, Russell Simmons, Fat Joe and Ja Rule them.

“I can’t believe things ended like this….and it makes me so sad,” sing er/songwriter Ashanti said in the caption of an Instagram post devoted to Gotti’s memory.

“We weren’t on

the best terms the past few years but as I’ve always said, through our ups and downs I will forever be grateful for everything that you’ve done for me.

Gotti produced Ashanti’s chart-topping solo hits “Foolish,” “Rain on Me” and “Mesmerize” in the early 2000s. He won a “Best Contemporary R&B Album” Grammy in 2003 for co-producing Ashanti’s self-titled album.

“We made history and that will remain infinite,” Ashanti continued.

“I’ve always respected your musical genius and ability to push me to be my best. All the greatness and positive things that came, far outweigh the dark and negative times.”

Kendrick dethrones King of Pop with halftime show ratings record

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance garnered 133.5 million viewers. According to the Fox Network and Roc Nation, Lamar brought in the highest halftime audience ever recorded. His ratings dethroned the late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s nearly 35-year viewership record.

According to Frontofficesports.com, K. Dot’s set outdrew the average audience of the

game itself, which set an all-time Super Bowl record of 127.7 million viewers. The game itself peaked at 137.7 million in the second quarter. Fox says that halftime figure is the average viewership. Lamar’s ratings edged out Jackson’s record of 133.4 million U.S. viewers, which was set in 1993.

tWitch family members say widow is tarnishing his legacy

In a sit-down interview with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings” the mother and younger brother of Stephen “tWitch” Boss discussed their heartbreak in response to the shocking revelations made in the memoir of his widow. Boss died by suicide in December of 2022. Allison Holker, whom he married in 2013, published “This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light” last year.

A “People Magazine” article that previewed the book included details Holker shared about Boss’ marijuana use, and a “cornucopia” of other drugs she allegedly found in their home after his death. The magazine article also included details about Boss’ private journals, where Holker said Boss alluded to being sexually abused as a child by a trusted male figure in his life. Alexander said she was not aware of the alleged heavy drug use – and no one in the family was aware of the

alleged abuse.

“I applaud speaking about mental health awareness because of course there was something going on there at the end that we were not aware of,” tWitch’s mother Connie Boss Alexander said during the interview, which aired Feb. 11. “I applaud that. If that was the intent of the book to make people aware, look out for these types of signs. There’s a way to say that in general without denigrating the memory and the legacy that he built and that’s there for his children.”

Tony Buzbee drops lawsuit against Jay-Z and Diddy

Houston attorney Tony Buzbee named Jay-Z as the co-conspirator in the bombshell lawsuit filed against Bad Boy Entertainment CEO, Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing them of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl more than two decades ago. The lawsuit was filed the day before Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter, made her film debut in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” According to public records, The Buzbee Firm has filed a notice of voluntary dismissal with prejudice – which means that the case is dismissed permanently and cannot be reopened.

Sources: Allhip.com, Instagram. com, courtlistener.com, People.com,

Irv Gotti

“This

- Patrice Willoughby, national NAACP executive,

Organization for Black Struggle and the

YCPD celebrated their 45th anniversary

Robin D.G. Kelley addressed ‘Freedom Dreams: Unblocking the Black radical imagination’

By Jamala Rogers

For The St. Louis American

Robin D.G. Kelley recently brought his analytical brilliance to a weekend of activities in St. Louis that celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) and the Youth Council for Positive Development. Kelley currently teaches history at UCLA. A respected radical scholar, Kelley’s prolific body of work is extensive. It includes seven books and several in the making. The 45th anniversary theme was inspired by his most revered book, “Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination.” His views have appeared in numerous publications, including The Progressive and Harvard Gazette and been heard in interviews with NPR, as well as Trinity Social Justice Institute.

n Despite Trump’s policies and actions from mass deportations to the elimination of job protections to the withdrawal from the World Health Organization, Kelley cautioned against complacency, pessimism and despair.

native of Los Angeles, welcomed his colleague to St. Louis. Kelley set the tone of his keynote address by laying out the political, economic and social factors of the last 45 years that led to the election of Donald Trump. He pointed out these conditions were possible because of a weak Black Left and progressive movements which failed to offer a critique of neoliberalism that would inform an effective strategy in the U.S.

Despite Trump’s policies and actions from mass deportations to the elimination of job protections to the withdrawal from the World Health Organization, Kelley cautioned against complacency, pessimism and despair.

The Department of African American Studies at Saint Louis University hosted a reception for Kelly the day before the OBS gala event, which took place Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Dr. Chris Tinson, department chair and

“They’re coming after our movements, they’re coming after us,” Kelley warned. He believes that building a united front to oppose the racist, neoliberal state is imperative. The task is to clearly articulate a vision for building a “sustained, radical movement capable of winning key local struggles in moving the nation in a new direction.”

My’Asia Meriwether was the recipient of the Jamala Rogers Young Visionary Award for 2025 at the Organization of Black Struggle 45th Anniversary gala. My’Asia is a survivor of the 2022 shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School where she emerged as a student leader.

My’Asia Meriwether was announced as the 2025 Jamala Rogers Young Visionary, a project of the Youth Council for Positive Development. Meriwether was recognized for her resilience, courage and tenacity in the face of adversity. She was a student at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in 2022 when a shooter took the lives of a fellow student and a beloved educator. The trauma created shockwaves that Meriwether believes never were sufficiently addressed by the St. Louis Public School district. Instead, she made her own

Jessica Tyler represented her father Fredrico Lowe-Bey at the Organization of Black Struggle (OBS) 45th Anniversary gala, along with her mother, Sharon McNeal. OBS has been working on LoweBey’s 38-year-old wrongful rape conviction with Centurion Ministries.

healing and those of her peers a priority, helping to create safe spaces for emotional safety and helping them find their voice. The Young Visionary Award includes a $2500 stipend. Meriwether graduates in May 2025 and has been accepted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Information about the Organization for Black Struggle and how to support it can be found at www.obs-stl.org. Contributions to the Youth Council are tax-exempt and can be made at www. positiveyouthdev.com.

Photos courtesy

Organization of Black Struggle

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial Commentary

Challenge the “Lost Cause” lie

By Marc Morial

Whenever an anti-diversity extremist uses the word “woke” in a disparaging way, we must remember that the extremists themselves define “woke” as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.”

Anti-diversity activists don’t want to address systemic injustices that mainly benefit white men. They’d rather distort history to promote a mass delusion that those injustices never existed.

That’s why Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who built a national reputation by attacking diversity in the armed forces, has to ban recognition of Black History Month.

The racial justice uprising sparked by the murder of George Floyd nearly five years ago instilled a panic in the defenders of racial inequity, who launched a campaign in what they called “critical race theory” and now call “DEI.” At least 870 measures have been introduced at the federal, state, and local level to stifle even the acknowledgement of institutional and systemic racism and discrimination. Even the measures that don’t pass are part of a broad effort to salt the earth against addressing systemic injustices. Since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions two years ago, Black enrollment at top universities has fallen by 17%. Venture capital funding to Black-owned enterprises fell by 86% from 2021 to 2023. About one in eight companies say they will eliminate or scale back their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in 2025.

the horrors of slavery and justify legal segregation. According to Lost Cause mythology, Black Americans had been content in their enslavement and were overwhelmed by the responsibilities of freedom. Through this lens, abolition and reconstruction had thrown the natural order into chaos, and Jim Crow segregation was a necessary correction. Rather than promote the lie that Black Americans are content to live under a system of oppression, the modern Lost Cause movement promotes the lie that the system of oppression doesn’t exist. It promotes the lie that discriminatory practices aren’t to blame for race and gender gaps in wealth, income, and civic life. It’s simply that white men are more competent.

Darren Beattie, appointed this week to be acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, posted recently on social media, “Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work.” Beattie was fired from a position in the previous Trump Administration after CNN reported his connection to well-known white nationalists.

President Trump pointedly excised any mention of “prejudice and hardship” Black Americans face from his Black History Month proclamation.

The outrageous notion that anyone in a position of authority or responsibility who’s not a white man is so ingrained in the current administration that President Trump baselessly blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for the deadly January 29 aviation accident at Reagan National Airport.

The future of Black political power

By Dedrick Asante-Muhammad

When the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies opened its doors in 1970, there were only 1,469 Black elected officials in office across the United States. Today, over 10,000 Black leaders serve at every level of government, from city councils to statehouses to the United States Congress.

These milestones are historic, yet they also compel us to confront the sad reality that over 160 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and 60 years beyond the historic 1960s civil rights legislation, African Americans are still fall far short in terms of overall economic well-being and political representation.

This duality — celebrating progress while recognizing the challenges in front of us — defines the spirit of Black History Month for 2025.

At the Joint Center, we have long recognized that economic and political power are the twin foundations to overcome the white supremacist legacy from which our nation was birthed. While the growth of Black political leadership is encouraging, representation alone does not guarantee systemic change, and today, even that progress in Black political representation is threatened.

largest membership yet.

At the local level, Black political leadership is flourishing. With a record 143 Black mayors across the country, Black leaders are at the helm of major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, and St. Louis.

Economic progress has accompanied these political milestones. Black Americans have achieved record levels of economic well-being in recent years, including historically low unemployment rates, a median income of $56,490, and median household wealth of $44,900.

But while these figures are encouraging, they remain overshadowed by persistent racial disparities. White households, for instance, maintain a median wealth of $285,000, highlighting the country’s deep racial economic divide and the uphill battle for Black economic advancement.

African Americans must continue to build coalitions that address shared socio-economic challenges across racial and ethnic lines. Economic security, the need for a living wage, access to affordable housing, and moving communities out of asset poverty—these are the policy battle lines that our historic number of Black elected officials must continue to wrestle.

Black History Month grew out of “Douglass Day,” the February 14th birthday celebration of the formerlyenslaved abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In 1926, Black historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson built on that celebration, incorporating the birthday of “The Great Emancipator” Abraham Lincoln into Negro History Week. Woodson’s scholarship challenged the then-dominant “Lost Cause” myth that sought to erase

In an era when the Secretary of Defense brazenly sports a tattoo of a white nationalist symbol, celebrating resegregation Black History Month is not just a right, but a responsibility. It’s not just about honoring the past but about determining the future.

Marc Morial is National Urban League president and CEO

Commentary

Dividing our nation’s defenders

By Tyrone D. Taborn

Our military has long stood as a pillar of unity for our nation, built upon the sacrifices and courage of all Americans, regardless of race. But the recent decision to withdraw military recruiters from leading engineering conferences like the Black Engineer of the Year event sends a troubling message: the people who have fought to defend this nation and advanced its technological progress for centuries are being sidelined in the very fields that have helped secure our future.

This is not just a setback for diversity — it is a direct threat to our nation’s security.

From the time of the Revolutionary War, when one of the first casualties was a Black man, African Americans have fought in every major conflict this country has seen. Yet, despite their sacrifices, Black men and women have often been relegated to the most dangerous, degrading, and underappreciated roles.

nologists in the country, many of whom are people of color. These students — many from historically Black colleges and universities — are being denied the opportunity to serve their country in vital roles because military recruiters are no longer attending. It is not just the loss of interviews; it is the loss of access to some of the best and brightest minds that could strengthen our national defense and push technological innovation forward.

During the Civil War, new Colored troops helped turn the tide for the Union, yet their contributions were too often overlooked. Even in modern times, the struggle to be seen as equals in our armed forces continues, as Black soldiers remain underrepresented in leadership positions, despite their undeniable qualifications.

The military had made significant strides in breaking down barriers — racial, institutional, and cultural — over the years. From the integration of Black soldiers into units during and after World War II to the rise of the Tuskegee Airmen, America has made progress in recognizing the value of all its citizens in the defense of this great nation. But the military’s recent withdrawal from key engineering and science conferences that have long been avenues for recruiting the nation’s most talented and diverse minds sends a message that we are regressing.

The Black Engineer of the Year event, for example, has been a beacon for the brightest engineers, scientists, and tech-

This decision undermines decades of hard-won progress. We see it clearly in the history of military leadership. Many of our top generals, leaders who have shaped the military into what it is today, are graduates of historically Black engineering programs. Without continued engagement with these talented communities, we risk losing future leaders who could make a lasting impact on national security. This is not just a disservice to the people who are being excluded — it is a disservice to every American who relies on the military to safeguard their freedom and security. This country has a long history of ignoring, overlooking, and underestimating the contributions of marginalized communities. But history has also shown us that those same communities — whether it was the Tuskegee Airmen, Indigenous Cold War-era military personnel, or women who worked behind the scenes to keep our war efforts strong—have always found ways to make invaluable contributions. This pattern must not be repeated again.

The world is changing rapidly, and so are the threats to our security. To ensure that our military remains the most powerful, most innovative force on Earth, we must continue to invest in the best and brightest minds — regardless of their race, gender, or background.

We have earned our stars. Now, let’s make sure they are shared by everyone

Tyrone D. Taborn is publisher, chairman and CEO of Career Communications Group.

We have regressed from African Americans holding 11% of the highest ranking, commissioned officer positions within the White House — nearly reaching the 14% share of the U.S. population that African Americans hold — to our current Presidential administration with only one Black cabinet nominee, returning to the poor Black representation of the 1980’s.

But when we look past today’s new Presidential administration, there is still much to celebrate. Black political representation has reached historic highs. Today, we have one Black governor, Wes Moore of Maryland — only the third Black governor elected in U.S. history. We have set a new record with five Black leaders serving in the U.S. Senate: Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Raphael Warnock, Cory Booker, and Tim Scott. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has also achieved historic milestones, with 62 members, marking its

Recent attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are another area demanding focus. We cannot allow the Trump administration’s witch hunt for those who have advocated for expanded opportunities for underrepresented communities to be used to turn back the slow, gradual progress in Black political power.

We must use the historic levels of Black political representation and economic progress as a platform for even greater change. The next two- to four years present unique opportunities for collaboration and advancement. While congressional power remains fluid in a divided government, strategic coalition-building can help us address persistent disparities and create a more equitable future.

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Guest Columnist Tyrone D. Taborn

Columnist Marc Morial

Guest Columnist By Dedrick AsanteMuhammad

Participating vendors at St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase event offer students and families hands-on opportunities and information on in-demand career paths in the St. Louis area and throughout the nation.

County SSD to host Career Pathways Showcases

St. Louis American

Special School District (SSD) of St. Louis partnering with the Affton, Pattonville, and Rockwood School Districts to host two St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase events.

The respective time and dates are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday February 22, 2025, at North Tech High School, 1700 Derhake Rd, Florissant, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday March 1 at South Tech High School, Employers and apprenticeship representatives seeking motivated individuals ready to begin their careers are invited to attend. Families with students in grades 6-12, as well as recent graduates, are also welcome.

“These events offer students and their families a unique opportunity to learn about in-demand career paths across our region,” said Andi Harpring, SSD’s partnerships administrator.

“Employers and training organizations are eager to discuss job and training opportunities – many of which people are not aware of but lead to well-paying careers.”

Over the past decade, the demand for skilled workers has increased exponentially, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting nearly 700,000 job openings in skilled trades by 2031.

“There is a dire need for skilled trades today and for the near future. The skilled trade gap is real. There is a projected need for over 300,000 new welders by 2028, with only 82,000 entering the workforce annually,” said Rob Knoll, president of American Welding Academy, which is sponsor of the showcase event.

Vendors will include Mercy, NPower, Associated General Contractors of Missouri, Spire, St. Louis County Police Communications, St. Louis Community College, and many others.

Shopping for justice is vital

By E. Faye Williams

Often people shop where it’s convenient without thinking about how their spending may be detrimental to them. While you are free to do that, we’re currently being asked to examine everything that affects us because many actions by the Trump administration demonstrate they are seeking retribution.

Many concerning changes have already begun. For instance, Trump and his party have always claimed total support for police regardless of their actions. Their union endorsed Trump, but now they feel betrayed. Some of their colleagues were killed by the very people he pardoned. It was part of his retribution plan and led companies to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion — known as DEI. This is a racist and sexist move. The programs existed only because women and minorities historically were excluded from certain jobs and opportunities available to white men.

I wonder how white women and minorities feel about what’s happened to their future opportunities. Black women have always had to be better than others to access many opportunities others have always had — and we still meet the challenges.

Companies like Target, McDonald’s and Walmart where many women and minorities shop and take their children. McDonald’s depends on children. Will people continue to take their children there?

Target has rolled back its DEI programs. They sent a memo to employees, announcing the end of threeyear DEI goals and diversity programs — including some they acknowledge aim to make their workforce and merchandise better reflect their customers. They are halting reports to external groups like the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and ending a program focused on carrying more products from Black or minority-owned businesses. In prior years, Target officials said George Floyd’s murder in their Minneapolis hometown motivated them to strengthen DEI programs. Now this.

Most of us haven’t heard of Meta, so I can’t explain why they would roll back their DEI program. I know no one who works there, but research them and other companies that rushed to help Trump succeed with his 2025 threats aimed at women and minorities.

Look at Social Security — a federal program to help elderly people, survivors and people with disabilities. These recipients have worked — many for years. Many are relatives of the very members of Congress supporting Trump on benefit cuts.

Imagine one of these supporters walking into a home saying “Grandma or Grandpa, we’re supporting Trump cutting your check next month” — the only income some have to get by. This is a cruel decision, and we should withdraw support from anyone who backs it.

He has withdrawn U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization and cut scientists’ access to crucial research grants.

These decisions follow Trump’s orders immediately after his inauguration to end government DEI programs and put federal officials overseeing them on leave.

So much for progress. As a Costco shareholder, I will shop at Costco and hope you will too. They didn’t join this insulting group of companies cutting DEI. Wake up and stay woke! Not everyone seeking your business is your friend.

E. Faye Williams is president of The Dick Gregory Society (www.thedickgregorysociety.org).

Photo courtesy of SSD St. Louis County

E. Faye Williams

Divergence with friends from the prestigious university.

He held scientific research and leadership roles at Divergence, including vice president of discovery research. Williams is a co-inventor of several patents held by Divergence and its collaborators, and he was named a Senior Monsanto Fellow in 2016.

Monsanto, which was later acquired by Bayer, was acquired by Monsanto in 2011.

Williams took his 20 years of diverse biotechnology and agrochemical R&D experience to Bayer Crop Science in 2018, after having served in several research and development leadership roles at Monsanto including head of chemistry research and development.

He now serves as Head of Climate LLC, Digital Farming and Commercial Ecosystems for the Crop Science division of Bayer, where he leads a team that develops digital tools “to help unlock the next wave of agriculture innovations.”

Luncheon at the RitzCarlton St. Louis.

“This was a surprise,” said Williams.

“Those who know me well know I just like to get the work done.”

Upon learning of his award, Williams posted on Instagram, “It is a great honor, and I am truly humbled. This award is a testament to the dedication, leadership, and impact that we strive to create in our industries and communities.”

“A huge thank you to my family, mentors, colleagues and friends for your unwavering support throughout my journey. I look forward to celebrating this moment with all of you.”

n Jeremy Williams, will receive the St. Louis American Foundation Corporate Executive of the Year award on Feb. 20, 2025, during the 23rd Annual Salute To Excellence in Business Networking and Awards Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis.

Williams, who is also a member of the Crop Science Executive Leadership Team, will receive the St. Louis American Foundation Corporate Executive of the Year award on Feb. 20, 2025, during the 23rd Annual Salute To Excellence in Business Networking and Awards

Williams said many friends, co-workers and fellow professionals have contacted him with congratulations.

“So many people have had such positive reaction,” he said.

Williams, a staunch supporter of diversity in his and corporate workplaces, said his honor is important for what is portrayed.

“It lets people see what is possible, regardless of their background,” he said.

“It can help people dream big and have successful careers. Don’t let the fact that you might be highly underrepresented in a field limit your ambition.

“I’ve been one of a small number many times.”

Williams said “if you do the work, a mentor or someone else will see that you are someone they should invest in.”

He endorses “following

dreams,” down a path of the future.

“I’ve always followed my passion for science – but also the passion to apply science,” he said. Before advancing to his

current position, Williams served as a member of the Research & Development Leadership Team as senior vice president, head of Plant Biotechnology for the Crop Science division

Sen. Brian Williams enjoying his Saturday morning with his son Brock, 2, during the U. City Block Party at the University City Children’s Center. Children got to enjoy playing with the blocks with their families and friends.

of Bayer.

In that role, he led a global team to “enable a robust plant biotechnology pipeline developing highly effective solutions to strengthen a plant’s resistance to insects, diseases and other environmental stresses.”

He says he is also passionate about inclusion and diversity and has served as the president of the African Americans in Monsanto business resource network and as a sponsor for the WiSE Guys ally network.

In July 2024, Williams posted on Instagram, “Being the lone voice means almost always carrying an additional invisible load that one needs to man-

Crime

Continued from A1

Louis with the help of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Circuit Attorney’s Office, the Office of Violence Prevention, and our community partners. I invite legislators in Jefferson City to take a look at this month’s report and the data available on our police department’s website.”

According to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) January report, available at slmpd.org/ stats, there were nine homicides in the City in January 2025, down from 20 in the same period last year.

Crimes of other categories were down, as well: rape (down 73%), aggravated assault (down 10%), and simple assault (down 9%). Overall, violent crime was down 12.6% in January 2025 compared to January 2024.

According to a police release, property crime was down 33.7% overall, with some of the most significant decreases being seen in motor vehicle theft (down 42%), theft from motor vehicle (down 28%), and burglary/breaking and entering (down

age carefully if one is to remain effective and stay grounded.”

“I’m very fortunate to work for a company like Bayer, which remains committed to diversity, equity and inclusion to help us be a stronger, more innovative and competitive company.

He is currently a member of the GROW Cabinet, and a United Way of Greater St. Louis board member.

Williams lives in St. Louis, with his wife Rachel Presti and their children Deryck and Isabelle. His hobbies include, of course, science fiction & fantasy. He is also a wine connoisseur and is a taekwondo devotee. He and his family love to travel for vacation.

34%).

There were increases in shoplifting and carjacking - 10% and 38%, respectively. Crimes against society, which include such crimes as narcotic violations and disorderly conduct, were down 30.4%.

State Sen. Karla May, a vocal opponent of a state takeover of the St. Louis police force, warns on her legislative website, “Although city taxpayers would continue to be responsible for funding the agency, they would have no say through their local elected representatives in how it operates.” May also sounded an alarm that a pair of bills which are being debated would impose fines of $1,000 per occurrence on city officials who resist state control, as well as a lifetime ban on them ever again holding elected office.

During a hearing on Tuesday in Jefferson city on a wide-ranging crime bill, May scolded Republicans for saying they want to take politics out of the police department. The St. Louis PostDispatch reported that May said, “You’re talking about taking politics out, no you’re adding politics in.”

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Candidates

Continued from A1

tems day in and day out.”

In touting her achievements, Jones stressed that when she took office “homicides were at an all-time high and services weren’t being delivered.”

She went on to add: “Fast forward to now and we’ve received pandemic relief funds and the first thing we did was to ask the community ‘what would you like to see’ with those funds. And we’ve invested in people, infrastructure and upgraded the government experience.”

Noting that too many of St. Louis’ families have been touched by violence, she added “the truth is, homicides are down 40% since I became mayor; youth-involved shootings are down 50% and we’ve increased the response time for 911 calls by 60%.

“No, it is not perfect, but we’ve made progress and I’m running for mayor to continue that progress into the next four years.”

Mayor Jones, Spencer (who lost to Jones in 2021) and two other can-

Trottman

Continued from A1 the first to choose to integrate his high school to access more resources, and the first Black graduate from St. Louis University’s school of orthodontics. At his time of death, he was 88 years young.

Born in 1936, Al spent his early childhood in St. Louis with his mother, Pauline, and older brother, Robert. After the boys’ stay at the Annie Malone Children’s Home, they joined their mother in East Chicago, Indiana, and later gained a stepfather, Richard Davis. Al graduated in 1954 from Roosevelt High School, with extracurriculars ranging from Drama and Boys’ Glee clubs to Student Government and President of the National Honor Society. Named “the most likely to succeed,” he graduated from Indiana University’s School of Dentistry in 1961 and married his high school sweetheart, LeGrande Thomas. They had three children over a span of eight years and two continents. Their eldest, Yolanda, was born in Tripoli, Libya, North Africa, where Trottman served in the U.S. Air Force for several years and, in keeping with

didates in the upcoming mayoral race, Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler and frequent candidate Andrew Jones, squared off during a “Transportation Infrastructure Mayoral Forum” cohosted by Paraquad, a local nonprofit dedicated to assisting and advocating for the disabled.

The two candidates with the most votes in the March 4 primary will move on to the April 8th general municipal election.

Although most of the questions were related to ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliance or city transportation challenges and needs, the candidates wove in other issues such as crime, corruption, snow and ice removal to seemingly boost their likability and perhaps diminish Jones’ accomplishments.

The upcoming mayoral race is not the first rodeo for retired utility executive and Republican candidate Andrew Jones.

It’s his third time running for office, losing as a mayoral candidate in the 2017 general election, the 2021 nonpartisan primary and also losing as the

his thirst for knowledge and mastery, learned Arabic. Gerald was born in Gary, Indiana, where he established a dental practice. He later closed it for a scholarship opportunity to study orthodontics at St. Louis University, a gamble that cost him financially upfront: With no Black dentists positioned to buy his practice, and no white ones who’d be willing, he sold the equipment he could, chose optimism, and bet on himself. Melanie was born in St. Louis and the family settled into a home in University City for decades Trottman immersed himself in the community through professional positions and volunteer posts. He was Director of the Yeatman Medical Health Center, taught dentistry part-time at Southern Illinois University (SIU), directed an SIU dental clinic in East St. Louis, Illinois, and served on the Board of the orphanage where he’d stayed as a child. He also joined church communities, including Berea Presbyterian, St. James AME, and most recently, Friendly Temple Church. But his own dental practice was where he most shined and cared for youth. It was the center of his unceasing pursuit of perfection, problem-solving, innovation, and gen-

Republican candidate in the 2024 1st Congressional District race, receiving about 18% of the vote.

Jones told the crowd that he entered the race to “Get rid of crime first and then take care of economic development, community development, workforce development and make sure St. Louis is on the up and up.”

Spencer’s comment about corruption in the city stemmed from a question about building trust between local government and the Black community. Addressing that specific question, Mayor Jones talked about her efforts to bring local government officials, city personnel and her administration “to the community” with ongoing meetings designed to give people “a chance to get their questions answered in real time and followed up by the departments they may have an issue with. That way, they know the government is there to answer their needs,” she said.

Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler-a state representative for six years and former chair of the Missouri Democratic Party

erated mutual delight for him and patients. As a lover of the arts, he treated it as his stage, and he was the headline performer. His jokes, quizzes, songs, and wisdom engaged (and cleverly) distracted patients while he customized smiles to make them shine. It was more than exterior beauty to him; it instilled confidence to help his mostly Black clientele boldly take on a world that might not have fully open arms.

Trottman prepared his own children to seize the world, too, sometimes with a heavy hand but tempered with love and a desire for them to be their best. Like LeGrande, he also wanted them to have compassion for community and lift others while climbing. In that spirit, he gifted them with a family faith grounded in a belief in God and giving, good educations, a strong work ethic, grit, self-respect, and travel. He also bequeathed the gift of gab, humor, and his multigenerational friendships that enrich his children’s lives now. Alphonso’s life was emblematic of extreme evolution, elevation, and defying the odds – a true American story of success.

He is survived by his children: Yolanda (Gboyega) Adewumi of New York, N.Y., Gerald (Angela) Trottman of

for two years-turned to the Green Line project-the planned expansion of the MetroLink light rail system-as an example of local government not listening to feedback from the Black community.

Through his conversations with Black voters, he said, most are not excited about the Greenline and do not find it sustainable. “The riders are telling us that they’re not going to use it, so, what we have to do, moving forward, is make sure that we get out of our own way and listen to the community.”

When asked about what steps they would take as mayor to make public transportation more attractive for everyone, the candidates took not-so-subtle potshots at the Jones administration.

“The violence on public transportation,” Andrew Jones answered, “has people concerned.” The extreme violence in North St. Louis, he added, “has quieted down to some degree but we have to take that into consideration.”

On reducing city-wide

Tenn., and Melanie

Washington, D.C.; his grandchildren

and Timothy Trottman

speed limits, Mayor Jones said her administration is addressing the issue by focusing on the top ten intersections throughout the city, getting red light cameras installed and “calming the streets” based on feedback from city residents.

Spencer stressed the need to enforce the law against reckless people who “use their vehicles as weapons,” people with expired license plates and those “killing and injuring our citizens on a regular basis.”

When asked about creating more “denser and walkable” neighborhoods, Spencer regurgitated media claims that Mayor Jones’ failure to clear city streets during the most recent extreme snow and ice storm fueled city-wide chaos and calamity.

“This was a huge failure…not just (on) the roads but getting around in other ways,” Spencer said. “We (must) do our part in making the city walkable…. where we can get around safely through investments.”

After mentioning a traffic and snow-related death in North St. Louis,

Butler reminded the crowd that Spencer, as head of the city’s budget committee, cut the snow removal budget by $600,000 last year. “While we talk about clearing sidewalks, we gotta put our money where our mouths are,” he stressed.

The event-which was not promoted as “a debate”- was, in fact, a forum where candidates addressed questions while promoting their agendas. The mayor, however, managed to stay above the fray by focusing on her prior accomplishments and future goals.

“St. Louis deserves a government that is responsive, that listens. And that’s exactly what we will try to do for the next four years,” Jones said.

“We want to make sure that we are investing in a way where everybody has the opportunity to thrive… I’ve had the privilege of leading this city for the last four years and I hope you trust me enough to give me four more years.”

Nashville,

Trottman of

Amber

of Nashville; his younger brother, Galen (Lori) Davis of Seattle, Wash.; and a nephew and niece born to his deceased older

brother Robert (Jackie) Trottman: Robert (Cheryl) Trottman and Karen Trottman.

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Mayoral candidate Alderman Cara Spencer, left, garnered some icy stares from Mayor Tishaura Jones after saying the mayor’s office is failing the city of St. Louis and its communities.

Care of You’

Wash U student study explores sickle cell impact on thinking

Brains

seem to age faster

sickle cell treatment center. A new Washington University

ines the impact of the disease on cognitive thinking on patients

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

In addition to the prolonged pain and suffering endured by sickle cell patients, a Washington University School of Medicine study has concluded that there could be a significant impact on cognitive thinking.

In America, more than 90% of people with sickle cell disease are non-Hispanic Black or African Americans, according to the Center for

Disease Control and Prevention.

The chronic illness causes misshapen, sticky blood cells that clump together. This reduces oxygen delivery to organs – are at a higher risk for stroke and resulting cognitive disability.

This can lead to many patients having difficulty remembering, focusing, learning and problem solving, among other cognitive problems, with many facing challenges in school and in the workplace.

Researchers and physicians have published a study that found patients without history of stroke that participated had brains that appeared older than expected for their age.

Individuals experiencing economic deprivation, who struggle to meet basic needs, even in the absence of sickle cell disease, had more-aged appearing brains, the team also found.

The study was published January 17

See SICKLE CELL, A9

Keep active in winter with eye toward spring

By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center

We’ve made it past Groundhog Day

— again — but whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not, winter can often feel unending this time of year.

Across the country, we’ve had long stretches of cold temperatures and bad weather. And even when things start to defrost, the days can feel too short and the nights too long. This combination can make it harder to keep up with regular routines, including being physically active.

n Indoor activities and exercises can often be the simplest — and safest.

But there are many good reasons to work on staying active through winter. On top of the health- and-wellness benefits, maintaining our routines can also prepare us to enjoy springtime activities when the days finally turn nicer. We’ll have energy and fitness for long walks around the neighborhood, family bike rides to check out daffodils at the local park or pick-up ball games with our kids or grandkids.

Almost any type of movement can have benefits. But given the ongoing winter weather, indoor activities and exercises can often be the simplest — and safest.

Indoor sessions can feel a bit bland compared to getting outside, especially when you’re inside week after week this time of year. That makes it important to find activities you really enjoy. If one activity doesn’t click, try another. Be creative and keep experimenting.

See COLDITZ, A9

Health cuts could have devastating impact

Hardest hit would be Wash U

By Rudi Keller Missouri Independent

Missouri universities and research organizations will need to cut about $100 million from administrative costs for research funded last year by the National Institutes of Health or replace the money from other sources if President Donald Trump’s attempt to reduce indirect costs is successful.

There were 1,553 grants worth $901 million issued by the NIH to Missouri institutions during the most recent federal fiscal year. The recipients reported spending as much as 30% of their grant on indirect costs to support their research.

The grants allow research into medical problems, such as pandemic preparedness or the control of infections acquired in hospitals. They also cover agriculture and veterinary research, like the Swine Resource Center at the University of Missouri, and public health problems

n A federal judge on Monday evening issued a temporary restraining order blocking the cuts in response to a lawsuit joined by 22 states, not including Missouri.

such as how policies on E-cigarettes impact youth tobacco use.

A federal judge on Monday evening issued a temporary restraining order blocking the cuts in response to a lawsuit joined by 22 states, not including Missouri. The order covered all federal funding cuts made since Trump took office Jan. 20.

Other significant recipients of NIH grants in Missouri include St. Louis See HEALTH CUTS, A9

A coalition of 22 attorneys general, including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, sued the federal government, claiming that the $4 billion in cuts would “grind to a halt” studies on cancer, heart disease and other conditions. Missouri Attorney Andrew Bailey did not join the suit, while AGs from other “red” states signed on.

Nikeyia Ingram receives an IV infusion from registered nurse Joseph McGann at Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s

School of Medicine study exam-

with no history of stroke.

Photo by Andrea Y. Henderson / St. Louis Public Radio

Dr. Graham A. Colditz

Health cuts

Continued from A8

University, which received 63 worth $25.8 million; Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, which landed 26 grants worth $9.7 million; and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, which received 19 grants worth $5.1 million in the most recent fiscal year.

Washington University reported it will have about $189 million in indirect costs for its grants, or about 26% of the total.

The University of Missouri reported its indirect costs will be about $21 million, or 30% of the amount awarded.

In a message to the Washington University campus, Chancellor Andrew Martin said the campus administration is reviewing the new rule, which will “have a signifi-

cant impact on institutions like WashU” and is working to get the new rule reversed.

“We’re mobilized on multiple fronts,” Martin wrote. “Our leadership team is closely reviewing the policy, and our government relations team is engaging with congressional representatives and others to ensure that they understand the consequences of these cuts and are encouraged to act to address this threat to research and its many benefits to society.”

To get indirect costs below 15% for the grants awarded in fiscal 2024, Washington University would have to cut about $80 million in administrative expenses or find it from other sources.

At the University of Missouri, indirect costs exceed the new threshold by about $10 million for the Columbia campus. There are a handful of

grants for the other three campuses — University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of MissouriSt. Louis and Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla — that would add about $1.7 million to that amount.

The university system administration was unable to say Monday whether it would cut costs — likely resulting in job losses — or cover the shortfall from other resources.

NIH funding supports research in agriculture, biomedical sciences and advanced technologies at the university, according to a statement issued by University of Missouri spokesman Christopher Ave.

The change in indirect funding “would mean significant annual reductions in funding for our vital NIH-sponsored research that saves lives, creates jobs, enhances national security and improves

quality of life for people in every part of our state and across the nation,” Ave said. Like Washington University, the UM System is working to get the decision reversed, the statement said.

“Our leadership is communicating with key stakeholders in government, the private sector, other universities and other communities,” Ave said.. “Leaders of our campuses have directed faculty and

On Monday February 10, 2025, Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order against President Trump’s move to dramatically slash National Institutes of Health funding that could cost Missouri almost $100 million.

staff working on NIH and other federal grants to continue their important research and to keep submitting NIH proposals as well as other federal agency grants as we further assess the situation.”

SSM Health food distribution event set for Feb. 19

St. Louis American SSM Health, in its’ continuing effort to address food insecurity in the St. Louis region, is teaming with the St. Louis Area Foodbank in hosting a free food distribution event on Wednesday Feb. 19, 2025.

The distribution will begin at 9 a.m. at SSM Health DePaul Hospital St. Louis, 12303 DePaul Drive, Bridgeton, Mo., 63044, and continue until supplies last “Our commitment to the health and well-being of our neighbors goes beyond medical care, and we›re proud to partner with the St. Louis Area Foodbank to do what we can to address food insecurity in our region,» says Karen Bradshaw, regional director of community health.

Sickle cell

in JAMA Network Open.

“Our study explains how a chronic illness and low socioeconomic status can cause cognitive problems,” said Andria Ford, MD, a professor of neurology and chief of the section of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases at WashU Medicine and corresponding author on the study.

“We found that such factors could impact brain development and/ or aging, which ultimately affects the mental processes involved in thinking, remembering and problem solving, among others. Understanding the influence that sickle cell disease and economic deprivation have on brain structure may lead to treatments and preventive measures that potentially could preserve cognitive function.”

Continued from A8 brain age using a brainage prediction tool that was developed using MRI brain scans from a diverse group of more than 14,000 healthy people of known ages.

More than 200 young, Black adults with and without sickle cell disease, living in St. Louis and the surrounding region in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois, participated in brain MRI scans and cognitive tests.

The researchers –including Yasheng Chen, DSc, an associate professor of neurology at WashU Medicine and senior author on the study – calculated each person’s

Colditz

Continued from A8

There are many options that count as physical activity, and you’re likely to find some — and maybe many — you really like.

Local recreation centers can have stretching and cardio classes, open gym hours and exercise equipment, like treadmills, bikes and ellipticals. Malls

“The food distribution events are open to anyone in our community and provides an opportunity for SSM Health staff teams to actively live out our Mission.”

Team members from SSM Health will help distribute food beginning

at 9 a.m. until supplies at SSM Health DePaul Hospital – St. Louis. There are ways to assist Foodbank throughout the year. The organization accepts donations that support special diets and/or the specific chronic conditions of our neighbors. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the event. The event is open to the public. For more information, please contact the St. Louis Area Foodbank at (314) 292-6262.

average of 14 years older than their actual age.

Sickle cell participants with older-looking brains also scored lower on cognitive tests.

The estimated brain age was compared with the individual’s actual age.

The researchers found that participants with sickle cell disease had brains that appeared an

or big box stores can offer special hours for walking groups. And streaming sites can have a huge variety of online exercise videos that can be followed at home. If none of these sounds good, just taking regular standing breaks throughout the day can have benefits. One good way to stay consistent with our activity through winter is to set an accessible and specific goal to slowly work toward. Maybe

The study also found that socioeconomic status correlates with brain age.

On average, a seven-year gap was found between the brain age and the participants’ actual age in healthy individuals experiencing poverty.

that’s building from one gym class per week up to three a week by the end of March. Or building from 20 minutes of walking on the treadmill three days a week to walking 40 minutes three days a week. Or moving from doing little or no planned activity to streaming two stretching and core classes per week. And, of course, if you ever have any questions about fitness or health, contact a health professional. It can also really help

The more severe the economic deprivation, the older the brains of such study subjects appeared.

Healthy brains shrink as people age, while premature shrinking is characteristic of neurological illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. But a smaller brain that appears older can also result from stunted growth early in life. Sickle cell disease is congenital, chronically

to have the support of friends and family. This can mean going to the gym or streaming a class together or simply sharing our goals and the progress we’re making. The activities themselves can be more fun when we’re with others, and it can help keep us on track since we know others are also following our progress. And the more regular we can be with our activities, the easier it can often

depriving the developing brain of oxygen and possibly affecting its growth from birth.

Also, children exposed to long-term economic deprivation and poverty experience cognitive challenges that affect their academic performance, Ford explained.

As a part of the same study, the researchers are again performing

be to fit into our schedules. When our treadmill time or basketball games become a normal part of our weeks, we’re less likely to skip them when work and family life get busy.

While winter may feel like it’s on a loop right now, before long the days will get noticeably longer and the temperatures will warm. And the activity we’ve put in through the coldest months will help us

n The researchers found that participants with sickle cell disease had brains that appeared an average of 14 years older than their actual age. Sickle cell participants with older-looking brains also scored lower on cognitive tests.

cognitive tests and scanning the brains of the same healthy and sickle cell participants three years after their first scan to investigate if the older-looking brains aged prematurely, or if their development was stunted.

“A single brain scan helps measure the participants’ brain age only in that moment,” said Ford, who treats patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

“But multiple time points can help us understand if the brain is stable, initially capturing differences that were present since childhood, or prematurely aging and able to predict the trajectory of someone’s cognitive decline.

“Identifying who is at greatest risk for future cognitive disability with a single MRI scan can be a powerful tool for helping patients with neurological conditions.”

really enjoy some great springtime outings.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at BarnesJewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the 8ightWays® to Prevent Cancer series.

Photo courtesy of NBC Boston

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

Students Kayden Tunstall, Nasir Willis, Dezarari Goodlow, and Jackson Portwood, in Ms. Stovall's fourthgrade class at Gateway MST Elementary School, use the engineering design process to create a freestanding index card tower.

The American Optometric Association (eye doctors) researched this topic and here is what they discovered: 3D movies, TV shows, and games are safe for children age 3 and above.

Reusable 3D glasses can contain harmful bacteria.

Use anti-bacterial wipes as a precaution.

Time spent playing handheld games that are held close to the face should be limited, with frequent breaks, to rest the eyes.

Although there was concern that 3D movies can trigger a

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Background Information:

seizure, the AOA has discovered that there is only a risk for seizure if the person has photosensitive epilepsy or is taking certain medications.

3D glasses work by viewing a different image in each eye. Some people are unable to see 3D effects if they have a “stereo deficiency.”

So, thanks to 3D technology, some people have been able to detect vision issues and get them corrected.

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

Create an optical illusion!

In this experiment, you will surprise your eyes by creating an optical illusion to see which arrow is longer.

Materials Needed:

• Pipe Cleaners (2 different colors, same length)

• Scissors

Process:

q You will need two pipe cleaners that are the same length and color. These pipe cleaners will be the body of the arrows.

w Create the ends of your arrow by cutting in half two other pipe cleaners that are a different color.

e Wrap the end of one long pipe cleaner around the middle of one short pipe cleaner. Then bend the short one in half so it looks like an arrow. Do the same thing with the other end. The ends will point outward.

Answer these questions about movies.

z The cost of tickets for a play is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. 300 adult tickets were sold and the total collected was $1,701. How many child tickets were sold? ______

x You are having a movie marathon. Each movie lasts an average of 110 minutes. You have rented 3 movies. How long will the movie marathon last?

DID YOU KNOW?

The

c A movie theater sells tickets for $9.00 each. Senior citizens receive a discount of $3.00. One evening the theater sold 636 tickets and took in $4974 in revenue. How many tickets were sold to senior citizens? How many were sold to “moviegoers” who were not senior citizens? ______

v Aaron’s family is going to see a movie at 5:50 p.m. It is 11:20 a.m. right now. How long do they have to wait to see the movie? ______ hours ______ minutes

Columbia Pictures was the first big studio to make the 3D movie Man in the Dark (1953).

r Then wrap the end of the other long pipe cleaner around a short pipe cleaner, but this time, turn the arrows inward.

t Move your pipe cleaners apart... Now you have an optical illusion! Even though the two long pipe cleaners are the same length, one of them should look shorter than the other.

Check out these optical illusions online: http://www. kidsmathgamesonline.com/pictures/ illusions.html.

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

b A movie that began at 6:15 p.m. ends at 8:05 p.m. How long did it last? ______ hours ______ minutes

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

3D animation Tangled (2010) is the most expensive 3D film made to date.

Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible, and delivered to classrooms through the St. Louis American Foundation and its NIE Corporate Partners:

African-American Electrical Engineer & Entrepreneur

Marc Hannah

Marc Hannah was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 13, 1956. He always enjoyed math and science in school. In high school, he sparked an interest in computer technology. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology with a scholarship where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Hannah then went to Stanford University to earn his master’s and doctorate degrees in Electrical Engineering.

In 1982, Hannah and six other people founded Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI). SGI computers are used to design airplanes and automobiles, as well as engineering, research, and military applications. However, a very popular use is creating special effects in television and movies. Hannah helped created special effects in Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Aladdin, Forrest Gump, The Hunt for Red October, Beauty and the Beast, and Fields of Dreams. SGI computer graphics are also used in music videos, such as Michael Jackson’s video “Remember the Time.”

Hannah is currently chief technology officer for SongPro, which creates multimedia plug-ins for hand held video games and portable music devices. He is a director and co-founder of Strategic Urban Development Alliance (SUDA), which is an engineering, construction, real estate, and finance firm. Hannah also serves on the board of directors for Magic Edge, which creates technology used in amusement parks.

In addition to his 15 patents, Hannah was given many awards, including the Kilby Young Innovator Award, Black Engineer of the Year Technical Contribution Award, IIT Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award, NTA Professional Achievement Award, San Francisco Black Chamber of Commerce Front Runner Award, M.E.N.T.O.R. Network Technology Award, and M.O.B.E Influencers & Innovators Award. Hannah has also been featured in Ebony magazine, Electronics magazine, Forbes, and PC Magazine.

Hannah is quoted as saying, “My job is to look ahead two to three years and see what’s coming. To see what consumers want, what they will want, and then to figure out how we can deliver that—at what price.”

Learning Standards: I can read biographical information about a person who has made a contribution in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. I can make textto-text connections, text-to-world connections, and text-to-self connections.

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One — Technology in our Community: New technology continuously changes the way we do things. Use the newspaper to locate a picture of an invention that has affected or changed your life in some way. Write about how the invention has changed your life.

Activity Two — Mystery Story: Each student will cut out several pictures from the newspaper without reading the captions. Place the pictures in a bag, and without looking, pick your mystery picture from the bag. That’s your stimulus for writing.

Create a graphic organizer for the 5Ws (who, what, where, when, why) and continue the writing process.

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

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program offers newspapers and resources to St. Louis area teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

first 3D film for a paying audience was at Astor Theater, New York, on June 10, 1915.

Photo by Ms. Stovall

Photo by Matthew Hickey courtesy of The HistoryMakers

Communication is the key

Financial considerations for multigenerational households

While multigenerational living has many positives, it also comes

a unique set of financial matters and planning needs. From saving and budgeting to dividing costs and estate planning, navigating the financial landscape of a multigenerational home calls for foresight and strategy.

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

For many Black, Hispanic and Latino families, as well as other cultures, multigenerational living is a cherished aspect of home life. It can also be good for your family’s overall wellbeing.

Research indicates there can be

financial benefits to multigenerational living, and when executed intentionally, having multiple family members under the same roof can potentially help improve health outcomes, reduce loneliness for older adults and bolster educational outcomes for children.

While multigenerational living has many positives, it also comes with a

unique set of financial matters and planning needs. From saving and budgeting to dividing costs and estate planning, navigating the financial landscape of a multigenerational home calls for foresight and strategy. Below are some financial consider-

See JPMORGAN, B2

LSEM addresses plight of poverty in STL region

‘It’s about systemic inequities’

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

The United States is a developed nation with a population of about 340 million people. That statistic alone makes it difficult to understand why thousands and thousands of U.S. residents struggle daily to access basic necessities like housing, nutritious meals, quality education, clean drinking water and warm clothing during harsh winter months.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal assistance to those in need, is highlighting the harsh realities faced by millions of Americans living in poverty. This campaign took centerstage in January, which annually marks Poverty Awareness Month.

“Poverty is not solely about financial hardship; it’s about systemic inequities that prevent people from achieving stability and security,” said Executive Director of Legal Services

Dan Glazier.

Recognizing that legal barriers often compound poverty, Legal

McBride installed as Wash U distinguished professor

Dwight A. McBride has been installed as the inaugural Gerald Early Distinguished Professor of African & African American Studies in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. A nationally recognized scholar of race and literary studies, McBride joined the WashU faculty in 2023. In addition to the Early professorship, he serves as a senior advisor to Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and as executive director of WashU’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE2).

Watkins-Reed selected to join 33 women leaders

Chiala WatkinsReed

Chiala Watkins-Reed, chief of Workforce Development at Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO), has been selected to join the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge Class of 33 women leaders dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities and professions. The program will address issues facing Missouri and provide opportunities for participants to engage with thought leaders and collaborate with inspiring peers. The curriculum includes sessions on governmental and political processes, education, urban issues, diversity and race relations, rural development, and global perspectives.

Liz Beeks in 35th year at Christner Architects

Liz Beeks, director of accounting at Christner Architects, was recently recognized for her 35 years of service with the firm.

Liz Beeks

Beeks oversees all financial operations to ensure the firm’s continued growth and stability, using her expertise in managing complex financial processes within the architecture and design industry. She is a shareholder in the firm and is active on Christner’s DEI Committee, playing a key role in raising awareness and advocating for education on DEI issues.

Beeks has earned respective bachelor’s degrees from Fontbonne University and the University of Missouri - St Louis.

Rachel Burns shines in Webster U. ‘Spotlight’

Rachel Burns

Rachel Burns, the founder of Bold Spoon Creamery who earned an MBA with an emphasis in finance from Webster in 2000, was recently recognized as a “Distinguished Alumnus” by the university. In a “Spotlight” article on the university’s website, Burns said, “If you’re seeking a blend of academic rigor, practical experience and a global perspective, Webster University could be an excellent choice.”

Dwight McBride

The “harsh realities” of poverty in St. Louis, according to a Legal Services of Eastern Missouri report, are visible during events including the annual Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis MLK Food Giveaway. According to the city of St. Louis research, Black residents are more than three times more likely than white residents to live in areas of concentrated poverty.

Photo courtesy of the Urban League

with

Photo courtesy of JPMorganChase

POVERTY, B2

JPMorgan

Continued from B1

ations for people living in multigenerational households and those considering moving in with family members.

Helping to build family wealth

In a 2022 study, the Pew Research Center found people in multigenerational households were less likely to live in poverty, and some multigenerational households had more earners than the non-multigenerational households, which can help provide a safety net in case someone loses a job. It can also encourage homeownership -- 14% percent of all home buyers in the study said their purchase was motivated by a desire to accommodate multiple generations in their family.

Poverty

Continued from B1

21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from five regional offices. The nonprofit has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 68 years. According to city of St. Louis data, Black residents are more than three times more likely than white residents to live in areas of concentrated poverty. Another report showed Black adults are more than twice as likely as white adults to live in poverty.

The One STL research stated St. Louis’ eight-county region percentage of poor residents living in a concentrated

Having diverse financial needs

Savings and budgeting plans can be more complicated because of the wide range of ages among family members. Seniors might require more for health care and retirement, for example, while children can bring daycare and tuition costs. Be flexible with your planning to accommodate different saving and budgeting needs and set short- and long-term goals for your savings with all generations in mind.

Expenses should be handled with fairness, equity

Multigenerational households have to ensure fairness by dividing costs such as mortgage or rent, utilities, groceries and household expenses based on each member’s financial capacity and usage.

area of poverty decreased from 13.8% in the baseline period of 2006-2010 to 7.5% in 2017-2021.

The number of poor people living in concentrated areas of poverty decreased from 41,000 in the baseline period to 19,982 in 2017-2021. Over this time, the percentage of the population living in poverty decreased from 12.9% in 2010 to 11% in 2021. The number of census tracts that qualified as high poverty decreased from 34 to 18.

From 2017 through 2021, 6.9 percent of poor residents lived in concentrated areas of poverty, ranking 22nd among the peer regions. The second Where We Stand table shows that among the 50

A sense of transparency can be maintained among family members by openly discussing financial contributions and expenses.

Find balance between cultural values, financial health

Cultural traditions and familial structures can also play a significant role in money management, and it’s important to consider how multigenerational living can impact family wealth. Cultural heritage can shape financial attitudes and practices within multigenerational households, including saving habits, investment strategies and perceptions of wealth. Understanding how your cultural values connect to your beliefs and practices related to money can be essential for effective financial management within diverse family

most populous regions, St. Louis has the 3rd largest racial disparity in concentrated poverty. Poor Black residents are nearly 12 times more likely than poor white residents to live in these high-poverty areas. Since the 2006-2010 time period, the disparity between Black and white people has increased, however, the concentration of poverty has declined for both white non-Hispanic residents and Black residents. The percentage of poor white residents living in concentrated poverty

structures.

The more people living in a home, the more likely they’ll face conflicting financial priorities. Navigating disagreements over spending habits and adapting to changing income levels or unexpected expenses are necessary to maintain financial stability in multigenerational households.

Future planning is vital

Estate plans should be tailored to accommodate the financial needs and goals of each generation within the household and strategies should be developed for transferring ownership of businesses or properties to ensure continuity and preserve the family’s legacy. Make sure to compile essential legal documents -- including wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives -- to outline the distribution of

decreased from 2.6 to 1.3.

n “Black residents are more than three times more likely than white residents to live in areas of concentrated poverty.”

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Healthy People 2030 Report states residents of impoverished communities are at increased risk for mental illness, chronic disease, higher mortality, and lower life expectancy. Individuals who experience childhood poverty are more likely to experience poverty into adulthood, which contributes to generational cycles of poverty. In addition to the lasting effects of childhood poverty, adults living in poverty

assets and clarify end-oflife wishes.

The bottom line

Multigenerational households can foster financial harmony and wellbeing by accounting for their individual financial goals and their shared responsibilities. Family members should be clear about plans, needs and expectations to promote financial stability and satisfaction for all. Communicating about these issues early can help avoid tension later on.

By addressing these considerations holistically and prioritizing open discussion and collaboration, multigenerational households can build a solid financial foundation, helping them achieve prosperity and security for their family members now and in the future.

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Red alert

Chaminade rises to challenge of rugged schedule

The Chaminade Red Devils have high hopes this season after advancing to the Class 6 state championship game last season.

With its nucleus returning from last year’s state runner-up team, head coach Frank Bennett challenged his team with one of the most rugged schedules that an area team has played in recent memory.

Chaminade began the week at 14-7 against a slate of talented teams from all over the country. They played three games in Washington D.C. against national power Gonzaga Prep along with Philadelphia Roman Catholic. They also played three games in a big event in Highland, Arizona. The Red Devils also played two of the top teams in Chicago in Kenwood and Simeon, plus they went up against Quincy (IL).

The Red Devils also dueled in the Quincy Shootout against Kansas power Shawnee Mission Northwest and Brewster Academy from New Hampshire. Locally, Chaminade has an upcoming Metro Catholic Conference showdown at rival DeSmet on Friday night (Feb. 14), before closing the regular season with a non-conference battle against powerhouse Vashon on Feb. 25.

Leading Chaminade is the junior forward tandem of brothers Jamison and Jahidi White Jr. They are the sons of former Cardinal Ritter star and NBA standout Jahidi White. Jamison is a 6’8” forward who is averag-

ing 15 points and nine rebounds a game while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range. Jahidi is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds a game. Providing depth inside is 6’10” senior Ben Winker, who has signed with CalState Fullerton. Leading the backcourt is 6’2” junior Jonny Jordan, who is averaging 12 points a game while shooting 45 percent from 3-point range. He is joined in the backcourt by seniors Collin Perry, Colin Keller, Jacob Robinson and talented freshman Elijah Poniewaz.

Earl’s World

The men’s basketball teams at SIU-Edwardsville and Southeast Missouri State currently sat atop the standings in the Ohio Valley Conference at the beginning of this week. Both teams were tied for first place with 10-4 records in OVC play… SIUE has been led by 6’1” senior guard Ray’Sean Taylor. The former Collinsville High star is one of the top guards in the history of the Cougars program. He is the program’s career leading scorer in Division I play and he’s tracking towards 2,000 points. Taylor is currently averaging 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals a game while shooting 86% from the free throw line…Taylor is joined in the Cougars backcourt by 6’4” junior Brian Taylor, a former DeSmet standout. He is one of the top 3-point sharpshooters in

the OVC as he shoots it at a 50 percent clip from long distance. He is currently averaging 12.3 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists a game…SEMO has three players from St. Louis who are making it happen down in Cape Girardeau. Junior guard Rod Martin is a former CBC standout who is currently averaging 13.2 points and 4.2 assists

a game while shooting 38% from 3-point range. Former Chaminade College Prep standout BJ Ward is a 6’0 guard who averages 9.2 points while shooting 36% from 3-point range. Braxton Stacker (Cardinal Ritter) is a 6’5” junior forward who is averaging 9.3 points and three rebounds while shooting 40%

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

from 3-point range….

The two teams will meet on Thursday, Feb. 27 in Edwardsville. SEMO won the first meeting 80-64 on December 21 in Cape Girardeau…It was good to see former Saint Louis U. Billiken Jordan Goodwin get another shot in the National Basketball Association. The former Belleville Althoff star

Parkway Central Colts Paul Brown (32) going up for two with Ladue’s Bodie Buxner (12) and Brody Anderson (13) trying to block his attempt during Saturday night game action at Ladue. Rams of Ladue would defeat the colts of Parkway Central 69-32.

received a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first game with L.A., J-Good had 10 points and four rebounds and made four of his seven shots from the field in a victory over the Indiana Pacers. Goodwin scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter and played 25 minutes.

Hurts silences critics with super performance

Jalen Hurts had much to prove in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. In many pundits’ opinions, Hurts was the only thing standing between the Philadelphia Eagles and a victory over the heralded Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterback was the only position in the game where Kansas City was listed with a decisive advantage. The Chiefs, seeking an unprecedented third-consecutive Super Bowl title, were guided by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Case closed, right? If you thought quarterback play was going to be a mismatch, you were correct – except that Hurts outplayed Mahomes while leading the Eagles to a 40-22 beat down of the favored Chiefs.

seasons back when he had 70 yards. Hurts is also the lone quarterback to have more than 50 yards rushing in two Super Bowls.

Regardless of his doubters, Hurts said in a postgame interview, “It’s been a fun ride.”

“I’ve embraced every step. I took great pride in never backing down from a challenge. Always turning my negatives into positives. Turning my weaknesses and making them my strengths. It’s taken a great effort to evolve my game over time and just continue to grow and improve.”

Calling his career, “an unprecedented journey,” Hurts reminded fans of his choppy path to Super Bowl MVP.

Hurts, who was named Super Bowl MVP, was headed to Disney World on Monday afternoon after completing 17-of-22 passes for 221 yards, and two touchdowns. Hurts also rushed 11 times for 72 yards and touchdown, bettering his own Super Bowl QB rushing record from two

“I’m that same kid that went to the national championship [with Alabama] and lost; Went back and got benched and had to transfer. That kid always kept the main thing the main thing and always was true to his vision.”

Hurts also praised his defense, which harassed Mahomes from the start of the game.

“Defense wins championships,” Hurts said.

“We saw how they played today. We saw the difference they made in the game. They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we’re able to do what we do.”

Mahomes hinted he and Hurts will match up again.

“I have a lot of respect for Jalen,” Mahomes said postgame.

“I said after the last Super Bowl we played that he’ll be back. He was and

he got the better of me today. I’m sure we’ll face off again at some point in our careers in a big game like this.”

Hurts did what he did with style, grace, and power. He has gone from being a Philadelphia scapegoat to a Philly world champion. Enjoy that victory parade this week on Broad Street Jalen Hurts, you are very deserving.

The Reid Roundup

While there is speculation whether the Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House later this year, offensive lineman and team captain Lane Johnson said following the Super Bowl, “It’s ultimately a team decision. I’ll do what’s best for the team.”…

Let’s be honest Kansas City Chiefs quarterback

Patrick Mahomes was awful in the face of the Eagles’ ferocious front four on the defensive line. Mahomes was sacked six time and threw two second quarter interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown and another that led directly to six points for the Eagles just before halftime… Tight end Travis Kelce, like Mahomes, played a miserable game, which included two dropped passes…Meanwhile in the NBA, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal, STL native, used his no-trade clause to nix at least two respective deals with the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. The Suns were then unable to complete a trade that would have brought Jimmy Butler from Miami to Phoenix… After posting 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks in 31 minutes in his Dallas Mavericks’ debut, Anthony Davis suffered an adductor strain that will keep him out for multiple weeks. The L.A. Lakers and Luka Doncic became big winners before Doncic made his Lakers debut on Monday.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Jalen Hurts dashed for 72 yards rushing in Sunday’s Super Bowl, topping his own QB Super Bowl rushing record set two seasons ago in his Super Bowl match against Kansas City.

Photo by Drew Hollowell / courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com

AGCMO to hold inaugural DEI Leadership Summit March 5

The Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) will hold its inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Summit from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wed., March 5 at the Anheuser Busch Auditorium in the Chaifetz School of Business on the Saint Louis University campus.

Construction industry leaders, business owners and diversity advocates will gather to provide conversations and actionable insights into creating inclusive environments in the construction industry.

A 3 p.m. networking reception will provide participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas and make new industry connections.

“This conference promises to be a transformative event that champions progress, equity and collaboration,” said Terron White, AGCMO’s vice president of diversity and inclusion. “Our goal is that attendees will leave the conference at the end of

the day with actionable strategies, new ideas and approaches, and a broad network of industry contacts that will help spur business growth.”

Xavier Scruggs, a retired Major League Baseball player and DEI consultant for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2021-2022, will deliver the keynote address: “From the Diamond to the Jobsite: A Team Approach to Diversity and Inclusion.” It will highlight his insight into the power of inclusion, leadership and intentional change-making in sports and business.

A Construction DEI Leadership Panel will feature leaders from the construction sector while two Supplier Diversity Panels will explore best practices and success stories within the industry.

An M/W/DBE (minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprise) Business Owner Panel will explore how owners navigate

industry challenges, secure contracts and foster business growth.

In addition, non-construction business leaders will discuss DEI Best Practices, highlighting proven methods for implementing DEI and demonstrating how to embed DEI principals into organizational culture and processes.

Participating institutions and organizations will include Washington University, Ameren, Bayer, BJC, Mercy, KAI Enterprises, JE Dunn Construction, McCown Gordon and Tarlton Corporation.

The event is free but requires advance registration at https://www. agcmo.org/

Sponsorships are also available at various levels. For information, contact Terron White at (314) 480-3180 or email at twhite@agcmo.org

“Our industry has made significant strides over the years, but there still are tremendous career

Xavier Scruggs, a former St. Louis Cardinals player and DEI consultant for the franchise who now is a MLB Network analysts, will offer the keynote address during the inaugural Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Summit at the Anheuser Busch Auditorium in the Chaifetz School of Business on the Saint Louis University campus.

and to discover potential new partnerships to

Photo courtesy of MLB Network

and entrepreneurial opportunities for growth,” added Leonard Toenjes, CAE, AGCMO president.

“We hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen supplier and subcontractor diversity,

move their businesses forward.”

Living It

Solid, but not super

“If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us…should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.”

- Serena Williams on Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime assassination of Drake

K. Dot’s somewhat understated halftime show resonated with fans

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

When “Uncle” Samuel L. Jackson introduced Kendrick Lamar for his Super Bowl performance at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans Sunday night, the rapper said early on that, “the revolution would be televised.” Because of these words, I expected a different performance than what played out. Before the dragging begins, let me just say that none of symbolism was lost on me – neither was the top tier pettiness. But he kicked off the show with

Kendrick Lamar set a new ratings record with his Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance Sunday at Caesars Dome in New Orleans. With 133.5 million viewers, Lamar dethroned King of Pop Michael Jackson of his ‘most watched Super Bowl halftime show’ crown. It was a title Jackson held for 33 years.

homage to Gil Scott Heron’s politically charged poem that served as a blueprint for unapologetically conscious hip hop. The gesture had me ready for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show to be something along the lines of Lamar’s 2016 Grammy Awards performance. Remember that? How could anyone forget? He indicted America for its exploitation of Black men by way of mass incarceration and the for-profit prison industry. He rapped “Blacker the Berry” over hard bop jazz with his hands and ankles in chains. By the time he concluded the twosong set with “Alright,” the discomfort was palpable as the audience sat stunned. They were confused on whether to clap in solidarity, cry or run towards the nearest exit due to guilt and/or shame. The 2016

Grammys was classic K. Dot.

When he hopped out the GNX, I was ready for him to follow suit with that type of energy – but it just did not hit in the same way. While enjoyable, even impressive when ranked against the run of the mill rapper, this was not that. Admitting as much does not make me any less of a ride or die Lamar fan. And just because it was the most watched Super Bowl halftime show in history, does not automatically make it the most entertaining.

To his credit, Lamar is an anomaly amongst many of his rap peers, both in lyrical capability and in stage presence. As usual, he performed without backing

See Kendrick, C8

‘Gent,’ the future of men’s fashion

Long-running style showcase celebrates 10th anniversary

By Zaria Mac The St. Louis American

With so many people in the fashion industry curating designs for women, Dwight Carter decided to pivot towards bringing innovation to men’s fashion and the St. Louis creative scene.

He is also the founder of the fashion event planning and consulting firm BrainChild Next – where he is an event consultant and producer of Gent, the longest running fashion week solely dedicated to men’s fashion.

“There were a couple different markets, but none have lasted this long,” Carter said. “We consider ourselves redefining men’s fashion, educating men on how to dress and how to style and just giving men’s fashion a larger platform.”

This year’s fashion week events have

included a soiree held at the Two Rivers Stone Boutique, a luxury stone retailer specializing in Italian Marbles. It also featured a fashion law panel discussion including the Certified Clothier Tailored Gents owner Darryl Tyler.

The programming culminates on Sunday (Feb. 16) with a fashion show held at the newly developed Energizer Park. For this 10th anniversary celebration of “Gent,” Carter is partnering with the Siteman Cancer Center and the

Dwight Carter is the founder of BrainChild Next and ‘Gent,’ the longest running fashion week dedicated solely to men’s fashion.

by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

Fashion Group International St. Louis chapter – where he is a board member –to bring the tradition of the Blue Jacket Fashion Show to the city. The fashion show takes place in New York during the first week of February and is aimed at spreading prostate cancer awareness. It features a series of blue jackets worn by the oncologists, survivors and others who are directly impacted by the disease. The “Gent” fashion show will also include a segment of blue jackets designed by local artists. Carter’s father, a prostate cancer survivor, will be wearing one of the jackets.

Carter has worked in the fashion industry for almost 20 years. He started out managing and styling musicians for area concerts and music festivals. He went on to produce designer competitions – and produced fashion shows for

See Gent, C8

‘Clyde’s’ arrives at

The Rep

Acclaimed Lynn Nottage play makes its St. Louis premiere

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Two months before Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Lynn Nottage arrives in the region to accept the Washington University International Humanities Prize, her work is speaking for her on a St. Louis area stage. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ regional premiere of “Clyde’s” opened last week and continues at The Loretto Hilton through March 2.

“The way she writes her plays, there is just so much connection – everything connects to another moment,” said director Josiah Davis.

n Nottage is a master at giving agency to stories of the unsung and unnoticed – and “Clyde’s” is no exception.

“Bringing her world to life is trying to find all those threads – so that the audience can feel every emotion and every storyline that she has woven in. That’s the thing that I really enjoy about her work. There is always something more to learn – or new to discover.”

Nottage is a master at giving agency to stories of the unsung and unnoticed – and “Clyde’s” is no exception. The drama features the stories of the formerly incarcerated and the struggles they face while attempting to return to society and move beyond the stigma they have been branded with because of their past. With employment opportunities few and far between, a roadside diner becomes their refuge for an honest living. The work is

Photo

Photo by Jon Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Lynn Nottage’s ‘Clyde’s’ continues through March 2 at The Loretto Hilton.

Photo courtesy of Netflix

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

Sat., Feb. 15, 10 a.m. Black Missourians in STEM interactive exhibit. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. St, Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://mohistory.org.

Sun., Feb. 16, 1 p.m. Family Sunday – We the People: A Black History Month Celebration, St. Louis Art

STL Sites & Sounds

Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, https://kranzbergartsfoundation. org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 11 a.m., The St. Louis American Foundation presents the 23rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Business, The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis, 100 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton MO 63105. For more information, visit www.stlamerican.com.

Gaslight Theatre, 360 N. Boyle Avenue, St. Louis MO, 63108. For ticketing information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Through Feb. 23, The Fabulous Fox welcomes “Shucked: A New Musical Comedy,” The Fabulous Fox. For more information, visit www.fabulousfox.com

Sat., Feb. 22, 11:00 a.m. Soul Tribute To Sam Cooke And The Birth Of Soul, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com/st-louis.

Sat., Feb. 22, 6 p.m. 4th Annual Brass Band Blowout, The Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee Street. For more information, visit https://do314.com.

Sat., Mar. 1, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m., Funky Butt Brass Band presents the 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Brasstacular, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com

THEATRE

Through Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The

Through March 2, The Black Rep presents the rolling world premiere of “Coconut Cake,” A.E. Hotchner Studio Theater, Edison Theatre. For more information, visit www.theblackrep. org

Through March 6, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of “Clyde’s,” the Tony-nominated play by twotime Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. The Loretto-Hilton on the campus of Webster University. For more information, visit repstl.org.

ART

Through Feb. 16, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Apr. 13, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Federal Art Project 1935-1945, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Jun. 30, 2025, Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art, 21C Museum Hotel St. Louis, 1528 Locus Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.21cmuseumhotels. com

February events at the Missouri History Museum

By the Missouri Historical Society

If you’re looking for Valentine’s Day fun, bring your guys, gals, and pals to the Missouri History Museum on Thursday, February 13, for “Vintage Valentines,” a retrospective of vintage classroom films from the 1940s and 1950s that offer helpful advice from the dating world. How do you get a date in the first place? How do you know what to do and how to act? And how do you know when it’s true love? Don’t miss out on this program, part of the Thursday Nights at the Museum series. The films will begin at 6:30pm. Starting at 5pm, enjoy food and special Valentine’s Day cocktails for purchase from the Key Bistro; check out historic images and love letters from the MHS collections; take a St. Louis history soul mate quiz; complete a St. Louis power couples scavenger hunt; make your own valentines and date night decision dice; and much more. From 5pm to 8pm, you’ll also get a 20 percent discount on chocolate in the Sold on St. Louis shop.

“Black Missourians in STEM” is the theme of History Exploration Day on Saturday, February 15. From 10am to 1pm, families can learn about important Black Missourians who worked in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The day will feature story time, STEM crafts, a history workshop, a touch table and inquiry station about Homer G. Phillips Hospital, and playtime in “Dr. Du-Good’s Chemical Laboratory.” See mohistory.org/events for more information.

On Saturday morning, February 15, come to the Library & Research Center (225 S. Skinker Blvd.) for the monthly speaker series program. From 9:30am to 11:30am, join Director of Library & Collections Christopher Gordon for “Love Letters,” a journey through love letters preserved in the Missouri Historical Society archives. Tales of new romance and lost loves will provide a glimpse of the history of love in St. Louis. This event is free, but registration is required. Visit mohistory. org/events/saturday-speaker-02-15-2025 to register.

On Tuesday, February 18, the Museum will present “The Music of Black

St. Louis” at 11am. DJ G. Wiz will explore St. Louis’s rich Black musical heritage. The Black History Month keynote program “Joy, Arts, Community” will be held on Thursday, February 20, presented in collaboration with KSDK 5 On Your Side At 6:30pm, anchors Kelly Jackson and Brent Solomon will lead a conversation about Black joy and the arts in the Gateway City with some of St. Louis’s groundbreaking leaders in dance, visual art, music, and writing. Featured artists will include painter and muralist Mykael Ash, acclaimed trombonist Lamar Harris multidisciplinary artist Yvonne Osei, Ballet 314 artistic director Robert Poe, actor and singer/ songwriter Alicia Revé Like, spoken word poets Stephon Riggins and Tracy Stanton, and dancer and choreographer Tiala Taylor Join us in the Grand Hall before our main-stage event to enjoy food and drinks available for purchase from the Key Bistro, visit resource tables to learn more about Black arts and artists in St. Louis history, uncover stories of Black arts and history in our galleries with a Black history scavenger hunt, and enjoy other artsthemed activities. Join the St. Louis African American History and Genealogy Society (STL-AAHGS)

each month for a deep dive into researching your family’s history. Meetings are held at 1–3pm at the Museum and are open to members and the public. The presentation on Saturday, February 22, is “Creation and Establishment History of the AME Church.”

On Thursday, February 27, the Thursday Nights at the Museum topic will be “Navigating the Intersection of Race and Disability.” Black disabled people are making change in St. Louis despite facing discriminatory practices rooted in both racism and ableism. Join us for an evening featuring presenters doing important work in the St. Louis community, with historical context showing how Black disabled St. Louisans have worked to achieve social and economic equality. Presenters include keynote speaker Cara Reedy; panel moderator Teona McGhaw; and panelists Dr. Jennifer Sykes, Patrick Patton, and Sonya Smith. The main-stage presentation will begin at 6:30pm, with food and drinks available for purchase from the Key Bistro beginning at 5pm and resource tables from local organizations. The presentation will also be streamed for those who cannot attend in person, beginning at 6:15pm. Visit mohistory.org/events/navigating-the-intersection for the Zoom link.

Final Weekend: More than 150 artworks from the motherland on view at Art Museum

Step into the extraordinary with the groundbreaking exhibition Narrative Wisdom and African Art, the largest presentation of sub-Saharan African art ever organized by the Saint Louis Art Museum. This unparalleled showcase of over 150 works in various media, including sculpture, textiles, photography, painting, and time-based installations, is a sensory feast and a tribute to Africa’s artistic heritage, both past and present. Don’t miss this unique opportunity, as the exhibition closes on February 16.

More than just an exhibition, Narrative Wisdom and African Art offers an unforgettable experience that reveals Africa’s profound beauty and wisdom. This exhibition is a must-see event that you won’t want to miss and I urge you to make plans to visit today and immerse yourself before the opportunity slips away.

The exhibition spans from the 13th to the 21st centuries and unfolds across four thematically focused sections, displaying

sacred and ceremonial objects, contemporary masterpieces, and everyday items in one breathtaking presentation. An audio guide and catalog, thoughtfully curated to feature diverse voices, accompanies the Narrative Wisdom and African Arts exhibition. A community advisory group of local members representing St. Louis’s African and Black diasporic communities contributed to developing the exhibition’s content interpretation, programming, audience development, and messaging, enriching the visitor experience.

While Narrative Wisdom and African Art is a ticketed exhibition, we’re thrilled to offer free admission every Friday. Can’t visit on a Friday? No problem! Email renee.franklin@slam.org for a free pass to visit on any other day of the week, including weekends, while supplies last. For more information on museum hours, programs, and special events, visit slam. org.

Chokwe artist, Angola; “Chihongo Mask”, late 19th–early 20th century; wood, plant fibers, feathers, metal, pigment; 30 x 31 x 20 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Friends Fund Endowment and Museum Purchase 61:2024

Thursday Nights at the Museum is presented by WashU.

Rev. Derrick Perkins taking Christian Church national role

Served Centennial Christian Church 17 years

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Rev. Derrick L. Perkins Sr., the youngest pastor in historic Centennial Christian Church’s 120-year history, is leaving the church to serve as director for Congregational Vitality and Innovation for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

After guiding Centennial for 17 years, Perkins calls his career transition “bitter and sweet.”

“I’m excited about a chance to use my God-given gifts to partner and curate relevant resources, trainings, and more on a national level. I’m excited because I get a chance to amplify God’s love on a larger scale,” said Perkins.

“As a St. Louisan, God and Centennial afforded me opportunities, partnerships, support, resources, and platforms needed to serve and engage God’s mission within my hometown and beyond. I will certainly miss the transformative work, community collaborations, and the many acts of service that we’ve done together.”

In his new role, Perkins will develop resources and educational experiences for pastors and congregations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“We support congregations in self-reflection, lay leader development, establishing community partnerships, exploring outreach and mission opportunities, and more,” he said.

Perkins will also support programming and events for Black Church Ministries across the Christian Church (Disciples

of Christ).

During his tenure at Centennial, Perkins helped create numerous initiatives that enriched both the church and the surrounding community. Under his leadership, Centennial has partnered with other churches and organizations to support various projects including:

-Health programming in partnership with Washington University, featuring pop-up clinics providing COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, as well as ongoing health screenings and education.

-A Food Ministry that offers five feeding opportunities, Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday luncheons, food baskets, and a Christmas toy giveaway.

-Annual community outreach activities including the Juneteenth Celebration in Fountain Park, the Back-toSchool Party, restoration of the MLK statue, and the MLK Jr. Observance in Fountain Park.

-Forging strategic collaborations with local universities, seminaries, and organizations with established funding support to amplify Centennial’s outreach efforts and expand its impact within the community

-Transformation of Centennial’s Communications & Technology Ministry, which now encompass video production, live streaming, and YouTube channels that carry the gospel far beyond the walls of the church.

Perkins also “significantly” reduced church debt, strengthening financial stability and positioning the church for sustained growth and future

opportunities,” according to a release.

The church also hosts Grill to Glory, a weekly summer neighborhood barbeque lunch sponsored by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and community events including back-toschool supplies and clothing giveaways, a Thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving baskets, harvest festivals, “Christmas at Centennial,” and “Adopt a School” activities at Washington Montessori.

“Rising from within our

church family, sons and daughters have courageously accepted their call into ministry, demonstrating the transformative power of faith, leadership and community,” he said. Centennial traces its history back to five women, Ella Brooks Thompson, Ida Smith, Sarah Walker, Effie Lewis, and Rita Logan, who led services in homes and tents until March 1905. The first services were held in the Y.M.C.A. located at 2633 Lucas Avenue. Rev. Minor J. Mace of Paducah, Kentucky was

the first pastor. A few months later, this fledgling congregation moved to a building on Morgan Street (Delmar Blvd.) and was renamed Morgan Street Christian Church.

In 1910 the church moved to 4322 Kennerly. Membership increased tremendously due to African Americans migrating from the South. Rev. Briscoe Woolfolk collaborated with St. Louis Public Schools to purchase the Kennerly property, which was the site of Turner School.

In 1924, Morgan Street Christian Church purchased property at 4400 Lucky (now Aldine Avenue). The purchase was made possible through a $10,000 gift from the Christian Women’s Board of Missions (CWBM), which was celebrating its Centennial (100 years). In appreciation for the gift, the church name became Centennial Christian Church. Rev. Perkins’ final day with Centennial will be Sunday, February 16, 2024. The public is invited to join the congregation or a celebration of his legacy, beginning with a worship service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception.

“Rev. Perkins’ passion, dedication, and innovative spirit have left an indelible mark on Centennial Christian Church. His leadership has strengthened our mission and elevated the church’s role as a beacon of hope and service in the community,” according to a Centennial statement.

“As a church family, we celebrate Rev. Perkins’s new chapter with gratitude and excitement. We offer our heartfelt prayers for his continued success and invite the community to join us in honoring his remarkable contributions.”

Photo courtesy of Centennial Christian Church

After 17 years of service that saw him accomplish great feats with Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis’ Fountain Park neighborhood, the Rev. Derrick Perkins is taking a national leadership position with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

DEVELOPMENT POSITION

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is seeking to fill the following open, full-time position. Development Coordinator, Membership: Opportunity to work with a diverse, collaborative team in fundraising. Position requires a bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years of relevant experience. View full job description and application process at www.archpark.org/ foundation/careers

AGING AHEAD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Manchester, MO 63011 Administers policies set by the Board of Directors. Advises the Board regarding funding sources, laws, regulations, and the possible impact of these on current and future agency activities. Must have a Master’s in social work, business administration or related field from an accredited university plus 10-15yrs exp. in position(s) with increasing responsibility in supervisory & organizational development. Exp in the field of aging preferred. Full Benefits, Annual Salary Range: $135,000$150,000. See Agency Website www.agingahead. org or Indeed for full position details & application requirements. Application deadline: Feb 28, 2025

CONTRACT ATTORNEY

Family Court of St. Louis County is seeking to enter into a professional service agreement with an attorney to provide assistance to Family Court judges who handle domestic cases filed by unrepresented individuals. These services are funded by special monies received from the Family Services and Justice Fund and are subject to continued availability of these monies. Primary responsibility will be to assist with management of the pro se docket including legal analysis, notifying litigants of requirements to revise legal documents and providing notices of court hearings and other correspondence. The professional service agreement is funded at $30.00/hour working up to 28 hours/week. A one+ year commitment to the position is highly preferred. Qualification: Licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri. Requirement: Maintenance of professional liability insurance.

NOTE: All selected individuals will be required to submit to a background check. To apply (position open until filled), please send a resume, along with a cover letter to the following address on or before March 7, 2025: Contract Attorney, Attn: Human Resources Department, Family Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central., Clayton, MO 63105. OR Email same to SLCCourtJobs@courts. mo.gov. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMO 711 or 800 735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format.

ASST. PROF. HEALTH MGT. & POLICY

Family Court (Juvenile Division) of St. Louis County is seeking an attorney to serve as guardian ad litem (GAL) in the Family Court to handle juvenile matters/ parent attorney. A GAL who serves the Court must commit to serve on various Family Court (Juvenile) cases on an as needed basis for a monthly retainer to be paid by public funds. The current retainer is in the amount of $2,500.00 per month. Payments for time expended in adoption, guardianship of minor, and termination of parental rights matters may be made over and above the retainer fee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, up to three (3) years of trial experience preferred; preferably in juvenile or family law (additional years of trial experience and guardian ad litem experience are highly preferred), and completion of necessary guardian ad litem training as required by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding.

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov or to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by March 28, 2025): Family Court of St. Louis County, Attn: Human Resources Department, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

St. Louis Univ. PhD Health Services Research, Mgt., Org. Studies, or related (can be foreign eq.); research success, classroom exp.; full descr. & apply at slu. wd5.myworkdayjobs. com/Careers.

CASE MANAGER

Criminal Justice Ministry seeks Case Managers for our successful Release to Rent Reentry Housing program. Assist returning citizens to become independent. We encourage those with experience in the justice system to apply. See www.cjmstlouis. org. Send resume and cover letter to apply@cjmstlouis.org.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Executive Assistant needs excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, good communication skills, ability to work independently on projects, accurate data entry, time management skills, meets weekly deadlines, proficient in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) & Adobe Acrobat,handles confidential matters with discretion

Please email Resume to Jerickson@stlamerican.com

LPN - Physical Medicine and RehabilitationOrthopedic Surgery

Most WashU Licensed Practical Nurse jobs hold regular clinic hours — no nights or weekends — and all are within an environment characterized by innovation and excellence. Washington University School of Medicine LPN jobs offer a competitive salary and exceptional employee benefits. Enjoy 20 vacation days & 10 paid holidays a year, a 7-10% matching 403(b), dependent tuition and so much more! This St. Louis LPN role is a premier position for life work balance.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Acts as a liaison between physicians and patients, fielding phone calls, follow-up with patients, referring physicians and their support staff, clinical justification for insurance reimbursement of patient medication, answering questions, scheduling outpatient office visit appointments, and communicating lab results.

• Schedules tests and procedures; coordinating schedules with inpatient and outpatient nursing staffs, patients, and physicians.

• Explains pre- and postoperative instructions to patients and calls patients with test results.

• Assists physician in outpatient office setting and assists in supporting the physician follow-up plan for the patient during their office hours.

• Assists in the assessment, monitoring, and termination of prescribed tests.

• Participates in development, implementation, and evaluation of patient care plans with other members of the patient care team.

• Aids in the day-to-day administration of physician practices.

• Interacts directly with patients in the clinical office and completes clinical tasks which may include obtaining vital signs, completion of EKGs, phlebotomy, and performance of CLIA waived tests, for example, HgbA1C testing, pregnancy tests, etc.

• Assists with examinations, procedures, and lab tests. Observes, monitors, and responds appropriately to changes in patient treatments.

• Reviews patient data and communicates pertinent information to superior in a timely manner, charting entries appropriately.

• Administers medications as prescribed within state and facility guidelines and performs CPR when required.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and its affiliates (the “Partnership”) have issued multiple open Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) from a wide variety of consultants for various projects initiated in 2025, including a separate RFQ for MWBE firms. These are “Open” RFQs to which the Partnership may refer as projects become available but shall not obligate the Partnership to issue a contract. The Partnership will accept submissions throughout 2025. The RFQs may be obtained at https://stlpartnership.com/ rfp-rfq/.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

MAINSTREAM VOUCHER WAIT LIST (REFERRAL BASED)

SLHA has partnered with the City of St. Louis Department of Human Services (DHS) and an appointed Designated Service Partner (DSP) to coordinate and administer a referral based Mainstream Voucher wait list. This option will help the SLHA to reach qualified applicants who have access to community services through the referral partners.

SLHA will receive direct referrals for Mainstream Vouchers from DHS (and/or its DSP) from February 18, 2025, to March 31, 2025, or until all Mainstream resources are exhausted, whichever occurs first. www.slha.org

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Long-Term Lease of Riverfront Mooring Rights Located at the Prolongation of Catalan Street St. Louis, MO 63111

Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis Will Receive Sealed Proposals to Lease on 3/10/2025. For more Info. Visit https://www.stlouis-mo. gov/government/ departments/sldc/ procurement/index.cfm

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting bids for Portable Restroom Services. Go to https:// greatriversgreenway. org/bids/ and submit by February 28, 2025.

PRIMATE CANOPY

TRAILS CLIMBING

STRUCTURE

NETTING

REPLACEMENT

RFP 2025

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 2/12/25 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

The School District of University City is seeking bids for their Premises ID/ Fire Code Signage project . Deadline for bids is February 26, 2025 . Pre-Bid walkthrough is scheduled for 9am February 14th at University City High School. Email DeAna Carter Dcarter@ kwamebuildinggroup. com for more information.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Hazelwood School District is seeking bid proposals for decorative quartz epoxy floor to be installed over the existing quarry tile at Hazelwood East High School. Interested parties should submit their bid proposal through Vendor Registry via the district’s website at https://www. hazelwoodschools.org/ Page/2238 on or before Monday, February 24, 2025 not later than 11:00 a.m

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Leadership School is accepting proposals for contracting out the Food Service Program with a Fixed Price contract for the 2025-2026 school year. Request for Proposals are due by 5:00p on Wednesday April 2, 2025. For questions and bid specifications, please contact the Whitney Hooks at 314-492-2301. The Leadership School reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

ADVERTISEMENT/ NOTICE

McCownGordon Construction is soliciting bids for the Missouri S&T –Advance Research Center (ARC) Addition and Renovation project, located at 500 St. Patrick’s Ln., Rolla, MO 65409. The scopes of work include General Requirements and Asphalt. The bids will be submitted electronically through Building Connected by 2:00pm February 14th, 2025. If the bid date extends, an announcement will be made through Building Connected. Contractors and sub-contractors may obtain bid documents and information about pre-bid events on or after January 24th, 2025, by emailing Kyle Pryor, kpryor@mccowngordon.com Missouri University of Science & Technology reserves the right to reject any or all bids and reserve the right to be the sole judge of what it considers the lowest responsible bid. McCownGordon Construction and Missouri University of Science & Technology are Equal Opportunity Employers.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Hazelwood School District is seeking bid proposals for asphalt replacement at Arrowpoint, Barrington, Grannemann, Jamestown, Jana, Lawson, McNair, Walker, Family Outreach Center, North Middle, and Northwest Middle Schools. Interested parties should submit their bid proposal through Vendor Registry via the district’s website at https://www. hazelwoodschools.org/ Page/2238 on or before Monday, February 24, 2025 not later than 10:00 a.m.

ZOO-MUSEUM EXHIBIT DESIGN RFP 2025

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 2/12/25 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Interior Remodel at St. Louis County Regional State Office Building, Project No. O252101, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, March 4, 2024. Project information available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

PUBLIC NOTICE

In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans100’ WATER TANK MOUNT ANTENNA REPLACEMENT at 1450 CHARIC DRIVE BALLWIN, MO 63021. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-391-0449 regarding the site MO3545. 2/14, 2/15/25 CNS-3890512#

LETTING #8785

COMPTON HILL RESERVOIR PARK BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI

Electronically sealed bids will be received by the Board of Public Service through the Bid Express Online Portal at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true. Proposals must be submitted before 1:45 PM, St. Louis Time, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The proposals will then be publicly opened and read.

The bidder must pay $50 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.

Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined online through Bid Express at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true and may be downloaded for free.

An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held at the Compton Hill Reservoir Park Maintenance Building 1700 S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104 on February 18th at 10:00 AM. All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

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

The right of the Board of Public Service to reject any or all bids is expressly reserved.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS american

PUBLIC NOTICE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The City of St. Peters is seeking qualifications for 24-153Jungermann Road Resurfacing Phase 1 - Briarwick Trail to McClay Rd (STBG-7305(626)) until 2:00 p.m. local time, March 6, 2025. This will be a Non-Public opening. The purpose of this project is to provide construction phase services and prepare all required plans and specifications required to acquire needed property rights and bid the construction of the reconstruction of Jungermann Road from the intersection of Briarwick Trail to the north side of the signalized intersection at McClay Road.

The RFQ will be available on February 13, 2025 and may be obtained from the City of St. Peters website https://mo-stpeters. civicplus.com/Bids.aspx

If your firm would like to be considered for providing these consulting services, please prepare a Technical Proposal. This qualification should include any information which might help us in the selection process, such as the persons or team you would assign to each project, the backgrounds of those individuals, and other projects your company has recently completed or are now active. The qualification shall be submitted in quadruplicate, in a sealed package, and clearly marked with the Consultant’s name and City of St. Peters – 24-153 - Jungermann Road Resurfacing Phase 1 - Briarwick Trail to McClay Rd (STBG-7305(626)). The qualification must be received by the City of St. Peters Purchasing Department by 2:00 p.m., local time, March 6, 2025.

All questions regarding the project and qualification submittal are to be submitted via e-mail to Bids@stpetersmo.net and specify in the subject line 24-153 - Jungermann Road Resurfacing Phase 1Briarwick Trail to McClay Rd (STBG-7305(626)) before noon local time, February 25, 2025.

The City of St. Peters will evaluate firms based on a) experience and competence, b) the capacity of the firm to perform the work in the timeframe needed, c) past performance.

Once a qualification is selected, a contract will be negotiated, with the firm, based on a mutually agreed upon scope of services. This project has received federal reimbursement funding through the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) administered by the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council of Governments. A DBE goal of 10% has been determined by Missouri Department of Transportation for the Preliminary Engineering portion of the project.

DBE firms must be listed in the MRCC DBE Directory located on MoDOT’s website at www.modot.gov, in order to be counted as participation towards an established DBE Goal. We encourage DBE firms to submit qualifications as prime consultants for any project they feel can be managed by their firm.

It is required that your firm’s Statement of Qualification (RSMo 8.285 through 8.291) and an Affidavit of Compliance with the federal work authorization program along with a copy of your firm’s E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding (15 CSR 60-15.020) be submitted with your firm’s technical proposal and with your firm’s Letter of Interest. It is also required that your firm be prequalified with MoDOT and listed in MoDOT’s Approved Consultant Prequalification List.

The City reserves the right to waive any informality and to accept the qualifications most advantageous to the City.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Family

Sub-Contracted Services

The St. Louis City Family Court is seeking proposals from service providers to address behaviors that have resulted in referrals to the Family Court. Proposals should be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 7, 2025 Interested service providers may obtain the Proposal Specifications by accessing www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com and selecting Courts & Services, Court Administration, then Requests For Proposals.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

WAITING LIST

WOODLAND TOWERS APARTMENTS

306 PINE LAKE ROAD COLLINSVILLE, IL, 62234

Seniors 62 and older

Apply now for an affordable 1-bedroom unit. Stop by the office or Call: (618) 345-7240 for an application Applications may be returned in person or by ManagedMonday-Fridaymail.8-5 by Related CompanyManagement

RCC.

Additionally, River City Construction, LLC is pursuing the work category below as a General Contractor and will be receiving bids from applicable subcontractors and suppliers on March 11th, 2025, at 10:00AM. Bids should be submitted to the email addresses noted by each bid package below. • 3.3 Concrete (Justin Beaty, jbeaty@rccllc.com) Bid documents can be obtained by visiting our website at: https://www.rccllc.com/smart-bid/. The link to the project will be located under the link: River City – Peoria River City Construction, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Water Distribution System, Project No.C240301 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, March 13, 2025. Project information available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF RUNWAY 12L-30R FROM TAXIWAY SIERRA TO TAXIWAY LIMA; RECONSTRUCTION OF RUNWAY 6-24-PROJECTS 1 and 2 AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, FEBRUARY 27, 2025, through the Bid Express online portal at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home. RFQ may be obtained from BPS website, https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/ public-service/ announcements/index.cfm, under On Line Plan Room-Plan Room, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov. DBE participation goal is 17.00%

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

ASBESTOS ABATEMENT

ROOM AT THE INN, a 501(c) (3) located in St. Louis County, requests proposals from qualified firms and individuals to perform ASBESTOS ABATEMENT in accordance with all current HUD regulations. Bid documents will be available as of 2/4/25 under News and Events at www.roomstl.org for the asbestos abatement request for proposal.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Wright Building Systems is requesting bids from MBE / WBE / DBE Subcontractors and Suppliers for a 13,000 square foot commercial office tenant finish project at the Globe Building at 710 N. Tucker in Downtown St. Louis, which will start on roughly March 10th, 2025. A combined participation goal of 35% has been established for the project by St. Louis Development Corporation. To access the bid documents, you can find this project at the St. Louis Development Corporation bid room (https://www.sldcplanroom.com/projects/public) and on the BuildingConnected website. To have the bid documents emailed to you, to schedule a walk-through, or if you have any questions, you can email/call Brandon Wright at brandonw@ wrightbuildingsystems.com / 636-212-2169. Bids are due by March 1st, 2025. Wright Building Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO SMALL (SBE), DISADVANTAGED (DBE), MINORITY (MBE), & WOMEN’S (WBE), SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED (SDVOB) & VETERAN OWNED (VOB) BUSINESSES ADVERTISEMENT RIVER CITY CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C., 6640 AMERICAN SETTER DRIVE, ASHLAND, MISSOURI 65010, (573) 657-7380 (PHONE) (573) 657-7381 (FAX) IS SEEKING QUALIFIED SMALL, DISADVATANGED, MINORITY, & WOMEN’S BUSINESSES FOR THE CITY OF ST. CHARLES CITY HALL PROJECT FOR THE SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CONCRETE, MASONRY, METALS, WOOD, PLASTICS, AND COMPOSITES, THERMAL ANDMOISTURE PROTECTION, OPENINGS, FINISHES, SPECIALTIES, EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS, SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION,CONVEYING EQUIPMENT, FIRE SUPPRESSION, PLUMBING, HVAC, ELECTRICAL, COMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONIC SAFETY AND SECURITY, EARTHWORK, AND EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS. ALL INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED SMALL, DISADVANTAGED, MINORITY AND WOMEN’S BUSINESSES SHOULD CONTACT, IN WRITING, (CERTIFIED LETTER, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) TIM PEC, TO DISCUSS THE SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. ALL NEGOTIATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE BID OPENING BID DATE OF 3/6/2025 @ 2:00 PM. PROPOSALS WILL BE EVALUATED IN ORDER ON THE BASIS OF LOW RESPONSIVE BID RECEIVED. CERTIFICATION OF DBE/WBE/MBE/SDVOB/VOB STATUS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH BID. BID DOCUMENTS MAY BE OBTAINED BY: 1) Email your company name, contact name, and phone number, as well as the project you are interested in to bid@rccllc.com 2) You will then receive an email invitation for that project with a link to our SmartBidNet system. River City Construction, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

vocals – or a crowded stage full of unnecessary hype men. The production was well orchestrated. The choreography was cute –so was the well-curated song lineup. The 13-minute set was not terrible – it was not even bad. “DNA.”

“Humble,” “Squabble Up” and “Luther” had hints of Lamar in his element. And St. Louis-born SZA joined him on stage for a performance of “All the Stars” – providing a sample of what they will deliver at

Continued from C1

honest, but it’s not easy.

That is because of Clyde, the no-nonsense owner and namesake. She gives them an opportunity to work, but they must rely on each other in their respective attempts to thrive despite the obstacles that come at them from every angle.

The Rep is Davis’s third time helming a staging of the play.

“This play – and this process of bringing it to the stage again – has taught me not to assume anything about anybody,” Davis said. “I must take down all of my judgments with this play to really speak and live as it should.

the Dome this summer. Many will argue that Super Bowl LIX was not the place for an overtly controversial performance when one considers the political views amongst NFL ownership. It is a fair rebuttal – but we are talking K. Dot. He is the king of oppositional defiance in hip-hop – when it comes to his peers and the entire industry. The show was not the “more” that I have come to expect from K. Dot. And following Usher’s peak Ushering for Super Bowl LVIII and Rihanna’s surprise pregnancy reveal for Super Bowl LVII, the bar

was pretty high. I would have settled for something along the lines of what Kendrick delivered during Super Bowl LVI as a guest performer along with Dr. Dre, Snoop, Eminem and Mary J. Blige. His subliminal tribute to Janet Jackson was the cherry on top. I also decided that this show – which made history for Lamar as the first solo rap artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime performance– was to be the series finale of the Kendrick vs. Drake beef. The Grammys were the season finale. Lamar swept the awards and made hip

hop history when his diss track took home awards for “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year.”

The Super Bowl set was clearly orchestrated to be the death blow. But there was also the longest of longshots for a platonic Disney fairytale ending. I was quietly hoping for the latter, with a surprise reconciliation in the name of hip hop. Drake would accompany Lamar on stage, and they would squash the beef – like the Bloods and Crips in Lamar’s hometown of Compton. I did not say it was feasible. Especially considering the accusa-

tions hurled against Drake throughout “Not Like Us.”

The summer anthem was the mic drop of a culminating diss track in a series of back-and-forth tracks that had popular culture in a chokehold.

“I wanna play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar said during the Super Bowl set. It was a jab at the lawsuits filed by Drake in response to the lyrics. Lamar attempted to leave viewers in limbo as to whether he would perform the song. Everyone knew not doing so was not an option. And the way the entire Caesars Superdome

screamed out “A minor” during “Not Like Us,” my desire for a public truce would have been destroyed before the performance ended. Between his statement chain and the Crip walk cameo by Drake’s ex Serena Williams, it was clear Lamar was not interested in squashing any beef with the performance. But it would have been nice to see him spin the block on roasting systems of oppression over an open fire like he did the last time our nation faced such a divisive and vitriolic political climate.

Saint Louis Fashion Week.

In 2014, he and designer Paulie Gibson had a conversation about how the fashion week and many other shows did not feature much men’s wear. It was from this conversation that “Gent” came to be.

Gibson, the unofficial co-founder of “Gent,” has participated in every one

That is what ‘Clyde’s’ continues to teach me –not to judge too soon or too hard.”

He reunites with stage, film and television veteran Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, who plays the title role.

The production also stars Ron Himes, Essence Tyler, Alfredo Antillon and Brendan Hickey.

“The cast is incredible,” Davis said. “Their chemistry pops off the stage.”

A secret weapon in this production is the partnership with Prison Performing Arts. “This production is about individuals who are going through the process of reentry, and we want to make sure that story holds as much authenticity as possible,” said Delaney

of its fashion shows since its inception. And with each year that goes by, “Gent” has continued to revolutionize the men’s fashion market. Carter has gained recognition from Forbes and Women’s Wear Daily. “Getting in GQ, and Men’s Vogue you know, and getting St. Louis recognized as the men’s fashion week [is the goal],” Carter said. Along with Gibson, the “Gent” 10th anniversary fashion show will feature

Piggins, Artistic Producer for The Rep.

Prison Performing Arts

alums Eric Satterfield and LaWanda Jackson served as artistic consultants for “Clyde’s.” “They sat next to me in rehearsal every day, and I asked them what they thought,” Davis said. “They really gave their lived experience to us and the actors so that we were doing the right thing – that these characters are coming across as true people and not caricatures.”

Davis called the collaboration “a beautiful, beautiful partnership.”

“The community is in the room with us,” Davis said. “I strongly believe how something is made is just as important as the final product.”

Julius Evans, a recent SIBA graduate and fresh face on the fashion scene. The show will open with Barbra Bultman, a designer of formal women’s wear who created a men’s collection specifically for this show. The show will also feature Shop Ambition, a collection of streetwear and bomber jackets and Rocket Supernova. Terry Singh, a groundbreaking designer from New York, will headline the show.

“The challenging part is

They will be doing a staged reading at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center in Pacific.

“We also wanted to make sure that it is able to be shared with people who will receive the most impact,” Piggins said. “To tell this type of story in a place where folks are currently incarcerated, I feel like it is an opportunity for the art to reach an inspiring place. You are telling a story of renewal and being able to give that audience something to look forward to.”

She feels that this partnership acknowledges and solidifies the fact that arts organizations need each other.

“We have different

to make people aware that we have men’s fashion shows and opening people’s eyes to men’s fashion in a different way,” said Carter. He eventually hopes to have designers submit to be a part of “Gent.” But for now, he will continue curating a fashion week featuring diverse men’s styles – primarily from local designers.

“I curate it to get a variety of men’s styles,” said Carter, who is also a board

expertise and different specialties and different lived experiences amongst our artists,” said Piggins. “It’s really powerful to be able to combine those perspectives – and really important.”

The shared perspectives through the collaboration between The Rep and PPA reflect what happens in the play.

“They are at a place of survival at the beginning of the show,” Piggins said. “Getting to a place of bravery and risk and liberty would not have happened if it wasn’t for the fact that they were actually learning from each other.”

It is the lesson that Piggins hopes that audiences take away from seeing “Clyde’s” on stage.

member of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund. “We have streetwear, eveningwear, avant garde. We try to mix it up every year and have something different. We want that wow factor of a runway show.”

Carter is also ensuring the future of men’s fashion by partnering with fashion students at Lindenwood University.

“We want to encourage student designers to start making men’s fashion so we can keep it going,”

“I hope people feel more emboldened to talk to people that they may disagree with,” said Piggins. “And to have compassion for people whose experience they may not understand.” Davis wants the audience to be inspired by the characters’ willingness to try again.

“Your past choices don’t completely define you,” Davis said. “There is always the opportunity for hope or to move forward. Not that it’s easy, but you are worth making that choice and claiming that life.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Clyde’s continues through March 2 at the LorettoHilton on the campus of Webster University. For

Carter said. He challenged six students to create one look to be featured during the fashion week. “We call them the future of men’s wear.”

The culminating fashion show for ‘Gent’ Men’s Fashion Week will take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 16 at St. Louis City SC’s Energizer Park. For tickets or additional information, visit www. brainchildnext.com/gent

Celebrating Black History

Black history is being made each day throughout the St. Louis region by accomplished African Americans in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. During Black History Month, the St. Louis American will be featuring individuals who are following the historic paths of great Black scientists, engineers, and educators and also paving a way for others with STEM interests who are destined for future accomplishments

Marian Middle School mission for Mars

Growing interest in STEM

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Marian Middle School, which serves families from lower-income backgrounds and is the only all-girls private middle school in the St. Louis community serving urban adolescent youth in a faithbased environment, is having an out-ofthis-world experience.

In 1989, NASA first studied a longterm plan to send astronauts to Mars after establishing a permanent base on the Moon. A decade later, Marian was founded in St. Louis.

NASA released its plan and timetable for its first crewed Mars mission, including transportation, habitation, and science in 2022. Marian is among schools helping to advance student education and knowledge of the historic project.

Through the Plant the Moon/Mars Challenge, sponsored by the Institute of Competition Sciences, Marian competed to see who can grow the best crops using lunar or Martian “regolith simulant.”

Students chose to experiment with the Martian simulated soil to complete experiments growing crops.

“We know that we can’t grow in Martian soil, so we need to find out the least amount of that soil can be mixed with ‘amendments’ and then grow things,” said Marian teacher Nicolle von der Heyde.

The first crop of choice was spinach, “which didn’t do so well,” according to von der Heyde.

“We redid the experiment with radish seeds, and they did very well.”

The students were able to grow radish greens with a 50/50 mix of synthetic Martian NASAS soil and amendments.

The mix of organic amendments is important because the less weight the better when it comes to missions to the moon

Marian Middle School students took part in the Plant the Moon/Mars Challenge last semester and successfully grew radish greens in simulated Martian soil. See Marian, D3

The inspiration behind a literary movement

Black history hidden figure celebrated at STL County Library

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Three days ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick Lamar’s performance was such a hot topic that it made its way into the 2025 Frankie Freeman Inspirational Lecture, SLCL’s annual keynote Black History Month program.

“Would she be team Drake or team Kendrick,” said Ron Austin, author and assistant professor of English at Saint Louis University. He facilitated a fascinating conversation with New York Times bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray about her latest book “Harlem Rhapsody,” which was released on February 4. The audience erupted with laughter when Murray was asked who the heroine of her historical fiction drama would have sided with in the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef had she been alive today.

“They are doing some really nasty public fighting, and I don’t think she

Author and educator Ron Austin and bestselling author

discuss her latest historical

2025

would be happy with either of them,” Murry said. “She was prim and proper. But I think she would probably side with Kendrick – and she would pull him aside and say, ‘What you are doing doesn’t make any sense, because you are pulling down another Black man. That is unacceptable.’”

“She” is Jessie Redmon Fauset, a high school teacher who changed the course

of Black literature – and sparked The Harlem Renaissance – when she became literary editor of “The Crisis,” the official magazine of the NAACP, in 1919. Fauset is the main character in “Harlem Rhapsody,” a fictionalized account of the real-life culture shifter.

“She discovered Langston Hughes at the

See Library, D4

Photo by Kenya Vaughn

Victoria Christopher Murray

fiction ‘Harlem Rhapsody,’ at St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch for the

Frankie Freeman Inspirational Lecture.

Photo courtesy of Marian Middle School

CEL EBR ATE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

To celebrate Black History Month, Ameren is empowering organizations making great strides in the communities we serve and giving them an outlet to share their mission — organizations like Delmar DivINe, Black Girls Do STEM and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.

To learn more about those shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for us all, visit Ameren.com/Diversity.

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Month Celebration, St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.stlouis-mo. gov.

Sun., Feb. 16, 3 p.m.

African American History Month Concert – Gateway Music Outreach, Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, 12200 New Halls Ferry Rd. Florissant, MO 63033. For more information, visit www.eventbrite. com.

Tues., Feb. 18, 11 a.m., Missouri Historical Society presents The Music of Black St. Louis, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell at DeBaliviere. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

Tues., Feb. 18, 6 p.m., “Eliza” Screening & Filmmaker Q&A, “Eliza” is a film based on the true story of Eliza Rone, an enslaved woman in 1856, who worked for the Campbells, the richest family in St. Louis. The viewing will be followed by a Q&A with director, writer and actor Delisa Richardson. St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Tues., Feb. 18, 7 p.m.

Emerson History & Genealogy Center presents Judith Giesberg, author of “Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families,” St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 5 p.m., Thursday Nights at the Museum series by Washington University presents Black History Month: Joy, Arts, Community featuring 5 On Your Side Anchors Kelly Jackson and Brent Solomon in conversation about Black joy and the arts in the Gateway city with some of St. Louis’s groundbreaking leaders in dance, visual art, music, and writing. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. St, Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https:// mohistory.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library Black History Month Film Series, “Fences,” Auditorium, St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 6 p.m. Histories Unbound: A Roundtable Discussion on Slavery In St. Louis Exhibit, St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid. For more

information, visit www. slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library welcomes Orvin Kimbrough, author of “Twice Over a Man: A Fierce Memoir of an Orphan Boy Who Doggedly Determined a Finer Life,” St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

courtesy

Marian Middle School Through the Plant the Moon/Mars Challenge, sponsored by the Institute of Competition Sciences, Marian competed to see who can grow the best crops using lunar or Martian “regolith simulant.”

Marian

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and Mars.

“Being a part of the Marian Martian Scientists was an enjoyable and rewarding experience,” said Marian student Essence.

“Especially being one of the lead scientists and being a part of such a good cause to help other scientists uncover many more discoveries about space.”

Fellow Marian student scientist Jannely said, “My experience with the project was something new but I enjoyed it. It was fun but messy.”

“I liked being one of the lead scientists and how I had to collect data as a real scientist would.

Throughout the project I learned new things about planting plants in different types of soils.”

Determining how lunar and Martian soils must be adjusted to grow crops for future human missions is essential to establishing permanent settlements on celestial bodies, according to NASA and ICS.

“Learning the biological capabilities of Martian soil will also help sustain

human life on Mars.

Marian students were sent a Plant the Moon Activity Kit, which included the Martian regolith simulant, a Project Guide and pH paper. The teams used the Project Guide to define its own plant growth experiments using the stimulant.

Marian students’ experience with the Mars project could also lead to future careers in STEM – a field where Black women are “significantly underrepresented” compared to their population proportion.

According to the National Science Foundation, African American women represent around 2% of the science and engineering workforce.

More Black female STEM students could increase the small percentage of scientists and engineers, and gaps in STEM fields including computer science and engineering where the percentage is lower than 2%.

A natural result of the absence of students is the fact that Black women also earn a disproportionately small percentage of STEM degrees, especially at the doctoral level.

Marian is moving to improve those statistics.

The students defined their own experiment parameters such as the structure of the plant growth setup, amount of water used, and nutrients or fertilizer added to the regolith simulant to help support plant growth.

In addition, the plant growth the students were also encouraged to create their own “Mission Patch,” just like the ones that accompany all astronauts into space.

“We learned the how and why of mission patches and we created one,” said von der Heyde.

While the project is literally groundbreaking for Marian, its emphasis on STEM education is continuously in growth.

In addition to science and math classes, all students are enrolled in STEM Lab and have the opportunity to participate in culinary arts, mass media club, robotics, and STEM Club.

STEM classes include Electricity, Automotive Engineering, Building and Design, Veterinary Science, Financial Literacy, Robotics, Advanced Robotics, and Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS)

St. Louis Public Library presents ‘Eliza’ Screening & Filmmaker Q&A. The film is based on the true story of Eliza Rone, an enslaved woman who worked for the Campbells, the richest family in St. Louis. The viewing will be followed by a Q&A with director, writer and actor Delisa Richardson (left).

Society at (314) 965-5151.

Sun., Feb. 23, 3 p.m., Gospel Community Choir of St. Louis presents Gospel Roots: A Black History Month Celebration, Friendly Tempel, 11221 Larimore Rd, St. Louis, MO. For more information, visit https://www.onthestage. tickets/show/community-gospel-choir-of-st-louis/678c13de602fca0f6a619481

Wed., Feb. 26, 7 p.m. St. Louis County Library welcomes Bestselling Young Adult author Ibi Zoboi, author of (S)kin,” St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. St. Louis County Library welcomes Jennifer Jones, author of “Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette,” St. Louis County Library –Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www. slcl.org.

Sat., Feb.,22, 9 a.m. –

5:30 p.m., Motorcoach Tours (5) and Mudd’s Grove Open House. Wallace Ward narrates five tours of cemeteries, churches and schools that represent Kirkwood Black History. Kirkwood Community Center and Mudd’s Grove Tickets: Free Reservations Required for the historical bus tour due to limited capacity. https://tinyurl. com/4te89zya or by calling the Kirkwood Historical

Thurs., Feb. 20, 5 p.m., Thursday Nights at the Museum series by Washington University presents Navigating the Intersection of Race and Disability, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. St, Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://mohistory.org.

Thurs., Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library Black History Month Film Series, “Sorry to Bother You,” Auditorium, St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Photo

age of 17,” Murray said. “She published Langston’s first 25 poems. She discovered Countee Cullen when he was 16.”

The main lecture room of The Clark Family Branch looked more like a Delta Sigma Theta regional meeting than a book discussion. Like the late civil rights icon for which the lecture is named, Murray is also a Delta. The room was full of red and DST paraphernalia as Freeman and Murray’s sorority sisters helped pack the talk to capacity to discuss the book that was inspired by true events – including Fauset’s affair with Black thought leader Dr. W.E.B. DuBois.

“I don’t want that to take away from anything these two amazing people did,” Murray said.

The audience was thrilled to learn that Fauset herself was a Delta, a fact that Murray did not learn until she started her research for the book.

“At first I was sad because I didn’t want to write a book about a Delta having an affair, because we are perfect,” Murray said. “And I thought, ‘My Sorors are going to be so mad at me.’”

But the story of the first Black woman to hold the position at “The Crisis,” and to give Fauset the credit she deserves, but is rarely afforded, was too compelling to pass up. She molded literary giants and shifted Black culture in a manner that still permeates the atmosphere more than a century later.

“Harlem Rhapsody” reveals the price that Fauset paid, the sacrifices she endured and the indiscretions that took place along the way – as well as her place in the canon of Black history.

“My hope is that people read this book and take away some message of unity,” Murray said. “How just working together –whether you are Black, white male or a female –much more can be accomplished together.”

The evening also saw Tamia Coleman-Hawkins bestowed with the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award during the program. Tamia is the founder and CEO of Mia’s Treats Delights, a bakery she started in 2015, when she was only eight years old. Named one of The Root’s Young Futurists in 2020. Tamia is also the author of a children’s book, “Mia Dreams Bigger.” A portion of all items sold through her company go to combat homelessness.

Celebrating Black History Month

No permission is needed to celebrate Black History Month

By Karsonya Wise Whitehead

Former Georgia Congressman Julian Bond and Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver once said that when Rosa Parks chose to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery, Alabama, somewhere in the universe, a gear in the machinery shifted, and everything changed.

A gear-shifting moment.

In the history of this country, in the ongoing fight against racial oppression, against a white supremacist narrative, and against the racial apartheid laws that were passed and upheld, there have always been gear-shifting moments when individual people have taken a stand.

It happened in 1850, when Harriet Araminta Tubman, a year after her self-emancipation, chose to go back to Baltimore, Maryland, to help lead her niece and her niece’s two children to freedom.

A gear shifted. It happened in 1770, when Crispus Attucks, a Black and Indigenous sailor and whaler, chose to get involved with the growing kerfuffle in Boston. In 1864, when the 22nd Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops marched from Camp William Penn through the streets of Philadelphia on their way to fight, a gear shifted.

When Mamie Till told them in 1955 to leave her son’s casket open so that the world could see what those white men had done to her son, a gear in the machinery of the universe shifted. It happened again

in 1966 with Kwame Ture and Mukasa Dada’s declaration of Black Power at the conclusion of the “March Against Fear.” And in 2014, after police officers killed unarmed Eric Garner in New York and unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Black people came together under the banner and hashtag of Black Lives Matter to march, protest, and demand change. Gears shift when we choose to fight, when we choose to stand up, and when we refuse to back down. The moral arc of the universe does not bend on its own toward justice, it bends because we push it and because we are willing to continue to do it until change does happen.

(2/14). Dr. Woodson did not wait for the celebration of our history to be proclaimed, he proclaimed it. He did not wait for someone to give him permission to celebrate what we have contributed to this country, he celebrated it.

Dr. Woodson understood that Black parents had been teaching their children our history since we arrived in this country. Our stories and achievements had been carried by the wind and buried in the soil. It had been whispered as bedtime stories, spoken from the pulpits on Sunday mornings, and woven throughout our songs and poems of resistance and survival.

In 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson — the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the son of formerly enslaved parents, a former sharecropper and miner, and the second Black person to earn a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University — sent out a press release announcing the first Negro History Week, a gear shifted.

He chose February because the Black community was already celebrating the historic achievements on the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (2/12) and Frederick Douglass

America did not have to tell us who we were to this country; we told the nation.

America did not have to tell us that we built this country, our fingerprints are etched into the stone. America does not have to proclaim Black History Month, we proclaim it. We live in the legacy of Dr. Woodson, and as we have done for 98 years, we will celebrate who we are and all that we have accomplished. We stand at the intersection of the past and the future; what we do at this moment will determine how the next gear shifts.

The 2025 Black History Month theme is African Americans and Labor, which focuses on the various and profound ways that work and work-

ing of all kinds — free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary — intersect with the collective experiences of Black people and the transformational work that we have done throughout the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora.

As the president of ASALH, one of the many legacy keepers of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, I am excited to proclaim and uplift the start of Black History Month 2025. We have been standing as a lighthouse proudly proclaiming the importance of Black History and helping people to understand that it is only through studying the quilted narrative of our historical journey that one can clearly see the silences, blind spots, hypocrisies, and distortions of American history.

We do not celebrate because we are given permission, we celebrate because we are the permission givers. We do not wait for Black History Month to be proclaimed, we proclaim it. We do not wait to be seen, we see ourselves. We do not have to be told the story of America because we are writing it, we are telling it, we are owning it, and we are pointing the way to it.

Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead is the 30th person and the eighth woman to serve as the national president of ASALH. She is a professor of Communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland

Celebrating Black History

We all have a history. A story. We bring with us life experiences that shape who we are and make us better.

At Spire, we know our individual stories only make us stronger as a whole. That’s why we’re committed to a work environment where all that makes us unique is embraced, encouraged and valued.

Because it truly takes all of us — our backgrounds, our perspectives and our experiences — to move forward.

Guest Columnist Karsonya Wise Whitehead

Blacks in STEM, YES

Program promotes STEM to Black and brown students

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

The Saint Louis Science Center Community STEM Showcase honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others who fought tirelessly to create equitable change for oppressed people. The event, held on Jan. 17, featured hands-on activities with diverse STEM role models from the region. Youth Exploring Science (YES) had a variety of exhibits set up around the science center.

Kerry Stevinson, the Science Center’s STEM content for the Community Science Department Manager, said the showcase has been around for over 25 years. The goal is to get the community involved with the Science Center. Community partners are a part of the Divine Nine Black sororities, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

The showcase helps people realize that science is for everyone while introducing YES to the larger community.

“We want to represent the diverse community in STEM in St. Louis,” Stevinson said. “The organizations that are a part of this year’s showcase have diverse people in STEM.”

PEW Research Center shows only 9% of STEM workers are Black. This number has remained the same since 2016. Even though Black people represent around 11% of the total workforce, our representation in STEM fields

is significantly lower. The data also shows that only 5% of engineers are Black. The only STEM job cluster where Black workers are represented at the same level as their share in the total workforce is health-related STEM occupations.

The racial and ethnic earnings gaps among STEM workers are substantial and have recently increased. Black full-time workers ages 25 and older have a medium income of $61,500, while the medium income for white workers in STEM is $78,000. In 2016, the Black-to-white earnings gap in the STEM workforce was 81%.

According to the National Science Board NSB, a diverse STEM workforce is vital to the country’s innovative capacity (Bell et al. 2019; Hsieh et al. 2019). Broadening the representation of different social and demographic groups in STEM occupations contributes to diversity and helps create a robust workforce that will meet future demands. A local organization, Black Girls Do STEM, is helping close that gap by offering free STEM programs to local families. BGDSTEM provides access to science, technology, engineering, and math resources. BGDSTEM provides scholarships, STEM workshops, and programming for middle school-aged girls.

In an article with St. Louis Public Radio Cynthia Chapple, founder of Black Girls Do STEM said, “When we think

about the basic skills of technology, Black students have them. We are simply not highlighting that for them well enough … and then telling them, ‘Hey, you can go and do this as a full-time career and make this amount of money.”

Laela Gains, a Hazelwood East student, and YES participant, says the program helps educate youth about the different types of science available to them. For example, cyber security and entrepreneurship in science. “YES likes to help students like me, we like to show other kids you can do whatever you put your

mind to,” said Gains. Emma McNeil, a junior at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, likes that the activities they participate in are STEM-led. For instance, aerospace or agriculture and computer science. McNeil has learned other skills in the program–communication, active listening, and leadership. “This program sets you up for a lot of opportunities for future jobs,” said McNeil who said she plans to return to St. Louis to teach other kids about STEM after college. YouScience, a student

career guidance technology company data shows Black female students are less likely to be exposed to STEM careers compared to Black male students. The report shows 88% more Black female students have an aptitude for careers in advanced manufacturing than an interest; while 73% more Black female students have the aptitude for careers in computers and technology than interest. In addition, 72% more Black female students have the talent for architecture and construction jobs than there is

interest. Rose Jean is a senior at Mehlville High School who likes the YES program because she has the opportunity to learn about sciences that she wouldn’t otherwise know about. She says being a part of a STEM program brings all types of kids together, which creates diversity and community. “We have ideas that other people wouldn’t think of,” Jean said. “We have different experiences than other people so we bring new ideas to STEM.”

Photo By Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

Tasha, Jackson and Kennedy Scottwagoner at the 2025 Community STEM Showcase on Saturday, January 18 at Saint Louis Science Center. The event takes place annually to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.